Emma leant her head against the wardrobe door. Closing her eyes and sighing she tried to hold back tears. This all should have been over fifteen years ago. Matt should have been locked up, Emma allowed to continue with her life, other innocent people including her daughter protected from that nutcase. She'd done nothing wrong, why should she be the one going into hiding?

Opening her eyes again she looked around the room and spotted a notepad on her bedside table. Ripping off a sheet she began to write quickly.

Dear Will,

I'm so sorry about all this. You'll say it's not my fault I know, I'll try to believe you. In an ideal world I'd love for you to be the one to protect me but you can't be here all the time. They need you on Elle's case. Find her sweetheart. Find my baby and bring her home safe. Even though things have been tough lately I've never stopped loving you and never will. I love you babe, don't ever forget it. Keep safe. Love forever xxxEmma

She folded the note in two and left it on his pillow along with the photo frame containing a snapshot from their wedding. Sliding off the bed she grabbed her bag and carried it downstairs. As she approached the living room she set down the bag and looked around nervously. "It's okay Em. I'm just in here." Smithy called, seeing her look around worriedly.

Emma sighed thankfully and leaned on the doorframe. Smithy came towards her with his arms out and she fell gratefully into them. He hugged her close, breathing in the sweet smell of her shampoo and perfume. "Thank you…you didn't have to do this…any of this." Emma said smilingly.

"I know I didn't. I wanted to." He replied sincerely, picking up her bag and steering her from the house. She climbed into the passenger side of his car and they set off towards his flat.

At the station Mikey and Will were still sitting in the soft interview room, neither saying much, neither needing to. Will's mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of failing his family while Mikey's were only for the concern of his twin sister's safety.

Mikey knew things about Elle that would make his parent's heads turn. He'd never thought much about what he knew before; it seemed irrelevant at the time but now…

"Mikey…Mikey, Auntie Carol's here to take you to hers. I'll be working on your sister's case for quite a while so I thought it would be best for you to stay at hers. At least then you've got Callum and Jason for company." Will said waking him from his trance as Will's sister stood waiting by the door. He kissed his son softly on the head and hugged him tight before letting go and watching him leave the room.

Meanwhile Matt was sitting across the basement from Elle on an upturned crate, just watching her. By now the blood on the cut on her collarbone had dried up and the pain had lessened. She was still shaking with fear but had put on a blank expression to show she was still semi in control. "Why? Why are you doing this to me…to my Mum?" Elle asked timidly.

"When I first met your Mum I knew she was the one for me. She's so beautiful but it's like understated beauty…it's natural. I met her at a friend's flat warming party. We got talking and for some reason she was interested in me…she asked me to take her home and well one thing led to another. How much do you know about Emma's past?" Matt said softly, still avoiding Elle's question.

"I only know vague bits and pieces about your time. I know more about her and Dad and a little about her childhood." Elle filled in.

"Mum used to live in the suburbs, she was an ordinary teenager; went to parties, had boyfriends, stayed out past her curfew. She fell out with her Dad when she was young…she wouldn't say what about but they're all right now. I know that you two were married and then you were charged with ABH and Abuse and you got divorced when you went to prison. Dad was there for her and they got together again. They got married and then Mikey and I were born." Elle said, trying to recall everything she'd been told.

"Well your Grandfather used to abuse both your Mum and Grandmother. He rebuilt the relationships after seeing a counsellor and they get on quite well considering. Emma and I were together for two years before we were married. The first time I proposed she got scared and I…I got angry and stormed out. She went to Will's and they ended up sleeping together. Emma felt terrible about it and we got engaged two days later in the car park of the station. Yes very romantic I know!" Matt said on seeing Elle's expression.

Elle's tummy rumbled loudly so Matt disappeared upstairs. He returned ten minutes later with a photo album, two mugs of hot chocolate and some cake. He took up a seat on the crate again as Elle flicked happily through the photo album. When she got to the end she looked up at him and saw a few tears dribbling down his cheeks. "No matter how badly it ended, she loved you when you were together and she always looked like she was having a good time." Elle said kindly.

"Thanks." He muttered before taking the empty mugs from the room and leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Emma wandered through into Smithy's kitchen and hoisted herself up onto the units. He walked towards her with a spoon in his hand looking worried. "Does this taste okay?" He asked, standing in between her legs. She opened her mouth and he popped the spoon inside.

"Mmmm it's great." Emma said enthusiastically. "I didn't know you could cook." Smithy blushed and took the spoon off her before kissing her cheek lightly and turning away towards the cooker. Emma also blushed but constantly reminded herself of what happened last time Will had thought they were having an affair.

Will sat in his empty house flicking silently through a car magazine. Where was Elle? How was Mikey? What was Emma getting up to with Smithy? Why couldn't he protect his family?

Jo was one of the last people now in CID. She turned over the small pile of witness statements and watched and re-watched CCTV until her eyes burned. Slowly she felt them drooping but then a silver Vectra caught her eye on the screen. Rewinding and using slow play she caught the partial index of the car and watched a girl with blonde hair bang frantically on the windows in an attempt to get out. They could rule out running away now. Jo slid her head into her hands and stayed like that for some time until Sam insisted that she was taking her home, in case Jo fell asleep at the wheel.

Later on in the evening, once they'd eaten and watched a movie, Smithy led Emma through to his room. "You can stay in here, I'll take the spare room." He said graciously. He went around turning on the bedside lamps and fishing out the things he'd need for the night before hugging her quickly and leaving the room.

Emma fished around in her bag and pulled out a pair of baby blue pyjamas which she began to get into. Hearing a knock on the door, out of habit she yelled, "come in" as at home it was usually just Will being polite. She remembered however that it was Smithy when she saw him standing with his mouth open in the doorway, a glass of water clutched tightly in his hand turning his knuckles white. He quickly closed his mouth and shut the door murmuring that he'd be back in a minute.

Emma smiled and then looked across at the mirror, being reminded by her reflection that she was standing in just a pair of very short pyjama trousers and some sexy underwear. "Crap!" She muttered before pulling her top over her head and walking over to the door.

Smithy stumbled in and placed the glass of water down on the bedside table before turning to go, still very red in the face. "Why are you so embarrassed?" Emma asked. "Surely you've seen enough women in their underwear not to blush that colour every time!" She asked.

"Um…yeah but not girls I work with generally." He said sitting down on the end of the bed. "Sorry I just…never mind." He said softly.

Emma crawled under the covers and patted the space beside her. "Can you stay with me tonight?" She asked in an almost frightened tone. Smithy frowned and looked between her and the door a few times. "Just as friends." Emma added seeing his hesitancy.

Nodding he too climbed under the covers and felt Emma snuggle up to him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and she rested a hand on his chest. "I'll protect you." He whispered before they both fell asleep.

Tee hee I'm evil aren't I? Read and review if you want the next chapter :P xxxpip