DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

A/N: Chapter 7 of 15

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On the forecourt of the pub, Ross stood up and looked at Donna. She glanced at Bob who took her arm, but Laurel was in her face, "Why Donna WHY?"

Donna's eyes were all over the shop, Bob turned, "just calm down...lets not do this on the street"

Marlon came forward and took Laurel's arm, she glared at him but let herself be led away from the pub. Donna's eyes were on Ross again, he kept looking at her...he looked so lost.

What had she done to him.

Bob turned to her, "Lets go back to the flat...let a chance for Marlon and Laurel to calm down shall we"

Debbie was still giving her the evil eye. Why? What had she ever done to her.

Pete turned to his brother, "Is this all true? Have you been seeing her?"

Ross looked like he was going to thump in one, but Debbie got in between the both of them, "Come on you two..."

"I'm just surprized that's all...Ross FALLS for a girl instead of using them as a bed for the night...just abit hard to take in that's all"

Ross grabbed him by the lapels, "DO YOU WANT A SLAP!"

Debbie was forcing them apart. James was coming forward, "enough! I don't want you two to end up fighting"

Debbie sighed and pointed to her house to Ross, "Ross go inside"

Ross glared at her, "Why? What's all this to you"

Debbie was firm with him, "Just GO inside"

Pete didn't like the sound of this. Not long ago Ross was sniffing around Debs wanting a crack at it, why was she inviting him inside for.

"What's going on Debs?", he asked taking her arm and watching Ross slope across the road towards the house.

"You've seen what he's like...he's in a bad way...I can talk to him"

Pete held his hands out to her, "Why You? What's so special about you? If HE isn't in the mood for listening..."

"I can handle him, Pete...he doesn't scare me..."

James came forward, "well if he DOES cause you any grieve you know where we are"

Debbie nodded and watched as Pete walked off with his family, he didn't like it, but he had to trust Debs or their relationship wasn't worth anything.

She turned on her heels, looked at her house, then made her way back.

XXX

As Donna entered Bob and Brenda's place, she was fuming, and it was taking up all her strength.

"How dare she look at me like that!"

Bob thought she was talking about Laurel, "She is upset, love...it must be a bit of a shock for her"

Donna bit her lip, she was actually thinking of Debbie, but she felt bad for Laurel. It must have been a shock for her, Bob was right.

"I need to get going soon...I have to see my Inspector...he wants to go over my statement about Gary North"

Bob sat down, "Come and sit down love...you've got a bit of time before you need to go, 3 Oclock wasn't it? I'll drive you into Hotten when it's time"

Donna looked at Bob sadly, "I know Debbie's always liked him...but the look she gave me...and what she said to me in the pub...I know Ross more than she does...how his mind works, how dare she"

Bob sighed at her, "I'm really am lost here, love...what's going on? YOU and Ross?"

Donna knew she had a lot of explaining to do, "Yes...Oh Bob it's all such a mess..."

XXX

Over at Tall Trees, Laurel was still reeling about what happened at the pub, "I still can't believe it...", she whispered.

Marlon looking close to tears stood there and shook his head, "I know..."

Laurel was going over it again and again in her mind, "HIM of ALL people..."

Marlon shook his head again, " I know..."

Laurel looked up at him slowly, remembering what was said in the pub, "...and YOU knew about this?...Marlon?"

Marlon shook his head and met her tearful gaze, "Yes...but it was TODAY...she-she told me today..."

Laurel started pacing the room, " I just can't get my head around this Marlon...Donna KNEW what he did to me..."

Marlon was trying to find excuses for it, "She's just mixed up...it's the cancer...it HAS to be...making her do things she wouldn't normally do..."

"Even so..."

Marlon tried to tread carefully when he said, "Aren't you being just a little over the top over this..."

Laurel was shocked and horrified over that remark, "What? I can't believe you just said that!"

"I didn't mean that"

"NO MARLON...I STILL have nightmares...I can STILL see his eyes staring at me in that car...cold...evil...you don't know what that man is capable of...and SHE...DONNA put April had risk"

Marlon perched on the arm of the chair and closed his hands together, "Now you ARE being OTT"

Laurel was beginning to pick up a vibe here, "You...You still love her, don't you?"

