Playing with fire

Police

She woke a few hours later to see Jacob had fallen asleep where he sat with his forearms on her bed, his head leaning against them,

"Fuck," she uttered as she attempted to move her arm, wincing as she readjusted the sling,

"How are you feeling?" Jacob asked as he woke, knowing what the answer would be, but needing to ask,

"Sore... And sad... And angry," she admitted, "I'm going to talk to the police today,"

"I can change my shift if you need a friend," he told her honestly, and all of a sudden she felt so overwhelmed. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried and Jacob wrapped her gently in his arms, "I'm sorry," she uttered,

"You don't need to apologise, you have every right to cry,"

"I don't want to cry," she uttered and he nodded, "I know, and the last thing I want is to see you cry... but you need too,"

"He's my husband," she sobbed, "he's supposed to be my friend, and protect me... He's not supposed to do this to me,"

"No one should do this to you," he told her firmly, "now, I hate the thought of you sat in that police station alone, will you let me come with you?"

She looked up at him, before she ran her free hand gently across his chest, "you've done more than enough for me," she told him, "I shouldn't have woken you up last night and..."

He squeezed her hand gently, "do you want me to come?"

"Please," she uttered, as he rested his chin gently onto her head.

He sat beside her as she explained her story to the police officers. He was impressed at how kindly they listened to her, and for his part he sat quietly and tried not to explode.

"Thank you Mrs. Beauchamp," the young male officer nodded, "is there anywhere you can go tonight? Incase he comes back?"

"He won't be back for at least a week," Connie told them,

She excused herself to the toilet and the female police officer nodded at Jacob,

"Look after her... She's brave but she's hurting... And she seems to trust you,"

Jacob nodded, "I'll be here for her as long as she needs me to be,"

"So... What do you fancy for dinner?" He asked as he watched her remove her coat and scarf,

"Takeaway?" She asked, "if I'm honest all I want to do is eat bad food and watch tv,"

He smiled, "I never knew Connie Beauchamp would eat takeaway and slob on the sofa,"

"I bet you never thought I'd let someone hit me more than once either," she uttered and he looked at her, an expression on his face that she couldn't read,

"Tell me what's going through your head," she asked him, stepping closer to him and placing her hand on his chest, "you seem to read me so easily, yet I can't tell what you're thinking,"

He sighed, "I'm thinking a lot of things," he told her as he absent mindedly ran his fingers through her dark hair, "Im angry at him for hurting you... My mind flits from being angry and then feeling relieved that you're here away from him. I'm just trying to process what you said in the police station; and I can't justify what he's done. You may have wound him up, but nothing you do or say ever means you deserve him hurting you." His hands continue to run through her hair, "and I've probably just said far too much?"

"No," she told him, before smiling at him, "now what do you fancy?" She asked and watched as he handed her a cup of tea,

"Pizza or Indian," he replied,

She chose and ordered a takeaway, before standing up and swearing as she removed her sling,

"You need that on," he told her and she rolled her eyes,

"I'm going to have a quick shower and get changed," she smiled.

"Con, the foods here," he shouted, jogging up the stairs and surprised as he saw her stood in front of the mirror wearing only a bra and a pair of black joggers,

"Sorry," they uttered at the same time and she smiled, "I want to put this jumper on, but I can't," she admitted,

"I have a zip up one you can wear," he told her, before reappearing quickly with a maroon jumper, "it's going to be far to big but..."

"It beats standing round in a bra all evening," she smiled. He held out the arm and helped her into it, before zipping it up,

"Put that sling back on," he told her, "you're brave, but don't be stupid,"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm hungry, come on."

"Thank you," she told him that evening as they sat in front of the tv.

He looked at her, his arm behind her on the sofa,

"You don't need to thank me."