Clara was grateful when the week was finally over and she could get back to school. Jackie had been kept in her room most of the week which meant Clara could at least get out to keep the boys company and keep herself occupied. Hannah and Gary were very attentive and Hayley and Greg came in nearly everyday too. Danny had to stay away to comply with the conditions of her care but he met her at the hospital when she went to visit her Dad. The week could have been worse, but getting back to school was everything she needed.

Paula picked her up, and they talked about her christmas. Clara filled her in on everything they had done and on how her Dad was doing. "He should be out soon and Danny's Mum and Dad said he can go there while he needs looking after. I can't believe how much they're doing for me I need to thank them somehow. I don't really know how though, it's all so much."

"They're doing it because they care for you sweetheart. You don't have to thank them, just accept the help that will be more than enough. And we all know the difference you have made to Danny, I'm sure that goes a long way for you," she smiled. "Aha, here we are. Looks like you have a welcoming party." Clara looked out the window to see Faye and Jess sat on the wall with Danny leaning against it beside them, all chatting away. "Got your own little crew now, they're a good bunch Clara, you've come on so well. Go on get out, I'll get your bags in."

"Thanks Paula," Clara smiled and got out carefully, still a little fragile but able to move enough to walk over. Jess and Faye both hugged her tight. "Ow ow too much," Clara winced but smiled, "I've missed you guys."

"Yeah and you've not been telling us anything this holiday have you? How are you feeling?" Jess asked. Clara blushed a little.

"Sorry, it wasn't for you to worry. I'm okay, honestly. This week was a lot easier with Jackie locked away most of the time."

"Well consider us your bodyguards," Faye replied and both her and Jess stuck their fists up, quickly bursting into laughter.

"Hey what about me?" Danny asked.

"Oh no those two are much tougher," Clara shrugged and Danny looked offended. Clara chuckled and stuck an arm around him. "You alright?"

"More than alright now I've got you back. It was very lonely at home this week and my parents have worked me into an early grave," he moaned.

"No stamina see, that's exactly my point," Clara grinned. "Can we go inside? It's actually freezing out here."

Jess and Faye walked in front so Clara and Danny linked hands behind them. "Are you really okay?" he asked her quietly so the girls couldn't hear.

"It's still painful sometimes, but the painkillers are good. The boys took good care of me," she smiled.

"Bless, they've taken a real shine to you haven't they. I'm glad you had a better week."

"Me too, thank you for being there for me," she squeezed his hand gently.

Danny leant over and kissed her head quickly while nobody was looking, "anytime."

"Are you two gonna stand out in the corridor and be soppy or you coming in?" Jess called back. Clara looked over and realised they had got to their bedroom.

"Oops, coming," Clara chuckled and they went inside.

#-#-#-#

Danny spotted that Clara wasn't at her desk when he walked into English. He'd been back to to football training for the first time in a while and it was great, but concern crept in when she wasn't there. Jackie was sat at the back glaring at him but that was the least of his worries. He sat down in his usual chair and looked to Paula, whispering "where is she?"

"I was hoping with you, I'll go and check her room, I'm sure she's fine." Paula got up and explained to their teacher what was happening before leaving just as the lesson got underway.

He tried to concentrate, but 10 minutes went by and she hadn't appeared. Another 10 minutes and there was still nothing. "Are you in the room with us Mr Pink?" he suddenly realised the teacher had been trying to get his attention and looked up, "oh hello. So, your opinion on the last chapter?"

"I er-" something caught his eye and he looking back to the door. "Sir I need to go."

"No, you need to answer my question," he stood firm, but Danny didn't reply and instead stood up and ran out.

He ran in the direction he'd seen the flash of movement, ignoring the shouts of his name from his teacher behind him. "Why is it always the library?" he muttered to himself as he spotted the door rattling. When he reached the doors Paula was just walking out. "What is it? What's going on?"

"You should be in class," she replied.

"I saw the paramedics Paula where is she? Let me by!"

"She made me promise not to."

"If she doesn't want me in there then it's bad, I'm not going I can't," he went to go and open the door but Paula stopped him.

"Jess and Faye are in there, she's not alone. Go back to class, I need to go back inside."

"Then go, I'm not leaving. How can I?!" he paced back and forth on a very small spot trying to calm down but all sorts of scenarios were running through his head. "Was it Jackie? Did she do something?"

"No, we don't think so," Paula told him. The door opened and Danny recognised the paramedic that stepped out.

