Ten

Dinner was very subdued that night. Everyone had either seen or heard what had happened between the policemen and the siblings. Jessie, whose place at the table had been established between Faith and Tee, didn't even turn up to dinner. There were two gaps at the table. "But why has Josh been taken to prison? What's he done?" Gus asked.

"Yeah. Whatever he has done, Jessie didn't care about," Frank said angrily, using his fists to show his anger. Rick and Elektra who had both been caught spying behind the sofa by Mike were refusing to look up from their plates of spaghetti. They had been expressly forbidden from telling anyone what had happened.

"That is a matter for the police to know, not you Gus," Mike told him. With two gaps at the table he was feeling the departure of Josh strongly.

"Why shouldn't he know?" a voice from the kitchen doorway said angrily. Everyone spun round to face Jessie. "They are going to find out anyway. Do you really think I can keep it up?" Jessie asked. Jessie pulled her jumper off and showed everyone her burns, she then tugged her hair back into a ponytail to show them the scar. "This isn't even a half of my injuries. But Josh has been arrested for causing them. Because our mum is a lying, cheating snake," Jessie said through gritted teeth. She didn't care about the looks everyone was giving her. "She installed a camera into our living room, then made my brother burn me, cut me and hurt me. He did it because he was threatened by her, but elsewhere in the house. And because I told him I'd rather be hurt than him. But no-one believes us. We're just care kids. Who cares about the truth?" Jessie sat down in between Rick and Elektra, in her brother's seat. She glared resolutely at Mike and Gina, who couldn't look at the animosity showing in her eyes and had to lower their gaze. Jessie shrugged and left the kitchen.

Rick watched her go and thought about what he'd learnt earlier. He'd promised not to tell but maybe now was a time to break that promise. He bit his lip. Jessie had a point though. No-one ever did listen to care kids. Mike had ignored Rick's suspicions about Josh and then when he'd been proved right, he couldn't look at Rick. Rick decided he had to try. "Mike, I need a word, now!" he said standing up and putting his hands either side of his plate. Mike followed him out to the office.

"They are going to kill me for this," Rick muttered to himself. Mike looked at him strangely. "Listen, they told me the truth earlier on today. About their story. He was being threatened. Their mum threatened to kill Josh with a knife if he didn't do as he was told to Jessie." Mike sighed.

"No Rick, it's a lie," Mike said. Rick shook his head.

"No it's not. I've seen evidence. In PE today. I know you know that Jessie has cuts on her back. So does Josh. He has six and they are all quite deep," Rick explained. "If he refused to hurt her their mum cut his back, which made Jessie cry and tell him to do it. She didn't want to see her brother hurt. If you don't believe me, just look at his back," Rick told Mike angrily. "It's the truth." Rick walked out the office and went upstairs to his room. He walked in and at first didn't register the curled up figure on Josh's bed. When he noticed it, he walked over and saw Jessie peering out the covers. She was still crying. Rick sat her up and pulled her towards him, holding her close to him in a hug. Without Josh, Jessie was alone and Rick would have to take on her brother's role and protect her. They sat like that for a long time until finally Jessie's crying subsided. Rick looked down. She was still awake but was gazing into space.

"Jess," Rick started tentatively. "You know the promise I made earlier today. I may have broken it and told Mike about Josh's cuts on his back." He bit his lip as Jessie took it in. She smiled up at him.

"Thanks, I don't think I could have told him myself and it might be what saves Josh," Jessie said. Gina came into the room to tell Rick to go to bed. She saw Jessie on the bed with Rick and went over to her.

"It will be ok Jessie. He won't be able to hurt you again," Gina said assuming she was upset because of what had happened to her. Jessie threw her brother's duvet off her.

"He... wasn't... hurting... me," she shouted, her sentence punctuated with sobs. "I hate you. I hate you all. No-one ever listens. EVER!" She ran out the room and up the attic stairs to her room. She say on her bed looking through the skylight at the stars.

Rick glared at Gina. "Nice going, she'd only just stopped crying," he said sarcastically. He stood up from his bed and went and picked up his pyjamas.

"Drop the attitude Rick," Gina told him sternly. He ignored her and soon heard his door close. He looked out his bedroom window and stared at the stars. He wondered if he would have a visitor in the night even without Josh being there.

Elektra, Faith, Carmen and Tee were all stood on the landing outside Carmen, Faith and Elektra's room and heard Jessie shout. Elektra rolled her eyes. "Hmmm. That's the gratitude we get for showing concern," she said when Jessie shouted she hated everyone.

"I don't think she means it," Tee said quietly. Faith nodded in agreement. "I think she's just upset." Tee walked up towards the attic stairs.

"Tee don't," Carmen said, scared Jessie would go off on one at Tee and hurt her. Tee shrugged.

"I don't think she'll hurt me," she said confidently and went up the stairs. Jessie was sat on her bed. "hi Jessie. I was wondering, if you wanted to sleep in my room with me tonight? For some company?" Tee asked. Jessie looked up at her and nodded.

"That would be nice," Jessie said.

A/N: What did you think? Please leave a review regardless of what you thought. Indigo :)