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Now 3 of 3. And what is going to happen to Rachel?

Where's Rachel?

There was no need to panic. The evacuation process went quite well, with everyone remaining calm and even helping out the Forest Mount students without being asked to, something that Eddie was incredibly proud of and he knew that it was all down to Rachel. These weren't the same students when he started in September. These were all young people whose lives had been changed by a head that was willing to give them a chance if they gave her the chance.

He would have looked more around the school but with the smoke already filling the corridors, he knew that it was probably best for him to get out and make sure everyone else was safe. Making sure he was behind the last few students, he kept turning back to make sure that he was the last one before he made his way out to the front.

Part of him expected Rachel to be standing there, worried until she saw him, but she wasn't. He worried about where she might have been, having not seen her on his rounds to make sure that everyone was out but she could have just been on the other side of the school.

A few of the teachers were making sure that the students were a safe distance away while Tom and Steph came up to him.

"How do you want to do this?" Tom said.

"You should all know your form groups. That is probably the best way to make sure that we know everyone is accounted for. Hopefully, Rachel will turn up soon." Eddie paused. "I'll go and speak with Geoff. Make sure all his lot is out."

"Do you not think I should do that? You know with you…" Steph started. "You are our deputy. Maybe you should be focused on your pupils until Rachel gets here."

Eddie shook his head, knowing that Steph was going to say something about his face. He knew from a comment that Rachel made that no one seemed overly impressed by his appearance. Although he didn't know how bad he looked until he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Sally was probably right. He probably did need to go to hospital. But he couldn't let Rachel down for a second time.

"Good idea," Eddie said. "We need to know whether anyone is missing."

It was a good plan because as Tom was organising the Waterloo Road while Steph was sorting out the Forest Mount lot, it left him free to talk to the emergency services when they arrived. He started to talk to the fire brigade through what he thought had happened. Steph joined them first to say that all of Forest Mount was accounted for before Tom joined saying the same thing about the Waterloo Road lot.

"All except for Rachel."

"We will send someone to have a look." The chief said.

Eddie could only sigh. He had a bad feeling about what might have happened and a phone call from an unknown number didn't help him. He answered it after telling Tom and Steph to get back to the students and walked away from the crowd.

"Eddie. Are you enjoying it?"

"Enjoying what?"

He heard Danny laughing. "The chaos. Maybe you missed it this morning. Or I just gave you one too many punches to the head. This is the world I live in, Eddie. Totally and utter chaos. From the drugs to the brothels. I live on fear and addiction. People only respect me that way. You know, every single family member hates me. Amanda and Jane think that they are hated but they aren't. They all hate me. Because I was the son of the only son. I had so much more to live up to and I lost it all when I was only 22. My father was known throughout London by the time he was 21. My grandfather had made a name for himself by 18. I lost it all at 22.

"Although, they do say that it takes two generations to build a business and one to destroy it. The problem was, I wasn't the one to destroy it. My grandfather was feared by all of his children. My father would never let a bad word go against him. Maybe that was because he was one of four. There were ten grandkids. Almost all girls. I was the one put in charge to keep them in line. The only one that will talk to me is Melissa. Because she is wrapped around my little finger without me having to do anything."

Eddie shook his head. "Where is Rachel?"

"Come on. Keep up. Where do you think she is?"

He remained silent for a bit before he looked up at the school building and at the fire.

"No."

"You rushed back to save her. Try saving her now. Try and stop the flames from burning her flesh. Horrible it is. Burning. Her death will be slow and horrible. I hope she is gasping for breath. I hope that Stuart did his job properly and she knows that this is all me. Because he was more than happy to do this for me. For the noble cause."

Eddie didn't know what to say and felt like hanging up was the best thing he could do. He could feel his breath getting heavier, even though his ribs still hurt. He looked up at the fire again and started to walk towards the doors. He was only stopped by his phone ringing again.

There was a slight ringing in Rachel's ears but there was only one thing that she was certain on. The room that she was in was on fire and she had no real way of escape. Once Stuart had dropped the match, the room was set alight and she was glad that the flames hadn't yet reached her. She would have tried to swing a chair at one of the windows but the room was full of black smoke. Her only option was the cupboard at the back of the classroom, that she slipped in as quickly as she could before she closed the door.

She tried to remember everything that had been said on multiple fire safety days that she had been put through in her years as a teacher. She lied down on the floor before she got her phone out of her pocket, thanking anyone that would listen that she hadn't left it in her office. Bearing in mind that he was one of her most used contacts, it was harder to get through to Eddie than it was to find his number. She was getting more and more desperate every time she called him. She needed to talk to him.

Relief flowed through her as he finally picked up.

"Rachel. Where are you?"

"There is a fire."

"I know. Just… where are you?"

"In the classroom that the fire has started in." She said before she coughed. "Eddie. I'm scared."

"I know you are. Which classroom?"

"I think it's Jasmine's."

"Just… stay calm. I'm coming to get you."

"Eddie, you can't. There is no way in. I… I can't see myself getting out of this."

