A week had passed since the horrid incident that had sent the wing into a temporary state of anarchy. Everyone was still behind Denzy, backing up her story and at the centre of all the disruption the blame lay with Michelle. Carla and Denzy were in stand off, which meant Denzy still ruling to roost and Carla conforming to keeping a low profile and out of the way. All week she had been walking around with her head down, frightened to go anywhere without Amy so they could watch each others backs, and she hadn't spoken a word, even when she was spoken to. All of her fight was gone, her tough girl image indented and her confidence most definitely fading a little bit every day. She was so lonely and her longing to be reunited with Michelle was slowly developing and turning her into an emotional wreck. Every night she had cried herself to sleep, bunked up for her own safety now with Amy instead of Jessica and it broke her new cell mates heart to hear her sobbing throughout the night, every night and she knew that come night fall, tonight would be no different.

Taking their trays Carla and Amy queued for breakfast. All eyes focused on them as they slowly moved along the line. The food was dumped onto their plates and as usual Carla picked at it reluctant to eat it just in case a nasty surprise was waiting for her in one of the items. She avoided the sloppy weak cup of tea she had been given also and didn't look up once as her and Amy painfully tried to get through breakfast.

"Carla, you done?" Amy whispered across the table.

Nodding Carla followed their usual ritual and slid herself out of her seat and her tray off of the table ready to sneak back to her cell but today was not as normal. As she stood and went with Amy to discard of the majority of their breakfasts, they were suddenly disturbed by an uproar in the canteen. Instinct told them both to look up and see what was the cause of the mixed reactions of chanting, cursing, booing, hissing and insults. It was Michelle; being escorted rather publicly to her cell.

Michelle didn't look well and rightly so, confinement had driven her mad. All the not knowing, the worrying, the regret and being alone had done for her was develop the depression she had suddenly succumbed to. She was drawn and her skin pale, lack of sunlight, lack of sleep and lack of food and drink the causes. Not a piece of food had passed Michelle's lips in a week. She just couldn't bring herself to eat and had sipped only at minimal amounts of water. She had just shed the weight and there was not an ounce of fat on her. With her head bowed she slowly let the officers lead her through the madness of the canteen, where they continuously had to demand order be kept and anyone stepping out of line would suffer. However that didn't stop Michelle suffering and being attacked verbally and from afar. It was when a bowl filled with cold beans hit her and slopped all over her that Carla suddenly found her voice again.

"HEY!" she yelled across the canteen at the culprit.

Amy shuddered, Carla's outburst meant that invisibility they had developed had instantly been ripped away and they were exposed once again. Hiding half behind Carla, Amy started to panic as the woman responsible for attacking Michelle glared over at Carla. Swallowing hard though Carla stared back and flinched only when the woman made a sudden move, but luckily an officer grabbed her before she could take an actual step towards Carla.

Slowly Michelle had lifted her head and looked in the direction from which she had heard the familiar voice. She didn't smile or really connect with Carla but their eyes met. Carla swallowed hard again and mustered a half smile for Michelle, which Denzy duly noted from her position of observation across the canteen. No sooner had Carla smiled though was Michelle dragged away. Quickly Carla scanned the canteen and then moved so fast, Amy almost didn't realise they were hotfooting it back to their cell. Carla however went storming passed the cell following the officers who were escorting Michelle up to the single cells on the third floor.

The noise she made climbing the metal staircases after them caught their attention but having glanced over their shoulders they knew Carla was of no trouble to them. Continuing they dragged Michelle down to a cell and one hurried to get her inside as the other tackled the task of dealing with Carla. She only wanted to see Michelle, she was concerned by the state in which she had seen her and was desperate to tell her she forgave her as desperate as Michelle was to hear those words also. The officer was a stickler however and was not letting Carla passed. She begged and pleaded until the other officer came back out of the cell and locked Michelle within.

"Please, please let me just talk to her" Carla begged of the other, who she also knew ranked above the other.

"Please!" Carla begged again hoping that if she was sincere and didn't push too hard the officers would oblige.

The more senior of the two took a minute to think through the request whilst Carla stood back and anxiously picked at her fingers hoping she would be in a little bit of luck. Eventually and after some hesitation the officer nodded, gesturing for Carla to pass his colleague and slowly moved back to the cell.

"Ten minutes" he stated firmly as he unlocked the cell and moved aside for Carla to enter.

Taking a deep breath Carla nodded and slowly moved inside, whilst the other officer headed down to the canteen again to keep the other prisoners there until her colleague came back down with Mrs Connor. He himself stood outside and watched the time on his wristwatch.

Having sat herself on the little cot bed in the corner, Michelle had pushed herself into the corner and rested her head against the cold brick wall. She was already sobbing lightly and didn't look up to see who had entered. Carla's heart broke instantly and she almost choked as she muttered Michelle's name. That familiar voice again was enough to make Michelle slowly look round and up and when Carla smiled lightly at her again she completely broke down. Tears flowed thick and fast down her cheeks as Carla hurried over to the bed and sat beside her, carefully placing her arm around her friend but without any hesitation, which Michelle hadn't expected.

"Carla, I'm sorry….i'm so so sorry" Michelle cried as she allowed Carla to gently cuddle her.

"I know" Carla whispered.

"And I forgive you" she continued.