Chapter 39: Security assistance
…
Chris Leach groaned as he ejaculated, then rolled off Sharon throwing the used condom in to his bin. Unable to help himself, he pulled his deputy in to his arms. The sex might be casual, but he genuinely cared about her. Sharon had a thick London accent, having spent a lot of her life in Brittan's capital, only moving to the states three years ago after meeting her husband. As Leach had often said, she was hard as nails and not a woman to mess with. The Misogynist gang knew all too well she wasn't afraid of them and didn't try to control her. If anything, she was one woman they respected. One member had tried to control her once, and had ended up in hospital with broken ribs and a fractured skull.
"You only ever ask me for a fuck Chris when you are really horny or you want something. What is it this time babe?"
"Sharon! You under estimate me!"
"No I don't, I just know you!"
Leach chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Yeah, alright. Caught me. It's the latter. I need your help, if you're willing?"
"I am not going back to those misogynistic pieces of shit! I don't care what they want or pay, I am not going!"
Leach smiled at her. "No, granted the man who needs your… services is a misogynist, but he won't dare touch you. He knows you're protected. Plus, if he does you'll beat him to a fucking pulp! Or we will if you don't do it first!"
Sharon snickered. "Right there! What the fuck does he want? Fuck I hate Misogynists!"
"Me too," Leach agreed. "Not much, he just needs you to dress as a nurse."
"Fuck no! Forget it! I sure as fucking shit am not going to be some kind of twisted sex slave for him! He can order a whore for that; I am not having it!"
Leach pulled her close again. Sharon looked surprised, but smiled. "No babe, not a nurse like that! A Literal nurse in a hospital. He needs a woman to enter a hospital with him as a nurse, while he's disguised as a doctor."
"Why?"
Leach took a breath. This was a long story. "He's got an ex-partner who's totally blind. Her best friend who's also this guy's ex has been run over and in a coma in the hospital. The blind girl, she's got a guard with her having been in Smith's Grove hospital after she tried to kill herself because of him."
Sharon tutted in sympathy. "I feel for her. Poor bitch."
"I agree," Leach nodded. "But he needs a nurse to pretend to guide her to the bathroom to get her doctor and guard out of the way, he then wants to grab her. To kidnap her and rape her, kill her, I don't fucking know! But something. He's paying a shit load for it! He paid for us to run the other woman over as well!"
Sharon winced. "Fucking hell! This guy's for real then!"
"Sadly yes," Leach said. "I wouldn't be very sorry to see him die if I'm honest with you darling. But the money for this will set you up for life! He's so fucking sexist he'll give it to me not you, but I'll give it straight back to you afterwards."
Sharon appeared to be thinking it through. "Hmm. You know, I don't know if I can do it Chris. I mean, trick a blind woman? Who's already been bullied by a misogynist? I don't think I've got it in me."
"I understand babe, but if you can't or don't, the little prick will borrow one of the Misogynist Men's women and make her do it. He won't dare treat you like shit on his shoes, which is why I'm asking you."
"I get that," Sharon said. "I just… I don't like it. Is there anything I can do to sort of… help her afterwards?"
"See this is why I love you," Leach smiled at her. "You might be a seriously tough bitch, but you have a heart. We'll figure something out I promise to make it right."
"I just don't hurt disabled people," Sharon said. "It's fucked up!"
"It's business babe," Leach said. "But I do understand. I don't think I'd be able to hurt her if it came to it. But think about it. We won't be hurting her, he will."
"Yeah alright," Sharon nodded slowly. "Fine, but I am not going to hurt her in any way!"
"Thanks love. Are you going back to hubby tonight?"
Sharon snorted. "Fuck no! I don't even know where the fuck he is! Actually Chris, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while. We're not even really married."
Leach gaped at her. "What the fuck?"
Sharon started to laugh. "I came over with him because I wanted adventure. We're friends, but we're not married really. Some of our… associates set up the fake papers to get me in to the states."
"Fucking hell!" Leach looked half astonished; half impressed. "You even fucking fooled me!"
"You see? The great Crime Lord Mr. Christian Leach was fooled by little me!"
"Jesus," Leach said again. "Are you… well, seriously serious?"
Sharon smirked. "I'm very seriously serious," she winked.
