Chapter 31: Caught!

…

Derek looked out through the bars of his cell, wondering where everyone was. Jack was some distance away behind the desk, but everyone else seemed to have disappeared, including Myers and the blind woman. He'd spent an hour trying to decide what he was going to do about the iPod incident. But he knew deep down he had no choice. He'd have to at least be civil to Dawson until the guy had given him his money. But then…

That was when Derek's thoughts were interrupted by the block doors opening. He looked out and blinked once, twice. Michael Myers was carrying Hayward in to the block. Actually fucking carrying her! As they drew nearer to Derek's cell, he saw her head was on his shoulder. Oh dear, Adam Dawson wasn't going to like this. He grinned to himself. But then, Myers lowered his head as they stood just outside Derek's door and kissed her. He actually kissed her to the lips! Derek covered his mouth to stop a gasp of pure shock. But it also meant something else as far as he was concerned. Ok, so Myers and the bitch were a couple now. That was it for him, he was out. He didn't care what Dawson did. He was not reporting on Hayward any further, or her now man would kill him! He was done, his mission was over. Though still angry about the thing with the iPod, he picked it up and sent a message.

They're a couple now, they just kissed outside my door. I'm done. I'm not listening to her any further. I don't want her man to kill me. Sorry.

Just as he put the iPod down, Dr Loomis approached him. "Mr. Chancer, I wish to take another look at this iPod of yours."

Derek cursed. Fuck! His panic had made him stupid. He'd texted on it just as Myers had kissed her! Talk about blatantly obvious! But Derek was past caring. What he'd just seen had seen to that. So without a word he picked up the iPod and handed it to the doctor. Adam would be furious, but right then Derek couldn't give a shit! Let him! Derek valued his life too much and wasn't prepared to lose it for a prick like Dawson. Unless it was already too late…

That was when the text came through. There was a moment's silence, before Dr Loomis softly spoke. "So if this is just an iPod Mr. Chancer, why do you now have a text which reads and I quote, "you'll do it or you'll pay the price. Our client has paid money for this. Do it, or you'll die at our hands instead of his?" That doesn't sound like an iPod to me?"

Her mouth fell open in horror. "You!" She gasped at Chancer. "It's you! You've been watching, listening to and reporting on me to Adam for months haven't you?"

"You never saw it coming did you?" Chancer sneered at her. "That's a problem when you're blind isn't it?"

Dr Loomis sighed. "You know Mr. Chancer, we do everything we can to treat and help our patients here. But your Lawyers are still appealing to keep you out of the chair. Based on the evidence in front of us now, I can do no more for you. You won't change. I was trying to stop your execution by treating you, but you leave me no other option. I will be arranging for you to be collected and taken to Death-Row tomorrow."

She tried not to laugh. Michael carried her in to her, their cell and laid her lovingly on the bed, before he stepped out again.

In spite of what Dr Loomis had just said, Derek was glaring at the Psychiatrist. "Bullshit!" He sneered at him. "You were going to have me executed from the fucking word go! iPod or no iPod! You hate me, along with the rest of the world! Just because I fuck and kill bitches! You won't stop me Dr Loomis, I'm not done with women yet. I'll start with your pretty little colleague there." He gestured at Dr Stark.

Dr Loomis was sure he saw a very brief flash of fear cross his junior consultant's face. He made to speak but suddenly, Michael was there. No one had heard or seen him approach as usual. There was a clang and Derek found himself slammed against the inside of his cell door, Michael's hands around his throat in a death vice. At the same time, Derek could've sworn he saw Myers look over at Dr Stark and was that comfort, reassurance in his gaze? One hand left his throat and gripped the base of his skull. Chancer understood. Myers was going to crush his skull against the bars. He was already running out of oxygen, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joanne running towards Danielle's cell and talking to her. What? Was she giving the bitch a running commentary?

"Talk!" Dr Stark snarled, "tell us the truth. Do that and we'll stop Michael from killing you? Don't and we'll happily look the other way, you woman killing bastard! Before you start hoping, the cameras are off as are the microphones. So no one can see or hear this except us! This is your one and only warning."

"Bitch," Chancer snarled at her, as loudly as his depleting oxygen supply allowed. "I'd fuck and kill you in a second!"

