"Michael?"

Rick wasn't sure if he was mad or stupid in what he was about to do, but he felt he had to before he left. It was almost midnight and he should've left an hour ago, but he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he'd done this. It was really important to him. The masked killer approached the bars silently and Rick started. He hadn't heard or seen a thing.

"Michael," he began again. "I… I wanted to check; are you ok? I'm really sorry about earlier, I… I had to at least warn you. Do you think I wanted to shoot? Seriously? After everything you did for me that terrible day? No of course I didn't! But that was the CEO… well ex-CEO now you had round the neck! What was I supposed to do? Just stand and watch? If he hadn't just been arrested an hour ago, he'd have had us all for that, including you! You'd have probably been given the death penalty or something! I was trying to protect you as well as us."

There was total silence, apart from Michael's calm, measured breathing. Rick felt himself swallow. "I was supposed to be at home by now," he said. "But I wanted to see if you were ok first. I… I care about you Michael. I really do. On that you have to believe me."

Rick saw Dr Loomis approaching, the psychiatrist tactfully stepped back when he saw Rick speaking to the killer. Rick gave him a silent nod of thanks. This was private between the 2 of them and Rick could tell Dr Loomis knew as much.

"I don't think I could have shot you if it came to it," Rick continued, speaking softly. "But I don't know and quite frankly Michael, I didn't want to find out. Not after all the progress you've made and especially not after you saved my life. Let's not bullshit here man! We both know if you hadn't done what you did, chances are I'd be dead now. Ryan made a huge mistake and I know he's very sorry for it and we're cool, but that doesn't take away the facts. If you hadn't knocked Chancer out, I'd now be dead."

Michael simply looked at him, his gaze blank, emotionless as always, but whether it was because Rick knew him or because he was genuinely seeing it, the guard was certain there was a tiny flicker of… something in the killer's gaze. Acknowledgement? Softness? Rick took a breath. "Remember the time we had to pretend to subdue you when you were killing Jefferson? Baker? I don't know if it would've been like that this time, but I really didn't want to take the risk of finding out. I saw the challenge in your eyes when you looked at me, as if you were saying "go on then, but I know you won't." The scary thing is Michael, you may very well have been right. My fucking hand was shaking on that gun you know and I know you saw it! Nothing gets past you, does it Michael Myers? Let's be real here. You're… You're not a… for want of a better word normal man and everyone knows this. Even Andrews, which is why he was so afraid. But for what it's worth, just as you believe I wouldn't have shot you, so I believe you wouldn't have seriously harmed Jack or me."

Silence. Rick looked in to the killer's face. "Listen man, I'm absolutely exhausted, so I'm going home to bed. But I'll be back on my first night shift tomorrow, so if you want, we can… communicate then. But I just had to say all this, ok? Try and get some sleep. I'm sure Dr Loomis has already told you this, but Danielle's fine, settling in well. Joanne and Dr Stark are staying with her. She's perfectly safe."

Was that a slight nod? Even a glimpse of a smile? Rick turned to go when suddenly the killer's hand touched his arm. It wasn't a firm grip, but it stopped him in his tracks. "What is it?" He asked Michael quietly. Again their eyes met. Michael was looking at him intently this time. Then for only the second time since Rick had known him, the killer released his arm and held out his hand. This time unlike before, Rick didn't hesitate. He gave Michael a genuine if tired smile, and took the killer's offered hand in a shake.

"Good night pal," he said softly. "You did the right thing back there, truly. He'll go to prison now and pay for his crimes." Rick was just about to turn away again, when he heard the rustle of paper as the killer pushed a note in to his hand. Rick was shocked. Michael had never written him a word before. He glanced down at the paper.

Get home safely. You look exhausted. Could you ask someone for a black coffee? But don't get it yourself, go.

Rick turned to Michael and this time the smile was completely genuine. "Ok man," he said simply. "I'm going, and coming up."

…

Dr Loomis smiled to himself as he watched Rick leave. He'd purposely turned off the microphones in the corridor so Rick and Michael had total privacy. He didn't have to guess too hard to figure out what Rick had been saying either. Would his guard really have shot him if push came to shove? If Dr Loomis was honest, he didn't think so. Some kind of bond had been formed between the guard and killer after Michael had, ironically, saved Rick's life the day Derek Chancer had almost killed him with his chains.

"Michael's asked for a black coffee," Rick said simply as he walked past Dr Loomis.