"So every time we've had sex, it…"
Now, Sharon's face did turn serious. "It wasn't an affair, no. Nor to me was it casual. I… well I… hell. I think… fuck! I think I'm falling in love with you! The man I pretended to be married to have met a girl out here, they're really happy. We're friends, we talk a lot! I… shit! I planned on telling you sometime soon, but not like this. You thought it was a casual fuck with a married woman, nope, sorry!"
Leach just stared at her in stunned silence for a moment. He couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't deny he was impressed though. Sharon had totally fooled him for months.
"I know you're not a misogynist," Sharon continued after a while. "I also happen to know you hate them! You're a damn dangerous man and I find that incredibly exciting and erotic! Several times I wanted to ask you for time together more often. Not just sex, though that's fucking awesome too, but just to spend time with you. I'm doing this for one reason Chris. Because I love you. If it wasn't for you, I'd refuse."
"You're serious, aren't you?" Leach said, pulling her closer to him.
"Completely," Sharon confirmed. "I don't mess with emotions Chris. Hell I think I'm the only one who knows your name is actually Christian. I know you like black coffee first thing in the morning, a beer at night, curry is your favourite meal. I bought you your Rolex because I really wanted to tell you this, but I didn't know how. I…"
But Leach stopped her buy pulling her completely against him and taking her lips in a long kiss. The smile which lit up her face as he drew back was beautiful as far as Leach was concerned. How had he not noticed how beautiful she was before? Tough yes, but gorgeous.
He'd often privately thought to himself would he make a move on her if she wasn't married? Now this? It was almost beyond belief.
"I promise you, no joke," Sharon said as if reading his mind. "I'm not messing with you Chris; I don't have a death wish!"
Leach chuckled and kissed her again. "Then," he said. "While I've said to you before will you stay with me tonight, this time I'll ask, will you stay with me, Tulip?"
Sharon smiled at him and Chris Leach felt his heart skip a beat. A high ranking and dangerous criminal he may be, but this woman meant the world to him. If anyone at all hurt her, they'd pay for it with their fucking life.
"Are you still willing to do this, babe? If not…"
"You mean just because I've told you I love you, and from what you've just done I'm assuming we're a couple now; you're saying I now don't have to do it?"
"No babe," Leach smiled at her, pulling her in for another kiss. "You never had to do it from the very start. But I mean, I have to ask my partner what she wants, don't I? I'm not a Misogynist after all!"
"Why thank you Mr. Leach," Sharon gave him a mock salute. "I'm honoured!"
"Oh shut up," Leach smirked at her.
"It's fine, I'll do it, but I need to do something to sort of… ease my conscience afterwards. I want the money, I can't lie! But that doesn't mean I like the morals of this stunt!"
"Understood," Leach nodded.
"Now," Sharon said. "It's your turn to shut up Leach! I've got something for you, man of mine."
This time, she kissed him. It was deep as her hands began to move across his body. Chris Leach knew this wasn't a fuck, this was love making. He could still hardly believe everything that'd happened tonight and how lucky he was. But when Sharon finally took him in her hand, his mind went blank.
…
"Ok so Mr. Leach has authorised this, and he's got a woman who's agreed to be a nurse for you."
It was the following morning and Adam had just been woken up by Ashley's call. "Fab!" He said. "Who's the bitch?"
Ashley smirked, which of course Adam wouldn't see through the phone. "You'll see," he said simply. "But I'd be careful before you try and be a misogynist to this chick Dawson!"
"I take it that means it's Leach's deputy… Tulip or whatever the fuck her name is?"
"Yeah! So fucking watch yourself Adam! She's hard as nails! You try and be sexist towards her, I wouldn't be surprised if she fucking kills you!"
Adam snorted contemptuously. "Fuck off! She's a woman! I'm a man, we're way stronger than her!"
Ashley laughed out loud. "You haven't seen her yet have you? Just you wait! She's got more fucking muscles than most men! One of my men tried to control her and show the bitch her place as a woman and ended up in hospital with a fucking fractured skull! Plus, Mr. Leach has said she's protected, we're not to touch her!"
