Seven Years Later

The sun streamed in through the open curtains, illuminating what looked like a bomb site. Clothes strewn everywhere, scattered in no order with odd shoes dotted around, a thin path of carpeted floor just visible, weaving through the chaos. If someone where to look in this bedroom, the drawers and wardrobes hanging open, their contents turned upside down and thrown around, they would believe it to be the scene of a robbery. But then don't most teenagers bedrooms look like that, the air thick with dust and the smell of cheesy socks.

Click.

The static of a radio station began to play from the alarm clock positioned precariously on the edge of the bedside table next to the bed, alongside an assortment of hair bobbles, empty glasses and a well used mobile phone. The dull presenters voice on the radio just sounded like a continuous muffle, before finally, music began to play.

Summer has come and passed,
The innocent can never last,
Wake me up when September ends.

Buried deep in the tickled pink blanket and red duvet, a sleeping figure stirred. They let out a low moan as their feet dared to break out of the soft cocoon they'd made to test the outside temperature, before stretching out so they hung out over the edge of the bed, hovering in the air. Through another moan, a small hand emerged out of the top of the bedding, aimlessly tapping around the bed until they found the edge, and stretching over, grabbed their mobile, and dragged it back under. "Ugh. Too early for this", a faint grumble sounded under the covers as the hand emerged again, shortly followed by a mass of brown hair and a sleepy pair of blue eyes. Tina lay there for several moments, just waiting for her eyes to awaken more as her hand automatically moved over her phone screen, unlocking it to flick through her messages.

Like my father's come to pass,
Seven years has gone so fast,
Wake me up when September ends.

Tina's hands froze mid action as she looked at her alarm clock, just letting the lyrics of the song sink in. Had it really been seven years since she'd lost her, she though, her other hand subconsciously letting the blanket run through her fingers. She could remember that horrible day as clear as anything, the image of her mother lying on her bed, her mouth hanging agape, the line around her throat, the bruises. Tina shook her head, brushing the images away as a cold shiver ran down her spine. Her mother, Lily, had been murdered, and seven years later, there were still no answers. A lot had changed in those few years, but the memories and pain still stayed the same. Tina had been forced to grow up very quickly, having to look after herself as now she saw even less of her father than before. He would always say he was away with work, constantly busy, that Tina nearly forgot that he even existed at all. Life was hard, but Gareth, the bodyguard assigned to Tina on the day of her mothers death, always tried his best to make life just that more bearable.

Here comes the rain again,
Falling from the stars,
Drenched in my pain again,
Becoming who we are.

Tina let out a small sigh, tossing the covers off her as she just slumped back down on the bed, starring up at the ceiling. She did this a lot, staring into space, just letting her thoughts run away with her. Birthdays had been the hardest to deal with, as well as Christmas. The traditional family meal was more silent than a grave, and just as welcoming as one. Although her father did make sure he wasn't working, herself, him and Gareth, sat around the kitchen table just wasn't the same. Small talk chatter consisted of "How's school?", "Got a boyfriend?" or "Where did you go?", all directed towards her from her father, as Tina was too afraid to ask him anything at all with the grave, hollow look he always gave her. Her father didn't even know what she liked, let alone what to get her for presents, so just gave her a sealed cheque of money for her to cash in. She wouldn't have minded the awkward gifts, such as pink fluffy slippers or scented candles, but just to get a careless cheque every year nearly broke her heart. Did her father really not care?

As my memory rests,
But never forgets what I lost,
Wake me up when September ends.

A small tear ran down her cheek which Tina hastily wiped away. It wasn't that there wasn't anyone there to see her cry, it was just more the fact that she could not stop. Her emotions were all over the place, so she could start crying at any time. What she craved and wanted most she could never experience again; the love of a mother. Taking a deep breath, Tina forced herself up, swinging her feet down onto the floor, pushing herself up. She wasn't going to cry today, she told herself, not today, as she pulled down her dressing gown off the back of her door. Her black and white cookie monsters pjs clashed horribly with the beautiful red and black silk dressing gown, but she didn't care as she shuffled over to the mirror. Ugh, I look like hell, she thought to herself as she looked at her wild hair and the massive bags under her eyes. Well, at least no one gets to see me like this, she sighed as she tied her hair back into a scruffy ponytail, stretching up on her toes to try and wake herself up. She cast her eyes away from the mirror and looked out of the window, through the bars on them to what looked like another beautiful day. Bars on the windows, who does that?

