Rachel and Eddie were walking down the hall towards the stairs. Rachel sighed as she dropped her hands from having them crossed and lightly scratched her forehead "I don't know what's going on with her"

"I do. Good old fashioned heartbreak. We're not strangers to that" Eddie muttered, raising his brows to her, she let out a breathless small smile. Eddie rubbed her arm and said "I'll say to you what you always say to me. Give it time, love, she'll come to us"

He had a point. Rachel needed to take her own advice sometimes.

There was a sudden load bang and a shake. It caused them to jump out of their skins and their heads snap towards where the noise "What was that?" Rachel whispered.

The fire alarm went off. Eddie stepped away from her.

"Eddie-"

"Stay here. Go upstairs and show the kids out, I'll go and see what's going on" he then gave her an attempt of a reassuring smile and then headed down the hall.

Faith coughed as she was on the floor, with the dust and rumble on her. The smoke instantly began to choke her. Bolton crawled his way over to her "Babes. You okay?"

Faith waved her hand and shook her head as she coughed. Bolton looked behind them and saw the flames that were just growing. He then looked to the other students, Bolton took hold of Faith's arms and picked her up off of the floor "Come on! Faith come on! You gotta get up, we've got to move away from here now!"

Faith found her feet to the floor and ran to the door where Bolton and the other students were. The damn thing was chained up. Bolton pulled on it viciously, tugging on it for the handle or something to just give whilst Faith and the rest of them banged on the window. Faith backed off and pressed her back against the wall, coughing like crazy as she took her shaking hands to her pockets and searched for her phone, she finally found it and opened it.

CALLING MUM

Faith kicked the wall with her heal as she cried "Please pick up" she bowed her head and muttered in a sob "Mummy"

Rachel had no idea her phone was ringing with her daughter on the other side, fighting for breath. Her phone was in the office and she was too busy helping kids get out of the school. She stood on the stairs and ordered the kids where to go and asking that they stayed calm. That there was nothing to worry about.

Eddie then came back, Rachel walked over to him and put her hands on his arms as she asked "What's going on?"

"The canteen's on fire"

"Is anyone hurt?"

"It's too difficult to tell" he shrugged, Rachel looked over her shoulder to the students and then the thought came into her head, she looked to Eddie who could tell straight away what she was thinking and shook his head "Rach. No she'll be fine. She was heading outside anyway when we left her she'll be with students. She knows the drill"

Rachel nodded and took a breath, she had to just take word on that. Once she gets out there she can see for herself and put her paranoid thoughts to bed. Rachel and Eddie carried on guiding the kids, Rachel looked to him and said "Any idea how the hell this happened?"

"Your guess is as good as mine right now, hon. I don't think we'll really know till the fire service put it out"

Rachel walked backwards and said as she kept her eyes fixed on the students "Yes well let's just hope they can do it quickly to prevent it from getting worse"

All Faith could hear was the screaming from the kids beside her. But it all went into such a blur. She could hear her coughing above all. Making her so breathless and faint that she could no longer stand. Bolton turned to her and saw her slowly dropping to the ground, she took hold of his arms that wrapped around her "You're okay. Faith. You're okay"

He gently lay her down on the ground. There was no point in trying to make her stand, she'd just drop and increase a chance in hitting her head. Bolton brushed the hair away from her face and saw underneath the blood that was running down the side of her face from already hitting her head hard. She had a concussion without a doubt, she couldn't sleep.

"Faith! Faith babe you gotta stay awake for me alright?"

Faith's eyes just began to drop, but she still had a hard grip on Bolton's jacket "I...where's...mum..."

"I-I dunno but you've got to stay awake to see her yeah? Come on don't let me down, stay strong and stay awake Faith please I'm beggin you" he slowly stood up, he had to do something. Look for something that would help.

Faith's head turned to one side, to her right. Her eyes fell on the fire at the end of the corridor. The smoke still getting all up in her lungs. Faith pulled her jacket up and tried to cover her mouth. Fat loud of good that did, but she needed to try and do something. But her coughing was turning her into a fit and that was making her more exhausted. And with the cut she had on her head, passing out was not a good option for her to take, though it was seeming to become inevitable.

Rachel and Eddie did their last sweep of the school. And as far as they knew. Everyone was out. The pair of them wanted to get out of there as fast as they could in order to go out and find Faith. It was a sea of panicked kids and adults. But they couldn't find Faith. Rachel rushed over to Kim who was stood with Chris, Nikki and Davina and quickly asked "Have you seen Faith?"

The four of them looked clueless. Nikki shook her head "I looked before but that was when all the students were coming out. I presumed she was with the last batch"

"Don't worry" Chris added "Sure she'll be here somewhere"

Rachel ran her fingers through her hair and looked around. She could usually spot Faith in any crowd from a mile off. But she didn't see her anywhere. Her hand fell on Eddie's arm as she said in a panicked mutter "I don't see her anywhere"

"Alright, alright, hang on" Eddie took out his phone and saw that he had a missed call from her about ten minutes ago. He quickly called her back. It rang. And rang. And rang. Till finally she picked up.