"Fuck that," Adam said. "If she doesn't do as I tell her, I'll fucking fuck her! Quite literally! I don't care what Leach says! She's still a woman, a bitch and will do exactly as I, a man tells her! I don't buy any of this bullshit! Especially that she could overpower me! She'll do as she's told or she'll be very sorry! I might even fuck her anyway!"
There was a second of silence before Ashely spoke again, his voice very quiet. "That, Adam, will be the biggest and probably last mistake of your life. You want my advice? If you're intent on treating Tulip like that, you'd better plan your funeral tonight."
…
On her second night however, she wasn't so lucky with sleep. She lay awake tossing and turning, thinking of everything Susy had said once the app was completely installed and active.
"The menu button allows you to enable and disable the active button, you can also change the alarm sound. I should also add that when you do this, it'll be quiet, just loud enough for you to hear what it'll sound like. The button next to it is a test button. You see that alarm safety mode toggle button? That enables you to decide whether to confirm alarm activation or not before it goes off."
"I think I'll use it," she smiled a little. "I don't want to set it off by accident! It'll deafen everyone around me!"
"This is true," Susy chuckled. "So the active toggle you need to enable first thing every day and turn it off when you get in for the night or a long period of time. That will tell the monitors you are asleep and/or not moving. Put it back on when you either leave again, or you have someone round you're not sure about."
"Should've had this for months then," she joked, poking Joanne.
"Ha-ha," her guard rolled her eyes, she was almost certain. "Very funny."
Susy chuckled again. She activated 'alarm safe mode.' "What's this I'm safe toggle?"
"Ah, yes. That means you don't have to press I'm safe every hour. You can turn that off if you want, some people like that option, makes them feel safer. It's your choice, but we highly recommend it's on if you're on your own."
"I've got Joanne," she said totally seriously this time. "I'm safe." She turned it off. Joanne squeezed her arm.
Now she lay in Charlotte's bed, desperately trying to close her eyes. But she couldn't. Her emotions were all over the place. Fear for Charlotte, missing Michael and if she was honest, fear for herself too. She had no doubt Adam would continue relentlessly pursuing her, she just didn't know how. She'd felt so safe when at Michael's side, now he was hundreds of miles away. She desperately tried to fight it off, but before she knew quite what was happening, she'd pressed her head in to her unconscious friend's pillow which had no smell of her at all, and started to cry.
…
"Mr. Leach wants you Dawson, the café. Now."
Adam stood immediately, trying to contain his excitement. Did this mean his plan was almost ready? His chance to finally get his hands on his bitch after months? The girl who thought she'd got away. God knew he'd told her enough times she was his, this was his chance to prove and show her this.
He got in to his car and drove to the café. As soon as he arrived, he saw Leach's Mercedes parked outside. There was also another car there, a gleaming Jaguar. Adam stopped his car after parking it and got out heading through the door, ignoring the closed sign.
Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly 3AM. But he didn't care about sleep, not right then, not when he was hopefully so close…
He approached Leach who was standing by the counter with another man and a huge woman. Adam's mouth fell open. This must be Sharon, Tulip. Ashely hadn't been kidding. She looked as if she could break him in half with two fingers. But Adam reminded himself she was still a woman; he was the man and she'd do as she was told.
"Adam," Chris Leach drawled. "This is Tulip, and her friend Cornflake."
Adam of course knew these weren't their real names. Cornflake was a huge bloke. Adam wouldn't mess with him, but Tulip or whatever the fuck her name was, he would. Regardless of size and strength, she was still a bitch, still a woman who'd do as he said.
Before Adam could do or say anything further however, Tulip had stepped forward and grabbed him by the ears, lifting him clean off his feet as if he were a rag doll. Adam opened his mouth to tell the insolent bitch to put him down immediately or else, when Tulip spoke in a deadly whisper straight in his face.
"Alright, Dawson. Let's get one fucking thing straight right now! You might think that just because you've got a dick in your pants you can boss women around, tell them what to do, be in charge. Well I'll tell you right here and now you misogynous piece of shit, you won't pull that off with me. You even try to get your tiny cock out and force yourself on me, I'll cut the thing off and your head will get cracked like a fucking egg! The only reason you guys do this is because you've got tiny little cocks and you feel emasculated," she sneered. "So you push and bully women around to make up for your own inadequacies and insecurities. Well that isn't my problem. You even try to control me or order me around; you'll be very sorry indeed. I'll do this job for you, but you will show me some fucking respect, or die."
