So I wrote a one shot similar to this a few years ago but I've since then deleted it because it wasn't how I envisioned it. I hope this is okay, I'm quite rusty with my writing and am trying to improve. Follow my Twitter: carlafanx and enjoy!

Trigger warning: includes violence.

"You did it, didn't ya?" Carla cried, the anguish and wavering in her voice present as she looked at her younger brother through glassy eyes. But he was more than just her brother now. She knew deep down that he was a murderer. She was there when he first opened his eyes, through every milestone of his life. She sworn that she wouldn't let him grow up the same way everyone else on the estate did. He wasn't going to be a bad person. Even after his wrong-doings, she believed he was a good man. He made a life for himself, it's his wedding tomorrow! Crime was behind him but now, when she looked into his eyes, it was different. It wasn't that young boy who needed protecting anymore. His eyes didn't have that spark, they were just dull. They were haunted, tortured and scared.

"Come on, please, one word," She pleaded. "It's me. You did it."

"Yeah." He breathed out. It was as if he felt everything just fall away in that moment, just how it was when Tina died.

Carla gasped; a hand flying to her mouth as she tried to come to the realisation that her brother was a murderer. He killed a young girl for her. She felt her heart snap into two.

It all suddenly made sense to her; of course he did it! He was so desperate to get Peter locked away and was in such a bad state during the aftermath of her death.

"How...how could you do that?" She managed to stutter.

"It's not like I planned it," He shook his head. "It just happened!"

"Accidents happen, Rob, murders don't!"

"I could feel everything just sipping away and then...this rage. But it's done. And Peter could've done it..."

"Peter didn't do it-..." she murmured, an overwhelming feeling of guilt sweeping in and pulling on her heart strings as she thought of Peter all alone in his cell for the rest of his days. He had no one; she had left him, his son loathed him. He was just going to rot in there and she couldn't let that happen. He'd hurt her so terribly but she still had feelings for him, she still loved him. And even if she didn't, an innocent man couldn't stay in there for life.

"He did it! What he did, did it!" Rob shouted, the mention of Peter increasing his temper.

"Peter is innocent, Rob! He may have cheated on me but he didn't kill Tina! He has a child, a life. He can't go down for this!"

"Don't tell me you're taking his side over mine. You're a mug, Carla! He cheated on you, humiliated you, killed your baby-..."

"Don't you dare bring my baby into this!" Carla screeched, pointing her finger at him warningly.

"I will until you face facts! He's a bad man and deserves to rot in there. Me? I've got a wedding tomorrow, I'm not bad. I have a life, people that love me."

"You killed a twenty six year old girl and you have the cheek to say you're not a bad person." She shook her head again, turning round so that she was facing the counter and breathing deeply, trying to calm down.

"I will not go down for this. And if you tell the police, y-you'll regret it."

"Oh, is that a threat?" She scoffed, turning round and staring into his cold eyes that were clouded by an ongoing rage.

"I love you, Rob. But I can't look Ken or Simon in the eye." She added, moving closer to him.

"Well if I can do it..."

"I'm not strong enough. I feel guilty as it is, I can't keep this a secret from them. Peter deserves to be free." She cried, quietly.

"Y-you still love Peter," Rob's jaw started clenching. "You've known me my whole life, yet you still pick the alcoholic bookie that cheated on you."

"This isn't about picking sides, Rob." Carla exhaled, walking over to the opposite wall.

"Yes it is, HOW CAN YOU CHOOSE PETER OVER ME!" He screamed, startling Carla and making her hold a house decoration in front of her for defence.

"You're ridiculous, Carla! You're a pathetic, weak excuse of a human being. No one will believe you. I'm a changed man. Everyone will just think you're still in love with Peter and want him back." He sneered.

"So what if they do. Yours and Tracy's alibi is a lie. There'll be some new evidence or something. You will not get away with this."

"So you're seriously dobbing me in? After everything?"

She took in his appearance; he looked like a feral animal. His eyes looked like they'd popped out of their sockets. His face was bright red, sweat dripping down whilst his body shook violently.

"I want you to move out of my way. I need to talk to 'Chelle." She quivered, feeling very much unsafe.

"You can't tell 'Chelle! You can't tell anyone!" He yelled.

"So what? You just get married tomorrow without a care in the world?"

"Yes!"

"Well, Peter is picking paint off the wall and Tina is dead in the ground so shift!" She shouted, moving towards the door to escape.

Before she had a chance to process what was going on, Rob had followed her, pinning her up against the door.

"Get off!" She cried, trying to relieve his body weight off of hers.

"No! You are not going to betray me now, after everything we've been through!" She felt his breath hard on her cheek as he continued yelling in her face.

She suddenly found an almighty strength within her, kicking him hard in the crotch, she took her opportunity whilst he was kneeled over and escaped the flat.

"Carla!"

She stumbled down the stairs in the Victoria Court flats and ran to her car. She heard loud steps behind her from Rob who was limping towards her.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she repeatedly tried to unlock her car, whilst his voice was getting louder and closer.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed, shutting her car door with a slam as she finally got in.

