A/N: Thank you to the people who review this story. It does encourage me so much. Also...ideas kept popping into my head so in the last chapter I said I've split one chapter into two but actually I've now split it into three! I hope you enjoy this next instalment!

Chapter 7

A couple of hours later and Frank and Carla were in the bistro with their potential new client. Although she was physically present, Carla wasn't mentally so. Of course, she paid attention to the important details such as deadlines and money talk but other than that, not much of the meeting was sinking in. All Carla could focus on was her poorly girl at home…all alone.

Carla couldn't help but wonder if Rachel was still asleep or if she had woken up to vomit again? Had she eaten any of the crackers? And the worst question in Carla's mind: 'Is she crying for me? For her CC?'

A mobile ringing had the two mentally present occupants at the table looking at Carla who continued to stare into space. Frank apologised to the client and nudge Carla a little roughly in order to rouse her back to reality.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. What did I miss?" Carla asked as she looked between Frank and the client who were both giving her quizzical looks.

"Your phone, Carla. It's ringing." Frank said and gestured to the phone that was on the table in front of her. It was safe to say that he was not impressed with her that morning. As soon as she had stepped into the factory, he started ranting at her and questioning her about what was more important than the business. Carla had to stop herself from biting back and telling him point blank that there were, in fact, somethings or one person in particular that meant more to her than Underworld.

Carla's eyes widened and she gasped, "oh I'm sorry. Let me turn it off. How rude of me." She picked up the phone and realised that it was her own home phone ringing her. Her heart dropped and she looked up once more at her lunch companions. "I'm sorry, I really need to take this outside. I won't be a moment." She said before standing up and hurrying towards the exit of the bistro, not noticing the suspicious look her business partner come new love interest was giving her as he watched her leave.

Carla stepped out onto the street and finally answered her still ringing phone. "Rachel? Sweetheart? Are you ok? How are you feeling? Have you vomited again?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line and all Carla could hear was some deep breathing. She almost began to panic but sighed in relief and pressed her hand over her heart when Rachel finally spoke.

"CC?"

Carla looked around to make sure there was no one in hearing distance before she responded. "I'm here, darlin'. Oh, my poor girl. I'm sorry I had to leave for this stupid meeting. I'm really sorry but-" she was just about to explain that the meeting may go on a little longer than intended when Rachel interrupted her.

"When are you coming home? I'm thirsty." The girl whimpered and began to sniffle.

Carla's heart broke at the sound. "Thirsty? Sweetheart, I left you two bottles of water. Have you drunk them already?"

"I drank one and I just opened the other one but then I coughed and dropped the bottle and now I'm all wet. I need you to come home, CC." Her sobs started to become louder and more sorrowful as the seconds went on.

Carla could feel herself getting worked up at the heartbreaking cries in her ear but she knew there was no way she could leave the meeting. Especially not after zoning out a couple of moments ago and making a fool of herself and Frank in front of their client.

'Oh god, Frank! He's going to go mad. I need to somehow calm Rachel down enough so I can get back in there.'

Taking in a deep breath, Carla composed herself. "Ok, baby. I need you to listen to me very carefully. I need you to be really strong and brave for me, ok? Can you do that? For CC?"

"Mhm." Rachel whimpered.

"Ok. I need you to go downstairs and get yourself a fresh bottle of water and then you're going to get out of those wet pyjamas and change into some warm ones…maybe those purple fluffy ones? They're really cosy aren't they?" Carla semi rambled her instructions.

Rachel sniffled and took in a deep breath. "Yeah. They're my favourite."

Carla smiled and nodded. "I know they are, Rach. Ok…so after you've got those lovely fluffy pjs on you're going to lay down in my bed and get some more sleep because you still sound sleepy to me and before you know it I'll be home and we can snuggle together. How does that sound?"

"Good." Rachel told her and sniffed once again.

"Ok so tell me what you're going to do and don't worry, I'm not hanging up this phone until I know you're all snug as a bug in my bed. Tell me what you're doing as you're doing it." Carla instructed.

