A/N – My first Casualty fic so please be nice! I'm not great on medical facts so will be glancing over them and concentrating on the characters and the story so any mistakes please don't get too annoyed!

Chapter 1 -

Sam wrapped her arms tightly around her body as she shivered in the cold, but at least it was dry she thought to herself. Reaching up she wiped the tears from her eyes before she took a deep breath and turned to walk away, she had only managed to convince Zoe to give her a few hours off and seeing as she had given her boss no explanation Sam couldn't grumble. Turning and walking back to her car Sam was glad that she was able to make the trip that morning, she hadn't missed the occasion in five years and didn't want to set a precedent especially seeing as she was the only that bothered anymore. Grateful to be in the warmth of her car Sam turned the heaters up to full as slowly the tears dried up, she didn't want anyone to see her vulnerability and to question where she had been that morning.

The night had been long and uncomfortable for Chloe but that was nothing that she wasn't used to, using her school's computer yesterday she had found out where she had needed to disappear to and after the events of the evening before her exit had been hastened, only managing to grab her school bag as she ran out of the house and the flying mug that her mum had flung at her head as she left. Getting off the bus Chloe headed straight to the toilets and made sure that at least her face showed no visible signs of the trauma she had been subjected to, refusing to let the tears escape from her eyes Chloe took a breath as she left and followed the road signs to the hospital.

Noel smiled as he saw the young girl walking up to the desk, though as she got closer he could see that bruises were beginning to form around her right eye and dried up blood clotted around the edges of her mouth.

"Hello love can I help you?"

Chloe nervously looked around as the man smiled kindly at her, taking a deep breath she finally managed to get the words out.

"Is Doctor Nicholls here please?"

The words came out quietly and slightly squeaky but Chloe saw that the man had heard her but unfortunately he shook his head.

"I'm afraid she isn't in until later today, can I get anyone else to help you?"

"No, no I'm fine."

Chloe turned and went to walk away but instead walked right into a woman as Noel jogged around from behind the desk.

"Oh I'm sorry."

The words were mumbled as Chloe kept her head bowed low, trying to hide the pain the slight collision had caused.

"Not a problem, are you ok?"

Zoe frowned as she moved to stand in front of the young girl who just nodded her head.

"She was asking after Doctor Nicholls Doctor Hanna."

Noel looked at Zoe as he spoke but Zoe kept her eyes trained on the girl as she trembled at the sound of Noel's close voice.

"Ok thank you Noel, listen I'm Doctor Hanna why don't I take a look at you?"

Chloe suddenly wanted to throw up, this wasn't how she had planned things at all, she wanted to get out of the hospital as quickly as possible but then she felt a hand touch her shoulder and she flinched away, half in pain, half terrified.

"Come on why don't I take you somewhere quiet?"

Zoe spoke softly as she watched the fear overcome the girl and how the slightest touch had caused her to back away.

"Please I just want to see Sam, I mean Doctor Nicholls."

The words were barely audible as Chloe spoke, slowly she lifted her head, swallowing hard to keep the tears at bay, she watched as Doctor Hanna nodded her head.

"Ok come on I'll find somewhere quiet for you to wait."

Zoe smiled as she watched the girl pull her bag tight into her chest, not knowing precisely what was wrong with her and seeing how frightened she was Zoe decided to take her to the relative quiet of her office, closing the door as she motioned for the girl to sit down.

"So I'm Zoe, what's your name?"

"Chloe."

Zoe nodded her head as she moved closer, crouching down in front of Chloe.

"You've hurt your face Chloe?"

Chloe quickly reached up and carefully touched her face as she shook her head.

"No, no, I'm fine."

Zoe frowned as she reached across and tried to touch Chloe but Chloe saw the movement coming and edged away.

"Please let me help you Chloe."

Zoe spoke softly as she stood up and watched as Chloe just stared hard at the floor.

"Ok Chloe you stay here and I'll be back to check on you in a little while."

"It's ok I'll go and wait for Doctor Nicholls."

Zoe shook her head firmly as she looked at the young girl.

"Stay here, she'll be here soon enough."

Chloe sighed and nodded her head as she watched Zoe leave the office, closing the door as she left.

Zoe took a deep breath as she left her office, she had left the blinds slightly ajar so that she could see inside and saw that Chloe was hunched over presumably crying, it took all of Zoe's willpower not to go back into the room but she knew that her presence would be rebuffed so for the time being she tried to carry on as normal.

"Oh Linda."

"Hi Zoe is everything ok, you seem a little flustered."

"Yeah well nothing unusual there then!"

Zoe smiled at her friend as Linda laughed softly as she grabbed another chart and walked towards a cubicle.

"Can you do me a favour please Linda?"

"Hmm."

"There's a girl in my office, she is waiting for Sam but it looks as though she has been beaten up, she won't let me near her though."

Zoe sighed as Linda stopped and looked carefully at her.

"You want me to go and check on her?"

"No I think it would be best if we leave her for the time being, I just wanted to ask you to keep an eye on her, make sure that she doesn't leave."

"Ok sure I'll walk past after I've finished with this patient."

"Thanks, hopefully it won't be too long until Sam gets here."

"Yeah she's never late, where is she?"

"All I know is that she asked for a couple of hours off this morning as there was something urgent she needed to do."

Zoe shrugged her shoulders as Linda nodded her head and the two of them waved goodbye to each other before they carried on working.

By the time that Sam had reached Holby her emotions had settled down, the strong facade had been drawn back across. Dylan had known where she had been that morning but she also knew that he wouldn't say a word to anyone about her whereabouts. Grabbing her bag she was unsurprised to see that the waiting area was already bustling and quickly she headed to the staff room to get changed into her scrubs so she could help out.

"Doctor Nicholls! Doctor Nicholls!"

Noel called out loudly but Sam didn't hear him as she carried on walking, he was going to chase after her but another person waiting impatiently caught his attention.

Sam left the staff room and was tying her hair up as she walked into the cubicle area, she was about to grab a chart when she saw Zoe heading towards her.

"Great you're here Sam."

"Yeah sorry but thanks for this morning. Which patients do you want me to take?"

Sam smiled as Zoe took a hold of her elbow and lead her away to a quiet corner.

"What is it Zoe? Is it Dylan, what's he said this time?"

"It's not Dylan Sam. There was a young girl that showed up this morning looking for you, she said her name was Chloe."

Zoe watched Sam's face carefully and saw it change completely as she said the name.

"What did she want?"

"She hasn't said, Sam she is sitting in my office, she is hurt but won't let me near her, who is she?"

Zoe waited but didn't get any reply as Sam went running off in the direction of Zoe's office, without thinking Zoe quickly followed the young doctor.