"He says its HIV!" Connie yelled to Jacob as she felt the needle come into contact with her shirt. Jacob watched on in horror as his loved one was pinned to a wall in the basement of the hospital.

"Do you wanna find out if I'm lying?" The man said with a sickening grin. Jacob started to run over to Connie but was stopped by a black haired woman.

"Now muscle, don't forget I've got a loaded gun here. Babe, cuff him the the pipes!" He watched on

"Throw away the key" his orders where followed.

"Now her!" He pushed Connie forward with such force her neck clicked.

"Fuck!" Connie muttered as she felt it.

"Are you alright" Jacob whispered concerned for Connie

"Yeah" she replied weakly.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked

"No" Connie lied shaking her head.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

A week had past and connie was keeping her distance from Jacob. She loved him but she couldn't hurt him. Grace wanted her mum and Jacob to split up. But connie wasn't going to do it because of Grace; she held a much deeper, scarier secret.

Jacob entered Connie's office and Grace gave him a dirty look.

"Hey firecracker" Jacob said smiling to grace as she gave him a sarcastic smile. Jacob walked out knowing he was not wanted there.

"You haven't told him, YOU PROMISED!" Grace snapped to her mum.

"I have he's just being friendly. Look your taxi will be here in a minute get your stuff together" Connie stood up and walked grace out. She waved grace off then walked around the corner so she was in privet. She untucked her blouse and looked at the bruise on her belly. She rubbed over it and took a deep shaky breath. She started to cry.

"Come on Connie don't cry it will be fine." She held her tears back for as long as she could then tucked blouse back in then rubbed her cheeks removing the mascara streak that had formed.

As she headed back into the ED she bumped into Jacob.

"Hey what's up, you barely spoke to me today. and not to mention how rude grace was" he asked concerned grabbing Connie's arm.

"DONT..." Connie snapped then stopped

"Don't talk about my daughter like that" she finished in a softer tone.

"Sorry" Jacob responded.

"Look I don't think we are going to workout. I'm sorry." Connie admitted feeling her heart break.

"What where is this coming from?" Jacob asked. Connie put her head down.

"Grace? She really does have you wrapped around your little finger" he finished then walked off. Connie headed to her office.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Connie headed home with Grace. She need a bath to get rid of all the sand which was still in her hair and to remove the blood which cotton wool and warm water failed to remove. The car journey home was quiet. Grace didn't know what to say to her mum. She had nearly lost her that day. Only was it when she revived the radio call did she truly realise how much her mum did love her. Connie however had a much deeper thought on her mind. A thought that could only be taken away from one little letter.

They arrived home just before seven o'clock. Connie unlocked the door and grace charges in.

"I'm going to run you a bath mum" she shouted back running up to Connie's on-sweat. Connie looked down at the mat she was stood on. A messy pile of letters were tangled under her feet. She picked them up.

"Junk, junk, junk, for Gracie, Sam he don't even live here. And..." She froze as she looked at the final letter it was addressed. 'Privet and confidential' 'Mrs Constance Beauchamp' with 'NHS' printed clearly in the right hand corner. Connie took a deep breath folded it in half and put it in the back of her trousers and pulled her blouse over it the hide it.

"Gracie, you have mail darling!" Connie shouted to Grace.

"Okay, put it on the fireplace with the others. You bath will be ready in ten. Pour yourself a glass of something while you wait." Grace responded. Connie went and poured herself a very large, very expensive, glass of wine.

"It's ready mum" grace shouted. Connie headed upstairs. Grace had lit candles, put bubbles in the bath and played soft music. Connie hugged grace tight and the told her to watch TV downstairs. Soon she was positive she was gone she pulled out the letter. Her face soon changed from a smile to as white as a sheet.

"Fuck no!" Connie cried. "This couldn't be happening."