Hi everyone next chapter is here! as always lets me know your thoughts. Thanks x
"Mornin' Kevin"
"Alright Carla how's it going Michelle alright?"
"Aye she woke up last night still early days but she's getting there"
Kevin smiled in response and gestured to the factory with his mug "Think Sal's already in work Carla if it's her you're looking for"
"Actually Kevin I was hoping you could help me?" Kevin nodded and gestured for Carla to follow him into the garage office "What can I do for you?"
Carla pulled her coat around her more securely and pointed to the television screen in the corner "Do you have 24hour CCTV?"
"Yeah it brings down the insurance premium and to be honest it does make me feel happier about having customer's cars here overnight"
Nodding in agreement Carla continued "When Michelle was attacked she said that it happened just outside the garage could I have the camera footage for that night?"
Kevin drained the last of his drink and smiled "Yeah course I'll drop the DVD off to you later I've got to go on a call out now but I'll make sure to get it to you"
Carla smiled and headed out the office "No rush whenever you've got a minute cheers love" glad that she had spoken to Kevin Carla made her way up the factory steps bracing herself for the onslaught of questions she was sure to receive.
"Alright Mrs C your looking radiant as ever"
Chuckling at his words Carla looked around pleased to see all the machinists working hard "Nice to see you too Sean glad to see you're hard at work"
Sean grumbled and gestured to the office "Hmm the mood Mr Foster's been in it was a case of knuckle down or pack up" Carla raised her eyebrows and continued to make her way to the office. Looking through the gap in the blinds she noticed Frank sat at Michelle's desk his head in his hands and a tumbler of whiskey half full in front of him. Great this was all she needed opening the door she stalked in with her head held high slamming the door and wrenching the blinds open she smirked inwardly at Franks shudder and she sat down switching her computer on as she did so.
"The McKenna order went out alright then?" Receiving only a grunt in response Carla decided to continue "They started Hitchin's yet?"
"Yes Carla I'm not incompetent you know they started stitching the order yesterday" Frank drained the rest of his drink and slammed the glass down on to the desk.
"What is your problem this morning hmmm? Shouldn't it be me who's sleep deprived hitting the bottle growling at all the staff"
"Well that would be your usual way of dealing with this place am I not allowed one off day?"
Carla scowled at Franks condescending tone "Thanks for asking how Michelle is by the way I know you don't really care but I thought you would have a least pretended you know to keep up the nice guy front you like to present to the world"
Frank pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply "I tried to ring you yesterday to see how you both were but my calls were ignored"
"I was in a hospital Frank"
"Bet you managed to let the alcoholic bookie know what was happening" Carla gasped shocked she couldn't believe he was harping on about Peter again "For god's sake Frank I didn't respond to anyone's texts yesterday and what Peter has to do with anything God only knows"
There was silence for a few moments and Carla watched carefully as Frank paced the office angrily rubbing his hands across his head "I'm sorry Carla I didn't have much sleep last night I shouldn't be taking it out on you"
"No you shouldn't" Carla turned to her computer and made a start checking her emails one day out of the office and already her inbox was showing over 50 new messages. For a couple of hours they worked in silence Carla felt no need to engage Frank in conversation and Frank was trying to calm his short temperedness this was a rare moment where there was just himself and Carla and he didn't want to mess it up. "What I said about Peter was out of line I'm sorry"
Carla looked up surprised "It was, not that I need to explain myself to you Frank but Peter isn't anything to me other than a friend I would like you to remember that" outwardly Frank showed a polite smile but inside he was beaming finally the alcoholic bookie seemed to be out of the way.
"Glad to here that he was never good enough for you"
"Oh and you were were you?" Carla's tone dripped with sarcasm but Frank didn't take the bait "We were good together once"
"Hmmm at the beginning maybe" Frank leaned forward so that he could look Carla in the eye "We would have been great together if it hadn't been for your infatuation with that alchy" Carla snorted not even dignifying Frank with a response "I still think we could be good together"
"Are you out of your tiny mind!" At his words Carla couldn't help but respond she couldn't believe what Frank had just said.
"We could and you know it you, me, this place we could be the power couple of coronation street you would have everything you ever wanted"
"I have everything I ever wanted my own, business loving friends-"
"Not got a man though who loves you have you? That could be me" Carla snorted "I would rather be on my own than be with a filthy controlling rapist"
Franks temper peaked and he stood up pointing angrily in Carla's direction "I'm not any of those things I'm not!" His voice rang out into the office and Carla noticed that the staff where looking in their direction obviously they had heard their raised voices.
"Enough of this nonsense Frank" she gestured to the window "This is not the time or the place for inane declarations"
Frank snarled in response and angrily snapped the blinds shut "This is exactly the right time and place you cannot avoid me. Give me another chance Carla we'll be happy together please that's all I'm asking of you just one small chance"
"Enough" Carla stood up and made her way to the door she had to get out she couldn't deal with this "We will never be together again and you need to get that through your thick skull"
"Is this because of Michelle?"
