A Saviour

Chapter Fifty One

"You've known this entire time where he was? And you've not turned him in? WHY?" Kate said with tears falling down her face. "He nearly took our baby. He drugged me! Why would you keep him out of jail??" She continued as Johnny approached her. A shocked Sean and Travis stood at the doorway to the office before slowly retreating. "It's not like that." Johnny said softly taking the sobbing woman into his arms. She was shaking like a leaf. He prayed it was a fever from her sickness bug and not PTSD from her ex but he knew the reality. "Johnny it sounds exactly like that. Where did you find him? When did you find him?" "I promise I'll tell you everything but please calm down." He said pulling back and pushing her hair off her face. She was breathing deeply and he could tell the tell tale signs of a panic attack. "Johnny, he's back, he could take her again, I need to go get her. Where is she??" Kate had completely lost all logic and sense and ran to the front door yanking on a coat whilst desperately trying to locate suitable footwear. "Darling. It's ok.. Mark is glued to her hip. He will bring her home in a while." Johnny said holding his wife once more. "I can't loose her Johnny." "And you won't, I swear it. Now please breathe, copy me, in and out come on." He said mirroring what he wanted her to do. She closed her eyes and struggled for a good while to catch her breath before Johnny managed to slowly ease her into the living room and sit her on the couch.

"Darling, you know I had private investigators looking for him?" "But you didn't tell me you had found him?!" Kate said shocked. "Ok look I'm sorry. I just didn't think you needed the stress. Besides we've got a plan." "A plan?" Kate scoffed. She was in utter shock that her ex was back, and once again causing havoc in her life. "Yes. In return for $50,000 he will sign the waiver and give me full rights to adopt Belle." Kate's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me?" "No." Johnny said sadly looking at his hands. "He's taking a bribe in order to give up his parental rights?" Kate whispered. "Yes." Johnny said looking at her. "You're fuelling that maniac." Kate said as she took hold of Johnny's hand. "I don't have a choice." "Johnny, I know it's not technically, but buying a child is illegal." "I know." Johnny said almost ashamed, "but it's the only way." He added. "There must be another way. Don't you dare give him a dime of your hard earned money. You've already parted with so much because of the court cases." "Doll. It's not about the money. It never has been. He could take it all, I just want my family safe and happy." "Johnny, you can't trust him though. He'll break the story, and you'll end up in jail." "That's the risk I take and the price I pay.." "you can't be serious Johnny." Kate said shocked. "Yes if that's the price I pay for you, Belle, Lily-Rose and Jack to be safe then I'll do it. I'll ensure you have all the protection you require." Kate shook her head in disbelief. "Johnny there just has to be another way." She grabbed a tissue from a nearby side table and wiped her face. "Look you're still not feeling great, how about you go get some rest and we will talk more later. Belle is fine, the kids are fine. Freeman is somewhere he can't get you." Kate's eyebrows furrowed and Johnny could tell she wanted to ask more but didn't. He slowly guided his wife to the stairs before she headed up and he returned to the security office.

"Well that didn't go to plan..." Travis said concerned. "She has a right to know, as much as I wanna protect her. It's not right going behind her back." "So we crack on, as planned?" Sean asked and Johnny nodded.

Later in the day, Belle had returned from Kindergarten and Johnny was ecstatic to greet her in the foyer. He helped the three year old remove her coat and boots before he said "Let's go surprise Mumma?" To which Belle grabbed his outstretched hand and let him guide her to the staircase. Belle was incredibly independent for a toddler and insisted on climbing the stairs all by herself, but Johnny kept close behind. Just hearing her babble to herself and chuckling was enough for his mind to be set. He knew he had to do this. He loved his entire family with all his being, and biological or not, this girl was his daughter and he would do anything to keep her safe.

The pair finally arrived at the door to the master bedroom, and Johnny gently knocked. "Mama!!" Belle called out before Johnny opened the door and Belle rushed in to find a vacant bedroom. She looked around confused and pulled on Johnny's hand. He picked the little girl up before hearing his wife empty her stomach in the en suite. "Mama?" Belle questioned almost concerned and Johnny headed into the bathroom. "Oh darling, are you still feeling rough?" Johnny asked. "A little, I feel better now I've been sick again though.. Hey Angel! How was school?" Kate said as she finished brushing her teeth. "I missed you!" The mother said taking Belle from Johnny's arms and kissing her little girl's nose making her giggle. "Missed you Mumma." Belle replied before turning to Johnny. "And you Dada." She said proudly which made Johnny's heart burst. "Man did I miss you munchkin. This house was far too quiet without you!" Johnny chuckled before saying. "Maybe we should let Mumma rest?" "No honest I'm fine now. Let's go see if we can get you a snack hey?" Kate said as the trio wandered out and down the stairs.

"I really am sorry love, for not telling you." Johnny said as Kate cut some fruit for Belle who was playing on the kitchen floor. "It's ok, Johnny, I'm sorry for the way I reacted. It was just such a shock." "You have every right to react the way you do, but listen are you really ok?" "Yes, I told you it's just a sickness bug!" "No I meant, after everything with HIM.. do you want to talk to somebody about it all?" "Like therapy?" Kate questioned. "Yeah if you think it will help.." "Maybe in time... I just need to get through the next few months. Once you adopt Belle, everything will be fine." Kate said cuddling into Johnny and kissing him. "Heyyyyy!" Belle called out making the pair smirk. "Oh I'm sorry munchkin. You're my best little girl aren't you, and Lily is my best big girl?" Johnny said scooping up Belle onto his hip. The toddler nodded kissing Johnny's cheek. "And me?" Kate said with a smirk. "You're my best woman." Johnny said kissing her passionately.