Hi everyone, massive thank you to all of you who are supporting this story and reviewing - it means so much.

As always, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you guys think :) x

No words were exchanged during the drive back to Waterloo Road. Eddie knew Rachel too well, he knew that she would want some time in silence to gather her thoughts and compose herself. Despite this logic, it was hard to resist the urge to speak when he witnessed yet another tear escape her right eye. Of course Eddie was shaken up too, but the fact of the matter was, he hadn't been in the midst of it all. Rachel must have seen both her own life and Bianka's flash before her eyes. Added to that, he guessed it would have evoked painful memories for her - including the fire and everything that came with it. Several times Eddie had to force his eyes to stay glued to the road; he couldn't help but steal several glances to check how the woman to his left was doing. What really unsettled him was, Rachel had become so open with him about her thoughts and feelings in recent weeks; but now, she was seemingly frozen. There had been countless times that Eddie had helped her before, now though, he wasn't sure if he was capable of fixing this. All he knew was that he would put every ounce of strength into trying: she was worth that and a hell of a lot more.

"Rach," he spoke softly, careful not to startle her. Evidently, she was still in shock - it hadn't even registered with her that they were back at school. No attempt was made to move.

Apparently, his voice was the only thing to remove Rachel from her trance. Slowly but surely, she brought her eye line level with Eddie's. Once Rachel got lost in his gaze, she knew that he would forever be there to support her. Nothing else was said, his silent reassurance was all she needed to know that she would get through this with the help of him.

To watch Rachel emerge from the vehicle, was like seeing a switch flick inside of her. The mournful expression she had been holding was instantly replaced with a look of forced joy when Sambuca Kelly smiled and greeted her. The facade wouldn't fool Eddie, he recognised Rachel's true happiness when he saw it; and this wasn't it. Far from it. The smile plastered across her lips didn't even fully develop. Her eyes didn't even light up like they had done numerous times when Eddie had laughed and joked with her. How did she manage to pretend so well?

….

He anticipated her reaction as soon as the office door was shut and they were alone once more. What he didn't foresee was the extent of it, and how much her response overwhelmed him personally. Rachel had slumped her body on the sofa, she had been drained of all energy and the ability to stand. For a moment, Eddie just hovered over her, until he felt the time was right to take his seat adjacent to where she had collapsed. It felt extremely surreal. The second Eddie instinctively pulled Rachel's body in close - she succumbed to the weight suffocating her. He could sense the muscles of her chin trembling and felt the wetness of his hand as the salty drops began to cascade down her face. All those walls that she had been gradually building up around her broke down. Moment by moment they fell, drenching Eddie's shirt. He didn't much care. His lips collided with her hair followed by mumbles of love and reassurance; Eddie hoped he was doing the right thing. The way her body gently sank into his in response told him that he was. He guessed they would remain like this for the foreseeable future. As long as it takes.

As expected, half an hour had passed before the pair even attempted to part from each other's embrace. All that time they hadn't been interrupted; they were both more than grateful for that. Eddie had been waiting for his moment to at least try and get her to open up. The look of gratitude that Rachel sent him in the second they pulled apart was his que.

To Eddie's surprise, before he could place together his opening sentence, Rachel beat him to it.

"I thought it was over Eddie,"

He longed more than anything to respond to her, to reassure her. Equally though - Eddie was glad she was opening up, so he wanted to give her the opportunity to expand.

Give her time.

"When I was in there, you know, in the caravan. I couldn't get what I said to you out of my head. I love you. And I… I didn't want it to be the last time…"

Rather than respond with words, Eddie brought his hand to Rachel's right cheek and drew light circles on her cheekbone with his thumb. That gesture spoke volumes; it represented everything that he wanted to say.

"I couldn't help but think of …" Rachel hesitated and Eddie wondered for a second what she was about to comment on, "of Daisy… and how I would never get to meet my own niece. And of Melissa… do you know Eddie we haven't spoken since that day? If it wasn't for you, Bianka and I would be dead Eddie."

There was no need for Rachel to evaluate. He knew exactly what she meant by that day. It wasn't the only thing he was aware of; now was his time to speak.

"It's all over now Rachel. You will say 'I love you' to me many more times. You will meet your niece. You will rekindle your relationship with Mel," she smiled gratefully at him, and Eddie knew that this time, the joy was genuine. Perhaps he was getting through to her, "we saved a young girl's life today. Think of that rather than the negatives. We will get through this Rach, together. I promise you, you've got nothing to worry about," Eddie shook his head slightly and finalised his response with a second embrace.

"I'm sorry Eddie," she mumbled into his chest, "I should have listened to you, and waited."

"It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're here with me, safe."

How true that was. He recollected the wave of relief that flooded through him the minute he realised Rachel was unharmed.

Before they could continue the conversation, a wary knock was heard. Rachel hoped it wasn't anything too important; she really wasn't up to dealing with another issue. Thankfully, Kim was waiting on the other side and swiftly entered after Rachel's calls to come in.

At first glance, she looked frustrated with Rachel. Eddie worried she would transfer that to words - he hoped Kim would filter it, he wasn't sure how much fragile Rachel could take. He wasn't to worry however, as soon as Kim saw the broken look etched in her bosses expression; any anger disintegrated. It was only then Eddie saw a bottle of whisky and three glasses in Kim's hands. That was certainly needed.

"Hi Kim," Rachel greeted, once again accompanied by that facade of happiness. Only for Eddie would she break that down.

"I brought this," she exclaimed whilst holding up the alcohol, "thought you both might be in need of it."

"You're a star Kim."

As Rachel sat and exchanged words with two of her closest colleagues - it really hit home how different things could have been.

She could've been dead right now.

That wasn't the case though. And really, she had Eddie to thank for that. If he hadn't of broken that window, Rachel really wasn't sure what she would've done next.

He saved her life. How could she ever repay him for that?