Backup Girl [Tom Hiddleston] {EBT book 2/4}

News from home

That night Kate received a phone call from Lizzie.
"How's it going sis, you must be the size of a house by now!"
"Haha very funny. I am, but I have an excuse. How was Italy?"
"Oh, Liz it's just stunning. I spent half the time speechless!"
"Lucky bitch you are. Anyway I have some goss for you."
"Ooh there nothing like gossip, I mean news, from home."
"Dean and Naomi are over."
"That's it?" Kate said, disappointed.
"No, she's saying he beat her up."
Kate's blood ran cold and she pulled her sweater around her. She hadn't seen that coming.
"Kate? You still there?"
"Uh, yeah. Sorry. Wow. Is she ok?"
"She's fine. No one believes her, I think she's just saying it for revenge. We all told her 'if he cheats with you he'll cheat on you' but of course she didn't listen and he did."
"Oh. So she's not charging him or anything."
"I don't think so, she's saying it happened over months but I doubt she has any proof. He's not that kind of guy."
Kate stifled a groan. If only she knew.
"Uh, Liz is everything else ok? I really need to go."
"Oh yeah, everything's great. I'll talk to you soon, love you."
"Love you too."
Kate sat alone in the bedroom for a long time, not sure she could move. Her mind raced. She needed to talk to someone but didn't want to involve Tom, and no one else knew the whole story about Dean. Once again she felt like a complete fool, who should have stayed, fought and told the truth instead of running to the other side of the world. And now it had caught up with her, Tom would be affected too.
He stood in the doorway. "Kate, what's wrong? You don't look well."
She thought quickly, "I don't feel well, I think I might just go to bed if you don't mind."
"Of course not. Would you like a cup of tea or some help? I can just sit with you if you like?"
"No I'm fine, go and do what you need to do. I think I just need to sleep."
"OK gorgeous. Just call if you need anything," he planted a light kiss on her forehead.
Sleep didn't come until long after Tom had come to bed hours later. She heard him coming and pretended to be sleeping, and snuggled in to his arms when he slid in next to her. By then she had come up with the best plan she could think of. She would see Luke tomorrow so he could deal with any fall out, and then she needed to go back to Australia and deal with her own mistakes. She drifted in to a restless sleep.
In the early hours Kate's phone buzzed with a Facebook message, from Naomi. 'Can we talk? I know you hate me, and I understand, but it's important.'
'Please Kate I'm begging you, I need your help.'
Kate froze. What the hell am I going to do now?
'He pushed me around Kate. Hard and often. He broke my cheekbone and my ribs. He did the same to you, didn't he?'
This is your fault. Kate's head screamed. If you'd charged him, reported it, told someone, he wouldn't have done the same to her. What have you done?!
Kate got up and went to the lounge where she wouldn't wake Tom. She needed to see Luke but it was only 5:30am. Knowing he usually went to the gym at 6, she sent a text asking if she could speak to him there. Tom would just think she had gone to the gym like normal. The phone rang suddenly in her hand and she almost dropped it. "Kate what's wrong? Is it Tom or you?"
"Nothing is really wrong Luke, I just need to talk to you and it sort of can't wait. I'm sorry I know it's early."
"It's fine, why don't I meet you there and we can walk?"
"OK."
She hung up and saw another message from Naomi. Her finger hovered on the block button but she hesitated. 'I'll talk to you later' She replied, hoping that would keep her quiet for a while. Dressing quietly in a track suit, beanie and gloves she left a note for Tom and left. Luke was already waiting. "I don't quite know where to start." She said quietly as they walked.
"The beginning is usually good. Just spill it and I'll work it out."
"OK. The quick version is I have an abusive ex. Tom knows, only because the doctors in Massachusetts asked questions about my x rays after the accident. No one else knows. I found out this morning he's done the same to his next girlfriend, and she wants him charged."
"I'm sorry Kate, I had no idea." Luke said quietly.
"It's ok, really. It's behind me. Well it was. What worries me is I'm partially responsible. If I'd reported it he wouldn't have had the opportunity to do it again. But I didn't, and I asked 2 doctors to exclude it from their report even after I admitted to it. I think this is all going to come back and bite me, and I don't want Tom involved. It's not his problem."
Luke stopped and looked Kate in the eye. "This is not, in any way, your fault."
"Either way, it's likely to be reported that way."
"You're right, and I wish I could fix that for you, but I don't think I can. You're going to need a very thick skin to get through this. Do you know what you want to do?"
"Yes," she hesitated. "I think I need to go back. To Australia. Permanently, at least for now. I know these things can take a long time to resolve. I contributed to this mess and I think I owe it to Naomi to help fix it."
"What about Tom?"
Tears began to sting Kate's eyes. "I think the best thing I can do for him is leave. Break it off and try to keep him out of it. If we were to split before anything really happens back home then the media might not be so interested and bother him with it."
"He loves you, and he would want to support you. You'll break his heart Kate."
"I know." The tears finally broke free and spilled down her cheeks. "I can't see any other way. You can't tell him. If he knows why he won't accept it. He deserves a chance to be happy, not be stuck with a girlfriend on the other side of the globe fighting a court battle. I could be charged, Luke. How would that look for Tom, when he knew?"
"God I wish I could do something to make it go away. I'm sorry Kate. Personally I think it's a terrible idea, but as Tom's agent it might actually be the best way to keep him out of it. And I can't tell him anything, even if I wanted to."
"I understand I'm dumping you in a horrible position too. I've made so many mistakes." She sighed shakily, and Luke stopped her again, grabbing her shoulders.
"I want you to remember this, so look at me. You did not do this. You did not ask for it, and you did nothing wrong." He pulled her in to a tight hug while she pulled herself back together. "When are you going to tell him?"
"Tonight. Could you help me find somewhere to stay for a couple of days?"
"I'll sort it, don't worry about it. I'll send you the details when it's organised. What about Ed?"
"I don't know, I think I need to talk to Naomi first thing and see what she has to say. Then I'll go see him."
"I can get him to come to my office if you like so you have some time. I need to see him before he leaves anyway."
They were back at Tom's apartment and Kate sighed wearily. "Thank you Luke. Look after him won't you?"
"You know I will. You look after you. I'll talk to you later today. If you need anything please call me."
Kate opened the door and Tom was putting breakfast on the table. "Good morning, are you feeling better?"
"Not really, I went for a walk instead of the gym. I think I have a head cold." She hoped that would explain away the runny nose and red eyes. It hurt her to lie to him.
"You know it's a myth that cold air will help, don't you?" He grinned.
Kate forced a soft chuckle. "I do now!"
Tom's phone buzzed. "Luke wants to see me this morning, are you going to the studio?"
"A bit later, yeah. I'll see you tonight though."
"Yes you will, this will be a change being home for dinner together. A nice change."
Kate's phone buzzed, it was Naomi again. Without reading her message she quickly wrote 'I'll call you in the next hour if you send me your number.'

