Kevin woke a few hours later, as the early dawn light filtered underneath the blinds. In the dimly shadowed room, as his eyes adjusted to the greyness he studied the fair head that was lying in front of him. She was still huddled close, her face in repose although marked, looked peaceful enough, her back was tucked in tight against his chest, and he felt the warmth of her body through his boxers and tee shirt. As he watched her sleep, feeling the slight rise and fall of her chest against him as she breathed, he felt a surge of protectiveness towards her rush through his veins. Never before had any woman affected his senses like this woman lying beside him. She in turns infuriated him, challenged him and excited him. She lit up a room with her smile and made him laugh, at life and at himself. He admired her dedication to her craft and the way she always strove to improve, to soak up knowledge like a sponge from the actors around her. She had a gift for making friends and keeping them, and her unswerving loyalty to her friends and family was well known. And even her occasional wild antics just added to her charm, she took life by the scruff of it's neck and a gave it a good shake. He thought she would always be that way, just when you thought you had her tagged, that you thought you had worked her out, she would change tack, and a new side of her personality emerged. He likened her to a multi faceted gemstone, that when you held it up to the light, the different angles gave you a different perspective. But all that aside, from the moment he set eyes on her he knew she was special, and if he told the truth, he didn't regret this hasty offbeat marriage one bit. He knew he was attracted to her, and that they both felt it's pull. When he kissed her it just felt so right. He knew he had used these phone calls as an excuse to get closer, to be near her all the time, their separation since leaving England had left him feeling unusually lonely, but he never dreamed that she would be plunged into this crazy frightening situation. Her terrified message on his phone had left his heart frozen in his chest, and he had been panic stricken thinking that she was in danger.
She stirred muttering in her sleep, disturbing his thoughts, he gently kissed her temple and whispered softly in her ear. 'Hush babe I'm here, shush it's ok.' He gently smoothed her fine blonde hair, tucking a stray short lock behind her ear. 'Kevin.' He heard her murmur before she snuggled in closer against him. He wrapped a protective arm around her body, pulling her even closer to him, feeling as he did a familiar stirring within his loins. But the funny thing was, although he desired her and wanted her with a longing that was becoming a physical ache, how he felt towards her deep in his heart was like nothing he had ever experienced before. He wanted to know her the real woman more. He needed to know what made her tick inside, her mind was as intriguing to him as was the physical attraction he felt towards her. And that was where she was so different from any other woman that had been in his life. From her he wanted more, so much more, he wanted look into her heart and soul and find himself there. But the thought that anyone would want to harm this precious jewel that lay beside him filled him with more pain than he ever thought possible to feel. His thoughts strayed back to that moment when he held her panic stricken, rain drenched trembling body in his arms, and the intensity of the relief he'd felt that she was safe in his arms had overwhelmed him. He realised at that moment he would do anything to protect her from harm. Is this love he wondered to himself? I've never felt this way about anybody else before. The physical attraction was there, that was obvious to them both. There was so much electricity between them, like a positive and negative charge are drawn together so it was with them. He knew Jac was far more spontaneous in her feelings and emotions, where as he deliberated more, thought about things more. Like now he thought with a wry smile to himself, maybe he should give up analysing and just go with the flow. He liked to be in control of things and maybe what he felt for this woman beside him bordered on the dangerous, the unknown. He thought maybe Jax could lighten him up, and he could provide her with some stability, yes the more he thought about that idea the more he liked it. Feeling drowsy with his contemplations he snuggled in closer to her and drifted off to sleep again.
With a groan I rolled over. I never knew my body had this many muscles, each and everyone screamed in protest as I moved. Blinking my eyes, I adjusted to my surroundings and my whereabouts as the memories of last night came flooding back, my heart skipped a beat as the fright momentarily returned, but sound of Kevin singing softly in the bathroom reassured me. Exhaustion had caused me to sleep solidly and surprisingly peacefully, but with another groan I forced my protesting muscles to reach across Kevin's side of the bed, to pull the clock around so I could see the time.
'God six hours sleep.' I moaned. A dull thumping at the side of my temple, promised me a full scale headache unless I took some pain killers right away. Pushing back the quilt, I dragged my weary legs around, letting them hang over the side of the bed. Rubbing my temples with my fingers as I sat, I thought about the long day ahead on the set and grimaced. I didn't want to hold up production even though all I wanted to do was crawl back under the covers and sleep for a year, but we were getting into the crucial scenes now, and time wasted meant money wasted, so I was prepared to soldier on. The bathroom door opened, and a dark head appeared around it. It was Kevin, hair damp from a recent shower carrying an armful of dirty clothes, he had obviously been cleaning up. 'Oh you're awake, did I wake you sorry? I thought I heard you move about just then, but don't get up go back to sleep.'
