Drive

Cathy stared into space as Mark drove through the Dublin streets in silence. She felt sick at the thought her family had known Michael was back in Ireland. Part of her was furious that they hadn't told her but another part was so pleased her older brother had found her.

"Does Mammy know?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"Yesterday, when I was in work." Mark sighed. "Betty and Bono were down the shops, saw him at the tills. She told me last night when Bono was in bed."

"And?"

"And you'd already left this morning when we'd taken Bono to school. I'm sorry, Cathy. I saw red. The thought of him, of him hurting you again." He shook his head. Cathy smiled sadly.

"I'm ok." She looked across at him. "Honestly."

"I've seen the bruise on yer wrist." Mark carried on driving.

"Yeah. Well. That'll be the last time he puts a hand on me. Please, don't tell Mammy about my arm."

"Ok." Mark sighed. He knew his mother would notice immediately. Cathy rested her head back against the car seat looking out of the window as Mark drove towards his mother's house. "Dermot and the others were all looking for you."

"I don't want any of this."

"Neither did any of us." Mark turned the van towards the street where he his family home was. "I didn't."

"What?" Cathy turned to her brother.

"I didn't tell Dermot, Rory and Trevor what happened. Not all of it. They barely remember what it was like when we were all kids. No way I'm going to explain what happened when me and Betty went to London to find you. If I explain that I'd have to explain what happened with mammy and Redster."

"You won't even call him Dad." Cathy sighed. Mark gritted his teeth.

"No, the one thing that man taught me. The only thing was that I didn't want to be like him. When I grew up and became a father I would not be like him."

"And your not." Cathy smiled at him. "You're right. The younger ones won't remember but I think Rory does. A bit. It's you and me that remember the most, even then Rory was in his own world." Mark smiled back at her.

"But you kept your promise, eh?"

Mark blushed. "Even at fourteen years old. You held Dermot's hand at the graveside and said you were the head of the family now and nothing was going to hurt the people you loved."

"I was a kid."

"No, you were. Are. Our big brother that always looks out for us."

"Didn't do much for our Simon. Dermot ended up in Young Offenders." Mark shook his head.

"It was the best thing that could happen to him. Simon took to drugs. He was too much like Da. Cmon, now. Trevor, Rory, Dermot and me. We did ok and so did you. And that is down to you and Mammy. Bono' lucky to have a dad like you now come on, let's prove to Mammy I'm still alive!"

"Yeah." Mark sighed. "What do we tell Maria and the others?"

"Nothing. Tell them nothing." Mark nodded once, knowing they would never get away with it.

Xxxxx

"Dermot?" Deano leant across the kitchen table towards his brother in law. "What's going on?"

"I have no idea. But it has to do with Cathy."

"Rory said her ex husband has been in touch. I never even knew she had been married!"

"Well she was." Another snap of the tea towel reminded him that Mrs Brown didn't approve of gossip. "And that's all any of yer need to know. She was married. Now she isn't."

"They divorced? You don't believe in divorce."

"There are many things in this world I don't like. Many I don't agree or believe in but sometimes they are the best thing. Divorce was the best thing." Winnie nodded as she sat next to Dermot.

"But divorce? In the Brown family?"

"Yes. Deano. Divorce." Cathy sighed as all eyes fell on her. "I got divorced. Is that still news in this family?"

"But you?!"

"Leave her alone." Buster snapped. "Save your breath for something you know about! How are yer, Cathy? Mark find you alright?"

"I'm fine, Buster. Now Michael is back in Ireland. I sent him packing this time and I will again."

"Oh, Cathy Luv." Mrs Brown hugged her only daughter. "I didn't know what had become of you. Mark, you're a good boy." Mark smiled slightly meeting Betty's eyes as he did so. Suddenly her phone rang causing the blonde to pick up the small device and turn away. Dermot watched as his mother held Cathy at arms length.

"I'm fine, Mammy." Cathy sighed. "Honestly."

"So? Why is Michael here?" Rory asked.

"I don't know."

"No! You keep him there with you. Do not let Bono leave with anyone! He does not have an uncle Michael. Keep him with you." She grabbed her keys as Mark swore.

"I'm coming with you." Cathy yelled.

"No!" Mark snapped. "You stay here." He followed Betty out of the door as Mrs Brown caught her arm.

"Do as Mark says. The teachers won't let him take Bono. You know they have that list of names that can collect the children. It's only Mark, Betty and me on it. No uncle Michael."

"The thought of him being in the same room as my nephew. As that little boy."

"I know." Agnes twisted the tea towel in her hands. Winnie shook her head, knowing her friend wouldn't rest until all her family were safe. Grandad walked into the kitchen, his cap firmly pulled down over his eyes.

"Buster, Dermot with me."

"Where are we going?" Buster asked the old man.

"Maria, you too." Maria glanced at her mother in law who just shook her head. She knew the old man well enough to know what he was up to.

"Grandad."

"I'm not having this." He grabbed the walking stick he didn't need before heading out the house. Winnie glanced at Agnes wondering how much more her family could take.

Xxxxx

"Yous!" Betty yelled as she marched through the school hall. "You do let my son go home with anyone who is not on that list! Do you hear me? Me, his Da and his Granny. No one else!"

"Mrs Brown." The man in the tweed jacket raised his hands as Mark walked towards his only child.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. I told Mr Donoghue I have an uncle Trevor, an uncle Dermot, and Uncle Rory and an uncle Deano. I don't have an uncle Michael."

"Good boy."

"Then I kicked him in the shins and ran in here."

"Mrs Brown."

"Don't you Mrs Brown me! And why on earth would you think my son would be taken out of school in the middle of the day!"

"Which is why they called you." Bono folded his arms.

"Ok. Ok." Betty sighed. "Bono? Are you ok?"

"I'm grand so I am." He mimicked his mother as Mark tried not to smirk. Betty rolled her eye.

"Good, but your still coming home with me. I can't trust this school right now." She ushered the nine year old out of the hall as Mark thanked the teacher for calling them. Bono frowned slightly as he dug in his pocket.

"Oh Ma, the man gave me this." He handed her an envelope. "Said I was to give it to Aunty Cathy." Betty suppressed the urge to swear before meeting Mark's eyes. The envelope looked innocent enough but she knew what Michael was capable of. Things were far from over.

A/N more soon please review