"I'm getting out of bed…CC, I'm really dizzy-"

Carla frowned and cursed herself for not being there. "Ok. Take it easy, darlin'. Deep breaths. You'll be ok."

Rachel took in a couple of deep breaths and made her way to the stairs, slightly unsteady on her feet. "Going down the stairs now and then-" She had only gone down a couple of steps when she lost her footing and tumbled down the metal staircase.

Carla panicked at the crashing sound and her mouth hung open. She listened out for Rachel to explain what the noise was but all she could hear was pure silence. "Rachel?! Baby, talk to me! Rachel!" Silence was all she received in response.

Then it hit her.

'She's fallen. My girl just fell down the stairs. Oh my god…shit! I have to go home!' Carla wasted no time in hanging up the phone and running back into the bistro.

Frank recognised the sound of her heels hurrying back to the table and he stood up. He was about ready to bite her head off until he caught sight of the woman.

She looked unusually pale and her hands were visibly shaking as if she was in a state of shock. Her eyes had the deer caught in headlight glaze to them.

"Carla?" Frank called out to her as everyone in the bistro stared at the shell shocked woman.

Carla looked into Frank's eyes and shook her head. "I…I need to go. I need to leave." She hurried out as she collected her jacket and handbag from the back of the chair she had been sitting on.

"What? Carla? You can't go! What's-"

"It's my friend. She's really unwell and is being rushed to hospital. I need to go and see her. I can't lose her! I just can't! I'm sorry! I have to go!" Carla rambled hysterically before hurrying back out of the bistro leaving a very shocked Frank and a bemused client behind.

Carla stumbled through her flat door after she had unlocked it and immediately hurried over to the stairs. She gasped at the sight before her and felt tears pour down her cheeks.There was Rachel lying in a heap on the floor.

Unmoving. Unconscious.

"Oh my god, Rachel! Sweetheart, talk to me please. Say something." Carla dropped to her knees beside the girl as she whipped out her phone and dialled nine-nine-nine. She put the call on speaker phone as she examined the child. Her arm looked broken and there was a deep looking cut on her forehead.

Carla's hands shook as she stroked the girls hair back and bent forward to place a kiss on Rachel's flushed cheek. "I'm so sorry. Please wake up. Please be ok. I'm sorry."

"Hello? What service do you require?"

Carla sucked in a breath and composed herself so she could talk in full sentences. "Uh yeah, hello. Ambulance please. It's my...daughter." She couldn't believe she was using that word so soon after deciding that's what she in fact wanted. Sure, the circumstances weren't great but it felt good to refer to someone as hers and hers alone!

"Ok can you tell me what's happened?" The call operator inquired patiently.

Carla started stroking Rachel's hair and prayed that she would wake up. "She's uh…fallen down the stairs. I think her arm is broken and she's got a bad cut on her head. She's unconscious. Please she needs an ambulance! Where is it?!"

"Ok, Miss, just take some deep breaths and give me your address so I can send the ambulance to you."

Carla gave the woman her address before sniffling as tears continued to pour down her cheeks. "Please hurry."

"The paramedics should be with you in five minutes. Now, I'm going to talk you through some things. Without moving your daughter can you tell whether or not she's breathing."

Carla gasped as she realised she hadn't checked before now. What if Rachel wasn't just unconscious? What if the head wound was worse than what it looked? What if she was too late? What if Rachel was already…dead?!

Before she could go into full blown panic mode, the woman on the other end of the line invaded her thoughts.

"Miss, I need you to put your ear to your daughters lips and listen and feel for breaths. Whilst you're doing that you can look towards her torso and see if her chest is rising and falling."

Carla did as instructed and sighed in relief when she felt a faint tickle on her ear and saw that Rachel's chest was going up and down. "Oh thank god. She's breathing! She is! She's breathing! Thank god!" She exclaimed more to herself than to the woman talking to her.

"Ok. That's good. That's a good sign. Paramedics are two minutes away. I'm going to stay on the line until they get to you. Keep talking to her. Hearing your voice might help in bring her round."