Adam's mouth fell open, but he couldn't speak. How fucking dare she? She showed no fear of him and Adam had never seen this before in his life. He was used to women being afraid of him, doing as he said out of pure terror. But not this one. Tulip was, just as Ashley had said, hard as nails. Adam felt briefly a grudging almost respect for her, then quickly stifled it. She was still a woman.
"Yeah," Cornflake spoke up. "She's Leach's girl Dawson and if she doesn't beat you to a pulp, we fucking will! You misogynists are allowed nowhere near her in that way. Try anything at all and you're a dead fucking man!"
Finally, Tulip released his ears and Adam found his feet. How he wanted to say something, anything. He was so angry. But Tulip spoke again. "Oh get over yourself you tiny cock! What? Going to sulk now because a woman's finally put you in your place? Oh for fuck's sake! Alright, watch this."
She picked up a fire poker and concentrated on it, holding it in her hands. Adam tried to conceal his gasp, but he couldn't. The poker was bending and was very close to snapping.
"That'll be your fucking head if you even think of trying anything," Tulip warned. She wasn't even sweating. As much as he hated it with a passion, Adam realised to this woman he'd lose. This was one bitch he could not control, dominate or terrorise. It tasted vile in his mouth, but the truth was staring him in the face. Very slowly, he nodded.
…
She lay in bed, checking all the options were as she wanted them on her DASC app. She'd just found a really useful one in the menu which meant her phone couldn't be turned off without a passcode. Not a fingerprint, as it would be too easy for someone to just grab her hand, but by a passcode only she knew. She set it then sank back against her pillows, feeling a little more secure. She still couldn't rid herself of her fear that Adam was planning something, something against her now Charlotte was dealt with.
She hesitated for a second, then pressed the app's "call" button. Within a minute, her phone rang. The DASC had Domestic Violence Advisors on duty twenty-four hours a day.
"Hi, you're speaking to Jessica. "Are you ok?"
"Hi Jessica," she said gratefully. "Thank you for calling back so fast. Um, are you able to come up and see me, please?"
"Of course. Give me two minutes. I'll be right there." She was gone.
Within two minutes there was a soft knock on the main door. She'd gone out to wait so Dr Stark and Joanne weren't disturbed. Now she picked up the intercom. "Hello?"
"Hi, its Jessica."
She opened the door immediately and the two women walked in to the lounge, sitting on two of the armchairs. "Do you want a cup of tea?" Jessica asked. "White two sugars isn't it?"
She gaped at the DV Advisor. "How do you know that?"
Jessica laughed. "Ah. That's my little secret." She laughed as she entered the kitchen, returning a couple of minutes later with two mugs, one of which she handed to her. "What are you drinking then?"
"Tea, black no sugar," Jessica said. Danielle pulled a face, which made the other woman laugh. "So, how can I help you this evening?"
"More like morning," she quipped. "It's one AM."
"Fair point," Jessica laughed. "Ok smarty, this morning then?"
As much as she hated it, her face now became serious. Just as Charlotte had once told her, every member of staff here from the DV advisors to doctors, psychologists and cleaners had all been nothing but lovely to her since she'd arrived.
"It's Adam," she said very quietly. "I'm really uneasy, Jessica. He's planning something, I just know he is! I've just felt really uneasy for the last few days and I don't know why! If it wasn't for Charlotte, her family and everything you lovely people are doing for me, I'd leave right now, go back to Smith's Grove! I think he knows I'm in Haddonfield that maybe part of his plan was to lure me back here."
"But Joanne's with you all the time," Jessica pointed out. "Adam won't get anywhere near you with a one to one guard."
She smiled sadly. "I wish I could believe that, but I know the kind of guys he's probably got helping him. He'll know he won't be able to do this on his own, so he's probably brought in help, just like he did with Derek fucking Chancer!"
Jessica now did reach over and take her hand. "Yes, I'm so sorry you went through all that," she said. "But you are never away from Joanne's side unless you're inside this flat. Even now she's only in the room over there, not far away at all. What are you thinking he might do to you?"
