Learning To Trust Again

Jake didn’t reply, his attention had already shifted away. As the man at base finished speaking Jake had heard the sirens approaching and looking up he watched as the ambulance made its way to his position.

Once Todd was loaded into the back of the ambulance and the doors were closed, Jake watched the vehicle move away from the scene before pulling out his phone and calling Rebecca’s home number.

Dragged out of a deep sleep by the sound of the phone ringing Rebecca looked at the clock and her heart began to race. For someone to be ringing at this time of night it had to be bad news. Wondering if Jake was working her thoughts immediately flew to him, but then she realised with some sadness that there was no reason anyone would ring her about him. Not anymore. She hadn’t returned any of his calls since she told him it was over. She missed him every day but talking to him would only make it worse. She needed a clean break. So that left Todd or her parents. Dreading hearing what the caller had to say, but knowing she had to answer, Rebecca took a deep breath to steady herself. She lifted up the receiver and said ‘hello,’ trepidation already discernible in her voice.

‘Rebecca it’s Jake.’

Hearing his deep voice after she’d just been thinking about him, was more than a shock. It was like a physical blow and for a minute Rebecca couldn’t speak at all. But as it sank in, that he had called her in the middle of the night, both concern and irritation warred within her. Without stopping to think, she blurted out ‘Jake, do you know what time it is? What is it? Are you okay?’ She didn’t want to care, but she couldn’t help it.

‘Yes, I’m sorry. I’m fine’ he said trying to answer all her questions at once before explaining in a quiet voice ‘Rebecca, it’s Todd.’

‘What?’ Rebecca said horrified as fear crept though her body and settled like a heavy weight on her chest. ‘What about Todd?’

‘Rebecca he’s been beaten again, badly this time. My squad were called to the scene of a fight outside a club. When we got there, there was only Todd.’

‘How is he?’ she said trying hard not to panic.

‘He was unconscious when we arrived’ Jake said and not wanting to lie to her again, even to make her feel better. He added ‘he hadn't regained consciousness before he was taken away but his vital signs were good. I’ve just put him in an ambulance headed for your hospital.’

‘Oh my god!’ she exclaimed ‘Do you know what happened?’

‘Not yet but I’m guessing it’s the same guy as last week, too much of a coincidence for this to happen twice in the space of a week and for there not to be a connection. I noticed that Jemma, that girl Todd was with last Saturday is here, so I’d say it’s her ex again but my team is working on finding out. I just wanted to let you know about Todd first’ and his voice becoming harsh he added ‘then I’m going to track this guy down and personally bring him in.’

Quiet for a minute Rebecca couldn’t stop herself from adding ‘be careful Jake.’ Even though she could no longer trust him, could no longer be with him, she couldn’t stand the thought of him being hurt.

 ‘I’ll be fine’ Jake said, ‘but I can’t guarantee he will be.’

 ‘Jake don’t do anything stupid, not on our account’ she said, her voice hard as she fought to distance herself again. She was furious with herself for crossing her carefully set up boundaries. She didn’t want to care about him and she didn’t want to owe him anything either. ‘Thank you for ringing’ she said with a snap in her voice.

‘Are you going to the hospital?’ Jake asked before she could hang up.

‘Of course I’m going to the hospital’ she said more sharply than she intended. Her anger that she couldn’t trust herself, even when she was just talking to him underlined her words. This is what happened with Mark. She’d leave hurt over some betrayal of his and a few days later, when it suited him, he’d come after her and all it would take was a word and she’d forgive him and take him back. Well not this time. She was not going to make the same mistake with Jake. He’d let her down and even if she could forgive it, she could not and would not forget it.

‘Be careful okay? Drive there please’ Jake said.

Not wanting him to care either, she all but yelled ‘I’ll be fine, bye.’

‘Bye Rebecca’ Jake said but she had already severed the connection before he had the words out.

Dejected and confused by her attitude, Jake put away his phone and went to find out what his team had discovered.