But the phone was in her hand, it was the only strength she had to do, she couldn't bring it to her ear or even speak, she just picked it up and let him hear. All Eddie could hear was the screaming of students. With Rachel listening it. Her blood ran cold, she looked to Eddie with utter fear "Oh god. She's still in there. A load of them are!"

Before Eddie could even respond, Rachel went to head back into the Rachel.

"Rachel!" Eddie raced after her and grabbed her arm "No! Stop!"

"I can't just stand here!"

"We'll alert the fire service. They are better equipped for this and we don't know where she is. If we go in there than anything could happen and no one will know that a bunch of students are trapped"

Rachel pulled back a little whilst still in his hold "Then I'll go in and you stay here"

"You think I'm going to let you go in there alone? No way"

"Eddie this is our daughter!"

"I know and I'm thinking of both of you!"

Suddenly, a group full of kids ran out from the side, full of rubble and dust, coughing as they help each other out. Then at the end. Was Bolton carrying Faith out, yelling "Yo! I need some help here! Someone help!"

"Faith!" Rachel called as she ran over to her, in a voice that was like any mother's fearful scream. It was as if everything slowed down as Rachel ran towards her. Seeing how broken she looked. Bolton laid her down on the grass. His hands flying to the back of his head as he took a deep tearful breath. Rachel kneeled beside her, putting her hand on her cheek "Faith…"

Faith was hardly breathing, her eyes were practically closed but she was still conscious, she turned her head slightly to look at her. Rachel now seeing just how much blood there was on the side of her head. Faith took in a wheezy deep breath, putting all the energy and strength she had just to stay one word "Mummy"

Rachel's heart felt like it broke. It was rare to hear that word come out of her mouth. It was when she was vulnerable or felt fragile. Or felt something was terribly wrong and she just wanted to be a little girl in order to be protected. Faith turned her head away as she coughed her guts out, trying to take in a breath but once again felt like she was choking. Faith looked up to sky, despite Rachel cupping her face and rubbing her cheeks with a plea for to to look at her.

She gulped heavily and eventually took her closing eyes to Rachel and saw that she was crying. Faith shook her head, trying to take in deep breaths but soon, it wasn't possible "I can't...breathe..."

Faith eyes closed. Rachel stared at her for a moment and then shook her head in a panic "No. Faith!" she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair and rubbed her cheeks. Then shook her arms to try and wake her up but nothing was happening. Rachel's hand flew to Eddie's arm, slapping it hard as she cried "Eddie get someone!"

She looked up and saw Bolton dropping to his knees and staring at her. Completely frozen in shock. Eddie slowly got up and yelled the paramedics over. Eddie walked to Rachel and stood over her, putting his hands on her arms. He tried to pull her away and stand her up, but Rachel was still clutching to her daughter "Rachel"

"I need to stay with her"

"You will" he pulled her up a bit more despite her still trying to keep on hold of her, Eddie then muttered to her ear "Just let the paramedics get her in their van"

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, feeling her stomach go in and out through her quick sharp breaths. Watching as Faith was lifted onto a bed, given an oxygen mask and wheeled to the back of the ambulance van. Rachel walked out of Eddie's hold, he stared at her for a moment and then turned to Bolton. He walked over to him and slapped his hand on his shoulder "Go get cleaned up lad, checked up on. Then come and see her"

Bolton looked to him in silence, with tears in his eyes. Eddie tried to stay positive to reassure those around him, giving him a tight smile and a nod "She'll be alright" he patted Bolton's back once more and then followed Rachel into the back of the ambulance with Faith. Rachel stuck by Faith's side, taking hold of her hand and pressing her lips against the back of it. Rachel felt Eddie sit beside her and rub her back. Rachel closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks, Eddie pressed his forehead against Rachel's head and sighed, trying to comfort her in anyway he could and push down his own worry in order for him to support people.

They stuck by her side till they could go no further. Then they had to go to the waiting room and just sit there and worry till the doctors come and speak to them. Because of the chemicals that came in through the gas bottle exploding, it had effected her the worst out of all the kids because of the deep breaths she was taking in from her panic attack mid way through.

