Awake

Siân yawned as she stared at the paperwork in front of her. As far as she could see, it was the worst part of the job. She could almost picture Lloyd rolling his eyes.

""Mae'n rhaid ei wneud. Nid oes unrhyw un yn hoffi gwaith papur." She mumbled as she imagined him saying it. She frowned as the red haired woman who had temporarily replaced Prosser walked in.

"Bore da Ma'am." Siân did her best to sound cheerful. The truth was she disliked Lynfa Powell as much as she disliked her predecessor. The older woman smiled slightly. Siân knew the woman wasn't a fluent welsh speaker; until moving to Aberystwyth she hadn't been either. There was no need for Powell to know that.

"Where is everyone?"

Siân shrugged her shoulders as she looked around the room. Powell raised an eyebrow.

"Not here."

"I see that." Powell snapped. "Look."

"Lloyd is seeing the relatives of the RTC. DCI Mathias, DI Rhys are going to the Evans' sentencing. I'm doing this paperwork ready for the CPS." Siân explained as the older woman watched her.

"Is that wise? Them going to the hearing?"

"How would I know?" Siân huffed before the older woman glared at her before leaving the office.

Xxxxx

Mared sat in the car, looking out over the carpark. Tom watched her for a moment, worried as she avoided his gaze.

"Is Elin ok?"

"Yeah, I think so." Mared smiled. "She only ever asked me once. About who he was. I changed the subject. She was only nine at the time. Too young."

"She's a great kid." Tom smiled. He'd immediately got along with the young girl. Something that Mared was thankful for. He covered her hand with his. "You don't have to do this."

"I do."

"Mared."

"I didn't think she'd take it as well as she has. I mean, she has half brothers that don't know she exists. A father that has been around in some form and I didn't tell her." Mared bit her lip. "Because I was a coward."

"Now you listen to me."

She turned to face him, the grip he had on her hand anchoring her to the spot.

"You are not a coward. You protected that girl all her life. He attacked you. Mared, you were still in school. Still a child! She reacted the way she did because you brought her up so well." He paused. "You are the bravest person I have ever met. He's the coward. He's the one that should be admonishing himself. Not you."

A single tear rolled down her cheek as he held her gaze. His thumb gently brushed it away as he eyes closed.

"I love you, Tom Mathias." He smiled before kissing her cheek. He pulled back, smiling slightly.

"We don't have to go into court."

"I do."

"Then I'll be with you. Ok?"

"Ok." She smiled as he kissed her.

"Good. Oh I love you too." He stated matter of a factly as he made to leave the car.

"I know." She whispered. "I know."

Xxxx