Chapter 20 - Resolution

'Danny...' Hannah whispered as a hush fell over the ED. The police officers rushed forward and pushed through the crowd but a cry from Danny stopped them in their tracks. Hannah wanted to rush forward and tackle Liam to the ground to rescue her son, but her feet were rooted to the spot. She didn't know what she could do without hurting Danny. She didn't know if Roxana was by her side or not, she didn't really care, she only had eyes for Danny.

'Liam... let Danny go.' one of the police officers asked in a small voice but Liam shook his head violently.

'He's just a little boy.' the other one tried but Liam erupted into a fit of laughter that Hannah knew was dangerous.

'I want to see Hannah, please. I know she's here.' he yelled and when Hannah spoke she thought her voice was detached from her body. She felt numb and everything seemed to be playing at half speed, she could feel more hot tears cascading down her cheeks but she had no control, not really.

'I'm here.' she said in a small voice but the ED was so quiet that Liam had no problem hearing her. He turned around quickly, yanking Danny as he did so and the child gave a yelp of pain. Hannah looked him over and could see his arm was clearly broken.

'You. You can look over Danny, you're the only one I trust. You fix him and then we're going again. The three of us, as a family.' he said desperately and Hannah racked her brains for a response but she couldn't think of a word to say. There was another scuffle on the other side of the crowd and John appeared by the side of the police officer's with David in his tow. They both stopped abruptly when they saw the situation.

'I think... I think we should let someone else look over him.' Hannah said quietly as the police edged forward. Liam noticed her eyes flicker to the police and whirled violently around again. There was a loud crack and Danny screamed in pain before going limp in his father's arms, he had fainted from the pain as his arm had been snapped even further out of place.

Hannah took a step forward with a cry and held out her own arms. Liam turned half back to her but made sure that he could still see the police officers, he didn't lower the knife but tears poured down his own cheeks as his plan unravelled around him.

'Please, give me my son.' she begged but Liam shook his head.

'I have to have one of you, I need my family.' he said in a small voice and Hannah took a deep breath.

'What happened to the rest of your family, Liam? Why did you come back?' she asked and he looked at her with wide, frightened eyes.

'My parents died, in a car accident, last week.' he explained and it clicked for Hannah at last. 'I read about your wedding in the paper, you were getting married to the wonderful Professor Gaskell. I remember you talking about him when we were students. You idolised him, you wanted to be a neuro surgeon for a while because of him; but you were always too obsessed with the heart. What about my heart, Hannah? My heart broke when I read about it. I'm a changed man, I want you back. I want our family to be perfect, me, you and Danny!' he rambled and Hannah edged slightly closer.

'Have me.' she said before she could stop herself. She heard John scuffling with the police officers a few feet away but she didn't dare move her eyes from Liam. She thought she knew what she was doing. She had a plan anyway, whether it would be effective or not was another matter entirely.

'You?' Liam asked and Hannah nodded, swallowing her fear as she approached him and Danny began to stir and sob.

'Just let me pass Danny over to John so that he can be taken care of. I'll stay with you, and then the three of us can work something out.' she said and Liam's eyes lit up as he lowered the knife slightly.

'We'll be together? As a family?' he asked and Hannah shook her head softly.

'Danny and I have a new family now, I love John and I've married him. You and I can never be together like that again, but that doesn't mean that we can't be part of the same family.' she bluffed and a thought popped into her head.

'Do you remember me telling you about my mother? How she abandoned me and I hated her for it?' she asked and Liam nodded. 'Well I found her, and for a while I was so angry with both her and my dad that I didn't let either of them in. But we're a family now. Family comes in all shapes and sizes Liam, we can make this work, but Danny needs medical help. He's poorly. If you love our son, give him to me.'

'Give me your hand.' Liam said, holding out his free hand for her whilst keeping Danny propped up with the other which was holding the knife. Hannah held out a hand and placed it in his, he transferred his grip to her wrist so she couldn't get away. Even in his inebriated state his grip was firm and a flash of a memory shot across Hannah's mind as she remembered other times he had gripped her wrist this tightly before. She shuddered in response but held out her other hand for Danny.

Liam looked at her for a moment in doubt before pushing Danny violently towards her. She caught him in her free hand before gently guiding him behind her where the police officers managed to grab a hold of him and transfer him to John where David picked him up and carried him through to the cubicles quickly. Hannah glanced back for a moment to check he was safe before her eyes connected with Roxana's.

'Go with him.' she requested and Roxana didn't say a word, just turned on her heel and ran after her grandson. Hannah's eyes met John's for a moment and they shared a small smile. Liam saw the smile and jealousy overtook him again; without warning he yanked on Hannah's arm, twisting it an awkward angle and she cried out in pain, wondering if her own wrist would be broken in his rage.

He twisted her and tried to hold the knife up to her own neck as John rushed forward, one of the police officer's struggling to restrain him whilst the other darted forward to help Hannah who was twisting away from Liam and elbowing him hard in the chest and ribs with all of her might. He loosened his grip and she managed to squirm free before batting his hand with the knife in it, hard. He dropped the knife and both of the police officers rushed forward to restrain him.

Hannah backed away, tripping on the hem of her dress and falling to the floor painfully but she didn't care. She cradled her injured wrist to her chest and watched as they arrested Liam, she let out a breath as she realised it was finally over.

John's arms were around her quickly and he comforted her as she felt dizzy with relief. She felt so exhausted she didn't know how much more she could take, but she allowed John to help her as she requested to be taken to her son.

The newly married pair made their way through to cubicles where Danny was being checked over and Hannah couldn't help herself. She ran forward and embraced him, showering him with kisses which he returned eagerly.

'I was so scared for you, baby.' she sobbed as John enfolded them both in his embrace and held them together like a glue.

'Don't cry, mummy.' Danny said in a small voice and attempted a brave smile which broke both John and Hannah's hearts. 'It's your wedding day, it's bad luck to cry.' he said and Hannah kissed him on the forehead again and held him tightly for another moment before resigning him to the doctor's care. She and John took a step back and clung to one another as they watched Danny be treated, their own injuries forgotten; the only thought that either of them cared about was knowing that their family was safe at last.