Once Tom was dressed and on his way to Luke, Kate sat down with a coffee and the phone, and dialled Naomi's number.
"Hi," Naomi answered. "Can you talk?"
"Yes."
"Well you know my side of the story, I'd really like to hear yours."
"Yes, he did, Naomi. He hurt me too. Broke my ribs, collarbone and wrist. That I know of."
"God Kate I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. It never occurred to me he'd do it to someone else. I thought he loved you."
"So did I." She said shakily. "I have a domestic violence order and I want to charge him. But the police aren't sure there's enough evidence. I didn't see a doctor until the last time."
"I didn't either. But I know the evidence is there because another doctor questioned my x rays last year."
"Would you help me, so he can't do this to anyone else?"
"I'll try. Where do we start? I have a job booked for 2 months that I'd rather not leave. But if I have to I will. Otherwise I'll come straight back after that and we'll sort it out."
"I'll get the officer to call you straight away so you can make a statement and we'll go from there. They already told me it will be months before it goes to court, if it goes to court."
"OK. Could you keep this to yourself please. My family have no idea and I'd like to be the one to tell them."
"Of course. Kate, this is not your fault. It's his."
"Thank you. I'll talk to you soon."
She hung up and immediately dialled again. "Luke? I know you're with Tom but an officer is going to call me this morning to make a statement. Do I need a lawyer or something?"
"Not if you tell the truth. As long as they know it's a sensitive situation it will be fine. Tom isn't here yet. How did you go?"
"She wants to charge him and she wants my help. Without me she doesn't think she has enough evidence. They said it will be months anyway so I will tell Ed I need to go home after the tour for personal stuff. And I need to call my mum I guess before she hears it on the gossip vine."
"OK. I will talk to someone legal now and see if there's anything we can do to keep it quiet. Can you duck out of the studio this afternoon and come see me?"
"Yes, I'll let you know when. I'm going there now."