"Ok done," Dr Loomis said. "Now get home Rick. Get some sleep."

Rick considered showing his boss Michael's message, then changed his mind. This was between him and the killer alone.

This time when Chris Leach reached the internet café, he was determined. Adam Dawson had finally pushed him too far. He'd been patient with the prick, even tried to help him putting him in touch with Ashley, and now here he was again. Leach had even authorised the killing of Adam's bitch. But that still wasn't enough for the little asshole! Chris Leach was very, very close to finishing him off permanently. A quick kill and that would be it. He reflected if he'd done so previously, Charlotte would still be up and well. Not that it concerned him, what was done was done. But still… If Adam Dawson didn't have a very good reason for this meeting, Leach would very probably kill him this time.

So when Adam entered the café, Leach felt his temper snap. Before he'd even though it through, he had Adam against the wall by the throat.

"What the…" Adam gasped.

"Shut the fuck up," Leach snarled, close to his ear. "Just listen to me Dawson. You are seriously pissing me off. I terminated your contract and yet you still asked us to kill that woman for you! Ok so I authorised it purely for the money, which you still fucking owe us by the way! Where the fuck is it? But now here you are yet again, wanting "help" from us." Leach sketched quotes in the air. "Well you know what, Dawson? I'm just about at the end with your fucking "help!" I told you Danielle and Charlotte were both too dangerous, yet you still asked us to kill Charlotte for you! Which we tried and it failed. Or at least didn't kill her instantly, she's in a coma. But we still did as you asked! Now, you're back and wanting us to help you with a plan for Danielle, when I told you categorically she was off limits and your contract with us regarding her was over. Yet you haven't listened to a word I've said. Start talking and if you don't have a damn good reason for this meeting, your head will hit this concrete. You have thirty seconds."

…

Out of pure exhaustion, Danielle slept like a log the first night in Charlotte's DASC flat. When she woke the next morning, it took her a few seconds to remember where she was and why. But when it all came flooding back, grief and pain washed over her. Before she had a chance to think about this further however, there was a knock on the door.

"Danielle? It's Joanne. Can I come in?"

Danielle walked to the door and opened it for the guard to step over the threshold. "How are you?" Joanne asked, real concern in her voice. Danielle shrugged.

"Slept well, but then I remembered why I'm here and…" she stopped. She knew if she went down this path she'd start crying. "Have you heard anything this morning?"

"Well the good news is Charlotte's still alive," Joanne said. "She's still unconscious, but she proved the doctors wrong by surviving until morning. You see Danielle/ she's a fighter, just like you. She won't be beaten by Adam easily."

The mention of her and Charlotte's ex's name made Danielle flinch. Joanne must've seen it because she now pulled her in to a hug.

"Nigel will be here in an hour to pick you up and take you to the hospital. Well, us. Dave and Colin were going to, but Nigel insisted. I think the pour man wants to be involved any way he can. I think he feels guilty Charlotte suffered Adam's abuse too."

"It wasn't his fault," Danielle argued.

"Perhaps not, but I think he thinks he should've done something to stop it. He'd moved house by the time Charlotte moved in with Adam. He talked with Dr Stark and I for a little while last night after you'd gone to bed. He seems like a really nice man and he truly cares about you Danielle, you and Charlotte both."

Danielle smiled a little at this. "He is, he saved my life that day and was something small to look forward to while Adam was working. If I could just get out and talk to him for a little while, things were better. He always warned me when Adam was coming back, so he never caught me."

"Caught you!" Joanne snorted with contempt. "Fucking hell! You should be allowed to do what the fuck you like! These men who live in the old days where women were second class and subordinate is really getting old and I'm glad it's fucking illegal."

Danielle smiled a little more genuinely this time at the fire and passion in her guard's voice. "Tell me about it," she said. "Adam thinks it should be legal the other way round. That men should be allowed to control women and the rest."

"That's because he's a dick," Joanne remarked.

Danielle managed a small chuckle. "Yep, right in one."

"I'll make you a cup of tea," Joanne said, heading in to Danielle's surprisingly large kitchen. Meals were made by the refuge so it didn't have a cooker but did have a kettle and other small appliances including a coffee machine. Danielle followed her guard in to the kitchen.

"Hey, you tried the coffee machine yet?" She teased. "I know you love your coffee."

Joanne laughed. "Caught me, I tried it last night."

"And?" Danielle enquired.

"Meh, its coffee."