Summer has come and passed,
The innocent can never last,
Wake me up when September ends.

Tina smiled to herself, a huge grin creeping across her face as she watched the birds flying up in the vivid blue cloudless sky. Today was the day when she was going to change, no matter what her father had said. Tina had finished high school last year, just passing in her subjects to get the required grades to allow her to head off to university. She knew her mother would have wanted her to go to university, but with most things, there are always two sides to a coin. "No! You are not going to university", her father had shouted down the phone at her once she'd told him her plan, to move away from home to study. "You will study at home, and that is the end of it!", he yelled before slamming the phone down. Tina winced to herself just letting that memory play back in her mind. Her father knew what he wanted Tina to do, but that wasn't what Tina wanted. She didn't want to be the person trapped behind the bars in her own home, she wanted to be free. Just as well she hadn't told him of the plans she'd made in secret. Today was the day to tell him everything.

Ring out the bells again,
Like we did when spring began,
Wake me up when September ends.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang, gradually bringing Tina out of her thoughts. Frowning, she looked at the clock again. 8:02am. Who on earth is calling here at this ungodly hour? Shuffling through the mess of clothes, she made her way out of her bedroom, wincing slightly as her warm feet touched the cool floorboards as she walked to the front door. Trying to look through the frosted glass, the dark silhouette of the figure beyond didn't give her any hints as to who it may be. Could be the postman she though, or the neighbour who's kids have thrown the ball over. Again they rang the doorbell, and she could see them trying to look through the tinted, frosted glass. Whoever this person was, Tina didn't feel sure if she wanted to let them in, but then she could always check and pretend like she wasn't there. Tiptoeing forward, she crept closer to the door, and looked through the small fisheye hole into the world beyond the front door. A bright morning of a summers day greeted her eyes, so she had to wait a few moments before the vivid blues and greens calmed down enough to let her see. The dark, tall figure wore jeans and a smart grey suit jacket, with what looked like a bright red tshirt poking out of the top of it, with smart brown boots. They had tried to comb back their brown hair, but it stuck out comically from behind their ears, just focusing more on the small bald patch on the top of their head. Tina frowned, a little confused, as this badly fashion dressed person shouldn't be here. Unlocking the door, Tina opened it as the figure spun around to face her.

"Sorry I'm late", they said, holding coffee and a paper bag in their hand, their green eyes unnaturally awake as they smiled gently at her. "Late?", Tina asked confused, opening the door wider, leaning against it for support as her frown deepened. "Yeah, it's now, erm, 8:04. I said I'd be here for 8", he chuckled, briefly looking at the watch on his wrist before offering out one of the coffees to Tina. "8am?", she said, raising an eyebrow, taking the coffee and taking a swig. "Yes, that's why I set your alarm", he chuckled, taking a sip of his own coffee, patiently waiting for the cogs in Tina's brain to catch up. "But, you said 8? As in 8?", she replied just as confused, her brain already exhausted. "Yes, I meant 8 AM. Not PM. If I had said that, then I knew you'd never get up", Gareth chuckled as he patted her shoulder as he brushed past Tina into the house as she stood there aimlessly, suddenly feeling like she'd been deprived a free holiday. "Come on. I brought donuts", he chuckled from down in the kitchen, as Tina sighed in defeat, hanging her head as she shut the front door, dragging herself down to the kitchen.

"If I'd have known you meant AM, I wouldn't have stayed up late", Tina mumbled as she stood in the doorway to the kitchen, watching Gareth root through the cupboards, grabbing a plate and laying out a delicious array of donuts from out of his paper bag. "Mmm, and what's the excuse this time? Found the cute cat videos again and couldn't resist watching them all?", he chuckled as he took another drink of coffee, leaning back against the counter, a raised eyebrow at Tina. "No. That's you, remember?", Tina yawned, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she leant back. Gareth chuckled remember the time she'd played one to him, a video of a cute white kitten sliding across a wood floor trying to stop. He'd wet himself laughing at it, and as Tina soon learn, it was his Achilles heel. "Well anyway, go and turn that junk off from your room and you can tell me all about your midnight adventures", he said, gesturing towards the bedroom whilst grabbing a chocolate donut. "It's not junk! It's Greenday!", Tina said shocked over her shoulder as she moped back to her room, turning off the radio just as the song was coming to the end.

