DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

A/N: Thank you so much for the kind reviews! Although I can't read half of them due to a clitch on fanfic! Hope I will be able to see them soon - and keep them coming, love to read your thoughts and opinions.

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At the hospital, Donna was ready to go home. Marlon and Bob were fussing round her like they always did.

"Have you got everything love?"

"Yes Bob...can we just get home I want to see April"

Marlon was opening the door for her, as Bob wheeled her through in the wheelchair, "sorry Donna...I would have brought her here but, well I didn't think you would want her to see you like this"

Donna smiled at him, he was right - Marlon was always right. They left the hospital and Bob went and got the car. Marlon helped Donna out of the chair.

"Right...when we get home...me and Laurel have said that YOU are staying with us"

Donna shook her head, "No, no, no...I'm okay at Paddy and Rhona's..."

"No...WE'VE said...it's best for April that we are all together"

Donna was too tired to fight him. She looked up to see Bob pulling up in the car. It was time for the off.

Bob drove down the country lanes to Emmerdale. Donna stared out the window in the backseat.

"So...your lot were speaking to you this morning...did you tell them?" asked Bob, looking at her through the rearview.

Donna shook her head, "Yeah...they weren't very happy...I think they are discharging me from the force...I don't know what this means with my pension and that...? I was banking on that to give to April"

Marlon scowled at her, "You should have thought about that when you came back...told them...then all this would never of happened...chasing psychos in your condition, what was you thinking of?"

Donna took his hand and squeezed it, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean for any of this to happen...I just wanted what was best for April"

Bob smiled and tried to lighten the mood as always, "Well...Brenda is waiting in the café with her...she missed you last night"

XXX

At the garage, Ross was sat on the ground with his legs under the car he was working on. He grafted in stoney silence. Debbie, knowing everything because she was in the pub when Marlon had announced that Donna was dying, and had informed Ross after, turned from what she was working on and looked up to see Bob's car drive into the village.

Donna was in the back.

"She's home", she said.

Ross didn't look at Debbie, he just continued working on the car, "Who?"

"Donna...she's back"

"And you are telling me because?"

Debbie huffed at him, "Ross! Why are you being like this...so? She didn't tell you she was dying...she must have had her reasons"

Ross snapped. "Yeah SHE DID! And one was not telling me!"

"Ohhhh suit yourself", and Debbie walked off. As Bob's car came to a stop outside the café, Ross managed to steal a quick glance, when Donna was being helped from the car by Marlon, he turned back to what he was doing and managed to cut himself because he was too teary eyes and het up to concentrate. He jumped up and threw the monkey wrench down and put his cut thumb in his mouth to stop it bleeding.

Debbie was back and looked up as he ran his thumb under the tap, "look, if you're not up to it today, why don't you just take the day off"

Ross shot her a glare, "oh yeah? And DO what exactly? Go home and think about all the times SHE OVER THERE lied to me?"

Debbie was at her wit's end now, "I don't know...maybe you should just go round there and let her explain why she..."

Ross was in her face, "NO WAY! I'm not going anywhere near...INFACT...she'll just have to wait a very long time before I speak to her again"

Debbie leaned up against the garage door frame as she watched Ross go back to the motor he was working on, "...well that's just it, isn't it Ross...it's time she's not got much left of"

Ross turned away from her and he looked up towards the café...his heart was doing somersaults...he was confused...

"I don't care!", he managed to force out.

XXX

Inside the cafe, Donna and April were reunited. April was so pleased to see her she wouldn't let go. Marlon went and sat with them.

"Come on April, your Mum's poorly...she needs to go home and go to bed"

April looked up at her questioningly, "have you got the belly ache Mummy?"

Donna laughed it off, "No April, Mummy's just a bit sleepy that's all...must be the stronger drugs they've given me"

Bob and Marlon looked at one another.

XXX

Debbie had been on the phone about a couple of jobs coming in for the garage. She ended the call and came outside to tell Ross that she'll need his help. He was gone.

The car he had worked on was gone too.

She pressed call on her phone...Ross's phone went to voicemail.

"Ross! Where the hell are you now! Get back here or you'll find yourself out of a job, do you here me!"

XXX

Ross was in a club drowning his sorrows. He leaned on the bar and drank his pint and eyeing up the fit girls.

One particular one was giving him the eye. She could only be described as legs and fake boobs. The blonde hair extensions laid over her shoulders as she came over with her drink.

"Hi"

Ross looked at her, or more importantly down her top.

"Are you up for it what Carly?" he said knocking back his pint.

"Ohhhh Ross you old romantic..." she said in sarcasm, "...you don't change do you?"

Ross stood up and grabbed her arm, "Are you up for a shag or what?"

Carly shook him off and cooled him, "Heyy...calm down...what's got your mood up? I like the mean and moody guy and that's why I never say no to you"

Ross laughed at her.

Carly pulled a face, "What? What have I said? What's so funny?"

"YOU! The reason YOU never say no Carly is because you are a right dirty slapper!"

Carly looked shocked at him, "You what? How dare you"

"You want it all not", he grabbed his cock through his jeans as he said it.

"Well give me 5 will yah...AND I'm not going to the alleyway again like last time..."

Ross was getting the arse, "Arrgghh come on!"

Carly was pulling him by the arm across the dance floor to her mate, "I need to tell my mate Donna I'm off"

Ross stood still, she turned and saw that he was staring into space.

"Ross?"

"I can't do this...sorry..."

Carly pulled a face at him, "Errrrr...you turn up after not showing your face for months and then blow me out?"

Ross shoved her away from him, "GET OUTA MY FACE!"

Some bloke grabbed him, "Hey...having a pop at girls now are yah?"

Ross shot him a death glare and clenched his fists, he knew this guy.

"Get out of my face Terry..."

"Ross... what is it man? You're acting more of a nutter than usual"

Ross wanted to smash his face in, but instead he pushed past him and headed to the exit. In the car park he smashed his fists down onto the bonnet of a car and then slumped to the ground on his backside sobbing his heart out.

Inside Carly came to Terry's side, "What's got into him? He's never turned me down ever!"

"Did you see the state of him, all those cuts around his face? Probably got into some scrape knowing him!"

XXX

At tall trees cottage, Donna was sat in front of the TV, the local news was on and a reporter was standing on that rooftop going on about the death of Gary North after a police chase.

She had fed her superiors with a shed load of lies, but she made sure that they were believable and that Ross was out of the picture.

The low lamp was on and Marlon and Laurel were in the kitchen with hushed voices.

"I am still here you know!", she called out to them.

Her phone jingled and she picked it up from the arm of the chair. She had received a text.

R-I hope you are pleased with yourself you bitch

Donna's heart was fluttering. Ross was STILL mad with her...but it was understandable, all the plans he had made for her and April...wanting to try to be a dad to her...and now he knew that was NEVER going to happen. Never was.

Where are you?, She texted back.

Donna kept looking out towards the kitchen to see if Marlon and Laurel weren't coming in. Her phone jingled again.

why du care

Donna bit her lip. Was this wise what she was about to text him? What was the point...Ross would only see her as a dying woman now, wouldn't he?

Fighting back the tears she texted. coz I love u.

Ross didn't text back. Maybe she could go and find him tomorrow. See if he was alright.

That's if he lets her...

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