Myers squeezed harder. Dr Stark smiled at Michael. "Perhaps you would," she said casually, as if they were talking about what Derek would have for lunch.

"Michael," Dr Loomis said quietly to the killer. "Loosen your grip a little, or he won't be able to talk to us and tell us what we want to know."

Joanne guided her a little way towards the group, but kept her far enough back out of possible danger. She deserved to hear this. Chancer was gasping for air, but Michael had loosened his grip as asked by Dr Loomis.

Derek couldn't lie, he was fucking terrified. Close to shitting himself if truth be told. He'd feared Myers right from the start of this, hell for years like everyone else. Feared exactly what was happening now. If he wasn't very, very careful, his skull would be mush against the metal of his cell or he'd be strangled to death. If he had to choose he'd take the chair over either of those in a second. He was so scared he didn't even dare struggle. He had to tell them. He didn't want to die today. He had more women to kill for one thing.

"Ok!" He said and was horrified to hear the squeak of terror in his voice. Fuck he sounded like one of the many bitches he'd killed now! "Ok, ok! I was asked by Adam Dawson to listen to her. Someone came in and gave me the iPod! It's a listening device, but it doesn't work on her cell anymore and I don't know why!"

"So your visitor today," Dr Loomis said with utter distain in his tone. "Was he there to "fix" your so-called iPod? Modify it to make it work through our modifications? You are right, we've done just that, precisely to stop you hearing anything! Talk about a breach of privacy!"

"No," Derek gasped. Myers may have let him go a little, but his grip on Derek's skull was still crushing. Derek was sure Myers would probably kill him anyway whatever he said, but he couldn't take that risk. "We still didn't know what the problem was, how you'd modified it! He was legitimately updating my play list!"

"Oh of course," Dr Loomis said sarcastically. What, wanted to hear the newest songs did you?"

"You can look if you don't believe me," Chancer said. "But I had no idea exactly how dangerous Adam was! I didn't know about his plans! I swear I didn't!"

"You're lying," said a quiet voice. It was her. Derek considered telling her to shut the fuck up, but then reconsidered his position. That would be a probably fatal mistake, given that her now man was holding him by the skull and more than ready to smash it to pieces. "Adam must've had someone on the inside to run his plans past. The letter, he must've had some help with it. Adam would've made too many mistakes if left alone to do it. You knew about it didn't you Mr. Chancer?"

"I'm Sir to you," Chancer snarled at her, hatred taking over and momentarily blocking out caution. However as soon as those four words left his mouth, he knew he was about to pay a heavy price for them. He knew Adam had made her call him that from what he'd heard. Sure enough, Michael tightened his grip and…

BANG!

The pain was enormous. Derek saw red and white flashes in his vision and swayed groggily. Fuck! That was just the warm up. He knew that. He felt blood trickling down his forehead. He doubled over in pain, but was prevented from hitting the ground by Michael's death grip which was still tight as ever.

"Don't you dare," Joanne was the one who snarled now. "What, heard that on your little "iPod" did you? Don't you fucking dare try and use that against her, you son of a bitch!"

"Here, here!" Dr Loomis said. His voice was still as soft as usual, but she could hear his anger. She'd shivered a little when Chancer had said "I'm Sir to you," some fears were hard to break. Joanne put her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sure your man will do just this when he can," she breathed and the other woman smiled at her, blinking back tears of both happiness and anger. She was done being scared of men. It wasn't because of what'd happened tonight either. It was her. She had finally managed to tell a man how she felt, and Jesus she felt good for it! She was no longer the small, bitter woman who'd first walked through these doors months ago. Now, she was a strong, independent woman, determined to stand up for herself. She would not let Adam or any man control her again! Even if she and Michael didn't work out in the end, his help to her had been invaluable. Still in Joanne's arms, she took a step forward and spoke two words very quietly, but everyone heard.

"Fuck you." Then, she spat in Derek Chancer's face.

There was a brief silence, which was broken for the second time that night by applause. Rick, Joanne, Dr Stark and Dr Loomis were all applauding her. "Bravo!" Joanne said. "Good shot!"

"Told you that you were a good shot didn't I?" It was Jack's voice. He'd come over to them from behind the desk. He'd strolled over casually, in no particular rush.

