A/N Sorry for the wait for an update guys! I've been really busy and I had an idea for a quick one-shot which I needed to write quickly before the trial actually airs - apologies to all those amazing people who are actually still reading this, you have no idea how much it actually means to me! I have also gone back to Chapter 1 and edited it very slightly to make it a little less confusing, and I have to say a massive thank you to the FanFiction legend that is dark strength; your help to improve this has been invaluable. So without further ado, hope you enjoy and as always all reviews greatly appreciated!

Hayley put a cup of coffee on the table in front of Carla, but she was just as unresponsive as she had been since she had got to the flat. She hadn't even reacted as she walked through the cafe with everybody staring and whispering; it was evident her thoughts were elsewhere. It broke Hayley's heart to look at her boss so hollow and empty. She took a seat next to her looked sorrowfully at the vacant expression plastered over her face.

'Carla?' She was as tender as if she was waking her from a deep sleep, but the sudden noise made her head jerk up at great speed.

'Hm? Sorry, thank you.' She wrapped her hands around the mug and took a small sip as she let the warmth make its way down her throat. She hoped it would make her feel human again, but she sighed when she felt just as cold as ever. She wanted so desperately to feel again, but it was if she was watching the world from above, and the only emotion she managed to conjure up was frustration at her own worthlessness.

'Hey, no need to apologise. How're you feeling?' She wanted, more than anything, for her to open up to her, to get her emotions out in the open. She knew it was a long shot though, and she was right.

'Oh aye, top of the world thanks Hayles. I'm hiding in someone else's house from my rapist ex, thing's couldn't be better.' She looked up and saw the hurt expression on her Hayley's face and immediately regretted it. All she was trying to do was comfort her, but as always she was pushing away those who meant the most to her. It was an automatic reaction. 'Sorry Hayley, I didn't mean that.' She sighed heavily and looked deep into those kind eyes once more. 'Truthfully? I don't feel anything. Nothing. It's like my brain has so much to cope with it's just gone into shut down.'

There was a moment when no words were needed. There was an eerie silence which filled the air as each woman looked deeply into the other's eyes and knew exactly what they were thinking, however it wasn't long before it was broken by a knock at the door. Both women looked apprehensively, but eventually Hayley got up and pulled the door ajar. As she peered round the corner she immediately relaxed and welcomed the detective and uniformed officer into her home.

'Great' Carla muttered under her breath, and she rolled her eyes as she turned her back to them, taking another sip of her coffee. Its taste wasn't particularly pleasant, but she needed an excuse to look away. This was the last thing she needed. 'Why are you even here? You made it perfectly clear last time that you don't believe me. Let me guess, he's getting me done for assault.'

Her manner with the police shocked Hayley; she'd never seen her with them before, and although she understood she would dislike them after her injustice she wasn't expecting her to be so rude. 'Don't be silly, Carla.'

'I'm not Hayles. I slapped him didn't I. Before the trial he had me cautioned for harassment, so I seriously wouldn't put it past him.' The dining chair scraped the floor as Carla got up and made her way over to the sofa.

'Mrs Connor, I can assure you we are taking this matter very seriously.' Her voice alone sent shivers down Carla's spine. DC Malone. She'd said similar phrases to her so many times, yet every time it was clear that she didn't believe her.

'Hayley, meet DC Malone. She was the one in charge of the case before. She thinks I'm a vicious liar trying to get him out of my life by crying rape, isn't that nice of her?' It hit her as she realised just what Carla had had to deal with the past couple of months; it wasn't just Frank, or Sally, or Anne, or the jury, or all those on the street who didn't believe her. Even the detective in charge of her case had had her doubts, and she couldn't bring herself to imagine how much that must've hurt.

DC Malone just rolled her eyes; she didn't have time for time-wasters like Carla. As she spoke her tone was exasperated – sometimes she hated having to go through protocol when she knew the accusation was a wind up. 'Mr Tully has given us a brief account of what happened, and we have people searching for Mr Foster as we speak. Some officers have gone to his mother's house and we have others searching the area to find him. We're here to take a more detailed account from you and to make sure you are safe.'

Hayley was appalled at the boredom which laced the detective's every word, and understood just why Carla hadn't wanted the police involved. She was being treated like a criminal, not the victim, and as much as she hated being treated like the victim, Hayley was pretty sure she didn't want to be treated like this.

'Oh aren't I lucky. Because you did a brilliant job of making sure I was safe before didn't you? Do you know what, just leave.' Carla strode to the door and pulled it open with search force she nearly went flying herself. She stared at the officers expectantly but they didn't move.

'Wasting police time is a criminal offence Mrs Connor.' Oh, she was loving every minute of this wasn't she! Suddenly, the emptiness which had possessed Carla was replaced with anger and aggravation.

'Well it sure as hell wasn't me who called you was it! The last thing I need right now is you treating me like dirt. Frank just burst into my factory...'

