"So, Mr Panayiotou-Jones ... would you be able to give a brief outline of what happened tonight?"

The probing from the police is very quickly making Levi weary; he is already shaken-up from the series of events that have occurred this evening — without having to relive them all again. Nonetheless, he nods hesitantly, closing his eyes to try and alleviate some of the nerves.

"Um, well, h-he texted me to tell me he'd found my daughter's toy cat. Uh, sh-she bought it today at Hamley's but she'd lost it on The London Eye. M-Mack was on there with us, and he found it. Um, so I went to pick it up from his room—uh, that's the room he was locked in, and um—sorry." He expels a jittering breath, trying his hardest to compose himself. "It's mad how horrible you can feel from a near-death experience."

"Take your time. This is the last question, anyway."

"Right." He steadies his respiratory pattern, before continuing. "Um, I went to his room. A-And then he started telling me he fancied me. And he said I should leave my husband for him. I didn't expect it. He tried to kiss me, and I pushed him away. Then I texted my husband telling him to get help, because I could sense something was ... off. And h-he didn't like that so he, uh ... he pulled a knife and held it to my neck. He threatened to slit my throat if I said another word. Luckily, George arrived with the receptionist right on time. I-I'd be dead without them."

"What happened after your partner and the member of staff arrived?"

"They, uh ... they burst into the room, and it startled Mack into dropping the knife. He tried to flee, but they stopped him. George told me to call the police, s-so that's what I did. I don't know what happened after that. They locked him in the room, but that's all I know. I-I just remember getting dizzy ... and I couldn't see. I remember feeling like I couldn't stand up. But I couldn't see anything that was in front of me."

"Sounds like you went into shock," the officer comments. "It's entirely normal after an ordeal such as this."

"I-I just feel guilty," Levi explains, hopelessly. "Because George told me all day yesterday and today, that he had a bad feeling about Mack. A-And I just disregarded it because I didn't think he was that bad. But I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. And George is going through so much right now as it is. His mum died only a couple of weeks ago. Th-They were so close. He isn't taking it well. And now we have this to add to it."

"And you said George is your partner?"

"My husband," Levi tells them proudly, despite how disturbed he still is. "I'd be dead without him. We've saved each other." He then shakes his head, as the awareness that the subject is irrelevant causes him to feel self-conscious about his words. "S-Sorry. I talk a lot when I'm ... when I'm kind of traumatised, evidently."

"It's no issue, Mr Panayiotou-Jones," the officer assures him. "But for now, we have no further questions. You're free to go back to your hotel, now."

"Thank you." Levi stands up from his seat, heading sheepishly out of the interview room of the station he's in. Luckily for him, the station is only down the road from the hotel by a few hundred metres; so he is able to make the short walk in five minutes or so. Still overcome with numerous mixed emotions, he can't help but shed silent tears as he makes his way towards the entrance doors to the reception. The male receptionist who helped keep the door for room 314 shut earlier has finished his shift for the night; Levi feels remorse for being unable to thank him for saving his life, despite getting word from George that appreciation had already been shown prior to him being questioned. He enters the lift, scanning his keycard weakly to request Floor Two. The lift doors close, before he is whisked up to the level he requires. Once he reaches the floor, he steps out of the lift, rushing to his room with a sense of urgency; he is taking no chances by staying in the corridors longer than is necessary. Finally, he makes it to room 247, swiping the card against the lock and opening the door.

"Daddy!" Gemma and Kieran greet in unison, bombarding him immediately with tight embraces.

"Hey guys," Levi responds, as joyfully as he can muster. "How have you both been?"

"I'm happy because I got my cat back," Gemma beams. "Did you thank the man for me?"

"Uh, yeah, I did, sweetheart." Just thinking about "the man" makes him feel sick. "But anyway, uh, I think it's bed time now."

"But it's so early," Gemma protests.

"Yeah! It's early o'clock," Kieran adds, in support of his sister. "Can we stay up later?"

"Not tonight, kids," George intervenes calmly. "We have a busy day tomorrow, so you need to get your sleep. Otherwise you'll be too tired to see everyone."