"He was the mole, Jack," her voice shook with furious and bitter tears which she couldn't hold back. Joanne squeezed her tighter. "Mr. Chancer. He had some kind of iPod," as she spoke, Dr Loomis held the device up. "Which he was using to listen to me and text whoever Adam's hired to give him the equipment. He's been watching, listening to and reporting on me for fucking months!" The tears were coming in earnest now. She was furious and for the first time in her life, understood the need to kill someone, that desperate desire for revenge.

"You motherfucker," Jack snarled at Chancer, the anger in his voice so menacing she almost took a step backwards even though it was on her behalf. "You God Dam motherfucker!"

Slowly she pulled away from Joanne and crossed to Jack's side. He took her hand and squeezed it and Joanne was sure understanding shot between them. Carefully and respectfully, she reached for the pocket of his vest she'd seen long ago when wearing it herself. She remember Jack's words that day. "Ok you can have my car, money, my house, whatever you want!" But this time, it was for real. She pulled out Jack's gun, then a bullet from the box and loaded it just as he'd shown her. None of the guards made any move to stop her. Still holding Jack's arm, he guided her back towards the trapped Derek Chancer.

"Fuck you blind bitch," Chancer snarled, still amazingly managing to spit insults. But she reminded herself insults were all he had now. If he didn't die tonight, he was going to the chair. He was finished. "You won't shoot that thing; you can't see your target. You'll miss!" she felt a huge rush of affection once more for Jack, as the guard put an arm around her shoulders and used it to support her arm, so the gun was steady and pointing straight at Derek's head. She again flashed back to his words. "We tend not to aim for the head." Well it seemed that had changed. They may be rubber bullets, but they could still be lethal if the head was their target. Chancer grew deathly still, his face turning marble white. Fuck. If she had a guard helping her then…

"Don't under estimate me, Mr. Chancer. I'm warning you, keep talking or I'll shoot." She thought of the acoustic shooting she'd done and was very experienced in and how she'd told Jack about it way back, and smiled in satisfaction. Yep, she could nail this bastard easily if she had to, tone or no tone in her headphones.

"Bullshit!" Chancer sneered.

"If I were you Mr. Chancer, Dr Loomis said mildly. "I'd do as the lady says. I certainly would if I had a gun pointing at my head, which is the situation you currently find yourself in."

Derek's belief that Hayward wouldn't shoot remained strong, but the fact Michael Myers still had him by the skull didn't mean his situation was any better. When Myers tightened his grip yet further, Derek's fear returned in full measure. Hayward may not actually shoot if it came to it, but Michael Myers wouldn't hesitate to kill him. "What do you want to know?" He asked.

"You have the floor," Dr Loomis said. Ask away. You deserve this chance."

"When did Adam hire you?"

Chancer thought back fast. "About a month ago give or take," he said. "Six weeks?"

"What was your brief?"

"T… To listen to you and tell him what you said, to watch you and tell him what you were doing, who you were talking to and so on. When you'd be released so he could get you back under his c… control."

"Ha!" she snorted derisively, disgust in her voice now. "So what have you told him?"

Chancer hesitated and her gun hand tightened, Jack's equally as steady supporting it. Myers moved Derek's head a second time as if to hit it against the metal again.

"Ok!" Derek was horrified to hear himself begging. Which he was, for his very life. For a few more weeks at least before old sparky had him. "Ok! Please! Not much, there wasn't much I could tell him! Just you and Michael Myers were getting close and he should be careful. That you were scared of him and were taking measures to escape."

"My telephone number? That was you wasn't it?"

"Adam asked me to get it at any cost. So yes, I bribed John Baker to get it from Dr Stark's secure cabinet. I passed it back to Adam."

She actually laughed. "I'd have thought you'd have learnt from what happened to Mr. Baker, Mr. Chancer. He didn't live to tell about that mistake did he? What else?"

"I… I told him you'd had panic attacks and he told me about the letter! He wanted me to see it but I said it wouldn't be safe," Dr Stark looked disgusted. "But he read it to me via the iPod, it can call between me and the people Adam hired."

"Who are they?"

"C… Chris Leach's organisation."

