For MissWritingStoriesObsessed, Narkybynature and Lindsey. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read- please review. I'd like to know if I am getting the characters right. Also forgot to add Welsh translation in last time.

Siân said "paperwork- someone has to do it." And "good morning ma'am."

Chapter T rated

Court

The courthouse in Aberystwyth was ancient - a beautiful listed building dating back to the 1900s. It had always caught Mared's imagination. She wondered what cases and what sentences had been heard over the years. The place reeked of history and of a time more brutal than the one they lived in.

"Mared." Tom stayed close to her as they headed towards the courtroom where Evans was to be sentenced. She kept her eyes forwards; glad she had worn a suit - wanting her attacker to see she wasn't broken.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure?"

"If you ask me that once more, I swear I'll scream." She mumbled. Tom held up one hand in defeat. Sighing she shook her head before venturing into the mostly empty courtroom. She sat near the back, relieved when Tom slipped into the chair beside her.

Xxxxxxx

"Coffee?" Delyth looked up as Lloyd walked into her office. "Del? What's the matter?"

The brunette looked up, frowning. She liked the regular CID but knew she would never really be part of the team. She, along with her friend Lee made up the Drug Crime unit which she had learned wasn't that well funded in a seaside town like Aber. The crimes were still there; just not the resources.

"Hi." She sighed. Lloyd was immediately concerned. The detective was one of the bubbliest people he had ever known. "Tired; that's all."

He nodded.

"Prosser's trial is three weeks away." He sighed. "Evans is getting sentenced now."

"Oh fy cariad." She got to her feet, heading toward him as she spoke. Lloyd hugged her tightly.

"it's ok. Just a bit close to home." He sighed as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I know." She sighed, relaxing against him. "I know."

Xxxxxx

The judge turned to the dock, glaring at the ordinary looking man that stared back.

"You have pleaded guilty to charges of abduction, false imprisonment, murder, actual bodily harm, assault on a police officer and attempted murder." She glared at him.

Evans nodded. He had noticed Mared the moment he had entered the courtroom. His attention had been focused solely on her. Tom had to resist the urge to run across the oak panelled room to punch him. Instead he curled his hand around Mared's, trying to anchor her to the present. He squeezed her hand as he felt her fingers curl around his. Evans was going to prison for a very long time. The women of Aberystwyth were safe; from him at least.

"Imprisonment for three life sentences to run consecutively. Minimum tariff of thirty years. Take him down." The Judge glared at the butcher, knowing having a female judge pass sentence was probably more humiliating than the sentence itself.

"It's over." Tom whispered as Mared watched the man led away by two court officers - his hands in cuffs as he glared at her. Mared nodded once, acknowledging she had been aware of him before turning to Tom.

"Only it isn't. Is it? It's not over."

"Prosser will get justice. He's not going to walk away from this." Tom spoke calmly. Mared looked straight ahead, eyes devoid of all emotions.

"Isn't he? What makes this any different to all the other times?" She turned, heading out of the court into the main foyer. Tom had to almost run to keep up with her.

"Because." He stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. "Because this time it's not him bullying a teenager or hiding in the shadows. This time it's us. You, me, Siân and Lloyd. We can do this. You can do this!" He rested his hand on her shoulder, the other tilting her chin to look at him. "Don't give up. He doesn't win. Not now, not again."

Mared nodded once before turning to leave the courthouse. Tom sighed. He knew she was shaken by the last few hours- her confession had ripped open wounds that had never really healed. Facing Evans in court had been too much. He had no idea what to do but he knew he had to be there for her. No matter what.

Xxxxxxx

Siân pressed the 'send' icon on her computer- glad that the last bit of her report was now winging its way through cyberspace into Tom's inbox. Stretching she groaned as the mobile phone on her desk sprung to life. Answering it quickly she frowned.

"Who is this?" She listened to heavy breathing on the other end of the line. "Who is this?"

The line clicked dead, leaving her with a ringtone playing in her ear. The phone beeped; alerting her a text message had arrived. Annoyed more than scared she glanced at the screen.

'BANG BANG! Saint Siân is dead.'

She swore, saving the message she wondered if the threat was legitimate or a sick joke. She had an idea no one thought they were being funny.

Xxxx