--

--

Lord, grant that I may not seek to be consoled

As to console,

To be understood

as to understand,

Or to be loved

as to love

With all my heart.

With all my heart.

--

Café et fraises

Chapter Eighteen

Stand your ground

David was Lucy's guard regularly. None of them had seen Hatcher in days, but only had the instructions to keep her in the garage. She was fed three times a day which mostly consisted of ham or cheese sandwiches with a small carton of milk each time. She kept the secret of her pregnancy to herself.

Today was different. When she woke up, David wasn't there. He'd almost finished his book and Lucy had taken to reading snippets whenever he went on an errand and left it hidden in the toolbox. David came back half an hour later with her cheese sandwich and carton of milk which he placed in front of her and then continued to pace, fists clenched in agitation.

'What's wrong?' she asked, sniffing the sandwich suspiciously.

'New plans,' he shrugged.

'Should I be worried?'

He didn't answer her and Lucy put down the sandwich and pushed it away. 'Talk.'

'Fucking eat that.'

'Talk. What's happening? I'm the prisoner 'ere. I deserve to know what evil things are going to happen to me.'

'Fine, you wanna fucking 'ear it? Well, 'ere it is,' David snarled, rounding on her. 'Hatcher has given orders that we can do what we like to you 'cept kill you. Happy? And guess what! I'm first up.'

'F-first up? What're you gunna do to me,' she squeaked, getting to her feet and backing off along the wall as David advanced.

'I don't know yet,' he said, pinning her against the wall and leaning forward.

'I'm pregnant,' she burst out. He stopped trying to bruise her lips with his, frowning.

'What?'

'I'm pregnant.'

'Am I supposed to believe that?' he demanded, but his grip had loosened.

'I have the tests to prove it,' she suddenly remembered. 'My bag.' It had been taken from her on her first day and locked up in one of the cupboards. 'I still have the tests.' David released her, moving across the garage to get it. He pulled open the cupboard, shifted the mangled remains of her phone out the way. Unzipping it, he pulled out the tests.

'Oh,' he said, eyes widened, before he stuffed them back.

'Don't hurt my baby,' Lucy said with a small sob.

'I 'ave no choice,' he replied, still with his back to her as he stared out the grubby window. 'I 'ave to do this.' It fell quiet as Lucy looked around. She spotted a mallet on the side and slowly shifted towards it. Picking it up in two hands, she looked up and stepped towards him. She couldn't be here any longer. Rising it above her head, she slammed it down.

He fell to the floor with a groan, blood already seeping across the concrete. She knew there were people outside as she'd heard them. She needed a different escape root. Grabbing her bag, she clambered onto the work surface and smashed the small grime covered window. Someone began to unlock the garage door, trying to take off the padlock but in the rush they were fumbling. She pulled herself through the window, the drop to the ground further than she expected. She grazed her knees and palms, but the pain didn't matter. Lucy raced through the trees, not knowing what direction she was going but she ran anyway. It didn't sound like there was anyone chasing her but she didn't stop. Soon she came to a road and a council estate. She recognized the place vaguely; at the edge of Millwall. She tried not to take too many main roads incase they were after her. But soon a stitch in her side made her falter to a stop. Sliding against the wall, Lucy breathed in harsh pants, sweat making her hair stick to her forehead.

'Fuck,' she hissed, running her hands through her hair and squeezing her eyes shut against the aching pain.

'How do you know she's even in Millwall?' said a familiar voice out in the street.

'I don't,' replied Pete. 'But if Hatcher has taken her…'

'We 'ave to keep looking.' She looked up as the group walked past the alley. She clambered to her feet.

'PETE!' she sobbed. The blonde spun around, eyes wide as she chucked herself at him, crying into his chest. He held her close, kissing her head, tears in his own eyes, unable to believe she was here.

'What the fuck happened to you?'

'It was Hatcher. He's going to kill me,' Lucy sobbed, gripping the material of his jacket, not willing to let go. 'I wanna go home,' she said. 'I wanna go home.'

--

She told them everything about what happened, but there was still something nagging at her. What about David? Did she kill him when she hit him over the head or would Tommy have killed him for letting her get away?

Libby didn't leave her side since the moment she got back and even stood guard outside the toilet in full defense mode. She hated the fact that she hadn't been there for Lucy and she was her best friend! She vowed never to leave her again.

But the guys plan was outrageous.

'No! You're not going back there,' Lucy snarled as soon as Pete told her that he and his lads were going down to Millwall.

'We 'ave to sort this out, Luce,' replied Pete calmly.

'He'll slaughter you like fucking pigs!' she screeched. 'He's probably already killed David!'

'Look,' Pete said, stepping to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. 'We'll find David. Stay 'ere with Libby. We'll be back before you know it.'

'Promise me,' she whispered. Pete didn't answer.

'We gunna do this, then?' asked Ike, who was nervously pacing outside the Abbey.

'Yeah. We need to finish this,' replied Pete, as Bovver lit up his fourth fag in five minutes and sucked hard on it. Pete looked away from him as Keith pulled up, Dave in his car behind him.

