Thanks for the views and reviews! Glad you liked drunk Carla :-) Anyway, this chapter is a complete contrast to the last two and there's some BIG drama ahead so please read and review :-) x


A few days later, Jaimee is alone in the Underworld office; Michelle is waiting in the Rovers for her and Carla, Rob had gone to a meeting and the factory girls were at the pub for lunch. Jaimee's phone rings and she answers it.

'Hi.' Jaimee said, a little sadness in her voice.

'Hi sweetheart, you ok?' Matt asked.

'Fine, you?'

'Yeah great. This job is amazing and it's 30 degrees here today.' Matt enthused before pausing. 'Sorry I shouldn't be saying all that.'

'No I'm glad you're happy.' Jaimee said, trying her best to share his enthusiasm.

'How's your mum and the baby?' Matt questioned.

'They're really well thanks.'

'And is everything on track for the blessing?'

'Yeah, we're going dress shopping in a bit and she had her hen night last weekend.'

'Did you have a good time?'

'Yeah.'

'I've been worried about you.'

'Why? We've been texting all week.'

'But every time I've called, you wouldn't pick up.'

'Look, the reason I phoned was because this guy tried it on with me during the hen night-.' Jaimee said.

'Oh my god, are you ok?' Matt asked, worried.

'Yeah, I turned him down and he backed off straight away. I haven't even looked at another bloke since you left and I just wanted to make sure you were the same.'

'I can assure you I've not looked at any blokes.'

'I'm being serious Matt. I'm willing to stay faithful to you but if you're over there hanging out with a load of girls then you need to tell me. I need to know you're still committed.' Jaimee said.

'I love you Jaimee, no-one else. All I've done since being here is work and then go to the beach, alone I might add. I promise I'm with you 100%. In fact I've decided to take a couple of weeks off in December so I can come back and be with you for Christmas.' Matt reassured his wife.

'That's months away.' Jaimee groaned.

'It'll fly by princess.'

'I've got to go. I love you.'

'I love you too.'

Jaimee hangs up and immediately gets another call. When she sees her mum's name flash up on the screen, she answers it:

'Alright?' Jaimee greeted her.

'Jay love, I'm running a bit late. Lila had a proper tantrum at nursery today so I had to wait while she calmed down and then the supermarket was an absolute nightmare. I think Chelle's in the Rovers though.' Carla explained, sounding a little flustered.

'No worries. We'll have a quick drink in there while we wait for you. See you in a bit.' Jaimee said, hanging up.

An hour or so later, Michelle and Jaimee are sat in one of the booths at the Rovers.

'Your mum's taking her time.' Michelle said, checking her watch.

'She likes to be fashionably late doesn't she?' Jaimee smiled.

'Yeah tell me about it. I'm gonna need another drink if she doesn't hurry up.'

Suddenly a masked man storms into the Rovers, stunning everyone; he is armed with a gun.

'Everybody down!' The man bellowed, turning round in a circle, pointing the gun at the locals.

Everyone apart from Jaimee does as he says. Jaimee stands up and walks closer to him, desperate to protect her friends.

'Down!' The man repeated.

'Go on then, pull the trigger.' Jaimee dared him.

'Jaimee!' Michelle shouted, feeling sick with worry.

'It's alright he won't do it.' Jaimee replied, not taking her eyes off the man. 'Will ya?'

'Open the till now!' The man demanded, pointing the gun directly at a scared Stella.

'Stella, get in the back.' Jaimee ordered before looking at Sean, Tina and Gloria who are also cowering behind the behind. 'Go! And you lot too. Go on, don't just stand there. Go!'

'Look what you're doing. You come barging in here thinking you can take whatever you want and it doesn't matter who you hurt along the way. These are my friends and I won't have you cause them any harm.' Jaimee said, sounding confident, although her whole body was shaking with fear.

'Give me the cash now!' The man shouted, getting increasingly angry.

'No.' Jaimee replied bluntly.

'Jaimee, just do it.' Michelle said in desperation.

'I said no.' Jaimee repeated.

'I don't think I've ever known this place to be so quiet-.' Carla giggled, walking into the pub.

Carla looks up from her phone and is stunned into silence when she sees the scene unfolding before her. She looks at Jaimee with tears in her eyes but is unable to speak any words.

'Mum get out.' Jaimee said.

'Only if you come with me.' Carla replied.

'For god sake mum, get out! GO! Go on, get out!' Jaimee shouted, desperate for her mother to remain unhurt and eventually a scared Carla obeys her orders.

'You want to hurt her; you have to get through me first.' Jaimee said, standing in front of Michelle so the gun is almost touching her skin.

Carla is stood outside the Rovers, not knowing what to do. She takes her phone out of her bag and is about to dial 999 when the sound of a gunshot startles her.

'No!' Carla shouted, rushing into the pub.

