Trial

Siân pulled on her suit jacket; mindful of her battered shoulder. Swearing as the muscles protested at the movement she pulled the fabric over her injured shoulder. There still hadn't been any arrests over the shooting and Siân couldn't really bring herself to care. Part of her thought if someone really did want her dead then she would be dead.

"Ready?" Delyth asked as she popped her head around the living room door. Siân nodded - knowing she wouldn't be able to drive with her arm still injured. Delyth smiled, knowing she hated having to rely on Lloyd and the others for lifts. Siân picked up her keys before following her out into the street.

"Any luck with Prosser's boys?"

"Not really." Lloyd sighed. "I really don't want to do this today. Can't imagine how Tom and Mared are feeling."

"Come on." Siân got in the car as Delyth and Lloyd followed.

Xxx

Mared felt sick. The first day of any case had her nerves on edge. Now Tom and Elin knew the truth about Elin's paternity and the fact that it was the first day of Prosser's trial made her nerves so much worse. Knowing he had destroyed her life twice and that she had to face him in court made her want to cry. Staring at her reflection she wanted to cry. Wiping away an angry tear she looked over to see Tom in the doorway.

"Hey."

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to be."

"I do. I have to stand in that witness box and answer questions knowing Brian Prosser is watching me. I can do that. It's knowing he has had something to do with Siân getting shot that makes me sick to my stomach. His vendetta has always been against me. There was no need to drag others into it."

"Siân is ok."

"Tom." Mared got up. "She was shot in cold blood. She could have been killed."

"I know." He held her gaze for a moment. "Mared, she is ok. Elin and your parents are ok. You can do this."

She nodded. She knew he was right but she dreaded the thought that there could be any recriminations against those she cared about.

"If anything happened."

"It won't."

"Tom."

"Elin is a great girl. She's streetwise and clever. Like her mam. Now please." He pulled her into his arms. "Just focus on yourself. Everyone else is ok."

"Tom."

"DI Rhys. That is an order." He held her tightly before kissing her hair. Eyes closed he didn't want to let her go. The thought of the man who had tried to destroy them both, that had destroyed Mared's teenage innocence stood opposite her, smirking made him want to kill the man.

"Tom." She mumbled as he loosened his grip. "I don't want Elin anywhere near that court. My parents are away for God knows how long. I wanted her to go to them but she isn't keen."

"Why not?" Tom frowned; knowing the girl had always been close to her grandparents.

"She's worried about me and she's angry. Really angry that my mam didn't believe me when I told her about what happened."

"I can understand that."

"I never wanted Elin to know."

"I know. That was my fault. I should never have pushed you." Tom sighed. "I didn't think."

"Not your fault. I would have had to explain the gap on her birth certificate one day." Mared sighed. "I just wish someone else was her father. That the lie Mam came up with was real. A bit less sordid than me getting drunk and being too stupid to know the dangers. Then the man who." She closed her eyes. "Did it ends up my boss."

"It proves to me and Elin how amazingly strong you are. Not that I ever needed proof." He brushed her hair away from her face. Mared smiled slightly.

"I'm not strong. Needs must."

"We should go." Tom took her hand. Mared nodded before following him out of her bedroom. It was time to face her demons once and for all.

Cxxxxx