Katy was bored of hospitals. It had been two weeks and she had undergone test after test, without really being told anything. She had endured visiting hours with Jack, who didn't understand the routine that Glenda and Katy had fallen into over her many hospital stays in the past, where they were quite content to sit in silence doing their own thing. He tried to make conversation with her, asking questions that she didn't know the answer to and attempting to get her to talk about how she was feeling. The visits hadn't ended well and it had almost been a relief when Jack told her that he was starting work as a detective and so wouldn't be able to pop in and see her as often.

Ronnie and Roxy had also attempted to visit a couple of times, although on most of these visits they had met with stony, stubborn silence. Katy had attempted to be open minded, remembering Tina's words about how things were in danger of being left between them. But then the way Ronnie had been trying too hard, pushing too much, had caused her daughter to obstinately refuse to play ball.

Both Mitchell sisters were now living on the Square, staying with Sonia in Dot's house. Katy had such mixed feelings about their return, but the vindictive part of her was quite pleased to hear that things weren't as smooth sailing as they had hoped. Amy was just as hurt and confused by what had happened as her older sister and, when she came to visit Katy, she had told her that she was going to make Roxy work hard to make it up to her. She had, however, confided in the older Mitchell that she was glad they'd been right and that their mothers weren't really dead.

On Wednesday Katy received the news she was dreading, but expecting. The doctor settled himself beside her bed and looked at her seriously. She nodded, before he'd even opened his mouth, resigning herself to the fact that her cancer was back. She was even half-expecting to hear that either it had spread or that it was too advanced for them to do anything about.

"I think we're going to have to seriously start thinking about a stem cell transplant." Doctor Matharu suggested gravely, looking at her. "I know you had reservations when it was just a possibility, but I honestly think it's your best chance of beating this for good."

Katy laughed bitterly. "I'm a Mitchell. That is my best chance of beating anything."

"Mmmm… I have got the impression that being stubborn is a genetic trait." He replied with a small smile. "But in all seriousness, this is a conversation we need to have."

"I know." She sighed deeply. "Realistically, what am I looking at in terms of the options? Don't worry about sugar coating it, just give me numbers that I can work with."

"You don't need me to tell you that a close relative would be the best donor."

"I want you to tell me that an unmatched donor wouldn't make that much of a difference."

"Katy, you know that there is a higher chance of complications in that scenario." He reminded her gently. "I understand that you don't want to put your family through being a donor, but the reality is that it's your best chance."

"But they're only half-siblings. How does that affect the chances? I mean, surely it evens things out with the unrelated donors?"

"It does make things more uncertain." The doctor acknowledged. "Full siblings have a 25% chance of being a perfect match. Obviously half siblings would have less of a chance, but–"

"Then I'm not even considering it."

The doctor sighed, resignation clear on his face as he realised that she wasn't going to budge on the issue. "If we went for a haploidentical donor–"

"Haploidentical?"

"Half matched."

"Oh… I didn't know it had an actual name." Katy said nodding. "I discussed that last time but… my circumstances were different then."

"Your parents would definitely be a match for a haploidentical transplant." Doctor Matharu continued. "It's a newer type of transplant, but we have a surgeon here who's done the procedure several times."

"So that would work?"

"It's got as good a chance as anything else we can offer you. Obviously there could be side effects, GVHD as much as anything, but I think that if you're not willing to try for a sibling match, a haplo transplant is your best bet."

"I'll speak to my dad." Katy said decisively.

"Not your mother?"

She hesitated. "I don't want to be in her debt."

"I'm sure she won't see it like that, not if she can save your life."

"She might not, but I will."

The doctor sighed, clearly not understanding her reservations, but didn't say anything on the matter. Instead, he urged her to speak to her family and make a decision soon so that they could get the ball rolling and start conditioning therapy and the tests that they would need to undertake before the procedure could happen.

Jack had immediately agreed to donate but, to Katy's annoyance, he had also told Ronnie. He had also suggested that she seriously consider asking her mother to be her donor, wanting to help soothe tensions between them. His daughter had been less than impressed; reminding him what Ronnie had put them all through. With a long-suffering sigh, he had reminded her that she was still her mother and that she was trying to put things right.