Joanne gasped. Adam Dawson had clearly spared no expense. Chris Leach was a well-known and feared crime Lord and hiring his men would not be cheap. Joanne was no criminal, but she'd guarded enough of them to know that much. "Mr. Leach himself is involved.

"Give us the password," Rick commanded, having taken the iPod from Dr Loomis. "Now!"

"I… I don't remember it," Chancer began, but when her finger kissed the trigger he backtracked as fast as he could. "Ok! It's Rich Chales. It's an anagram of Chris Leach's name!"

Rick entered the password and opened the fake work out app. "But don't enter it wrong three times or it'll kill you!"

"Ingenious I do have to say so," Dr Loomis said quietly. Dr Stark nodded, both doctors looked furious. How much had this cost Dawson to use? Shit. He was seriously after her.

"How will it kill us?" Dr Loomis demanded.

"I… I don't know, I wasn't told."

"I'd take that part seriously if I were you," Rick warned. "I've heard of Chris Leach. The motherfucker's a damn good programmer, he can do almost anything."

"Everyone's heard of Chris Leach," Joanne said with a grimace. He's only the most feared crime Lord in the states."

Dr Loomis nodded to his guards. "Yes and yes, those facts are what worries me."

"That review button allows me to text them and the rate button will call them." Derek was speaking fast now, desperate to save his own life even if it was only temporary. Michael Myers killing him or the electric chair? There was no choice as far as he was concerned. Not to mention there was still hope his Lawyers would save his ass.

"How much were you offered to do this?"

"I wasn't given an exact amount, but I was paid by the hour while I was listening to you. But I never knew what my final amount could be. Mr. Dawson wanted to give me some of his money purely because I kill women."

"Of course he fucking did," she snarled bitterly. "He'd love more women to die. Misogynistic fucker! I can't believe I let him do everything he has to me! But God help me he won't harm another woman in his life! I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that! Just as you won't kill anymore, Mr. Chancer."

Rick raised the iPod so the others could see it and started writing a text in the fake app. He read it out as he did so.

"It's over, Adam Dawson. Your inside man has been caught and is on his way to Death-Row tomorrow. We know what you've done, all of it. All your plans, tricks and evil intentions. Mr. Chancer squealed to save his own life from being terminated by her man Mr. Michael Myers. Wise decision by him I must say. You will never get to her; he and we will make absolutely sure of this. Leave her alone Dawson while you're still alive. You will not get another warning. Dr Samuel Loomis."

"Perfect," Dr Loomis said and Rick hit send.

"You're together now?" Jack whispered to her and she nodded, smiling at him. "Yay! I'm really pleased for you. Now are we shooting him or not?"

She grinned at him. Damn she loved him. Him, Joanne, Rick. She adored those three and would tell them as soon as she could. She'd do anything for every one of them. "Hmm," she pretended to consider. "Nah, let's let 'old sparky' do his damage. But first…" She stepped towards Chancer still supported by Jack. Reaching out, she grabbed both of his ears. Jack lowered the gun so she had both hands free and she pulled his ears as hard as she could. Derek couldn't move his head because Michael was still holding it in place.

"FUCK! GET OFF MY EARS, BITCH!" Chancer screamed in pain. She only pulled his ears harder. "Shame," she commented over his vile shouts, as if she couldn't hear them. "You've got nice ears Mr. Chancer. Shame you're such an evil prick!"

Chancer remembered his words to Adam. "Stupid bitch, she loves ears. What the fuck? She'd be dead before she got anywhere near my fucking ears!" Turned out, he was wrong. She twisted his ears like a dial on a miss behaving oven. Chancer knew they would seriously bruise tomorrow. He could take his bruised ears with him to the chair. Eventually, she released him. Chancer was gasping for breath, his ears red hot agony and the pain also shooting through his head. He wanted to insult her, call her a bitch even, but he couldn't. All his energy and fight were gone. Derek Chancer knew he was a beaten man.

"Michael, don't kill him, please? Let 'old sparky' have him. He deserves to wait, suffer then fry. All the women he's raped and killed deserve justice!"

"Well said!" Dr Stark and Joanne said together. Slowly, Myers released Chancer, who slumped to the ground. Rick and Jack joined up outside his cell door, which they opened and handcuffed him.

