Marissa held Bianca hand while Doctor Stone got to work with the needle draining her infected toe; Bianca never liked needles. And then when Maggie asked if Bianca was on any medication Marissa suddenly realised that they hadn't had breakfast yet, and if Bianca didn't eat something soon she would be late having her meds.

…

Leaving Bianca in the doctors capable hands Marissa went off to find a vending machine where she could find them a snack and maybe a cup of coffee.

On her way back, balancing two cake bars and a sandwich under one elbow while carrying two cups of coffee, she met Maggie coming out of the cubical.

"Let me get that." said Maggie, extraditing the sandwich and cakes from Marissa before she dropped something.

"Thanks." she said gratefully. "Is Bianca all done?"

"A nurse is dressing her toe now." said Maggie "But I do think you need to persuade her to use a wheelchair rather than that brace."

Marissa smiled sadly.

"She's having a hard time at the moment. She is finally realising that she is going to have to get use to this paralysis… and she still hasn't got her strength back… I mean a month ago she was in a coma. She's holding back a lot of anger still and I'm not sure she knows how to express it. One thing she doesn't want is to feel helpless, which is exactly what being in a wheelchair makes her feel."

"Mmm." said Maggie a contemplative look on her face. "She has always rather bury something than face it. After the rape, she tried to cut herself off from it… pretend it didn't happen…made herself so sick… I can see this situation being similar for her. She finds it hard to admit that she's hurting… I can never forget the night she told me and how hard it was for her to say the words out loud. She almost drove herself mad with the pain… and afterwards the anger. She was so angry. I wouldn't want to see her go through all that again."

"But how did you get her to open up?"

Maggie sighed.

"She got herself blinding drunk in the roughest bar in Pine Valley and after trying to take on a room full of thugs with a snooker cue, I finally was able to drag her away. That night she didn't mean to tell me… it just slipped out when she went to sleep… and I had to push to make her tell me."

"I'm not sure that would help her face this." said Marissa quietly. "Besides the fact she can't drink at the moment. I mean she's told me why she's upset… we talked last night. But knowing the problem and finding a way to deal with it are two different things. Right now we've gone right back to the 'ignoring that the problem exists' stage."

"From what I know of Bianca, you have to force her to confront what is hurting her even if it makes things a little awkward between you for a while, it is worth it in the long run. I mean she did it for me too… it does work."

Marissa gave Maggie a long thoughtful look, taking in everything she had said; and then she shook her head.

"I'm sorry I don't know why I'm unloading this all on you."

"We're family." said Maggie. "Besides I want to help Bianca if I can. I've a lot to still make up with her."

Marissa nodded her head, still looking thoughtfully at Maggie.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" she asked, "You should come to the hotel for dinner. Give Bianca and you a proper chance to catch up."

"You're not worried about asking out your girlfriend's ex?" Maggie asked only half-jokingly.

Marissa gave her a wide smile.

"Why? Should I be?"

Maggie shook her head, subtly changing the subject.

"You should take those coffees through before they get cold."

"True." said Marissa, looking briefly down at the two paper cups warming her hands. "But do say you will come tonight."

Maggie replied slowly, trying not to show her keenness.

"I can be there for seven."

…