Thank you for the reviews, finally started trying to finish this again. Hope people still want to read.

Sometimes he wondered if drinking so much at lunch meant that the rest of the day was wasted. Mostly he decided he did not care especially on his day off and when his business partner would always kick his arse if he got too lazy.

Besides being a bit drunk eased his boredom a little, Maria had insisted they head over to the pub so she could meet Fizz on the factory employees lunch break. He had been enjoying himself watching a cheesy action film marathon all morning but his wife had moaned about them doing more things together. Sometimes it felt like she was overcompensating and he did not like to think who she was trying to prove something to.

So he was sandwiched between Janice and Kelly quietly uncomfortable to be seen with the workforce and ever so slightly scared of wondering hands while his wife gossiped away with her best friend. He really was bored but saw an opportunity to slip away as Lloyd and Steve walked over to the other end of the bar.

"Scuse me Jan, gotta go meet the boys." He announced squeezing past people he really did not want to be touching too much. He had put up with listening to their often bizarre conversations at work.

Behind him Kelly made some kind of comment and Janice cackled in response. Maria glanced at him and frowned before turning back to Fizz. He was sure he would hear what he had done wrong when they were alone. His dad had warned him marriage was hard work, it's just that he did not expect the work to be so unfulfilling.

He needed another drink and to decide on what takeaway to have for dinner.

It was impossible to ignore Sally as she entered the pub in her own flustered tornado. A lunchbox clutched tightly in her hands and yet too involved in what had her so worked up to remember she would not normally be caught dead with something so common in front of the others.

"I should have known you were all lurking in here." Sally announced slightly breathless.

"Weren't you meant to be joining us as well Webster? Or is the local boozer too good for you know?" Janice questioned lazily clearly unimpressed by Sally's entrance. Beside her Kelly rolled her eyes and Fizz murmured her own agreement.

"Well there is no time for that there has been an accident at the factory…"

Liam stopped in the middle of the pub in order to hear the commotion. His heart beat a little quicker in his chest at the mention of the factory. Surely they had already had more than their fair share of bad luck in that place.

"What do you mean an accident at the factory? You are all bloody here." He snapped a little, feeling left out when this was his business they were talking about, all the while painfully aware of who was not present.

Sean chose to exit the toilets just in time to hear Liam's words. His gasp was almost comical and Liam could not help even with his growing irritation doing a double take at just how loud the other mans jumper was.

"Hayley was still finishing up when we left…" Sean supplied clearly imagining all sorts in his head.

"No she left just after us to go help Roy." Fizz answered before Sean could get too caught up in his own hysteria.

"Then that leaves Carla. Unless there is a break in. Are we having a break in?"

"Don't be silly Sean." Sally snapped before Liam could because he froze for a moment at the mention of his business partner's name. He did not notice the look his wife sent him from her seat as he became too quiet.

"For god sakes Sal don't be such a tease!" Janice all but growled at the other woman.

"Bet that's what Kevin says all the time." Kelly stage whispered just loud enough that everyone heard. Sean, Fizz and Maria all cringed and tried to hide their laughter while Janice cackled her best witch impression.

Sally shot them all her best icy glare and opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by Liam.

"Can we get to the point today because I really would like to know what's the problem with MY factory. Or do I have to go see for my self?" He all but shouted getting the attention of all his staff as well as most of the others currently in the pub.

No one was really used to Liam being the intimidating boss. When it came to the good cop bad cop routine he was so often good cop that when he did raise his voice he wasn't taken seriously. This time however there was something in Liam's tone that made all the workers jump a little.

"Liam," Maria chastised "I'm sure its nothing too bad. Sally would have said already if it was burning to the ground." She immediately felt uncomfortable as soon as she started speaking. The inner workings of the factory was not something she knew much about and she hated how she felt like an outsider when surrounded by her friends and her husband.

"The factory is on fire!" Sean exclaimed and Liam glared at him.

"Oh no it's not to do with the factory as such. Unless we are counting the main entrance, those steps have always been an accident waiting to happen. I used to warn Mr Baldwin but do you think…"

"Sally!" Liam interrupted quickly getting more and more agitated. So much for a relaxing day off.

