All those years ago- Joseph Quinn

Feeling left out

"Adrianna Bennett?" Called the officer.

"That's me" Addie greeted standing up. She glanced to Joe for a moment before speaking again. "Can Joe come with me?" She asked.

"If you feel like he can help you of course." The woman smiled. Addie knew this was going to be intense but she couldn't help but feel relieved at the warm smile coming from the officer before her. She led them to a room and instructed them to sit down at the desk, her joining them after shutting the door.

"So I've read your case file, and I know you're here to press charges of abuse against a Mr Caleb Johnson- Is that correct?" She asked softly.

"Yeah that's him" Addie nodded. The officer read over the piece of paper in her hand and sighed before placing it down.

"So I want to be completely transparent from the get-go" she stated. "Caleb's already ran to the police saying you would do this and that it's lies." She said hesitantly. "Not for a second do I think you're lying but waiting to press charges doesn't bode well with the jury usually." She sighed.

"I was scared" Addie said quietly. Joe looked at her sympathetically for a moment before taking her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

"It's scary you reserve the right to be scared Adrianna" she reassured. "Do you have all the proof possible? Witnesses maybe? I know you said one of the incidents happened very publicly"

"Yeah I do." She confirmed before digging through her handbag. She pulled out a large folder and placed it on the table. As the officer flipped through it Addie nervously bit her lip and Joe decided to talk in hopes of making Addie feel relieved from some of the pressure.

"It's pictures of bruises, witness statements, text messages, detailed recalls of events. Character references from Addie's parents and her sister confirming witnessing controlling behaviour." Joe explained. The officer looked up at the pair, glancing between them with a smile.

"You're lucky to have someone supporting you" she spoke to Addie. "We don't get a lot of women in here with peer support, it's refreshing to see you're not alone" she added.

"I wouldn't want her doing this alone" Joe defended. "It's my fault she's doing this in the first place" he sighed.

"You're the one he's pressing charges on aren't you?" She asked. Joe nodded and Addie smiled sympathetically.

"He was defending me, Caleb was saying some- uh disgusting things and Joe defended me" Addie explained as her eyes trailed down to her shoes.

"Get him good?" The officer asked Joe.

"Yeah" he laughed.

"Good" she smiled. "Right Adrianna, I have everything I need for you to file. I will be in Touch if I need anything more from you but thankfully you've been incredibly organised." She explained.

"Is that it?" Addie asked surprised.

"Yep that is all we need" the officer chuckled lightly. "Is there anything that's not here that you want to add?" She asked. Addie shook her head No and sighed.

"That was not as scary as I thought it'd be" she scoffed.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that's the easy bit, it gets harder from here" she said hesitantly. "My contact information and your crime reference number" she said handing a card over. "Anything you need, just ask"

Once they left the building Addie released a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding. Joe could sense she was mentally exhausted from their short meeting, knowing that it would've been a lot for her. He took her hand in his as they walked to the car, both of them continuing the streak of silence, neither one of them truly knowing what to say in that moment. As Addie sat in the passenger seat she relaxed all the tension in her body against the leather, allowing herself to shut off for a moment. Joe watched her sink into relaxation with a small smile on his face, she'd been so tense about the meeting that he hadn't seen her relax in days. He watched her removed the clips from her hair allowing it to fall down in a way he found incredibly attractive.