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Guest 2 – I have seen the spoilers for next week and I am planning to work them in in my own way. It's unlikely that with the plans I have for this fanfiction that those events will happen soon and therefore next week's episode will have probably aired by the time those chapters are aired.

To reiterate, this fic will work with the show but events will mostly be my own. Please trust that I know where this is going and I also know what is going on with the show for the purpose of writing this.

Chapter Six

Michael left his office not knowing whether his meeting with Dynasty had been a success or not. Despite his best efforts Michael had not uncovered anything he hadn't already know but consoled himself knowing that he had concerned his suspicions, and Tom's. Dynasty was in trouble.

As Tom stepped out of his classroom ahead of him, Michael sprinted to catch him.

"Michael," Tom greeted him, shifting his Year Ten coursework into his other arm.

"Have you had chance to speak to Kevin Chalk yet?" Michael asked before offering to carry the pile of books Tom was attempting to juggle along with his students work.

Tom passed them over and pushed open the door to his new classroom, muttering about cover lessons and no free periods.

"No, I haven't. I looked for him this morning but no luck so far. Dynasty?"

Michael heaved a sigh and leant himself against one of the empty desks as Tom collapsed into Grantly's old desk chair.

"More than I expected but nothing helpful. In fact, she seems to have developed more attitude than enthusiasm for her school work. Dynasty Barry is an excellent example of why this school is here and I'm not willing to let this thug who thinks he's a man set her back any more than he already has," Michael said, his eyes squinting with determination.

Tom nodded, rocking back in his chair. Tom had been proud of Dynasty when she's challenged Kevin Chalk to a chess match. Whether she had won or not she had shown true grit and courage and Tom had applauded her for that. However, none of that compared to the sheer relief he had felt watching her walk through the doors on that same day and ask to stay, to learn, to become the person that she had chosen to be.

"I agree. Dynasty has come on leaps and bounds here but I think we should tread carefully, Michael. You could practically see that girls skin crawl his morning. There could be a whole host of abuse going on behind closed doors that we don't know about and I don't trust this Steve-O character if we just go barging in on their... whatever it is."

Michael thought about this, replaying his last meeting with Steve-O. Michael knew, without further contemplation, that no matter how many cheque's he offered, Steve-O was not going away.

Dynasty's eyes closed in resignation as Kevin stared at her earnestly. He was more innocent, or perhaps it was naive, than anybody Dynasty had known before.

Slowly she leant her head against his shoulder and breathed in deeply the sweet soapy scent that clung to his jacket.

"Have you ever said that before?" Dynasty whispered.

She squeezed her eyes shut tighter as the sun emerged from behind the clouds and filtered down through the trees. Kevin's shoulder shuddered slightly as he shook his head slowly.

"No," he admitted.

He leant back on his hands to support Dynasty's weight as she dipped her head into the crook of his neck for a moment, opened her eyes and sighed heartbreakingly before she lifted herself away from him.

"Look, Kevin, I don't want you to think it didn't mean anything. I know I was... well, I know I was your first and now you're saying all this... I just don't want you to think it doesn't mean anything to me."

Dynasty's voice was resolute and her heart thumped painfully knowing that the familiarity they shared now couldn't last, not until she had found a way to keep him safe.

"Dynasty..."

"I can't, Kevin," Dynasty moaned, her voice tight. "I just can't. Not after everything that's happened."

Dynasty patted the dark earth beneath her. Once she was satisfied that it was dry, she lay back, rearranging the dusty coat beneath her. After a moment of staring at Kevin's back she tugged him down beside her and slid her fingers through his again, tracing her thumb alone the back of his palm.

"Let's just stay here. Let's just stay like this," she whispered, blinking against the sun and closing her eyes to the world.

Barry smirked as Connor stared at him.

"This has got to be a wind up," Barry laughed, taking a step away from Connor and pointing a menacing finger at Connor. "Do you think I'm stupid or something?"

Connor flinched a little but said nothing.

"So who's our good boy Kevin got his sights on then? No offence mate, but I'm not interested on selling to little boys who want to play James Bond for a day."

Connor fought the urge to walk away and tell Kevin that Barry had said no but Dynasty's tearstained face kept his feet steady and Kevin's words echoed in his mind. Imogen needed him to do this.

"He's going to kill Steve-O."

So I inserted a little Connor narrative just because I think the involving Barry part is important. Drop a line! I always love hearing from you. x