"We're not taking her in. I'm fairly convinced there's nothing they'll be able to do. I've called into the ED and spoken to Hayley - she's going to come round after her shift finishes in a couple of hours. Given her history it makes more sense to keep her in a familiar environment."

"Danny?" Jess appeared at the door, "took you long enough come on," she grabbed his arm and pulled him in.

"Jess! She didn't want Danny in there!" Paula went in after them.

"Shut up she barely knows who she is right now she needs Danny," Jess replied without any respect for the teacher and continued to take Danny to Clara. "She won't move, barely talking. They don't think it's anything… physical."

"Someone's done something," Danny sighed and crouched down beside her, slipping his arms around her. Clara tensed for a moment before relaxing into him. "What's happened sweetheart?" he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

Jess looked to Paula, "alright you were right. I'll go and finish up with the paramedics."

"What happened?" Danny asked Faye who was crouched nearby.

"I don't know. We were all in here working over lunch. Jess and I went to find a book while Clara was busy being geeky over some maths problem and we came back and…" Faye had to stand up.

Danny nodded and rubbed Clara's hair carefully, "can you just stay here a sec?" he asked Jess who nodded and took Danny's place beside Clara.

He walked over to the desk she'd been working at and looked over it. The work seemed fine, as usual she had no problem with it. There were quite a few papers around and what looked like an older workbook. "She said that was from her old school, they covered this stuff there so she was going to look over it." Faye told him and Danny nodded, picking it up and thumbing through it. As he did something fell out onto the floor. He crouched down and picked up the folded piece of paper.

Stop revising you've done enough. You'll ace this exam. See you when you get home. I expect to be spoiled! Love you always, Mum xx

"What is it?" Faye asked, walking round. Danny folded the note up and put it in his pocket, standing up.

"The answer," he walked back over and say back beside Clara. "It's her birthday isn't it?" he asked. Clara looked up when he spoke but didn't respond. After a few moments she nuzzled back down in his chest.

"What's going on?" Jess asked.

"It's her Mum's birthday. I don't know exactly why but the emotions are overwhelming her and I think her brain is just trying to protect her somehow," Danny explained before turning his attention back to Clara. "Let's get you back to your room hey?" she started to cling tighter to him. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised her. "Help her up?" he looked at Jess and Faye who jumped into action.

Paula came back in the room having finished with the paramedics and walked over to question what was going on. Danny handed the note to her which she read quickly. "Oh…"

"Yeah, I found it in an old book she was using. Must be today, I hadn't realised and… I'm wondering if maybe it slipped her mind too…" he sighed. "We're going to take her back, she needs to sleep and I need to be there."

"Understood. Don't worry I'll sort everything out for both of you. I know you'll look after her," Paula told him and Danny thanked her, grateful she could be so understanding. He followed the girls back to their room where they managed to get Clara lying down on her bed.

He refused to leave her side, and he had good reason to. When he came back from the toilet, having only been gone 5 minutes, she was thrashing in her sleep - bad dream. Danny rushed back over to her side, "hey it's okay, it's alright," he whispered into her ear. She settled, drifting back into a more peaceful sleep. "I wish I could understand this better," he sighed gently.

"Danny?" he looked up to see Hayley at the door. "Sorry, Paula just said to come in."

"No it's okay, thank you for coming," he sat up a little. "Has she explained?"

"A little, but I was hoping you might have more details." Greg followed in behind her just as she finished that sentence.

"I do. Well, I think I do. I'm only guessing because she's not really speaking, and she's slept since we got back in here." Danny took the note off the bedside table and handed it to Hayley. "It's her Mum's birthday today. She must have found this while she was working. I think she might have forgotten it was today and - well - you know how badly she can react to situations relating to her Mum and I think this might have completely overwhelmed her, but in a different way to normal. It's like her brain has shut down. She recognises me definitely, but I'm not sure she absolutely knows who I am. It's like she knows she can trust us, but doesn't quite know why."

"Her brain would be a field day to any psychiatrist - that's why we keep her away. Grief does crazy things to a person, it's quite frankly unfair," Greg walked over and crouched near her. "Hey Clara," he gently shook her shoulder to wake her. Her eyes opened. "Remember me?" She nodded. "That's good. Hayley's here too, she just wants to check you over."

"Just us?" she spoke ever so quietly, glancing at Danny.

"Shorter term memory?" Danny questioned Hayley as he stood up to go outside. Hayley nodded. "I'll be just outside."

"Why did you ask Danny to leave?" Greg asked once he'd gone.

