A/N: I've been really working on this chapter, and I'm still not 100% happy but here goes! I'm not a doctor, I do work in a hospital but that's as far as it stretches. I worry that the terminology isn't correct and that it hasn't done the scene justice. Anyway, thank you to Mrs Carmichael, hannah5240, RachelMasonFan39, FaeMelody, fayeftvanity, Lynny, LittleH12 and the two lovely guests for the reviews!

Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter six.

Controlling someone is having the ability to influence and dominate a vulnerable human being.

Powerless.

'Female. Possibly mid 30's. Found unconscious in a ditch. We've stabilised her breathing for now. Low blood pressure, 68/42. Fatal internal bleed suspected.'

A light welcomes me as I am lifted from this deep dark blackening hole. I can feel a presence rising my soul to see the end. I am yet unknown to see what the end is like, maybe it's a beautiful, peaceful world that beckons me? I wonder if I'll feel free? I wonder if it will be good to me? I wonder if Eddie will join me one day?

Grey clouds loomed, and the rain threatened to break through. Five million questions swarmed him. He took a moment to wonder how her keys ended up on the floor, but it didn't take long before his gut told him it wouldn't be a positive outcome. He knew he had to act fast if there was any hope in finding her. Reaching inside his pocket, he found his phone. Whether it was a coincidence or a sign, an unknown number flashed across his screen, and he pressed accept whilst waiting in anticipation.

'Mr Lawson. I'm sorry to disturb you however as you're listed as the next of kin, I have some news. I need you to come down to The Royal Oldham Hospital. It's Rachel Mason, there's been an emergency.'

Eyes open, sweaty palms and his heart raced. They'd found her. They'd found Rachel. An usual route that he was driving and yet he found it quicker than he thought he would. The true extent of her injuries hadn't yet been disclosed, and he found himself guessing the whole journey.

The uncertainty of her life caused him distress and panic, and he regretted everytime he walked away from her. Just maybe, he could have saved her.

In all of two minutes, he'd found a parking space, bought an overpriced carpark ticket and found the main reception. On running to the desk, he watched as the receptionist chatted away on the phone, and so he wasted no time. Clearing his throat and glaring at her, he made his presence known.

'I'm here to see Rachel, Rachel Mason', he demanded. Eddie had never normally been this rude, however just this once, he would do anything to find her, quickly. Ending her call, she glared back at him.

'And you are?', she questioned, folding her arms. She watched as he began to sweat at her question.

'Eddie L- ... I'm her husband', he lied. It had loomed on him that as part of the confidentiality law that she might refuse him. Although he had been listed as her next of kin, he didn't want to waste anymore time trying to convince her. He was unsure if she'd believe him, but she didn't question anymore. Spending a few moments tapping away at her keyboard, she found the patient in question and had a location.

'She's in ICU. Its Ward T1 and it's on the second floor.'

Rushing to the elevator, he kept repeating her words over and over 'Ward T1, Second Floor'. His fingertip smashed against the button furiously before he decided that it was taking too long. Making an immediate decision, he raced for the stairs.

Ward T1, Second Floor.
Ward T1, Second Floor.
Ward T1, Second Floor.

Pushing open the double doors, his eyes scanned for the signs. The world raced around him and silence fell. He identified the sign pointing to the ward he needed. Stumbling across a nurse who was just about to enter, he quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her entrance.

'Hi, I'm here to see Rachel Mason, I'm her husband', he blurted. His body trembling with anticipation wondering if she'd let him in. The nurse however nodded and pulled him to one side acknowledging his current state.

'We'd like her to have as much rest as possible. One of our doctors decided to undergo emergency surgery, and so there was no CT Scan. She had internal bleeding and so that's why she was found unconscious. Her blood pressure was extremely low and upon waking briefly, she woke in a confused state.', the nurse stopped for a few seconds. Eddie had difficulty taking in this new information, and he became pale and confused. Still, she had to continue.

'The internal bleeding seems to be the consequence of blunt force trauma. We're still yet waiting on other test results. Normally something like this would be from an accident to-', she didn't have the chance to finish before he interrupted.

'Accident?', he questioned in disbelief.

'Possibly a car accident.'

'A car accident? But ...?', it was at this moment that absolutely nothing made sense and the severity of her injuries were looming over him. He suddenly realised that the state he might find her in would be far worse than he initially thought. She studied him for a few moments before bringing him from his thoughts.

'Can you please ensure that you use the hand sanitizer provided before coming in?'.

He almost broke down at the scene unfolded to him. She was there. The colour stripped from her face, the many cuts that pierced her body, the bruises that shadowed her. She had become unrecognisable.

He swallowed lightly before making his way to the chair next to her bed. On stepping closer, he found the pain unbearable and felt a small tear stain his cheek. His hand clasped hers, and he brought it to his lips before gently kissing it. She wasn't his, but that didn't matter. He had a duty to look after her. Holding her hand, he brought his other to her face before running his thumb slightly along her cheek.

'I'm sorry, Rach.'

Disinfectant. Ticking from a clock. Four white clinical looking walls. Repetitive sounds from the many machines. She'd woke in the Royal Oldham Hospital. A wave of nausea crept up on her and it was a reminder that this was far from over. Her body ached, and it alerted her how much damage she had done to herself. She felt a presence to the side of her, and in a panic, she jumped. Upon realising just who the visitor was, her heart rate regulated. He was resting peacefully in the chair, and she took a few seconds to admire him before she realised he must have known. She watched as his eyes flickered, and on waking he quickly acknowledged that she was awake, finally.

'Rachel, you're awake!', he gasped.

'Eddie?', her voice sounded croaky, and he knew that the drugs would cause terrible side effects.

'It's okay', he consoled before grabbing her hand reassuring her that everything was okay. Rachel however, decided that she wanted to test the full extent of her injuries. On trying to pull her body from the bed, Eddie acted quickly.

'Rachel stop, lie down', he demanded sternly. Admitting defeat, she allowed her body to retreat back to the confines of her bed. Wincing at the pain her movement caused, she hoped Eddie hadn't caught her and knew if she had any hope of leaving here then she had to pretend she was okay.

Silence fell upon them for a short while and the underlying issue was taking its toll on Eddie. He didn't want to upset her further or pester her for answers she wasn't ready to answer, but this was important. Finding the silence too much, he tested the waters.

'How did you end up in his car?', the question hit her, and she suddenly knew that he wanted answers.

'He .. he grabbed me, my bag, I- ... he was behind me, I was putting things in my car. I knew he was behind me, Eddie', there was fear to her tone. He knew something like this wouldn't just go away, and that the consequences would be huge. He struggled to use his words, and so she continued.

'Eddie, there's something I need to tell you ..', before she could say anymore, he interrupted her realising that this was about to get more complex.

'What is it?', he quizzed.

'There was a crash ..', she began. Her eyes shadowing with fear once again. On hearing her words, he moved his body closer to hers understanding that she wanted to keep it between them. Unsure whether she wanted to keep eye contact, she looked down before finally telling him the truth. A truth that would hard for him to digest, or so she thought anyway.

'I .. I left him to die .. in the car, I left him to die.'