Thank you for the reviews.

I think I can afford to give you this early. I mean, it will give me a reason to constantly be checking my phone every five seconds when it is just me and one of the partners in the office this afternoon.

And now the second thing.

Rachel trying to save Stuart from the fire.


Series 3 Episode 20 II

Rachel knew that she was almost out. She knew that she shouldn't have gone for a closer look but she had to make sure that it was a person. Seeing that it was Stuart but knowing that there was no chance of her getting him out by herself, there was only one thing that she could do. She had seen that the fire brigade was there. Surely they could save him.

Retracing her steps back to the doors, she used her body to push it open, feeling the smoke affecting her. The coughing wasn't the worst part. It was the fact that she was starting to lose her breath. It wasn't until she was down the stairs that she felt the fresh air hit her lungs. She took in a couple of deep breaths as a couple of the firemen came over to her.

"There is someone still in there." She said before she had a coughing fit. "Just in the corridor down to the canteen."

She wasn't completely convinced by their reply but she felt like she had done her part in telling someone about Stuart. She didn't need to be a hero and it was time she realised that. She didn't need to save Stuart to show that she was the bigger person.

It took her a little while to get through the fire brigade and what she expected was the danger zone. All she could see was fire engines and police cars. There were a couple of ambulances as well and she hoped that no one had been that seriously injured. It would be her fault. Everything that happened at the school ultimately came back to her.

She didn't realise that Eddie was in front of her until his arms were around her shoulders. There was a part of her that was glad that he had done what he had done. She was starting to feel her strength leave her and she raised her arms underneath his and held onto the back of his blazer. She turned her head to the side to stop her tears from getting on his shirt.

"Come on, let's get you checked over." He said as he let her go slightly.

Keeping an arm around her shoulders and her keeping a handful of his blazer, he started to walk her over to where the paramedics were. She allowed herself to rest her head on his shoulder for a moment, so grateful that it seemed like he was always by her side. Her deputy.

They had so much to talk about. She knew that she needed his support. That respect he gave her wholeheartedly. She couldn't leave that behind. Maybe she would just have to ride out what could come for her.

But they needed to talk about it. She needed his opinion on it as well.


It was only as the last students were picked up that she noticed the body bag. Maybe because they were also waiting for the majority of people to go before they brought him out. It made her a little more grateful that she hadn't tried to save him. If he was already dead when she found him, then she would have put herself at risk for a dead man.

Or that was what she had to tell herself so that she didn't feel guilty for not helping him.

"Rach, we can go."

She turned to Eddie and looked up at him, realising that other than the emergency services, they were the only ones left on the grass.

"Eddie."

"Yeah?"

She found herself struggling to say the words that she knew she wanted to say. She had let him in once before and she didn't know why it was so hard to do the same now. Maybe because she had built all her walls back up. Maybe because she didn't want her heart broken any more than it already was.

"We need to talk."

"I think I should get you home first."

"I… I want to go home."

"Rachel, I'm not going to leave your side. Not now, not ever. If you will allow me."

"How do you always know what I need to hear?"

"I obviously know you too well."

"Stay the night. I… I don't want to be on my own."

"Of course. Come on. I'll drive."


Eddie had sat Rachel down on one of her sofas while he made his way to her kitchen to make them a drink. He did think about going through her cupboards for some wine or something like that but he felt like that wouldn't do her any good. What she needed was something for the shock of the day's events and there was only one drink for that. A sugary cup of tea or coffee.

Managing to find some decaf coffee, he got two mugs out and made one for himself as well. He wanted to remain positive about what Rachel wanted to talk about but he couldn't after the last proper conversation that they had held. He was certain that there was a part of her that was going to leave Waterloo Road but he hoped that he could convince her otherwise. He just didn't think that now was the time. Something for the morning when she was feeling more herself.

He brought the two drinks in and handed hers over to her. She looked rather confused at the coffee.

"It's decaf." He said.

"Just there is a bottle of wine in the fridge."

"Maybe later. Rachel… I think you are in shock, about everything that has happened today. I don't think you have had the time to think about it all and therefore, this morning, you made a rash decision." He paused only momentarily and started talking before she had the chance to say anything. "I know that you want to talk. But I think for tonight, you need looking after. We can talk in the morning, when you have processed everything and you are less likely to make a quick decision. Like resigning."

She looked down at her coffee.

"What did I do to deserve you, Eddie Lawson?"

He waited for her to look back up at him before he said anything.

"For the same reason as to why I deserve you, Rachel Mason."

He was glad that she smiled at him. It was a start for him. It meant that she might not shut him out. That she might still let him in. That their talk tomorrow was going to be important but she would be more inclined to listen rather than just doing what she thought was best. It was a start of them building on the relationship that they had started and even if it wasn't how Eddie wanted it, as long as Rachel was still at Waterloo Road, he would wait for her. Because they had something special. Because it would work out in the end. He just had to show her that. He just had to show her the respect and love that he had for her.