Authors Note: This chapter takes place during the second episode. It is a phone call between Effy and Freddie. I imagine it as the first time they ever really talk to one another, one on one. I hope you all like it. Please comment and let me know what you think.

Chapter Time Line: Episode 2 (After Freddie walks away from Cook in the ally.)

Chapter 3: Answers

The whipping wind of the night howled in an eerie cry that felt almost human. The guttural sound was heart wrenching, like something deep in the pit of an injured animal. Freddie could relate to that sound and that feeling. He could relate to the helpless pleas that went unanswered. But, Freddie never cried out, in fact he hardly ever made a noise. Instead he let the wind do his bidding. Reveling in the cool air, he snapped open his phone and searched for an answer. Scrolling down he stopped at

Cook's name. Only moments ago he had basically told the self centered prick to fuck off. Still, he knew that if he simply hit the call button, Cook would forgive him in an instant. But, Freddie didn't want to be forgiven, he wanted to be heard. And the likely hood of Cook ever really hearing him was slim. Hell, the likely hood of anyone hearing him was less than likely. Except maybe…

"Effy." He quietly whispered her name, like a prayer, before hitting the call button on his phone. It was the first time he'd ever used the number he'd acquired through Naomi. But something about watching her name fill his phone screen felt so incredibly right. She was the answer he was looking for.

"Yeah?" She answered, in typical Effy fashion. Her cool voice was calming and familiar. Freddie instantly felt the howling of his inner wind die down.

"It's me." He responded dumbly. Snapping his eyes shut, he shook his head at the sheer idiocy of his greeting. As if she would know who me was.

"Is everything alright Freddie?" She question, still calm, though curious. He fought the urge to smile at her knowledge of his voice. It was a small victory, but a victory none the less.

"Uh, yeah. Fine. I just wanted to um… make sure you got home okay." He lamely lied.

"You wanted to make sure I got home okay?" She repeated, sounding confused.

"Right, yeah… well you and Panda. She was ah, pretty fucked and I just wanted to…" Freddie trailed off and resisted the urge to smack himself on the head.

"Make sure we got home alright." She finished in a knowing voice. He nodded, though she couldn't see his motions over the phone. "How's Cook?" She questioned, causing his stomach to drop. Less than an hour ago Freddie had been legitimately worried that he would have to watch Cook and Effy walk off together, knowing that they were going to fuck. When she'd declined Cook's offer his heart had thudded so loudly that he'd worried others could hear it's twittering.

"He's fine of course. The stupid fucking douche will always be just fucking fine. He's got the luck of a wanking Irishman." He muttered in distaste. His earlier aggression towards Cook showed no signs of dimming now.

"It's not luck Freddie, it's you. He has you." Effy's voice soften. The slightly shocked look on Freddie's face was nothing compared to the stutter of his heart.

"I guess. Maybe." He responded, barley above a whisper.

"How long have you been cleaning up his messes?" She questioned.

"I dunno."

"Too long probably. Yeah?"

"Yeah." He agreed. The street lights fanned over him as he rounded the corner of the street next to his own. He was almost home. This thought should have warmed him; it didn't.

"You can't stop though, can you? You can't just leave him to fend for himself." She pointed out expertly. Vaguely in the back of his mind, he wondered when Effy Stonem had gained any sort of insight into the trio of friends.

"I told him to fuck off tonight, told him I was done with his stupid games." He replied.

"That's a lie though isn't it?"

"I don't want it to be."

"But it is. Because the next time Cook fucks up, the next time he gets himself nearly killed, you'll be there. You'll save his pathetic arse and you'll be there." Her words left no room for argument. And Freddie knew that she was right. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't turn his back on his friend and family. It was one of his greatest strengths; it was also one of his truest weaknesses.

"Makes me sound like a bloody golden retriever." He joked, trying to lighten the conversation. A conversation he wasn't entirely aware of starting.

"It's good though. Everyone needs that person who will always be there. I guess…" She trailed off, sounding unsure of her admission. It was severely out of character for Effy to discuss anything beyond basics. She was woman of few words and many feelings.

"What about you?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"My brother, Tony." She simply replied.

"That's nice, that you and your brother are close." Over the phone it seamed so much easier to open up to Effy. Her voice and her thoughts lead him to believe that she felt the same way.

"Have you got any siblings?"

"Karen, my sister. We don't really get along though. She actually a bit of a whore." He admitted. There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and for a moment Freddie was sure that she had hung up.

"Eff?" He questioned quietly.

"Who's your person Freddie." She spoke hesitantly, with meaning.

"What?"

"Who's your Freddie, or your Tony?" She clarified.

"Oh, well ah…" He trailed off, realizing not for the first time, that he was short of an answer.

"Right." She whispered.

"Cook and JJ, they really are good friends most of the time." He began to explain.

"But not all the time." She pointed out.

"No, not all the time." He amended.

"It's not really fair then is it? People like Cook and me, we get people like Tony and you. But who do you get? Who do you get Freddie?" She asked, sounding upset.

"I'm okay on my own." He assured her.

"So am I." She replied. "Sometimes okay isn't good enough though, is it?" She continued. Swallowing hard, Freddie shook his head.

"No." The words barley escaped his lips as he walked up the path to his house. Looking up he saw the darkened windows. He knew that both his father and his sister were home. But that knowledge did nothing to cease the emptiness he was sure awaited him inside. He was so fucking lonely sometimes, it made him sick.

"If I wasn't so fucked up…" Effy's voice spoke quietly in his ear.

"I know Eff. I know." He responded before she could say another word. And as Freddie open the door to his house, he felt a tiny pang of hope. Maybe Effy wasn't ready to be that person for him just yet. But the fact that she even wanted to, well that was enough to give him a reason to wait. He knew she would fuck up and break his heart. He even expected it. But he would wait for her. He would wait until she was ready. Effy Stonem might not have known it but, someone other than Tony was willing to be there for her. No matter what.

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