Sorry I've not been on this for a while and also sorry to all my readers who I have kept waiting for the end of this story. Life just got in the way. But I am back now. Hope you enjoy. Please read and review. Thank you.

Amber French Chambers.

Nick

There it was again, the memory. The memory of the day that changed both our lives forever, The Holby Riots. It all started after the death of a patient, who was bought in after an altercation with his wife, following his release from prison just hours earlier. He died of a head injury, which I missed on his arrival. I blamed myself for his death, but if I had known what was to come, I would not have wasted my time blaming myself. A memorial for the patient quickly turned nasty and escalated to a full blown riot. It turned out that the people involved blamed the police for the way he was treated while he was in prison. The way the police handled the situation in the early stages just added to the hostility and made it worse.

We ended up receiving both injured police and rioters, when violence broke out on the streets. The worst part of that day was the fact that Yvonne and I had our first row. We weren't used to rowing and the one thing I knew was that I didn't want to have to have another one. I hated hurting her and was thinking about her all the way through that shift. The feeling must have been mutual as I received a call from her part way through. I switched off the call, assuming she was only calling to apologise. How wrong I turned out to be. It was only when I later listened to her voicemail I realised she was in danger. All thoughts of our earlier argument were eclipsed when I heard the terror in her voice. I had never heard her sound so scared. It terrified me. Despite Zo telling me not to, I decided I had to get to Yvonne's side, whatever it took. This was the woman I loved; I wasn't going to let her be alone and scared on a night like that.

When I went out with Jeff and Dixie to save Yvonne's life I only then realised the true scale of the destruction. It wasn't Holby anymore. It wasn't the place where I had grown up, worked and lived for my entire life. Well it was, but at the same time I didn't recognise it at all.

Seeing all the damage that had been caused by the power of human emotion, I was once again reminded why I had wanted to become a doctor in the first place; to help people and to save their lives.

I remembered the one rule all doctors are told on their first day of training, right at that moment, just as I was heading into the eye of the storm.

Never get emotionally involved with a patient. Looking back, whoever had taught me that had obviously never been in a situation like the one I was about to enter. Once I had been in the Holby Riots, keeping my emotions in check would be impossible...

After about an hour and a half Yvonne has finally got Chloe talking to her. However, every time Yvonne tries to touch her hand she flinches away. I have my suspicions about who it might be, that woman from the children's home is very domineering over this poor little child. As soon as Eloise re-enters the room Chloe closes up again as if she hadn't even spoken. Not to mention every time I go near Chloe she flinches as well, although after a bit of persuasion from Yvonne she appears to be okay. I manage to assess the extent of Chloe's injuries and discover she has several old injuries that, in my opinion, have healed badly and should have been treated better at the time. I tell Yvonne in hushed tones that I am going to see Zoe to see what she thinks although I have a strong suspicion that this is a case of domestic abuse. As I go down in the lift I have a sick feeling in my stomach. This woman is responsible for looking after vulnerable children and yet she takes advantage of this privilege by abusing them.

I find Zoe in the middle of treating a patient so I wait outside the cubicle until she comes out.

'Zo, I need to speak to you. I think it's urgent'.

'Nick, can't it wait I am a bit busy?'

'No it can't. We're talking child abuse. You need to call Social Services and maybe even the police too. We can't let this little girl return home.'

'Nick, what's the evidence?'

In answer to Zoe's question I pass her Chloe's file in which are all the details of what I have found. It takes Zoe less than two seconds to scan through my notes before she hands me her file back and puts her serious face on. I know then that my assumptions are definitely right. This child is in danger and we, I knew needed to keep her safe under any circumstances, whatever the risks. First thing is first we need to contact social services and the police.

Zoe looks at me an expression of resignation crosses her features.

'Right but what are we going to do with Chloe? After you have finished cleaning her up, we have no choice but to send her home with Eloise until the Social have done their assessment and it's been confirmed, there is nothing else we can do, you know that. Look Nick maybe you need to let me take this case. You shouldn't even be working today. You should be taking Yvonne home, not be working today. I promised when you left I would take care of this place and I will continue to do so. Go home Nick.'

'No Zoe I just said look after the department until I got back. I'm back now Doctor Hanna I thank you for your help while I've been away. Now would you mind contacting the police and Social Services for me? Tell them we might need a children liaison officer to help talk to Chloe please? Tell them to go slowly as she is only two. She might not even understand and please warn them she is scared. Thanks.'

Zoe rolls her eyes as she walks away from me, her heels clicking across the polished hospital floor. I watch her retreating back as she goes back into the office; she shuts the door behind her.

Regardless of how I once felt about Zoe I think we both know we are better friends than anything else. There is only one woman for me now. I look over at Chloe's bed, where Yvonne continues to comfort and calm her. I realise then what a great mum Yvonne will be if we ever were lucky enough to have children. I watch her speaking to Chloe. I wish there was something we could do for her, but even as doctors we cannot save everybody. I look over at Chloe's bed again, where Yvonne is now sat on the edge and Chloe has crawled into her lap, her head resting on Yvonne's shoulder, her dummy and 'blankie' clutched in her little hands protectively. The scene makes me smile and all of a sudden I have a mad idea.

I know I want that little girl to be my daughter and Yvonne to become my wife. I can't stop staring at my potential future and imaging the possibilities for us as a family that I don't notice when Yvonne wheels up behind me and kisses me.

'What was that for?'

'Just for being you'

I kiss her back 'I see. How's Chloe?'

'She's fine. Fast asleep now though, bless her. What are we going to do Nick?'

I put my arm around Yvonne's shoulders, and pull her into me, kissing the top of her head.

'I don't know yet but I will think of something. I promise.'