Retreat then Restore...Revisiting the Past

She went away, and now she's back...but how does she explain the fact that she wasn't dead, and didn't kill herself?

The plane cruised through the sky like a ship did through the sea; slowly, peacefully, but with occasional turbulence rocking the boat, or the plane.

A woman in her mid 30's cradled a young baby in one of the seats, gazing at her little girls sleeping form. The baby's eyes opened and she let out a small cry. This didn't seem to faze the mother, who rocked the baby gently and said to her, 'It's okay sweetheart, we're on the plane, going to see Mummy's friend.'

The baby seemed to understand her, cooing gently back at her mother.

'It's funny how you seem to understand me, isn't it Cassie?' she asked softly, receiving another coo in reply.

Cassie began to cry rather loudly, making the woman curse slightly and say, 'Cassidy-Rica Joanne, you stop that crying right now, people are trying to sleep.'

Cassie calmed down almost instantaneously and fell back to sleep, snuffling slightly. On the intercom, the pilot announced that they would be landing in Bristol shortly.

The woman exhaled slightly, and thought about where she was going to. She was going back to Holby, back to where all of the pain lay, back to where she saw something that changed her life, and made her leave behind someone she loved, even though at that moment in time, he in no way deserved it.

She snapped out of her semi-hypnotic gaze to look at Cassie, who was still sleeping peacefully wrapped in her shawl.

She began to think about the circumstances surrounding Cassie's birth. It was sad really, the attraction she had to the man who had betrayed her, especially seeing as he was the one assigned to protect her. She couldn't help herself, once she found out she was pregnant, she had to tell him. She risked her life by doing that. He didn't care for her or Cassie, just money. And he would've killed her for the right price, that's why she had to get away from him.

So she found someone to sort her out a fake passport and booked a flight under her a new name, one he didn't know her by, and flew to a different part of Australia, where she gave birth to Cassie. As soon as Cassie was old enough, she set out for Holby, still under the fake name of Danielle Lyons, just so she couldn't be traced.

Looking out of the window, she saw clouds, peaceful, fluffy white clouds cloaked in sunshine and surrounded by the azure blue sky. She'd missed almost everything about the UK. The weather, the people, one person in particular.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the planes descent, making her ears pop as the plane dropped lower and lower. Cassie woke up, alarmed by the drop, and as her mum soothed her, she began to calm slightly.

The plane landed in Bristol and its passengers departed, heading for passport control and baggage reclaim.

She walked slowly, not wanting to hasten and hurt Cassie. Arriving at passport control, she handed over her fake one, holding her breath slightly, hoping that nothing would be said.

'Welcome back to England Miss Lyons,' said the officer.

'Thank you,' she said, walking through to baggage reclaim.

Luckily, hers and Cassie's bags came straight away, but she had to figure out a way of juggling Cassie in her buggy and the trolley of suitcases.

Looking into her carry on bag, she found a baby carrier that strapped to her chest. She opened up the buggy and put Cassie in, keeping her eye on her whilst she put on the carrier. Once it was securely on, she took Cassie out of the buggy and put her in the carrier. After that, she folded the buggy back up and balanced it on top of her suitcases on the trolley.

Wheeling the trolley out to the entrance, she was met by a taxi driver, who loaded her bags into the car.

After a reasonably long journey, she arrived in Holby, and was driven to what would be her and Cassie's new home, a small 1 bedroom flat on the ground floor.

The taxi driver was kind enough to help her with her bags, taking them into the flat for her.

'Thank you so much,' she said appreciatively.

'You're welcome,' said the driver, walking back to his car.

Walking around the flat with Cassie in her arms, she grimaced at the decor.

'Once we get on our feet we'll have to decorate this place,' she mused out loud. 'Right Cassie, we just came here to put our stuff down, we're going to take a little walk to the hospital, and meet an old friend of mine.'

She unfolded the buggy and placed Cassie in it, tucking her in with a blanket. She quickly checked the changing bag so that it contained everything she needed for Cassie.

Once it was definite that she had everything she needed, she set off out. She spent the whole walk talking to Cassie about what she used to do when she lived here, and places she used to like. Cassie cooed in answer to her mum's every question.

She walked up to the hospital and exhaled deeply before walking in through the doors. Receiving some odd looks from some, blank ones from the others, she just ignored them and carried on walking.

Arriving at Keller ward via the lift, she saw a man who looked like he was in charge. He stood tall and proud and spoke with an American accent.

'Hi,' she said with a friendly tone. 'I'm looking for Ric Griffin, can you tell me where I can find him?'

'Ahh, he's in a meeting at the moment, I can call him once he's done and tell him you're here. Who should I say is calling?' asked Michael in intrigue.

'Just say an old friend, I want to surprise him,' she replied after a moment's thought. 'Can I wait in his office? I have to feed Cassie.'

'Sure,' said Michael, guiding her to his office. 'Make yourself at home, I have to be in theatre.'

'Okay, thank you...'

'Michael. Michael Spence,' said Michael confidently.

'Michael, right,' she replied.

Once he had left, she took Cassie out of her buggy and began to feed her. Once she had been burped, she settled her down to sleep and began to look around the office, and the desk she assumed to be Ric's based on the Ghanaian beads and the picture of Leo.

Her inspection was interrupted by Ric entering the room.

'Oh my God,' he said, slowly and in shock.

'Hello Ric,' she said awkwardly, not knowing how she was going to explain her presence.

Especially when he thought that she was dead.

So, did you like it?

Reviews are loved

And virtual cookies for those who can guess who the mystery guest is. She's one of my all time fave characters.