He reached the car; he banged on the window repeatedly and shouted threats at her. But she pulled her car into ignition and sped off, looking back to see him racing to his vehicle.

She didn't know where she was going at first. All she knew was that she had to get away from him because he was unpredictable when he was like this. She was in real danger. It scared her and she didn't want this happening again to her, or even Tracy. Maybe even children of his a few years down the line. It was clear he had trouble with his temper and it would be wrong to let him carry on when he could easily get so out of control.

She planned on driving to the police station. But before she could do that, she decided to drive around for a bit in the hope that he'd either lose her or believe that she wasn't going to hand him in.

Minutes went by and it was clear something was going on between the two cars as they drove through traffic lights and sped along corners. Carla's panic was increasing by the second, she was breathlessly trying to keep her eyes on the road but also looking to see if Rob was still following her.

Rob was gripping the steering wheel, teeth clenched as his sister sped off in front of him, he couldn't let her do this. Where was her loyalty? Her respect for him? Everything went out the window when it came to Peter and that agitated him, it made his blood boil.

With one hand holding the wheel, he used his other to send Carla a text through this phone:

You better not hand me in. You'll regret it

Carla jumped in fright as her phone beeped, alerting her of a message. She looked down and sobbed as she read it.

"Get lost!" She shouted, although she knew he wouldn't hear her.

But before she could realise what was about to happen, her car collided violently into the back of a lorry that was stopped at a red light. The sound of glass smashing as her car got crushed was deafening.

But now there was nothing. No cries. No engines.

Silence.

Rob managed to stop just before he hit Carla's car, his breath came out in short gasps as he spluttered and tried to come to terms with what had just happened.

The front of Carla's car was crushed into the back of a lorry, almost as if it was underneath it. The bonnet and windscreen was entirely smashed, just metal clumped up together.

Rob knew he had to get out and check on her, but the possibility of what he'd see inside petrified him. The anger he'd been feeling minutes prior had completely vanished, almost as if it was like a switch of a light. Now he was just engulfed in fear and dread for what this could mean for this sisters life. His sisters life that he might've just ended.

People were beginning to gather around the car, the lorry driver included. So, Rob slowly shuffled out and walked over to Carla. His eyes were firmly shut as he reached his destination. Taking a deep breath, he opened them and let out a whimper at what was in front of him.

Bits of broken glass had imbedded itself into Carla's skin, leaving multiple cuts dotted around her body. There was so much blood. She had a big gash on the right side of her face, just above her temple which resulted in blood dripping down. Her expression was lifeless, it reminded him of Tina. The same dull look. He spun around and walked over to some shrubs where he retched repeatedly.

"Is she breathing?" A pedestrian asked.

"Umm, I don't think so. Where's the ambulance?"

Rob watched on in horror, she couldn't be dead. It suddenly dawned on him how serious this was, so he did what seemed like the best solution was and ran. He didn't know where he was going. He just ran and ran.

"Um, hello, I'm looking for Carla Connor? I got a call saying she was just brought in here." Michelle stuttered, wiping the mascara marks that clung to her cheeks.

"Oh yes, just down the hall and to your left." The receptionist smiled.

It was nearing the early hours of the morning now, the corridors of the hospital were empty and her vision was hazy. She didn't know whether it was the tears filling in her eyes or the alcohol in her system.

She'd been at the pub for Tracy's hen do when she got a call from Carla's phone. She went to the back room to answer when a low voice filled her ears, immediately making her concerned. The male stated that she was Carla's emergency number and that she'd been in a serious road collision. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. She just ran out the pub and got there immediately.

The sign 'Intensive Care Unit (ICU)' made her stomach churn. Carla has had the year from hell, she's been through so much and now she was potentially at deaths door. She just wished she knew more about what happened.

Where was Carla going? How did she crash?

Last time she heard from Carla, she was in her flat with Rob without a care in the world. They were going to relax for the evening with a takeaway and a few bottles of wine.

She kept trying to phone Rob ever since she found out what had happened but his phone kept going to answer phone. There was something sketchy about this whole situation, she knew there was something going on that she didn't know about and she was going to find out what.

"Family of Carla Connor?"

"Yeah, that's me. Is she going to be okay?" Michelle stood up with a start.

"Carla has a condition called Cardiac Tamponade. It's commonly diagnosed when there is blunt trauma to the chest by a vehicle. It means blood or fluid fill in space that encases the heart and the heart muscle."

"What does that mean? Does she need surgery or?"

"This can only be solved by surgery so we'll be taking her to theatre immediately to relieve the pressure on her heart. I must warn you; this is a serious condition and she is in a very critical state." The doctor explained, watching as Michelle tries to process the information.

"Oh god," Michelle sobbed. "What if she dies?"

"I'd suggest calling someone to sit with you whilst we operate, it's going to be a while."

"Oh, Carla, please wake up." Michelle pleaded, holding the older brunettes hand in an attempt to make her gain consciousness.

She'd been in the corridors alone until visiting hours officially opened and since then, she'd been in Carla's room. When she walked in, she gulped back a sob at the state of her best friend. So many wires were attached to her chest, a bulky tube was inserted into Carla's mouth and bruises and cuts littered her body, contrasting to her pale complexion. The right side of her face which previously had been caked in blood, was now cleansed away and had stitches with a bandage secured across it.