"I'm not sure he himself will do anything," she said bitterly. "At least not at first. But I'm scared he might get a woman to do something to me on his behalf. Adam terrifies most women Jessica, he's fucking evil! There are a lot of women who he'd bully, control or threaten to rape or kill if they didn't do as he said. What if they somehow grab me for him?"
Jessica considered still holding her hand. "Hmm. So what are you thinking? You know you have the app as well, Smith's Grove and the security companies can all monitor you twenty-four hours a day. If anything were and I repeat were, to happen to you they'd all know immediately?"
"That's another thing," she admitted. "I've only tonight seen the option to make it so my phone can't be turned off without a passcode, so the monitoring can't be stopped except by me. What if I've missed something else?"
"Did Susy not mention this?" she noticed Jessica didn't sound pleased at this mistake.
"She may have done," she said quickly, keen to defend the amazing engineer who'd ensured her safety with this app. "I may have just forgotten."
"You're sweet," Jessica said. "She didn't mention it, did she? She won't get in to trouble, I promise. I won't say anything to anyone this time."
"No. I honestly don't think she did. But that's what's worrying me. What if I've missed something else?"
"Give me your phone sweetie, I'll check for you." she did so without hesitation.
"Can the people monitoring me hear me?" she asked, as Jessica started her work.
"Not by default no. But they can all press a button on their own apps which will immediately allow them to hear via your phone's microphone. I happen to know that your man Mr. Michael Myers is also monitoring us right at this moment. Yes?"
"Yes," she was blushing she realised. "Can he also activate audio?"
"Yep," Jessica squeezed Danielle's arm with her free hand. "So God help Adam if he tries anything, eh?"
"Yeah, except Michael's currently locked in Smith's Grove."
Jessica snorted. "Yeah, and like we both know he can also escape. I take it you weren't born when 1978 happened?"
"No, I was born on Christmas day of 78. Just months after though. I read about the killings online."
Jessica nodded. "I was in Haddonfield, I still live there but I don't think Mr. Myers came near my house thank God," she shivered.
"I hear you! Then another question occurred to her. "Jessica, can they turn on Audio at will?"
"No," Jessica replied. "They can only turn it on if the panic or emergency button is activated."
"What if…" she hesitated. She hated thinking of the worst case scenario, but knew she had to. This was Adam after all. "What if I can't reach the panic or emergency buttons in time?"
"They get triggered if you have a fall as well, or just simply bash your hand against your phone, that'll activate it automatically. Plus as you've doubtless seen, the panic, alarm, torch and emergency buttons are right there on the home screen, even when your phones locked. Anything else you have to open the app itself to access."
"Yeah, I did see that."
"Ok," Jessica said a minute or so later. "I'm safe mode is on, I highly recommend you use it, just in case. I know you have Joanne sweetie, but just in case."
"Yes, you're right.
"I'd also turn off alarm activation if I were you, so it'll go off with one press. You can't press it by accident as it takes a hard push."
"Ok, turn it off then please?" They heard a door open and soft footsteps. "Hello there Joanne," Jessica said. "Just helping this lovely woman check her app."
"I couldn't sleep," Danielle said as Joanne came to her side. "I just feel… really jumpy."
"Well I'll leave you in privacy," Joanne said. "Just wanted to make sure you're ok. I won't interrupt." But before she could leave, Danielle grabbed her arm. "No, stay, please?"
Immediately Joanne sat down in the chair beside hers. She was wearing pyjamas and she knew she wasn't wearing her equipment just then of course, but that didn't matter, she felt safe regardless. Not that she distrusted Jessica in the slightest nor anyone else here, but Joanne had been her guard for months.
"Ok," Jessica handed back her phone.
"Can you fill Joanne in please?" she asked the DV Advisor. "Just in case I miss something?"
"Certainly," Jessica said. "So Joanne, I've re-enabled the "I'm safe" toggle, so it'll have to be pressed every hour or the monitors will call and if that fails, the police. The alarm activation is also disabled, so it'll go off with one push. Just in case it needs to be pressed fast. The buttons needed are right there on the home screen."
"Sure thanks," Joanne nodded and smiled at Jessica, glancing at her name badge. "Jessica."
