Tom Clarkson made his way from the staff room, still too stunned for words at what Christine had told them all that morning. It was Audrey that had pressed her for an answer, voicing everyone's concerns that Christine looked like she had barely slept all night. Tom being Tom, just thought it was a hard night marking or something with Connor. He wasn't really expecting her to reveal to the whole staff room that she had spent half the night with Dynasty Barry in the police station.

Christine of course, didn't need to go into details about why she was there. She only had to mention the word "assaulted" and he knew exactly what she meant. And he didn't need to be told who by either. Tom had always put the students first, no matter how bold and bolshy they may start out; he would always make sure they knew where to turn if they needed somebody to talk to.

Tom made his way to his classroom. He had the Year 12's first period. Maybe he could have a word with Dynasty then, after the lesson. Just to make sure she's… well, not okay, but at least make her aware she's not alone…

Dynasty broke away from Kacey and Barry as soon as she saw Connor and Imogen, and she walked over to them. "Hey…" she greeted in a quiet voice.

Imogen turned in her direction, stopped, and hugged her.

No words needed to be said between the two girls, just a mutual feeling of understanding, compassion and Imogen's unspoken words of she would never be alone.

Connor, never good in emotional situations, let alone those between his wife and her best friend, could only ask the one question he knew was stupid, and also knew the answer to. "How you feeling?"

Dynasty stepped away and linked her arm with Imogen's and shrugged. "Like I got hit by a bus." She answered.

"Yeah you look it." Imogen commented, smiling, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Dynasty managed a small laugh as the three of them walked. "Thanks, you know how to make a girl feel pretty." She commented.

"Yeah, sorry I know it was stupid." Connor shrugged, keeping close by Imogen.

"Nothin' new there then, Mulgrew." Dynasty gave him her trademark smirk before looking around for Kevin.

Connor smiled a little, letting the comment pass, and then watched her looking around. He didn't need to know who for. "Kevin said he'd be a bit late."

"They let him go though." Dynasty said, her eyes wide, clearly getting the wrong idea.

"No! No nothing like that. He just had to sort something." Connor hurried to assure her, and turned to Imogen to help him out of the mess he'd created.

"What Connor means is that Chalky was called last night cause these two were idiots. And he rushed from London in the night and they're both sorting out the flat, and Kevin will be here by morning break." Imogen stated, seeing her friend visibly relax after her explanation.

"Yeah why let Barry trick you like that anyway?" Dynasty questioned as they waited outside Clarkson's room ready to be called in.

"I dunno! It was Kevin's idea to go to him in the first place. And I couldn't let him go on his own." Connor shrugged.

"And if you both got killed? What would have happened then?"

Connor flinched at the hardness in Imogen's words. "I know. And I'm sorry." He muttered.

Both girls shared a look.

"Can I? I haven't since your wedding day."

Imogen shrugged, and stepped aside, just as Dynasty took a swipe at Connor's head.

"Er, I hope you feel better after that Dynasty Barry? I don't want to see any more violence from you alright?"

Dynasty turned to see Mr Clarkson stood at the door and she gave him her best smirk. "Yeah sir, just tryin' to knock sense into Connor after yesterday."

"It'll take more than a few smacks around the head to do that." Tom joked. "Now get in there you lot!"

No one needed to be told twice. Tom Clarkson treated them like adults. Treated them like they were mates, but also held the authority and respect in his class.

Tom Clarkson was going to be there until there was no more Waterloo Road. Wasn't he?

The class took their seats as Mr Clarkson started handing out the books. He stopped at Dynasty and Imogen.

"Dynasty could you stay behind after the lesson? I just want to make sure everything's okay." He questioned gently.

Dynasty looked up at him, his blue eyes showing compassion, concern and kindness. She managed a small nod and looked to Imogen. "Can she stay too?"

Tom nodded. "Course. I'll write you both a note that should explain why you're late for your next lesson." He spoke and went to the front of the class.

Dynasty didn't listen to anything else that was said.

