Here we are again with another story. This one is set in series three, more specifically this first chapter is based on series 3 episode 14. I've got 25 chapters planned as of yet, so unless I think of anything else to add, that's how long it will be. Hoping to update daily at the moment but I'll see how I go :)

I've also turned a twitter acount I made a while back into a Rachel and Eddie based one, where I'll post the links to these updates and maybe a few previews. The is hattie5240.

Hope you all like this first chapter x

Chapter 1: Do I Want to Know?

Eddie had felt some sort of a connection with Rachel from the moment Rhia introduced him, that much he knew. Just maybe the fact that she was head teacher when he was supposed to be, quashed that slightly. Especially when they spent the majority of the day jumping down one another's throats, it made looking past that increasingly difficult as the hours ticked by.

But with each day that passed, Eddie found himself wanting to be by Rachel's side almost constantly. Whether that be a case of sharing ideas for the school or furthering their friendship. They turned out getting along in a way that Eddie would never have foreseen during their first meeting.

So maybe his internal attitude towards Stuart Hordley shouldn't have come as much of a surprise as it did.

It seemed as though the two thousand pounds from the business man confirmed what Eddie had been fearing. Either he had a thing for Rachel, or she had a thing for Stuart. He couldn't deny, both automatically sent his heart plummeting through his stomach.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, it was blatantly obvious to Eddie that Mr Hordley was splashing his cash and offering interviews all for Rachel's benefit. All to impress her.

Along with Stuart's overall aura, the gestures were beginning to rile Eddie up, he had to admit. Maybe he was only just realising why he felt sick at the thought of all Rachel and Stuart's secret meetings, or why his irritation towards the bloke seemed to be increasing at an alarming rate. Eddie could attach a word to it, but didn't necessarily want to. Because he had no right to be jealous, did he?

Eddie could resist using that word, but he couldn't resist the words that came out of his mouth as Steph left the office. Just the start of him getting to the bottom of what was going on.

"Well well well. Stuart Hordley is a man out to impress."

It was the way Rachel turned away from him, rounding the desk, that made Eddie wonder why she didn't want him to see her facial expression.

Rachel herself meanwhile, was taken aback. She never thought she would detect a trace of jealousy in Eddie's voice, especially not directed at her. Not with his heart of gold. But rather strangely, she found herself quite liking this side of him.

Just she was certain that a small smile was playing across her lips. But she was equally as certain that it was something which she couldn't let Eddie see. Because he could read her remarkably well for someone who'd only known her for a couple of months. Better than anyone had ever been able to before. Or would ever be able to.

Eddie would undoubtedly detect her slight glee at his apparent jealousy.

She wanted to tell him that he had nothing to be envious about. But at the same time, Rachel didn't know if she was ready for that. If she was ready to reveal the feelings for Eddie that had been simmering under the surface since her very first day.

Of course Rachel's impression of Eddie was a far cry from Rachel's impression of Stuart. Because she wouldn't touch Stuart Hordley with a barge pole. He would never be her pal or anything like that. Holding far too many similarities to the men she had dealt with in her teenage years. Not to mention the fact that he was blackmailing her, forcing Rachel to compromise her career, dignity and everything she had worked for.

But what it did do was make Rachel wonder. Wonder if Eddie had feelings for her like she did for him.

"I don't know what you mean," she commented with a tilt of her head, daring herself to raise her eyes to Eddie's.

Rachel began to wish she hadn't bothered, because she somehow always ended up blushing under his gaze. She had always been able to reign it in under other circumstances, just never with Eddie. Rachel was beginning to realise that her rosy cheeks were just one part of the effect the man had on her.

His eyes danced with amusement as he leant on the desk, and Rachel was utterly powerless to stop the thrill that went through her as a result of her deputy's teasing. Something that had been all too common in recent weeks. So much so that Rachel had almost become accustomed to it.

"Just saying, he might have a… bit of a thing for you."

"No he doesn't."

"Well you might have a bit of a - ''

"Don't even go there."

Cutting Eddie off, Rachel hoped that he'd gotten the message. She couldn't have her deputy thinking that there was something between her and Mr Hordley, not when Rachel longed for something to happen between her and Eddie.

