In one of the private bays, Natalia is lying down on the bed whilst Connie applies gel to her exposed stomach. She can sense how nervous her niece is and her heart breaks for her.
'Ok, this might be a little cold.' Connie said.
Natalia winces a little as Connie begins the ultrasound. She notices that Natalia is refusing to look at the screen, instead her gaze is fixed on the ceiling.
'I don't want to hear the heartbeat, Auntie Connie.' Natalia said.
'Do you want to look at the screen?' Connie asked.
'No.' Natalia shook her head.
'Everything looks healthy.' Connie told her.
'How..how many...' Natalia asked, tears filling her eyes.
Natalia can't finish her sentence, too upset and ashamed of herself. Connie quietly turns off the machine and Natalia sits up on the bed, covering her stomach.
'I'd say you're eight weeks pregnant.' Connie said quietly; instantly working out who the father is.
'I'm so stupid! I'm such an idiot!' Natalia exclaimed, furious with herself.
'Come on now, don't get yourself worked up.' Connie said.
'How soon can I have a termination?' Natalia asked, rather coldly.
'I don't know. You'd have to contact a clinic. But I really think you should think about it-' Connie replied.
'How can I? It's Bradley's baby. I can't have it.' Natalia said.
'He doesn't have to be involved.' Connie said.
'And what about when the baby's born? I'll look at it and see his eyes. His nose. I'll have the man I'm terrified of looking back at me, every single day.' Natalia said.
'But you can't make a decision like this within minutes.' Connie said.
'I can and I have.' Natalia replied.
Natalia rushes out of the private bay but the moment she is round to corner, she breaks down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Connie hears her crying and immediately rushes to her side.
Some of the staff notice this and are concerned, but choose not to get involved.
'Sshh it's alright. You're fine. I'm here.' Connie said, stunned by her niece's fragile state.
'What's going on?' Jacob asked, approaching the two women.
'Come through to the office.' Connie told him, keeping a tight hold of Natalia.
Connie and Jacob take Natalia into the office. Iain is watching from the corridor, having just dropped a patient off with Dixie. Dixie is heading for the exit but stops when she realises Iain isn't following her.
'Iain? You coming, pal?' Dixie asked.
'Hmm?' Iain muttered.
'What is up with you?' Dixie asked; he hadn't been his normal cheeky-chappy self over the past couple of weeks.
'Do you know if there's something wrong with Natalia?' Iain asked.
'No. I hardly speak to the girl. Why?' Dixie replied.
'She just seems odd lately. A bit distant.' Iain said.
'If you want my advice, you'll steer clear of her. It's not fair for her to keep stringing you along like this.' Dixie told him.
'I like her. I really like her.' Iain admitted.
'I hate to break it to you but I don't think she feels the same.' Dixie replied before walking away.
In the office, Natalia is sitting at her desk whilst Connie has her office chair pulled up beside Natalia. Jacob is pacing the office, having just been told the whole story by his girlfriend and Natalia.
'He beats you? Are you serious?' Jacob asked, disgusted. 'Guys like that make me so angry.'
'He wasn't always horrible to me. We had some good times. A few weeks back, we went out to a club, he was showing me off, he was all over me. Mind you, if I'd known that I'd got pregnant that night, I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much.' Natalia explained, full of hatred for herself.
'So it's Bradley's baby? Are you gonna keep it?' Jacob asked.
'No.' Natalia shook her head.
Connie looks sympathetically at Natalia before glancing at Jacob and back at Natalia, wishing there was more she could do to help.
'We need x-rays.' Jacob said.
'What?' Connie asked.
'We should take some x-rays of Natalia, any scans or tests that will show up old injuries. If Nat's right and Bradley's on his way here, we're gonna need evidence against him.' Jacob explained.
'He won't come here. Natalia's safe with us.' Connie said, determined to look after her niece.
'That's true. But men like him...if you can call him a man...they don't give up. Whether we're here or not he could try and find Natalia and we need to be ready.' Jacob replied.
'What if the police don't believe me?' Natalia asked, frightened.
'They will. With the evidence.' Jacob said.
'Jacob's right. But we won't have you in the x-ray for long. It won't harm the baby.' Connie told Natalia, coming round to her boyfriend's idea.
'I've already told you. I'm not having the baby.' Natalia said, taking a deep breath, feeling nervous. 'It's just...'
'What?' Connie asked.
'I might get into trouble too.' Natalia admitted.
'Listen to me, what he put you through, it wasn't your fault. You didn't deserve it. No-one does.' Connie said firmly.
