A/N: A big thank you to everyone still reading and a massive thank you to Mrs Carmichael, FaeMelody, LittleH12, RachelMasonFan39, hannah5240, fayeftvanity and the lovely guest for the reviews.

Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter seven.

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

Guilty.

An echoing of her words rang through him, and he was unsure how he should respond. This new information would help solve just how she ended up with the injuries, however he wasn't prepared for this. Stuart had purposely antagonized her, and although he may be dead, it infuriated Eddie.

He pondered on how to answer her, but he thought there was something far more important. This was only the beginning of events and he still had a lot to learn. Instead of running away, he wanted to understand, and so that's what he did.

'Did he, you know, hurt you?', he asked quietly. Disgust visible in voice, and yet, it wasn't at her, it was at what Stuart might have done to her.

'No', her reply was quick. She knew exactly what he had meant. She understood that it could have been his intention if they hadn't had crashed but it was something that she just couldn't stomach the thought of.

'How did he crash the car?' Eddie questioned, although still careful not to forcefully intrude and ask too many questions. Desperately he wanted to know everything, but in her own time of course.

'He lost control of the car, he was speeding, we .. the tree, it crashed into a tree. He asked me to get- .. he was bleeding, and he asked me to get help and I just-', she struggled to get her words out through all the tears. She brought her hands to her face to shelter her emotions. She didn't want Eddie to see her as vulnerable as this. Her cries alarmed him and whether it be his nature or the love that he had for her, he felt a strong desire to look after her.

'Rachel, listen to me, this was not your fault', he pleaded for her to listen. Snatching her hand away from her face, he gave it a light squeeze and reassured her. She gave him a warm smile through her tears to thank him and then silence fell again, however it wasn't long before Eddie spoke once more.

'He deserved it'. An awkward atmosphere surrounded them, and although they had both hoped that he would never resurface, they could hardly rejoice at the thought of him lying stone cold dead in a car.

Rachel could see the anger rising throughout Eddie, and it was her turn to reassure him it was okay, and that she'd be okay.

Within an instant a nurse came charging over abruptly, interrupting their moment. She looked between them and addressed that visiting times were over for the day.

'Miss Mason, I'm afraid your husband will have to leave', she told them whilst fiddling with Rachel's notes. On hearing the word 'husband', Rachel looked to Eddie confused and unable to understand why she would address him with that title. He looked a little red in the face and Rachel couldn't help but laugh slightly at his embarrassment. It had shown her however, the extent of how much he really cared for her.

'So what will happen now?', Eddie quizzed trying to change the subject quickly and hoping it would save him from any more embarrassment.

'A member of staff will be with you shortly and you'll be wheeled down to the radiology department and there we'll be able to do even more tests to determine what other injuries you have sustained. It'll also give us insight whether the internal bleeding has fully stopped'. Rachel nodded slowly at the instructions given and took in a deep breath before she felt Eddie squeeze her hand once more.

On leaving the hospital, he stood outside for a while. Since he had been inside, darkness had arrived and the evening was drawing in. He wondered how he'd sleep tonight knowing that she was here. Knowing that she'd be fretting over something that she should have never felt guilt for. Knowing that he could still be alive, and she'd be alone. As far as Eddie knew, they could have moved her or discharged her and she'd be too proud to ask him to fetch her. He worried for her.

After endless hours of laying in the same position, she was glad to be moving elsewhere that morning. ICU had been nothing short of intense, and although she wasn't able to go home, it was one step closer. Countless tests had confirmed that she had in fact suffered three broken ribs on top of all the bruising and internal bleed.

Upon entering the school, he felt as though today would be a challenge. The school was in his hands and he would do a damn good job at making sure that she didn't have to come back to a mess and even more stress.

Climbing the stairs, he made his way to the staff room. He had been running late, and knew that he had a responsibility to tell the staff of Rachel's absence, although he would tell a small white lie to protect her. Pushing open the door, his eyes were drawn to the front page of the Rochdale Observer that Tom had been reading.

MAN KILLED AFTER CAR COLLIDED WITH TREE

Stuart was dead. He didn't need to read the gory details. He was dead. Inside he felt relief sweep over him for Rachel and himself. However, the guilt that she'd feel would now only escalate, and he didn't want that for her. She'd be tainted with the memories of him asking her to save him. He didn't deserve to be saved and she sure as hell didn't deserve to be put in that position. Then it clicked that surely after a short time, the media would name him and the questions would swoop in. He wouldn't want to lie, but he had to. He'd say he had no idea, and carry on with his day-to-day duties. She however, wouldn't only have the staff to deal with, but the harsh reality of the police. They'd already had their trip to see her whilst she laid unconscious. Understandingly they wanted to find out what had happened to her, but it was complicated.

Lifting him from his worries, he could hear Tom acknowledging his silence.

'Eddie, you alright mate?', Tom asked as he picked his mug up from the table closing the newspaper.

'Uh .. yeah sorry Tom. Listen, Rachel .. she's phoned me this morning. She's not well, a bug I think. So it looks like I will be running this place for a while', announced Eddie, placing one hand in his pocket whilst his other clasped onto the rather old and battered-looking briefcase.

'For a while? When I had that nasty bug, she expected me in the next day!', Steph blurted sarcastically as she crossed her arms in anger glaring at Eddie. He gave her a sharp glance and then turned his attention to Grantley who had been muttering something under his breath.

'One rule for one, and one for another ..', Grantley rambled on whilst taking a seat in one of the chairs, and taking a sip from his freshly made cup of coffee. Eddie rolled his eyes and tried to not let them irritate him too much. It was only 8:40 after all, and they still had the day ahead of them.

'Give it a rest Grantley. I've covered my classes so any problems and I'll be in Rachel's office.'

Two o'clock has fast come around and he'd watched nearly every hour. The unknown of what was happening to her was haunting. His pen scribbled across the many forms in front of him, and yet everytime he couldn't help but think it should have been her signature on that line.

The rain slashed at the window, and she was desperate to get out and feel it against her face. She felt a thirst for freedom and being confined to the same four walls was not something she appreciated.

'Miss Mason it's important that you understand that if at anytime you suddenly become unwell that you should come back in. Doctor Williams has requested that you stay, he still feels that you need to recover before you discharge-', it hadn't been long before Rachel interrupted hastily.

'I'd like to go home, please', Rachel objected as she took a sip of water. The iciness of the water represented her tone, and she wanted nothing more than to leave.

'Very well, I need you to sign this as it will be written concent of you discharging yourself against medical consent. Now plenty of rest when you get home, and we have a prescription that we're waiting on, so it should be roughly about twenty minutes.'

When the nurse had left, she continued to pack up her belongings. Cursing as her watch slipped from her hand, she steadily made the movement to try grabbing it from the floor. On trying to move too hastily, she felt a sharp pain shoot through her entire body and she winced desperately hoping that nobody could see her. Unfortunately for her however, somebody had witnessed it.

'I should have known you'd discharge yourself when it's blatantly obvious you're not ready, Rachel'. She jumped as she heard his voice and spun around to find him leaning against the doorway to her private room.

'Eddie, I-', Rachel desperately wanted to argue that she was fit enough and that she could manage. But honestly, she retired to the argument and realised that she most definitely wouldn't win this one. Noticing the exhaustion in her eyes, he wandered over to the bed, and picked up her bag before resting his hand on her back-something she didn't object to-and gave her a sympathetic smile.

'Come on, I'll drive you home.'