But to do that, Rachel would have to reveal Stuart's true intentions. The reasons why his company had gotten the bid or why he was constantly loitering. And she couldn't do that, could she?

It was the knowing glance he gave her as he paused by the office door that tore Rachel away from her thoughts. She just hoped that he would work out the way she was feeling, because the likelihood of her revealing that on her own accord was slim. Especially with her past looming.

...

He had plans with Jasmine, he was supposed to be persuading her to stay at Waterloo Road, helping her to form an argument against Michaela White. But there was something in Rachel's hazel orbs that unsettled Eddie. And something about Stuart's demeanour that unsettled him to an even greater extent.

Aside from the sheer disappointment the crashed through Eddie upon learning that Rachel would be dining with Stuart, he couldn't help but wonder if Mr Hordley was behind her strange moods over the past few weeks. And then the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.

All those times Rachel had brushed off his attempts to find out what was going on, all those times she had simply replied 'I'm fine' to his enquiries into if she was okay. Did it all stem from Stuart Hordley?

Eddie couldn't for the life of him work it out.

Did he want to know? He wasn't sure, but he knew that he had to find out. For Rachel's sake far more than his own. Because maybe he cared for Rachel deeper than he would admit to himself at the moment.

"Well why don't you Eddie? It would be good to have your opinion."

Rachel was convinced that Eddie was about to turn down her offer. Her half hearted attempt to indirectly get his help with her current predicament.

But he knew her, Rachel reminded herself. So hoped he would recognise in her eyes how much she needed him there, wanted him there.

"Why not," Eddie looked between Rachel and Stuart, taking a great amount of satisfaction, both from the disappointment that flickered across the man's expression and the relief that flickered across the woman's. A simple text to Jasmine that something had come up would have to do, and Eddie just hoped that him being able to help Rachel this evening, would quel his guilt in that respect.

"Right, well I'll let you two get your things together. I know what you teachers are like. Spending your evenings working."

"How very considerate," Eddie couldn't hold back from muttering, receiving a light glare from Rachel.

"You sure he doesn't have a bit of a thing for you?"

"Who knows?" Rachel shrugged, unable to stop herself from teasing Eddie a little, "I'm just happy that you're making an appearance."

"Really?"

"Yes," she confirmed as she slipped into her jacket, "it will be beneficial to get your view on the building process. You are my deputy after all."

Even as Rachel made the comment, Eddie allowed himself to believe that there was more to it than that. From both the glint in her eyes and the small smile she gave him before walking ahead, Eddie suspected that her motives for wanting him at the dinner ran far deeper than the building process.

...

"So, Eddie and Amand- sorry, Rachel. First drinks on me, what are you having?"

Rachel's heart began to pound as she questioned whether this was truly a good idea. She could sense Eddie's eyes burning into her temple, and chose to ignore that, instead giving Stuart the most genuine smile she could muster. What must her deputy be thinking?

She only began to guess as Stuart stood to make his way over to the bar, pausing upon hearing Eddie's voice.

"What's with calling Rachel Amanda? You've done it, what… twice now?"

No, this hadn't been a good idea.

Rachel's gut feeling was screaming that her friendship with Eddie was about to unravel. That he wouldn't stop until he got to the bottom of what was going on, because he cares. And then he would run a mile at just a whiff of her past, because he couldn't possibly care after that, could he?

"Force of habit," Stuart sneered, "but I'm sure Rachel will be happy to explain."

She didn't look for Eddie's reaction, almost subconsciously letting her eyes shut. It did cross Rachel's mind that in that moment, she would have preferred the ground to swallow her up, or for her to just simply disappear. One of the two. Anything to avoid losing the only person she had really ever trusted. Because Eddie was that and a whole lot more to her.

The last thing Rachel expected was to feel Eddie's hand on her forearm. She almost jumped at the contact, albeit being through the cotton of her top. She didn't know if that particular reaction was prompted by her intense thought, or just purely because it was Eddie.

Compared to her deputy's next words though, the previous touch was far from unexpected.

"Shall we get out of here?"

Rachel was all too aware of why her first reaction upon turning to Eddie was to cry. His expression was practically bursting with a tenderness and care that had Rachel swallowing down a rather substantial lump in her throat, breath turning ragged.

