Hello!

Got a new chapter! R&R! I'll say no more.

Disclaimer: Me no own PO5

Scarlett hung out her clothes to dry. She was quite tired after the paintball war. Richard had made both Scarlett and Matt clean up the mess. Then they'd had to wash their clothes by hand – the washing machine had broken down last minute. She now felt really sorry for the people of the past. How the hell had they survived without technology?

She just finished when Matt came out. His grey shirt was soaked and clinging to his skin.

'What happened to you?' Scarlett giggled.

'Richard thought it would be funny to trip me up. I fell straight into the washing basin,' Matt scowled, hanging a pair of wet jeans on the line.

Scarlett laughed, sitting on a large rock. 'Karma's a bitch, huh?'

'You'll be laughing on the other side of your face later,' Matt said. 'He swore he'd get you next. Something about spiders…' He hung up his hoodie.

Scarlett went pale. 'S-spiders?'

Matt frowned. 'Are you all right?'

Scarlett cleared her throat. 'Promise you won't laugh.'

'I won't.' He sat beside her.

'I… um…. I'm really scared of spiders,' she said quietly. She shivered at the thought of spiders.

'Really?'

Scarlett nodded. 'They're all black and creepy and they have way too many legs. They're just….eww.'

'Well, I'm not good with heights,' Matt admitted.

'Seriously?' Scarlett had never imagined Matt was scared of anything.

'Yeah. I'm really bad on planes.' He looked at his hands. 'I remember when me and Richard were going to Peru, to stop the second gate from opening, I was terrified on the plane. Just the thought of being up in the air for, like, ten hours or something, freaked me out.'

Scarlett nodded slowly. She could imagine how scary it was, even though she had no fear of heights.

She looked at him. His eyes seemed to be misted over. Scarlett knew what he had been through, though she couldn't imagine what it felt like, having people running after you for months on end trying to kill you.

It was then that she noticed a long thin scar across Matt's cheek. It was so faint that she hadn't noticed it before.

'What's that on your cheek?'

Matt looked at her in confusion. 'What?'

'That scar.'

Matt touched it gently. 'That's where I got cut in the museum.'

'Oh.' Matt had told her about the incident with the dinosaur skeletons.

A silence fell between them.

Scarlett glanced at Matt. He seemed to be deep in thought.

'You okay?' she asked. She laid a gentle hand on his arm.

'Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.' He smiled. 'Better than I've been in a long time.'

They both decided to go and amuse themselves.

Holly woke suddenly. She was expecting to see the damp and stony walls of her prison, but instead she saw the felt-covered roof of a car. She felt a protective arm around her shoulders. She looked up and saw Jamie smiling at her. A grin spread across her face. He gently kissed her forehead.

'How're you feeling?' He asked, running his fingers through her hair.

Holly yawned. 'Brilliant.'

Jamie smirked. 'You looked exhausted.'

'Thanks.' Holly replied sarcastically, smacking his arm.

She turned her attention to the rest of the car. Sophie was up front. She had somehow put on the radio and was bopping along to some pop song. Scott and Pedro were having an animated conversation, about football, of course. They were arguing about which type was better.

She felt Jamie squeeze her shoulder. 'Missed you.'

Holly turned to him. 'I missed you too.' She kissed his cheek.

'We're home!' Sophie called out. And sure enough, they had drawn up outside the safe house.

Holly looked at the building with a mixture of relief and disappointment. She hadn't done what she had set out to do – say goodbye to the village, the home she'd had for fifteen years. She wanted to put her tormented feelings to rest. But, because of that stupid policewoman, she hadn't been able to.

We'll go back there. Together. I promise.

Jamie's voice in her head again. She had missed that too. She was always telling him to get out, but she found it reassuring that he was always there.

Aww, that's sweet.

Except at times like that.

JAMIE TYLER, GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

But..

NOW!

'All right, okay, I'm out.' He said, hopping out of the car and helping her climb down. 'Sheesh.'

'I'm sorry, but I'm very protective of my thoughts.'

'Well, they're not protected from me.' he said in a mock-menacing voice, tickling her sides gently. She squeaked and giggled.

'Jay, get off!' she shrieked, squirming. He just laughed.

'Holly! You're okay!' Scarlett came around the corner, grinning. The two girls embraced. Matt appeared next and Holly embraced him too.

'I heard you helped them find me,' she said.

Matt shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. 'I was their Sat-Nav for about two minutes.'

'Thank you.' Jamie came up to them. He automatically wrapped his arm around Holly's waist. It was like he didn't want to leave her alone again.

'No problem.' Matt smiled.

They had a dinner in front of the fire that night, happy that Holly was back safe and sound. But little did they know that a whole new challenge was coming their way:

Secondary school.

Dun Dun Dun! Haha.

To readers of Flashbacks: I'm working on the next chapter: Meeting. What d'you think it'll be about? Hopefully you'll find out by the weekend!

That's that I suppose I'll see you soon

CG xxx