To have and to Hold

Things can only get better, can't they?

Rachel could see that Gary was drunk. He had the familiar glazed look in his bloodshot grey blue eyes, and he was swaying slightly as he tried to stand his ground.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" he demanded

"Rachel found she was able to breath a little easier again as she realised with some relief that Gary didn't even recognise her.

But then it had been a while, and she looked completely different now than how she looked when she was with him thankfully.

But still she lowered her head and glanced around at Trudy, managing to find her voice to reply and make most of this unexpected opportunity

"I am a friend of Trudy's I have come to help her.. She needs to get to a hospital"

"Like hell she is!" Gary growled taking a step forward even the familiar sound of his voice and presence made Rachel start to quake a little inside, knowing it didn't take much to make Gary just snap.

"Who are you anyway? I don't remember seeing you with Trudy before" he then demanded suspiciously, his eyes narrowing

"W-we just met recently," Rachel replied truthfully, "You have to let her get to the hospital, she could lose the baby," she then tried to reason with him, though knowing deep down it was probably useless.

Gary didn't seem to be listening to what she was saying. He was peering at her harder, making Rachel feeling even more uneasy.. She knew she had to get out of the place fast. But she wasn't not going to leave Trudy behind. So she went over and helped Trudy up of the sofa

"We are going now, and you are not going to stop us. The ambulance will be here any moment," she said with bravado she was far from feeling. Her legs were suddenly weak and shaking as she helped support Trudy who was whimpering and still warily eyeing Gary to see his reaction, But his full attention was still on Rachel

"Wait," he stood in front of the doorway blocking their only exit, "I think I do know you from somewhere, and its nothing to do with Trudy"

"Please, let us pass," Rachel said averting looking into his face. But suddenly he grabbed her chin in a hard grip, and forced her to look into his eyes. She flinched but couldn't move, her heart thudding in her ears, a realising by the expression on his face, that he had finally figured out who she was.

"Rachel Crosby," he drawled, "Well, well, it's been a while," he was smiling, but it wasn't a pleasant smile "Now this is a nice little reunion, one I was not expecting anyway. But what the hell do you think you are doing?" he snarled.

Rachel felt the old fear threatening to overwhelm her. But at the same time, anger at Gary, for what he had done to her and now Trudy. It gave her the strength to overcome that fear, and pull away from his hold "I am getting Trudy away from you, so can't do this to her again, or any other woman if I have my way" she stated defiantly

She had never spoken back to him before in such a tone, it threw him a little making his eyes widen.

Rachel tried to take advantage of the moment and get by him, but he grabbed her arm preventing her.

"You are not going anywhere, neither of you," he informed them, as he pushed them back none too gently, which made Trudy start to cry

"I told you, the ambulance will be here any minute, and if you don't let us go they will get the police," Rachel warned trying to hide her growing alarm. She was trying to remain firm, but she didn't want to provoke Gary any further, perhaps the fact that the police might turn up would make him think twice about trying anything.

"P-please just let us go - look if you want - I can give you money," she then attempted to plead with him in desperation

"Oh yeah?" a new glint of interest came into his eyes now, "I heard you were doing well for yourself now, and by the looks of it, you should be good for few quid"