Thank you for the reviews.

So, in my little previews on twitter, I said that there was a time gap between this chapter and the last. Mainly because I want to make it realistic without really wasting too many chapters on this (if that makes any sense). So we have gone from the end of May to the middle of July. Just for your own timeframe (I think my plan is sort of 8 weeks between this chapter and the last).

My Sister, Melissa

Eddie knew that he was probably in trouble with Jane. He did expect to have her scream and shout at him. Mainly because the last eight weeks hadn't been easy for all three of them. After Rachel was brought out of the fire and whisked away in the ambulance, she was quickly assessed before, with Jane's permission, they took her straight to theatre to help with the burns and her breathing.

Eddie had spent a couple of nights in a hospital bed himself after both Jane and Sally marched him to minor injuries to have him check out for any long term damage after Danny's beating. They kept him in to monitor him and both Jane and Sally took turns in swapping who they were sitting next to. Although, for those couple of days, he was definitely better company. From there, a timetable was born of who was going to sit next to Rachel when, mainly just so that they remembered that they could go home.

Sally finally got him to report Danny for the assault and, although they hadn't seen him since or had any more phone calls, they were all still wary about what might be to come.

He could hear Jane before he saw her. The argument between her and the other woman pointed to the other woman being Melissa. Maybe if Jane hadn't been arguing with her, she might have been a bit calmer.

"Oh, now you turn up!" Jane shouted at him. "How many bloody phone calls? You were here for her when she was unconscious and then disappeared the moment she woke up."

"Jane." He said before he was cut off by her.

"It's not bloody good enough. Two weeks! Two bloody weeks she has been awake and you only come now. She trusts you."

"Jane, I was saving her job."

"That isn't… Sorry, what?"

He sighed, glad that he had her attention now. "There was a vote of no confidence against Rachel as headteacher. She was okay because she was with you and… I had to save her job. Because… because of everything that happened. I couldn't save her and… the very least I could do is save her job for her."

"I know. I'm sorry." She said before she pulled him into a hug.

He did relax into her embrace and he wondered when he started to lean on Jane so much. Maybe because she was a strong person who he knew that he could rely on. They had done a lot more talking over the last eight weeks. He could tell why Rachel was extraordinary because Jane was as well. The strength of the two women astounded him.

"Well I know I can trust you to get her flowers," Jane said as she let him go. "Carnations again."

"Just hope that she remembers what they mean."

"Although these are pink. The other ones were red."

"They did have any red when I went. All used for a wedding. I was told pink..."

"Sorry to break up the flower talk but… did Jane just apologise to you?" The woman said, interrupting them.

"Yeah."

"Are you into black magic or something? I thought that she would never apologise to a man." She held out her hand. "Melissa Ryan. I'm Rachel's sister."

Jane hit her hand and Melissa complained about it. So she was who he thought she was. A horrible thought crossed his mind but he banished it away for later. Maybe a concern to raise with Jane. He held up his hand to her, to the horror of Jane.

"Eddie Lawson."

They shook hands and Eddie could already see why Jane didn't like her.

"So Eddie, why are you here with flowers to see Rachel? Are you her deputy?"

"I am but I think, more importantly, I am her almost boyfriend and, maybe more importantly than that, I'm Jane approved."

He left Melissa to think that over and, with an impressed look from Jane, finally made his way onto the ward that Rachel was on.

"Why the hell did you approve of him?" Melissa said.

"Because, unlike you, he actually cares about her," Jane said.

Eddie just shook his head as he pushed open the door to the ward.

Sally gave Rachel a smile before she looked up at the door as Eddie entered. She wanted to be more worried about what she had just heard but his smile and the way that he immediately handed over the flowers to her made her smile. She could never be in a bad mood with him around.

"Back to carnations." He said.

"They are beautiful." She said as she took off him.

She handed them to Sally to sort out at some point as Eddie to the chair to her right. She wondered how to bring up that they had heard what he had said when Jane and Melissa showed that they could be heard from the hall.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Go home, Melissa. She doesn't want to see you." Jane said.

"Well maybe if you let me talk to my sister. She would tell me that herself."

"No, you don't get to do that. Because you will guilt trip her into letting you stay."

Rachel looked at Eddie as he nodded a couple of times.

"You heard, didn't you?" He asked.

"The vote of no confidence?" She said and waited for him to nod before she continued. "I could guess that it would happen."

"Bad news. Nigel has stepped down as chair and as a governor. The problem is that… Ralph Mellor has taken his place."

"For Christ sakes," Sally said. "Wasn't there anyone else?"

"No one else put themselves forward as a governor or the chair. He wasn't going to be challenged." Eddie said.

"Honestly Rachel, you are going to hate him."

"He can't be that bad, can he?" Rachel said.

"I work with the bloke. He is one of the most bent copper I have ever known. How he ever got to the rank he has is a mystery. He isn't even a good officer. He just throws his weight around and hopes that someone else can work it out for him, so he can take the credit." Sally went quiet for a moment. "Also… I found out that he is basically the only thing stopping me from becoming a sergeant. I've passed all my exams and stuff like that but he… he keeps telling lies about me. I've been a constable for nearly 18 years. First, it was because I was gay. Now it is because 'I'm not a good copper'. If he is like that to us, all I can say is poor Flick."

