Taking charge

I would like to thank dolphini8paradise, aspiring novelist14, bene and Dybdahl for their wonderful reviews of this story. thank you, for you kind words and hope that I can carry on earning them. enjoy and review away.
Chapter eight

Sara managed to make little noise when she entered the apartment. It was late and she didn't want to wake anyone but she half expected both Lotte and Greg to be awake however what she found was more surprising. Neither were anywhere to be seen, the lights were on and the TV turned down low. Sara swiped away the last tears she had been shedding in the car on the drive home and went looking. She crept into Lotte's room and saw the child sleeping peacefully clinging tightly to a small unicorn teddy that Greg had given to her. Sara couldn't help the new tears nor the renewed feeling of strength… she had to protect this child no matter what. And she would make her father pay no matter what.

Then a strange noise hit Sara… she glanced around and headed back to the front door. But it was shut, no this noise was coming from the bathroom. Sara quietly headed towards the bathroom and found the door was shut and the sound of running water was trickling out from beneath the door. The noise that had drawn Sara to the bathroom was the sounding of loud humming.

She stood fixed outside the bathroom door and smile slightly, the image of Greg standing beneath her shower filled her mind… the flour coated clothes laying sprawled across her bathroom floor… then Sara shook her head. She didn't really want to think about him naked… it wasn't like she hadn't wondered but she didn't need to think about that right now not when he was standing on the other side of the door. Being her friend.

Sara quickly hurried into her bed room and sat with a thud on the end of her bed, her eyes raising up she saw it again… the picture, her promise. And with that Sara couldn't and wouldn't hold it in any more. The lose, the pain, the guilt and now the fear.

She had lost her best friend and she felt Lotte's pain. The guilt at getting the chance to watch the wonderful child grow up when her mother didn't and the fear… had Lucas come back… will he come back and can she protect the girl.

Sobs raked her body, she didn't even hear the bathroom door opening nor see Greg strolling in to the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his midsection. Sara tried to ease her tears but every attempt caused more to spill. Greg was stunned for a few moments but when he saw Sara's body shuddering with each sob he raced to her side and sat beside her, wrapping her in his arms. She didn't even mind being held against his wet form.

They sat for few moments as the sobs finally subsided and Sara took ragged breaths, Greg simply stroked her hair and rubbed his thumb back and forth against her shoulder. Offering her a small kiss against her head from time to time. However Sara moving, she didn't make any attempt. The pain was still coursing through her veins. She hadn't cried... no she hadn't sobbed for the whole situation.

"Sara" he dared to break the silence but didn't move away from her, Sara sniffled and took deep breaths.

"What happened" Greg asked as Sara sighed and finally pulled back. She lent her elbows on her legs and threaded her fingers together taking deep breaths. Her cheeks wet and her eyes sore as she focused on the floor.

"I thought… I saw…" Sara took a shuddering deep breath and looked at Greg who was drying off slightly from his shower "I saw Lucas" Sara told him causing Greg to frown for a moment before he realised who she was talking about. His eyes quickly darted to her door and she knew he was thinking about Lotte.

"At least I thought I did… outside the lab. I thought I saw him but when I went outside… there wasn't anyone there" Sara told him as Greg looked back at her, concern etched across his face.

"No he's gone… he wouldn't risk getting arrested" Greg offered but he knew it wasn't a convincing lie but he needed it said. "It doesn't matter… look at me, I fall to pieces at the thought" Sara's self doubt was emerging, it didn't happen often but when it did it scared her.

"No… god no Sara. We all get to fall once in a while what does matter is that you get back up" Greg declared but Sara shook her head avoiding his eyes "I don't know if I can protect her Greg… against him" Sara declared but Greg grasped her hand drawing her attention back to him. Tears glistened in her eyes once more and Greg wrapped his arms around her and she allowed him to hold her. After a few minutes Greg started to shiver as the water cooled against his skin.

"Um Sara I think I better get dress" he stated as Sara nodded… if she hadn't been emotionally drained she would have blushed but she simply nodded. She went to stand but Greg got up making sure he had a tight grip on his towel before reaching for a bag sitting near the door. He gave her a reassuring smile before walking out. Sara took a deep and shuddering breath before she stood and walked out of the bedroom.

When Greg stepped out of the bathroom wearing the extra pair f clothes he had kept in his car he glanced in the bedroom but found Sara missing. He heard movement from the kitchen and saw Sara cleaning the counter down. He was going to clean up after his shower but he just stood and watched Sara, she moved gracefully and had he not been holding her minutes before he would never have guessed she had broken down. She had allowed her walls down.

"Sara do you want to talk some more" Greg asked gently walking over to her. He was waiting for her to turn and fall back into his arms however she didn't, instead she stiffen but then carried on cleaning.

"No… I'm fine" she said coolly not looking at him. Greg stared in disbelief at what he was witnessing, she was pulling away again… from him and he didn't know what to do. He wished he hadn't let go of her before but… he attempted once more to get her to open up.

"Sara about before" "I was overreacting, your right he wouldn't risk coming back" Sara's voice was cold and Greg groaned inwardly stepping towards her he saw her face and was shocked by how neutral it looked.

"But you were upset… please just talk to me" Greg pleaded knowing that it wasn't an attractive quality to have as a man but he needed Sara to open up to him, before it was too late.

Sara glanced up at him and for a moment Greg was sure she was going to open up again but before he had a chance to urge her once more she turned away from him and sighed "I'm tired Greg… I just need some sleep" she told him causing Greg to run a hand through his wet hair. Sara turned and headed towards her bedroom "Sara" he didn't mean it to sound so demanding but he wanted her to open up to him if not for her sake then for Lotte's. Sara stopped and looked at him, for a moment he saw anger flash in her eyes but it was gone and she shook her head "goodnight Greg" it was the end of the conversation. Greg clenched his jaw and stalked towards the bathroom, he had wanted to storm after Sara and demand she talk to him but he knew that Sara had set her mind on being strong and that if he made any request would result in an argument.

Greg snatched his bag up and turned stalking to where his shoes were and jammed his feet in.

Once sitting in his car Greg wondered if his exit was a little childish. He glanced up towards Sara's apartment and saw the lights switching off; Sara hadn't said anything to him as he left. And now he was angry… but the problem was he didn't know what made him angrier the way he had left or that Sara had shut off.

She couldn't do that any more… she had Lotte and she had to be open for her. She couldn't bottle it all up. Greg groaned before he hit the steering wheel wondering why it was bothering him so much. He was use to Sara shutting people out; it was her way of dealing with things but… now was no different was it. Glancing up to the apartment once more he wondered why he cared so much… had he really needed her to open to him because he felt it was for her own good or did he just need her to depend on him, help him imagine that he was apart of her life the way he had wanted to be for the past five years.

He was tired, he didn't need this so he started the car and swung out of the car park and drove home ready for a sleepless night. He didn't even notice the dark car sitting opposite Sara's apartment and the lone figure inside.

Sorry if short and sorry for delay... I know i promised more action and more Greg/Sara but i thought we needed a bit of angst. plus it all leads to cuteness from the pair soon.