When the Going Gets Tough

part 10

Caitlin soon found herself sat on the sofa mia was asleep on her lap and even though she was still visibly shaking her heart rate had gotten back to normal.

Mia's feet were on Barry's lap and she was snoring quitly.

"I was so scared Barry" Caitlin whispered.

"I know I was to but she's ok now she's safe"

"Thank you for being with me threw that"

"Of course and I'm sorry for not answering my phone the first 2 times"

"Its ok I get it you were mad at me I was mad at you to"

"Was? Your not anymore"

Caitlin shook her head "no not anymore not after what just happened"

"I'm not mad at you either...I don't think I was ever really mad at you... now do you want me to take her? to bed you are her baby sitter after all"

"Could you? I'm still a little shaken"

"Of course" Barry smiled softly.

Caitlin planted a kiss on top of Mia's head before turning her so Barry could pick her up easily.

Mia made a small whining noise but quickly settled down and Barry proceeded to carry her to her room.

When he came back a few minutes later Caitlin was staring into nothingness.

"Hey do you wanna drink it might help"

The teen nodded and followed him into the kitchen.

"Can you pass me two glasses?" He questioned.

Caitlin didn't reply just opened the cupboard reached to get them.

But when she did her top lifted up and Barry saw the bottom half of her stomach.

It was covered in light and dark bruises.

She held the glasses out to him but his eyes were still fixed to where he knew dark marks plagued her skin.

"Caitlin" he breathed.

"You...its-its not what you think" Caitlin place the glasses down on the counter besides her.

"Let me see" Barry said softly reaching for the hem off her top.

"No its nothing really" Caitlin stuttered.

But he had already reached for the hem of her top and began to lift it up and stopped just after her belly button.

He gasped and ran his fingers slowly across her flat stomach.

"He did this to you didn't he" it wasn't a question he knew the answer.

He pulled her top up a little more and it revealed more bruises against her pale skin.

He let out a few shaky breaths and felt tears burn his eyes.

"Its my fault I deserved I made him angry he-he told me to meet him at 4 but I was late"

"Caitlin no" Barry breathed his finger tips still tracing the bruises "this isn't your fault you didn't deserve it he had no right to do this to you. No right"

Barry looked back up at Caitlin and let he top gall back down but kept his hand underneath tracing light circles on her skin he saw the tears running down her cheeks and he whipped them away with his free hand.

"How many times?"

"Barry just let it go"

"I cant let it go not this time so just please...how many times had he hurt you?"

Caitlin called swallowed "18"

Barry took a sharp breath in and dropped his head against her shoulder "I'm sorry this has been happening to you but don't worry he will never touch you ever again" he mumbled against her shoulder and wrapped the hand that wasn't on her waist around her bringing her closer to him.

It took a while but she eventually wrapped her arms around him too.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?" Barry mumbled.

Caitlin stilled.

"Show me"

"Barry I'm not going to strip for you in your kitchen"

"Just show me what your comfortable with then" Barry said blushing lightly.

Caitlin pulled away from him and pulled her top up and stopped it just before her bra.

It only got worse there were angry dark purple bruise on her rib cage he would be surprised if her ribs went broken.

"What about your back?" Barry swallow as she turned around Barry lifted her top and Cardigan up to where she had before and saw the ones on her back her a brown/yellow colour these ones looked older.

Barry wanted to punish Jay for what he had done he wanted to hurt him for hitting Caitlin because she didn't deserve what he was doing to her no one did.

He rand his hands over the bruises  "anywhere else?"

Caitlin opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.

"Where?"

Caitlin hesitated for a moment before taking her Cardigan off and moving her hair so it fell over one shoulder then turned a found so Barry could see the bruises on her shoulders and down the top of her back.

Those bruises looked like hand marks.

"Is that it?"

Caitlin swallowed and bit her lip before shaking her head.

"Can I see?"

"Not with what I'm wearing"

"Do you want to show me you don't have to but if you would like I Can get you a shirt or something it's your choice"

Barry stepped closer to her and cupped her cheeks an whipped the tears away with his thumbs.

"I'd like to show you" Caitlin whispered.

"Ok just wait here I'll go get you something to change into"

Question 5: its false and 99.999% of the time they don't mean it!