Thanks to everyone who has signed up to follow this story based on my short little chapter! And for my dear friend, Luckdog for her review, even though there wasn't much to review! I hope you enjoy this second chapter. I'm afraid it's not very Christmassy! But I do wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Two

Ruby Buckton was beside herself. She felt sick. Indeed, she had been sick. Now, she was pacing the hospital corridor, desperately waiting for some kind of news on her mother, Charlie. Her boyfriend, Casey Braxton and her mother's boyfriend, Daryl 'Brax' Braxton were also waiting and Brax looked like he was either going to punch someone or something if they didn't get information soon. Ruby was grateful at least for the comforting presence of her housemate, Leah Patterson-Baker, who had rushed to the hospital as soon as she had heard that Charlie had been shot.

Suddenly, the door to the room Charlie had been taken into opened and a pretty brunette Doctor exited, looking tired and stressed. Ruby rushed up to her.

"Is there any news on my Mum, Charlie Buckton?" she asked urgently.

Brax was right behind her.

"I'm afraid we're still treating her," the Doctor said. "But I promise we'll have news for you as soon as possible. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything yet."

"I understand," Ruby said tearfully. "I just…"

"Hey," the Doctor said kindly, putting a hand on the teenager's arm. "We are doing absolutely everything we can."

"Then why the hell are you out here?" Brax demanded angrily. "Going for a coffee run?"

"I'm calling for more support to save my patient's life," the Doctor replied, clearly not intimidated. "Is that alright with you?"

"Well, will you just get on with it?" Brax demanded, grabbing her roughly by the arms. "She's dying in there!"

"Brax!" Casey yelled, leaping to his feet, as did Leah. "Leave her alone."

Brax retained his grip, his eyes full of fear and grief boring into the Doctor's eyes as if it were all her fault.

"Please get your hands off me," she said firmly but without anger.

He let her go, turning away and allowing himself to be consoled for a moment by his brother. Ruby hurriedly apologised to the Doctor who was trying to save her mother's life.

"Don't worry," she said. "It's a stressful time."

Ruby let her hurry on and continue her mission. She sank down in a chair beside Leah, staring at Brax, half with pity and half with fury, wondering why he had to respond in such an angry way. It wasn't the medical team's fault that Charlie was in there. If it was anyone's fault here, it was Brax's.

"Hey," Leah said, putting her arm around her housemate. "This is Charlie. She's going to be fine."

The Doctor hurried back past them and into Charlie's room, the door swung shut behind her. A few moments later, two more medics hurried in. Brax watched them anxiously through the window. He couldn't see Charlie through the crowd of people surrounding her, all doing complicated procedures that he didn't understand. All he knew was that if she pulled through this, it would be a miracle.

It was hours later when Doctor Alex Neilson eventually left the room again. Charlie Buckton's loved ones looked even more exhausted than the last time she had seen them. But thankfully, the man she assumed was her boyfriend seemed a little calmer. They all jumped to their feet when she appeared, eager for news.

"What's happened, Doc?" the strongly built, tattooed man asked her.

"She's stable but critical," Alex explained. "She was very close to bleeding out so whoever found her has potentially saved her life."

Leah hugged Ruby closer. She knew that the image of her mother collapsed on the floor would haunt the teenager forever. But perhaps it would be worth it if it meant that Charlie survived.

"We'll be monitoring her closely and it's essential that she survives the night," Alex said.

"So if she survives tonight then she'll be in the clear?" Leah asked hopefully.

"That's the hope," Alex said. "But I need to prepare you for what the extent of her injuries mean."

Ruby clung a little tighter to Leah.

"We could be looking at brain damage," Alex explained. "And likely paralysis."

Brax sank onto a chair, his face in his hands. Ruby looked devastated.

"We won't know the depth of it until she wakes up."

She hated the despair on her patient's relative's faces.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I wish I had better news."

"We know you're doing everything you can," Leah said.

"Who are you anyway?" Brax suddenly demanded. "We don't know you."

He stood up, looking angry again.

"I'm Doctor Alex Neilson," she said calmly, offering her hand. "And you?"

He ignored her.

"I'm Ruby," the younger girl said, shaking her hand instead. "I'm Charlie's daughter."

Leah introduced herself also. Casey hung back.

"Please to meet you," Alex said. "I'm sorry it's in such awful circumstances. I've just relocated here."

"So you're new?" Brax demanded. "You're new and they're letting your work on Charlie?"

"I'm not newly qualified," Alex assured him. "I've just relocated here."

"We trust you," Ruby assured her.

Alex smiled, grateful for the assurance.

"You can go in and see her if you like," she offered. "Only one at a time. She needs space and rest."

Ruby was about to head in to see Charlie but Brax immediately barged past her, desperate to see the woman he loved. Leah attempted to call him back but he ignored her, hurrying into the room and to his girlfriend's side. She lay unconscious in the hospital bed, looking so small and fragile, a million tubes attached to her, helping her breathe and monitoring her every function.

"Charlie…" he said weakly. "Charlie, I'm so sorry."

Outside, Ruby sat back down, angry with Brax for stealing her chance. She was angry with him too for putting her in such a position that she had been shot. Once upon a time, Charlie had been a solid police officer, living her life to the letter of the law. Somewhere along the way, she had got caught up with a gang she had previously loathed. Now she had been shot in a revenge plan. At worst, she would die and at best, she would be damaged forever. Casey hovered nearby, not sure what to do. He decided to go and get coffee for the fifth time since they'd arrived at the hospital. Leah sat beside her housemate, attempting to comfort her. Feeling desperately sorry for the young woman at risk of losing her mother, Alex came to sit beside her.

"I don't know your mother," she said. "But while we were fighting to save her in there… it seemed to me like she was really fighting to live."

Ruby looked up tearfully.

"Really?"

"It seems like she's a really strong person," Alex said. "Is that right?"

"She's so strong," Ruby said. "She's amazing. I hope… I hope you get the chance to get to know her."

"I hope so too," Alex said.

"Thank you," Ruby said.

She surprised the Doctor with a hug. Alex put her arms around her, wishing there was more she could do.

A short while later, Alex knocked on Charlie's hospital room door. She entered quietly, not wanting to disturb Brax's grief. He was holding his girlfriend's hand and looked like he hand been crying. Alex picked up Charlie's notes at the end of her bed, studying them for a moment before putting the folder back.

"Sorry to disturb you," she said softly. "But I think Ruby might need to see her Mum."

Brax looked up at her.

"So let her in," he said.

"It really needs to be one at a time," she said. "For now."

"I'm not leaving," he said stiffly.

"Please," Alex tried. "You can come back in. But please… let the poor girl see her mother."

Brax let go of Charlie's hand and stood up. For a moment, Alex was worried about his next move. But he turned and left the room. Seconds later, Ruby walked in, thanking her and rushing to Charlie's side, bursting into tears. Alex slipped out of the room, giving mother and daughter some privacy.

"Charlie…" Ruby sobbed. "Charlie, please wake up. Please! Charlie…"

Ruby gripped her hand. It felt frail. Weak. Lifeless.

"Charlie, I can't survive without you," she wept. "I don't know what to do, Charlie. I don't know how to be without you. Charlie, please… Mum?"

She sobbed against Charlie's hand.

"Please? Mum… please wake up. Please?"

She rested her head on the bed, holding her hand until she drifted off to sleep.

Next time… Ruby blames Brax and Alex prepares to bring Charlie out of her coma…