'No I don't think you woke me, I think my headache woke me, I've the beginnings of a war threatening to break out in my head I think.' I grumbled as I brushed a tired hand across my face as I did feeling my scratches and cuts for the first time.
He was at once all tender concern, dropping the clothes on the floor and sitting beside me on the bed in two long strides. Tilting his head sideways, those bright green eyes of his were serious as he studied me. 'How about I get you some aspirin, that might help call a truce eh?'
I answered with a slight tired smile. 'A truce sounds good, so would a good strong cup of tea join those aspirin reinforcements?'
Flashing me that quick smile that turned my heart every time it was aimed at me, he brushed his hand lightly across my cheek. ' There's aspirin in my top drawer there, take a couple, go have a shower in my bathroom and I'll cook you my special breakfast, how's toast and tea sound?' He offered with another one of those rare smiles, but he had correctly gauged my reluctance to use my bathroom just at the moment.
I laughed lightly 'Actually toast and tea sounds absolutely smashing and so does a steaming hot shower. I've suddenly discovered muscles I never knew I owned, must have been all that running.'
His face sobered at the mention of last night. 'Are you sure you're ok?'
' Yeah I'm alright.' He raised an eyebrow at me. 'Honestly I'm ok. Tired and sore but ok.' He still looked dubious and I laid my hand on his thigh. 'I'm ok Kev honestly.' He nodded reluctantly. ' Right then, I've contacted Kerry, she said she'll meet you on set later, oh and Ken rang as well. He wanted to know if you were ok. I told him you'd ring him when you woke up.'
'Thanks, I will as soon as I've had some breakfast, speaking of which, are you going to impress me with your toast making skills?'
'Oh, I'm the master of toast making.' He teased.
'Good, because I'm a connoisseur of toast.'
He grinned and flicked my cheek with his finger. 'You're crazy you know that. Ok I'm outta here. There is tea and toast to be made and I've a reputation to uphold.'
'Oh and I'm the nutter eh? I'll be down in ten minutes, the aspirin is in there you said?' I looked up as he moved to pick up the clothes he had dropped, before moving towards the door and turning around at my question.
'Ah huh top drawer, yep that's it.' I rummaged and found the packet and as I turned towards the door to thank him he was gone.
Three hours later we walked onto the set. Overstepping cables dodging cameras and the paraphernalia normally associated with a movie set, we found Ken patiently explaining to some extras exactly what he wanted all the while yelling instructions to the lighting crew. Kevin had insisted in accompanying me, he wasn't for the moment letting me out of his sight. This was another complication of the stalker that I hadn't allowed for. Would I be able to continue to keep Kevin at arm's length if he was always this close? I didn't know. 'Ken.' I called
Ken turned around with a smile. 'Jac god love, are you ok? You know you don't have to be here. What a terrible experience for you to have to go through.' He rushed forward and enfolded me in a tight hug. We had become very good friends in the short time we had worked together, and I found his belief and trust in my abilities as an actor inspiring and encouraging. To have the respect of an actor of his brilliance was extremely ego building, and I endeavoured to learn as much from Ken as I could.
'It's ok, besides it'll probably do me good having my mind occupied.' Ken let go of me and offered his hand to Kevin with a smile. 'Hi Kevin, she's a stubborn piece of work isn't she.'
'Yeah she sure is.' His slow southern drawl was always more evident around us Brits. 'Nothing I said could convince her to rest today, so I came with her, I hope you don't mind. I promise to keep out of the way.'
'Glad to have you here Kev, and understandable that you want to keep your eye on this live wire.' He flung an arm about my shoulder giving me a quick hug. Ken turned back to Kevin and let loose with the full force of his charm upon him, they had met only briefly before and this was the first time Kevin had actually visited the set. 'Ever been to a movie set before Kev? It's probably not much different to your video shoots, but more equipment and more agro dealing with the suits, come and sit over here, I'm waiting for lighting to set up this shot.' They started chatting like they had known one another for years. Kevin was asking all sorts of questions, and Ken was in his element discussing movie making. I sat for a while content listening to them both of them talk, when Lizzie my make up artist appeared in front of us 'God Jac, you gave us all a fright.' She spoke in her strong cockney accent. 'Let's 'ave a look at that face love, Tch tch' she muttered as she took my chin in her hand, she studied my scratches with professional interest, turning my face this way and that way. ' Yep no problems there, made a right mess of yourself haven't you Jac? Ken I can cover them up easy enough, but don't make the lighting too bright though. They are interior shots today huh?'