"Take him down to solitary," Dr Loomis instructed them. "The secure Death-Row van will be here in the morning."

"You have to give them a reason quack," Chancer snarled, his last defence and hope. "They can't just take me!"

"On the contrary," Dr Loomis said amiably, as if they were chatting in a pub. "I don't, Mr. Chancer. I am the doctor here. I just tell them that your treatment is now over and has failed. It'll be no surprise to most I think you'll find. The world has been waiting for you to go to the chair since you were caught."

They were just about to lead Chancer out, when the iPod vibrated with a message. Rick read it out.

"I don't believe you. This is retaliation for the iPod thing. Don't lie to me, Mr. Chancer."

"What is he talking about?" Dr Loomis asked.

"They programmed the iPod to buzz and the picture to go faint," Derek Chancer said, his voice quiet now, his ears on fire and knowing he was a beaten man just as Dawson was, whether the misogynist chose to believe and except it or not. "Then someone came in to "fix" it, but it turned out Dawson was tricking me. This person listened with the iPod and then confirmed to Dawson via one of Leach's men it was working. Next moment the buzzing and so on was gone. Adam thinks I'm angry because of that so am retaliating."

"Don't do anything Rick," Dr Loomis said to his guard. "The longer Adam believes this, the better for us. Mr. Chancer's death sentence will be all over the news tomorrow anyway."

"Agreed, he'll make mistakes because he's desperate like I said before."

…

Adam was just considering whether to order a whore for tonight when the first text came through. He read it and felt an emotion ramp up inside him he didn't like at all. Fear.

They're a couple now, they just kissed outside my door. I'm done. I'm not listening to her any further. I don't want her man to kill me. Sorry.

Shit, shit! As much as he hated to admit it, Adam couldn't blame Derek Chancer for wanting to back out if that was indeed true. But then he remembered the iPod incident and wondered if this was a lie. All the same, if it wasn't… His father's words in prison flashed through his mind. 'Give up now while you're still alive. Her? Nope, too hot! Leave well alone.'

FUCK!" Adam almost howled. He didn't want to admit defeat, he couldn't. But… But… "FUCK!"

No, he decided. The motherfucker was lying to him and by God he would do the job! He'd paid enough for it. The son of a bitch wasn't backing out now. He remembered laughing at the thought of Myers letting her touch his ears. Suddenly, it didn't seem so funny or absurd anymore. So when the second text came through a few minutes later, Adam desperately hoped it was indeed a lie, not in fact the last nail in his coffin.

It's over, Adam Dawson. Your inside man has been caught and is on his way to Death-Row tomorrow. We know what you've done, all of it. All your plans, tricks and evil intentions. Mr. Chancer squealed to save his own life from being terminated by Danielle's man, Mr. Michael Myers. Wise decision by him I must say. You will never get to her; he and we will make absolutely sure of this. Leave her alone Dawson while you're still alive. You will not get another warning. Dr Samuel Loomis.

Would Derek Chancer really say that she and Myers were a couple if they weren't? Not to mention write as Dr Loomis? Why? To make him uneasy deliberately? God Adam hoped that was indeed the case. Because if it wasn't, he was in dead trouble. Literally. He called Leach's organisation, his hands trying not to shake as he dialled. "Do you think it's true?" He demanded of the man who answered.

"Check your news app tomorrow Dawson," the guy said. "If he's really going to the chair now, it'll be all over it given his crimes." He hung up. Adam considered this. What if Chancer had named Leach and his organisation? Well that wasn't his fucking problem. Chris Leach was big enough and ugly enough to look after himself. He didn't fear anyone.

Ha, really? Adam thought sceptically as he climbed in to his bed, sex completely off the agenda and his mind now. Even Michael Myers? I hope not for your sake Leach, because if Chancer's named you, persuade Michael Myers not to kill you? Good luck! Because you might have to do just that.

…

DEREK CHANCER's OUT OF CHANCES! OR IS THERE ONE LAST CHANCE?

