Please

Amends

"Where is she?" Kate rushed to where Marco was slumped in the kitchen chair.

The front door closed and Rhys came into view, a worried look on his face but nowhere near as panicked as Kate's. Marco stayed where he was but nodded in the direction of the hallway.

"I put her in your room, she was asleep when we got here."

Kate spun and dashed down the hallway. Marco shared a grimace with Rhys before following hesitantly. He heard the crying before he reached the door to Kate's room. When he reached it he looked into the room, careful not to get too close. Kate was hugging Jo as she sobbed into her shirt, her shoulders shaking once more.

.

"What happened? After..." Jo didn't look at Kate, instead kept her eyes on the tussles of the blanket she lay on, pinched between her fingers.

Kate's hand never stopped stroking her hair, untangling the curly mess gently. Jo swallowed back against the tightness that rose when she thought of her mother doing exactly the same thing when she was young.

"Marco scared the idiots off." Kate said, a smile in her voice. "He didn't have to lift a finger, well... except to switch on his camera. I can't believe basically no one knows about police apps..."

Jo absorbed this, not saying anything at first.

"He brought you back here and called me." Kate said gently, pushing back the hair from Jo's forehead, pressing her warm hand to it.

Jo closed her eyes and breathed slowly, relishing the contact. She curled up tighter, still lying on her side, head in Kate's lap.

.

Jo shifted her weight on the front porch nervously. Maybe she shouldn't have knocked, this could have waited a few more days...

The door unlocked and Jo closed her eyes briefly, letting out a disappointed sigh before the door opened. Marco frowned down at her with concern.

"Hi." She said before he could say anything.

His open mouth shut as he tried to come up with something to say. She didn't give him the chance.

"I know you're probably busy but I just-" she winced and dropped her gaze to her hands, which were fidgeting.

Marco shifted and she looked back up. He was smiling at her, softly, not in any way dangerous or irritating. Jo fought the urge to look away again, forcing herself to hold his gaze, at least for a few more seconds.

"Do you want a coffee?" He pushed the door open wider.

Jo hesitated but stepped inside, Marco turned as she slipped past him, careful not to accidentally touch her, which she appreciated. Kate worked 9-5 and Jo knew that Rhys was doing contract work this week. She had dropped by on the off chance Marco would be home, though part of her had hoped he was out so she could avoid this awkward feeling. She made her way into the kitchen, and headed for the coffee machine. Marco stepped beside her and put a hand on it.

"I got it." He smiled again. "Why don't you sit down?"

"Sure." She walked around the other side of the kitchen bench and pulled out one of the stools.

There was a wall between them now, she could do this. Jo cleared her throat, trying to make it sound casual.

"I wanted to thank you."

Marco glanced over his shoulder questioningly.

"For the other night..." Jo looked at her hands again. "You saved me."

"You're welcome."

Jo looked up. There was no humour or sarcasm in his face, which surprised her. He smirked suddenly.

"What?" He chuckled.

Jo realised she was frowning at him. She blinked and looked away.

"Nothing, sorry."

Marco put a cup in front of her and she instinctively wrapped her hands around it, absorbing the warmth into her skin. She breathed in the smell before taking a sip and couldn't help but sigh.

Marco chuckled and turned away to wipe off the machine. Jo took the opportunity to look at him then, with his back turned. He was clean shaven and wore comfortable but fitted clothes. Even when spending the day at home, he seemed to care about his appearance. He tossed the cloth into the sink and Jo looked back down at her coffee before he turned back to her.

"How are you doing after all that, by the way?" His words were casual but there was a world of meaning behind it.

Jo didn't move for a second, keeping her eyes on the cup in her hands. If she kept her fingers on it too long they hurt, so she touched and removed each finger against the hot ceramic surface in random order.

"It's... hard." She admitted. "Not just because... it's-" She grimaced when she couldn't find the right words.

Marco stayed silent, letting her choose her words. Jo couldn't understand why she was telling him any of this, but for some reason she couldn't stop the explanation coming out, like she needed him to understand.

"I thought I'd be able to defend myself... I thought I could fight." She curled in on herself when she realised how childish she sounded.

Marco breathed out a quiet oh, and walked out of the kitchen. Jo straightened when he came around to her side of the bench and pulled out the chair next to her. He glanced down at her knuckles. They had mostly healed but were slightly itchy now. Probably because she had actually punched that guy first... Jo rubbed them gently and smiled a little at that thought.

Marco asked softly "do you feel scared it'll happen again?"

"No... I just-" Jo sighed. "I just feel weak. And-" she glanced at him very briefly, "I feel stupid," she looked down again, "for running out of there like that."

"Why did you?" His tone changed, curious now.

Jo opened her mouth but found she didn't know how to explain. She frowned at the coffee. Wasn't caffeine a stimulant? Why weren't the right words just flowing out of her? Stupid coffee.

"Hey."

Marco's finger tapped her elbow and Jo all but flinched at the contact, looking at him in surprise.

"It's fine, I mean... I think should apologise for the way I acted that morning, after the party," he seemed sincere, which was also surprising to Jo, "the first one..." he added. "I crossed a line, thought it'd be funny. I'm sorry."

Jo looked at him, considering. Forgiveness didn't really come easily to her, there were only a handful of people she trusted, it took Kate whittling away at her barriers for years for her to open up to her. Jo knew that it was a problem of hers, and Kate had told her time and time again to have a little faith every now and then...

Marco had proven himself to be trustworthy, despite her first impression of him. She would have been in a much worse state if he hadn't followed her out of the bar.

"Can I ask you something?"

Jo thought for a second, then nodded.

"Why did it bother you so much?" He lifted his hand and made a gesture with his finger and thumb around his wrist.

Jo looked away immediately, busying herself with taking a sip of coffee. She put the cup down and tapped it for a moment.

"I was embarrassed." She admitted.

"Why? I was the one who-"

"Because you were right." She interrupted him, her voice tiny.

Silence spread between them, adding to the awkwardness. Jo refused to look at him.

"What do you mean I was right? I-" he stopped and Jo shut her eyes, feeling the redness full her face. "Oh..." There was an extremely interested tone to that last syllable.

She shouldn't have said anything, she should just go. Jo started to stand again and this time she ignored Marco's protests. She rushed around the kitchen and out the door once more.

~