"Just squeeze my hand. Do anything to show me that you can hear me." She added, wiping her eyes.

"Morning."

"Oh, hello?" Michelle sat up. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you here."

"Tracy told me what happened at the Rovers last night so it was only right for me to come visit. How is she?" Ken asked, taking a seat at the opposite side of the bed to Michelle.

"I don't even know. She had something wrong with her heart so they took her for emergency surgery. I'm just waiting for the doctor to give me an update on how she is." Michelle explained, glumly.

"Has she been responsive at all?"

"No," Michelle sighed. "She looks so tiny laying there. It just isn't fair, she's been through so much."

"Don't upset yourself," Ken sympathised with the younger woman as he watched her break down. "What happened? I thought Carla was staying in?"

"Another question I don't have the answer to. I'm just confused, Ken. The crash was miles away and Rob hasn't been answering his phone. Last time I checked on them, they were together."

"You haven't heard from Rob? I just assumed he'd be here," Ken's eyes widened at Michelle's shake of the head. "He's supposed to be getting married today."

"Well, I don't think that'll be happening, do you?" Michelle snapped.

"I'm sorry. But where has he gone? Do you think he's got cold feet about the wedding and left?"

"I don't know, Ken. He was acting dead shifty last night. I asked him if he was going to marry Tracy and he said yes. I think there's something not right though, none of this makes any sense."

"What an awful night. Poor Tracy, I need to tell her."

"As long as Carla pulls through, I don't care."

"Can I tell Peter? Only, he'd want to know." Ken questioned.

"As much as I'd prefer you to not, I think it's only right. He needs to know."

"Thank you. Now if you don't mind, I just need to have a word with Tracy and find out if she's heard anything from Rob yet." Ken excused himself, standing up and kissing Carla's hand.

"Bye, Ken." Michelle faintly smiled, sitting up straight when the doctor enters the room. "Oh. How is she?"

"We have reason to believe that some of the pressure on Carla's heart has been reduced. However, she is still in a critical state and we have to be very careful she doesn't go into a cardiac arrest. I'm sorry I've not come with better news but, Carla is very ill."

"How dare he do this to me!" A voice yelled in the living room as Ken walked through the front door. "I'm gonna kill him."

"Tracy, calm down. What's going on?"

"Rob has left me. I haven't heard from him since yesterday, he's not answering my calls. We're supposed to be getting married today." She cried.

"I told you, I've never liked that man."

"Oh, dad," Tracy rolled her eyes. "You've been to the hospital, haven't you? Has Michelle said anything about him?"

"She hasn't heard anything either." Ken shook his head.

"Even after his sister is laying half dead in hospital-..."

"Tracy!" Ken hissed. "A bit of respect."

"Respect? I bet she made him leave. She pushed him away from me."

"Carla wouldn't do such thing. That woman has a heart of gold."

"Then what's happened? Why has he left?" She sobbed, falling to the sofa and putting her head in her hands. "I knew it was all too good to be true. Maybe it was planned. Maybe this is why he's been acting weird for weeks."

"Weird?"

"He's been so snappy, flying off the handle at the tiniest things. He's just so aggressive, Dad."

"Aggressive? He hasn't hurt you, has he?" Ken sat beside her, taking her hand.

"No, he hasn't. He's just so different."

"Something is wrong here. I don't think he's as innocent as everyone's making out."

"Innocent? What are you saying?" Tracy's head whipped up as she stared at her father with a frown.

"I don't know. I don't know what he's done but none of this makes sense. Why would he disappear the same night Carla gets into an accident?"

Later that day, Tracy was in her bedroom and Ken was sat at the dining table. His thoughts were overrun with Carla, Rob and what had happened between them. He wasn't stupid, he had to be linked with the crash but didn't know how.

Grabbing his phone, he called a number and waited for the voice he'd been longing to hear.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's me."

"Alright, dad?"

"Not really, Peter. I don't want you to freak out but somethings happened to Carla."

"What?" There was silence for a few seconds. "What's happened? Is she okay?"

"She was involved in a road collision last night. She's in critical condition but they're hoping she'll pull through."

"What? Oh god. Tell me exactly what happened."

"No one knows. She was supposed to be staying in with Rob but next thing we know, she's been in a crash and we haven't heard from Rob whatsoever."

"Rob? He's gone, just like that? Is Carla going to pull through?"

"Peter, something's going on with him. I don't know what but he's not the perfect man that he's making out to be. He won't even see Carla."

"I want to see her."

"I don't think you can-..."

"I have rights. I'm her husband."

"Do you really think Michelle is going to let you see her?"

"I can't leave her. If this is my last opportunity to see her alive then I have to, Dad. Please."

"She isn't in a good way-..."

"I love her. It'll absolutely break me if she...and it's left how it is."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do. I'm not promising anything though."

"Thank you. And tell me any updates on her, okay?"

"I will."

"I've got to go. Remember, dad, I need to see her."