Derek Chancer, the 28 year old woman rapist and killer who has no fewer than forty-two murders and rapes against his name, has finally been sentenced to death. Chancer, who was undergoing treatment at Smith's Grove Psychiatric hospital, has just been transferred to Death-Row this morning. Doctors at Smith's Grove have declined to comment when we tried to contact them this morning. This decision will come as no surprise to most of the world, it was one the families and friends of many of his victims had been hoping for, for a long time.

"I don't see how Dr Loomis and the rest could've thought they could treat him," said Sarah Goodall, the mother of Andrea Goodall, one of Chancer's first victims. "Men like him don't change. They just keep killing. Derek Chancer is pure evil."

Mrs. Goodall's statement is only one of many. There has been public joy at this announcement and no one has tried to pretend otherwise. Mr. Chancer's Lawyers are still appealing, but this decision from trained Psychiatric doctors is probably the very last nail in his coffin. Last chance exhausted, as it were.

…

Danielle lent against the bars of Derek Chancer's now former cell, feeling suddenly exhausted and overcome by dizziness. She knew what it was, adrenaline. Before she even realised it, Michael was there, his arms tight around her.

"Are you alright?" The two doctors and three guards said together.

"Um, yes I think so," she tried to smile. "I just came over a little weak and dizzy for a second. Adrenaline, I know."

Michael lifted her up and in to their cell once more. Dr Stark followed and as Michael lay her on the bed, knelt beside her and laid a hand against her forehead, checking her temperature. She recalled with self-disgust how the old her would've called it patronising, told the doctor to get off. Not now though. Dr Stark's other hand took her wrist, checking her pulse. Joanne entered behind her, just as Michael handed her a glass of cold water.

"Very well done," Dr Loomis said. "I hardly recognised you from the woman who first entered this hospital."

"Well said," Dr Stark and Joanne agreed. She decided now was the time. When Jack and Rick came back, she'd tell them all how she felt for them. There were a lot of good guards there sure, but these three had treated her with nothing but kindness and gone out of their way to help her. Jack keeping her distracted when Chancer was being interrogated the first time, Joanne for being there whenever she needed her, despite her blatant rudeness towards the guard when she'd first arrived. Remembering it now made her cringe. She was glad to see the back of that woman herself.

"I'm sorry Michael, I hadn't planned for the night I told you to end like this."

"Shh," she was certain Michael said as he held her tightly. Dr Stark straightened up.

"Your pulse and temperature are both fine. I recommend a nice hot drink, then for you to relax with your man there. I know he'll look after you for us."

She smiled again. It was weak, but contained genuine happiness. "Yes Dr Stark," she said instantly. She was not being sarcastic. She asked her consultant for a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marsh mallows.

"That's my girl," Dr Stark touched her hand.

"Before I do though, I desperately want to speak to Joanne, Rick and Jack. May I?"

"Of course," Dr Stark said. "But you stay lying down on that bed you hear? I'll ask them to come to you." Michael, keep an eye on her and make sure she stays there."

"Yes Dr Stark," she said again.

A few minutes later, they heard the block doors open then Dr Stark talking to the two male guards. "Joanne, where's Ryan? Isn't he meant to be here tonight?"

"He's off sick," Dr Loomis said standing in the doorway. "But don't worry," he added, seeing the concern on her face. "It's just the flu, he'll be fine."

"Man flu," Joanne muttered. "Just didn't want to work a late shift." She covered her mouth and snorted with laughter.

"I heard that," Dr Loomis said, but she knew he was smiling. "I'll be sure to tell him!"

Joanne laughed. "Seriously, hope he's ok."

"He will be," Rick's voice said as he appeared beside them. "He's a tough cookie is Ryan."

That's for sure, she thought. You don't get much tougher than surviving Michael Myers grabbing your throat, apology or not. Joanne squeezed her shoulder and she was sure they were right then thinking the same thing.

"You're no push over yourself Rick, Mr. Chancer almost killed you."

Rick smiled at her as Jack stepped in. "Hey," he said. "Did you want us?"

"Please," knowing she was under Michael's and Dr Stark's watchful eyes, she eased herself up against the pillows, but didn't try to stand. Michael stood up and headed for the exit and Dr Stark closed the door behind him. She felt her love if possible intensify for Michael. He was giving her privacy, as was Dr Stark.