They had to try and clear her lungs. The doctors said there is no likely chance of her becoming critical, it would just take a while for them to be a hundred percent sure that she'd be okay long term. Eddie sat down beside her and put the cups of tea he got them both on the table in front them. The fact Rachel didn't reach to take one was message enough to him that she wasn't in the mood for a drink. Eddie gripped onto her shoulder as he put his arm around her "She's going to be alright, love"

Rachel rested her chin on her clutched hands, staring at the bottom corner of the room and said "I should have gone after her. She was in a state I shouldn't have let her go off on her own"

"You know as well as I do that Faith makes her own choices. You can't be with her twenty four seven-"

"No but I can and should be with her when she's feeling vulnerable" Rachel said as she insisted on kicking herself whilst she was down. Eddie rubbed her back and sighed. He rubbed his lips together as he tried on gather the correct words for her in order for her to not argue against him. Eddie pressed is forehead against her head once again "Rach...sometimes Faith wants to deal with things on her own, this is why she's in therapy. To stand on her own two feet and deal with her emotions more independently. If you would have been there then I would have been sat here worrying about the both of you"

Rachel shook her head "Or I would have taken her back to my office and none of this would have happened to her"

"She wouldn't want you beating yourself up over something that you or me seriously couldn't help"

He kissed her temple as she sighed and leaned herself against him. They both leaned back in their seats. He rested his chin of the top of her head whilst she rested on his shoulder and kept her eyes closed. Rachel slid her hand in his and looked down to them, nuzzling her head against his neck "I love you, Eddie"

"I love you too, Rach, always" he kissed her forehead and gripped onto her tighter. Rachel lifted her head, with her nose against his jaw and her forehead lightly pressed against his cheek "Do you really think she'll be okay?"

"Yes. I really do" Eddie nodded as he continued to rub her arm. Rachel closed her eyes once again and relived some memories in her head. Like a some kind of flashing montage.

"Who are you?"

"Faith"

"What's up?"

"Try Faith flaming Cooper, if you see her, send her straight to my office and make sure she goes and stays there"

"I don't want you going to one of those hostel things, and also you have a lot of vodka in you so I don't want you walking the streets at night, you can stay at my house"

"And why the hell would you do that?"

"Because I care, that's why, now come on get in"

"So…you think you're my mum?"

"I think it's possible that I could be"

"You...you're my mum"

"I am darling, and I promise things are going to be better from now on, for the both of us"

"I love you, mum"

"Darling I love you too"

Rachel was soon brought back down to earth when the doctors came in, they gave Faith the all clear. Saying that she had to take it easy for a few weeks and that she'd have trouble with her breathing for that time but it should get better. The main thing is that she was going to be okay. And he said that they could both now go in to see her. Which they did as soon as they could.

Rachel rushed ahead of Eddie into the ward to find Faith in her bed with an oxygen mask on to help her with her breathing. Faith pulled the mask down and took in a deep breath, sighing out a small smile "Mum...dad..."

Eddie smiled "Hi love"

"Darling" Rachel cried as she put her hand on the top of her daughters head, looking at her face, every detail to savor. Faith knew what she was doing and put her hand on Rachel's "Mum stop it, I'm alright"

"You almost weren't" she whispered, stroking Faith's hair, she mumbled in a cry "I can't handle with the thought of how close we were to losing you today love"

Eddie leaned forward and kissed Faith's forehead as he stood on the other side of her. Faith sighed as she sunk her head back down into her pillow, she looked to Rachel and asked in a weak mutter "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. We both are" Rachel smiled to her and took hold of her hand tighter. Faith looked between the both of them "Where's Bolton? Is he here?"

"He will be. We're going to ring him, he just said that he will give us a bit of space"

"How was he?"

"Other than his clothes being covered in white dust, he's perfectly alright"

Faith let out a sigh of relief and nodded "Good" she rested her head back on the pillow and took a deep breath, she looked at them and asked "What happened? How did it start?"

"Well at first we weren't sure" Eddie started "But we got a phone call about half an hour ago from Kim. Ralph Mellor has been arrested, apparently he lit up outside of the kitchen and decided to get a little...creative"

"Bastard" Faith mumbled under her breath, looking down to her hands.

"That's what I said" Rachel said, then letting out a deep breath. Faith looked up to her chart that was on the wall, but to be frank, she had no idea what it said. Faith then looked to Rachel "I've asked if you're okay but...am I okay?"

Rachel put her hand on Faith's and let out a teary smile "You're going to be fine, love. From being close to the explosion, the doctors were concerned that it may have damaged any internal organs but after they worked on you everything seems fine. But you're going to have to stay in here for a couple of days. They just want to keep an eye on you for a bit, in case of any changes then if nothing happens in a few days then you'll be good to go"

It didn't seem totally irrational, perhaps she'd be nervous for the next few days that her body was going to give up on her, but other than that. It was good news. Faith nodded and let out a breath of relief "Good. Good"

Rachel out her hand on Faith's cheek and said "I'm just thanking god that you're going to be alright, we both are" Eddie put his hand on Rachel's shoulder and smiled to Faith "We bloody are"

"Well, I'm glad about that. Here's me thinking you were hoping I was killed of" Faith said dryly. Rachel lightly slapped her hand and whispered with a small amused smirk "Don't joke about that"

Faith just smiled to them both. They stayed with her all night till they were told that visiting hours were over and they had to leave. Rachel had never left her alone before for a night, it was something she was going to have to deal with. She'd be back tomorrow. And luckily Faith would be there. Because she almost wasn't.