She looked absolutely petrified before her big brown eyes screwed up tightly with the light from Kate's torch. Being kept in the dark for five days she was not used to any light at all.

Kate crawled in to the cupboard and approached the little girl. She could see she was trembling with terror as she got nearer. "Hello Sweetheart, are you Mia?" Kate asked gently as she tried to remember her name from the news.

The girl remained silent and didn't acknowledge Kate's question in any way. Kate didn't blame her.

"My name's Kate," she told her gently. "I'm a police officer just like your daddy," she waffled on, trying to offer some comfort. "He's going to be so happy that we've found you. He's been looking all over for you," she informed the little girl, hoping talk of her father might make her speak, but she remained silent. "I'm here to help you, not hurt you," Kate continued before she reached out to take hold of her.

Although mute, the little girl must have understood Kate and trusted her as she willingly went in to Kate's arms before she clung on tightly around Kate's neck.

"Let's get you out of here," she said as she shuffled her way back to the cupboard door and the hallway. Once out of the confines of Mia's prison, Kate stood up. Mia continued her strangle like hold on Kate's neck and Kate had no choice but to carry her on her hip. In the bright light, she was able to cast a brief look over the young child to assess her for any injuries, but thankfully found none.

By now, the house was empty. Her partner had got bored of waiting and disappeared so Kate followed suit. As she headed outside, the last of the girls were being shepherded into waiting police vans. "Gaffer!" Kate shouted and her boss turned around. He saw the little girl on her hip and instantly walked towards his DC.

"Is that….?" he asked, the rest of the question dying on his lips. He too had recognised the child. Kate nodded. "What the hell is she doing here?" Ted questioned, totally mystified.

"No idea," Kate replied.

"How are you doing, Princess?" Ted asked Mia. She gripped Kate's neck even tighter in response.

"What do we do now?" Kate asked her boss, this particular scenario having not been discussed at their briefing that morning. "i can't see that she's been hurt, but I think we should let a doctor check her over,".

"Yes," replied Hastings. "Absolutely. She seems to trust you so you should go with her in the ambulance," he continued. "I'll get word down to London as well that we've found her. Her father will want to know immediately,".

"Thanks sir," Kate said as she headed to the waiting vehicle.

A little later Kate found herself on a chair beside a child's hospital bed with a three year old girl fast asleep on her lap, and still firmly attached to her. She had been there ever since Kate had found her. It seemed to be a safe spot for her.

As the doctors and forensic officers had buzzed around them on their arrival at the hospital, the child had whimpered a little at being removed from Kate but had accepted her fate silently. Kate had stayed by her side and stroked her long brown hair whispering comforting words as she was assessed.

Apart from some dehydration and a nasty case of nappy rash from being in soiled knickers for five days she was ok. The doctors had inserted a cannula in to the back of her hand before commencing some fluid rehydration. Kate's heart broke as the girl hardly flinched at all as the needle was inserted. She was so withdrawn.

Since they'd finished their work the little girl had crawled back on to Kate's lap and fallen asleep. Kate was waiting for her father to appear. The gaffer had visited earlier and informed her it should be any time.

The door to the room opened and a man who Kate recognised as Mia's father entered along with his parents, Kate guessed. He was very good looking, much better in real life than on TV Kate immediately thought before being ashamed at herself. This was really not the time to have such inappropriate thoughts. This poor man had just been through hell and back the last couple of days and was about to reunite with his missing daughter.

"Mia!" Steve said with relief as he caught his daughter fast asleep in a woman's lap. The little girl heard her fathers voice and opened her eyes. Steve was by her side in two steps and lifted her in to his arms, squeezing her tightly as he reacquainted himself with his daughter. "I'm so glad to have you back," he whispered to his child. "I've bought Nanna and Pop with me," he continued and Kate knew she had guessed right about the two older people in the room. "And I've bought Indy bear to say hello," he finished as he brought out a rather well worn teddy.

Mia didn't appear to be all that bothered as she didn't react at all to anything Steve had said. Kate had hoped she would start to speak when her family arrived but it didn't look like it would happen.

"I'll let you have the chair," Kate said as she vacated it quickly.

"Are you the officer who found Mia?" Steve asked.

"Yes," answered Kate. "I'm DC Kate Fleming," she introduced herself.

Steve juggled Mia in his arms so he could shake Kate's hand. He had a strong, firm grip. "DS Steve Arnott," Steve replied. "Thank you so much Kate," Steve said gratefully.

"My pleasure," Kate said.

"I don't know if I can ever thank you enough. Mia is my whole world,".

"I can see why," Kate replied. "She's a beautiful little girl," she mentioned truthfully. "I'll leave you all for some family time," she said recognising her presence wasn't really needed any more. "Bye Mia," Kate said. "I hope you're feeling better soon," she continued hoping she might get something from the little girl, but she remained silent.