A Saviour

Nineteen

A few days after the story had broke, things calmed down a little, enough that Kate felt she had a good handle on things, but not enough that Johnny had relented on Travis accompanying her and Belle everywhere. It has been a long week and the elder was excited to return to her apartment for the weekend. Lily-Rose and Jack would be returning to their mother's in the morning and Johnny had already explained he wanted to spend his weekend with Kate and therefore Belle too. This made his girlfriend undeniably happy.

The two year old was more than happy to fall asleep unaided after a busy day at daycare, and Kate poured herself a small glass of wine and sat down on the couch taking a long sigh, she grabbed her phone and began scrolling on various social media apps. Her profiles had been in and dated with requests and messages since the news broke but as she was a fairly private person they were all locked anyway so it hadn't made much of a difference. That evening however she spotted a Facebook message that was unopened. She guessed she must have missed that yesterday when she went through all her notifications. She opened it to ensure it wasn't anything important and what she saw made her breath catch in her throat.

Ryan Campbell: Well Well Well, it's taken a while but I've found you. That's right, I've not quite forgiven you for your little tricks. You will pay for what you did for me, I almost lost my job because of those charges. By the looks of those pictures you kept my brut of a child, well I guess it's time I got to know my little girl isn't it? Talk soon.

Katie was shaking with nerves, she didn't know what to do or think. How had this happened, had he seriously read the tabloid gossip about Johnny Depp and spotted her? She left him nearly 3 years ago, was he still that hung up in trying to ruin her life? What has she ever done to him? Granted she got him into trouble but that was only to free herself, she didn't deserve the hatred and pain he put her though and still put her through. She debated calling Johnny, she knew he would do anything to take care of her but she couldn't keep relying on him. He was already pushing one of his own personal security guards on to her. She couldn't add to his troubles, besides he was spending valuable time with his children she didn't want to disturb that.

That night she treble checked the locked balcony doors, the front door and called down to Stanley to ensure he wouldn't let anyone in other than Johnny himself. She laid awake for hours scared out of her mind of what would happen now. If he had tracked her down on social media in just a few days, then it wouldn't be long before he tracked her location down, if he hadn't already? What about Belle, would he seriously want to take her from her own mother? The last time they spoke about the pregnancy was the time that he offered to help rid her of the baby. The man couldn't have changed that much that now he was interested? Or was he only interested because he knew her well enough to know Belle was her life, nothing mattered other than her child and she would do nigh on anything for her.

The morning took what felt like days to Kate to arrive. Eventually it did, and with a serious lack of energy due to the serious lack of sleep she managed to navigate her way through most of it without really focusing on anything. Belle was happily playing on the rug in the sitting area when a loud knock at the door was heard. Kate jumped out of her skin before taking a deep breath, she put her finger to her lips silencing her child as she slowly approached the toddler and picked her up. She slowly walked into the hallway before another knock was heard. How could she be certain it wasn't Ryan? Finally as her body began to tremble in fear, she heard Johnny's voice "Kate? Is everything ok?" She took a massive sigh of relief before opening the door quickly and falling into his arms. Johnny mistook her embrace for excitement at seeing him and hugged her tightly before he pulled back and noticing the fear in her eyes. "Kate are you ok?" He asked holding her shoulders. "Yes I'm fine, how are you?" "Katie.." he asked rather sternly. "I'm fine." She said with a fake smile plastered on her face. "Kate I know you better than that, what's happened? Has somebody said something?" She shook her head and bit her lip holding back the tears. She quickly placed Belle down and let her run into her bedroom. "It's Ryan." "Ryan?" Johnny questioned, he held Kate tighter. Whoever had scared his girlfriend into trembling was gonna pay. "Who's Ryan?" Johnny asked again. "My ex. He's found me. He sent me a message on Facebook. He wants to meet Belle." "Like hell." Johnny said angrily. Kate hushed him pulling him into her bedroom opposite, with both bedroom doors open they could see Belle playing clearly. "Johnny I don't have a choice. If he finds me he is entitled to 50% custody." "Even though he beat you up regularly and raped you?" "Johnny!!" She scolded. "Doll I'm sorry but that is what he did to you." "I didn't report any of it. There wasn't time once I made my plan to escape so there's nothing for the courts to go on." "Darling I won't let him anywhere near you or Belle ever." "Johnny you don't have a choice."

Kate had calmed down after a few moments and Johnny offered to make her some tea. He passed her the mug as he sat beside her on the couch. "Can I see the message?" Kate unlocked her phone and handed it to him. "Narcissistic fucker." Johnny said angrily. Kate nodded silently. "It's only a matter of time before he finds us. I have to move. I have to leave and go far away. If he finds you or god forbid gets anywhere near you he will kill you. I wasn't even allowed to work with other men, god knows what he would do if he knew that we were serious?" "Serious? Are we serious?" Johnny said chuckling. Kate rolled her eyes jesting back. "Are we not?" "We must be, if you say we are, and I tell you I love you 10 times a day." Johnny chuckled pulling her close to him. He held her as she cried. He didn't know what else in that moment he could do to help her. He just wanted to be there for her.

He hated how this one man made his girl tremble in fear, her perfect smile was long gone from her face and her eyes looked broken. He really did love her and would do all he could to protect her but he feared she was right about the custody battle, if there was no record of his abuse, just her word, it would be a tough battle. After all it was just like the situation with his ex wife. Evidence was key in all of this.

"Darling, I don't like how much this has shaken you. Why don't you and Belle come and stay with me for a few days? Just until we know more? Nobody can touch you at Sweetzer." He brushed hair behind her ear as she lent in to him, "Johnny I can't ask you to allow that? What about the children? It would be a huge disruption." "No it wouldn't. They love Belle and you, and besides you know they are at their mother's until the weekend. Please, do it for Belle.. and me. I would feel a lot better having you by my side. As for work next week if things haven't cleared up, ask to work remotely or I'll set a lot of meetings with the lawyers etc to keep you busy and out the office." Kate smiled sweetly, would she ever get used to having a man who truly cared and liked looking after her? "Ok, thank you Johnny." "Right come on pack up your things let's go. Don't worry about the travel cot, I've sorted something." "How? You've only just invited us to stay." "Just call it intuition.. just pack your clothes and a few of Belle's favourite toys. Anything you forget I'll send Travis back for." Kate smiled and gently kissed Johnny's cheek. "Thank you."