'This is Cara Martinez, 27, victim of a serious domestic assault, KO'd at the scene, query depressed skull fracture...' The paramedic announced as the medical team in the ED took over.

'Ok, let's get her straight into resus' Connie instructed as she, Rita, Lofty and Ethan took her in.

'Is this Cara's daughter?' Connie gestured to the little girl clinging onto Fletch.

'Yes, the poor little mite saw the whole thing' Serena frowned as Allegra cried. 'Mummy's being looked after' Serena reassured her. 'Look after her, she's one of ours' Serena informed Connie who nodded.

'You're welcome to wait in the relatives area if you like?' Lofty offered, gesturing the cosy room, and Fletch and Serena reluctantly nodded and went in. Allegra still hadn't said a word since the ambulance arrived, and all the pair could do was try and keep her occupied, but it was obvious that she was traumatised by what she saw. She held onto Fletch and Serena tightly, and refused to let anyone else come near her.

After Cara had a head CT, X-rays, MRI and other tests and scans, it was revealed that Cara had a depressed skull fracture and she would need surgery to prevent any damage to the brain. She was transferred to Keller where Guy was on standby to perform the procedure, removing small pieces of bone and returning them to their correct position, using metal wire to reconnect the pieces. Meanwhile, as news spread about the assault, Raf, Morven and Arthur joined Serena and Fletch as they waited nervously in the Keller staff room. All were upset, worried and didn't say much. Allegra recognised Morven and wanted her comfort, so Morven tried to keep her entertained, especially when the police arrived to speak to Fletch and Serena.

The surgery was a success, and she was placed in Keller's HDU to recover. When she woke up, she was greeted by Serena who was sitting at her bedside. Cara immediately started to cry, and Serena gave her a hug and reassured her. She was scared and had no idea what had happened.

'W-what happened?' She wept, and Serena pulled away, sitting back down slowly. She smiled sympathetically and weakly.

'What do you remember Cara?' She asked, kindly. Cara shook her head and looked down, crying. Serena took hold of her hand and squeezed it. 'You phoned Fletch and we heard you and Allegra screaming-'

'Oh my god where is she?!' Cara panicked, her eyes widening and she tried to sit up, but Serena gently pushed her back down.

'She's ok, she's down on the ward' Serena smiled. 'We came to your house, and the door was wide open. The house was a mess, things smashed everywhere, Allegra was hiding, and you were unconscious on the kitchen floor. Among broken ribs and cuts and bruises, you had a depressed skull fracture and you've had surgery...' Serena continued, being cautious and sympathetic as Cara looked at her in disbelief. 'I think you need to tell me what's been going on Cara...'

Cara thought for a moment and then took a deep breath. 'My husband, Gabriel...he's-' she welled up. Serena squeezed her hand gently and let her take her time. 'He's...he's been hitting me...' She admitted. She wasn't sure how she felt, there was such a variety of emotion coursing her veins. She was relieved that someone knew. She was worried that Gabe would be back. She felt sick at what had happened.

'Well done, you're being so brave' Serena smiled gently as Cara wept, and then she continued.

'It's been about a year, but it's been a lot worse and a lot more often in the past few months. I don't understand why...we used to have such a beautiful relationship'

Serena felt huge sympathy for the young nurse before her. The person before her was the life and soul of the ward, a personality larger than life, and she felt terrible realising that Cara had been hiding this secret for such a long time. 'I'm so sorry that I've been lying all this time' Cara cried, and Serena comforted her. 'I just, I was worried that Allegra would be taken away from me, and I know Gabe can be lovely, this isn't him, this isn't the man I fell in love with'. Serena didn't say anything, she didn't want Cara to feel smothered, and it was the first time that Cara had spoken about all of this- she wanted her to feel free to say anything she wanted to say. 'You've all been so lovely to me, I don't deserve friends like all of you' Cara cried.

'Of course you do- Cara, we've all been worried about you but we're so proud that you did what you did that night, that you reached out for help by phoning Fletch. I'm just sorry we didn't get to you sooner'

'Is Allegra ok?' Cara sniffed, and Serena nodded.

'She's fine...very quiet, but physically fine'

Cara remembered the argument, and what she had done when Serena reminded her. She remembered Allegra's face through the bannister as she saw her father lay into her mother, and how terrified she looked. 'Cara, has Allegra ever seen it happen?' She asked, trying to make eye contact with Cara who was looking down. 'I know she's seen the aftermath, but...'

'This was the first time she's seen it...her little face through the bannister, she looked petrified. She froze on the spot, and then started to cry, really loudly, and she was screaming 'mummy!' Cara welled up, and Serena squeezed her hand, looking on sympathetically. 'Her little face...it was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen...the noise got to Gabe and then I don't remember anything else, not really.'

'Has he ever hurt her?'

'No! No, never, she's his princess, he absolutely dotes on her' Cara tried to reassure Serena.

'Shame he doesn't treat her mother with the same respect' she frowned sympathetically.

'It's my fault...I usually antagonise him, being late home, texting friends too much, and tonight I told him I wanted a trial separation, just a few weeks so we can learn to be together again. I just want to be brave enough do it-'

'Oh Cara!' Serena gasped, sitting up onto the bed next to the nurse and putting a comforting hand on her knee. 'None of this is your fault, you haven't asked to be abused, and that's what he is doing. He is abusing you'

'What am I going to do?' She cried. 'I can't go home to him but I have to...if this was his reaction when I just tell him I want a temporary separation then I can't leave him permanently...'

'Who says?' Serena asked kindly and curiously, and Cara stopped and thought for a moment. She's right...who says?

'...I don't know...I guess I'm just used to being his...' Cara admitted, and Serena shook her head and smiled weakly.

'Come and stay with me until you're back on your feet, since my husband vacated my life and my daughter left home I have the room...'

'I couldn't invade your life like that...but thank you'

'It wasn't a request Nurse Martinez' she winked and smiled, and Cara smiled back, gratefully.