hanes
Mared lay on her side, the duvet covering her as she listened to him breathe. The room shrouded in darkness but for the street light's orange glow. One hand rested on Tom's bare arm as it covered her waist. For the first time in a long time she felt safe and loved. She bit her lip as he tightened his hold on her, unsure whether he was awake or not. She knew it would be a while before she'd sleep. Even with Tom there she knew her mind wouldn't let her rest.
Xxxxx
Prosser glared at the ceiling. The anger at his situation firmly on the detectives back in Aberystwyth. He had hated Mared working for him; the teenage girl he had domineered and terrified now a grown woman stood up to him. Eight years he had worked in Cardiff and Gwent. Returning to find her not only a police officer but a detective and a bloody good one had been disconcerting. Mared Rhys had grown up; she was clearly able to take care of herself and her team. He smirked, remembering her initial discomfort at him brining in Tom Mathias. A loose cannon, vulnerable and very likely to get both her and himself killed. Only he hadn't bargained for the bond that was so clearly evident.
"Bloody Hell." He mumbled as the man on the bottom bunk snored. Swansea prison was doing little for his beauty sleep. He folded his arms behind his head. In three weeks he would see both detectives in the dock; unless his friends in very low places got their act together. He smirked - either way he knew Mared Rhys and Tom Mathias would be ruined.
Xxxxxxx
"No." Tom mumbled as he slept. Mared touched his arm, holding him to her. She knew he suffered with nightmares. The past returning to haunt him as he slept - the death of his little girl the most common demon to haunt him. She turned in his arms, resting a hand on his chin.
"Hush cariad." She soothed as a tear escaped his eye. She caught it with her thumb. "Tom, it's ok."
"Sorry." He whispered. "Not her, not Mared."
Her heart hammered in her chest as she listened to him. He wasn't dreaming about Sara and Hannah. He was dreaming about her attack. She kissed his forehead as his eyes fluttered open.
"It's ok." She whispered. "Mae'n iawn."
"I."
"It's ok." She smiled slightly. In that moment she knew she didn't want to tell him. She couldn't face seeing the horror and pain when she told him who Elin's father really was. The teenager had asked once, more out of interest than any real need to know her parentage. She had told everyone the same lie; it had kept them safe since his return. Part of her had known the truth would come out eventually - she prayed that it wouldn't be used against her in court. For seventeen years she had protected everyone from the truth, if it came out now it could destroy her. She bit her lip as she watched him open his eyes.
"Mared."
"It's ok." She smiled as he focused on her, pulling her into his arms as he realised he had been dreaming. He kissed her gently, apologising for waking her as she kissed his chest.
"Go to sleep. I'm here, it's ok." She whispered as he held her. In that moment she knew if history was going to be dragged up she had to protect her family and Tom at all costs.
Xcccccc