"Right then you two, lets get home." Zoe said, as she walked into Nicks office. This time she discovered Nick and Jody, still on the couch, Jody lying down with her head on nicks lap and both of them fast asleep. Looking at them both for a minute, she thought to herself. 'This is the last place I'd ever have imagined myself. Happily married and a mother.' He more she thought about it, the more she realised, she's never been happier. She walked over and gently shook them awake.
"Come on, lets go home." She said, softly. They opened their eyes. Jody immediately smiled.
"Hello mum." She said.
"Hello baby, come on, sit up." She did. Then Nick spoke.
"Hi darling." He said, kissing her quickly. This time she did not throw up.
"Hello. Get your coat on, we're going." She whispered.
"Okay." He said, following command.
"Jody if this is how much you are capable of distracting your father, maybe the office isn't such a good place for you to stay." Zoe teased.
"No! Mum! I didn't distract him! I promise!" Jody yelled. Zoe laughed.
"I'm only joking! Seriously though Nick, did you get any work done today?"
"Erm, quite a bit actually." He took Zoe's hand and sneakily pecked her cheek. Lets get outta here!" He said, making her laugh softly. Jody bounded over and threw her hand into Zoe's free one.
"All set."
"Good." They left the office and walked hand in hand out of the hospital and across the car park to Nick's Mercedes. The drive home was short, calm and filled with the blare of classical music, much to Zoe's disgust. They went into the house and Nick headed upstairs for a shower. Zoe sat down on the couch and beckoned Jody over to her.
"I want to talk to you." Zoe says, Jody sits down and listens. "I'm sorry about getting angry at you earlier outside of Tess' office. I know why you lied, I worked it out and questioned Tess about it. I know about the affair. You don't have to lie to me now. Okay? Sorry I shouted at you." Jody nodded and threw her arms around her mum.
"I'm sorry too! I'm so glad you know the truth now because it almost killed me to lie to you like that!" Se said. Zoe smiled.
"That's okay. Right, I'll go boil the kettle." Zoe said.
"I'll get the tea bags." Jody finished. They both headed into the kitchen and made the tea. A short while later, Nick joined them. He poured himself some tea and then joined them at the table.
"Hold on a minute." Nick said suddenly. Jody and Zoe both looked up. "Jody was going to school today... Why was she at the hospital when we all agreed she was okay to go to school?" Jody gulped down the rest of her tea and headed to the sink with her head down. Zoe, as promised, decided to keep her secret.
"She had a migraine this morning, I thought it best to keep her off, in the staff room, where we could keep an eye." She said matter-of-factly. Jody threw her a quick, appreciative smile.
"I'm off to bed, I've got to get up for school tomorrow. Goodnight." She gives each parent a hug and a kiss and heads upstairs to bed. Once she was out of earshot, Nick turned back to Zoe.
"So what really happened. The truth please." He said, Zoe faltered.
"What, that was the truth." She stammered.
"No it wasn't. I can read you like a book Zoe and I know damn well how to tell when you're lying. Also, the quick glance at Jody gave you away. Not to mention her instant change in body language. One minute she's smiling, next she fails to even look at me. I'm not a fool." Zoe sighed and hesitated.
"She doesn't want me to tell you." She said, finally.
"Tell me." Nick said, sternly.
"Those men, in the basement. They took her virginity Nick." He choked on his tea.
"What!" He shouted.
"Keep your voice down! She told me two nits ago. I think she's coping... It's so hard to tell though. She says she was unconscious for most of it. But it's knowing what they did that's hurting her. I dropped her off at school this morning but she dogged, headed to the hospital instead. Snuck in and asked Tess for a blood Tess. Tess called me. She burst into tears in the office. All right. Now you know. But she made me promise not to tell you. I don't think her mental state would benefit from her finding out you know so just keep it a secret okay. You know nothing."
"Okay." He said quietly, struggling to digest this news.
"Come on, finish that tea and lets get up to bed. We have really early shifts in the morning." She said. Nick nodded, gulped the rest of his tea, placed his cup in the sink and followed Zoe upstairs. However, they saw the light was still on in Jody's room.
"Wait here." Zoe whispered and headed into the room to see what was going on. She discovered Jody sitting on her bed, clutching her teddy and crying softly.
"Jody? What's wrong." She asked worriedly.
"I turned out the light and I was back in the basement. I couldn't get out!" She wailed. Zoe went over and pulled her onto her lap, wrapped her arms around her and stroked her hair.
"Sh, sweetheart it's okay. It's fine." She was saying softly. Jody gradually fell asleep there. Nick stuck his head around the door and raised his eyebrows at Zoe.
"Paint attack." She whispered. He went over and placed a hand on his daughter's leg, only to retrieve it quickly as he had placed his hand on something wet.
"Zoe, something tells me she's not coping."
"What do you mean?" He raised his hand.
"Oh. Where's it coming from?"
"The tops of her legs. Give her to me and we'll go downstairs." Nick took Jody out of Zoe's arms and then the two of them headed down to the living room. They laid Zoe down on the couch before heading to the kitchen to get the first aid kit. Zoe had tears in her eyes.
"What's she got in her room that's sharp enough to do this?" She asks Nick.
"Her nails." He says.
"What?" Zoe asks.
"These aren't simple cuts. Judging by their size, width, depth and appearance. I'd say she's scratched the same area repeatedly. So much so that she's scratched away layers of skin." He began to dress her wounds. Jody stirred in her sleep as a result of the pain in her legs being agitated by Nick. She opened her eyes to discover herself lying on the couch being bandaged up by her parents. She sighed and threw her head back.
"I'm sorry." Is all she said.
"We're not angry. We're just upset you didn't talk to us more. It shouldn't have come to this." Zoe said, taking hold of Jody's hand.
"Okay, all done." Nick announces. "Lets all go back to bed." They all get up but Jody turns to Zoe.
"Will you sit with me until I fall asleep?" She asks.
"Of course sweetie."