"So, what was it? Tumblr? YouTube? Porn?", Gareth chuckled as Tina came back through to the kitchen, already making himself comfortable at the dining table, tucking into another donut. "No! Eww. I was reading", she remarked as she watched him stuff his face with the donut, and managed to grab one before they all disappeared. "Reading? Right ...", Gareth mused, raising an eyebrow at her as he grabbed the last donut and stuffed it into his mouth. "Yes, reading", Tina sighed, rolling her eyes as she slumped into the chair and began slowly munching on the donut. "So, what were you ACTUALLY reading?", he asked after he'd finished eating, taking another swig of coffee whilst watching her. "It was the, erm ..., you know, that book, erm....". Tina's mind had run a blank; every single book title in existence had just vanished out of her mind, and she could feel her cheeks starting to glow being put under this pressure. Gareth just smiled smugly as he watched her mind race to try and come up with an excuse. "It was, that new book, erm, by that guy, erm, with the ...". Tina bit her lip in a last ditch attempt, pulling her puppy dog eyes on Gareth to see if she could avoid the question. "Ha, not going to work Tina. Come on, what was it?", he mused, folding his arm and leaning back. Tina sighed in defeat, taking another drink of coffee before confessing to her little 'hobby'. "It was a fanfiction", she mumbled dully, looking away in embarrassment. "Ah I see. So porn then", Gareth laughed in amusement, as Tina snapped back in shock. "No! It's not porn!". "Oh really? Then what's with all that shipping? Frost Iron? Stucky? And please don't get me started on Johnlock", Gareth mused, shaking his head as Tina just glared. Yes, she stayed up into the early hours trawling all over the internet reading fanfiction, but not for the crazy shipped stories, but more the romantic, action/adventure ones of young men sweeping their ladies off their feet as they rescued them from danger.

"You're doing it again...", Gareth whispered, nudging her on the arm, jerking her awake. "What? Oh sorry, I was ...". "Let me guess, miles away in some city in New York, on top of a skyscraper fighting alongside some superheroes", he chuckled, picking up the empty coffee cups and putting them in the bin. "No actually. More like in a asylum trying to solve a riddle whilst being attacked by giant Ivy plants", she pointed out, stretching up her arms as she let out another big yawn. "Ah I see. A Batman one. Interesting. I'm more a Marvel type of guy personally", he chuckled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his car keys. "Well, we'd better get started then hadn't we. Today is the big day isn't it", he said, tossing the keys in the air as he made his way out to the car. Yes, Tina said to herself, today was the big day. Today was the day she was going to tell her secret university plans to her father.

Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or London; those were her four choices. As much as she didn't want to have to stay in London any longer than required, she wanted to get as far away from home as possible. The subject she really wanted to study was Film and Media, but even she wasn't sure what she actually wanted to do as a career. Maybe I could be a reviewer, or a script writer, Tina thought as she helped carry through the boxes and empty bags through to her bedroom to start packing up some of her things. Although she had been accepted into all four universities and didn't start the course for another week, she wanted to make sure she had everything ready to go to wherever she decided. "Look, you don't need ALL these films do you?", Gareth nodded towards her 'shrine' of a bookcase that was filled with films of every genre. "Yes. I need them all. Who knows what ones I could be set a project on? Besides, I'd rather have all of them than have to come back home...", she said, pushing open her bedroom window as much as the bars would allow. The bars on the window were just one of the little peeves Tina hated, as although they had never had anyone break in, her father had become extra security conscious ever since her mother ...

"I'll copy all of them over to your laptop hard drive if you like", Gareth said, thankfully interrupting her thoughts before she got carried away in her emotions again. "Yeah sure. I'll just pack my clothes and stuff", she mumbled, turning away to look at the mess of her bedroom. It was going to be a long day. After changing into a white tshirt and jeans, Tina began methodically going through each drawer, pulling out the items of clothing and putting them into the labelled boxes. One by one, the box pile grew as the mess on the floor diminished until there was just a neat stack of boxes in the corner of her room, with just a small pile of clothes left in the bottom of her wardrobe.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Tina froze mid action looking at her phone lying on the bed, several books in her hands. Gareth too looked up at her buzzing phone from where he sat in the corner, surrounded by piles of DVDs. "Oh no", Tina whispered in a mad panic as she threw the books down onto the floor, recognising who was calling, reaching for her phone quickly before it went to ringer.

