"What's 'appened to Carla?" asked Liam as a matter of urgency as he stared at his sister not blinking and his chest heaving at the exhaustion of hurrying down the staircase. When neither Michelle nor Maria answered him his eyes started between them both suspiciously. What were they hiding from him?

"What's 'appened?" he yelled forcefully trying not to lose his patience with the two of them.

Michelle looked back to him and with a now saddened but still harsh expression started to explain about the whole ordeal in London and that Tony had got away. Liam had heard enough, he grabbed his coat from the back of the dining table chair, opened the door and he was gone before Michelle or Maria had reached their feet. Michelle knew she had to go after him. He had no idea where he was going if he was off to find Carla. She slammed her mug down on the coffee table and ran out the front door. Maria was left sat alone, she felt sad to have had Liam slip through her fingers again.

Outside Liam had run half way down the street and was disappearing into the Streetcars office when Michelle caught sight of him. She quickly dashed after him determined not to let him out of her sight. Steve was taken aback by Liam and his quick mumblings as he tried to explain that he needed a cab. When Michelle then came dashing into the office, red faced and out of breath Steve realised what Liam was asking. He herded them both quickly outside and to the cab he'd only half an hour ago bought Michelle back to the street in. Before long Michelle was saying goodbye to home again, London bound for the second time in two days.

Back at the hospital Peter and Leanne had been allowed into the room to sit at Carla's bedside. Leanne was still an emotional mess as she gripped her friends hand tightly and sobbed into it. Peter was at a loss as to what he could do, if he comforted Leanne it didn't seem to help much and if he didn't she got all upset and angry at him accusing him of not caring. Peter didn't know much about Carla but he knew enough about her relationship with Leanne and how close they were. It almost broke his heart to see her so caught up and torn over Carla's state of health. Peter knew she was sat blaming herself and he was concerned that she wasn't getting enough rest to heal her own injuries properly. He accepted the fact that Leanne wasn't going to leave but he was praying for Michelle's quick return so that he could whisk his wife away for a while.

The room was dull and silent as Peter and Leanne just sat. Carla hadn't moved or shown any signs of life since they had been allowed in. Carla's state was much worse than they had originally feared, for the moment she was all wired up with tubes and breathing apparatus. She was being monitored for heart rate which the consultant had already warned was dangerously low. Leanne was keeping an eye on the numbers as it dipped then came back up and dipped again. She swore the second it dipped lower than what the doctor's advised was healthy she would call for help. She couldn't lose her best friend, not now and certainly not like this.

Peter felt his phone buzz in his pocket and quickly made his excuses to leave the room not that Leanne had paid much attention to his words. It was Michelle. Pressing the answer button he greeted her and prayed she wasn't too far away now.

"Hi Peter, how's she doing?" came Michelle's voice in a whisper.

"Really not good" answered Peter honestly but not wanting to discuss details over the phone.

Michelle's heart sunk as she looked across the train seat at an expectant Liam. It was so obvious he was hoping for better news now that he had been filled in on all the details Michelle had previous been given knowledge of. She too was aware that there obviously would have been developments in Carla's condition during her absence but she had hoped them positive for Liam's sake.

"Are you far away?" asked Peter eagerly.

"Not long we are just coming into King's Cross now" said Michelle aware that they were definitely on the last leg of their long journey.

The second she said goodbye and hung up Liam bombarded her with questions. She had not much detail to give him, she just tried to calm him and keep him focused until they got to the hospital. The station was busy as they exited the train and beat through the crowds to get down to the tube. For Liam it was a struggle, he was beginning to feel in extreme pain but didn't wish to inform Michelle for the fear she could delay his arrival at his lovers side.

There were no seats on the busy morning tubes and Liam stood propped up by a panel trying not to collapse in a ball on the filthy floor like he wished he could. It was hot and stuffy and even Michelle was fed up after there almost forty minute journey out to the stop nearest the hospital. Michelle just wished they'd taken a taxi, the cost most definitely would have been worth it.

A struggling Liam was hopping along behind her when they got up to the curb and Michelle could see how worn out he was. Ordering him to perch on a bench she hailed for a taxi to take them to the hospital. It was only around the corner but it was so obvious Liam was unable to physically make it there if they walked. They were only waiting a matter of seconds before they were once again on the move and Liam felt his anxiety beginning to get the better of him whilst Michelle stayed calm and just stared blankly out of the window.

Peter still hadn't come back into the room, he had finished his call with Michelle nearly an hour ago but he just couldn't bring himself to go back in. Leanne was on edge watching all of Carla's machines and now squeezing her cold hand to within an inch of its life. She just wished Carla would wake up, say something with attitude like her usual self and get up and out of here like this had all just been a bad dream but that wasn't going to happen. She turned to look behind her for Peter having only just noticed his presence was missing.

A long beeping sound suddenly filled the room making Leanne jump and before she had a chance to react the room was stormed by a serge of nursing staff whose only focus was the patient. What had happened? Thought Leanne confused and in shock as a member of the nursing staff escorted her from the room. Outside Peter looked white as a sheet and seeing Leanne he had to open up his arms and invite her in. She rested against his chest, so silent, not even crying, the shock of what had happened effecting her strangely. He held her tight and tried to offer some words of comfort but Leanne was empty, not a reaction to be seen. She'd only taken her eyes off of her for a second, one second and it'd all gone wrong.