No body said much in the car except 'Give me a fag 'and ''Ave you got a light?' They pulled up outside Hatcher's favourite pub and after that it was a mere waiting game. They were sat there restless for an hour before Tommy and his boys finally emerged, shrugging into jackets and sparking up. Pete climbed out the car first.

'Oi,' he yelled, his voice echoing across the dark street. Hatcher stopped and turned with a grin on his face.

'Look who it is!' he said, glancing back at his boys as the rest of the GSE got out the cars. The two groups approached each other before pausing, a couple of meters apart. Pete's eyes scanned the group, before they landed on a red haired youth, whose gaze was on the ground, his face a blotch of swollen redness and bruises. No doubt this was David.

Hatcher cleared his throat. 'Did Lucy make it back to you, then?' he asked, the smile still on his face.

'You're a fucking pussy,' Pete growled. 'Kidnapping a girl! I never thought you could stoop so low.'

'It was stupid of you to let her come back. I'm sure Stevie wasn't happy about it. Am I right?' Pete tensed his jaw. 'I am right,' said Hatcher with a smug look.

'She doesn't 'ave to hide from you,' Pete replied tersely.

'I know, but it makes a fun game, don't you think.' He turned and cast his gaze to the red head, who shifted uncomfortably. 'Shame somebody let her go, aint it?'

'Oi,' snapped Pete, drawing Tommy's gaze away from David. 'We're gunna finish this now.'

'Is that so?' Tommy stepped forward, eyes glinting. 'We're going to 'ave so much fun.' There was a sudden blur beside Pete and Bovver launched himself at the older man, his fist flying into his face. Keith was behind him, covering his back as he swung his fists at Mark's flat nose. Tommy grabbed Bov's collar but they lost their balance, tumbling to the floor as Pete ducked a blow from another man. David backed off as Ned advanced, sending a right hook to the smaller mans jaw before Ned tackled him against the wall.

'How is Lucy?' hissed Tommy, as the two men struggled and writhed on the floor, fists flailing. Bovver didn't answer as he slammed his head against Tommy's nose, feeling the crack. Tommy swore, throwing Bovver off, his own fist slamming into Bov's chest.

Keith threw Mark against his car, the big man sliding off the bonnet with a groan as Dave grabbed Ned off David, realizing who it was.

'Not 'im,' he muttered, chucking Ned in the direction of another man before going to help Swill.

Bovver kicked up as Tommy lurched towards him, his foot slamming into Hatcher's jaw, before he jumped to his feet and slammed his fist in the mans face. 'Tough little fighter, aren't you?' wheezed Tommy, no humour in his face now.

'You better fucking believe it,' hissed Bovver in reply, slamming Hatcher against the wall. Tommy pushed him back but Bov used all the force he had to slam Tommy's head against the wall. He stumbled back as Hatcher pushed him away again, before he stormed forward, slamming the old mans head against the wall once more.

'Bov!' yelled Pete, grabbing his best mate away from Tommy as the latter slid down the wall. Bovver blinked for a moment, staring down at what was left of Tommy Hatcher.

'We gotta get out of 'ere,' said Dave, blood dribbling down his face. He caught sight of Tommy, who opened his mouth to grunt something, blood pouring out his mouth. He gasped like a fish, eyes rolling for a moment. 'We really gotta get out of 'ere.'

'Come on, let's go,' yelled Pete, before pausing and grabbing David off the floor. The group stumbled towards the two cars as Mark staggered towards his boss.

'Hatcher?' he said, falling to his knees. 'Tommy?!' Pete threw David into the back of the car and then they were speeding away, leaving the Millwall group with the dying remains of Tommy Hatcher.

'What you doing with me?' asked David, glaring at Pete.

'Taking you to the fucking hospital,' the blonde replied, running a hand over his head.

'I don't need it, let me go.'

'You wanna fucking go back there?' snarled Bovver, turning in his seat to make the younger man cower. 'You'll be fucking ripped to shreds by them. It's a fucking wonder Tommy didn't kill you in the first place. Now shut the fuck up before I kill you myself.' Bov turned and slumped back in the passenger seat, wiping his blood covered hands on his jeans. He wasn't sure what had happened back there; it was like he had snapped. His need to protect Lucy was strong and he knew it was either kill or be killed.

--

They had been gone half an hour exactly. They had been gone half an hour one second. They had been gone half an hour two seconds.

'Amazingly, clock watching isn't at all fun,' said Libby, curling up on the sofa next to Lucy. She pulled her gaze from the clock, staring down at her little friend.

'Sorry,' she sighed. 'I'm just worried.'

'They'll be fine. I'm sure David will be fine too.' Lucy nodded, but her frown didn't go away as she twisted her fingers together. Libby sighed, placing her hand on top of hers. 'Something's up.'

'I need to tell you something,' Lucy said, voice hoarse.

'You didn't sleep with David, did you?' asked Libs, eyes wide.

'No! It's something else… about me and Bovver.' The blonde looked up into Libby's reassuring brown eyes before blurting out. 'I'm pregnant. I'm going to 'ave a baby.'

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