Why?

Kate stood, leaning against the wall of the A&E waiting room. She had already called Jake and James to tell them they had arrived. Now all she had to do was wait for Matt and news of her friend. Folding her arms she tried not to think about the scene she had found back at the office. The blood splatter on the wall had just confirmed to her that her friend had fought to save her life; that whoever had done this had believed they had killed her. She closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried not to think of how Matt had heard the news or how he and young Cameron would cope.

Xxxxxxxx

"James." Joe walked towards the barrister as the older man fought the urge to vomit. Alesha was like a younger sister to him. She had already been through so much he had no idea how much more she could take.

"Joe?"

"You were at Andy's sports day? All day?"

"Yeah, from around 11. Why?"

"Did Alesha have anything planned for the time you were away? Any meetings? Court stuff?" Joe watched as James shook his head.

"No. The paperwork on the Hughes case. Nothing else. She would have said." James knew the detective was only doing his job but he really didn't want to be there. He wanted to be at the hospital waiting for news. He glanced up to see Henry and George talking quietly with Natalie. The senior detective looked angry; he had to admit he felt the same. He blinked as the crime scene photographer clicked away at the inside office.

"James."

"Natalie." He hugged her, tears came to his eyes as she held him tightly. "I should have been here."

"Hey. None of that!"

"The girl in the park? The one Ronnie said was killed while in the witness protection programme. It's the same. Only Alesha was barely conscious."

"And our girl is not dead."

"I." He looked away as Joe rejoined them.

"Angie called. She had the CCTV sent over to her. Her and Sam are going through it." Joe stated as Natalie nodded.

"Why would anyone do this?" George asked as he joined them. "Henry is with Jake at the moment. Kate has gone with Alesha. She'll need some more clothes. I told Jake to collect the children and take Kate something that isn't soaked in blood."

"No." Natalie pulled out the mobile phone that seemed to be permanently attached to her. Speed dialling Sarah before Jake she stepped away from the main group; quietly making arrangements for her middle stepdaughter to babysit. "Well? She already has Lou and Lucy to look after. Cam and Lottie don't need to see their mums in this state. Jake agreed."

"James?" Joe turned to the barrister. "You said she? Alesha said 'she' was here."

"Yeah."

"Ok, so our attacker is a woman. Both girls attacked by another woman. Revenge?"

"Revenge on Alesha Devlin? No." James stated firmly.

"James she's CPS. Same as you. Both make enemies in this job. You know that." Natalie watched as his face blanched.

"If this is related to the Sally Fothergill case then it's me that was the intended target not Alesha. I prosecuted Sally's brother. Alesha was away on maternity leave with Cameron. After her heart scare." James explained. "If I'm right then you need to speak to Diane Fothergill. Sally's sister in law."

Joe and Natalie exchanged glances, knowing they had to wait for Alesha to wake up before they confirmed James' theory but both unsure she ever would.

Xxxxxxxx

"Kate!" Ronnie jogged towards her as she looked up. It was clear her husband had met their friends in the hospital car park as all three men came towards her. Jake made to hug her as she stepped back.

"I." She pointed to her blood stained top. Jake nodded, handing her a wash bag and a carrier bag full of clean clothes. "Thanks."

"Kate? Has there." Matt ran a hand through his hair. "Thanks for looking after her. Staying with her."

"She's my friend."

"Any news?" Ronnie asked. Kate shook her head.

"Nurse said she'd call me. I told them I was getting her husband to come in. Matt, they'll tell you more than me. If it helps, she was awake when we got here. Look I'm going to get changed." She gave Jake a pointed look. He took the hit, suggesting he got them all coffee before leaving Ronnie and Matt to wait.

"Ron." Matt sat heavily on the chair next to where Ronnie stood. "This. This is it."

"Eh? I'm not wiv you, son."

"I'm losing her."

"Alesha May Devlin is a tough girl. She's not going anywhere." Ronnie sat next to him. Matt stared at the polished floor.

"Yeah, yeah she's strong. But she's human. A knife in the stomach? Ron. She's not superhuman."

"Wiv the paramedics, nurses and docs ere she don't need to be. She's gonna be ok. You mark my words." Ronnie sounded a lot more confident than he felt. One young woman was already dead. The thought that Alesha was fighting for her life made his stomach churn.

"Ron." Matt ran a hand through his hair again before the tears came. Ronnie swore under his breath before sitting next to the young man and pulling him sideways into his arms.

"Less of this. Don't you dare give up on our girl. Not yet. Do you ere me?" He let Matt cry for a moment; knowing the younger man needed the release. "Matty?"

"I hear you."

Xxxxxx

A/N please review