Lee sighed sadly to himself as he watched Chloe climbing the stairs. As soon as she disappeared out of sight, he found himself longing to follow her, to always be by her side, making sure that she was safe. Despite the fact that he still had no idea exactly what had happened to her, he could clearly see that she was attempting to hide how much she was struggling from him. He slowly walked over to the sofa and perched on the end of it, gently resting his elbows on his knees, his brain spinning with possibilities.
"Was she okay when you were out?" Lee asked Duncan, trying to distract himself from the images that were swirling around his head.
"Yeah she wasn't too bad. We spent a lot of time in the cemetery." Duncan replied. Lee nodded slowly, his heart breaking a little when he realised that she often visited the cemetery at times when she felt alone and like she had nobody else to turn too.
"She probably just needed to tell her parents what had happened." Sheila piped up, glancing at Lee when she heard him sigh sadly to himself. Lee nodded, glancing down at his leg as it began to bounce up and down.
"Did you manage to find out exactly what happened?" Lee asked Duncan, not entirely sure that he was ready to hear about whatever Chloe had been through, but knowing in his heart that he couldn't bear the unknown.
"No, I stood out of earshot, so that she could have some privacy, but close enough that I could check that she was safe." Duncan explained.
"I just wish that she would tell me what happened." Lee admitted quietly, gently massaging his temples as he heard the sound of Chloe screaming for him as he was driving home echoing around his brain.
"I'm sure she will do, she just needs some time." Sheila reassured him, gently placing her hand on his knee.
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Chloe sighed, her eyes filling with tears as she lay on the bed, unable to stop fidgeting as she tried to find a comfortable position. No matter what she did, the pain in her chest was unbearable. She slowly picked up a pillow and held it tightly against herself, snuggling into it. She couldn't help but wish that she could curl up in Lee's arms, so that she felt safe, but every time that she tried she was reminded of Shayne.
She jumped and slowly sat up as the bedroom door opened. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, her heart sinking when she noticed Lee gazing at her sadly.
"The midwife is here." he told her, swallowing the nervous lump that was rising in his throat. She nodded slowly and stared at her hands that were gently resting in place on her lap. Lee pulled the chair out from the dressing table and placed it beside the bed, watching Chloe closely as he sat down beside her.
"It'll be alright Chlo." he said softly, as he placed his hands on top of hers and squeezed them gently.
"Will it, what if it's not?" she whispered, her eyes filling with tears once again.
"Then I'll kill him." he muttered under his breath, suddenly feeling a deep sense of anger in the pit of his stomach. Chloe opened her mouth to respond, her stomach churning nervously at his words, but quickly closed it again when the midwife walked into the room.
"Hello Chloe, how are you doing today?" she asked.
"I'm alright." Chloe replied quietly, glancing nervously at Lee as she fidgeted on the bed, unable to get comfortable because of the intense pain in her back.
"So since we've not met before, my name is Sarah and I'm a private midwife." she told them.
"I was told that you were the victim of an assault?" she asked. Chloe nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on her lap as she felt Lee's eyes burning a hole into her head.
