Disclaimer: Jo, Sam and Abi aren't mine. Okay, sorry I took so long to update, the website wouldn't let me submit any documents yesterday. So, I'm back with three chapters for you, plus I have five other updates/one-shots!

Chapter 32:

"Jo, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah Sam, I'm fine."

Sam was unconvinced; Jo's lack of tears or emotion throughout the interview earlier had worried her. The brunette had seemed too detached, acting more like she was giving a statement because her handbag had been stolen, not the serious attack she had been a victim of. She had now been sitting watching the TV almost silently for the last hour and a half, never mentioning it once.

"Heya." Abi casually walked into the room, having calmed down from when she first saw Jo walk through the door. "Are either of you watching this?" She asked, pointing at the documentary on western Amazonian tree frogs.

"Oh, no," Both women replied at the same time.

"Put on what you like love." Sam offered.

Abi took the remote, scrolling through all the options on the sky service before settling on a music channel.

A song began as Abi put the channel on.

I'm so tired of being here.

Suppressed by all my childish fears.

"What is this Abi?"

"My Immortal." Abi replied quickly, not wanting to be distracted from one of her favourite tracks.

Jo listened carefully to the lyrics.

…your presence still lingers here.

And it won't leave me alone.

These wounds won't seem to heal.

This pain is just too real.

There's just too much that time cannot erase.

Sam had also seemed to pick up on the lyrics, alarmed at the reaction she had seen in Jo's face. The blonde squeezed the woman's hand, whispering quietly, "It'll be okay."

Jo squeezed back, Sam's presence much needed.

Abi sensed the tension between the two women, feeling they needed to be alone to overcome the ordeal Jo had been through. "I think I'm gonna take Jack around to Sarah's. I haven't seen her much recently. I might take a bag and stay over." She said whilst getting up, politely excusing herself from the women's' company.

"Oh okay love." Sam replied distractedly, still concerned about Jo. "Call me when you get there yeah?"

"Yeah, sure."

When Sam turned her attention back to the song playing in the background she noticed the same lyrics replay.

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried…

Jo felt a few tears trickle down her face at the thought of what had happened never being erased.

…I'd wipe away all of your tears

Sam stretched her arm out; she stroked her hand across the brunette's face, removing the tears that had found there way down her cheeks.

They said their goodbyes to Abi when she came back down to leave. As she left, Jo pulled Sam towards her, finding herself lying down with the blonde resting on top of her; she wrapped her arms protectively around the petite woman. It was at least twenty minutes before the pair spoke again, finding they were comfortable just being in one another's company. "Jo?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna go have a bath if that's alright?"

"Yeah, course it is. Why don't I join you?"

"Are you sure? So soon after… y'know."

"I can't let our relationship suffer because of what Stuart did to me. That would be giving him exactly what he wants."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I can't bear the thought of him splitting us up."

"Okay. Jo?"

The brunette nodded.

"That song that came on when Abi first put this channel on?"

"Yeah?"

"Did it make you think of… y'know."

"Yeah, it did a bit."

"Talking about not leaving you alone, and wounds not healing, and pain and it being un-erasable?"

"I suppose. You know what Jack said, Sam, I won't ever be able to get over it. But I'll have you, won't I?"

"Yeah, of course you will."

"Good. Now, are we gonna have this bath or not?"

"Yeah, come on then." Sam smiled, dragging herself to her feet, pulling Jo up as she went.

End of Chapter

Abi was right; the song used in this chapter is indeed 'My Immortal' by Evanescence.