A.N I know I'm a terrible person not updating but I've have been studying passed my exam this week though so before I start my next course I thought I best do some writing so here's one I did this weekend. I've made a start on the next chapter soon so hopefully you all won't have to wait too long and I thank you once again for all your kind reviews they mean a lot :)

"How long are they insisting I stay here for?" Michelle's face was pulled into a deep scowl and Carla struggled not to roll her eyes at Michelle's impatience "Miss Connor you have had a serious operation and you need to be able to breathe unassisted before you leave that hospital bed. Otherwise you will only end up returning here in pain for an extended period of time to repair the damage you will most definitely cause" The nurse had come in at the perfect moment and Carla had to suppress a smirk at the disgruntled look on Michelle's face.

"I can breathe just fine thank you there is no need for this thing you insist on making me wear. I will get better rest and relaxation at home surely that will help me heal quicker?" No longer was the oxygen mask required but Michelle still had a nose clip providing a steady stream of oxygen so that there wasn't too much pressure being inflicted on her recovering lung. The nurse ignored the question updated Michelle's patient notes and swept from the room ignoring the glare coming from her patient.

As the door closed Michelle sighed theatrically "I'm sure she hates me ignorant cow she didn't even answer my question" Carla snorted "I'm not bloody surprised you've done nothing but complain since you regained consciousness. And she did answer; you are to stay here until you're fully healed"

Michelle crossed her arms and snorted "Well that's nice bugger off back the factory then if I'm that bloody miserable. Nice to know you missed me while I was K.O'd in here" sulking Michelle turned her head away from Carla huffing angrily as she did. Carla sighed softly and stood up from her chair she sat down on Michelle's bed and wrapped an arm around her lovers shoulder "Don't be daft I want to be here with you miserable or not I can't tell you how happy I am too see you awake and giving lip I've been so worried about you. You don't know how hard it's been sitting here waiting for you to wake up I've missed you"

Michelle felt slightly guilty at Carla's words and she snuggled herself deeper into Carla's embrace trying to ease her frustration "I'm sorry I just hate being stuck here I want to be at home with you. I feel like I'm wasting time here I could be spending with you especially when I feel like I've waited so long to be with you" Michelle's voice tailed off quietly and Carla smiled at the slight blush that had crept into her cheeks.

"Don't worry love I'm not going anywhere we have all the time in the world to be together when your better" they sat in companionable silence before Carla glanced at her watch and noticed how late it was getting.

"Listen love I need to go I need to nip back to the factory pick up some paperwork and then I'll be back" Michelle looked far from happy and Carla ran a hand softly down her arm "I won't be long with me not going in the last of couple of days I need to bring some work home otherwise I'll be swamped and I don't want to have to listen to Frank bitch about it."

Michelle tensed at the mention of Frank and she tried to keep her tone light and even "How has he been not been giving you any grief has he?"

"No just his usual arrogance nothing I can't handle so don't worry" Carla had decided not to tell Michelle anything about her and Franks altercation in the office she knew it would rile her and she didn't want to give her another reason to want to leave the hospital. Standing up Carla quickly put her coat on and picked up her bag looking at Michelle she felt her heart sink at her crestfallen expression and she quickly checked to make sure there was no one standing near Michelle's room. Noticing the corridor was free she carefully leant over Michelle's bed and pressed a gentle kiss on Michelle's lips instantly feeling elated when Michelle returned the kiss by gently caressing her lips with her own. After a few minutes of gentle kissing Carla pulled back and smiled at Michelle's pout "Now you get yourself better and they'll be much more of that when your home" Michelle smiled coyly and Carla laughed just before she left the room she turned and looked back "I'll be back soon get some sleep ok?" Michelle nodded her agreement and Carla marched out intent on getting in and out of the factory as quickly as possible.

"Afternoon Hayles' how's it going?"

"Mrs Connor how nice to see you we didn't think you would be here today" Hayley beamed and gestured to the rest of the staff who all looked equally happy to see her Carla's heart swelled for a moment she felt overwhelmed at the thought that her staff actually cared about her she was hardly know for being pleasant to work for.

"How's Chelle Mrs C?"

"Getting better Sean back to her moaning self giving nurses grief so I'd say she's back on track" Sean laughed and gestured to the office "His highness isn't in this afternoon so at least you can work in peace. Give us a shout if you need anything"

Carla smiled "Brilliant and a coffee would be much appreciated if you don't mind"

"Coming right up my queen" Sean stood and bowed theatrically twirling his hands he flounced over the kitchen and Carla giggled feeling a light relief wash over her at the fact that she wouldn't have to face Frank for a while longer. Setting back down behind her desk she started to organise the ledger noticing Frank had made no effort to keep it up to date grumbling she had just started when a knock at the door distracted her. "Yes?" Not looking up thinking it would be Sean with her drink Carla was distracted from her work by a gentle cough frowning she looked up relaxing when she saw who had sidled around the door. "Kevin how are you? Sorry I thought you were Sean"

"Nah it's alright I'm good ta you're a hard person to get hold of though tried catching you a couple of times but unfortunately each time I've nipped in there's only been an arrogant prat hanging about the place"

Carla snorted at Kevin's wry grin "Sorry about that he does seem to get up everybody's nose including mine" they both laughed hard and Kevin took an envelope from his pocket

"Here, this is a DVD of the CCTV from the week Michelle was attacked I haven't looked at it myself I've not had time so you'll have do a bit of fast forwarding. That's the only copy I've got so don't lose it"

Carla eagerly took the envelope and put it straight into her bag "Thanks for that Kevin I'm really grateful" Kevin smiled and nodded "Best be off things to do look after yourself and Michelle" Carla nodded her thanks and as soon as the office door closed she took the envelope back out of her bag and placed the DVD into the disk drive of her computer.