'Yes, we'll shoot this scene, then set up the lightening for Jac's scene with me, can you have her ready in an hour Liz?'
'Blimey, you're asking for miracles Ken but I'll see what I can do, no promises though. Alright then Jac, let's see what we can do with this face of yours?' I stood up and followed Lizzie to the makeup trailer, where in just over an hour she had me clothed, coifed and turned into a medieval Scottish noblewoman, one who loves and supports her husband in his ambitious schemes. I always have had the ability to be able to click into a role without too much drama. It was like flicking a switch in my mind, one click and I was immersed in the role. Not for me the grind and need to stay in character while filming, or for the run of a play, or even the chore of method acting. People thought of me as being flighty, well I guess if I was, it was this trait in my personality that helped me slip with ease from one role to another with ease. And this role of a strong passionate woman, loved by her husband, who will be haunted by guilt and mistrust, till madness takes a hold after her relationship with her husband deteriorates because of their guilt at their crime, was an opportunity I relished. Ken was waiting for me, he too was in costume, and the crew were in position ready but were talking quietly amongst themselves as I made my way carefully across cables and camera tracks. A film set was like a busy main street, people rushing to and fro, each with their own task or job in hand, distractions were two a penny till the director, in this case Ken yelled ready, and the world of make believe took over. Silence, a deathly quiet prevailed eerily smothering the set, allowing the actors to sink themselves into their roles and letting them unleash their world of pretend in front of the cameras.
The second unit director Louis, was in charge of the scene and it's filming while Ken and I acted out the scene. Now fully in the character of Lady McBeth, I exhorted my husband played by Ken to channel his ambition to go through with his plans to murder his king, then seize the throne for himself.
Kevin sat off to the side and watched fascinated as Ken and Jac acted out the scene. As soon as he saw Jac appear on the set, he realised that she was Lady Macbeth, she bore little resemblance to the woman he knew, so steeped in the role was she. Here in her place was an ambitious fervent woman intent on convincing her husband to commit a murder, because he has second thoughts and is reconsidering his plans. As she circled her wavering husband, the bard's words left her lips easily and convincingly, with an intensity that almost made him want to jump do her bidding immediately. She bullied, cajoled, and reassured Ken that all would be well. Then Ken as Macbeth, his confidence restored by the support of his wife for his ambitions agrees to go through with his plans. He found himself totally enthralled as he felt the power of their performance. The cameras panned around them, capturing every inflection of their voices and emotion that crossed their faces.
Then they had various close ups and angled shots to film, as they went through the scene, again and again till Ken and Louis decided they had enough footage ready to edit. He saw Jac shoot a quick worried glance over at him, and he gave her the thumbs up. A relieved smile lit up her face and eyes and after a few words to Ken and Louis, she made her way over to him carefully making sure her long train didn't knock anything over. She managed to look graceful as she made her way over to him, her tall frame suited the severe cut of the medieval dress she wore, it clung to her curves and accentuated them as it draped softly about her body. He found he was breathing hard just as if he had run a mile, such was the effect she had on him, so he took a couple of deep breaths to steady his heart rate.
'That was brilliant Jax.' Kevin looked up and said huskily as he took hold of my hand, he gave it a squeeze as he smiled. 'You made me want to go out right away and do your bidding. And all those shots of the same scene over and over, how do you do it.'
'I suppose it's like how you record your music, whereas mine's more visual to your aurel, your craft is really not that much different to mine, there is a lot of repetitive stuff that we both have to do before we have the final product. The theatre is somewhat different than movie making, it's more intimate and you're probably more vulnerable on stage because your mistakes can't be erased. There are no extra takes, on stage you have to produce, you should know that.'
A young aide appeared like a shadow beside me. 'Here's a cup of tea Ms Ryecroft, do you want your chair brought over to you.'
I took the proffered cup with a smile 'Thanks Eric, It's ok I'll just sit here, a chair's a chair.'
'Ok then Ms Ryecroft, I have to get Mr Branagh his tea as well now, is there anything else you'd like?'
