Second Shot (Bastille)

16: Missed Calls, Masks and Massages

*Dans POV*

"The girl doesn't half worry, is she this bad back in London?" He asked wheeling towards me, his face now the one that was painted in parental-nerves, showing the resemblance between father and daughter. I shrugged untellingly, barely giving a 50/50 answer.

"Not so bad some days, others she can, uh, barely make coffee without second guessing the entire process" I wasn't going to lie, the few days after the encounter with Rowan in the hallway, Freddie had been a quivering and wary wreck, dropping and smashing two bowls in the space of 24 hours, despite wearing a mask that swore she was fine. Matthew sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes scrunched tight.

"She was never... this scared, never this cautious. It's all thanks to that Rowan. You know about Rowan right?" I nodded sombrely "He changed her. She used to be so carefree and easygoing... and, I'm not one for complaining about my disability but when it's the one thing that stops you from protecting your daughter, you can't help but ask 'why did it happen to me?'" I felt a sharp sympathy course through me, thinking how hard it must have been for Matthew (and everyone else) to sit by and feel completely helpless "Sorry about that, not the most cheery conversation"

"It's alright, I actually uh, wanted to ask you something about Rowan anyway. I mean, I know I should ask Freddie but I feel it's a bit too much to ask about... all of that" I stuttered, looking around me nervously, making sure Freddie wasn't about to come back.

"Ask away"

"I was just wondering, if uh, Rowan ever, um" This was harder to ask than I had expected, an uncomfortable itch prickled the back of my neck and I had to restrain myself from running my hand through my hair "If he, ever got violent..."

(A/N: If you're sensitive to violence/abuse please skip to the astrix. It's not overly graphic but just read at your own discretion)

Surprisingly, Matthews initial response was to chuckle quietly to himself, causing me to frown wonderingly "In all the time they were together; the amount of disagreements they had, how he told her what to wear and what to eat, never once did he put a hand on her- even though Freddie has told me that there were a few times she thought he was going to- that was until, the day they broke up," A heavy weight landed on my shoulders and for a moment I wished I hadn't asked; knowing that Rowan had micro-managed every aspect of Freddie's life was bad enough but to hear that he had actually hurt her made me look at her in a whole new way. "It was like he had saved up all his anger from the last ten months and then unleashed it in that one afternoon: from shoving to throwing things at her, he left her with a fractured wrist and she was fading in and out of consciousness when Sam came to get her"

I was speechless. A thousand thoughts sped through my mind, making it impossible to comprehend them all. My stomach lurched and my heart ached as I pictured Rowan- small but muscular. Strong and careless- pushing Freddie around his flat- Freddie, who was even smaller and incredibly delicate. Innocent and terrified- even though I put in all my effort as to not see the scene play out in my head.

*********

"Didn't she do anything? Go to-"

I was cut off by Matthew shaking his head "She was too afraid, you mentioned going to the police and she just froze up" Just as Matthew had finished talking, Freddie returned; her hair had been towel-dried and her pale complexion highlighted the freckles that dotted her face. She didn't look any different but I couldn't help looking at her in a different light; unsurprised by the reluctant behaviour she displayed when we first met but also proud at how quickly she had moved past him and felt comfortable enough to start seeing me.