Uh-Oh, we're in trouble
Something's come along and it's burst our bubble
Uh-Oh, we're in trouble
Book us a ticket on the next space shuttle

"Haha! And I thought mine was bad!", Gareth roared in laughter as her phone started its ringtone as she struggled to reach her phone in time. "Shut it! It's dad!", she hissed as she managed to grab hold of it, falling onto the bed in the process. Sliding her finger across the screen and flicking her finger up at Gareth to shush him before answering the call. "Hello", she said in her most cheerful voice despite her insides shaking with nerves. She hated talking to her dad, especially when she knew she could reveal any secrets, and that he could tell when she was lying. "Hi Tina. I will be home in a few minutes. I can't stay for long, I've been called away on business again. I have something I want to give you. See you soon", her fathers voice said from the other end, before hanging up. Tina sat there frozen for a few moments, just listening to the silence of the room before she broke into a panic. "What!? A few minutes! But-but I'm not ready! Not now! I can't tell him! It's too soon! I-I-I-Gareth help!!!", she squealed, leaping off the bed, waving her arms around in a wild frenzy. "Tina! Tina! Just. Calm. Down.", Gareth said reassuringly, jumping up from where he was, putting his arms on her shoulders. "Everything will be fine. You just worry about sorting yourself out. I will deal with everything else, okay?". Tina took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, before she looked back up into Gareth's eyes. "There. Much better", he said softly, giving her a gently kiss on her forehead before he brushed past her, through to the kitchen to prepare some food. Tina just didn't know how on earth she could ever cope without Gareth, as he had cared for her and looked after her since the loss of her mother. To move away from her father, would also mean moving away from him. Tina just didn't know if she was ready to do that yet, but she only have a few minutes to make up her mind, her own future in her hands.

At exactly 8pm, the front door opened announcing the arrival of her father. Tina was still in her room, watching him walk down the hallway through to the kitchen through the crack in her bedroom door. Dressed in a smart black suit with his coat hung over his arm, briefcase in his other hand, he didn't even seem to smile when Gareth acknowledged him. Tina took a deep breath, it was nearly time for her to make her choice. Checking her appearance one more time in the mirror, she took another deep breath, put on a smile and stepped out of her room. "Hi dad", she chirped happily as she rushed over to him and gave him a hug, kissing him on the cheek as he patted her back. "Yes. Hello darling. Good to see that you're dressed for a change", he replied stepping away from her to set his briefcase down on the table and put his coat over the back of the chair. "I see Gareth has taken care of dinner for you then", he said sitting down, noticing the bowl of soup and bread set on the table. Gareth just smiled as he took his seat at the other end of the table, letting Tina sit next to her father. "Dad. There's something I want to tell you", Tina spoke hesitantly, fiddling with her fingers whilst trying to keep her shaking leg still. "Good, because there is something I have to tell you", he said, taking a spoonful of hot soup. "We're going to America".

Tina's mouth flew open in immediate shock, of all the things to say. "What? Why?", she asked defensively, feeling like all her hard work she'd done was being flushed away. "Because we are. We move over there tomorrow next week. It's all been settled", he said taking another mouthful of soup, ignoring the mortified look of Tina, and the equal look of surprise off Gareth. "Jonathan, you never said-". "-it was arranged this morning. We are on a flight 9 am next Thursday. Goodbye London", her father said, cutting Gareth off with a cold glare. Both Gareth and Tina sat there in silence, dumbfounded as Jonathan tucked into the soup, finishing it off. "No", Tina said, standing up from her chair. "Tina, please, just-". "NO!", she yelled, slamming her hands down on the table.