"I don't know the best way to say this," she began and without knowing why as she'd done many times before, pressed the button to close the screen so she couldn't be heard except by the three of them. "Please just hear me out?"

"Of course," the guards said together quietly.

"I wanted to thank the three of you from the bottom of my heart and soul for being there for me since I got here. Before you say it, don't you dare come out with it is "just our job,"" she made quotation marks in the air with her fingers. "Because that's bullshit and you know it! Yes it's your job to guard me, but that's it, guard. You three by contrast have gone out of your way to help me when the heat's come down. Jack, you by watching a film with me and showing me the cinema and your work equipment to keep me distracted when Chancer was being interrogated. You didn't have to do that. Not to mention not stopping me and helping me aim that gun properly tonight. Truth be told, I probably would've missed if shooting him on my own, but he wasn't to know that. I was seriously tempted to shoot, you know. But I made the right decision. He's going to the chair, which is exactly what he deserves. You Rick for treating me nothing but kindly from day one. When I found out what Derek Chancer had done, I was devastated. If I hadn't been stuck here, I'd have come to visit you myself. As for you Joanne, where do I start? You've almost been a mother to me, which I haven't had much of. Emma Avery is amazing, but my own mom buggered off and abandoned me a few years ago because I'm blind." She heard Jack's soft, "What?"

"I won't lie, I was terrified when I first got here and tried to hide it under stupid false bravado. But you saw right through that Joanne and cracked it with ease. Yes Michael of course did his part too, but without you I would never have got this far. Hell one of the first nights I was here," she reached for her water jug and for the first time, showed the guards how she'd tried to run her wrists across it, looking for a sharp edge. "I was this close. Without you Joanne I may very well have tried something. Then with the trial, you were there with me from the word go. Yes Dr Stark had asked you to do it, but you stayed on the night it was over when you should've gone home! Don't think I don't know about that because I do! You've all gone over and above your duties as guards towards me in one way or another since I got here, all three of you. I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it straight."

She turned her head towards the three not just guards, but friends. "I adore all three of you," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I'll do anything for every one of you. Please just ask and if I can do it I will. I love you like a mother, Joanne. Jack I see you as an older brother and Rick, maybe an uncle?"

There was a brief silence, then Joanne knelt and hugged her tightly.

"You're a sweetheart," Jack said, sounding incredibly touched. "But it is just…"

"No!" She almost shouted. "I told you, don't you dare say that! There's a job, then a job! You know damn well you've done way more than you had to." Jack shut his mouth.

"That's very sweet of you," Rick said. "I'm very touched, but you don't have to do anything for me except enjoy your new life."

"Well said," Joanne and Jack said together. Eventually, Danielle opened the screen again.

"Hey," Jack said suddenly. "Has Rick passed the ear test yet?"

"Oh God!" Joanne mock groaned as Rick said huh?"

She blushed but couldn't help laughing. "Come here Rick?"

The guard did so, kneeling beside her bed. It was only then she noticed how tall he was. , she reached up and felt his ears for the first time.

"So?" Jack asked. "I got a verdict from the ear judge of small!"

"Ha-ha," Joanne laughed. "I got small and cute from her honour of ears!"

"Medium sized, normal," she said, mortified but also laughing.

"Huh!" Rick said, standing again. "So we've gone from small and cute, to small, to medium sized and normal? I don't know whether to be hurt or relieved!"

Everyone laughed. She could hardly believe it when Dr Stark opened the door and said "go on then, what about mine?"

For the very first time, she felt the consultant's ears. They too were relatively small, but she pretended to be considering her answer.

"Watch out," Jack warned. "You might not like her verdict, Dr Stark."

"Um normal," she blushed.

"Oh yeah?" Dr Loomis teased and once again she couldn't believe what was happening, as she now touched his ears. Affection almost consumed her for all of them once more. "Ok you've got nice ears," she said to Dr Loomis, making everyone laugh.

"What do you want?" Dr Loomis asked. "Flattery will get you everywhere!"

"So missy?" Joanne said. "What about Michael's ears? He doesn't get out of this either you know!" As she said this, she pulled back so the man in question could retake his place beside her on the bed and pull her close. She tweaked his ears and before she could stop herself, the truth had come tumbling out of her mouth. "Sexy as all hell."