"Good morning, love." Peter smiled, his hand behind his back.

"Heya," Carla muttered, tiredly. "What's behind your back?"

"This," Peter presented a pastry from Roy's. "I know you hate hospital food."

"Ah you shouldn't have!" She grinned in delight as he handed it to her. "Actually I'm glad you did, the food here shouldn't even be given to prisoners."

"Roy sends his love as well. He said he was going to come here but I explained how you'll be home soon anyway."

"That'll be nice to see him when I'm home." She replied, digging into her breakfast.

"I don't want you doing too much though. You need to rest." He said, smiling as she carried on eating.

"I see you don't feel as nauseous now, that's a good sign."

"Yeah," Carla looked up. "I've got more of an appetite today. It's as if you read my mind, getting me this."

"I'm glad." He just watched her in awe, the amount of love he had for the woman in front of him was indescribable and the last forty eight hours reminded him of that. He would do absolutely anything to protect her.

"So, how's everything back home?" Carla asked, laying back and snuggling into the pillow behind her.

"We've got the place tidy for you, I even changed our bedding myself."

"You didn't," Carla gasped, jokingly. "I thought you couldn't do it, you always leave it to me."

"I have no choice when you're in here, do I? Anything for you."

"I'm glad you were able to push yourself to change our bedding, Peter. I'm proud of you." Carla laughed, sarcastically.

"And your dad is on his way back as we speak."

"Oh, is he? I told him not to worry." Carla sighed.

"He's been gone far too long anyway, it wasn't fair on Jenny. And he wants to see you." Peter said.

"Mmm," Carla yawned. "It'll definitely cheer up Jenny."

"You look tired."

"I am."

"Why don't you have a sleep for a few hours before you get discharged." He suggested.

"I might just do that, yeah."

"Knock, knock." Scott said, hesitantly.

"Oh, hi." Carla sat herself up, wincing at the shooting pain in her ribs.

Scott shuffled in, fully aware of Peter's hostile presence near him.

"I just wanted to check how you are," Scott paused. "And to apologise."

"There's no need to apologise, Scott. It was my fault." Carla shook her head.

"Still, if I was driving slower then maybe I would've been able to stop in time. Your father is going to give me a bollocking when he's back."

"It's water under the bridge. Isn't it, Peter?" Carla nudged him.

"Um, yeah." Peter looked up. "Sorry for having ago, Pal. I was just worried."

"I get it. It was a scary time." Scott nodded.

"And whilst you're here, I thought you'd like to know that Johnny is coming home soon." Carla said.

"Oh, is he?" Scott's eyes glinted. "It'll be nice to have a proper catch up. Even if I did hit his daughter with my car."

"Yeah," She chuckled slightly. "It's good that he'll have a new friend here."

Scott nodded, taking a seat.

"So, how long are you staying here?"

"Fingers crossed, she'll be discharged today." Peter piped up.

"Ah, that's good. I see you have a lot of bruising and cuts though, I'm sorry again." He sighed, it looked like she'd been in the wars and he couldn't help but feel so responsible.

"Oh, I daren't look in the mirror. I must look a right state." Carla grimaced.

"You still look beautiful." Peter mumbled, coyly, earning a sweet smile from Carla as she turned to look at him.

"There we are," Peter guided Carla to the sofa, where multiple cushions and a soft throw lay. "Easy does it."

"I'm not a cripple." Carla scoffed, wincing as she sat down.

"Just get comfy." He ordered, softly.

Helping her lay back, he put the blanket over her legs and kissed her head.

"Is there anything you need?" He added.

"Mmm, I'm okay for now, baby," she smiled up at him. "I like it when you're like this."

"Like what?"

"Looking after me."

"I always look after you."

"Come here." She signalled for him to go to her level, so she could give him a kiss.

"Heya, love." Jenny entered the room.

"Oh, hi." Carla replied, sweetly.

"How are you? Bet you're glad to be home."

"I already feel better being here. I hate hospitals." Carla grimaced.

"Well, I've got a visitor for you." Jenny opened the door wider, revealing Johnny.

"Oh, love." He dumped his bags to the floor and rushed over to her, bending over to give her a hug.

"Ow!" Carla hissed in pain, as her father squeezed her too tight. "Broken ribs, remember?"

"Sorry," He stood up again. "I've missed you so much, darling. How are you?"

"I'm okay. How was France?"

"It was good, Susie has grown so much."

"I bet she has, bless her."

"Is it right that Scott was the one who hit you?" He questioned.

"Yeah, but it was accidental so don't get annoyed at him."

"How dare he! If he had his eyes glued to the road then he would've had time to stop." Johnny ranted.

"My thoughts exactly." Peter piped up.

"I thought you forgave him when he came to the hospital earlier." She frowned.

"He went to the hospital?" Johnny's eyes widened. "The cheek!"

"Johnny, it is fine. I wasn't looking where I was going, I just stepped out."

"But..."

"And I know far too well how it feels to be in Scotts position. Accidents happen and I'm okay now." Carla cut him off.

"I thought he was your pal anyway?" Peter asked.

"Pal? No, not really." Johnny stammered, shifting slightly.

"He seems to think you are." Jenny narrowed her eyes.

"I mean, we knew each other. But I wouldn't call us friends," He sighed. "Anyway, I'm parched. Who's going to make me a drink?"

Carla frowned as he sat at the table, whilst Jenny wandered into the kitchen. Something didn't seem right.

As Peter sat down, finally getting a rest after running around after Carla the entire day. He sighed, shifting Carla's legs so they were on his lap, whilst Carla giggled at him.

"What?"

"You," She laughed. "You look like you've ran a marathon."

"You've not let me sit down for five minutes!" He joked.

"You said you'd do anything to help me whilst I'm trapped here." She raised her eyebrows.

"I did, didn't I? He paused. "Can I have a rest now?"

"Yes. After you nip to Dev's and get me chocolate."

"Chocolate? Why do you need chocolate?" He exclaimed.

"Because I've been eating hospital food the past two days and I fancy some!"

"Fine," He stood up. "I won't be long."

"I love you!" She called out as he grabbed his jacket.

"I know you do," He said. "And I love you."

As Peter walked to Dev's shop, he rolled his eyes at the raven haired woman that seemed to be following him.

"Can't you leave me alone for five minutes!" He hissed.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Tina grabbed his arm.

"Tina, leave me alone! Why won't you get the message?"

"I just want to know how Carla is." She sighed, as they stood outside of the corner shop.

"Like you care."

"I do! I didn't want this to happen."

"Well it did. And you know why? Because she was so upset, thinking we were having an affair." He seethed.

"I might dislike her but I didn't want her to get hurt. I've heard people talking, apparently she just walked out."

Peter ignored her, shaking his head. He went to walk past her before she grabbed him again.

"And she was in a trance," Tina continued. "You don't think she's paranoid again, do you?"

"You what?" Peter shouted, his eyes widening. "Don't you dare act as if you know anything about Carla and her mental health struggles! Keep your nose out."

"I'm saying this out of concern, Peter." She tutted. "She was in a trance. If she was okay, she would've seen the car before it hit her. Not to mention how convinced she is that we're having an affair when I've barely spoken to you."

"You are speaking nonsense, Tina! I know what kind of person you are but to stoop this low..." Peter shook his head, angrily.

"Just think about it," Tina sighed. "Can you confidently say she's been behaving normally recently, Peter?"

Before Peter could reply, she looked at him pointedly and walked away. Leaving Peter to dwell on these new concerns that have come to light...

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter! I thought I'd wait a while until updating it because I didn't want to rush it and lose people along the way :)