A/N: Just a little filler before the next chapter ...

A big thank you to everyone reading and a special thank you to Mrs Carmichael, hannah5240, RachelMasonFan39, FaeMelody, faeftvanity, LittleH12 and the lovely guest for the reviews!
Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter ten.

Controlling someone is having the ability to influence and dominate a vulnerable human being.

Hurt.

It had been precisely five minutes since they had left. Her whole heart had shattered, it wasn't because Stuart was dead, but more the fact that he was dead because of her. She could never forgive herself. The thought of him lying there, bleeding to death, and thinking she'd gone to get help; it was mind numbingly sickening. His life had been in her hands, and she selfishly let him slip off to an unknown world.

Walking into the antechamber of her office, Eddie was greeted by Bridget mouthing something to him as she listened over the phone. He half wondered if it was Rachel checking up on him, making sure the school was still standing without her. However, upon seeing Bridget press the hold button, he knew it would be more.

'Eddie, I have a Melissa Ryan on the phone. She says that she urgently needs to speak to Rachel?', Bridget announced, she wondered herself what could be so important.

'Ah, can you please ask her to phone back tomorrow? I've got to shoot off a few minutes early', nodding her head, she brought her ear back to the phone before finding the line had gone dead.

'She seems to have hung up', Bridget replied, looking to Eddie who shrugged it off.

'Couldn't have been that bloody urgent then. I'll see you tomorrow, Bridget', his words echoed as he frantically gathered his belongings and made his way out of the door.

His mind raced thinking what he would tell her. He wondered what would happen from here, how she'd take this new information. He wasn't sure if she'd cope, or even if she'd be able to hold her tears back but he knew there would be consequences.

Using the spare key, he opened the front door to be greeted with darkness and not a single sound. Gently closing the door shut, he listened out for her footsteps.

'Rach?', he called, awaiting a voice to answer and yet there was nothing.

'Rachel?', he shouted once more. The quietness of her house worried him immensely, and he began a desperate search of each room to find her. On walking into the conservatory, he found her staring at the rain as it lightly tapped against the glass, leaving a soothing rhythm against the roof. She didn't even turn to look at him, but understanding that he had found her, she found herself stuck in a trance.

'Stuart's dead, Eddie. He's dead', she spoke. Her tone was flat, and she looked motionless. He had been shocked to hear that she knew. However, deciding that he could no longer lie to her, he decided that now was the time to come clean. He'd spent so long trying to protect her that he'd forgotten the true meaning of honesty.

'I know', he breathed. Watching as she quickly spun her head around, greeting her eyes with his, he could see the full extent of what this had done to her and it had only been the beginning.

'How do you know?', she questioned.

'Rachel, I ...', he wasn't sure how he'd answer her. A delay in his response was enough for her to plead him for an answer.

'Please', she begged. The desperation in her eyes soared at his heart.

'Now I don't want to panic you, but-', he started, although he knew that she'd do exactly that.

'Eddie, what is it?!', frantically pacing, she continued to run her fingers through her hair.

'He's been named in the papers, you know, the crash .. hang on, how do you know-', confusion in his tone as he began to question her.

'When did you find out?', she'd completely ignored his question and pressed him further.

'Today', he replied. He hadn't lied, he'd just not told her the whole truth, and it was becoming a problem. Feeling his palms sweat and his body shift uncomfortably, he undoubtedly gave it away there was more to it.

'What is it?', she questioned impatiently.

'Rach ..', sadness loomed in his eyes, and it was then that she realised. She had always been able to read him and this was no exception.

'You've known haven't you? All this time and you've known?', her words laced with anger and she dreaded his answer. He couldn't bring himself to lie to her anymore, but he also couldn't admit to the truth.

'Well?!', she demanded. His silence made her even more furious, and she had to take a minute to steady herself.

'A few days ago .. they hadn't named him but it was too much of a coincidence-', he halted. A deep breath escaped her lips, and she nodded her head in disbelief. He continued, hoping that he could make her realise.

'I did it to protect you, I knew you'd blame yourself. It's not your fault.' She turned around to face away from him. She couldn't bear the thought of him lying to her anymore. She decided that arguing would only fuel the fire and she didn't want to be appear more vulnerable, and so, she gave him the cold shoulder.

'I'll be back in school tomorrow. I'm guessing the staff know?', she asked, watching as he mirrored her actions by shaking his head in disbelief at the carelessness of her own health.

'Rachel, I really don't think you should come back, you're still recovering', he argued in a bid to make her see sense.

'I'll be the judge of that, thank you. Now please, I just need you to go.'

'Rachel, stop!', he demanded, his raised voice caused her to halt, and the anger boiled back up inside her. Deciding to wait awhile before answering, she let her herself admit defeat and she slumped back into her chair. She tore her eyes away from his and focused on the empty glass resting on the table.

'You lied, Eddie. I trusted you', she whispered. He felt his heart break, and he walked over to her in a bid to try and comfort her.

'I did it to protect you. Rachel, you think it's your fault, and it isn't. Stuart deserved this. He forced you into his car! When are you going to realise that he didn't need saving and that you're more important than that?'