"Who's everyone?" Kieran raises an eyebrow out of curiosity.

"Well, we're going to see Grandad, and Uncle Andrew may make an appearance with Auntie Nancy." George takes a moment, to pretend to think. "Oh — and Auntie Steph might come by, too."

"I can't wait!" Gemma squeals. "I'm going to go to bed and sleep, otherwise tomorrow will never come."

"That's the spirit," George encourages. "Come on, Kieran. You know you want to see them, too."

"I guess ... " He reluctantly climbs into his own bed, with his bottom lip sticking out in a last bid to garner his parents' sympathy.

"Good boy," Levi praises, his voice still not quite up-to-scratch. "Get some rest now. And put that pout away; your lip will get cold."

Kieran caves, giggling lightly at his father's words as he dramatically pulls the blanket up to his chin. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, mate." George gives a small smile to his son, before turning his attention to his daughter. "Goodnight, Gem."

"Goodnight, Daddy." She nestles into the sheets, clutching her cuddly cat in one hand as a form of comfort. She doesn't fall asleep immediately, because she isn't quite tired enough; however, she keeps her eyes closed as a means of tempting her impending slumber. After a few minutes, the men hear the sweet sound of gentle snoring; so they move away from the children's beds in order to talk to one another.

"How did it go?" George questions softly, as not to wake their offspring. "With the police?"

"They just asked me what happened," Levi explains vaguely. "So I told them." He glances behind him, at the children. "Look how peaceful they are. How serenely oblivious they are to what has happened tonight." He shakes his head, feeling a sense of injustice. "And you know, sometimes I look at those kids, and I wish I was as oblivious to the world as they are. And yet, when I was a kid myself, I had to deal with my dad's death. I was an outcast at school. Bullied and made fun of. And now I'm sitting here, coming to terms with the fact I could have been joining my dad tonight. I could have been dead. But then I also realise that the only reason I could have been dead, was because I was oblivious. I was oblivious to the fact that Mack was so dangerous. I totally ignored every word you said about him; your reservations about him; your doubts. I was oblivious to it all. How stupid was I?"

"Hey," George interrupts him, pressing the palm of his hand to his partner's arm in comfort. "You can't change how you responded to the situation. The fact of the matter is, you're here. It's going to take a long time to get over what happened tonight — I totally get that. It would be traumatic for anybody. But one thing for sure is, you're not stupid."

"Well, I certainly feel it." Levi moves his head down, averting his eyes to the floor below him. "And if I'd have been killed? He could have come after you and the kids next. All of us could have ended up dead thanks to me."

"But it didn't happen," George reminds him. "And all four of us are here. And he's gone now. Mack's gone."

Levi nods, understanding that he is overanalysing the ordeal to the point of becoming paranoid. "I know. I think I'm just still in shock. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I promise." George moves in, touching a single kiss to Levi's forehead. "You need to get some rest, now. We're going to see my dad, and Andrew, and Nancy tomorrow. And Steph has said she might make an appearance too. It's going to be a long day. Plus, we have to travel back to Goring ready for the kids going back to school on Monday."

"I know. And I have work, too." Levi's face falls into his hand in dismay; the tips of his fingers rub against his eyes in contemplation. "I'm dreading it."

"Well, considering you almost just died, I'm sure they'd be understanding if you didn't go to work for a few days. It's not every day you're held at knifepoint." George gives a sympathetic expression, despite knowing his husband cannot see it. "It's an extremely exceptional circumstance."

"I just don't want to put my life on hold because of this. I don't want to let him win." Levi raises his head again, to look at George. "He can't have that hold over me. I only knew him twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours is more than enough time for somebody to change your life," George asserts. "Don't ever feel like your feelings are invalid. You've been traumatised today." He slowly starts to make his way over to their shared bed, his body language subtly hinting that Levi join him. "Come on. Let's just lay in bed. I'm exhausted from lack of sleep. I'm sure you're tired too."