"What has Michelle got to do with this?" Carla was careful to keep her tone even and tried to look nonchalant did Frank know something he shouldn't?
"She's never liked me has she? Is she the reason we can't be together?"
Groaning in absolute frustration Carla dragged a hand through her dark locks "No the reason where not together is because I fell out of love with you and if there was ever a smidgeon of hope for you that we might have got back together you eradicated any happy memories I had of me and you when you forced me up against my own front door and raped me!" Carla took a deep breath she hadn't meant to lose her temper and shout but she couldn't believe how deluded the man standing in front of her was. She watched as the manic gleam in his eye built and she shuddered the look on his face was the same one he had that night and she needed to get out now.
Before she could move Frank closed the gap between them and pinned Carla against the office door "I'm not letting you leave until you agree to give me another chance"
"Well we're going to be here a long time then aren't we" Carla's voice was a whisper but she managed to keep the tremble of fear hidden "I don't want you that's no one's fault but your own and you need to accept that"
Frank slammed his hand against the door and Carla cowered in fear "I don't believe you! It's her fault in sure of it! I'm sure!" Just as Carla felt the panic set in the office door opened and Carla staggered out of the way.
"I heard shouting Mrs C are you alright?" Sean shot Frank a filthy look and Frank fixed his expression to neutral "We we're merely having a discussion weren't we Carla" seeing the steely glint in Frank's eye and not wanting to anger him further Carla nodded "I'm fine thanks Sean but I need to get to the hospital see 'Chelle"
"Well as long as you're ok give our love to 'Chelle won't you?" Sean still looked suspicious and she put her hand gently on his arm and guided him out the office quickly grabbing her coat and bag as she did "I will. Hayley can you keep an eye on this place for me?"
Before Hayley could answer Frank piped up from the office "I believe that's my job Carla I'll be here waiting for you to get back"
"You'll be waiting a long time I'm taking the afternoon off see you all later" Carla watched Franks face contort with annoyance but before he could respond she marched through the machinists and got into her car quickly. Letting out a shaky breath to calm her racing heart she put the car in gear trying to shrug off what had happened she wasn't going to turn up to the hospital upset she didn't want to worry Michelle and with that thought she pushed Frank firmly from her mind and set off for the hospital.
"Hiya how's she doing this morning?" Carla bustled over to the nurses' station while trying to put her purse in her handbag. Preoccupied with routing through her bag she missed what the nurse was saying
"... So we had to sedate her"
"I'm sorry you had to sedate her why?"
"As I was saying Mrs. Connor" the nurse looked at her sternly and Carla had the good grace to look guilty "Ms Connor woke up in the early hours of this morning distressed we tried to calm her down but she pulled the IV Line out of her arm and wouldn't keep the oxygen mask on. She had worked herself into such a state we had to sedate her although she should be awake shortly."
Carla didn't know how to respond she stared blankly and stuttered trying to formulate a response "Is that normal, I mean, for her to be so confused?"
"It's not uncommon but Ms Connor did have quite a severe reaction you were right when you said she was a fighter it took three of us to restrain her" Carla weakly smiled "I best get in to her then hadn't I" the nurse smiled and gestured for Carla to follow her.
"I'm sure you being here when she wakes will help she was calling out for you this morning we tried to explain where she was bu-"
"Why didn't you ring?! I would have come straight here if she was in such a state!"
"We can't just summon visitors Mrs Connor at half past three in the morning it's not hospital policy"
Carla snorted and marched forward "Well next time I would appreciate a phone call in the morning at the very least. Now if you'll excuse me" Carla quickly opened the door and closed it behind her before the nurse could utter another word.
Turning to look at the woman in the bed in front of her Carla felt her breath hitch in her throat there was a fresh bruise on Michelle's face and the skin on her arm around where the drip was originally inserted was marred by deep scratches. Carla walked to the bed slowly dropping her bag to the floor she pressed a lingering kiss to Michelle's forehead and ran her fingers gently through her smooth locks "Chelle? It's me love I'm here now" Michelle's forehead was creased slightly her face pulled into a worried frown and Carla wished she could ease her lovers obviously warring mind.
"You gonna wake up for me soon love so I can see that your ok? I love you babe so much it scares me how much I need you here with me" She ran her thumb across Michelle's head smoothing the worry lines away and hoping that she would wake up soon so she could make sure that she was alright.
Carla had been reading the latest vogue for the last 10 minutes when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye putting her magazine down on the table next to her turning she was shocked to see Michelle's gorgeous brown eyes staring back at her "Hey there darlin'"
"Hey" Michelle's voice was hoarse and she struggled to clear her throat but Carla beamed when she heard her voice "Water love?" Michelle nodded weakly and Carla stood poured a glass of water and helped Michelle take a long drink. Laughing at the affronted look on Michelle's face as she secured the oxygen mask back to her face Carla tutted "It's for your own good sooner your healed sooner you can come home"
"Can't wait"
"How you feelin' honestly?"