As she waited for the screen to load she looked out to the factory floor and noticed Frank had appeared and seemed to be in a heated discussion with Sean. Switching her screen off she quickly made her way to the door "What's going on here then?"

"Mr Foster has just been asking why I'm not at my machine I'm just explaining that I was making you a coffee as requested" Sean's tone was brusque the irritation clear on his face though his words were polite Carla was proud of him and she quickly turned to Frank being careful to speak evenly

"That's true Frank so you can leave him alone now and let him get on with what I asked him to do"

Frank sneered and Carla stood tall not letting his expression get to her "Finally showed up have you? Finished skiving up at the hospital. amazing how you can turn up just to criticise and lord it over the staff"

A prickly wave of anger ran over her body and she bit her tongue hard to stop the malicious response that she so desperately wanted to give instead she counted to three before answering calmly "Don't start Frank I've not the time or inclination to deal with you" marching back into the office Carla sat back down behind her computer and turned the monitor back on the DVD had loaded and she noticed that Kevin was right she had at least 1 week of footage to forward through. As she pressed the fast forward button Frank came into the office and she minimised the screen she didn't want anyone else knowing what she was doing especially since she hadn't told Michelle.

"I forgot my phone"

"I wasn't asking"

Frank pinched the bridge of his nose and Carla knew he was trying to stop his temper "Look about the other day I'm sorry I shouldn't have said the things I did. Are we ok?" Carla snorted and turned back to her screen "Let's just forget about it"

Frank was irritated by the dismissal but he didn't let it show grabbing his phone of the desk he smiled and gestured to the door "Right I'm off to a meeting see you later maybe?"

"Yeah maybe" realising he wasn't going to get a further response Frank left the office quickly determined not to lose control again he needed to gain Carla's trust so that they could become friendly he felt that would be the best way to try and make up some ground in the romance department. As soon as Frank had left Carla stood up and shut the office blinds as she was doing so there was a knock at the door and Sean came in carrying her favourite mug

"Sorry about the delay Mrs C"

"Don't apologise I know it wasn't your fault" Sean nodded and looked around the office "Surely were not that frightening to look at!" He gestured to the blinds and Carla smiled

"Are you sure? No I've got a bit of a headache that's all"

"Can I get you some painkillers?"

"No I've got some but thanks anyway" Sean smiled and left the office being careful not to let the office door close with a bang Carla didn't like to lie to her loyal staff but she didn't want them to see what she was up to either. She turned the computer screen back on and once again began to fast forward through the footage it wasn't a very quick process and just as she felt herself becoming bored her attention was sparked when she noticed an image of herself hurrying to her car in the early evening. Seeing this she knew she was on the right day and nerves built tightly in her stomach. Checking the date in the corner of the screen confirmed her assumption and she slowed the footage down looking for anything unusual.

For a long time nothing happened and then she noticed Frank arriving in his car she watched as he exited his car and walked slowly up to the factory doors watching him creep in through the doors made Carla's stomach turn over and her heart felt as if it had lodged in her throat praying that in a moment she would watch him leave again. As the minutes ticked over a real sense of foreboding began to settle over Carla and her body went cold and her hands clammy. Noticing movement on the screen again she froze watching as Frank exited the factory looking his usual calm and collected self. After straightening his suit jacket and tie he entered his car waited for a few minutes and then slowly began to drive away.

Carla waited with baited breath and when Michelle appeared she felt her whole demeanour sink and tears built in her eyes as she watched her beaten and bloodied lover stagger down the steps and slowly inch her way towards home. When Michelle's image left the screen Carla turned off the computer and fell back into her chair letting the tears fall down her face unchecked. Carla didn't know what was upsetting her more the fact that her best friend had suffered at the hands of her psychotic ex or the fact that she had lied, hidden the fact that Frank had harmed her so badly. Carla's thoughts were in turmoil the main emotions coursing through her veins were anger and upset causing her anxiousness to build. Feeling as if the office walls were closing in on her she grabbed her coat and bag and bolted for the door hastily wiping her tear stained cheeks as she did.

"Mrs Connor are you alright?"

"I'll be fine Hayley can you just keep an eye on this place for me?" Hayley's worried expression didn't fade as she looked Carla over "Of course I will I'll even sort some of the paperwork out if you wish?"

"Thanks Hayley" Carla smiled gratefully and quickly ran to the exit. Once in the safety of her car Carla leant her head on her hands and took a deep breath she didn't know what to do she wanted to shout and rage at Michelle for lying to her, wanted to shake her for keeping up this charade. The anger she felt was building but the rational part of her brain knew that turning up at the hospital and screaming blue murder at her still recovering lover would be counterproductive. No matter how angry she was she didn't want to cause anymore pain to Michelle. Making up her mind she text Michelle's phone saying that she wouldn't be able to visit until tomorrow due to problems at the factory then turned off her phone and threw it back into her bag. Turning the ignition she headed towards home with a plan on taking a detour for at least one bottle of wine tonight she needed to drink, let out her anger and hope to God it all became clear what she was to do to in the morning.

A.N Hope you enjoyed more coming soon ...