A/N: I do apologise for my tardiness and I would explain but then I'd have to kill you. So, please, accept my apology. Anyway, the next chapter just needs to be typed so I'll get that up over the weekend!

Usually, if baby wanted a restless night Sheelagh had to go along for the ride. However, this evening (or rather, morning) she had the distinct impression that she was prevented her son from relaxing.

Sam had long since settled into a peaceful sleep yet Sheelagh remained too alert for her own good, staring at the ceiling and straining her ears for any noise from down the hall. Though none came it didn't quell her fears, the thought that she should've acted right away was eating at her- she wouldn't forgive herself if Abi did anything rash.

Under the realisation that she needed the toilet once again, she rose, glancing back to check Samantha was still asleep. That was foolish since her girlfriend could sleep through an earthquake or the more everyday occurrence of Belinda screaming.

She couldn't resist opening Abigail's door, half-petrified at what she might find. Both occupants were asleep though and, knowing she could hardly creep further into the room in her condition, Sheelagh was forced to concede defeat. However, she decided to renew her efforts to talk to Abi the next day- it certainly had to be done.

If there was one thing Sam disliked about her job it was the idiotic witnesses who lost their bottle two weeks before a court date and decided that, naturally, the best place for a hardened criminal was on a housing estate where he could terrorise families. Take this one, for example. Bill Cresswall, witness to a violent assault on the Jasmine Allen, swore blind he wanted to see the 'scum put away'. After eight long months waiting for trial he had phoned the station saying he'd got it all wrong and Kurt Wilson was wholly innocent. On the pretext of needing an official record of his statement withdrawal, Sam and Ramani were hoping to salvage the case they'd spent weeks constructing the previous year.

Sat in the car, waiting for Mr Cresswall to return home, the talk turned to Sheelagh. Sam was more than happy to discuss the subject since Ramani had played her part in keeping them together. 'She's pretty optimistic about the birth actually. I suppose you get used to it but… Well, I couldn't go through it again.'

'And the secret being out, so to speak?' Ramani probed with a friendly smile. 'How is she about that?'

'Fine, I think. That's what she says anyway.'

'Unconvinced?'

'Maybe,' confessed Sam. 'She did seem a bit off this morning but I got the feeling it was more about all this time alone than anything else. I know it's driving her mad.'

Ramani nodded in agreement. 'She's hardly the type to lock herself away voluntarily. Does she have many visitors?'

'Well, the kids,' Sam shrugged. 'Siobhan and Declan mostly, Connor comes but he ignores the bump.' On her colleague's questioning look, she added, 'It isn't me and Sheelagh he has an issue with, more her having another baby- he blames the last one for splitting up his parent's marriage.'

'That must be tough on her,' commented Ramani.

'She's working on winning him round, she'll manage it. But apart from them, she spends most of the time alone. Abi's always off somewhere and I… Well, you know where I am.'

'You know, I could always pop in, catch her up on the gossip.'

'I don't want you to put yourself out.'

'Don't be ridiculous,' Ramani answered. 'I'd love to see her.'

Sam didn't have an immediate chance to express her gratitude as the middle-aged Mr Cresswall had just come round the corner. Glancing to her colleague, she asked, 'Ready?'

Ramani simply nodded.

Belinda was asleep. Having checked on that, Sheelagh proceeded to the kitchen, finding her stepdaughter of sorts toasting baps under the grill. 'What you making?'

Abi briefly turned from the cooker. 'Just a cheese sandwich.'

'Toasted?'

'Why not? It's the only hot food I'm gonna get today.'

Taking advantage of the bitterness in her voice, Sheelagh questioned, 'Is everything alright, Abi? I've been noticing a few things lately.'

The young woman seemed immediately on her guard, twisting her body in an uncomfortable fashion. 'What do you mean?'

'Well,' Sheelagh said, taking a seat at the table. 'You're not entirely happy, you'll admit that at least.'

