Disclaimer: Sam, Jo and Jack are not mine :(

Chapter 31:

"Guv, can we speak to you for a moment?"

"Yeah, sure Sam, come in."

"Are you sure you don't what to do this alone?" Sam asked while walking into the office behind Jo.

"No Sam, please, I need you with me."

"Yeah, of course."

"What's up? What's wrong Jo?" Jack asked, having heard the whispered conversation between the two women as they walked into his office. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay I suppose. That's what I've come to talk to you about."

"What, the abduction?"

"Yeah. I, um, I was, when he had me, he, I…" Jo grabbed Sam's hand, needing to feel the woman next to her. "Sam, I can't."

"Do you want me to?"

Jo nodded her head; thankful the blonde was going to take over.

"What is it Sam?" Jack queried, still in the dark about it all.

"When Stuart had Jo, he, he r…he rape…" Sam struggled to say the word, trying to pull herself together for Jo's sake, "He raped her."

Jack moved his hand over his mouth, shocked by this confession, "Jo?"

Jo nodded, confirming Sam's revelation.

"Are you up to giving a statement? Sam can be there for support if you want."

"I was wondering if Sam can do the interview, Sir."

"Jo, you know procedure as well as I do. She's too close to conduct the interview."

"Please Jack, I don't think I can face telling it all to anyone else. She's the only person I can trust, entirely."

"Look, I'll cut you a deal. Sam can take your statement, but then she has nothing more to do with the case. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do. I can't let her be involved with the investigation, but I will let her take your statement."

"Guv, I am here you know." Sam cut in, feeling that no one realised she was in the small room anymore.

"Sorry Sam. Is that okay with the two of you?"

Sam turned to face Jo, the brunette doing the same. She nodded to Sam, who turned back to Jack, "Yes Guv, that's fine. Thank you."

"Right, so, when do you want to make the statement Jo, now or when you've had some rest?" Jack quizzed, shrugging of the gratitude from Sam.

"Now please Guv. Get it over and done with so I can move on and forget about it."

"Jo, this is something you will never forget, you do understand that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know Guv, but I can push it to the back of my mind."

'Okay." Jack said uncertainly, not convinced Jo was entirely prepared to relive the experience quite so soon.

Sam tightened the grip on Jo's hand, squeezing it ever so slightly, reassuring the brunette that it would be okay. Jo began to walk out of the room, Sam followed although was halted by the DCI, calling her back into the room and asking her to shut the door.

"So, Sam if you can get the video recorder set up so the interview can be taped, and then you can get on with it, okay?"

"Yeah, sure Jack. Look thanks again yeah, for letting me take her statement."

"Sam, is she ready for this?"

"Yeah."

Jack paused awkwardly, fearing the blonde's response to his next question, "Sam?"

"Yes Guv?"

"I hate to have to ask, but, she is reporting it because she wanted to, right?"

"Are you asking me if I pressured her into it Guv?"

"Did you?"

"No. I let her make her own decision; I knew that if I pressurised her she would never be able to totally forgive me. This was her own choice Guv."

"Are you sure she's prepared for it, mentally I mean?"

"I dunno Guv. I hope she is. But if she isn't then I can stop the statement."

"What if she goes through with it before admitting it's too soon?"

"Then I'll be there for her. She can rely on me for support Guv. I'll do what's best for her. If I think she's not coping, I'll stop the interview."

"Okay. Make sure she's okay yeah?"

"Yeah."