Chapter 25 –

Zoe walked out and quickly looked at the board and then the computer, concentrating so hard that the voice made her jump when it came.

"Everything ok?"

"Oh hi yeah."

Zoe turned and smiled at Linda as he friend moved closer and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly.

"I saw Detective Parker lurking around earlier."

"Yeah I just left her with Rachel and Sam."

Linda raised an eyebrow as Zoe just shook her head and puffed out her cheeks.

"Rachel said that she wanted to speak to her and well Sam wasn't going to leave her alone."

Any response from Linda was cut short as Fletch breathlessly appeared.

"Zoe you're needed in resus."

Zoe nodded her head and quickly jogged down the corridor, grateful for the distraction so that she wouldn't stand around thinking, wondering, how Rachel was getting on.

Sam kept a tight hold of Rachel's hand as she continued to talk, it had been nearly thirty minutes and finally the ordeal was coming to an end, Sam had had to battle her own emotions several times as she listened to Rachel relive what had happened to her but she knew that by staying close and having contact would at least offer some comfort to Rachel. Sam closed her eyes and blinked the tears away as she listened to Alice, she was unable to look at Rachel as she knew that it would only cause her own tears to cascade down.

"Thank you so much Rachel, that was an extremely brave thing to do."

Rachel just nodded her head while Sam kept her eyes closed as she felt Rachel's fingers squeeze her hand even tighter.

"Ok well I'll be in contact with you both soon but for now please relax and thank you once again."

Alice clumsily stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder before she took a hold of her crutches and hobbled out of the room, Sam waited until she heard the door click shut before she found the strength to open her eyes and look at Rachel.

"You did great sweetie."

Rachel nodded her head and Sam could tell that she was exhausted the physical and mental strength of the interview had quickly caught up with her. Sam smiled warmly as she reached across with her free hand and brushed Rachel's hair, her hands were still sore but Sam knew that the pain was nothing compared to what Rachel was feeling.

"Thank you for staying with me Sam."

"I'm not going anywhere Rachel, just rest of you need some sleep."

Rachel slowly nodded her head as Sam rested her hand on top of Rachel's head and Rachel allowed her eyes to close, the visions and memories that she thought would flooding back failed to appear as she felt safe, knowing that Sam was right there with her allowed Rachel to quickly drop off into a deep sleep. Sam smiled as she watched Rachel fall asleep but she kept her hands on the young girl's body, hoping that the contact would help Rachel sleep peacefully grateful that she could finally let her own tears fall in private.

Pam Hales walked confidently towards the reception desk, her eyes firmly set on the male who was standing there as she nodded her head and showed her identification to him.

"Pam Hales, social services I need to see Doctor Hanna right away please."

Noel looked carefully at the plastic identification card before he nodded his head and handed the card back.

"If you take a seat I'll go and see if she is able to see you."

"I'll stand thank you."

Pam sneered at Noel, leaving him in no uncertain terms that she wasn't going to budge until she got to speak to Doctor Hanna. Without another word Noel bowed his head, feeling like a scolded child as he walked out from behind the reception desk and headed out to resus. It didn't take him long to spot Zoe as she ripped the plastic apron off her and dumped it into the yellow medical bin as he opened the door.

"Uh Doctor Hanna can I have a word please?"

Zoe sighed heavily before she nodded towards Noel and led him to a quiet corner before she waited impatiently for him to talk.

"There's a Pam Hales from social services waiting in reception for you."

"Oh great, I don't suppose you could..."

"I don't think so she's got a certain 'look' on her face."

Noel raised his eyebrows and offered Zoe a faint smile as he spoke before she nodded her head.

"I guessed as much, oh well I may as well go and get it done with."

"Thank you Doctor Hanna."

"Don't thank me yet Noel I've yet to speak to her."

Zoe managed a wry smile before she reluctantly headed off to find the formidable woman.

Zoe waited until the older woman had sat down opposite her, even though she was sitting in her office Zoe felt that she wasn't in charge and that feeling only increased as the woman retrieved a file from her bag and opened it on the desk before she stared hard at Zoe.

"I spent most of last night at the police station reading their reports and talking to the detectives about Rachel Carden before I then went home and examined the social services reports from when Rachel first went missing. The girl has been through an incredibly traumatic life so far Doctor Hanna, I've lined up a leading child psychologist to see Rachel as soon as possible and I would also like to meet Rachel today."

Pam Hales smiled at Zoe who nodded in reply but she only felt insincerity from the woman although she could find no argument in what the social worker had said.

"Rachel is resting at the moment, she has just spoken to the police and as you can imagine it was a rather traumatic experience for her."

"Of course but I do need to see her today Doctor Hanna, we need to try and help Rachel garner some sense of normality and familiarity with the people that will help her move on with her life."

Zoe sighed as she pondered the words, she knew that Rachel would have to be discharged in the next couple of days but hadn't given what would happen next much thought before Pam Hales had reappeared, and slowly Zoe nodded her head but help up her hands.

"Ok but please let me speak to her and prepare Rachel, she's been through enough today without being scared by yet another stranger."

Zoe spoke firmly, finally taking charge of the meeting and watched as Pam Hales smiled and nodded in agreement.