While she didn't have Kevin as her main sense of security, she did of course have her best friend. She hated feeling like she needed to rely on people to feel safe. She should not have allowed that… that man to do what he did to her. She said no, she meant no, but he didn't listen to her. She must have lead him on somehow, Steve-O wouldn't have hurt her…

But he did. Of course she didn't lead him on. He made her do something she wasn't willing to do. And now Kevin was in the flat, in the room where it happened probably. Their safe haven away from the people trying to come between them and that bastard tainted it.

Dynasty jumped when she felt someone nudge her, her cheeks turning pink when she realised Imogen had been the one to make the move, and Mr Clarkson was waiting for an answer. "Sorry… wasn't listenin' sir…"

"Evidently. Come on Dynasty this is where you usually shine." Mr Clarkson said, dryly. He had to treat everyone fairly, no matter what the underlying issues were. "Can anyone else tell me what is going on with Lady Macbeth?"

"She's losin' it sir!"

"Yes, thank you, Jack." Tom said silencing the ripple of laughter caused by Jack's comment. "Anyone else?"

Dynasty sat in silence. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she should have stayed home. There's no way she'd be able to concentrate…

Not long after, the bell rang. Dynasty and Imogen remained in their seats while everyone else gathered their things and left, talking loudly about anything and everything. Connor lingered for a moment, but left after a reassuring nod from Imogen and a silent "Text Kevin" from her as well.

"Imogen do you want to collect all the books?" Tom asked.

Imogen nodded and rose from her seat and did what she was asked.

Tom walked to his door and shut it softly, looking over the two girls. It wasn't too long ago they were both at each other's throats. Now both looked like they couldn't function properly without each other, or without their respective boyfriends. Well, he knew that of Imogen anyway, with Connor keeping his distance at the start of term through his own guilt, which left Imogen feeling isolated and alone, and her school work deteriorated as a direct cause of it. He waited for Imogen to put the books on his desk and sit back down before walking over to them. He moved a chair so he could sit facing them both. He looked up as the door opened and students started piling in. "Wait outside!" he told them as they made a hasty retreat out again and shut the door behind them.

"I'm fine, sir, you don't need to worry about me." Dynasty started.

"Well that's nonsense and you know it, don't you." Tom told her gently. "Worrying about you lot is my job. It's a wonder I haven't gone grey yet with the dramas you lot bring!" he joked.

"Sure you've not had a bit of help there, sir?" Dynasty smirked, laughing a little.

"How dare you!" Tom laughed. "Try telling that to Josh."

Both girls laughed again.

"Anyway, I just wanted to check you were getting the right support. Mrs Mulgrew didn't exactly go into detail, but she told me what happened last night. And I've been here long enough to know." Tom told them both, making sure they both knew he was there, but mainly speaking to Dynasty.

Dynasty shrugged. "Got me family ain't I. Got me mates an' all."

"And you've got me. And the support of all the teachers."

"Even Budgen? When he wakes up?" Dynasty wrinkled her nose.

Imogen laughed at her expression.

"Yes even Budgen. I know he's a grumpy old sod. But he cares about you lot too you know. That's why we've been here since the start."

"You're not as ancient as he is though!" Dynasty shot back.

Tom laughed. "I feel it after this place for about fifteen years." He told her. "If you ever need anything, a chat, or anything like that, that door is always open. Like I keep telling Kacey. And trust me she takes full advantage of it. There's nothing stopping you doing the same." He gave her a smile.

"Thanks sir." Dynasty smiled a little, for the first time since she woke up, feeling a little safer, than an adult was finally taking care of her. 'Bout seventeen years too late though…' she thought sadly.

"Go on, off you go. Make sure you hand this in so your next teacher knows where you've been." He told them, handing them both a piece of paper and watched as they left the room.

He put the chairs back to how they should be and walked to the now open door and nodded for his next class to come in.

