"Brian! No!" Kate shouted after her dog who had just taken off in hot pursuit of a squirrel with an excited bark.

On hearing his mistress's order, Brian stopped but looked longingly at the squirrel who was now sat on a nearby log, nibbling on an acorn, taunting him. He was torn. It would be fun to give chase again, but if he behaved he's be in his owner's good books. The possibility of a treat when he got home won and he began to head back to Kate.

"Time to go home?" Kate asked Mia who was walking beside her, her hand tightly holding hers. Like with her grandmother, Mia was currently refusing to let Kate out of her sight. Kate had had a temporary reprieve whilst she made their evening meal, telling Mia it would be impossible to cook anything whilst cuddling her. Instead, she had convinced the little girl to cuddle with Brian on the sofa whilst watching Paw Patrol. She had seen Mia absentmindedly run her little hands through Brian's fur as she watched the cartoon on the TV. They were now giving Brian his evening walk.

There was a hint of rain in the air and Mia was in the raincoat and wellies that Kate had brought her after her kidnap. Kate had started to notice that Mia's footsteps were slowing a bit. She had made the little girl walk on purpose, hoping it would tire her out so that she would sleep well that night.

Mia nodded in response to Kate's question, so once Brian had rejoined them, they turned back in the direction of Steve's flat. Once they got back, Kate helped Mia get ready for bed and tucked the little girl in to her bed before reading her a story.

She let Brian spend the night on her bed thinking Steve wouldn't mind if it gave his daughter the comfort she was craving right now.

With Mia in bed, Kate made herself a drink and settled in front of the TV, hoping to find something good to distract her from the day's events before she too headed to bed. Surfing through the channels she quickly discarded any police dramas- too close to home to provide any entertainment that night. Some silly dating show caught her eye and she settled down to watch it at the same time a knock sounded at the front door.

Kate got up to answer it, wondering who would be calling. It was Joe. "Hi," he said as Kate opened the door. "Just thought I'd come see how you're getting on," he said.

"Come in," Kate said as she led the way to the kitchen. She was glad of the company if she was honest. "Tea?".

"Cheers," replied Joe.

"Mia's asleep," Kate told Joe as she set about making Joe a mug. Hers was still full. "Brian is with her. Steve won't mind will he?".

"Of course not," Joe answered. "Mia's happiness is all Steve wants," he continued as Kate put his mug in front of him. "How is she doing?".

"Not great," Kate replied. "What the fuck was he thinking?" she asked his friend, her temper flaring briefly before she reigned it back in. "I know why he went after him, of course I do. Of course he wanted to catch the man who'd taken Mia, it's just…..I wish he'd thought it through fully," she finished before taking a sip of her drink. "Was it bad?".

Joe looked too hesitant to answer. He wouldn't be able to lie to Kate. She was a police officer herself and had probably seen other colleagues injured in the line of duty.

"Please," Kate begged. "I'm picturing the worst already,".

"They opened his chest right there," Joe finally revealed.

"Oh god," Kate exclaimed as her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

"The doctor had his hands on Steve's heart, squeezing it to try and get it started again,". Kate started crying. "I'm sorry," Joe consoled as he took one of Kate's hands and squeezed it.

"How did he get stabbed with a vest on?" Kate said eventually asked when she had calmed down a bit. "Tell me he had a vest on,".

"He did," Joe confirmed. "He got stabbed in the arm pit. They think he probably had his arm out in defence,".

Kate's phone started vibrating on the table in front of them. She picked it up. "Steve's mum," she told Joe before taking the call. "Hi," she said as she reached for Joe's hand again.

"Hi," replied Mrs Arnott. "How are you?".

"Ok," Kate replied. "Mia's asleep. I've got Joe here. He popped round to see how we're doing. Is there any news?".

"The surgeon has just had a talk with us. He's out of theatre,".

"I'll put you on speaker phone," Kate interrupted, knowing Joe would want to hear what Steve's mother had to say as well.

"Steve's in the ITU. He made it through surgery," Mrs Arnott's voice informed them. "The knife severed a major artery and caused a lot of blood to collect in his chest," but they've managed to repair it. They're quite hopeful now," she continued.

"That's good," Kate replied, sounding a little relieved.

"He's been very lucky," Mrs Arnott added. "If he'd been stabbed on the other side, the knife would probably have gone through his heart and it would be a totally different outcome,". There was silence as Joe and Kate realised how close they had come to losing Steve before Mrs Arnott informed them that he was stable at the moment and that he'd be kept sedated and ventilated overnight before possibly waking him up tomorrow "You two should get some sleep as well," she added. "I'll keep you posted tomorrow and see if we can get the pair of you in to see him at some point,".

"He's going to be ok," Kate said as she burst into tears once she'd hung up.

"Course he is," Joe said as he enveloped her in a hug. "It'll take more than that to finish him off. Steve's a right stubborn bastard when he wants to be and he's got a lot to live for, right now,".

Emotionally and physically exhausted, Kate fell into a deep sleep soon after going to bed. She was woken by the sound of the bedroom door opening. It was still pitch black so she knew it was the middle of the night. "I had a bad dream," she heard Mia say from the side of the bed. "Daddy lets me sleep with him when I have one,".

"Better climb in then," Kate replied sleepily as she made way for the little girl in the bed. She felt Brian jump on the bed and settle himself at the foot where Mia's feet couldn't reach him.

"Daddy usually gives me a hug as well," Mia prompted once she was beside Kate.

"Like this?" Kate asked as she settled Mia in her arms.

"Uh huh," Mia confirmed before being quiet for a little bit. "Daddy's hugs are different," she eventually concluded.

"I'll have to work on mine," Kate replied, taking the comment to mean her hugs were poor in comparison to Steve's.

"You haven't got a hairy chest like Daddy," Mia said.

"I should hope not!" Kate said.

"It tickles my cheek,".

"Well I'll have to tickle you some other way then," Kate said before she launched an attack on Steve's daughter.

Mia squealed in laughter until Kate ceased her actions. "Is it ok to laugh whilst Daddy is in hospital?" Mia asked, feeling bad for the brief moment of joy she'd just experienced.

"Of course it is," Kate replied as she gathered Mia up in to her arms again. "Grandma phoned earlier. Daddy is out of surgery,".

"So he's going to be ok? Mia asked hopefully.

"I think so," Kate replied hoping she wasn't being too optimistic.