Feelings

Amazing

A couple of days later, after gentle persuasion and sleep and a lot of reassurance, she walked into the Police station. She was very far from alone, though. Luke drove them, and Tom came in with her.

As she approached the desk Sergeant, she paused, suddenly afraid. Tom held her tightly around the waist. "I'm with you every step of the way, love." She nodded and walked up to the desk.

"Morning, Miss. Can I help you?" The policeman greeted her with a smile. "Sir?" He gave Tom a double take, and Tom nodded. Saying no more, the desk sergeant turned to her. Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye and said.

"Yes. Yes, please. I'd like to report a sexual assault." She felt faint, but it passed.

The officer put down his pen and said gently. "Whose Miss?"

"Mine." She nestled into Tom's side as she spoke, suddenly feeling very small and vulnerable.

"Please, come this way, Miss..."

"Goodman. Sophie Goodman."

He ushered them into an interview room and left, saying he'd fetch them some tea.

They sat and waited, and then Tom paced the room as they waited. Finally, when he'd read every notice on the notice board, counted the pens in the holder on the desk, and fiddled with the blinds until he'd driven Sophie to threaten to cut his hands off, the door opened and a woman walked in carrying two mugs of standard issue police tea. Strong enough to stand your spoon up in, sweet enough to give you diabetes in one sip. Nevertheless, it was very welcome.

"My name is Detective Jackie Connolly, and Im a victim support officer. Personally, I hate the word victim." She looked at them both with the most empathetic smile either of them could remember. "The fact you're here proves your no victim, Sophie. Now, we have all the time in the world, whenever you're ready. Tom? Are you ok with staying? This might be tough to hear."

"I'm going nowhere." He said in a soft but determined voice. "My girl needs me."

Sophie looked at him, unspoken love and thanks in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she began.

"It happened last Friday night. I was at a charity dinner......"

As she recalled the events, he felt sick and faint as he remembered the callous version he'd heard. Her voice may have been quiet, but it was strong.

She described in graphic detail how Art had violated her. He knew he had to leave the room at one point and run to the bathroom. Heaving into a stall, he felt ashamed. At his own weakness, at being a man when other men were capable of such brutality. He walked back in a few minutes later, shame faced. Sophie had held out her hand which he took and squeezed it gently.

"You can wait outside if it's easier, love." She said gently, a smile in her heart if not on her face. He'd shaken his head, and she'd nodded and continued.

Now, hours later, all the hurt and anguish exorcised, she had finished. Jackie closed the laptop, stood up and crossed over to the printer. As she waited for the document, she turned and leaned on the desk

"So, that's everything, then Sophie? Are you absolutely sure? Nothing you'd like to add before you sign it?" The policewoman smiled at her gently. "You've been very brave today. You both have." she looked across at Tom, who sat, ashen faced holding Sophie's hand. For some reason, he'd found today much more traumatic than even the day she'd told him.

"Sometimes the relatives have a hard time not taking justice into their own hands. I am extremely relieved to hear you weren't one such relative Tom." she smiled and passed Sophie a pen. The printer finished spitting out the final  document page, she passed it over too. As Sophie signed her statement, Tom looked at her with undisguised pride. His little kitten had turned into a lioness.

Sophie passed the signed paper back. "So how long?" she sat back, emotionally drained.

"Well, sadly, this could take months to come to court, but I'll try to push it along in the name of public safety. As long as he doesn't fight it too much, we should have a pretty clear-cut case. Once it gets out, we may even get other victims coming forward. We can but hope."

Jackie Connolly, with all her years of dealing with this sort of nasty business, was nothing if not a realist. "Sometimes, and I have to warn you, sometimes they dodge the bullet. Don't ask me how, but they do. IF he does, and IF he approaches you either before or after that, you come and tell us. We'll deal with it. Not you. Either of you." she looked at Tom, who nodded.

"I understand completely." he said levelly and quietly. Understanding and obeying, in his mind, two different animals completely. If Art ever approached her, well, he'd need a straw to eat for the foreseeable future.

The three of them walked out of the station. Luke was waiting with the car to take them home.

"Goodbye for now, Sophie, you have my number if you need me. Don't hesitate, please. We'll be in touch soon with an update once he's been charged." she paused. "A handshake hardly seems enough when you've just bared your soul." Sophie nodded, and the two women hugged.

Tom hugged her, too. As he did so, he murmured his thanks and a small reassurance that they'd have no trouble with Art. He was sure he would fold in the face of the charge. Jackie looked at him and smiled. She didn't say anything. To say anything would mean she'd heard the comment. To hear the comment would mean that if anything happened, she'd have to follow it up. But since she hadn't, then she wouldn't.

Luke drove them away in silence. None of them could find words that would bridge the gap. Between what had happened and the life they needed to get back to now. The three of them got out of the car at Tom's and walked inside. Luke and Tom exchanged a few words, and Luke disappeared into the kitchen to get some hot drinks on the go.

Tom and Sophie sat in the living room and just held hands. She couldn't find the words. She was scared that if she started to speak, she would never stop. Never stop screaming. After the hours of self-control, reliving the horror, she was wound up as tight as a drum. The doorbell rang, and she jumped about three feet in the air in fright. Blushing a little, she smiled and looked at Tom.

He kissed her hand and then stood up to answer. He closed the living room door softly and walked along the hall. Opening it carefully, he saw it was Emma.

"Oh, thank God, it's just you." he pulled her in and hugged her tightly, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" The emotion overwhelmed him, and he cried into her shoulder.

"Tom! What's up? What on earth?" she was completely thunderstruck. "Is - is Sophie ok?"

Tom pulled back, wiping his face with his hands. "Sorry, I've just been holding it in all day. No, well yes, but no." he stopped. "I'm not making sense, am I?" he rambled slightly. "Look, come on in, there's something you need to know. Something horrible."

Emma walked in, her heart in her boots. For Tom to be crying, this MUST be bad news. Just then, Luke appeared, and he too looked devastated. What the HELL had happened.

An hour later, she wished she'd never asked. "Oh dear God, Sophie, you poor thing. I - I don't know what to say." She sat next to her, holding her hand. "Is there anything I can do?"

Sophie smiled. "No, thank you. Just knowing you care is enough. Tom has been wonderful." She looked up at him and smiled. He walked over and laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.

Luke went to leave the room, giving them some space as a family but Sophie reached a hand out to him. "Luke? Where are you going?" She stood up and crossed to where he was standing by the door. "Please, stay?" She slipped her arms around him and hugged him. For a second, he stood, immobile, unsure what to do or say. Then, tentatively at first, he hugged her back. As they embraced, Tom and Emma exchanged a smile and a brief moment of hand holding.

It was all going to be ok. They hoped.