Carla is horrified to enter the pub and see Jaimee's lifeless body on the floor, blood seeping from her stomach. Michelle quickly takes charge and puts pressure on Jaimee's wound to try and stop the bleeding. The locals are gathered round her, frantic with worry.

'JAIMEE!' Carla screamed, rushing to her daughter's side and taking her hand before looking at the locals. 'Someone call an ambulance now!'

Stella goes into the back room of the Rovers to phone for help, clearly traumatized by the events that had just unfolded.

'Jaimee sweetheart, it's mum. Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.' Carla said, worried when Jaimee remains lifeless. 'She's not doing anything.'

Michelle looks at Carla sympathetically before turning her attention back to Jaimee.

'Please darlin', you don't have to open your eyes or speak but please squeeze my hand.' Carla begged tearfully before looking up at Julie. 'Go and get Peter.'

Julie runs out of the pub and sees Peter running round the corner near the bookies.

'What the hell was that? Sounded like a gunshot, did you hear it?' Peter asked.

'It's Jaimee.' Julie replied.

Peter rushes into the pub and is devastated to see the scene before him. He crouches down beside Jaimee, clearly worried about her injuries.

'No...Jay love, its dad here. Your gonna be ok, you understand? Help is on its way and you'll be fine. Keep fighting for us.' Peter said, gripping Jaimee's free hand.

Ten minutes of tears and worry pass by in what seems like slow motion before two paramedics arrive with a stretcher. They take Jaimee's information and hook her up to some fluids before putting her onto the stretcher. Peter, Michelle and Carla go to follow them.

'I'm afraid we can only take one of you in the ambulance.' The paramedic said.

'I'll go.' Carla said through her sobs.

'Are you sure?' Peter asked, concerned about his wife's emotional state.

'I'm not leaving her.' Carla said.

'Ok I'll get my dad and Deirdre to look after the kids and I'll follow you to the hospital.' Peter explained, kissing Carla before she leaves the pub.

'How did this even happen? She came in here for a quick drink before going dress shopping with Carla. I don't understand how this could have happened.' Peter questioned as the loud sirens of the ambulance can he heard.

'This bloke came in here trying to rob the place. Jaimee stepped up to protect us all; she told a load of us to go into the back room.' Stella stammered.

'And then the guy turned the gun on me and-.' Michelle said.

'And she took the bullet for you?' Peter asked, interrupting her.

'I'll come down the hospital with you Peter.' Michelle said.

'No you won't.' Peter said angrily.

'Oh come on, this is stupid. She needs as many people there for her as possible.'

'You nearly destroyed my family once and now here you are doing it again.' Peter snapped.

'That's not fair Peter. You were as much to blame for what we did to Carla, and as for Jaimee, I'd have gladly taken that bullet if it meant she was spared. You know how much I love that girl.' Michelle said, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her blood-stained hands.

An hour later, Carla, Peter and Michelle are pacing the corridor of the hospital, anxious for news. They all have tear stained faces and Michelle's hands are still covered in Jaimee's blood. The doctor comes out of Jaimee's hospital room.

'Is she gonna be ok?' Peter asked; they were all desperate to hear some news.

'Jaimee's lost a considerable amount of blood and she has slipped into a coma.' The doctor replied sensitively.

'Coma? Oh no, I'm gonna lose her aren't I? I can't lose her.' Carla said, panicking.

'Mrs Barlow, there is every chance Jaimee will come round. I can promise you we'll do our best for her.' The doctor reassured her.

'If she does come round, will there be any lasting damage?' Peter asked tearfully.

'We can't be sure of that until we've done further tests and we can't do that until she regains consciousness.'

'So it's just a case of waiting?' Peter questioned, frustrated.

'I'm afraid so.' The doctor said sympathetically before walking away.

'Why did she have to try and protect me? I wish that bloke had pulled the bloody trigger sooner so it would have got me instead.' Michelle questioned angrily

'She did it to protect you?' Carla asked, stunned.

'Please don't go off on one Carla. I never asked her to jump in front of me, she just did and before I knew it she was on the ground. I tried to stop the bloke when he ran off but I couldn't. Honestly I don't know why she felt the need to do what she did for me.'

'It doesn't surprise me. She thinks the world of you.' Carla muttered.

'And I feel the same way about her. She's an amazing person and she doesn't deserve this. I promise I'll do everything I can to help you all through this.' Michelle said sincerely.

'You can start by calling Matt. He'll need to fly home as soon as possible. And then you might wanna wash the blood off your hands, it's making me feel queasy.' Carla said.

Michelle nods her head obediently and walks down the corridor. Carla suddenly breaks down in tears again and Peter quickly takes her in his arms.

'Hey come here.' Peter whispered, holding Carla tightly.

'Why her? What did my little girl do so wrong that she deserved this? What if she doesn't make it? I can't cope without her. I just can't.' Carla rambled through her sobs, resting her head on Peter's chest.