Smithy was walking brusquely through the grounds of the hospital, straight into the A&E department. He strode up to the reception desk and waited for her notice him.

"…So yeah then he said that she said it but she said that her brother said that her sister said so he went to the sister but she told him that Anne-Marie had something to do with it…"

"Excuse me." Called smithy politely.

"Yeah, in a minute, hun." Replied the receptionist without looking up. "So anyway, when he found Anne-Marie's phone number there was no reply so he flew to France and that's where the trouble began when she found out because then she wanted to know why he'd flown to France and he couldn't exactly say because of Anne-Marie because you know how much she hates her…"

"Hello?" Smithy called irritably, "I am looking for-"

"Wait your turn." She grumbled at him, still not looking up. "So he then he said-"

"Sergeant Smith, Sun Hill police station." Shouted Smithy.

Finally she looked up.

"Oh right sorry mate, what can I do for ya?" she replied, going slightly red.

"What cubicle can I find Sergeant Rachel Weston in?" He replied, frowning at her.

"Oh Ummm… let me see here…" She said, turning around to face her computer and tapping on the keyboard furiously. "Cubicle 4."

"Thank you." Grumbled Smithy.

With that he left her at the desk to continue her ludicrous conversation and strode across the ward, searching out cubicle four. As he neared it his heart sank. He could hear the sounds of sniffling behind the curtain and Millie's hushed voice attempting to comfort someone.

"It's ok, we'll get him." Said Millie reassuringly, rubbing her back.

Smithy cleared his throat and pulled back the curtain slightly, and both of them looked up. He almost cried out when he saw her face or the swollen remains of it anyway. She had one wrist on her lap in a cast, and numerous tubes connected to a drip on her left hand. Her expression was empty, as if everything she was feeling wasn't really happening.

"Sarge!" Millie almost shouted.

"PC Brown." Acknowledged Smithy. "How are you, Rachel?"

Rachel looked up at him with a curios expression on her face, as if she was trying to say "How do you think?" But this was soon lost, and replaced with the same expression he had walked in on, empty.

"Fine, Sarge" she murmured after several seconds.

"They told me that you knew your attacker from a previous posting?" quizzed Smithy.

"Jim Davis. Held me hostage." She croaked after several seconds.

"Yeah I read the case notes." Replied Smithy, moving so he was standing in front of them.

"So why ask?" Demanded Rachel, glaring at him with puffy eyes.

Smithy shrugged. "No idea, I guess I wanted to see how alert you are."

Rachel stared at him for several seconds, then returned her gaze to the floor when Millie continued to rub her back.

"So." Muttered Rachel. "Is this an official visit?"

"Yes and no." replied the sergeant. "I wanted to see you and Jack phoned me to ask me to see if you remember anything else about last night."

"Well I don't. I've told Millie everything I know." Replied Rachel haughtily.

"Alright. Can I get you anything?" Smithy asked, watching as Millie caressed her back in a vain attempt to calm her.

"No." Rachel replied tonelessly. "Wait a second.."

Rachel sat bolt upright all of a sudden, causing both Millie and Smithy to jump.

"What is it?" asked Millie in a hushed tone.

"You know everything about the case, everything?" she said, eyes suddenly full of fear again.

"Yes. Rachel, I'm sorr-" Began Smithy.

"Save it." She snapped, "You better not mention this to any of the uniform."

"I won't. I promise. " Replied the sergeant.

"Good." Muttered Rachel.

"Ok. Would you rather I left?" asked Smithy, already knowing the answer.

"Can you please tell everyone down at the nick that I'm fine and I don't need everyone fussing?" asked Rachel, looking up at him once more.

"Sure." Smithy replied, "And Rachel?"

"Yes?" she muttered, head facing the ground again.

"I hope you feel better soon."

Rachel was about to reply but he had already left, striding down the hallway as quickly as he could.