'You don't understand. I hurt him. Last time he tried to lash out at me, I snapped. I hit him over the head, knocked him out cold.' Natalia explained. 'I thought I'd killed him.'
'Is that why you turned up here?' Connie asked.
'You won't get in trouble over that. Not when the police realise it was self-defence. Come on Nat, don't you see how important these tests and x-rays are?' Jacob asked.
Jacob crouches down beside Natalia and holds his hand out to her. After a few moments of hesitation, Natalia takes his hand, agreeing to go alone with the plan.
An hour or so later, Natalia is on the steps outside the ED, deeply upset. Zoe walks out and is about to have a cigarette when she sees Natalia.
'Natalia? Are you alright?' Zoe asked, sitting down beside her.
Natalia doesn't speak, instead she bursts into tears again. Zoe puts a gentle arm around her shoulder, wanting to offer her comfort, despite knowing nothing about what was going on.
'What's happened?' Zoe asked.
'Nothing.' Natalia sighed, wiping her eyes.
'Then why are you crying?' Zoe asked.
'I...' Natalia said, before deciding not to tell her the truth. 'I just had a row with my mum on the phone. She drives me insane.'
'That's family for you.' Zoe said.
'No, that's just my mother for you. Auntie Connie doesn't speak to me the way she does. She listens to me. She gives me advice instead of shouting at me. She just understands me.' Natalia explained.
'I'm sure your mum loves you.' Zoe said, trying to offer her some reassurance.
'We were pretty close when I was a kid but once I hit my teens, it's like she thought I didn't need a mum anymore. She started trying to be my friend, going out drinking and dancing, bringing guys back, then talking to me the next day like I'd been out on the pull with her. Honestly she's so embarrassing.' Natalia replied.
'Well this is your fresh start. Hold your head up high and keep doing what you're doing because I know Connie is so proud of you.' Zoe told her.
In the office, Connie is sitting at her desk, looking at x-rays, her cheeks tear-stained. Jacob walks into the office.
'Con-' Jacob said.
Jacob stops mid-sentence when he sees how upset his girlfriend is. He closes the door behind him and makes his way to her side.
'What's wrong?' Jacob asked, concerned.
'Where's Natalia? You shouldn't leave her on her own at a time like this.' Connie said.
'She's with Zoe. I just saw them outside.' Jacob said.
'I got her results fast tracked.' Connie told him.
Connie pushes the x-rays along the table towards Jacob, who immediately picks them up, studying them.
'No...' Jacob gasped.
'Old injuries to her shoulder, her ribs...well, there aren't many places she hasn't been injured it seems...' Connie muttered
'And nothing was in her notes?' Jacob asked.
'Not a single one. According to her records she's the healthiest woman in the world.' Connie sighed. 'She must have been in agony.'
Connie drops her head into her hands, devastated for Natalia. Jacob gently rubs her back to offer her comfort. They are interrupted by Natalia coming into the room.
'Auntie Connie I-' Natalia said wearily.
Natalia doesn't get chance to finish her sentence as Connie rushes over to her and in a rare moment of public emotion, she holds Natalia tightly and begins to cry.
'I think it's time we got you home.' Jacob said softly to Natalia.
'No, you're both so busy.' Natalia said.
'Nothing that can't be moved or handed over to someone else.' Connie told her, wiping her eyes.
'I don't want you to get into trouble with Mr Hansen.' Natalia said.
'He doesn't control me. He couldn't even if he tried.' Connie said, making Jacob smile.
Later that evening, Connie is making coffee in the kitchen when Natalia walks into the room, dressed in her nightie, having just showered. Connie puts a mug of coffee on the table for Natalia, who sits down.
'I'm sorry.' Connie said; still in shock over everything Natalia has experienced.
'You've nothing to apologise for.' Natalia said.
'Your x-rays...those injuries.' Connie said.
'You see things like that every day.' Natalia replied.
'But those patients aren't my family. The injuries I see every day, they don't normally belong to one of the most important people in my life.' Connie replied.
There is silence as both women are still obviously emotional about the day's events. After a few moments, Connie sits on the seat beside Natalia.
'You know, whatever you decide from now on, whatever you want...with the baby...I'll support you. If you really want a termination, I'll go with you and stay right by your side.' Connie reassured her.
'I'm just so scared Bradley's gonna turn up here. I can't face him. I'm not strong enough.' Natalia admitted, her voice shaking.
'You don't have to be. Jacob and I will fight your battles for you. As long as we're around, nothing bad will happen to you. I promise.' Connie replied, pulling her into a hug..