Break time certainly couldn't have come quicker for Dynasty. Ever since she'd set foot in the class and told the teacher where she'd been, she couldn't shake off the woman's sympathetic gaze. Sympathy meant pity. And Dynasty Barry wasn't going to allow people to feel sorry for her. She met the pitiful gaze with a steely glare until the old bat left her alone and continued with the lesson.

Connor and Imogen barely said a word to her all lesson, until they were waiting for Kevin outside.

"Did he say how long he'd be?" Imogen asked.

"He text me about 5 minutes ago saying he was on the way… Chalky was going to bring him." Connor answered and looked as he got another message. He quickly read it and showed it to Imogen and Dynasty. The message read; "Got a real bollocking off Chalky, he's gonna look for you, be there in 2 mins."

Imogen shot him an 'I told you so' glare while Dynasty bit her lip.

"Hey it's my own fault, not yours." Connor told her.

"I know, but I didn't want you two getting' into trouble for me."

"You didn't think I was gonna let him get away with it did ya?"

Dynasty wheeled around at the voice and she threw herself into Kevin's waiting arms. She'd only been there the night before, but it felt like an eternity had passed.

"Are you er… Are you alright, Dynasty?" Daniel Chalk asked hesitantly. He didn't want to say the wrong thing and upset her.

Dynasty raised her head so she could look up at the man. "Will be when everyone stops askin' me that." She managed a small smile.

Daniel gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry, didn't know what else to say. Connor? Can I have a word?" it wasn't a request and the four of them knew it.

Connor followed Daniel away from the group, though he'd heard it all last night from his own mother, the glares from Dynasty and the slight harshness with Imogen. Playing with fire was one thing, but squaring up against a complete psycho and getting set up by Barry Barry was quite another.

"So did you stay with him?" Kevin asked, looking to Imogen.

"No… After she took Dynasty and you back she dropped me home. Mum was freaking out why I hadn't called or texted her and she said I was with you guys, but she said we lost track of time at hers so…" Imogen shrugged.

"Bet she didn't believe it… Did you see the way you looked last night?" Dynasty commented.

"Did you see yourself?" Imogen shot back, smiling. "I've got no make up to ruin."

"Cause you don't need it. Neither of you do." Kevin told them.

Both girls rolled their eyes. "Yes we do." They both stated.

"D'you think we should save Connor?" Kevin asked, looking over.

Imogen looked at Dynasty, shared a knowing smirk and shook her head. "No, let's leave him." She said.

"You are one cruel woman, Imogen." Kevin couldn't help but laugh.

"Think I'm bad; wait till you hear what she's got planned for you." Imogen lightly threatened.

"Aww come on girls we've suffered enough!" Kevin complained. "We were thick, we get it!"

"You're Kevin Chalk; you're not allowed to be thick!" Dynasty shot back, smirking.

"Well I was, and I'm sorry. So can we forget it now? Please?" he pleaded.

Dynasty was about to answer when her phone rang in her bag. She sighed and opened it and began her search for it. She found it in the bottom of the bag; she took it out and answered it. "Hello?" she spoke.

"Dynasty? We need to have a chat. Meet me at lunch time." Said the voice on the other end. It was Steve-O's mother.

Dynasty froze at the sound, her eyes wide with fear. He couldn't have called her… 'I bet he's told her it was my fault…' she thought.

"And if I don't?" she questioned, trying to sound braver than she was.

"Then you really don't want to know what I am capable of." The older woman threatened.

"Alright fine… where?" Dynasty sighed.

"I'll come to your school." The woman said and hung up before Dynasty could protest.

Dynasty just stood, froze to the spot. Kevin was trying to talk to her, and Imogen took the phone from her trembling fingers. "He told her…" Dynasty said softly.

"Who was it?" Imogen asked.

"That was his mam… he's gone an' told her ain't he. Told her what he did an' told her it was my fault. Or maybe he's told her I'm lyin'!"

Kevin glared and hugged her. He hated that that piece of scum still had a hold on her. After everything he did, he still has her scared, still knows exactly what to do to hurt her even when he's behind bars.