She was fuming; she wasn't going to let her father do this, not after everything she had done and been through. She was going to fulfil her mothers wish, no matter what. "Well you can go. But I won't be on that plane. I am staying right here. What's the point of me going anyway? You'll just keep me locked up inside all day and night, refusing to let me go anywhere!", she said coldly, glaring daggers at her father as she stood up to him. His face remained emotionless, as he leant back in his chair, just listening to what his daughter had to say. "I have had enough of letting you just control me. Every since mother died, you've never let me do anything without having Gareth or one of your other men following me around, or looking after me. I'm 17 now dad! I don't need babysitting. I am old enough to make my own decisions, and that's what I've done". Gareth sat there, his mouth hanging a little agape just watching this all unfold, as Tina and her father continued the staring contest. "Done?", her father questioned darkly, his eyebrow raised as he leant forward, the tips of his fingers resting against his chin. Tina gulped, trying to press down her fear that warned her to stop. She'd never pressed her father as much as this before, but now she wanted to be in charge, and not be controlled for a change. "Yes. 'Done'. I have acquired a place at university with the grades I worked hard for. I can go and study my media course and actually have a life, instead of being made a prisoner in my own home!". Instantly her father stood up from his seat, and Tina immediately took a step back in alarm. She'd seen her father like this before, when he had gotten really mad at one of the security people who had left her unattended at home alone, but this was something far more threatening, as Tina was on the recieving end of it. "You will do nothing of the sort!", he father spat in a deadly whisper, towering over his daughter, her eyes widening in fear. "Or what? You'll lock me in my room like you did when mum died?! You'll stop me from seeing my friends? You don't care about me at all! You'd rather I'd have died, not mum!", Tina screamed at her dad, throwing away her fear, the stress and hate of the past seven years finally bubbling through her veins. She stood taller, staring her father right in the eyes, trying to control herself from just lashing out at him. "How DARE YOU! You STUPID child!", her father roared, the veins pulsing in his neck as his cheeks grew redder in fury. "NO! You never let me do anything! I want to go to university, like mother wanted me to! And nothing you can say will stop me from doing what I want with my life!". Tina had never felt more alive than now, standing up to her father, Gareth standing there in shock. "Don't you dare talk about Lily like that! You will never go to university! You are a disgrace of a daughter!". Her father was near breaking point, but nothing could stop Tina now. "I HATE YOU!".

A deafening snap cracked Tina's voice, as her father silenced her. In the blink of an eye, his hand came up and brought itself across his daughters face in a release of pure rage. Tina's head snapped over swiftly to the left with the force of the blow, her eyes welling in tears immediately. Silence followed, only broken by her fathers erratic breathing, and the quiet whimperings of Tina as the pain began to sink in after the sudden shock and surprise. She stood frozen on the spot in terror, her eyes wide and teary in shock. Her father had hit her, and now as she touched her lip with her trembling hand, she realised he'd cut her with the force of the blow. She looked up into her fathers venomous eyes, suddenly feeling very afraid of the man she called her father, and knew she'd overstepped the line. "You monster! I hate you! I hate you!", she screamed in terror. He roughly grabbed a handful of her hair, and pulled her screaming from the kitchen. "Jonathan! Stop it!", Gareth shouted at him, but he just pushed him aside as he tried to block his exit. "You are a disgrace of a daughter! You will never understand! All I've sacrificed for you!", he shouted at her as Tina screamed in pain, hitting and clutching at her fathers arm to make him let go as he dragged her. Forcefully opening her bedroom door, he threw her inside, and slammed the door shut, locking it. "No! Let me out! Let me out!", Tina screamed, slamming against the door, pulling against it with all her might. "No! You will stay in there for good!", he screamed at her, double locking the door and shoving the key in his pocket. "If you let her out, I will deal with you myself!", he growled at Gareth as he stood there helpless, before snatching up his jacket and briefcase, and leaving the house.