"I'll get someone to get you out. Just hold tight."

"Eddie… just in case I don't get to tell you again. I love you."

She was sure that he heard her but he seemed to be talking to someone else, obviously trying to get her out of the situation that she had found herself in.

"I love you too." He said.

"And I believe you when you say that. I believe that you love me."

"And we will say that again to each other. Just hold tight. Someone is coming for you."

She found herself believing his words as she closed her eyes and tried to keep her breaths as short as possible.

By the time Eddie really had any time to think again, the school car park was a lot more empty and he was certain that he had heard someone say that the fire was now under control. There was still no news about whether they could get to Rachel or whether she was even alive.

He saw the person running at him but it wasn't until she had crashed into him that he realised that it was Jane. She hugged his side tightly and he felt like he could only wrap his arms around her, not really knowing what he could say while holding back a groan of pain.

"Christ. Is that…" She said as she let him go. "Just I heard about the fire from a colleague and I managed to get here as soon as I could and I only thought the worst but you are okay. Where's Rachel?"

Eddie hesitated. How could he tell her?

"Okay, obviously you're not okay. Take a beating did you?"

"Jane… Rachel's still inside."

"What?"

"This is all my fault."

"What?"

Eddie steadied himself for what might happen after he told her.

"I spoke to a mate of mine in the council. I told him about Danny threatening Rachel. Nothing more than that but… they'd had other complaints. We were one of many. But… their company has lost all their contracts and they've gone bust and… they've taken it out on her. Jane… they all know. About Rachel and Danny took me away and beat me up to make her feel more alone. Because I wasn't there when Stuart told them. They've taken it out on her when they should have taken it out on me."

He didn't expect Jane to pull him towards her, into another hug, as he realised that the stress of the day was starting to hit him in a different way. He knew that he had cried earlier that day but he wasn't an overly emotional man. He had cried when Stephen died but he knew that it was the only time he had in his adult life.

"This is neither of your doings. This is Danny."

"Jane… he isn't going to stop."

"I know." She sighed. "Look Rachel is made of tough stuff. I am sure she will be fine."

"It's a bloody fire, Jane."

"And you'll be surprised about the amount of trouble she can get herself in."

They pulled back and Eddie realised that Jane was telling herself that more than him. Because she couldn't believe that Rachel could be taken away from her.

Tom walked over to them. Eddie had just about been aware of how much Tom had taken control. Something that he was grateful for. It seemed like, other than the emergency services, that it was only him, Jane, Tom and Davina that were left on the grass.

"Look, mate, all the students have gone home now. I… know it is the last place we should go, but we are heading to the pub. Mainly because we all need a stiff drink. Are you going to be okay or do you want some of us to stay with you? Me and Davina don't mind. Everyone else has gone."

"No. You go. I'll let you know as soon as I know anything."

"Sure?"

"Yeah. Jane's here now." Eddie said as he turned to her. "Oh, Tom, Davina, this is Jane, Rachel's cousin. Jane, this is Tom, our Head of Pastoral care, and Davina, our special needs TA."

"Nice to finally meet you," Jane said.

"Likewise," Tom said.

Eddie was sure more was going to be said but his attention was taken by two firemen coming out of the school. He hit Jane's arm and nodded towards them as they brought out a body bag. Nothing in that moment mattered and he was fairly certain that Jane was denying it. His mind just went back to the fact that everything that had happened today was his fault. He expected Jane to turn to him and hit him or shout at him. After all, he had caused her cousin's death.

His mind just about noticed someone calling for help and it wasn't until Jane got his total attention that he noticed the paramedics swarming the fireman.

"Estimated 35 to 37-year-old female. Unconscious, probably to smoke inhalation. There is a pulse." One of the paramedics said.

Eddie had never been so relieved in his life and they met the paramedics at the ambulance, where Rachel had already been placed on the bed, people swarming to save her.

"Sorry, we only have room for one." Another paramedic said as they both stood there.

"You go," Eddie said. "You are down as her next of kin. I'll join you there."

"Sure?" Jane said.

"Positive."

Fairfield was shouted before the doors slammed shut. The siren was deafening as the ambulance sped off. Eddie stood there, in shock for a moment before he grabbed his keys out of his pocket. He knew that he could be there quickly.

"Don't be stupid Eddie," Tom said. "We'll drop you off. You don't know how long you could be down there for."

Eddie looked between his car keys and Tom a couple of times before he agreed with a nod of his head. There were so many thoughts that were going through his mind that he couldn't find one to concentrate on. There was still this weird mix of fear and relief. It was probably why he said what he did next.

"I can't lose her."

It was the smile of Tom's face that gave him away. They didn't need to make it official, because everyone knew anyway. They could have been more affectionate outside of her office and no one would have batted an eyelid.

"We guessed."

"Tom…"

"I am sure you two can explain it all when we see you both next. Let's get you there."

Davina gave him a small smile before she followed Tom. If anything, Eddie knew that he was not in a fit state to drive. The shock mixed with the black eye would have made for a bad combination. Rachel needed him. That was if she pulled through.