Author's Note: Thanks a million to CSI Encyclopedia, grangehilllover & maddiejean95for reviewing the last chapter! I'd also like to thank everyone else for reading because all of you are what make this story awesome!

This is a bit longer than previous chapters but think of it as making up for chapters two and three being shorter.

Danni x

After the weekend

Rachel Mason was in her office and was starting their daily management meeting. Rachel, Kim and now Chris were sat at the table but Max had decided to sit away from the three of them at the desk. Chris could more than figure out that all three of them were annoyed at each other for whatever reasons they had.

"As I'm sure you're all aware, Mr Walker from the LEA is coming in today to assess Helen Hopewell's performance."

"Yeah. Since when did we need an outside educator to inspect our own NQTs?" Chris asked with interest.

"Well I think it's fairer to get an impartial opinion." The head replied to her deputy's question.

"Meaning you two don't see eye to eye on the subject?" Chris looked at Rachel before looking at Max. He was more than aware about the tension that has been building since the start of term.

"I would like Helen to pull this off as much as anyone else but you know with all of her disasters, I have serious doubts."

Chris then looked to his boss and questioned him, "How do you rate Helen's performance Max?"

Rachel and Max ended up staring at each other intently before he answered, "Well, I think she's got potential."

"Yes but as we have all seen this term that potential hasn't come has it?" Rachel bounced back with.

Kim, who had been quiet throughout this whole conversation, decided to get involved here, "Isn't that the point to get an outside inspector so he can judge whether she's up to the job or not? You know, maybe none of us are objective enough to judge the people we work with everyday."

The silence following this was definitely long and awkward. Chris looked to each of his fellow colleagues and asked, "Is there any other business to discuss or should we wrap this up?"

"I've got something. The end of term is coming up and I thought it might be nice to celebrate. Show how far the school has come since the merger." Kim suggested.

"Sounds good." Chris agreed and Rachel also nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes I think it's a great idea Kim. Leave it to me." Max, finally, got up from his desk and agreed before Rachel wrapped the meeting up.

"I've seen Rottweilers with less bite in there than the three of you in there this morning." Chris approached Rachel as she was at the top of the stairs.

"It was nothing."

"Nothing? Right, that's why you practically ran out of the room."

Rachel sighed in worry before deciding that she had to tell Chris about what happened on Friday. He had to know seeing as how he is his boss and how a member of his tutor group is involved.

"I told Kim."

"Judging by the arctic conditions we endured earlier, I'm assuming she didn't take it too well."

"No she didn't. She accused me of lying and before I knew it I had to speak to Pandora..."

"Pandora? About what?"

The head then took another deep breath and sighed before thinking about how she was going to word this, "After you, Helen and Karla's mum spoke to me about Pandora I decided I needed to speak with her about Max. She wouldn't tell me anything because she was worried about him finding out that someone knew what was happening at home. I offered for her to come round mine, in the hope, that it would encourage her to tell me with Max not being in the picture."

"Why didn't she come and speak to me?"

"She was probably worried that you wouldn't believe her. Then Max came round." The last bit slipped out of her mouth.

"He came round to your house?"

"I don't want to make a big deal but we had words and he might have pushed me."

"He pushed you? I don't believe this. I know Max had a temper but are you two okay?" Chris went closer to Rachel in disbelief. After so many years of working for him, that was the last thing he expected.

"I'm fine. A bit shaken up, don't want to be in a room alone with him but I'm worried about Pandora. She has to live with him on her own Chris."

"Did he see her when he came round?"

"No I don't think he noticed."

"Right, I'll have a word with the both of them. I've got Pandora before lunch so I'm sure she'd talk then wouldn't she? I'll speak to Max too. I need to sort him out."

"We've got a school to run Chris. The last thing I need is you two at logger heads."

"But Rachel..."

"Don't make me pull rank on you." Rachel cracked a smile before going to meet the inspector for Helen.

Back with Pandora

I dragged myself to school but I was scared. I didn't want to go but I knew I had to. I had science just before lunch but I was much more jumpy and I couldn't concentrate on my work.

At lunch time, Mr Mead kept me behind. He said he wanted to speak to me about something but he didn't say what.

"Listen. Miss Mason told me about Friday. I wanted to check you're okay."

"Did she tell you everything?"

"She told me about your dad threatening her. Hang on, are you alright to stay here whilst I speak to Max? I'll make sure he doesn't do anything. Here, read up on this revision so it looks like you're busy." He passed me a work book which explained everything I needed to know for the exams later in the year.

"I have a problem with Helen Hopewell... Does Pandora need to be here?" Max burst in the room and the first thing he noticed was me.

"Yes I'm helping her with quite a few things that's she not grasped yet in lesson. Don't worry I've given enough to keep her busy so she won't listen." That last bit, unknown to the two men, was a lie. I wouldn't watch though, it'd ruin my chances of finding out more about him. I then heard that he had given Miss Hopewell the job because he had been sleeping with her. That was disgusting as well as the fact he was dating Kim when he hasn't gone through with the divorce. The bloody sod. I thought I couldn't hate him anymore.

"I'm doing what's right for this school."

"No you're doing what's right for you. Was threatening Rachel Mason for the good of this school as well? And were you lying to Kim about your wife for the good of this school? I agree to keep your marriage quiet so you could maintain your professionalism not to get a colleague to have an affair." I felt a tear slip down my face at the memory of being paralyzed as my dad was threatening one of the nicest teachers I had ever met.

"That's none of your business."

"Believe me, I'd like to keep it that way. But I am the deputy head and you're starting to run this school like your own personal empire."

"If I am it's because I care. This place is sorely lacking in leadership."

"I used to believe that. I used to think that you're problem with Rachel was just professional. It's becoming more and more obvious that this is personal. You are the executive head. You have other schools to be looking after and yet here you are every single day. What are you still doing here Max? Apart from dragging others members of staff into the mess that is your personal life. Whatever problems Helen is causing you, you brought it on yourself."

"I'll have to deal with it myself, won't I?" Max then walked past me, brushing my shoulder on purpose. He must have known me well enough to know that I would have overheard every word of that. At least I have the heart to not use information in that way.

"And Max. The next time I hear about you threatening a teacher in their home, even if they don't report it to the board, I will." He then gave me an evil glare as if I was responsible before looking at Chris before storming out.

I apologized to Mr Mead for getting him involved in all this but he said that he would have had to get involved anyway. We then went back to talking about what happened on Friday. I explained how I was in the next room when everything happened, hence why Max thinks I don't know.

"Well. If anything else happens, you can always go to Miss Mason in tutor time. Just tell me that you want to go and see her and I'll let you go."

"Thanks Sir. I feel so much better even though he doesn't have a clue."

"Me and Miss Mason will have to inform Miss Campbell what's going on but since she isn't dating him anymore it won't be as hard to tell her."

"Can I be there when you and Miss tell her?"

"If you want. I'll speak to Miss Mason."

"Thanks again sir." I gave a genuine smile to him and went to enjoy the rest of my lunch break.