Well nan is out of her coma so things are improving

Chapter 12

While he was gone the nurse came in and changed all of Lara's dressings. He was waiting outside as she left. He knocked awaiting her answer before entering holding a pizza. Lara grinned

"I love you so much" She said opening the box. It was her favourite flavour barbeque chicken he also handed her a coke digging into his spicy meatball pizza.

"Sorry no beer but I figured the staff wouldn't approve." He remarked, Lara nodded, in the afternoon, Chase and Jordan visited, Vince and Michelle brought pasta for tea, Heidi and Jordan taking the evening shift and bringing clothes. This was the pattern for the next 9 days each of the rescue guys taking it in turn to sit with Lara and keep her company bringing in food for her.

Whilst in hospital it gave her chance to do the compulsory 3 visits from the psychologist who was happy Lara was making progress.

Lara was happy her wounds had healed to the extent she had begun physio with arm crutches. He was doing well and would be discharged 10 days after being admitted. So far Michelle and Vince had worked their magic with the press doing a few interviews with Lara's permission pushing rescue's agenda and keeping the attention off her. But there was rising pressure to get an interview with the victim herself. Michelle working as Lara's advocate had been refusing all but this had changed as Lara realised she could earn $100,000 from just 1 interview. She wasn't going to keep any of the money, knowing it would improve rescue services and she'd be able to give some to her charities she agreed as long as Michelle and Dean could sit with her. It was agreed so on the day of discharge Lara was wheeled out of the hospital via a service exit to the TV studio. She read through the list of questions they had prepared it was agreed they would only ask the questions on this list.

Lara had make up done already wearing her rescue uniform. She felt stronger wearing it and Michelle agreed it was publicity for them. The studio was just happy it let the cameras see the bruises on the throat and the bandages going up the arms.

She sat on a sofa opposite the host Maria a petite brunette who immediately put Lara at ease. The reason Michelle had choose this show was due to the sensitive nature they'd displayed with similar cases.

"Good morning viewers. I'm here with Lara Knight a true survivor she has agreed to give us her story exclusively. Good morning Lara" she greeted

"Good morning" Lara said finding her voice and breathing through the nerves. She met Dean's eye he was standing behind the camera giving her the strength she needed.

"You work with rescue special operations that sounds like a dangerous and exciting job?"

"It's both, there is nothing better than the feeling you get after rescuing someone and I love climbing and abseiling. I'm lucky my job entails the things I love while helping people, and I work with such a great team of people there my best friends and my family" Lara said passionately.

"Ok now about 4 weeks ago you rescued a Mark Summers tell us about it?"

"It was a really simple rescue he was stuck part way down the cliff. We set up the ropes I abseiled down put a harness onto him and we got hoisted up"

"Wow sounds dramatic"

"It was a textbook rescue, sometimes we get lucky" Lara said. Maria carefully guided her through all the events, Lara explaining it all calmly, this was the 3rd time she had retold it, the police, the psychologist and now the press, it was becoming easier as she became more detached each time it was retold.

"And cut" the producer called. He came over

"That was great you did really well" he encouraged.

"Thank you" Lara said hugging Dean the Michelle.

They drove out of the studio, it was agreed Lara would stay with Dean, as she couldn't cope living by herself and it would hopefully be harder for the press to find her.

It was a week later when Lara hobbled out of the rescue truck taking the stairs one by one she was on strict light duty. While it sucked to be stuck inside while everyone else went on rescues at least she was back at work. Since she had done the interview press interest had dropped, the latest big story being Justin Bieber was dating some Australian girl. Lara found she couldn't care she was just glad the attention wasn't on her.

The sessions with the psychologist were going really well. Lara knew she would never forget what had happened but slowly she was moving on. Each day she got better she lived she move on slightly from the pain. That's not to say she didn't have nightmares but Dean was there every step of the way guiding her waking her and distracting her as she needed. There relationship was going well living together and working together worked perfectly as they found after only a few disputes they worked seemingly together. Lara was now dreading the time that she would have to move out she hadn't brought it up yet but unless Dean wanted her to stay soon she'd be well enough to leave.

6 weeks after the operation the cast came off. The first thing Lara did was to wash it. It was amazing how much junk could get down a cast in such a short time. The after shaving a liberally amount of moisturiser was applied. She hated how pale, and thin it looked she knew she would have to work out lots to get it back to being normal. She went to physio after walking with crutches. It felt strange to walk more normally. She could actually move her ankle and although it was stiff and slightly painful to move Lara was more than happy to bare it. The physio gave her exercises and would review her weekly. Lara was determined to exceed expectations it wouldn't be 2 more months off active duty she'd go mad by that time doing desk duty!

She hobbled outside making sure she put the right amount of weight on her foot doing it exactly like the physio had shown her it was slow going. Outside she noticed the rescue truck she sped up grinning as Dean and Heidi jumped out.

"Wow you're walking" Heidi exclaimed

"Yes soon I'll be back on rescue" Lara declared stubbornly. Missing the look Heidi and Dean exchanged they'd were worried she'd push herself and promised each other to watch her to make sure she didn't.

"Come on we better get back before Michelle throws a fit" Dean joked knowing Michelle wouldn't as bosses went she was pretty understanding.

He began driving they chatted, Lara sitting in the back seat already doing her exercises flexing and relaxing her foot.

Suddenly Dean braked as a car ran the lights, it skidded across the junction crashing into a busy café. Immediately he pulled over Heidi radioing base for back up

"Lara stay here" Dean ordered, grabbing the medical kit out of the back of the truck and running to the car driver. Heidi was directing the walking wounded to one area and spectators to another. Lara ignored him hobbling out. She could be useful, she knew she could.