Carla placed another kiss to Rachel's cheek and stroked her hair. She took in a deep breath before starting to sing softly.

"I don't need no money, fortune, or fame

I've got all the riches baby one man can claim

Well I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl, talkin' 'bout my girl

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl

I've even got the month of May with my girl

Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout"

Just as Carla had finished singing and before she could once again beg her girl to wake up, the buzzer for the flat went off. She glanced at the unconscious girl before stumbling over to the intercom and buzzing the paramedics into the main entrance of the building. She then hurried back to Rachel's side.

"You're going to be ok, baby. The ambulance is here and you're going to be absolutely fine. You aren't going anywhere. I won't allow it, you hear me?!" Carla rambled in a whisper and looked up when two paramedics came rushing into the flat.

"Hi, I'm Luke and this is my partner Polly. Can we just get you to step back slightly so we can check your daughter over." The tall blonde spoke as his partner went about taking out equipment from the bag she was carrying.

Carla hesitated momentarily, not wanting to leave Rachel's side before she reluctantly stood herself up on shaky legs and stepped back a couple of paces. She watched the two partners like a hawk as they examined Rachel's still form.

"Can you tell us your daughters name and age, please." Polly asked, looking up at Carla sympathetically.

"Uh it's Rachel. Rachel…Connor and she's eight." Carla spoke numbly.

"Ok, Mrs Connor-"

"Carla." The factory boss insisted.

Polly nodded in understanding and smiled. "Carla, can you tell me if Rachel is allergic to any medication?"

Carla shook her head but then shrugged. "No…I mean, I don't know!"

The two paramedics shared a suspicious look but didn't question Carla further and continued to work on Rachel.

Luke turned and faced Carla, "has anything like this happened before?"

Carla turned temporarily mute. "I…I don't think so…I mean I can't remember! Why are you asking so many questions?! Just help my baby!" She exclaimed hysterically.

The two paramedics again had a conversation without talking before Polly nodded and rose to a standing position. She made her way over to Carla and stood right in front of her. Carla moved her head so she could look over the other woman's shoulder, not wanting to take her eyes off of Rachel and to keep an eye on what the other paramedic was doing to her.

"Carla, is there anyone we can call for you? Rachel's father, perhaps? It's just that we don't think you should be on your own." Polly asked. The woman was clearly shaken up and wasn't in the right frame of mind.

Carla looked at the woman and glared. "I'm not on my own! Rachel is here! And no, there's no one to call. Her father's…no longer in the picture…" Technically her response wasn't a lie. Carla was all Rachel had except for the simple fact that they didn't belong together legally or biologically.

Polly smiled in understanding. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're sure there's absolutely no one to call? Grandparents? Aunts? Uncles?-"

Carla chuckled darkly due to her frustration at these prying paramedics and threw her head back in exasperation. "I just said there wasn't, didn't I?! Now can you stop being such a flaming busy body and help my girl!"

Suddenly, a soft groan was heard from where Rachel lay and Carla instantly recognised the sound. "She's awake! She's waking up!" She exclaimed and went to go to Rachel who now had a neck brace on and her arm in a splint.

Polly stood in Carla's way and placed her hands on her shoulders in order to hold her in place causing the dark haired woman to glare at her. If looks could kill, Polly would have been six foot under!

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me!" Carla warned but Polly refused. "I said get off!" Carla then exclaimed as she tried to free herself but to know avail. "I swear to god, if you don't get your hands off me right now-"

"CC?! CC what's going on?!" Rachel had just opened her eyes and realised she was laying at the bottom of the stairs. She began to freak out when she realised she couldn't move her head or her right arm and then that's when she saw the strange man looming over her which caused her to desperately call out to Carla.

Carla finally broke free of Polly's hold and rushed over to Rachel who visibly relaxed when she saw Carla was now beside her. "I'm here, baby. You're going to be ok. I promise." Carla whispered soothingly as she stroked Rachel's cheek and winced when she felt the heat radiating off of the girl's skin. That's when she remembered the only reason why this had all happened in the first place was because Rachel was sick!

