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I hope Carolin enjoyed the shower because things are downhill from here... 😉

I ended up going to the police station alone, promising to call Niall if they needed him for anything. He had a full day in the studio, and I didn't want to get in the way. I kept looking behind me on my way over, feeling eyes on me, I straightened my back and marched on, telling myself that I wasn't afraid. With an eyeroll to myself I thought that if you have to tell yourself that you're not afraid - you're most likely very afraid.

The day had started off so good- in bed with Niall, in the shower with Niall, and a quick breakfast. I took two minutes to watch the chaos in the basement— chaos to me that is, everybody had a mission, and obviously knew what their job was. Niall got lost in the motions and I waved my goodbyes to him through the soundproof glass. I forgot sometimes he was this other persona, a megastar with millions of fans. They all waved but I felt the distance better than ever. A bit sad and feeling sorry for myself although I had no reason to (apart from the asshole-stepbrother-stalker thing) I was now seeing things that were not there. I hoped.

I got to the station safely but ran the last steps up the stairs. A bit winded I opened the door- in movies these places are bustling with action and people yelling, bad guys being arrested and brought in in handcuffs. Here we had one guy meeting me at the counter and asking my business, and no one else in sight.

"Hi. My name's Carolin Fraser, I'm supposed to meet DCI Lantry?"

He looked at the computer and signed me in and gave me a visitor-card to show further in. "To the right and down the hall, his name is on the door." I nodded a thank you and walked down to find him. This place reminded me of school, same floors and plastic plants. And it did feel like I was on my way to the principal, getting yelled at for something I didn't do.

Third door on the right held his name, and I took a deep breath before I knocked. I was afraid I was telling the story once again, to someone who wouldn't believe me this time either.

"Come in".

I opened the door and the detective sat by his desk with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up. It looked like he'd had a rough morning, his hair was standing like he'd pulled at it. When he recognized me, he stood to greet me.

"Ms Fraser. I was just looking into your case. Sit, please." He gestured to the chair in front of the desk, and I sat down and placed my purse by my feet.

"How are you today?" His eyes showed real concern and I relaxed some. "Better," I answered. "And not better, if you know what I mean." He nodded but looked a bit confused. "I'm over the shock, but I'm more worried today. If the thing with the roses does mean he is counting down to something, then what?"

He held a hand in the air, as if to stop me. "We have to start at the beginning, tell me everything."

It took half an hour, with me talking and him asking questions before he was satisfied. I was emotionally drained, but it felt good to tell the story to someone who actually seemed to believe what I told them.

"Have you seen your brother since then?"

I wrinkled my nose; "Step-brother. And no, I moved and didn't look back. There is a chance that he has been at the bar, but without showing himself to me." I shrugged.

"What about your mother?" I looked down and shook my head.

"Well, I'm sorry they didn't believe you back then, it must have been awful going through that alone." His voice was sincere, and he gave off a protective dad vibe, I was close to giving him a hug and cry in his arms. Instead, I dried my tears and thanked him.

"Now, about this stepbrother, Mark Barnaby, how old is he?"

"Around twenty, twenty-one."

"And you're sure he is the one who's been stalking you?"

"No, but there's no one else who would have had that family photo. My mum would never do this, and my stepdad is dead, which leaves only him." DCI Lantry seemed to agree with my reasoning. "We'll send out an alert, see if he pops up somewhere." He scratched his chin, "Are you staying with someone? Do you want police protection?"

I didn't know if this was normal, my guess is he felt guilty on behalf of his colleagues who didn't act when I needed them to.

"I'm staying with Niall this week, I'll give you the address. And I have work rest of the week as well." He didn't like the thought of that, "Maybe you should reconsider?" I refused, "I have to work, and I'll go crazy, not having something to do. Niall is busy recording the album all day." He let his eyes glide over me and then at the floor.

"May I ask, how did you meet Mr. Horan? "

Ahh, here we go.

I smiled; "I did a lapdance on him." Lantry blushed but continued. "And what are your relationship today?"

"Casual, DCI Lantry." He didn't meet my eyes when he continued. "And is it normal for you to stay at a man's house so soon after you've met?"

I had to laugh, was he implying what I think he was implying? "No, definitely not. I am just a stripper." I said with emphasise on the word "just". "If that's what you're trying to ask me." He didn't reply, just thanked me for coming in and told me that he would be in touch.

"You can come see me at work, I'll get you free entry." I winked at him, feeling better about this now someone believed me and that someone was someone with a gun. He smiled and said he would think about it. "Call me, if anything happens." I got his number and saved it on my phone, "and I'll keep you updated about anything we find." I thanked him again and walked out into the sunny day.

Feeling relieved, I didn't want to go back to the house and sit inside staring at the wall. I wandered around the city, just enjoying the nice day - not thinking about the past, or the present. I sat down outside a café and ordered a coffee and a cupcake, grabbing the newspaper someone had left behind.

"ONE DIRECTION MADNESS" was the headlining. Amused, I found the article, about the band getting together and the upcoming record. There were talks about a tour, but nothing confirmed. The article ended with a note that they stayed at a secret location in town, and that all the boys were single. I looked at the pictures and lingered on Niall. I let my index-finger follow his silhouette. Deep in thought, I nibbled on my cupcake. He had this crazy life outside of his private life, and it was scary. But then again, that shouldn't mean anything to me, since I knew he would be out of MY life before I knew it.

My phone vibrated; I answered with a smile. "Lewis, you remember me!"

"Please, girl, I talked to you yesterday. It's not me who's been tied to a popstar's bed the last days." I giggled, "Ah, sweet memories."

"Meet up before work today?"