"Sorry Mr Connor." Sally looked suitably ashamed suddenly remembering how she planned to be as discreet as possible. She had been so caught up in the drama that a serious situation had became gossip and that would not do if she was going to use the opportunity to show she was fit for management.

Trouble was now she had everyone more than curious to what had taken place so it did not matter if she pulled Liam aside and told him confidentially the others would just head straight over to the factory and then she would be in more trouble with Carla.

"It's just that Miss Connor had a bit of an accident. According to Kevin she collapsed while leaving and took a nasty fall down those concrete stairs." Sally had turned and addressed Liam directly as she lowered her voice but it did not stop the others overhearing.

Liam was unable to hear his staff reacting as for a moment all he heard was his blood as his heart started to quicken and he was overcome with a sickening sense of urgency.

"Carla collapsed?" He asked in disbelief. Carla was often so overbearing and larger than life that she seemed indestructible. "Is she okay? Is she still there?" He demanded grabbing Sally by the elbow so she focused on him and ignored the others.

"Well she seems coherent enough to make her usual demands while still lying on the ground but I really do think she should let us call an ambulance." Sally answered, a little uncomfortable with the level of intensity from her boss.

"And you just listened to her!" Liam rolled his eyes. Any reassurance that Carla was still being herself was lost in the disbelief that anyone would actually listen to her pig headed stubbornness at a time like this.

He ignored yet another derogatory comment from Kelly and his wife trying to get his attention. Carla had been a bit strange all week. Nothing he thought anyone else would notice, Tony certainly didn't, but he had noticed something different in her posture, how she seemed to alternate between agitated and sad. If she was passing out then there was something clearly wrong with her and it angered him that she had not called him into cover for her and could have prevented this happening. Why had she ordered him to take a day off anyway?

"But don't you worry Mr Connor I have everything under control. You just enjoy your day off. Janice can put her first aid skills to use and patch up Miss Connor and if it's needed Kevin can take her to hospital and I can run the factory for the rest of the day." Sally's chin rose as she tried to take control of the situation and used it to her best advantage. She did not like why Liam seemed so upset with her when she had not done anything wrong.

Liam hated feeling pushed out, after the amount of tragedy his family had shared he was overly protective. He would not be able to rest till he was sure Carla was fine, after all she would and had done the same for him.

"No you lot stay here and finish your break." He ordered shaking off his surprise and worry enough that he could take control of the situation. It was his job, now especially because his brother was not there to do it. He would never feel comfortable relying on Janice's medical skills as much as he knew Carla would despise any of their staff being around her while she was vulnerable, especially someone like Janice who would not hesitate to use it against her.

"It's my factory my responsibility. I will drag that stubborn cow to the hospital if I have to and Hayley is the supervisor and will be in charge for the rest of the day." He finished leaving no room for argument. Already he was distracted silently asking himself why he was still in the pub talking to the rabble when Carla needed him.

"Mr Connor there is really no need I'm perfectly capab…"

"Liam, she's right babe. Between her and Hayley the factory is in capable hands and Carla is not your responsibility. Let's just call Tony and go back home." Maria's whine interrupted Sally before she could launch into a whole speech like a child delivering a book report. Besides her Fizz nodded her agreement automatically backing up her best friend.

Liam frowned, "Carla's family." He stated simply in naïve shock that anyone would not think his place was by the woman he shared so much history with. Wasn't that enough for her? The more he dwelled on it the more his blood boiled, Maria knew that Tony was away for a few days and that Carla did not have anyone else. And even if Tony was still around Liam would never call the man he just about tolerated when he could go to Carla himself.

"Liam please I need you." Maria tried to grab his hand but he pulled away like her touch burnt.

He had no words to argue with her, not with everyone watching, not when was so angry and when he was desperate to be somewhere else.

"Take another half hour and then I want you all back to work and the order finished by the end of the day." He ordered already turning to leave.

"But Liam."

It was too late he was already off jogging towards the factory and unable to hear Maria.

"Liam!"