Behind the Scenes

Chapter Twenty Two

"I won't be late, love. I promise. I'll be back by eight." Tom murmured into Amanda's ear and she smiled, nodding.

"I'm sure I can last alone for a few hours, Tommy." She said with a small laugh, still holding him close. "But... do you really have to go?" She asked after a long pause and he chuckled, moving back and kissing her cheek.

"Sorry, angel. I promised I'd be there." Amanda nodded and pulled him close again, her lips slanting over his for a brief moment before she stepped back.

"Well, you're not breaking a promise on my behalf. I'll cook for when you get back." She promised him, ushering him out the door, and after one last kiss, he locked the door behind himself and made his way down the stairs.

Amanda busied herself with tidying his apartment, scowling at the amount of mess his room was in. She blasted loud Christmas music as she worked, humming along under her breath. She remembered she was alone and began to sing along, the words leaving her mouth almost flawlessly.

Her music paused after a few hours of non stop tidying and cleaning and she broke off her pyjama clad dancing to answer the phone.

"Is this Miss Amanda Neel?" She felt some sort of weight drop into her stomach, and instantly began picking at her hair.

"Uh, yes. Who is this?" She asked, and nervousness must have been obvious in her voice.

"There's a development in your case. Jackson has turned himself in. He said he will testify in your favour, if you go talk to him for half an hour. He's signed a confession to everything you accused him of. Miss Neel?" She broke from her daze.

"I - I could do that. He gave up his freedom to talk to me?" She asked, trying to make sense of it.

"He's claiming it's all been an act of love. Come down to the station at your earliest convenience." The line clicked and the music started up again, making her jump. She sent a text to Tom, explaining she was going out, and pulled on her shoes, not even bothering with a coat as she ran out the door.

The rain poured down and she was soaked through by the time she got to the station. She signed in and told them she had been asked for to speak to Jackson Thomson and she was shown through to a waiting area.

Eventually the main officer on her case came and took her through to speak to him in the interrogation room. She looked at him, sharp cheekbones, steel eyes, handcuffed to the table.

"Hey, 'Manda." He said softly as she sat down, his eyes shining with tears. "I am so, so sorry. I really, really am." He whispered and she sighed, looking down. "'Manda. You gotta believe me." He pleaded, sitting up properly and she sighed.

"How am I supposed to believe you, Jacks? After everything." She managed to say after a long pause. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" She asked quietly.

"Because I love you. I always did. I just - I lose control when I get drunk. Since I got out of jail I've been in a recovery group for alcoholics." He said, his voice soft. "I'm never gonna get over you, 'Manda. At least if I help you, I'll be able to sleep at night." He added, a genuine smile on his face.

"I - thank you, Jacks. When it's all over, I will visit you. I promise. I - I missed you. We used to be best friends too. But... how did my dad find and contact you?" She asked, and Jackson looked down.

"It wasn't hard. He came into my office, told me who he was, said his plan would get you back with me. He knew how much I still loved you and he used it to get me to help him." He said, and she sighed. She could hear the pain in his voice, and she knew he wasn't lying. "'Manda, I know that being drunk is no excuse for how much I hurt you. Because I did. I hurt you so, so fucking much. And I really am sorry. I wish I hadn't. I-"

"Jacks, I know. But I have to go, okay? I'll come back in a few days to talk about court." She said, kissing his cheek.

"I love you, 'Manda." She smiled softly before she left the room, following the officer down out of the station.

It was raining again when Amanda left the station, and she jogged through the streets to avoid getting soaked again. She made it to the front door and everything Jackson said hit her. She sank down the back of the door after getting inside, sniffing and tears slowly began to fall down her face, eventually speeding up as she broke down into full on sobs.

A: Tom, I'm - fuck, I need help.

She sniffed and tossed her phone aside, crawling to the couch and laying down, sobbing into the pillow.

Tom checked his phone and excused himself from his conversation, trying to ring her. After six tries with no answer, he apologised profusely to the person who ran the event and left in his car, speeding through the streets to get to his house. He got in and took Amanda straight into his arms, holding her tight and shushing her, stroking her hair.

"It's okay, angel. It's okay." He murmured into her hair, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "What's wrong? What happened at the station?"

"Jacks-Jackson turned himself in and is going to help us." She whispered in between sobs, burying her face into his neck.

"Why is that bad?" Tom mumbled, trying not to be confused.

"He loves me, Tom." She said, her voice cracking. "He still loves me." She said, breaking down in sobs again.

"I'm here, darling. I'm here. I'll keep you safe." Tom promised, shushing her and kissing the top of her head again.