Thankyou for your lovely reviews! It's all a bit rubbish right now so i thought i would update for you all! 3 keep smiling i know how hard it is right now xxx

Chapter 17

"Just hold still for me Rachel" the radiographer said whilst doing a scan of her abdomen two weeks later. Rachel had been sent for an ultrasound to get some images of where the pain was, the pain had been getting worse, but Rachel being Rachel kept it to herself.

Rachel winced in pain as the scanner was pushed in harder.

"Sorry" the radiographer said "ive got some images though" he smiled wiping the scanner with a cloth and then giving Rachel some paper to clean the gel off.

Rachel sat up doing her work trousers up properly "did you see anything?"

"I'm not allowed to say I'm sorry, a doctor will call you, as you're an emergency your scans will get viewed today, so expect a phone call"

"Right" Rachel said standing, she said her thankyous and left the hospital heading back towards the school. As Rachel drove safely, thoughts rushed through her head. The thought of returning to her emails filled her with anger, for once Rachel wanted to go home and have a hot bath and some alone time, she sighed deeply as she pulled up at the school. As she parked and turned the engine off she sighed once more and stayed seated in the car just taking a few breaths.

Kim had spotted her pull up just after finishing lunchtime duty now all the kids were in class. She walked over to her and knocked the window gently.

Rachel jumped out of her skin not noticing and then turned round and began the process of exiting the vehicle.

"You okay?"

"I don't want to talk about it"

"Rach"

Rachel ignored her as she got her bag out the boot and started walking towards the school locking up the car as she went.

"Rach stop!" Kim said running after her and holding her arm. Rachel stopped and looked at her. "Pastoral care isn't just for the kids, somethings happened and I'm here for you"

"I know, drop the role I just want my best friend" Rachel sighed.

"Cuppa? Ive got Jaffa cakes?" Kim smiled

Rachel smiled weekly and nodded walking in with her. As they past maths on the way to Kim's office, Rachel noted to text Eddie letting him know she was back. As they reached the office, Kim unlocked the door and let her in. Rachel made herself at home very quickly sitting on the sofa, taking her shoes off and bringing her legs up to her.

Silence fell between them as all that could be heard was a kettle boiling. Rachel had texted Eddie to let him know it went okay and she sat with her head in her hand of the arm lying on the arm of the sofa, her eyes closed trying to deal with the pain that was in her stomach suddenly.

"You okay?" Kim asked.

"I feel a bit sick, I'll be fine" Rachel said.

"Hmm I've heard that before" Kim said making two drinks and bringing them over sitting opposite her. "Where's all this come from"

Rachel sighed looking at her "I wasn't on maternity with Charlotte, well I was but I was seriously ill in hospital, had to have major surgery and everything"

"You didn't say?" Kim asked confused.

"Ive never had too, it flares up occasionally makes me violently sick and in a lot of pain for a few days and then goes, recently it's a constant flare up and that's why I had a scan"

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know"

"It's not the kind of thing I share to be honest Kim, it's not you" she said sipping her warm brew taking every single taste from it. She out the mug back down after her sip. "I was asked to go for a scan in January, I cancelled it, never rebooked"

"It's nearly Christmas?" Kim asked

"I know, Liv made me book it"

"Good I'm glad she did"

"This is why I don't tell people" Rachel sighed.

"Rachel were worried, I'm worried, you bury yourself in so much work, you think about everyone else and it's about time you took time for yourself"

"With five kids? Not a chance"

Kim gulped a little knowing the conversation she had with Liv and Dexter last week, she knew now was not the right time to bring it up. She was interrupted by her thoughts with Rachel's phone going off.

"It's the hospital" Rachel said looking at the screen

"Well answer it then?"

Rachel sighed and answered the phone. Kim waited listening to Rachel's half of the conversation. After a few minutes the conversation was over and Rachel threw her phone onto the sofa as she sat up burying her head in her hands her arms leaning on her legs.

"Rach?" Kim asked "what did they say?"

"I can't do this" Rachel said lifting her head as her chin rested on her knuckles.

"Can't do what"

"This, us, we, talking" Rachel sighed sitting back.

"Why?"

"Because even though we're best friends your still my employee I'm still your boss, and it's not right for you to see me like this"

"Oh stop been stupid Rachel, you know I'm always here for you I don't care about our job roles"

Rachel sighed putting her shoes on and standing up.

"Just wait" Kim said standing. "Tell me, we've got this together"

"I need surgery, I don't have time for surgery" Rachel sighed and looked at her

"Surgery is pretty serious Rachel, I'm sure you do have time for it"

Rachel sighed sitting back on the sofa "what if something goes wrong? What if the kids need me? What if I can't do things I used to do?"

"I'm hearing a lot of what ifs" Kim said sitting opposite her again. "I'll support you as will everyone else"

"Ive got to tell Eddie"

"And the kids…it will be okay"

Rachel nodded. A silence fell between them once more, neither one knowing what to say next. "Kim" Rachel asked breaking the silence. "I'm going home, I can't face work, I just want a hot bath and lie on the sofa if I'm honest"

"And I think the LA will understand"

"I'm not telling them I'll tell them I'm not well that's all"

Kim nodded "alright but you will have to tell them eventually too"

"I know" rachel said as she left the office heading home.

Please Review