Michelle turned her head and looked warily at Carla "Alright"
"Pull the other one"
"Ok bloody sore I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Moving hurts talking hurts and breathing hurts" Carla smiled sympathetically and wrapped Michelle's hand in her own leaning closer to her she gently leant her head against Michelle's "You frightened me to death you know"
"I'm sorry"
Carla pulled back as she heard Michelle's voice thicken with unshed tears "Hey come on now don't be sorry it's not your fault"
"But it is it's all my fault I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" the tears fell down Michelle's face and as she cried she began to cough a horrible hacking cough which echoed in the room as she struggled to breath she winced the pain clearly showing in her face.
"Chelle calm down love shhh calm down and breathe slow deep breaths shhh I'm here" eventually Michelle's tears subsided and Carla kissed her gently "None of this is your fault do you hear me" Michelle nodded weakly the tears still falling slowly down her face she looked so scared and frightened Carla just wanted to hide her away from the world.
"Hold me" Carla's heart melted at Michelle's words and she clambered carefully onto the bed and tucked Michelle's body under her arm leaning her head on her lovers Carla began absentmindedly tracing soothing shapes on Michelle's forearm with her finger. "The nurse said you were in quite a state this morning" receiving no reply Carla continued she wanted to know if anything was troubling Michelle "Can you remember what upset you?" A mumbled response was all she received "You can tell me you know"
Michelle sighed and she snuggled deeper into Carla's warm embrace "I was dreaming you were here with Peter he said he loved you and you said you loved him you laughed in my face and said you could never love me like you love him and you left and I was on my own. When I woke you weren't here and I panicked I thought it was rea,l it felt so real"
Tears pricked Carla's eyes and she cuddled Michelle tightly "I love you. Not Peter not anyone else just you" Carla felt Michelle nod into her side and they settled back into comfortable silence. After a while Carla felt Michelle become a dead weight and she smiled as she heard her gentle snores untangling herself from Michelle's embrace she noticed that it was almost half past four and she made a note to thank the nurse for allowing her to stay all afternoon. Grabbing her bag she pressed a final kiss to Michelle's forehead, feeling elated when Michelle smiled even in her sleep, and exited the room quickly she needed to get back to the factory before the workforce left she didn't want to be left alone with Frank not after that morning.
"Hayley is Carla around?" Kevin was just pulling the shutters down on the garage front when he noticed the factory workers heading out the door noticing Carla was not amongst then he hoped she was still in the office.
"I'm sorry Kevin she's not come back to the office this afternoon she's been to see Michelle"
Kevin nodded sombrely "Aye bloody disgrace what happened to her it makes you think doesn't it you just don't know what can happen round here"
Hayley nodded worriedly "I know I never thought anything like that would happen here" both of them settled into a contemplative silence until Kevin came to his senses "Right well is the office open? I've got something Carla asked for"
"Err yes Mr Foster is still there you could leave it with him?"
Internally Kevin snorted he had no intention of leaving anything with Frank he was still smarting that Sally would willingly go out with the slimy creep. Even though he had been found not guilty Kevin firmly believed there was no smoke without fire he didn't for a moment think that Carla would make such a severe accusation without there being any cause this was after all the man she had agreed at one point to marry. Deciding not to say anything to Hayley Kevin merely smiled and nodded saying goodbye he took a deep breath and ambled up the factory steps.
"We are closed" Kevin snorted at Frank's tone and marched forwards to the office "Can see that I'm looking for Carla she about?" Frank snarled at the ignorant man in front of him something which didn't go unnoticed by Kevin "Enough with the theatrics Frank I just have something for Carla then I'm off"
"She's not here"
"Has she left for the day or is she coming back?" Frank shrugged noting that Kevin seemed to be struggling to control his temper and he smiled finally an outlet for his anger
"I'm not her keeper she doesn't inform me of her every move"
Kevin snorted "True suppose she's nothing to you now is she Frank now that's she dumped your sorry arse!" Frank snarled "Keep your inaccurate observations to yourself who do you think you are taking too?"
"Well I'm under the impression that I'm talking to my wife's boyfriend but I think I need to have a word with Sally about her new choice in men. A rapist who is still clearly hung up on his victim doesn't seem to be ideal partner material to me" Frank wanted to lash out at the insolent mechanic but he grit his teeth, arguing with Kevin was pointless instead he cut to the point.
"Whatever you have for Carla you can leave with me Kevin then you can be on your way"
"Nah your alright it's some personal documents for her car I can imagine she wouldn't really want your grubby hands on her paperwork. It must be soul destroying enough for her that she has to tolerate your presence in her office"
"Our office!"
Kevin smirked "Whatever Frank I'll speak to Carla tomorrow" with those parting words Kevin marched from the office slamming the factory doors as he did heading straight to the rovers he was determined to have a pint and push all thoughts of the slimy businessman from his mind.