I checked the time, I'd promised to meet Sandra and Marjorie tonight to rehearse for a number, but that was still four hours away. "Sure, I'll see you at four thirty?" I was distracted by a revving engine nearby and had to ask Lewis what he'd said. Some idiot with a death wish came up the street on a motorbike, way to fast. The bike skidded to a stop and the driver, all dressed in black, raised his hand and pulled it backwards. My mind didn't comprehend what was happening, a passer-by shouted to the man on the bike. Something came twirling towards me and like a sheep I sat there staring at it, getting closer. Lewis spoke on the other end, but before I got to answer, or move, the red object hit me on the side of the head. My brain felt like it had exploded, and I slid down from the chair while I heard yelling and the bike drove off. The people from the tables around ran over to me, I tried to sit up, but the world was turning at a dizzying speed. Blood was pouring down my face, into my eyes and mouth. An elder lady held a napkin to my forehead, and it hurt like a bitch. Three others were fuzzing about, and one was on the phone, to the police or ambulance I realised when I concentrated on the words. "Are you ok? Sit still so you don't faint." I tried to focus on the woman speaking, but my eyes crossed themselves when I fixed my stare on her. "The ambulance is on the way," a man said briskly. "God damn scum, did anybody get the number on the bike?" They shook their heads; "It happened so fast; I didn't understand what was happening before the brick hit her." The man in his sixties was pale and clearly distraught when he answered. I was confused, a brick? I was hit with a brick? I turned my head slowly and saw the red rectangular on the ground. Something was off with the shape. I asked one of the bystanders if he could pick it up. He bent down to get it but picked it up in an awkward way. When he got closer, I understood why. There was tape around the brick, to hold the four roses secured to it.

I didn't want to go to the hospital, but the paramedic insisted. I had to get stitches and an x ray of my head, to rule out concussion. I was too stunned to be scared, but I knew I would be, when it eventually hit me. The pun amused me in my dazed state, and I had to laugh. The paramedic wiping blood of my chin asked if I was feeling alright. "I was just hit in the head with a brick, please ask again later." I gave a small smile so he would know I was joking. "Just let me know if you get worse, are feeling dizzy or nauseas." I nodded and closed my eyes.

"If someone talks to the police, can they ask for DCI Lantry?"

"I reckon someone from the police will meet you at the hospital, to get your statement."

I shook my head, "I was just there this morning, he could have done it outside there, saving me the time." The paramedic checked my pulse, probably worried I was hallucinating or something.

I was rolled in on the bed, even though I could walk just fine with a little steadying. A sweet nurse washed me and got me stitched up, first stitched I've ever gotten. She smiled when I told her that, "I'll be careful, you won't feel a thing."

Done, she held up a mirror for me to see. The gash went from my right eyebrow and over the temple before it disappeared into the hair. The stitches were neat and symmetric, dark against my pale skin. "You will bruise up, so it will look bad for some days." I nodded, cringing by the thought. Rick will be pissed, maybe I could cover it with makeup?

"Let's get you to x-ray and then the doctor will see you."

I hated hospitals and the machines. Feeling very small I got wheeled around for the x-rays, while the nurse kept chatting to me. After that I was put in a small room, with a bed and a wash, and told to wait for the doctor.

When he arrived half an hour later, The doctor looked me over briefly and told me the same thing as the nurse. "Looks like you got a small concussion, nothing to bad, just be cautious; call if you throw up or the headache gets worse."

I nodded and regretted it. The doctor gave the tiniest of smiles, "No sudden movements and relax a couple of days. What do you do for a living?" He checked the papers where my employer was listed. "The Viper, are you a bartender?" I shook my head. "Then keep away from the pole the next days, you need to keep that brain still." My shoulders sank, god damn it. "Can I work in the bar?" He looked hesitant. "I rather you not, loud noises aren't good for you right now. Take at least two days off and then you can check in again and we can see."

He walked off without saying goodbye and the nurse came back. "Do you have someone to pick you up or do you want us to call a taxi?" I looked around me, I had nothing. My purse was left at the café, I hadn't thought about my phone. I had been on the mobile with Lewis, it must have been knocked out of my hand. I closed my eyes, too tired to deal with this now.

Loud voices came from the corridor, "Please, stop, mister, you can't just walk in there." "Where is she?" Niall's Irish accent was thicker than usual. I gaped; how did he know where I was? The nurse looked at my expression, "I guess you don't need a taxi?"

Before I got to answer, the door opened and Niall came rushing in, he stopped in his tracks when he saw me. Just the fact that he was here made the tears gather. When he saw that I was about to burst into tears he jogged up to me and laid his arms around me. "She needs to sign out before she leaves." The nurse reminded me, preparing to leave the room. Niall backed off, dried tears from my cheek and turned to the nurse. I saw the moment she recognized him. "Please, don't go into stan-mode!" I thought to myself. The nurse lifted her hands to her face, as if to stifle a scream. "You're Niall Horan." Niall, used to this, smiled and nodded. "yes, thank you for looking after her, is she ready to leave?" The nurse swallowed her screams and started talking excessively. Niall squeezed my hand and gave me a small wink. She saw that he held my hand and I disentangled myself from him discreetly.

The door opened and another nurse stuck her head in. "The police are here, they're waiting for you in the lobby."  I was confused, I guessed the words were meant for me, but she stared at Niall all the time. The rumour travelled fast. I sighed, could you blame them? There he stood; in jeans, white t-shirt with a flannel over, converse, and ray bans hanging from the neck-opening of the shirt. His brown hair was fluffy, his blue eyes mesmerising. I gave another sigh, then laughed. Look at us, drooling over this man, all of us. Niall gave me a concerned look, "Are you hurting?" I took a deep breath. "More than you know," I answered.