"Charlie. Is everything ok?" Alex asked as he came out of Ashdene Ridge and saw her.
"Yeah," Charlie said before she sniffled.
"What's wrong?"
"Everything's getting to me. That's all."
"What do you mean, everything?"
"This place. My Grandad's been taken ill and... I don't know if... I don't know if he's going to be ok..."
"Oh Charlie," Alex said, and he rested his hand onto her back as she started to cry. "It's alright. Let's go and sit on the wall shall we?" Alex asked and Charlie started to gasp. "Charlie?"
"Alex... I can't..." Charlie said as her gasping became more evident and she reached out to Alex.
"Is something wrong?"
"I can't... breathe..."
"What? Charlie, look at me," Alex said and Charlie did so. She was looking panicked, she had her hand on her chest and she was gasping for air. "Ok. Ok... sit down. I'll get Mike," Alex said and Charlie sat down before Alex rushed off.
"Mike! Mike!" Alex called as he ran into the house.
"Alex? What's the matter?"
"It's Charlie. She can't breathe."
"What?!" Mike called and he followed Alex outside. "Charlie!"
"Charlie!" Alex shouted. Charlie was lying on her side, her eyes were closed and she was unconscious. "Charlie?" Alex asked as he knelt down and listened for her breathing.
"Ambulance please," Mike said on the phone. "Ashdene Ridge, children's home. A young woman's collapsed, she having trouble breathing."
"Charlie? Mike, she's not breathing. She's not breathing Mike," Alex told him.
"She's not breathing," Mike said into the phone.
"Charlie," Alex said and he rolled her onto her back. Starting to shake, Alex opened Charlie's mouth and started doing rescue breaths.
"Yes. Someone's doing them now," Mike said, and he put two fingers onto Charlie's neck.
"Come on Charlie," Alex said as he forced air into her lungs. "Come on."
"Yes, she's got a pulse."
"She's breathing again," Alex said, and he rolled Charlie back onto her side. "Come on Charlie. Stay with me," He said and they heard sirens coming up the street.
"Hmn..." Charlie moaned.
"Charlie?"
"Charlie, are you awake?"
"Where am I?"
"You're in hospital."
"You stopped breathing Charlie."
"Alex?"
"I'm here," Alex said, and he squeezed Charlie's hand.
"Alex saved your life."
"Yeah. I gave you rescue breaths, right Mike?"
"Yes. Alex got you breathing again."
"Thank you."
"You scared me so much. I can't lose you Charlie."
"None of us can."
"Why couldn't I breathe?"
"You've got asthma. The doctor's got you on oxygen and we'll talk about it when you're fully awake," Mike said and Charlie nodded.
"He said that you're going to be alright. It was an asthma attack, but we got to you in time."
"I had you to breathe for me," Charlie said with a small smile.
"You did, but don't ever make me do it again."
"I'll try not to."
"Thank you," Alex said and Charlie relaxed.
"Just relax. I'll find the doctor Alex and let him know that Charlie's awake."
"Ok. Thanks Mike," Alex said and he left them.
Charlie got an inhaler and she was discharged by the end of the day. Alex refused to leave her side when they got back, and he triple checked that she was alright before she went to sleep. They both wanted to kiss, but it was against house rules, so they settled for a long hug instead.
"Night Charlie."
"Night Alex. Thanks again for saving my life."
"Anytime," Alex said, and he closed Charlie's door.