'I'm a single mum, what do you expect?'

'Using more of your mother's avoidance techniques, I see.'

'Sheelagh, what are you getting at?'

Deciding to try and level with the teenager, she answered, 'I know about the self-harm, Abi.'

For a few moments, the young blonde stared then she turned back to the grill to flip the baps. 'I don't know what you mean.'

'I've seen it. Now, I'm not jud…'

'Of course not! Abi burst out angrily. 'Why the hell would you judge?'

Sheelagh winced at the tone. 'Abi, please, I just want to help.'

'Then keep out of it.'

'You know I can't do that.'

'Because you're annoyingly nosy and you have to poke into everything that's nothing to do with you?'

'No. Because I care.'

Shaking her head but calming a little, Abi moved to the doorway. 'Can you just leave me alone?'

'I've got a friend who would be happy to talk to you.'

'No!'

In a way highly reminiscent of her mother, Abi stormed out of the kitchen. Sheelagh was half-way out of the door herself when the scent of crisping bread reached her nostrils. With reluctance, she went to the grill.

'Mr Cresswall, you do understand the seriousness of the offence don't you?'

Irritatingly, he refused to meet her eye. 'I've already said, I'm not discussing this.'

Glancing at Ramani, Sam pressed on. 'You do remember Mrs Gossard's daughter witnessed the attack on her mother, yes?'

When he declined to answer, Ramani took the baton. 'That's quite an ordeal for a six year-old. Your evidence would ensure Kurt Wilson went to prison for a very long time, surely that's worth the little bit of effort on your part.'

Bill Cresswall snorted. 'A bit of… Do you know what Wilson would do to me?'

It was starting to make more sense, Sam thought grimly. 'He's threatened you, hasn't he?'

'Not himself, obviously. Here,' he said, reluctantly reaching into a cabinet next to the sofa. 'These came last week.'

Sam took the papers, briefly registering the looped handwriting and abuse before she passed them on. 'This makes him more dangerous, I'm sure you realise that.'

'I know, I know.'

Ten minutes later the pair left the terraced house, Sam feeling triumphant at their success. It might only be one criminal in the grand scheme of things but it was definitely something. Before she could bask in their shared glory her mobile rang. Manson. 'Guv?'

'Samantha, need you back here. There's a suspect for a stabbing, Mark Griffiths, won't talk to anyone but you.'

She sighed. 'I was heading home, Guv.'

'He stabbed a doctor.'

'Alright, I'm on my way.' Ending the call, she roller her eyes. 'So much for getting home.'

'Problems?' Ramani questioned sympathetically.

'Oh, no more than usual. I suppose I'd better call Sheelagh.'

'I've got a better idea. Drop me off on the way back to the station, she gets the company and I don't have to see the DI. Sounds like a plan.'

'Abi, sweetheart, let me in. I just want to talk.'

'Go away!'

Trying the bedroom handle again she felt something pressed against it, most likely Belinda's cot which explained the screaming drowning out Sheelagh's constant pleas. So pressing against the door from this side wasn't an option, especially considering her condition. 'Abi!'

When there was no further answer from the room the fear bubbling in her throat started to rise. Forgetting all thoughts of scaring Belinda she started pounding on the door.

That yielded no results and finally thinking of Sam she dashed down the stairs only to collide with Ramani coming through the door. 'Sheelagh, what is it?'

'Abi, I think she's… She's been hurting herself and she's locked the door.'

'It's alright, I'm here. Where is she?'

'Her bedroom. She's got Belinda in there.'

'Come on.' Taking the lead, Ramani rushed up the stairs, stopping at the one closed door. 'Abi? It's Ramani de Costa from Sun Hill, can I come in?'

As Sheelagh reached her, the detective shook her head at the silence from Abigail and pressed her shoulder hard against the door. It gave within ten seconds giving a clear view of the bed… and the blood seeping down it.