"If you don't want to be my donor, you can just say." Katy had muttered after he turned up to visit, the day after the issue had been raised, with Ronnie in tow. "It's fine."

"It's not that at all." He promised her. "If it's really what you want, of course I do it."

"But I want you to consider me as well." Ronnie told her softly. "Please, sweetie, let me do this for you."

"I'll think about it."

When they had gone home, Katy had flopped back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. With Whitney away on, what should have been, her honeymoon and Tina in Naples with Shirley, the young woman felt totally alone. Lauren had text her several times – having heard about the shooting from Max – and both Whitney and Tina had checked in as well, but she still wished that they were able to come and see her in person.

When Glenda arrived to visit that evening, Katy immediately asked what she thought about Ronnie's offer to donate. The older woman had been quiet for a little while, thinking over the question she'd been asked. Finally, after an almost agonising wait for her granddaughter, Glenda had nodded slowly.

"I think you should do it."

"Really? But… I don't want to be indebted to her."

"You won't be, my darling. She owes you for everything she put you through. Helping to save your life is the least she can do."

"Alright." Katy nodded slowly. "You're right." She exhaled deeply, wondering how easy it would be to convince the doctors to let her undergo her treatment as an outpatient. "What else have I missed at home?"

"Ruby's giving Veronica a hard time." Glenda said with a wry smile. "That girl is her mother's daughter, alright."

"I'm not entirely sure that's always a good thing."

"It is, believe me." Her grandmother laughed fondly, reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was Hunter Owen's funeral the other day."

"Oh…"

"No one went apart from Mel and Lisa."

Despite everything that the teenager had done, Katy couldn't help feeling a little sad about that information. She wouldn't have gone herself, but the knowledge that only his mother and her best friend had been there made her feel for them.

"They went to the Vic afterwards." Glenda continued. "Veronica and Roxanne were there with Phil and Sharon. There was an argument and your mother slapped Mel in front of the whole pub."

"Why?"

"A combination of factors, I think; you being shot by her son being the most significant."

"That's not Mel's fault." Katy pointed out, surprising her grandmother. "She tried to talk him down. I might not like her, but we can't put that on her."

"Whatever you say, darling." Glenda replied, looking wholly unconvinced.

To Katy's immense relief they agreed to let her continue her treatment as an outpatient. Glenda turned up to collect her granddaughter, bundling her into a thick coat and refusing to accept that she wasn't remotely cold. She talked at Katy the whole way back to the Square, not needing any response to anything she was saying. Katy simply sighed and looked out of the window, her nerves growing more and more prominent the closer they got to home.

"Come on… the kids will be beside themselves to see you."

As Glenda paid the taxi driver, Katy hurried up the steps and into the flat, not wanting to be spotted. The children were, as Glenda had said, delighted that she was home and refused to leave her alone until well after their bedtimes. Smiling, Glenda had pulled the duvet over the five of them when she went into Katy's bedroom and found her and the children fast asleep in her bed.

The next morning, Glenda had taken the children to school and Katy had barely had time to settle in front of the television before the sound of the bell cut through the peace and quiet. Katy ignored it, not wanting to speak to anyone, but it continued to ring for several minutes. Squeezing her eyes closed, she went to see who was so desperate for her attention.

"Katy!"

"Whit…"

"I'm so glad you're back."

"Thanks."

The brunette pushed past her into the flat. "I've got so much to tell you, but first of all, will you come to Louise's baby shower with us?"

"Oh, I don't know…" Katy shook her head slowly. "Whit, come on. Mel will be there and how awkward would that be? I don't want to make Lou uncomfortable."

"Please, K." Her friend almost begged. "I don't wanna go without you."

"I've just been let out. I'm tired, Whit."

"It'll do you good."

"It really won't."

"I promise."

"Whitney."

"Just five minutes." The younger woman pressed. "If you come with me I won't make you stay for more than five minutes if you don't want to."

"I already don't want to."

"Louise will be really pleased to see you."

"Please… just leave me alone." Katy sighed, shaking her head.

"No chance."

"Whit, I'm not coming, OK?" The blonde snapped, scowling at her. "I'm tired. I can't… I can't face everyone, alright? Just… leave me alone, Whit."