A new work week, and Tom entered the office to discover Mared did indeed request a few days off to recover. As the hours passed throughout the day, Tom had already begun to miss her presence. He wanted to call her to check on her, but he didn't want to disturb her if she was resting. He almost dialed her. The screen of his phone contacts read Mared, but then he clicked out second- guessing himself. He knew Mared didn't require a man's protection. She was an independent, strong woman, but Tom secretly hoped she'd take some comfort in knowing he cared and worried about her.

He did want to talk to Mared about Elin's finding him asleep on the couch. He undoubtedly knew Elin would speak of it to her mother, and he wanted to explain and apologise. He should have just told Mared he wanted to stay the night to be there for her or asked Mared's permission to do so earlier before her condition worsened. He had not thought Elin would return early.

Working alongside Sian in questioning was not the same. He wanted Mared at his side.

"Good night, Sir." Sian bid him at the end of another very long day.

Back at his caravan, Tom was exhausted as he entered his shower. Inside, bending slightly, He let the steaming hot water hit the back of his neck. It was soothing. It relaxed him. It relieved some of the day's stress. Drying himself and dressing comfortably for bed, he heard his mobile ringing. The phone read "Mared calling."

"Mared?" He answered.

"Tom...Is it too...I hope I'm not...sorry to call so late...I mean...um...excuse the hour." Mared was lying in her bed talking.

"Was there something...Is everything ok? How are you feeling?" He reacted with questions.

"Bit better." Was Mared's reply.

Tom responded with a little mumble of acknowledgement first, "mmm...that's good...good." He didn't know why they both seemed to be stuttering.

Both speaking again at once, they said, "Listen, Tom [Listen, Mared]."

"You first." Mared spoke again sweetly.

"Can I just apologise? Has Elin spoken to you?"

"Yes, she has. I know."

"I never meant for her to find me asleep. I suppose I slept longer than I intended. Anyway, it was wrong of me to not have asked permission to..."

"You are a kind man, Tom, with a good heart. I'm not calling to scold you. I am very grateful. I wanted to...thank you...for everything. I'm not sure you know how much I appreciate your looking after me. It was more than I could ever ask of you." Mared prettily spoke.

Tom whilst listening threw himself sleepily upon his bed.

"You don't ever have to ask anything of me. If there is ever anything you need, you can always just tell me what it is and what you wish."

Mared responded with a little sweet sigh of acknowledgement and then spoke again herself.

"I wish there was something I could...Anyway, I owe you." Mared replied.

"You don't owe me a thing, Mared. I...care...for you. I mean, you're the most true and loyal of friends, and you're a remarkable woman. Something I felt you should know."

Mared paused on the other end of the line biting her lip as if to hide the happy and pleasant smirk forming, though no one was present in her bedroom to see the expression forming. Her eyes were sparkling.

"Well..." Mared paused seemingly at a loss for words..."I...good night, Tom."

"Good night, Mared." Tom replied.

Both ended the call on their phones. Tom lay back and closed his eyes.