Erica was sat in the corner of the ambulance watching Marissa like a hawk. She couldn't die! If she dies it would be all her fault; because she was the one to start the rumour of the affair that drove Madison over the edge. If she died Bianca would never forgive her... If she died her granddaughter's hearts would be broken… If she dies AJ would lose another mother… She couldn't die… She couldn't…

…

On the way to the hospital Marissa crashed and the paramedic worked frantically to bring her back.

They rushed her into the hospital trailing Erica in their wake. The doctor and nurses took over as the paramedics barked Marissa condition to them, wheeling the trolley through a set of double doors.

As the trolley disappeared through the swing doors, Erica tried to follow but a doctor stepped into her path.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait while we treat her."

"But I promised my daughter I wouldn't leave her!" Erica exclaimed.

"She's your daughter?" the doctor asked. "Do you know what she's taken?"

"No I don't know what she took. I think it was in the coffee though…"

She didn't correct his mistaken assumption that Marissa was her daughter. They might not let her stay with her if they found out she wasn't family. She swore to Bianca she wouldn't leave her side and she was going to keep that promise.

"…Okay, but can you describe her symptoms." said the Doctor, "It could help with the treatment."

"She was acting sort of drunk before. Scott was too. But she got very unsteady after Madison attacked them and said she felt ill. She took herself to the bathroom and I found her collapsed on the floor."

"And then what happened."

"She was wheezing and couldn't speak and then she just had a fit. And when the fit stopped she stopped breathing. I did CPR… I think I did it right… until the paramedics arrived."

"And did she hit her head at any point?"

"No… not that I saw."

"And does she have any history of epilepsy or any drug allergies?"

Erica paused at that.

"She was shot in the head. It was over a year ago now. I think she had a skull fracture and she did have a fit then… but from what I know after the operation everything was fine. Could that be the cause?"

"At this point we can't rule anything out." said the doctor making notes.

"Can I see her now?" Erica asked.

The doctors gave her a sad smile and said frankly,

"Look, until she's stabilised you're not going to want to be with her. I'll find a nurse to sit with you, and I'm afraid there will be some paperwork to be filled in!"

"But I promised." Erica exclaimed.

"Ma'am, the best thing you can do for your daughter right now is let us do our job. Maybe there is family you can call?"

"Family…" gasped Erica. She needed to call Bianca and tell her what had happened. And she should probably call David and Krystal as well…

"Try to stay calm," said the doctor, not really understanding her mortified expression "We'll take care of her but you have to understand she is seriously ill."

The doctor left her in reception and disappeared back through the swing door.

Erica could see behind him a bustle of activity around the trolley, only Marissa was obscured by the wall of bodies around her. As the doors swung shut again and the view disappeared, all Erica could think was,

'She can't die… she just can't..!'

…