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Two days later, Michelle and Steve get out of a cab, having just come back from the hospital.
'Michelle!' Julie called from across the road; she was walking with Sean and Beth.
'Hiya, you alright?' Michelle replied wearily.
'Yeah but we should be asking you that question. You look shattered.' Sean added.
'I was at the hospital all day yesterday. Carla and Peter are in bits, I feel bad leaving them.' Michelle told them.
'How is Jaimee?' Beth asked; she'd become close to Jaimee over the last year or two.
'There's no change. It's been five days now.' Steve said, putting his arm round Michelle to comfort her.
'Poor girl. She doesn't deserve any of this.' Julie said sadly.
'No she doesn't. I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that bullet was meant for me.' Michelle said, desperately trying to hold back the tears.
'Do the doctors think she'll wake up anytime soon?' Sean asked.
'There's been no signs of improvement since she was brought in. I don't know how much longer they can leave her like that.' Michelle explained.
'She's got to wake up eventually. She's only a young girl.' Beth said, shocked.
'Believe me, we've all got everything crossed that she'll wake up but no-one knows what the future holds.' Michelle said.
'Well don't be too hard on yourself Michelle. Jaimee's a smart girl; she knew what she was doing when she took that bullet. She thinks the world of you, just remember that.' Julie reassured her.
'I'll try. Anyway I'm gonna go and get my head down for a couple of hours.' Michelle said, walking back to the flat with Steve.
At the hospital, Peter and Carla are sat outside Jaimee's room; both look incredibly emotional as they hold each other.
'I wish she'd wake up. We can't go on like this forever. There's got to be something they can do.' Carla muttered.
'I'm sure if they could, they would.' Peter reassured her.
'You know, I swear my heart breaks in two every single time I walk into her room.'
'Oh love.' Peter sighed, pulling her in for a tighter hug.
'That's our beautiful girl in there. My strong, gorgeous, feisty daughter is lying unconscious and knowing she might never wake up again is killing me Peter, it really is.' Carla said tearfully.
'I miss her laugh; it sounds just like yours and that cheeky smile she gives people. I'm sure she could get away with anything with that smile. Strange really, how we never really knew her until five years ago and yet she's become the rock of our family. The way she looks after everyone and sorts our problems is amazing.' Peter added.
Carla and Peter fall silent when they hear the sound of heels on the corridor floor. They are stunned to see Tracy.
'What are you doing here?' Peter asked, shocked by her sudden appearance.
'Have some respect Tracy. Jaimee's a very sick woman so if you've come to have another go at her or tease her about how her marriage is struggling then you've got another thing coming.' Carla added, angrily.
'Come on Carla, even I'm not that hard hearted. I actually wondered if I could sit with her for a while.' Tracy replied.
'Why would you wanna do that?' Peter questioned.
'Because this whole thing has opened my eyes to the person she really is. I hated her when she turned up out the blue. She was accepted into the family straight away and I was jealous.' Tracy explained.
'She went without real love from real parents nearly all her life Tracy. She started drinking and became addicted to drugs at the age of 14, she had a drink and drug fuelled wedding in Vegas at the age of 16 and as you so cruelly like to remind her, she lost her very best friend a year ago. What have you got to be jealous of?' Carla asked, annoyed with Tracy.
'I was born into this family. I've lived with my mum and dad for most of my life and yet I never feel like I'm truly loved. I always feel like I've got to do something amazing and life changing for them to actually be proud of me. Jaimee turned up and she was so perfect. Mum and dad adore her and Amy thinks she's cool.' Tracy explained, sounding a little hurt.
'And you hated her for that?' Carla asked.
'Yeah, but I don't anymore. She jumped in front of a gun to protect someone she loved. She could have easily walked away from the situation and let Michelle take the bullet but she didn't. She's not that kind of person is she? It made me see that she wasn't the spoilt, stroppy little madam I thought she was. She's an incredible person and I'd really like the opportunity to apologise to her.' Tracy continued.
'Go on then. Five minutes.' Peter relented.
'Carla?' Tracy asked.
'Yeah, I think you owe her an apology.' Carla said moodily.
Carla and Peter watch as Tracy goes into Jaimee's room. They can see Tracy is shocked by Jaimee's condition and she sits down next to her bed.
A few hours later, Carla and Peter are still at the hospital. Tracy had left an hour ago having apologised to Jaimee. Carla and Peter are about to go into Jaimee's room when they hear someone running towards them.
'Peter! Carla!' Matt shouted.
'And finally you show your face!' Carla replied angrily.
'I didn't have any choice in the matter. The flights were fully booked and then when I finally did get tickets, there was a delay.' Matt replied, feeling guilty.
'You should have been with her in the Rovers. You should have stood up to the thug that did this to her. You should have took the bullet. I wish you'd taken the bullet instead of her.' Carla said, her voice so angry that it sounded as though she was spitting venom.
'Carla, calm down.' Peter said, trying his best to calm the situation.
'No! Why should I?' Carla shrieked.
'I feel terrible as it is.' Matt said.
'You're getting no sympathy from me. She's had so many visitors since she was brought in. Me, Peter, Michelle, Rob, the lads, the factory girls, even some of the neighbours that barely know her. All those visitors and yet the one person missing was you. Her husband.' Carla said, disappointed in her son in-law.
'How's she doing?' Matt asked,
'She's hanging in there, only by a thread though. She was unconscious when they brought her in and she's stayed that way ever since. Of course you'd know all this if you'd bothered to come back sooner.' Carla explained, tears trickling down her cheeks.
'I live on the other side of the world Carla, it's not like I can pop back in half an hour is it?' Matt snapped.
'You shouldn't be living over there. Jaimee didn't want to go so you should have stayed put. You're married now, you have to make sacrifices.'
'I don't think this is the right time for this conversation.' Matt said.
'Well I do, because you see, that girl in there is my daughter and since she came back into my life, all I want to do is protect her.'
'Protect her? I'm not a criminal or a bad influence on her. I'm her husband and despite what you might think, I love her.' Matt said, angered by Carla's accusations.
