Ricky was still in control but things hadn't gone to plan. Kendal held her breath as the gun waved menacingly in front of her face. Now they really had to take care, because she knew all too well that Ricky Torres was capable of anything.

His arm was still locked tightly around Marissa's neck, but looking from Kendal to everyone else he slowly moved the gun. He pushed up against the red head's ribs, his gaze moving beyond them down the corridor, he was clearly feeling suddenly exposed.

"Grab him and get in here." ordered Griffin, nodding his head from Jackson back in the direction of Bianca's room.

"I'm not going anywhere." said Kendal quickly. She couldn't risk him discovering the kids.

Ricky tightened his grip on Marissa's throat making the smaller woman gag.

"I wasn't asking." said Ricky with a sneer on his lips.

"And no one is going to try anything." he added forcefully as he glared at them in turn. He was pressing the gun hard into Marissa's side, as she scrabbled weakly at his arm. "Marissa here will be the first to pay, but she won't be the last!"

Kendal could see the fear in the young woman's eyes. Right now Ricky was in control and there was nothing they could do to change that… at least not yet.

"On your feet." he ordered Griffin pointing his gun at the doctor. Griffin got slowly up from the floor, starring daggers at their captor. "Move him." He commanded flicking his revolver in Jackson's direction for emphasis. Kendal moved forward as well, glad to get some distance from Ricky and together with Erica's help they managed to help Jackson to his feet and move him into Bianca's room.

…

They set Jackson down into a corner on the floor. His skin was pale and clammy. Griffin pulled aside the older man's jacket and examined his shoulder.

"It's a through and through, and I think your collar bone is broken."

"No kidding." grunted Jackson through gritted teeth.

"We need to stop the bleeding." said Griff, "And maybe get you something for the pain."

Griffin turned back for permission from Ricky to treat the wound but Ricky was still in the doorway starring at the elevator, clearly trying at assess how vulnerable he was to being discovered.

Not caring to wait, Griffin got to his feet and grabbed some equipment from the trolley by Bianca's bedside. For the first time he noticed Bianca's white skin. His eye's moved to her heart monitor. Her heart rate was slow and her blood pressure had dropped dramatically. She was alive, but barely. Searching for the cause he noticed the empty drip bag.

"What the hell did you do?" he gasped turning to glare at Ricky.

Ricky turned at his accusing tone.

Marissa, at her first glimpse of her girlfriend for what felt like an eternity, squirmed in Ricky's grasp.

"Bianca!" she cried, trying to reach for her but Ricky yanked her roughly back.

"Hmm." said Ricky. "Still alive I see. I was hoping for something a little more dramatic."

"What did you do?" Griffin asked again.

"Just turned up the volume a little." He said coldly.

…

Now Ricky's attention had moved from the hallway, Kendal noticed his eyes darting around the hospital room noting any changes. His gaze drifted towards the bathroom.

Kendal held her breath what could she do? She couldn't let him find the kids.

He must have seen her sudden tension.

"So Kendal, were you alone in here?"

"Yes." said Kendal perhaps a little too quickly.

"Are you sure?" he asked suspiciously. He backed up, still dragging a squirming Marissa with him as he used his gun to push open the bathroom door. "Come out, come out wherever you are." he called.

Kendal's heart froze as she prayed that the kids were smart enough to stay hidden. Luckily Ricky only gave the room a quick glance, his eye still half on Griffin by Bianca's bedside and the rest of his concentration focused on keeping hold of a struggling Marissa.

Ricky sniffed, and stepped back into the hospital room, his eyes still roving suspiciously over everyone's faces. Kendal tried very hard to stop herself reacting when behind Ricky's back she saw AJ's little face peering nervously from behind the shower curtain.

"So Doc what's the prognosis?" Ricky asked hauling Marissa back towards Bianca's bedside. He probably realised that was the only way to calm her down.

"The drugs have lowered her metabolism." said Griffin. "We need to keep her warm. I also need to reverse the overdose before her heart fails."

"No." said Ricky flatly. "If you want to be useful you can patch up the old man over there, I'm sure Erica will appreciate it. He's making a mess on the floor. But no one touches Bianca."

"No!" squealed Marissa; desperately trying to twist from Ricky's grip.

"Calm down." ordered Ricky as he moved to point his revolver at Bianca's sleeping face. "Or she dies now rather than later." His finger was already tightening on the trigger as he spoke. She knew he wasn't bluffing so she stopped her struggles.

Ricky now flicked the gun on Griffin's direction.

"Patch him up." he said nodding towards Jackson. "And then I have another little job for you and Kendal."

Griffin glared back at Ricky, but he wasn't in the position to argue with a gun.

…