Disclaimer as before

The Morning After

Jake opened his eyes and jumped as the nurse walked into the room. The sunlight streamed through the windows as she walked around, checking the various machines that were wired up to Kate's still body.

"Morning." The nurse smiled. "I'm Debbie. I'll be looking after Kate today."

"Hi." Jake ran a hand over his face before glancing at Kate. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. How is she?"

"Her obs are stable. The doctor will be around before much longer. Why don't you get yourself some breakfast?"

"I."

"I need to check Kate's dressing and check her pressure areas. You won't be able to be in the room while I'm doing that. Anyway, you wont be much use to her if you let yourself waste away."

"Ok." Jake gave in, aware that the nurse meant what she was saying. He glanced at Kate once more, his heart breaking a little as he realised she was still as silent and immobile as she had been all night. He slipped out the room and headed towards the Gents toilets before the rest of ITU saw him cry.

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"Now you listen 'ere." Natalie paced her office with her phone jammed against her ear. "My officers are on the way to your nick and I don't care what rank you are they are going to interview Beth Barker in relation to an assault that took place two days ago." She looked up as George stood in the doorway of her office. "DS Brooks and Ds Devlin will be there by ten. It's plenty of time for you to charge the poor cow with whatever it is you've got on her. Meanwhile I'm currently looking at a GBH which may or may not turn out to be a murder case. So forgive me if I'm wrong but I don't give a stuff about your drugs charges." She slammed the phone down as George raised an eyebrow.

"Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you."

"Morning George." Natalie smiled as George shook his head. "What can I do for you?"

"Tell me what progress there has been on this case. Do you really have a suspect for Kate's attack?"

"Yes." Natalie glared at him. "Well, we have a person of interest. Isn't that the correct terminology these days?" She watched as George nodded.

"Yeah." He sighed. "Yes, it is. If you watch bad American police shows."

"Which I don't." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "You know I am going to be interviewing everyone who Kate knows? Including you and Henry."

"Aye." He sighed. "Aye, well I'd expect no less. What I can tell you is she had been a little edgy at work the day before her attack. I saw her and Jake in the corridor when I was going to a meeting with Henry. She looked worried but I put it down to her working with Jake."

"Worried?"

"You know what Jacob Thorne is like. They bicker all day everyday but they get the results. Just like James and Alesha."

"I know Jake." Natalie sighed. "What I don't know is why anyone would want to hurt her or why she refused to press charges when Ronnie spoke to her. So you see? Ronnie asked her why Beth was there. Asked her to tell her side of the story and she refused."

"If Ronnie couldn't talk her round." George sat at her desk.

"Then the girl really was scared. What I want to know is why was she scared of her own sister?" George closed his eyes as Natalie spoke, secretly wondering the same thing.

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The rain covered the well worn pavements as Wes pulled hs jacket closer to him. The small terraced house on the outskirts of Manchester had been one of the most depressing places he had ever seen. How Kate had grown up to be the bubbly and intelligent young woman he knew amazed him. He shook his head, upset that Mr and Mrs Barker seemed indiffernet to the fate of either of their daughters, despite referring to Kate as the 'clever one'. It seemed to him that Kate's father resented his daughter's intelligence. He pulled out his mobile as the rain threatened to fall.

"Ron? It's me." Wes started. "I can see why neither Barker girl stayed around 'ere. The parents aren't coming to London. They aren't interested."

"What?" Ronnie snapped as he walked alongside Matt. "How can they not be interested? They're parents. How can a parent not be interested in what 'appens to their kids?"

"You'd be surprised." Matt muttered as Ronnie inwardly cursed hmself. He knew Matt's childhood was like something from a horror film.

"They know how bad Kate is? About the brain op?"

"Yeah." Wes reached the car he had hired as he spoke. "Yeah, but they seem to think there is nothing they can do. Funny thing is, when I was in the house there was no photos of either girl up. Now, I've been to your's, Sam and Angie's place. Pictures of the kids up in all of them. School photos and stuff. But not there."

"Got all my girls' school photos. You really think they don't care?"

"It's like they are trying to forget they ever had kids." Wes sighed. "Looks to me as if Kate threw hereslf into studying to get away from here but Beth chose another road. One not so productive to escape down."

"Indifference can sometimes be the worst form of neglect. You don't mean to harm the kids but you just don't care." Matt stated as they reached the door of the Drugs Squad's interview room. "Let's see what Beth has to say about it all." He pushed the door open as Ronnie ended the call. He smiled as he saw the thin, blonde woman with bad skin look up at him.

"Alright Beth? I think we need to 'ave a bit of a chat." Ronnie started as he sat down. Matt pressed the record button on the tape hoping they could find out why Kate had been attacked. Looking at the drug addict opposite him he couldn't help but think Kate wasn't the only victim.

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A/N not much left! Please review.