After Leo had thrown the sopping bedclothes and vomit stained pyjamas belonging to Erin in the washing machine, he made his way back upstairs and into his bedroom. Erin was curled up in his bed still shivering with a mixture of fear and coldness, Leo had settled her there after she'd finally stopped screaming so she could keep warm whilst he sorted her room out.

"How do you feel now?" he said perching on the end of the bed

"Queasy" Erin said in a husky voice which was hoarse from all the screaming she'd been doing

Leo frowned as Erin sat up in bed; she was wearing one of Leo's old sweatshirts and it was much too big for her, sometimes he'd forget how small she was for her age

"You still look a bit peaky" he said taking in her ashen appearance highlighted by the dark bags under her eyes

"It hurts" Erin said softly

"Where?" she pointed to her heart "Oh Erin…" Leo sighed "…She can't hurt you; I won't let her come near you"

"I don't feel so good" Erin said as her body convulsed and she threw up again in the small bowl Leo had provided for her in case of any more vomiting

"I don't think you should go into school today" Leo said preparing himself for an argument from Erin

"Okay…" she shrugged and rolled over in bed

Leo was concerned at Erin's submissive tone but didn't comment any further as the young girl looked far to exhausted to be questioned anymore

"I'll phone the school and then I'll call Harry to let him know I wont be in" Leo said standing up

"No!" Erin said sitting up suddenly "Please can I come into work with you"

"You need to rest" Leo said softly

"She knows where I am here" Erin said, her eyes growing wide with fear

Leo nodded his head in understanding "Alright, but as soon as you even feel slightly ill again, we're coming straight home and you'll be confined to your bed for the rest of the day"

Erin nodded as she shakily made her way out of bed and towards the bathroom so she could wash off the sweat and vomit that reminded her of last nights terror

As soon as Harry got into work that morning, he sensed something was wrong. He made his way to Leo's office trying to ignore the eerie hush in the air, Harry gently knocked and pushed the door open and was shocked to find what he did. Erin was curled up on one of the chairs in Leo's office, her head tucked firmly in her knees and she was rocking gently back and forth. Harry could see that Leo was trying to type up a report but his concentration seemed fixed on the young girl in the corner

"Hello Erin" Harry said as he stepped into the office

Erin looked up at Harry and he started at her ashen appearance, puffy red eyes and tear stained face

"Are you not going into school today?" he asked and Erin shook her head

"Don't feel well" she mumbled

"Harry can I have a word outside?" Leo said standing up

Harry nodded "I hope you feel better soon" he called to Erin as he followed Leo outside

"Is she okay?" Harry asked as Leo closed the door

"She had an awful nightmare last night; I've been up since the early hours of the morning trying to calm her down"

"I thought the nightmares had passed, what brought it on?" Harry frowned, puzzled by Erin's sudden deterioration

Leo sighed "Her godmother turned up last night?"

Harry's face changed to an expression of shock "I didn't think she had any family"

"Neither did I" Leo admitted "But it seems a good thing that this one stayed away for as long as she did"

"Is she like Erin's mother?" Harry asked and Leo nodded "Just what Erin needs, a reminder of the past" the young man said sarcastically

"She's a complete mess today" Leo frowned "I don't know where her head is at, I don't even think she knows to be honest"

"Probably best to keep her off school then" Harry nodded "Did she protest at all?"

"That's the strange thing" the older man commented "he couldn't have been more accepting about it. I've never known Erin to be so placid"

Harry gazed at Erin through the glass walls of Leo's office; this newcomer had seriously knocked Erin for six and sent the young girl's world, the only sanctuary she knew, crashing down around her.

A few hours later, Erin finally uncurled herself from her defensive stance. Leo had been called to a crime scene a few hours ago and now Erin was starting to feel the pit of loneliness eating away at her. Still feeling very shaken she made her way out of Leo's office and into the main lab in search of some company. She passed some lab technician who smiled warmly at her, now very used to the young girl's presence in the lab.

Erin turned a corner and finally saw Harry sitting there at his desk watching her every move like he had already anticipated her joining him. He pulled out a stool which Erin sat down tentatively on. The two sat in companionable silence for a good ten minutes before Erin finally broke the silence

"I want Leo…" she said and Harry could hear the pain in her voice

"He'll be back soon" he reassured her "In the meantime will I do?"

Erin shrugged "I guess so…"

Harry chuckled at her comment "Do you feel any better?" he asked noticing Erin had gotten some of her colour back

She nodded "I don't feel sick anymore"

"Good" Harry smiled as he pushed a sandwich carton towards her "Then you'll want something to eat"

Erin eyes the sandwich cautiously but Harry was persistent in his task

"It's your favourite" he tempted "cheese and pickle…"

Erin wrinkled her nose but stretched forward and took the sandwich out of its carton. She took a very small bite and started to chew it with Harry watching her every move. When he was satisfied she had eaten enough he gave her an encouraging smile and pushed on to the more pressing issue

"Leo told me Nora came round last night" Harry stated

Erin froze as she gulped down the last piece of sandwich "Oh…" was all she said

"Erin, you know there's nothing to be scared of" Harry soothed

"So everyone keeps telling me" Erin let out a small laugh which sounded more like a sob

"She can't get anywhere near you without your permission. You have that right"

"You have no idea what she's like" Erin said warily "Like any law or regulation will stop her"

"Tell me what she's like then" Harry pressed

"Evil" Erin spat "Just like her"

Harry nodded sadly already understanding 'her' to be Erin's mother as the young girl could never quite bring herself round to openly talk about her absent parents

"Did she hurt you Erin?" Harry asked cautiously

Erin shook her head "But she didn't do anything to stop it. She just stood there and watched"

Harry frowned as he heard Erin say this and he looked up to see Leo walking into the lab

"You're looking better" Leo smiled at Erin who could only echo the expression weakly

"Erin was just telling me about Nora" Harry said and Leo nodded, understanding after hearing the last parts of their conversation

"Listen to me" Leo said crouching before her "I've been checking up on the legal side of things and I promise you that she can only have contact with you if you want it"

Erin nodded slowly but the two men could see the doubt still lingering in her eyes

"I think we should get you home" Leo said standing up and putting his arm around his daughter

"I can cope here fine" Harry nodded and Leo smiled gratefully

"Bed rest for you, young lady" the older man told Erin gently who could only nod as she was led out of the lab

Erin stared straight ahead out of the car window as Leo bustled about putting his belongings in the car

"I was thinking I might cook your favourite tonight" Leo told her

"You don't have to do that" Erin said mechanically

"I want to" Leo said climbing into the car beside her and giving her a warm smile as he started up the car

Erin shrugged and turned her gaze towards the window. As they pulled out of the car park, she nearly felt her heart stop as she took in the surroundings. There standing just outside the security barrier to the lab, half hidden in the foliage was Nora. The woman's cold eyes were fixed to a point and Erin knew that she was the target.