"Not up to your usual standard then Madam?" Danielle mock saluted. "Not good enough for the queen of coffee? At least Michael's simple, he just has it black. No fancy frills, bells or whistles."

Joanne snickered and handed Danielle her tea made just as she liked it, white with 2 sugars, before she now did approach the coffee machine. "Shut it you," she muttered, starting to prepare her coffee. Danielle laughed. She knew Charlotte would want her to carry on, try to continue with life, but it was hard. At least Joanne and the others were trying to help her, if only with temporary distraction from the pain, grief and anger storming her heart.

"Where's Dr Stark?" She asked.

"I think she's in a meeting with the staff, working with them so they can help you better."

Danielle winced. "God!"

"What?" Her guard asked.

"It's just… the old me way back then would've demanded to be there, said they shouldn't be talking about me behind my back, it would've made me really angry and I would've felt seriously patronised."

"Now?" Joanne asked quietly.

"Now I'm really grateful and touched," Danielle admitted. "I know full well Dr Stark is only trying her absolute best to help me, and I know whatever she's saying in there is for my own good. I'm not angry or anything now."

"That's good, isn't it?" Joanne touched her arm.

"Yes," Danielle agreed. "I have Michael to thank for that. The help he's given me has been invaluable. Shit, that thing with the chains and Andrews though…" she shivered a little. "That guy was really up his own ass. Dr Stark said no, but he wouldn't have it. I honestly thought I was going to be chained regardless at one point."

"We wouldn't have let it happen," Joanne said simply. "Dr Loomis phoned me last night and he's actually under arrest now for pulling that gun out on us and patient cruelty. Dr Stark knew you had a very good reason for being scared and Andrews walked all over you. There's a new CEO now, Mr. Cutter, who Dr Loomis says is a hell of a lot nicer than Mr. Andrews."

"Doesn't take much trying," Danielle muttered.

"This is true," her guard agreed. There was a knock on the door. "That'll be your breakfast. Come on Missy, sit down, you need to eat something."

Danielle gave an exasperated sigh. "Yes mom," and slumped down in to a seat as Joanne went to open the door for the breakfast delivery. Danielle knew they were only trying to help, but it was a struggle to eat anything these days. She remembered Charlotte nagging her to eat in SG. "I'll force feed you if it comes to it," she'd said. Danielle blinked back tears, but also started eating, this thought sustaining her. She remembered Joanne's reply. "With me restraining you," and managed another small smile. That threat she considered all too real.

"What?" Joanne asked, clearly seeing her face. Danielle told her what she'd just remembered and Joanne chuckled sadly. "Yep, she'd probably say the same thing now, so eat your breakfast for Charlotte. She'd want you too."

"I know," Danielle sighed. "I know you're right, but Jesus it's hard. I keep thinking of her unconscious in that damn hospital bed and I feel so powerless, as do the other Avery's and Tim. I just wish there was something I could do!"

"But you're seeing her every day," Joanne said. "You're a lot closer to her now, so that's a huge thing you're doing for her right there."

"Thanks purely to you and Dr Stark," Danielle said. "Plus Dr Clarkson I guess. I wouldn't have been able to without you."

"Now don't you start giving us credit for this," Joanne said sternly. "We're just doing the right thing. You're the one who cares so deeply for your friend you were able to leave Michael's side. I know that was hard for you."

"Is Michael ok?" Danielle asked.

"He's fine. Dr Loomis told me he's doing well. Rick told Michael you were safe and settling in well. We're making sure he's kept up to date, don't worry. It'll also give his ears a chance to recover!"

"Shut it," Danielle muttered, but was trying not to smile.

Half an hour later when Nigel arrived and they entered the hospital however, smiling was the last thing on her mind. As Emma Avery hugged her tightly along with the rest of the family, Colin and Dave shaking Nigel's hand and thanking him sincerely for coming, Danielle listened to the beeping of Charlotte's machines and felt sick all over again, as if the accident had only just happened. She hated even using the word accident, as that was far from what this was. This was planned, pre-meditated, attempted murder. She just hoped the "attempted" wouldn't be taken away, caused by Charlotte's death. No! She told herself firmly. Remember what you thought last night Hayward. Charlotte's a fighter and she's not dead yet. You didn't let Adam kill you, so nor will she. But as the steady beeping and hiss of oxygen continued, Danielle found it harder and harder to hold on to her certainty. Charlotte would make it, wouldn't she?