Thanks as always for the reviews, I wasn't sure about the last chapter so it means a lot!

Nick had been staring at Peter's motionless body for seemingly eternity before she spoke, standing beside him.

"Check his pulse."

She was quiet, so quiet he could barely hear her above his own breathing. He slowly looked to Carla, a dazed image and her eyes were cloudy. And heartbroken but he shouldn't blame her for that. Nick returned his focus to him. This may have been the first and only time in his life that he willed for Peter to speak, to fire an insult, to hit him back, anything. He braced himself, closing his eyes briefly and taking a sharp gasp of the cold air. Then he walked towards him and crouched down.

Carla studied him as he placed his hand over Peter's neck, she could feel bile rising in her throat and covered her mouth. This wasn't supposed to happen; she should be enjoying a nice evening with Nick. Peter shouldn't even be in the country. Her heart dropped. Unable to see completely but she knew he was shaking his head side to side.

"No.." He couldn't speak, he couldn't think, he couldn't do anything. "I can't, I'm.." It was clear that he was trembling all over.

He scrambled back to his feet, his face pale. Carla felt for him, this wasn't his forte. It wasn't any decent human being's forte but especially not Nick's. He's just sensible Nick, a good boss and a good man. Or so she thought. She hurriedly searched her pockets for her mobile. Damn, it was finally out of charge.

"Give me your phone," She demands, deciding to take control and call an ambulance.

"He broke it," Nick pointed to the machinery mess on the ground.

She couldn't believe him. All this over some ridiculous, dispensable iPhone? Her jaw must have noticeably dropped.

"He was winding me up," His excuses were starting to spill out like a child, high pitched and frantic. "And he told me that you both kissed,"

And there it was. Carla was being naïve if she didn't think this was all her fault. Of course it was, Peter wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. Nick wouldn't have lost himself if she didn't do what she did. Destroying everyone she touches, it's what she does best. Her voice cracked, "I'm sorry,"

"Me too,"

They heard noises around them. People. Carla thought that was Beth's laughter but it soon faded away and the night was dead again. She used to enjoy the darkness, the mystery and the peace. Yet at that moment all she wanted to do was scream. She felt Nick's arm drape over her shoulders, the strong scent of his cologne only irritating her. He was at least partly to blame. He knew Peter, he knew her and he should've known better.

She tensed in his arms before pushing away. "But you shouldn't have punched him,"

"I had no choice,"

She almost choked at his comment.

"You always have a choice, Nick," Her voice didn't get louder, it got faster. "Just like he chose to sleep with Tina and Rob chose to kill her, you chose to smash Peter's skull when his back was turned-"

"-And you chose to kiss him!" His shout caught her off guard as she took a step away from him. "Don't put me in the same box as them,"

"Well, why not?" She couldn't control herself, her tears were racing down her cheeks, "You were reckless, we all were."

There was a short and mutual silence, only the sounds of their hearts crashing against their chest walls could break it apart. Time wasting at the most crucial point. They each had a share of responsibility, maybe even Peter was the most to blame. She knew Nick didn't actually expect him to trip over and crack his head open. And it was getting colder, the brisk wind brushing past Carla and consequently sending a shiver down her spine. She wrapped herself into her leather jacket. They couldn't just stand there.

"Go to Ken's," She suggested before kneeling beside Peter. Her mind was otherwise blank.

He watched her confusedly but knew he couldn't question her. Nick gave one last glance to the pair, she didn't look back to him. He didn't want to leave her, Peter might wake up miraculously as he left. And she seemed a little too upset, there must be a line between appropriately sad and more than that? He had to snap his thoughts away. It was bitter and twisted. It was not Nick. But perhaps it was all part of Peter's master plan, to rip apart their relationship as the apparent victim, knowing Carla wouldn't let him die.

She touched the side of Peter's face, as lightly as she could with the back of her hand. His skin still warm, he murmured slightly. She relaxes just to his sound, knowing he was still with her. It was only a matter of minutes since she last felt him. A hard slap before slamming the door shut, she thought it was the right thing to do. Maybe it was at the time.

Nick was thinking about it; there didn't need to be a rush, Peter did not have long after all. And then it would be problem solved.

"You know how to make a grand entrance, don't you?" Carla whispered to him before biting her bottom lip slightly. She didn't know what to say and he probably couldn't hear anything. But if this was her only chance left then she couldn't throw it away. "And don't get any ideas, I still hate you,"

He couldn't fritter any time away before he knocked on Number One. Nick knew he wasn't evil, his head just wasn't clear. The door opened almost immediately.

"I wish you could let me get on with things," She looked away from him, down the ghostly street. Not a soul in sight. "I know you hate him but he makes me happy."

Perhaps it helped that he couldn't talk back. Sometimes his mouth alone could fill her mind with venom.

"It's not like you have any right to judge," Her desperate ramblings were mostly for her own benefit. She took a pause to steady herself before continuing, "You know how much I adored you. It was pathetic really,"

"I do love Nick, maybe not in the same way as I felt for you but-" She turned back to Peter. His face was white. He usually has such an olive complexion and now he was whiter than snow. When she reached her hand for his, it was ice.

It felt as if someone had stabbed her heart out.

Carla stood up, breathless like she was drowning but there's no surface. Not knowing what to do anymore, she couldn't see the right from the wrong. She had no sanity left. So she ran.