'The factory you co-own yet you won't let him go near?' she questioned. She was good at that; seeing things from Frank's perspective. Frank had told her that they had got on well, that they'd "even had a laugh and a joke, she knows I'm not evil". His words rang in her head and she exploded, trying to drown him out with her own words.

'...he burst into my factory, pinned me against the wall, threatened me and now I have to sit tight and hope he doesn't work out where I am! I think I have enough on my plate, don't you?' When she had finished she just stood there, her hand still firmly on the door. The only sound was her heavy breathing and the only movement was that of her chest as she struggled for air.

Hayley couldn't stand by and watch Carla push the police away. As much as she didn't want her to be looked down upon like this, she did need protection from Frank, and the only way she was going to get this was if she let them do their job.

'Carla, love...Maybe you should...'

'Don't Hayley' she pleaded. She knew exactly what she was going to say, and she knew how much sense she was going to make. She always admired Hayley for her decisions, and she wanted so much just to take Hayley's advice to sit down, shut up and put up with the dirty looks so long as she was free from him once and for all. But she had no faith in them anymore. She couldn't see the point of putting herself through it when she knew nothing would come of it.

'Please. What if he finds you tonight? As much as I'll try, I can't protect you, you know that.' Hayley gave a sob as tears ran freely down her face. Carla was so jealous of how she could wear her heart on her sleeve; every time she did it she ended up getting hurt. It had got to a stage in her life when she couldn't even admit her feelings to herself, let alone let others see her with such vulnerability. She hated to admit it, but she couldn't let Frank get her tonight. She couldn't take it anymore. She let her hand run down the door slowly as she battled with herself, then finally made her way over to the sofa again.

She flopped down with such gravity with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Hayley rushed to her side and took her hand gently. Her eyes brimmed with more tears, but these weren't tears of sadness and desperation, but one's of pride and relief. 'Look at me Carla' she whispered. 'I'm so proud of you.' Usually she would find it patronising, and from anybody else she still would have done. But instead the corners of her mouth turned up and she let out a small, affectionate chuckle.

'Thank you.' She didn't think she could admire Hayley any more than she already had, but she had just stopped her from making the worst decision of her life and she would be eternally grateful. She dissolved into tears as the two friends embraced. Carla filled with hope and determination as she let the warmth of the friendship run through her body.

'Sorry to break this up, but are we going to get on with this?' The ice cold venom which escaped the detective's lips cut the atmosphere like a knife, but as Carla turned to face her she felt safe as Hayley took hold of her hand, and she knew the bond they had shared since nearly two years ago had strengthened into an everlasting friendship.

'Sorry. So what do you need to know?'

'I think we've got most of the details, and after your...performance...we don't have much time to waste, so I think we'll leave that for now. You said something about him coming to find you tonight, is he coming here?' Carla flinched at the word "performance" but she kept her cool as she knew it would get her nowhere, and if she stood any chance of Frank being stopped they needed to get on the case sooner rather than later.

'He said he'd "see me tonight"' she said as she grimaced at her repetition of his words. 'I've come here so that he doesn't just turn up at the flat and find me straight away. The other places he might visit are Peter's flat and Maria's too.'

'Ok we'll get officers on alert at your flat and they should catch him before he goes elsewhere. We'll also get some at the other two flats if you think that's where he'll head, and we'll get some outside the cafe as well.'

'No, not here.'

'What? Carla this is the most important place! It doesn't matter where else he goes, he can't hurt you there.'

'Listen, there's only so many people they can put on this case Hayley. The last place he's going to think of coming is here. There's more chance of them catching him this way, and I need him out of my life tonight. Anyway, if he comes here there is such thing as a phone.'

'If you're sure that's what you want then that's what we'll do. That will get more officers searching the area rather than just waiting for him to turn up anyway. Is there anything else we can do for you Mrs Connor?'

'Leave me alone.' She hadn't meant to snap, but she just wanted to be left in peace. She was really making an effort, but the presence of the detective she loathed so much was wearing her thin.

'Carla!' Hayley gasped. She had been quite polite since the earlier altercation and it seemed to come out of nowhere.

'Sorry, thank you. But I swear to God if you catch him and release him again...'

'We'll be on our way. We'll see ourselves out.' They walked over to the door and as the door slammed shut Carla let out a sigh of relief.

'Thank God that's over. Do you mind if I catch some Zs? I've got a feeling I won't be getting many tonight.' She got up and looked around trying to work out where to go.

'Course not; spare room is that one there.' She made a beeline for the particular room as fast as possible. 'Carla?' She stopped in her tracks and turned towards her host. 'Try and relax yeah?'

'I'll try. Thank you Hayley, you've been an angel.' As Carla slipped away into the bedroom Hayley couldn't help but worry about her. She'd been through so much, and not just recently. She must've felt like the whole world was against her. She let her mind wander as she poured the cold remains of the coffee down the sink, and wished it was that easy to rid Carla of her demons.