'No thanks Eric, you can call me Jac you know.' I sat down next to Kevin and watched as a blush stole across Eric's cheeks.
'Umm no, I couldn't do that, that would be too familiar Ms Ryecroft, if there is anything else you need, just ask me and I'll get it for you.' He stammered out as he backed away into a camera, he blushed an even deeper shade of crimson before giving me a sweet embarrassed smile before turning and bolting over to Ken.
'Someone's got a crush on you.' Kevin grinned over at me.
'Yeah I know, he's a sweet kid, he would do anything for me.' I took a sip at my tea. 'He also makes a great cup of tea, he'll go a long way.' I smiled then yawned.
'Tired Jax?' Kevin asked with a tender look.
'I'm a bit weary, but I'll be ok.' His fingers traced my cheek lightly.
'Lizzie did a great job with the makeup, you can hardly see the scratches.' He left his hand on my cheek and our gazes locked. It had been a strange twenty four hours, the whole spectrum of our emotions had been covered, whether we acknowledged or not. I knew the electricity between us was building in intensity, and sooner or later it would need an outlet, or we would both burn up and fry. But something else besides appreciation flickered in Kevin's eyes, fleetingly it lingered there, but disappeared as the shutters lowered as Ken appeared beside us fracturing the mood. I knew we both looked at Ken bewildered as he asked us a question. He grinned at our obvious confusion.
' Oh the joys of young love.' He teased causing both Kevin and I to look anywhere but at each other. 'Go home you two, we've really done all we can with you today Jac. And you both look dead on your feet. Go home and get some rest and some sleep.'
'You sure Ken?' I asked uncertainly as I refused to look at Kevin.
He reached down and pulled me to my feet, pointing me in the direction of my trailer her gave me a gentle shove.
'Kev, take her home and make her rest. You've got the rest of the week off Jac. We've rescheduled shooting, so we won't need you. And I mean that Jac, relax for the rest of the week. I want you well calm and well rested. The next lot of scenes we shoot will be gruelling emotionally.'
'Ok, ok I give in, home here I come.' Ken gave me a triumphant smirk, pleased he had got his way.
'Smirk all you like Branagh.' I laughed 'I'll get you back.' He leaned in a pecked my cheek with a light touch of his lips. 'Take this livewire home Kev, make her rest.'
'Thanks for passing the buck on Ken' Kevin laughed rolling his eyes. 'Like I can make her do anything she doesn't want to do, um that's sort of an impossible task you've given me there.' I listened to their easy chat, and thought to myself with an inward smile. 'Oh Kevin if only you knew, one look or word from you and I'd do anything you wanted me to if I knew you loved me.'
We said our goodbyes and made our way to my trailer. Lizzie saw and followed behind ready to collect my costume to return it to the wardrobe department. Kevin kept up a round of inane chatter making us giggle, but the smile froze on my lips as I opened the door of my trailer and immediately saw the single red rose on a table that sat on top of a photograph. I dropped the teacup that I still had in my hand, and it shattered into a thousand pieces as it hit the ground. So did the fragile confidence that I had built up since last night, as the implications of my situation now struck home. Last night scared me, but today knowing he was here, and so close somehow affected me more. I could feel the floodgates open knowing that he had been here at work, on a movie set I had thought I was safe.
'Oh god Kevin he's been here, he's been in here. He's been in here.' I said over and over, as I bit back the tears that formed instantly, blinding me so I couldn't see a thing, my body started to tremble all over as I realised another private inner sanctum had been invaded. Kevin summed up the situation at a glance taking instant note of the blood red rose and the polaroid snap laying together on the table amongst my gear and he pulled me gently into his arms. 'Hush baby, shush, it's ok. I'm here, as long as I'm here you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you, never.' He gestured over my shoulder to Lizzie, who reading his thoughts took off at a run to alert Ken and security. Word had already spread around the crew like wildfire about my difficulties and because I had always got on well with the crew and they had been full of unspoken sympathy all day.
'Come on babe, sit down out here.' With his arms still about my shaking body he sat me down on a crate outside my trailer. He squatted before me with a sigh and held my hand, his fingers gently locked with mine. "I'm ringing Steve now Jax. We need to get this sorted out and fast.' And chewing my cut lip, I nodded silently at him, the fear in my stomach not allowing me to speak, but I had a feeling the last twenty four hours was only the beginning of the nightmare.