Caught off guard Marlon turned away and shook his head, " what?"

Laurel followed him into the kitchen, "it's a simple enough question Marlon...all this concern for her...if you are talking about being OTT, then you better take a long look at yourself..."

Marlon swung around, "What"

"YOU Marlon! By the way you are acting you'd mistaken it as jealousy...is it Marlon...are you jealous of her and Ross..."

Marlon was out the back door, "I can't do this right now...I'm gonna collect April from Brenda"

XXX

Donna was still with Bob at his place. She had explained about her feelings for Ross.

"I'm sorry Bob"

Bob pulled a sigh, the mug of tea in his tight grasp, "Well...I can't say I'm too surprized"

Donna looked up at him and pushed her hair behind her ear, "What do you mean?"

"I said the other day in the café that there was something cheeky about him, something bubbling away beneath the surface...now we know what"

Donna felt bad, "It wasn't planned"

"Was it something that just happened?"

Donna shook her head, "yes...I tried to fight it...but you can't help who you fall for..."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes...and I know what he did to Laurel was...I can't even begin to explain or make excuses for him..."

Bob leaned forward, "I'm more worried about you love..."

"Ross would NEVER hurt me...and I'm worried about him...and what I have done to him...and how I'm ever going to put all this right..."

Bob could see she was getting upset and he went over and pulled her into a hug, "We'll sort it out...I promise it will all work out just fine..."

XXX

After complaining that he stunk to high heaven, Ross took the hint and went up for a shower over at Debbies.

Debbie sat on the sofa on her iPhone to Pete.

"What was all that about Ross? Is he still there?"

"In the shower...he's a mess Pete"

"Is there something I should know...?"

Debbie was annoyed by that...but felt guilty too...it had been sometime since having Ross to herself like this.

"NO! Why should there be?"

"All this overly concern for him for a start...why is he YOUR problem? He's MY brother...he should be here so we can all kick him up the backside"

"That's NOT what he needs right now Pete and YOU know that..."

"He's just got it bad over a girl...he'll..."

"Donna USED him...I know she is dying...I know it's really bad of me to say that...but it's true...she made him fall for her and she was lying to him all along..."

"If you put it like that, I guess I'll call you later...just don't take any crap off him"

"I won't see you soon..."

Debs ended the call and went to the foot of the stairs, Ross was out of the shower and in the bedroom with a towel around his waist. His hair and body dripping wet from the shower.

"I just had Pete on the phone..."

"All overly concerned is he? Or is he just worried that I'm around here in your bedroom and not him"

"Awwww, don't be like that"

Ross looked at her, "I heard you...and you're wrong...Donna didn't use me...it was all about the money in the beginning, I'd be the first to admit that because It was the same for me...but...you don't know us...how me and her were together"

"SHE used to Ross...plain and simple"

"You don't know anything...anyway, it was YOU who were sticking up for her before...saying I should say goodbye to her and all that...saying that she put her kid first like YOU would and would do the same...you said that"

Debs stepped forward. Ross's bare chest was puffing in and out as he was getting worked up, "I did yes...but NOW I can see what she's done to you...look at you for god sake...you've totally lost over her"

She placed the palm of her hand onto the stubble of his face, "You are hurting and I just want to make it right for you"

"Don't do this"

"You said WE had a connection...a chemistry...WE HAVE...we have Ross"

Ross was searching her eyes and she his, then she kissed him and he kissed her back, they fell to the bed and Ross leaned over her.

"I just need the hurt to go..."

"Then let me take it away from you..."

"What about Pete..."

Debbie put a finger to his lips to quiet him.

Ross leaned in and Debbie met his mouth as they rolled on the bed. She was now on top of him looking down at him. She pulled her top off and they embarked on a night of passion that could only make things worse for them...

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Thanks for all the reviews. Your opinion and feed back help me write this story...don't be too dismayed about the last scene in this chapter...it's not over for Ross and Donna yet :)