Carla looked at Luke with wide eyes. "She's not been well. That's why she isn't in school." She lied. "She threw up this morning and has had a high fever. Could you pass that on to the doctor when we get to the hospital?"

Luke nodded. "Of course. Thank you for letting us know. That can be useful information."

"No. No hospital. CC I'm scared." Rachel began to panic once more. What if the doctors realised Carla had been hiding her from social services? No! That couldn't happen! They would take her away and she would never see CC again!

Carla looked back down at the girl and smiled. "Sweetheart, you have to go to the hospital. You're arm is probably broken and you've had a really bad bang to the head. You need to be checked over." She insisted.

"But…what if-" Rachel began but Carla quickly stopped her.

"Shhh. I'll be with you the whole time. You'll be fine. Everything will be ok and we will be back home in no time. Now be good and listen to the paramedics, ok?" Carla soothed and Rachel soon settled back down after those words.

After about another five minutes Polly has returned - Carla hadn't even realised she had vacated the flat - with a stretcher. Luke crouched down beside them and spoke directly to his patient.

"Ok, Rachel. How are you feeling?" He asked gently.

Rachel winced and screwed up her face. "My arm hurts and I have a headache. CC, I still don't feel very well." She whined.

Carla smiled sympathetically as she cooed at the injured girl. "I'm not surprised, darlin'. You've been in the wars today, eh?!" She then looked back at Luke and shook her head sadly. "Can't you do anything about this? She's in too much pain."

"We didn't give her anything because you couldn't tell us if she was allergic to anything. We weren't about to risk her safety by giving her something that could cause a reaction." Luke said with a judgemental tone that Carla was definitely not impressed with.

"Excuse me?! What, exactly, are you trying to say? That I'm unfit?! You have a nerve!" Carla fumed but kept her voice down so she didn't stress Rachel out more than she already was.

Luke sighed. It was obvious that this feisty Carla woman cared, possibly even loved, the little girl but he couldn't help but feel like something was off. Their predicament was just a little too fishy for his liking.

Instead of arguing back with Carla, he did the professional thing and apologised. "I'm sorry if I've offended you but unfortunately with very little information it makes it harder to treat your…daughter-"

"Paracetamol!" Carla suddenly exclaimed, interrupting the paramedics apology.

Luke gave her a confused look. "What?"

Carla shook her head, "she's not allergic to paracetamol. I gave her half of one last night. Crushed it up and put it in some water because she said her stomach hurt and she didn't react to it. Can't you give her some of that?! That will help with the pain, won't it?!"

Luke and Polly shared a look and had yet another silent conversation. Polly shrugged and Luke turned back to Carla. "Ok. That's helpful. Thank you. We'll give her some as soon as we have her settled in the ambulance."

Carla sighed in relief. She stood up and took a step back when she was asked to by Polly, watching helplessly as they got Rachel onto the stretcher.

"CC?!"

Carla felt her heart tear in two as Rachel once again called out to her. She looked at the paramedics pleadingly and wasted no time in going over to Rachel's side, taking a tight hold of her good hand when she was given the ok.

"I'm here, baby. We're going to the ambulance now." Carla explained gently as they made their way out of the flat.

In the hallway, Carla caught the eye of the neighbour across the hall. She never liked the woman and it was the same neighbour who had complained about the noise a couple of weeks ago. That seemed like a lifetime ago to Carla. How could things, her priorities and expectations in life, have changed so quickly?

The snobby onlooker scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest. "It was only a matter of time until something like this happened. That child is out of control." She sneered.

"Do you want to say that again?!" Carla yelled back and went to go for the woman.

"CC! Don't leave me!"

Rachel's exclamation prevented Carla from doing anything stupid. Fighting her instincts, she decided to just give the woman across the hall a dirty look before turning her focus back on her girl, her facial expression now much softer and more attentive.

"Never. I'll never leave you, my girl."

What's that expression they say? 'Famous last words.'