Night Dancer

Thirty Two

AN - Trigger warning, rape

It was just after eight thirty when the doorbell rang. Josh had just set off with the kids; she'd told him she had a day's leave and he'd accepted that easily enough though she knew he was watching her with that anxious expression on his face again a lot of the time. With a sigh she went to answer it and then stepped back, a miserable expression on her face as Bret came through the door. He didn't give her the chance to close it on him or try and keep him on the step as he gently pushed past her and went through to the kitchen. She hadn't cleared the table yet and he sighed as he saw the three plates and glasses there, no sign of her own plate or cup. Shaking his head he went to the bread bin and took out a couple of slices, putting them in the toaster as she watched him warily.

"What are you doing, Bret?" she asked.

"Fixing you some toast," he growled. "Now sit down and listen to me, Alyssa." She didn't have it in her to fight him and so she sank into one of the chairs and waited for him to start shouting at her again as he had the day before but he didn't. Instead he busied himself with making her toast and a coffee and once it was ready slid into the chair in front of her. She eyed him nervously but to his gratification picked up her toast and started to nibble it. He waited for her to finish it before he spoke again, his voice quiet and calm. "I took myself to Lionel's offices." This revelation caused her to jerk her head up to meet his gaze and he paused before he carried on. "I saw Iris. She told me that you haven't been there for a while, that the last time she saw you, you were practically running from Ross' office and she was worried you'd been hurt." Alyssa's eyes widened slightly and he paused, giving her time to speak if she wanted to but she didn't. "So I went up to meet Ross, to ask him what had happened. He got pretty defensive, said he hadn't done anything, that he went home early that day, left you on your own." She paled and nodded in agreement. Again Bret paused long enough to give her the chance to speak and again she didn't. "I believe him when he says he didn't hurt you, but I know someone did. And reckon I know who it was too." This time her eyes filled with silent tears and Bret sighed, reached across the table to take her hand and she didn't fight him, didn't stop him from taking hold of her. "Will you tell me what happened?"

"I... I can't,"she stammered. He squeezed her hands gently and brought them to his lips. Her eyes lifted briefly from the table and he saw the hint of hope in them at his touch, the slight curving of her lips before she looked troubled again and dropped her gaze.

"You can, sweetheart. You can tell me," he urged her. "Look at me, Alyssa. I'm right here; I'm not a thousand miles away, I'm right here in front of you and ready to listen, ready to do whatever you need me to do to help." For a long moment she was silent, for so long he thought she wouldn't tell him anything but then she began to speak, in a halting, quiet voice, to tell him what had happened that awful night at Lionel's.

***
"I'm sorry Alyssa. This is becoming a habit again. It's just as well your man is a thousand miles away or I think he'd be here demanding to know why I keep on having you here so late at night," Ross said and Alyssa smiled across at him.

"He understands. He works long hours himself sometimes and he knows that when things are busy we all have to make sacrifices. And I don't mind so much, especially when you order in take out." She smiled at him again as she lifted the fork of noodles to her lips and ate with gusto. Ross grinned and shook his head.

"Well at least I know I can always pay you in food," he quipped, not knowing that these take aways were still something she saw as a huge treat. She nodded and finished her noodles, disposing of the carton in the bin and then going to wash her hands. The building was quiet, most folk had headed away tonight as there was a big game on apparently but she had no interest in sports really so wasn't upset to miss out. By the time she got back Ross was on the phone, looking very agitated, running his hand through his salt and pepper hair anxiously, his eyes wide with concern.