Thanks again for the reviews and alerts and favourties and general being nice-ness. Is that a word? It should be a word. :D

Anywho, sorry about the ramblings. Enjoy!

Carla never thought that she would be staring at the same fish tank. In the same medical center. Because of what that man did to her. Carla could hear voices all around her but she wasn't really taking anything in, just staring at the fish in the tank, trying to concentrate on the fish because if she didn't her thoughts would snap back to what had happened earlier in the day.

'...Carla? Carla? Are you listening?' Michelle tried to make her friend listen but got no response. When she placed a hand on Carla's arm, the other woman flinched before looking at the people in the room properly for the first time.

'Sorry? What were you saying?'

A uniform policewoman stepped foward slightly.

'If you want we can take your statement now, or we can call you tomorrow and arrange for you to go to the station.'

'I'll do it now.'

..

'I want to see mummy, why can't I see her.' Lottie asked Simon and Amy as the teenagers tried to think of a way to explain what had happened. Lottie was sitting on Amy's lap in the living room.

'Because she is poorly Lottie...like...remember when I broke my leg... so she had to be taken to the hospital.' Simon said, thinking back to the previous winter when he had skidded on some ice on the way to school.

'So why can't I go see her at the hop...hopi...hopital.' Lottie wriggled out of Amy's arms and ran to Ryan, who had just came through the door with Peter.

'Ryan! Simon says I can't see mummy because she is poorly but I want to see her.' Ryan picked her up and gave her a quick cuddle. Peter mouthed 'thank you' Simon and Amy for not going over the top when explain what was happening to Lottie. He walked into the kitchen to get a drink.

'Thanks for keeping her in the house Tracy, when Carla came out of the factory she looked...broken. What did Simon tell her?'

'He said that Carla was 'poorly' and thats why she had to be taken to hospital. Not meaning to sound insensitve but is it okay if I take Amy back? It's just she's got guide camp tomorrow and she still hasn't packed. I'll stay if you need someone around though.'

'No it's fine Tracy, you've done enough already. I'll ring you tomorrow and fill you in on whats happening. Would you mind popping into dads and telling him whats happening?

'Yeah sure. I really hope Carla's alright, see you soon.'

Ryan came into the kitchen after Tracy had left with Amy.

'I put a film on for Lottie, but she's asking all sorts of questions.'

'Thanks, until your mum gets back to you want to stay here? Another pair of hands could be useful.'

'Sure, anything to help. Even though Carla's not technically my aunt, to me she's family. So that makes you, Lottie and Simon family as well. And family sticks together, so if there's anything I can do, just ask.'

'Would you mind helping me get Lottie to bed? She can be a right madam at the best of times and I'd like to have a word with Simon. He's old enough now to understand what's happening, and unlike Lottie I don't want to hide anything from him, because Carla's going to need all the help she can get.'

..

Carla came out of the video suite, feeling mentally and physically drained. The one thing she could be slightly happy about was that the Detective that interviewed her seemed a lot more friendly than DC Malone, who had handled her case last time. On the other hand unlike last time, the police hadn't got Frank yet, meaning he was still out there somewhere. Carla walked over to Michelle who was waiting for her.

'Ready to go?' Michelle asked with a warm smile.

'Yeah.' Carla said in barely a whisper.

..

Michelle had rung Peter from the station once Carla had gone into give her statement, so he and Ryan had managed to get both kids to bed. When Carla came through the front door Peter rushed to greet her and then remembered her hostility towards him touching her before so stopped and asked instead.

'How are you feeling?' Carla sighed

'Tired. I just want to sleep. Sleep and forget this day...ever...happened.' By the time she had finshed the sentence tears had begun pouring out of her eyes and Peter wrapped his arms around her. Carla's body tensed up on contact but she relaxed once she breathed in Peter's smell.

..

'Please...no...I'll do anything...please..stop Frank...'

Peter was woken by Carla's screams. She had finally managed to get to sleep after taking some sleeping pills but her ordeal was being replayed through her mind. Peter tried to stroke the top of her head, something that had calmed her in the past but it seemed to make things worse. Carla began to thrash her head from side to side, her face screwed up in agony, still pleading for it to stop. Suddenly her head became still but her expression stayed the same. Then she screamed out.

'Don't hurt her! Please! Frank!' Carla sat up, her eyes wide with fear, breathing rapidly. Peter sat up and put a hand on her back, but when he touched her it was like he had burnt her because she jumped out of bed and ran into the corner of the room.

'GET AWAY FROM ME!' She screamed at Peter before hunching on the floor and sobbing. Peter got out of bed slowly and walked over to her, kneeling infront of her.

'Sweetheart it's me. It's Peter.'

'Peter?' She said as if she had only just seen him.

'Frank was here...he had Lottie...I begged...but he wouldn't listen...wouldn't listen..'

'It's okay, it was just a dream.'

'Just a dream?' Carla looked into Peter's eyes, and it killed him to see her like this.

'I promise you, he is not going to hurt you ever again.'

'Promise?'

'Bet my life on it. I'm a bookie remember?' Peter helped her up and into bed, wishing he could just wash the pain away, but knowing that he would try his best to help her.

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