Because Eddie's heart of gold ways made everything ten times worse, didn't they?

Rachel didn't deserve his kindness, his respect and care. And as soon as Eddie found out about her seventeen year old self, he would agree with her wholeheartedly. Rachel would never be ready for that.

Yet still, she found herself nodding, attempting to smile at her deputy even though she knew it was a far cry from her usual happiness around the man.

"Come on," he whispered, tugging on her hand for a brief moment as he helped Rachel to her feet.

Eddie's head was spinning, with only one coherent thought available. He had to find out what was going on with Rachel. Because in that moment, as he led her out of the restaurant, she was his first priority. Eddie just hoped she knew that too.

It did cross his mind that he had the complete wrong end of the stick. That maybe, just maybe, he was putting two and two together to end up with five.

But Rachel was someone he knew better than anyone. And Eddie had never seen the usually composed headmistress look so anxious and het up than she did when Stuart Hordley had called her Amanda.

Not to mention the fact that currently, Rachel barely acknowledged the fact that he was leading her to his own car, choosing to leave hers to collect at some point. She was hardly in a state to drive, and that only heightened Eddie's concern.

No, Eddie hadn't got the wrong end of the stick.

He could feel Rachel's frame shaking as he placed a hand on her back, something so minute it would have gone unnoticed had they not been in such near proximity. Eddie was incredibly close to just stopping them both in their tracks, and bringing Rachel into an embrace. But he fought not to, biting down on his cheek in an attempt to quash the urge. Eddie wasn't sure if the gesture would be welcomed.

Instead he spoke softly to her, letting her know that he was going to drive her home, only gathering a nod in response as Rachel slid into the passenger seat - body limp and eyes panicked.

Eddie rounded the vehicle, choosing not to immediately start the engine as he turned his attention to the woman beside him.

"Rachel, what's going on?"

She didn't answer straight away, shakily running a hand through her hair and exhaling in a similar manner, "I… you're not going to…"

"Like what you have to say?"

Only then did Rachel lift her eyes to Eddie's, overwhelmed with how well he seemed to know her. Which was strange, because she'd known that for sometime now. Just… finishing off her sentence in such a way. Wasn't that something else?

Apparently he could read her mind too, because Eddie smiled lopsidedly, stretching a hand out to slide it over hers.

Rachel couldn't stop her eyes from trailing to their fingers, now interlinked, before dragging her gaze back to Eddie's. Even as he looked at her in a way that no one ever had, Rachel just knew that this wasn't going to end well. Because it could only end one way, couldn't it? Eddie would walk away and she would lose him, just like everyone else who had found out about her past.

"You won't. And I…"

"Rachel, I can't predict my reaction. To whatever it is that's… going on. But I…" he looked slightly flustered, glancing down for just a beat before returning his gaze, "I care about you Rachel. And I just… want to help you."

Through some minor miracle, Rachel managed to hold back the sob that was threatening upon hearing Eddie's words. And her earlier musings were only reiterated.

Yes, he cared about her now, maybe even reciprocated some of the feelings she had building up for him. But no one could see beyond her past. No one could love her or even take a second glance at her with the knowledge of what she once did. So why would Eddie Lawson be any different?

"Look, I'm not inviting myself round here," they shared a slight smile, Rachel's heart warming when realising that, even in these circumstances, her deputy could bring forth a minute amount of happiness from her, "but why don't I come in when I drop you home? We can have a chat and... I'll even make the coffee."

Somehow, Rachel found herself smiling once more, an action which felt foreign amongst her current demeanour. This man was truly remarkable. Yet still, she hesitated, conflicting feelings forming right before her very eyes.

Eddie's company was something that Rachel would never grow tired of, so would always jump at any opportunity to spend time with him. But this was different, she knew. Eddie was just as stubborn as her, and wasn't going to stop until he got the truth.

She resisted the urge to sigh, hoping that the man to her right hadn't sensed her apprehension. Yet he did, of course he did.

"I just want to help Rachel."

Feeling somewhat crazy, and all the while asking herself what on earth she was doing, and where on earth she would go from here, Rachel nodded, agreeing to Eddie's proposition.