At long last here is the next chapter I have been struggling to get the thoughts flowing again and have been on a trip to Edinburgh! If you're still interested in me carrying on with this please let me know.

"NO FRANK PLEASE NO"

Michelle awoke to Carla's agonising screams once again, flinging back the covers Michelle ran to Carla's room her heart breaking as the screams and wails became more pronounced. Slowly opening the bedroom door Michelle crept into Carla's room careful not to awake her by making sudden noises. The first night Michelle had heard Carla's screams she was convinced Frank had got into the flat and in her haste to get to Carla she had slipped knocking over an ornament. At the sound of the crash Carla had awoken but had gone into a frenzy convinced Michelle was Frank Michelle had been in tears as she tried to explain and it had taken a full thirty minutes to calm Carla down. It was something that they hadn't discussed since. Slowly reaching Carla's bedside Michelle glanced down at Carla's writhing form. Her hands were clenched tight, pulled up protectively in front of her chest her legs were pulled into her body and she was cowed in a foetal position. With her head burrowed into the covers Michelle struggled to hear her wild ramblings and she gently peeled the sweat soaked covers back from Carla's body.

"Car baby it's me wake up"

Carla pulled her hands up to cover her face and began to sob.

"It hurts Frank please stop"

Michelle felt sick as Carla pleaded lost in the torment of reliving her worst nightmare. She slowly pulled Carla's arms away from her face and as she did Carla eyes shot open and her body heaved forward. Michelle gently caught Carla in her arms and proceeded to rock her gently like she used to do with Ryan many years ago when he was just a toddler and had woken from his childish nightmares of ghosts and monsters.

"It's ok Frank's not here it's just me"

Michelle sat rocking Carla for many minutes and gradually the tears stopped, her breath steadied and the only noise was the occasional gasp that was the aftermath of the upset being released from her body.

"You can go back to bed now Michelle" Carla pushed Michelle firmly away from her and moved to sit at the side of the bed her legs hanging over the side.

"No darlin' I'll stay here and we can talk or-"

"Have you gone deaf Michelle I said go back to bed" Carla snapped her voice laced with venom and Michelle caught a glance at the anger in her eyes before her gaze settled resolutely on the window in front of her.

"Car love" Michelle gently edged forward and tried to raise Carla's chin so that she could look into her eyes "its ok you know to be scared-"

"GET OUT MICHELLE" Carla rage increased in tenfold and she whirled round at Michelle her fists coming down with force on the bed as she glared at with Michelle with hurt and hatred in her eyes. Sighing gently Michelle slowly edged of the bed and gently moved towards the door. Just before she closed the door Michelle took one last look at the woman unmoving on the bed in front of her.

"Love you Car"

Michelle waited with her head rested against the cool wooden door and not 30 seconds later she could hear Carla moving to sit behind the same door. As the sobs started Michelle went into the living room and sat on the couch her mind too worried and restless to sleep. The last few nights had been the same and Michelle was frightened that they were going round in circles. In the day Carla seemed more jovial some of her sarcastic humour was returning and she no longer flinched at Michelle's movements but Carla was only ok if nothing about her situation was mentioned. If conversation shifted to Frank or the factory or god forbid to ask about her feelings and the result would be for Carla to close herself off in her room. At night though was a different story again the nightmares were relentless and two or three times each night Michelle was waking Carla gently and then waiting with bated breath as Carla roamed around the flat until exhaustion claimed her once more. It would seem no sooner had Michelle gone back to sleep they started again. With each nightmare Carla slipped a little more inside her shell and it was becoming more difficult to coax her back out. The shame and the fear where what Michelle knew Carla was struggling with the most she knew after each nightmare she felt vulnerable and if Carla hated one thing more than anything it was coming across as weak.

"Chelle"

Michelle hastily tried to dry the tears on her face and fixed a small smile as she turned round to fully face Carla. Standing in the doorway with her red rimmed eyes, hair mused from restless sleep and pyjamas which seemed to hang from her now too thin frame Carla had the appearance of a young child. "Yes love" head still facing the floor Michelle strained to hear Carla's whispered reply,

"I hate this"

Michelle stood from the couch slowly and made her way over to Carla. Taking her hands Michelle manoeuvred Carla back into the bedroom and onto the bed. Gently Michelle eased both of them under the duvet. Wrapping her arms around Carla Michelle pulled their bodies towards each other until their foreheads were touching.

"You need to let me in Car" Carla squirmed as Michelle held her gaze "Don't be afraid to let me comfort you if that's what need cause car love I won't think any less of you" Carla slowly nodded her head and Michelle felt the tension ease from her body.

Smiling Michelle tucked Carla in her arms placed her chin on her head and held her close relishing the contact. As Michelle felt herself falling asleep she placed a gentle kiss to Carla's temple.

"I'm here you don't need to be scared if you have a nightmare, I'll wake you. If he comes for you in your dreams, I'll be here to drive him away."

Carla lay awake long after Michelle had gone to sleep she felt safe for the first time in weeks and she didn't want to relinquish the feeling. The gratitude she felt to Michelle was overwhelming she had pushed and pushed but still Michelle had not given up had still been there with her unwavering support. Carla couldn't think of anyone else in her life who had offered her help and understanding so selflessly not wishing for anything in return. Smiling Carla breathed in deeply Michelle's unique scent and settled her head onto Michelle's chest, the beating of her heart against Carla's ear sent a peaceful rhythm through her body and Carla for the first time in weeks drifted into an undisturbed sleep.