"Danny…" Clara sat up, shaking her head. "I don't like it, it's like I can place people but I can't remember them. But I remember you."

"Do you know where you are?" Hayley asked.

Clara looked around, "I… no… but I know I'm meant to be here…"

"When's the last time you remember seeing us?" she asked again, putting her hand around her wrist.

"You're taking my pulse," Clara looked down.

"You're as intuitive as ever Oswald, answer the question," Hayley smiled.

"You're engaged… I knew that… I don't remember that. I remember -" she paused, "I remember in the staffroom. Greg made tea, you had cake, you told me Mum was sick and then. Then I- then-" she shook her head. "I can't place anything after that."

Hayley let go of her wrist and nodded, "that's okay, don't stress yourself out. Your body is protecting you that's all. It'll all come back in time."

"Danny he… I trust him. I- can't work it out. I miss him and he knows me and- that feeling, when I talk about him," she clenched a hand on her chest. Her sentences were broken as she tried to process everything. "I love him?" she posed it as a question even though she knew the answer. "We are so young…"

"And yet it's very real. It's okay, everyone knows how it is. He loves you very much, I hear he ran out of his lesson when he worked out something was up with you," Greg told her. "You want him back don't you?"

Clara barely noticed how Hayley was checking her over, examining everything she did "I don't know how to process it. I feel so much calmer when he's here but I don't even remember him. It makes no sense."

"Just proves how strong your connection is," Hayley told her. "Go get him Greg, and find tea." She waited for him to leave. "Now is there anything at all you're not telling me? Any pain?"

"You already know," Clara replied.

"Show me?" Hayley asked sympathetically and Clara lifted her top to reveal an impressive bruise on her stomach. "Wow been awhile since this has happened."

"When you told me my Mum was ill I- well you remember," she told her. "I must have done the same, in a rush to get up or something?"

"Maybe, we don't know. Mind if I.." she gestured at her stomach and Clara nodded, shutting her eyes in preparation for incoming pain. Hayley got it done as quick as she could. "Okay? I don't think there's anything particularly wrong but you know the symptoms to look out for right?"

Clara nodded, "I'll be fine."

"You say that a lot," Hayley chuckled .

The door opened and Greg and Danny returned holding mugs of tea. Danny sat back on the edge of the bed and offered one to Clara who sat up a little more and took it. He noticed her flinch a little and looked to Hayley who just gave him a look to reassure him it was fine. "Thank you," she sipped the tea. "That's really good. I guess I shouldn't be surprised…"

Danny smiled, "the things I could surprise you with right now. I won't, but I could."

"It's useful for distraction," Clara told him. "I'm open to further distraction, it's better than playing things over in my head."

#-#-#-#

Danny did his best to keep Clara entertained and keep her mind off everything, but she was struggling. "It's dinner, you want to go down to the canteen?"

"Yes, I think so," she told him, much to Danny's surprise. "It might help me remember."

"Okay if you're sure, but if it gets too much then just tell me," he got off the bed and helped her up. "Is the pain okay?"

"Mhm Hayley gave me some pretty good stuff," she smiled. "Might be a little slow mind."

"That's alright, use my arm if you need to," he told her and they walked down.

Their usual seats were empty opposite Jess and Faye, who looked shocked to see them walk in. Danny helped Clara sit down and then sat beside her. "Thank you for helping me," Clara addressed the girls opposite her. "I'm sorry I don't remember… Danny told me about you."

"All good I hope," Jess grinned, "don't be silly anyway, you don't need to apologise it's not your fault. How are you feeling?"

"I'm… a little spaced out. It's all so unfamiliar and yet I don't really feel uncomfortable? I don't know how to react," she looked around. "I guess it'll come back in time."

"It will. Let me go and get you some food, you okay here?" Danny checked and Clara nodded so he got up and left her there.

Silence took over for a moment, "you both look terrified," Clara commented. "It's okay I trust you."

"Sorry, didn't mean to be weird just don't want to say the wrong thing. How are you feeling?" Faye asked.

"I don't know… I don't really know how I'm meant to be feeling. The painkillers are working well and Danny is amazing," she glanced over at where he was in the food queue.

Jess grinned at her, "it's like watching you fall in love all over again, how cute."

"That's pretty much what it feels like. I guess not everyone gets to experience that," she looked back at her friends. "He didn't talk much about us getting together…"

Faye and Jess shared a quick look - they knew why he'd not mentioned it. "Not surprised really, you'll remember in time."

