The trip to the hospital was a relatively short one, however for Carla and David it seemed like a life time as they sat and watched Nick's lifeless body with wires attached everywhere.

"Come on Nick, wake up... please" Carla whispered quietly as the ambulance pulled into the hospital.

"he'll pull through" David smiled softly at her. "He's strong is our Nick, he's gotta be. He's the sane one"

They climbed out of the ambulance and ran after the paramedics as they rushed Nick through to the emergency trauma department.

"You'll have to wait outside I'm afraid" the young nurse smiled at them.

"Is he going to be okay?" Carla asked.

"He's in the best possible place... do excuse me" The nurse entered Nicks room.

Carla and David watched desperately through the glass window as Nick was hooked up to multiple machines, all of which were vital to Nicks survival.

"DAVID!" Kylie shouted pushing Lilly's pram down the corridor, followed by Gail, Sarah, Bethany, and Audrey and a terrified looking Max.

"What have they said?" Sarah butted in wrapping her arms around her brother.

"We've got to wait outside... its bad" David whispered.

"Is uncle Nick going to die?"

David bent down to look Max in the eye. "I don't know" he chocked back the tears as he wiped Max's. "But Nicks strong, hopefully he'll pull through"

Max nodded.

"Hey, Max, why don't we go find a vending machine, I'll buy you some chocolate... we'll take Lilly." Bethany said holding out her hand.

"Thanks, Bethany" kylie smiled handing her the pram.

Carla carried on crying looking through the window.

"Carla, darling" Michelle said softly as her and Aiden joined the group. "Come here" she wrapped her arms around her the fragile woman.

"Is there any news? Aiden asked the Platt's.

They shook their head.

"Its bad." Sarah whispered.

"but what about the brain damage Nick already has?" Audrey asked.

No one replied.

No one knew what to say.

"David will you sit down!" Sarah snapped as her brother carried on pacing the small corridor.

"I'm going for coffee, any one want some?" Gail offered.

"I'll help you" Sarah smiled.

"Me too" Audrey stood up.

"David, kylie? coffee?" Gail repeated.

they both nodded.

"Carla?" Sarah offered gently.

she shook her head.

"I'll come for some, stretch my legs, will you be okay, Carla?" Michelle asked.

she ignored her.

"coffee Aiden?"

"please"

the group walked off.

"I cant do with all this waiting..." David moaned leaning against the wall.

"AND YOU THINK I CAN?" Carla snapped.

everyone looked at her.

"I'm sorry, David" Carla began to cry again and Aiden wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into his chest.

"Excuse me, are you relatives of Mr Tilsley?"

They all stood up and surrounded the doctor, a middle aged man.

"As you know, Nick went for a MRI and CT scan. I'm afraid the results aren't good."

"What's wrong with him?" David asked.

"Nick has got multiple broken bones, his leg is fractured in 3 places, his left shoulder has shattered and his knee cap is out of place. However, after Nick's last accident he was left with a blood clot on the brain. It has returned, same place, but larger. Nick needs an operation, urgently, if he is to survive."

Carla burst out crying.

"I understand it's a shock."

"what about his brain damage?" Aiden asked.

"we wont know the extent of that until he wakes up, that is, if he wakes up. now if you'll excuse me, I need to go prep for theatre."

"thanks, doctor" David whispered.

"he's not going to make it, is he?" Carla cried. "I can't do it without him Aiden, please, don't let nick die"

she collapsed to the floor in a state of hysteric with Aiden wrapping himself around her protectively, rocking her side to side, trying to soothe her best he could.

"Nick" she whimpered, repeating his name over and over again. "I need him. Aiden, please!"

"Carla sshhh, come on, sweetie" he buried his head in her hair, trying to stop the tears falling, "We need to be strong for him, Carla"

"Nicky" she whispered into Aiden's shirt.

Kylie and David stood watching, both crying.

"She's right, he won't survive, not this time"

He couldn't stop the thoughts in his head. "I need air" David gulped before running off down the corridor to find the nearest exit, swiftly followed by Kylie.