As Carla's body tossed and turned she suddenly sat up, tears streaming down her blotchy face, she could see him in the darkness. His face tattoo to her eye lids. Every time she closed her eyes, every time she opened them. He was there. He would always be there.
She looked down at her body and sobbed, all she could see was his skin on hers. She could feel it. As if she had gained an extra layer of skin. She began to rub up and down her arms viciously, when a hand suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her back down.
She screamed as his skin touched hers, images flashed back and fourth through her mind. Robert. Frank. Robert. Frank. "Carla." Nick shouted as he held her shaking body in his arms. "It's Nick." He whispered as he cried, "It's me, you're safe." He said as he placed kisses in her hair.
She looked up and saw his loving face, warmth and comfort in his eyes. She felt safe again, she always felt safe in Nick's grasp. "Nick." She whispered as she put her head in his chest and placed her hand in his hair. "I'm safe." She muttered as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
Nick placed Carla's head back onto her pillow and got out of the bed, Carla looked up curiously, "Nick, I need you. I need you to hold me." She begged. He walked back over to her and sat beside her, he picked up her hand and placed it against his soft lips.
"We need to go now." He whispered into her skin, "You can't stay here." He said getting back up and bagging the few belongings they had there.
"We can't leave right now, what about the police. They might need to speak to me again." She said as she stood up beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
He span around and placed his forehead against hers, "Carla, you can't stay here. Not when they haven't caught him, you can't even sleep." He said as he placed his hands on her waist causing her to flinch, he looked down at the floor and took a deep breath, "You're even scared of me." He whispered as a tear fell down his face.
She placed her hand on his palm and wiped away his tears, "I'm not scared of you Nick, I could never be scared of you." She whispered as she looked over at Catrin. She lay asleep peacefully in the corner of the cot with her body rolled up in a ball, "You and Catrin are going to save me." She said as she walked over to her and placed her in her arms causing her to stir. "Let's sort this in the morning, okay?" Carla whispered as she placed Catrin back down gently and got back in bed.
As Carla began to stir Nick played with her hair and wrapped it round his fingers, "Morning." He whispered as he pulled her body onto his.
She smiled contently and placed a hand on his chest, she could feel his heart beating which calmed her. "I'm sorry about last night." She whispered as she leant in for a kiss.
As his lips met hers he began to shake his head, "Never say sorry again." He said as he pulled her closer into him.
She looked up and sighed, "Nick. I don't want to leave Weatherfield. I want to stay here." He moved her loose hair out of her face and sat up.
"Carla." He whispered in disbelief, "You can't be here."
"Why not, I'll have you and Catrin and Michelle. We can stay here until we find somewhere to live, we could get a house with a garden and a-." Nick cut her off.
"Carla listen to me-." Nick said with care in his voice.
"No Nick you listen to me, I want to stay." She said sternly. "I wont let Robert break me." She said as tears filled in her eyes, "Please can we stay." She begged. Nick nodded his head weakly, he didn't want to stay. In fact he hated the idea, he wanted to sort her head out but she was determined she was staying, "Now I'm going to get ready and we're going to go to see Bethany." She said as she got out of the bed and walked into the bathroom.
As Carla walked through the hospital doors she sighed, why did she have to get hurt? Why couldn't it of been her? Bethany didn't deserve this. "Can I go and see her." Carla asked Sarah anxiously, the last time she saw her she blamed her for everything, Sarah nodded her head contently as Carla approached the door.
"Hey you." Carla said as she sat down beside her, "I'm so sorry." Carla whispered as tears fell down her cheeks, "This is all my fault." She said as she grabbed hold of her hand.
Bethany shook her head and smiled, "It's not your fault." She replied, "But can I ask you something?" Bethany said worriedly. Carla nodded her head and took a deep breath, "When I walked in, it looked like..." Bethany paused as she saw the look in Carla's eyes. She knew.
"Did he?" Bethany whispered as she rubbed Carla's knuckles with her thumb, "I wont tell anyone if that's what you think, just tell me." Bethany pleaded.