"I'm just so on edge," she said to the two of them. "I don't know why, but I have a horrible feeling Adam's planning something. I've felt it for days and it makes me feel sick. Sometimes, I'm tempted to go back to SG! I feel like Adam knows I'm in Haddonfield somehow, or he arranged Charlotte's "accident" to get me here." She sneered at the word "accident."
"But I'm here," Joanne put an arm around her. "Whenever you're out, I'm with you. Please try not to worry sweetheart? You don't really want to go back to SG do you? Charlotte needs you, as do her family. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Anything! I swear! I want to live the rest of my life and if anything did happen, I don't fancy my chances at all if your man doesn't believe my explanation!"
Jessica chuckled. "Me neither! But seriously, you'll be fine, I promise."
"Can't I also borrow one of your guards? So I have two?"
There was a short silence and when Jessica spoke again, her voice was as gentle as she'd ever heard it. "You really are afraid, aren't you sweetie?"
"Yes," she said instantly. "This is Adam. You know what he put me through before, I have absolutely no doubt that he will try to get to me again. I'm his "property" you see and he wants "it" back."
Jessica appeared to consider. She spoke again, the words tumbling out. "Please don't miss understand Joanne, I love you like a mother, and I told you that. But this is Adam, I think he'll be able to come up with a way to get past one guard, or whoever's working for him will, but not two!"
Joanne put both arms around her now and hugged her close. "I know," she murmured. "No offence taken what so ever. I completely get it. Good thinking."
"Plus," she said after a moment. "You're…"
"A woman," Joanne sneered. "I get it, I do."
"So you want one of our male guards with you?" Jessica asked. "The ones who normally guard the doors?"
"Please," she begged. "If they're allowed to do it."
"They are, but normally a woman here is too terrified to have a man near her," Jessica said. "If you're sure, I can ask Dr Clarkson tomorrow."
"Please, I'd be really grateful."
"No problem. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"No, thank you so much Jessica. I can't thank you enough for this and your fast response."
"No problem at all, it's what we're here for." Jessica stood up. "Good night to you both and I'll ask Dr Clarkson tomorrow first thing. Or today, even."
"Do you think she'll allow it?" she asked, suddenly nervous the doctor would refuse.
"I can't see why not," Jessica said. "You have a very good reason and it is part of their job if requested."
"It's like being a celebrity," she managed a smile. "My own two body guards."
Jessica laughed, and then left.
"Please tell me you understand Joanne?" she said as soon as the door was closed. "I…"
"Stop it," Joanne said sternly, pulling her in to another hug. "I totally, totally understand. I also completely get your reasons. If you really are certain he's trying something, then this makes perfect sense. I'm not offended at all. Plus, having a good looking male colleague in a suit and tie armed with a gun next to me… she just knew she'd winked.
"Joanne!" she pretended to be aghast. "You're taken, you little flirt! What would Rick say?"
"Eh," Joanne smirked. "You can look in the window, you just can't buy."
"Well I sure as hell won't," Danielle grinned to show she was at least in part joking. "I don't think Michael would be too happy."
Joanne laughed. "I think if you had seriously fallen for someone else and were nice about it you'd be ok."
Danielle snorted. "Yeah, ok, you carry on believing that," she said, throwing her guards words of days before back at her. "I don't. However, I have absolutely no desire to leave or lose him so…"
"Good for you!" Joanne hugged her again. "Now come on Missy. You need some sleep."
"So do you," she countered.
"Which I'm going to go and get," Joanne assured guiding her to her bedroom door, even though she already knew the way. Danielle smiled at her. "Once you're safely tucked up."
"Yes mom," she felt a rush of love for Joanne at that moment. Minutes later she was back in bed, hearing the soft click as Joanne closed her own door quietly behind her. She expected to be unable to sleep just as before. Sure enough, it wasn't long before her tears once again began to fall.
"Hey, Sweetheart."
Danielle raised her tear soaked face at the sound of Joanne's voice. Her guard sat on her bed and infolded her in her arms. "Oh sweetie," she murmured. "I'm here."