"I am, but it's a case of whether I'll be able to fall asleep," Levi answers. "I can try."

Levi accompanies George, allowing his body to rest against the mattress and the pillows beneath him. He stares up at the ceiling above him, with an infinite number of thoughts, feelings and emotions swirling around in his mind. He feels the sensation of George kissing him goodnight; he sees the darkness envelope the room as the bedside lamp is switched off; and he eventually hears the deepened breathing of his lover as he falls into his own slumber.

But through all the motions, he finds himself tormented, and unable to succumb to his fatigue.

• • •

"Hi, Jack. It's great seeing you again." Levi brings his father-in-law into a hug, doing his best to push the events of last night to the back of his mind.

"The same to you, son," Jack responds kindly. It is clear to see, from his mannerisms and demeanour, that he is not the same man he was, since his beloved wife died. Regardless, he turns to his son. "Georgios, how are you doing?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," George answers vaguely; he need not even say his true feelings, for they present through his facial expression. "How are you bearing up, Dad?"

"Well, you know me ... I like to just get on with things," Jack explains. "I don't have an awful lot to get on with nowadays, though. Other than household chores, that is."

"Well, at least you have us for the day," Levi reminds him, in a bid to lighten the mood a little. "And two little terrors to keep you busy."

"Hello kids," Jack greets softly, bringing the pair into his arms. "It's lovely to see the two of you. How has school been?"

"It's been okay," Gemma informs him. "We've been learning the seven times tables in Maths."

"That's brilliant. What's seven times six?"

Gemma pauses a moment to mentally calculate the answer to the question. "It's ... forty-nine! Wait, no! Forty-two — it's forty-two!"

"What a clever girl," Jack praises, before turning his attention to Kieran. "And what about you, young man? How has school been for you?"

"It's been good. But a girl in my class called Esme said mean things about my daddies."

"Oh really?" Jack glances up at George, lowering one brow to invite his son's elaboration on the matter. "Mean things about your daddies, huh?"

"Just some girl in his class," George explains. "Her mum is apparently extremely homophobic. But the teacher has supposedly got it sorted for now, so we'll see."

"Right." Jack nods in understanding, and he opens his mouth to speak again; however, the doorbell interrupts this. "That'll probably be Andrew and Nancy. Go let them in, won't you, Georgios?"

"Of course." He leaves the room momentarily, to open the front door for his best friend. When he sees him and Nancy stood before him, he can't resist immediately bringing Andrew into a hug. "I've missed you so much, Andy."

"What about me?" Nancy hits back playfully. "You better have missed me, too."

"Of course I did," George chuckles. "It's wonderful seeing both of you. Come in." He widens the gap in the already-open door, allowing the pair to enter the house. "Everyone is just through there, in the living room."

"Excellent," Andrew acknowledges, Nancy following right behind him.

George watches them go, as he starts to close the front door behind him. Although, before he can do so, he hears the calling of a familiar voice — Stephanie.

"Oh my god, George! It's him! I can't believe it's him!" She rushes up to him, with a newspaper in her hand. "George, what the fuck happened to you and Levi last night?"

"How do you know about that?" George asks, letting her inside the hallway. "We literally haven't told anybody about that."

"It's in every single local newspaper in London," Stephanie informs him, pointing to the front cover to reveal an image of Mack. "Or should I say, it's on every front page of every local newspaper in London."

"What the fuck?" George gasps, snatching the sheets from her to read. "Neither me or Levi said a word to the press about this."

"Well, word got around somehow," Stephanie states. "And it was him that nearly killed Levi! Of all people!"

"Who? Do you know Mack at all, Steph?"

"Know him?" Stephanie breathes, sounding exasperated. "I don't know if you remember anything from our two years together, George, but I'd like to think I mentioned Mackenzie a fair bit."

At the realisation, George widens his eyes. "Oh, shit! It's really the same guy? Are you serious?"

"Of course, George," Stephanie confirms. "I never forget a face. Let alone the face of my abusive ex-boyfriend!"

• • •

Chapter fifteen! I hope you enjoyed this one. xx