Michelle dashed into the bathroom before Peter was able to stop her and scooped up Carla's slumped body to see if she was still alive. She frantically searched for a pulse on Carla's neck just below her ear and was relieved to find one. Carla was still unconscious as Michelle tried to get her to react, by moving a finger or fluttering her eyes. Just copying everything she had seen the paramedics do on the medical dramas she had seen over the years. When she asked again, shouting this time with firm tone Carla's eyelids twitched. She had never been so grateful to see signs of life from her friend and she hugged her tight to her chest before trying to get her to open her eyes.

"Carla please" she begged desperately.

"What have you done?" she screamed again at Peter as she rocked Carla gently trying to rouse her from her unconscious state.

"Get an ambulance" ordered Michelle as she glared up at Peter but he defiantly stood still and stared back with a glazed expression.

Michelle would deal with this herself, no need to get Rob involved just yet, he'd only kill Peter for what she assumed was his fault. Holding Carla tight she looked at Peter expectantly again that he should call for medical assistance but it was becoming obvious she'd have to do it herself. As she went to lower Carla back to the floor, Carla coughed and her eyes flashed open as she began to gasp for breath. Michelle scooped her back up, gently resting her back against the wall and gently stroking her cheek to offer comfort.

Carla was in shock at the pain she felt having now regained consciousness. All of her body ached, a million times worse than any pain she'd felt before. She clocked sight of Michelle first and then shortly after she turned noticing Peter stood blocking the doorway and gasped in fright. Vivid memories of what had happened between them earlier flashed across her mind and almost sent her into an instant frenzy of panic.

Carla tried to hide her fright, she didn't want to alarm Michelle in anyway that she would get involved. She knew Michelle all too well and how when she started to interfere things usually ended up becoming much worse. Carla looked back to Michelle, who seemed to be examining her very closely and studying her friends latest injuries, which although Carla hadn't seen she knew they must look bad. It wasn't Peter's fault she told herself, even if he had been sober this time, he was stressed, the man attacking her was not the man she knew and loved. Carla couldn't condemn him for this or let him get in any trouble just because he had hit rock bottom, he just needed a chance. A chance to change.

Peter was just watching blankly as Michelle glared back and forth between both him and Carla. She was horrified that Carla wasn't desperately begging her to take her away from this hell and that Peter wasn't urgently trying to get help if he was so innocent. None of this made any sense to her. What was really going on between Peter and Carla? Michelle was determined to know and she wasn't going to leave until she had some answers.

Wrapping her arm around Carla she pulled her up and supported her weight as she dragged her to the door where Peter stood firm and stayed in the way. Michelle glared at him as a weak Carla hung limply from her side.

"Move Peter!" she yelled authoritatively

He hesitated and Michelle couldn't wait for him to co-operate, she lurched forward and batted him from her path. He stumbled to one side as Michelle dragged a now moaning Carla to the sofa. She lowered her friend down and propped behind her a few of the scatter cushions for comfort. Once she was satisfied that Carla was as comfortable as she could possibly be she hurried to the kitchenette and amongst the debris of broken housewares searched for a clean glass in which to fetch her some water. She rushed about to return to Carla before Peter even moved from where he was standing in the small hallway of the flat.

Michelle forced Carla to sip some of the water and get herself re-hydrated, she had no idea how long Carla had been left alone in that state but she just assumed she needed taking care of until she could sneak her out and to the hospital. Michelle had it all planned. Calm Peter, catch him off guard, call Rob and get Carla out of there but first she still wanted to know what had happened.

"Carla, sweetheart, what happened?" asked Michelle calmly as she knelt down in front of her friend to make sure they had direct eye contact.

Carla just shook her head in response, she wasn't sure herself what had happened to make Peter flip like he had and she just didn't want to talk about it. She was serious, she loved Peter and there was no way she was going to let him get in trouble for this. Michelle frowned at her, she knew that Carla was hiding something, she'd never been good at concealing her worry even if she thought she was. Michelle followed with the same action of shaking her head to show her disappointment in Carla's lack of backbone where Peter Barlow was concerned. What was the hold he had over her?

Angered Michelle took Carla's arm and tried to help her up, if she was too afraid to speak out in front of her attacker then Michelle would take her to hers. Carla moaned as Michelle lifted her and fell back down to the sofa. She didn't want to be pulled about, she was in enough pain already.

"Come on Car" said Michelle beginning to get frustrated.

"No" moaned Carla. The pain she felt was excruciating and she was convinced Peter might have actually done her some serious damage this time, but this was her problem and she would deal with it.

"I think you should go" chirped in Peter as he now approached the sofa and Michelle.

"Carla doesn't want me to go, do you Carla?" she stated firmly, hoping Carla wouldn't be stupid enough to dismiss her.

"I think its for the best if you do" answered Carla sadly.

"But Car..." protested Michelle as Peter grabbed her arm.

"Get off me" she shouted as he dug in his fingers and with an almighty strength started to pull her to the door. Flinging it open he pushed Michelle forward and out of the flat, down the stairs and to the front door where he intended to shove her out on the street and lock the door imprisoning Carla from her interfering ex-sister in law. If Michelle was the only one who had actually discovered the truth and Carla kept his little secret no one would believe the tales Michelle would start telling.

Carla could hear Michelle's protesting growing fainter and fainter as Peter dragged her away. She felt terrible for not confiding in her but she knew Michelle was onto the truth and didn't need her confirmation to confirm her suspicions. She heard one last fight brake out between Peter and Michelle before he slammed the door shut and she heard the loud bolting of the locks.

Once again they were alone. She was on edge, nervous and jumpy as she heard Peter come thudding back up the stairs and bundle into the flat. He approached her from behind silently and she felt his arms wrapping around her shoulders. He lowered down to her cheek and kissed it tenderly as she felt her tears reforming. She didn't know what his next move was and she was anxious. Peter simply pulled away, his lips hovering beside her ear and then simply, in a whisper he said.

"Thank you baby"