"Mmm, you don't know why I'm covered in bruises either do you? I mean the one on my stomach is fresh but the others are healing…" she was clearly trying to remember.

"It's not something you need to be thinking about now I promise you, don't worry about it - focus on getting better," Jess told her.

Clara nodded, sitting back as Danny returned with 2 plates and put one down for her before sitting with her own. "Thank you, I feel like I haven't eaten all day."

"Well eat up then," he grinned.

They started eating, conversation turning more casual as Jess and Faye talked about their afternoon lessons. Clara listened intently as they talked, trying to piece names and lessons but not getting anywhere.

She was nearly finished with her dinner when a group of girls walked by, "sucking up again are we? Pretending to lose your memory just to get some time with my boyfriend?"

Clara looked completely confused, "I'm sorry I-"

"Leave her alone Jackie, don't you think you've done enough?" Jess stood up. Jackie tensed, standing taller. "Oh what you gonna beat me up as well? You're a coward, using your fists. Just grow up and walk away."

Jackie paused but then scoffed, "all you have are words."

"Oh you do not want to test me," Jess clenched her fists.

"Jacqueline! Step away," they all looked up as Paula sped over to them. "You know the rules, if you've eaten then leave. If you haven't, other side of the hall. Move." Jackie tutted but led her group away. "You alright?" she turned to Clara.

"Honestly? Just really confused," Clara told her and looked to Danny. "She called you-"

"I know, I used to be. Not anymore but she won't accept that. Don't worry about it," Danny took her hand and squeezed it.

"You all keep saying that," she sighed. "Sorry I think I'm tired, can we go up?"

Danny agreed and they headed up.

#-#-#-#

Hayley and Greg turned up the next morning and Danny met them in the reception area. They greeted each other and then he started to lead them through. "She's slept all night since about 8 yesterday, is that normal?"

"Her brain has a lot to deal with, so I'm not surprised. There's no temperature?" Hayley checked.

"No, at least I don't think so. I checked her pulse a couple of times too and it was normal and strong," Danny told her.

"Ah you're learning, good job. We okay to go in?" she checked when they reached the door. Danny nodded and opened it, going in. "Still asleep, she looks peaceful. No bad dreams?"

"No she was fine all night," he sat back down on the edge of the bed. "Barely moved."

"You haven't slept have you?" Greg observed. "We can hang around for awhile, go and sleep." Danny looked down at Clara. "Go on, she'll be fine."

Danny gave in and stood up, "I won't be long."

"We're off today, take as long as you need," Hayley told him. "She won't be left alone." Danny thanked them and left.

Clara woke up around 35 minutes after he left. "Hayley?"

"How'd you know?" Hayley replied.

"Perfume," Clara replied, opening her eyes. "Where's Danny?"

"Sleeping," she told her.

"He didn't sleep last night did he?" Clara sighed, "somehow I knew he'd do that. Thank you for getting him to go, I doubt it was a willing move."

Greg grinned, "you know him too well."

"Mmm, that feels a little weird at the moment. What time is it?" she asked, sitting up a bit.

"Just after 10. You've had a very long sleep," Hayley told her. "How do you feel?"

"Okay, I feel like I need to do something but I don't know what I'm meant to be doing. Is there any work I can do? Might help me remember…"

"Honestly, you will find any reason to write an essay I swear, I'll never understand it."

Clara grinned, "please?"

"Alright I'll go and investigate, but stop using those eyes on me you know it's my weakness!" Greg chuckled and left the room. As he shut the door Clara spotted something on the back and stood up, walking over, looking at what was her blazer hung on door. For some reason that she couldn't put her finger on she went into the inside pocket, pulling out her phone. She could unlock it, she wasn't sure how but she knew the password. The photo gallery was easy to find and she opened it up, going through her recent photos. It didn't take long to reach her photos from Christmas.

"Why am I not at home?" she spoke under her breath and kept scrolling. "Dad's in… what happened? Why is Dad in hospital?" she looked up at Hayley when she saw the photo she'd taken of them both on boxing day.

"Clara-"

"Don't tell me not to worry about it! What's going on? He-" she looked back at the photo, "car accident. He's been in there for months," she remembered and had to go back to the bed to sit down. Hayley joined her. "How is he?"

"I went in yesterday, told him what was going on. We agreed he wouldn't call you until you remember incase it upset you. He's doing okay, his physio is progressing really well," she explained. "You remembered though, that's really good."

"Yeah…" Clara went back to the Christmas day photos. "That's good."

"You'll get there, I promise you," she put an arm around her. "We are all behind you."