Gareth stood there for what must have been several minutes, just listening to Tina's frantic banging and pleading gradually getting quieter until all he could hear was her weeping. He didn't know what to do, he never expected Jonathan to react like that at all, let alone hit his daughter. All she wanted to do was tell him that she was going to university against his wishes, even though she did get a little carried away. "Tina?", Gareth quietly said, walking up to the door to listen. He could see her shadow from underneath the door, and could see she was leaning against it. "Tina?", he asked again, leaning down to look through the keyhole. Now he could just make her out, her eyes streaming with tears, her cheek red, and her lip bleeding. Oh damn, Gareth realised, the wedding ring that Jonathan was wearing must have caught her. Rummaging through his pockets, he found his keyring filled with assorted keys. Fumbling with shaking hands, he found the small gold one that fitted her bedroom door and quickly unlocked it. He didn't care that he was disobeying a direct order and threat from his boss, Tina was hurt, and that overruled everything. As he opened the door, Tina slumped down it onto the floor, crying hysterically, shaking, her hands bloody. Gareth immediately scooped her up into his arms and carried her through to the bathroom. The last time he'd carried Tina like this was about seven years ago, the day she'd lost her mum. Balancing her in one arm, he opened the door and turned on the light before sitting her down on too of the toilet seat. Her hair was a mess now, hanging limp over her face as she sat there shaking and crying continuously. Reaching into the cupboard, he pulled out the first aid kit and without too much resistance, cleaned up her wound. She hissed at him when he cleaned it, but she didn't struggle, but just sat there silently crying. "He's a monster", she whispered eventually as he began to pack the kit away, her hand touching the small stitch on her lip, wincing a little at the tenderness of it. "He's not. He's just very stressed at the minute Tina. You got him at a bad time", he said gently, as he turned back to look at her. She looked, and probably felt, like hell, her perfectly white top now speckled in blood and tears. "No. He is a monster. I don't care how stressed he is! Who hits their daughter and locks them in their room for something they haven't done?!", she cried, wiping a fresh tear away as Gareth carefully helped her up, putting an arm around her as he helped her walk through to the front room. She easily collapsed onto the sofa in the dark, trying her best not to start crying again. "Tina, I know that what he has done to you is wrong. But, could you perhaps thing about seeing it from his side?", Gareth said carefully, switching on the lamp on the table beside him as he sat next to Tina, letting her just lay slumped back. "How then?", she asked weakly, rubbing her eyes. Gareth sighed, biting his lip for a bit, trying to think how best to word it. "Well, your dad is a very busy man. He has a lot of stress with his job, as he works all over, so in a way, has many strands to his web to monitor...". "I love how you're describing him to Moriarty", she said, smiling a little. Gareth chuckled, knowing that if he referred it a bit to some of the films and fiction she liked, she might understand it a bit more. "Well, what if one of those web strands started causing trouble, so much so, that to avoid damage to the rest of the web, you had to cut it off. Following so far?". Tina nodded, now leaning a bit further forward, curious to hear more. "So that strand is lost, forgotten. You move on, replace it with a new thread. But what if, one day, you discover that that single strand has in fact grown into a spider with its own web. What do you do then?". Gareth watched fascinated as Tina frowned, thinking. "Erm, well, it would be a bad thing, as I guess that spider knows that web, I mean 'your' web. So they know what to do to make theirs better ...", she trailed off, thinking again. "And?", Gareth gently pressured, seeing the cogs work in her mind, before her eyes widened in realisation. "And then, they could challenge your web, steal your food, break your strands until there was nothing left ...". Gareth nodded, happy that now she could understand the stress her father was under. Satisfied, he headed out through to the kitchen to get Tina something to drink, as he knew she would have some trouble sleeping with the shock of today. "Gareth?", she asked quietly as he came back through a few minutes later, bringing a cup of tea and some painkillers. "Mmm?". He sat down next to her, and she popped the painkillers in, no questions asked as she took a sip of tea. "My dad's being blackmailed, isn't he?", she asked, refusing to meet his eye. Gareth sighed and nodded. "Yes. Nothing serious, but just by someone he did business with some years ago". Tina nodded, before drinking some more of her tea. "What's his name?", she asked, as Gareth glanced down at the clock and began counting. "What would that matter if I told you? I told you, it's no business of yours. Besides, I've told you too much already", he chuckled as he watched her drink more of the tea. "Then you should have been fired years ago with the secrets you've told me. Come on. Just one little name?", she pried, seeing if she could get him to break. "Oh, alright. His name was Damien. I can't remember what his surname was, it was so long ago. But that's all okay, now finish your tea". Reluctantly he told her, but he knew she was already succumbing to the sleeping pills he'd slipped her in with the painkillers. As he'd spoken to her, he watched her eyes droop slightly, as she struggled to stay sitting up straight as he eased the empty cup from her hands and put it down. "Gareth, I don't feel right", she mumbled, trying to stand up, but fell into Gareth's arms as he caught her, her head rolling back as her eyes closed as she fell unconscious. Carrying her in his arms, he took her back through to her bedroom, carefully laying her down on the bed, tucking her in under the covers. She'd hate him in the morning, but he knew it was for the best. Making sure she had a bowl of biscuits and a glass of water, he turned off the light and locked the door behind him. True to his word, he had technically left her in her room and not let her out, but of course her father would never know that. Pulling out a chair from the kitchen, he set it up against the wall opposite her door and made himself comfortable. Tonight was going to be a long watch, and hopefully tomorrow, a lot less painful, for Tina's sake.

[ A/N : Hey everyone, hope you like this next chapter update. I know some of you are thinking "Where is Tom?", well don't worry, he is coming along soon. Again, thank you all for reading it, and please do leave your thoughts and comments :)
Thank you all ]