"Great?!"

"I got Tom, Steph, Grantly… Everyone really to come to the meeting to sing your praise." Eddie said. "I mean, Grantly didn't say much because I told him that if he didn't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything. By the end of it, Ralph was the only one with any 'concerns'. Therefore there was no way that they could have thrown you out. Rachel, your job is safe for when you are allowed to come back. I'll keep the old place going until then."

"Like the good deputy that you are."

"That might be pushing it a bit."

Rachel laughed and she was so glad that he had finally come to see her. She knew that he hadn't not come to see her for any other reason than that something was up with the school. She thought about asking him about the damage and how the repairs were coming along, but she knew that he wouldn't want her worrying about all that. She would just have to see everything that had happened when she got back.

"I think I will go and change the flowers over before saving Melissa from Jane," Sally said as she stood up.

"How long have they been arguing?" Eddie asked.

"Well, I think Melissa turned up about an hour and a half ago and they started arguing pretty much the moment she came into the room. Eddie, they are both as stubborn as each other. It is the Sutton in them. You must see it firsthand sometimes."

"Are you asking for me to be hit?"

Sally gave them both a smile before she left. Rachel knew what she wanted to say to Eddie but he reached out and placed his hand over hers.

"Don't worry Rachel, it's fine."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is. You can act fine to everyone else, but I can guess that you aren't. And I know I haven't been here but I am now and for the next six or so weeks. I am not going to leave your side again. I am here, as your friend or almost boyfriend, supporting you like I always have done."

She flipped her hand underneath his to take his hand properly in hers.

"Well, aren't I glad I fell in love with you."

"We will get you there again. And I am going to do everything in my power to make you happy."

"Oh, Eddie, you already make me happy."

"I think Danny sent Melissa," Eddie said.

"Do you?" Jane said.

"Just something he said. About him telling Melissa to tell all of Rachel's other boyfriends that she was a prostitute. What if this is another mind game that he is trying to play with her?" He paused as he took in Jane's expression. "What?"

"Rachel told me that Stuart told her something similar. Christ, I didn't think about it like that."

"I think keeping Melissa away from her is the best course of action. I don't want Danny hanging over her again."

"Of course."

"Are you sure you are okay here?"

"Yeah, I'll only be here for another hour or so. She is out of the woods now. She doesn't need 24/7 monitoring. Thank you for saving her job."

"Honestly it is the least I could do."

"And… Eddie, get some help if you need it. She doesn't need you making yourself ill because of the guilt you have for everything that happened that day. Danny was right. It was going to happen anyway. You should just be grateful that you are still alive and with her. Danny could still have you for ransom."

"I'll try."

Jane kissed his cheek, in a move that he found her doing more. Her kind and caring side had obviously included him now. Something that he knew he could be happy about. He had her full trust. She knew that he wasn't going to mess Rachel about.

"I'll see you in the morning then," Eddie said.

"See you in the morning. And then it might be over to you to entertain her. I've got to go back full time at some point."

"I'm sure we can work something out between us."

"I'm sure we will."

Eddie shot her a smile before he left, feeling a little better now that he had shared with Jane. He knew that she was right and he had to work out his guilt. He wasn't prepared to talk to anyone about it but it was something he would have to work out. He couldn't have it hanging over him or otherwise, he would be too cautious with Rachel and there was no telling what it might cause.

He didn't really expect Melissa to be waiting for him outside the hospital. Although he felt like it might give him a few answers to the questions that he had.

"So how did you get Jane approved?" Melissa said, the anger clear in her voice.

"Because I am deadly serious about Rachel and have been since day one. They basically wanted to set us up anyway. I've seen all sides of her, Melissa. I know who she is and where she has come from. And I still love her for it. Because she is the most remarkable woman because of it all."

"No."

"No?"

"No, you don't know who she is."

"I'm sorry?"

"Rachel… she is Jane mark two. She is everything that Jane wants to be but can't. You've heard the side of the story that Jane has built. I can tell you all about my 'precious' big sister. You know that she was…"

"Yes, I do. I know all about that."

"Then why are you still with her? Or has she started up again? Surely a teacher's salary isn't that much."

"You know, when Jane said that you were bitter about everything, I didn't want to believe her."

"I'm not bitter." Melissa paused. "Or maybe I am now. Why throw away all that love on her when you could be with me instead? I am not a worrier like Rachel. And I am sure I can still show you a good time in bed. I'm prettier as well. Honestly, Eddie, I am the better sister. I could give you everything that Rachel gives you and more."

Eddie took a step back as she tried to close the distance between them. He did not like the way that this was going.

"I've got to go." He said, hoping that his car was in the direction that he turned in.

"Rachel blames Danny for everything." She called after him. "Danny wasn't to blame. If anything, he tried everything to help her out."

He stopped and Melissa walked into him. He was glad that she was stunned for a few moments because it allowed him to put some distance between them before she did anything stupid.

"You believe what you want to believe Melissa. I believe Rachel. Now, I want you to leave me alone. Before you do something stupid."

He was glad when she didn't follow him but he did have this feeling that he might be right. That Melissa was there as part of Danny's little game and he didn't want to wait for the man to make a reappearance.