It's just so fucking unfair," Danielle sobbed, unable to stop herself, Joanne's gentle hug breaking her final walls down. "Seeing Charlotte like this is so fucking hard! Yes she made it to the morning which the doctors didn't think she would, but shit Joanne! I love her so much; I love her family so much! They've treated me like their second daughter after my parents fucked off on me! I can't do anything and I feel so damn powerless! I know they say people in a coma can hear you, but fuck! I keep thinking about how we went on the talking shuttles, how Dr Stark let us eat together in the staff canteen numerous times, our night in that staff suite! I can't bear to think I might have lost my…" she couldn't finish. She just broke down all over again.
"Shh," Joanne said over and over again, rocking her like a child and for the first time in her life, she truly welcomed it. "Shh, sweetheart, Shh. Charlotte's a fighter, as are you. You didn't let Adam beat you, nor will she."
"I wasn't fucking unconscious!" she almost howled.
"You still had a rope around your neck and were bleeding where he'd slashed you with a knife," Joanne murmured. "Same thing. You could've easily died that day; don't you forget that hear me? It was predicted by some of the best doctors Charlotte would be dead by this morning and is she? No, she's not! She's still fighting and I believe she'll make it!"
"You're just saying that," she snarked.
"No, I'm not. I wouldn't bullshit you. If I didn't think she would, really didn't think so, I'd tell you. I've known you too long to lie to you. Plus, friends don't lie to each other do they?" She hugged her tighter.
She knew she had to admit this, even though it made her shiver. "Plus, I'm so fucking scared! Adam pursued Charlotte and now I'm terrified he's coming after me! This is Adam, Joanne! He's not fucking stupid! God, I wish Michael was here! I really, really do! Yes ok I'll surrender, partly for protection yes! He's Michael Myers for fuck sake! People see him and run for the fucking hills! Especially if he's wearing that mask and has a kitchen knife! Fuck! I read enough online Joanne; I didn't have to see it to be afraid! Now, he's only my God Damn man! The irony hasn't escaped me! A masked, silent, remorseless killer loves me! I could spend my life asking why, but I gave that up weeks ago! For some reason he does and…"
"He does," Joanne stopped her. "Because you're kind, gentle and caring. You have been through hell and you trusted him when no one else would. That's why."
"I know you're right," she said slowly after a second's pause. "But shit! I miss him so bad it hurts! I'm glad he hasn't seen me in this state though!"
"Why?" she could tell by Joanne's voice her guard was sneering now. "Because Adam told you not to cry? Right? Said you weren't to shed tears? Let me guess! If you cried he assaulted you?"
"Right," she whispered.
"Well Michael wouldn't," Joanne said firmly. "Instead, he'd hug, kiss you and let you touch his ears!" As she said this, she moved so Danielle was touching hers. She managed a watery laugh. "I know they're not Michael's 'sexy as hell' ears, I know they're small but they're all I got!"
She hugged Joanne tightly and tried to smile. "Thank you, Joanne. I miss him so much," she said.
"I know love," Joanne said. "I know you do. If it's any consolation, I miss Rick too. I'm sure Dr Stark misses Luke as well, her husband."
"No offence intended what so ever, but at least Rick and Luke will speak to you."
At this, Joanne did chuckle. "Fair point. Our men aren't silent."
"Or masked killers," Danielle observed. At this, both women eventually giggled.
"That's better," Joanne smiled. "That's the Danielle we know and love, just like Colin said."
"Joanne," she said after a moment, her face once again serious. She really, really didn't want to ask this question, but she had to. Just… just in case. "Joanne, does Adam know about the DASC app?"
"Dr Stark asked Susy that earlier and she believes not. The only way he'd have ever seen it is if Charlotte ever had to use it around him and considering he never got close enough to her once she had it and was in the DASC's care, that wouldn't have happened."
"I'm… I'm scared," she admitted. "I don't think he's given up."
"I won't let him anywhere near you," Joanne promised. "I swear it. Besides, a certain man, your lover named Michael Myers would go absolutely mad if he got to you and I don't fancy having to justify to him how."
"He wouldn't hurt you Joanne."
Joanne snorted. "You think? If I relaxed one second too long and let Adam get to you, you don't think Michael would hurt me? Sorry, you're so, so wrong."
"I'm sure he wouldn't," she said again, but even she noticed she sounded unconvinced now.
"You carry on believing that," Joanne said. She shivered.