Disclaimer: Mt. Thomas and all characters belong to Blue Heelers, Southern Star and Channel 7.

PART SIX

Alex ran fast, faster than he ever had. He had heard that scream and it was a scream he had heard many times in his years as a member of the Victorian Police Force. It was the terrified scream of an innocent victim. It was the scream of a person who heard, saw or felt something so terrible they could do no more. It was the response when both the fight and flight responses failed – it was what they did when there was nothing else left.

Alex rounded the corner to see the headlights blink and an engine rev. God if he had Amy in that car-

"ALEX!"

Jonesy's voice sliced through the air.

"I've got her, I've got her!"

Alex's relief at realizing Amy was still here quickly turned to horror as her scream played over again in his mind, like the skipping track of a horror movie and Alex froze. He almost didn't want to see her. Could he handle seeing her like that - a victim, vulnerable and exposed?

"ALEX! GET OVER HERE!"

Jonesy's words hollered panic and desperation, and suddenly, Alex realized how the world must look through Amy's eyes. The feelings she endured not just tonight, but every other night of her life.

Desperation for someone to care enough to want to guide her, to protect her, to look after her. Panic that if she found herself in a situation where she needed someone, there would be no-one to turn to. A devastating need to find someone; anyone; who could help her.

Alex made a vow to himself at that moment, to be that person. He didn't want her to feel like that any longer, stumble through life scared of what was to come next. He wanted to be able to take those feelings away, to be that person. And being that person started now.

Alex shoved Jonesy away from Amy, his overwhelming urge to protect her, fuelling his faculties. As Jonesy took off in pursuit of the car, Alex drew upon Amy's crumpled body, his heart beating in his throat. He frantically felt for a pulse, his fingers trembling as he pressed down. It was there. God, it was faint but it was there. She was hanging on.

"JONESY!"

Alex was screaming at the top of his lungs, coarse tears welling in his eyes. He hadn't cried since….since forever. But he was overcome with an emotion so strong that he couldn't comprehend much less ignore it.

"Black Holden that's all I could tell," an out of breath Jonesy yelled but Alex barely even registered his voice.

"Call an ambulance, call an ambulance!" Alex yelled frantically.

"She could go at any second!"

As Jonesy grabbed his phone, Alex cradled Amy's limp body in his arms. Blood was matted against her soft dark hair and Alex used his jacket to try and stem the gushing wound. But everywhere he pressed it seemed to gush more. She was losing so much blood; it seeped onto his hands, onto his clothes. It was everywhere.

Suddenly Alex was blinded by the lights of the ambulance, the sirens blaring as they screeched up.

A sort of surreal panic followed, two men jumping out and leaping into action, pushing Alex away and yelling short sharp orders and a jumble of medical terms which scrambled his brain into turmoil.

"Head-laceration-abdominal-hematoma-possible-fracture-penetration-rape-"

Rape.

With their last word Alex dropped to his knees.

Not again, it couldn't be.

Amy had fought so much. She had suffered through so much already, how could life be so cruel?

The word played over in his mind, her screams reverberating each time and a thought crept into his mind.

Was it finally time for her to let go? Was he ultimately facing now, the oxymoron of being cruel to be kind? Was it better for her to stop suffering now, before it got any worse? Could he really do anything to help her now, after everything? Was he naïve to think that he could save her from her past?

He looked over to Amy, and despite the blood and the bruises and the dirt, saw the beauty in her face. And the beauty that told him that all she needed was an opportunity. A chance.

Alex bit his lip. She couldn't die like this. She had hung on for so long already, she deserved a lucky break. And if she got it, Alex would be there for her. Supporting her, building her back up, every step of the way. Whatever it took, he was going to be there for her.

Just only if she could get that chance.

"We're taking her now!"

The voice of the ambulance officer pierced the air as they lifted Amy onto a stretcher, moving quickly towards the van.

Alex ran to catch up to them and grabbed Amy's hand, leaning in close.

"Just keep fighting Amy."

The tears in his throat weakened his voice as he gripped her hand.

"You can do it Amy. Just keep fighting and everything will be okay."

The end of his sentence was punctuated by Alex's hand losing grip on Amy's, as the ambulance officers loaded her into the back.

Alex watched them take Amy from him, close the doors, and take off, every second acutely aware of the distance from Amy widening, until the ambulance was lost from his sight. Standing there, in the wake of their siren and headlights, Amy's blood on his hands, Alex just prayed that he hadn't lost her forever.

A/N: Feedback would be great! Thanks!