Baby

Mared woke suddenly, her mind racing as she thought about the previous twenty four hours. She turned to see Tom sleeping next to her. She knew the man next her had been through Hell. He had fought more demons than she had thought possible. His face seemed more relaxed; less troubled as he slept. She smiled slightly as she saw him mumble in his sleep.

"Tom." She rested her head on his chest. He hadn't seemed horrified at the thought of a new baby, that she would be tied to him in some capacity for the rest of her life. She sighed as she felt his arms wrap around her. This quiet, troubled man with a stubborn streak and overprotective nature was stronger than any man she had ever known. She kissed his bare chest as she felt him wake .

"Hey."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." She whispered as he hugged her to him.

"It's ok. What's wrong?"

"The baby." She paused. She felt him tense. "I was thinking about the baby. That's all."

"You're ok?"

"Headache. That's all." He kissed the bump on her forehead as she closed her eyes. "I'm ok."

"The trial."

"I've finished giving evidence. There isn't anything else I can do." She bit her lip, her eyes filing with tears. "I don't want to think about him now. Not here."

"Ok." He brushed her hair from her face. "Ok. Not here, you're right. Not in our bed."

She reached up, kissing him gently as the felt his arms pull her closer. His lips found hers in the dark as he crushed all the doubts that were building in the pit of her stomach.

Xxxx

Siân sat on the sofa deep in thought. She couldn't shake the idea that the man that had shot her was one of Prosser's boys. The thought that her former boss was the puppet master, that he had various minions walking the streets of Aberystwyth.

"Lloyd." She turned as her friend walked into the living room. She was glad that Delyth had gone home. She had a feeling that the dark haired woman was putting herself in danger. She hated to think that anyone would be in danger just by association.

"I spoke to the boss. Mared is ok. Shaken up but ok."

"I can't believe she collapsed."

"She's been through a lot." Lloyd say on the opposite arm chair. "It's got to come out sooner or later."

"Yeah." Siân nodded.

"The jury were sent out to deliberate their verdict." Siân looked at the brown liquid in her mug as she thought about the evidence the jury had been presented with. The only saving grace had been Evans pleading guilty. At least they had all been spared that ordeal. Now she just hoped her contacts would get her the information she needed to find out exactly why and who had shot her.

"You're quiet."

"Lloyd, if you knew someone had information that would potentially have you put in prison for life would you kill to stop them telling?"

"I wouldn't do anything to end up in prison." Lloyd looked horrified by the idea. Siân smiled.

"I know. You're not evil."

"But if I were?"

"Yeah."

"I'd try to stop the truth getting out." He nodded. "But you think that's what Prosser is doing?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"Having me shot. Having Delyth trailed and threatening us. He's a coward - like with Evans he's getting other people to do his dirty work." She sipped her coffee. "I saw Ieuan - remember him?"

"Is he out of prison already?"

Siân nodded. "And he owes that to our friendly neighbourhood nutter. He didn't shoot me, I think it was Meirion Jenkins. Has a conviction for gun possession and had a serious temper. He also owed a reduced sentence to that scumbag."

"So what now?" Siân let her lip curl slightly.

"Find him and convince him to do the right thing." She sipped her drink as Lloyd wondered what he had got involved with this time.

Xxx