Back At Their Side (completed)

Part Ten - The Chase

POV Matt
I had arrived at the farmhouse to chaos, Phil shouting and Tara running out the back door.
"What happened" I asked holding Phil back from chasing after her,
Phil ran his hands through his hair looking both sad and angry "she panicked when I said you were due to arrive, we need to go after her" he tried to pull away but I held firm.
"Think, she's heading for the Manor House, its her only option, my cars outside we will get there first by road and she will have run off some of her tension, Phil trust me, come on"
Phil held his hand out for my car keys "she has two paths she could use, one comes out at the stables and one at the house, I'll drop you at the stables and head to the house so we can cover both, if you find her first call me" he grumbled knowing my way made more sense than running after her.
The stables were deserted when he dropped me off, I looked around and walked along the edge of the building towards the fields in the direction of the farmhouse, only to stop dead as someone stepped round the corner into me.
My hands automatically came up to support and my eyes looked on hers, she blanched the whispered my name before her eyes rolled back and she started to fall.
I hauled her into my arms, not quite the meeting I wanted but it felt so good to hold her in my arms again. I looked down checking her over, she had a few scrapes from her run through the orchard but other than that looked whole.
I moved her carefully over my shoulder and pulled my phone out of my pocket calling Phil "I've got her, she's passed out but okay"
"I'm on my way, keep out of sight till I get there" he replied, I moved back towards the road staying in the shadow of the stables and breathed in the scent of the woman over my shoulder, warmth filling my body at the memory her scent invoked.
I heard the car coming and stepped out as Phil came to a stop and got out to help me put Tara across the back seat, he carefully brushed her hair off her face before tucking a blanket across her and shutting the door, he looked at me and grinned much more relaxed now she was back "there's a lot to tell you, that Tara told me before she ran, I know why things between us went wrong now and I have a plan" he explained "let's get her back to the farmhouse and I'll fill you in"
"Deal" I tell him looking between the seats at our prize.

POV Philip
I had been disturbed by what Tara had revealed just before she ran and now she was back with me I could think about what she had revealed. I was furious that Matt and I had both missed what was going on and my sister had helped him hurt Tara, blood or not I would make them both pay for what they had done to her and us, and I knew Matt would equally want revenge.
Tara started to sit up as we pulled up in front of the farmhouse, Matt quickly moved to help her out, she was still unsteady and looked to be in shock, my eyes met his over the car as he supported her tiny frame. "Let's get you inside and get you some water" he said giving me a look" I knew what he was suggesting "go to the study, I'll get some water for her" i told him and ran up to my room where I had some sleeping pills, I took them down to the kitchen and poured a glass of water for Tara , then crushed two pills and added them to her drink before heading to the study.
Tara sat on the couch the blanket from the car still wrapped around her, she looked tiny and frightened and broken, not the fierce woman who had first turned to me in the church yard.
I pushed the glass into her hand "drink Tara" I instructed and watched in relief as she obeyed, drinking half the glass before holding it out to me to take back "rest now, I'm going to tell Matt what you told me, but don't worry Matt and I will be here when you wake up" at my words he eyes raised to mine in horror "what....what did you give me?" She asked
"You need to rest Darling, it's just a sleeping pill to help you relax, now lay down Tara" I gently guide her body down to lay on the sofa the effects of the pills already showing my eyes locked on hers as she finally slips into sleep.
I hear the clink of the decanter as Matt pours the drinks
Moving to stand next to me looking down at her sleeping form.
"Cheers"he said clinking his glass to mine "now tel me what she said"
I gesture to the seats "get comfortable, this could take a while" I tell him my tension rising as I tell him what she had told me and about My families part in Tara's abuse.
Predictably Matt was fuming by the time I finished "you sure it's him" he asked.
"She wouldn't say his name but he's the only one with access and that Caroline would support, I just don't know why he would do this to her or us" I reply.
"Does anyone know she's here with us?" He questions
"Just her stepmother but her and Tara do not have a good relationship so I doubt she would say anything"
"Let's keep it quiet and work on our relationship first, we can do some digging before anyone else knows she is back with us"
"I agree" I tell him and we settle into silence watching Tara sleeping on the couch and planning our next moves.