Mike POV
We stopped as we got through the barriers and onto the pavement. I could feel that supporting me was hard on Tracy, and that she needed a break.
She helped me down, before she sank to the ground. I could hear her breathing becoming more shallow, the adrenaline clearly beginning to wear off.
"We need to get you to hospital. We need to call an ambulance. No, an ambulance will take too long. I'll drive you, it's not far." She went to stand up again.
"Tracy, sit down."
"But you..."
"Sit down."
Tracy ignored me, standing up and trying to help me up. When I resisted her efforts she sighed, taking out her car keys. "Fine. I'll go and get the car so you don't have to walk."
"Tracy, just wait a minute. Just take a moment to breathe."
"But you're in pain!"
"I'll be in more pain if you crash the car, the state you're in."
Finally Tracy resigned. She sat back next to me, her body shaking. I put an arm around her, more worried for her than I was myself.
"I think you might be going into shock," I said gently. "Just take a few minutes, steady your breathing. I'll be ok."
Tracy nodded. Her breathing seemed a little calmer, but she was clearly very shaken by what had happened, both physically and mentally.
"I'm so sorry."
I sighed, giving her a smile. "I know, Trace, I know." I paused for a moment. "Let's forget about it. I wouldn't want you to remember your last day as something bad."
"But I nearly got you killed!"
"And then you saved my life."
I'd told her this earlier, but given we were both still worried about the rest of the ceiling collapsing, as well as being absolutely exhausted from getting out of there, I wasn't sure she'd fully taken it in.
"Saved your life? You wouldn't have been in danger in the first place were it not for me."
"I know. But you got me out of there. I told you to leave me, and you wouldn't."
"I couldn't have left without you."
I pulled her towards me as I saw tears beginning to well up in her eyes, hugging her tightly. She hugged me back.
"Plus, it wouldn't be fitting for your last day to not land someone in hospital, given your track record."
I felt her laugh at my comment. I'd said a year ago that she had a mission to put all of the kids into hospital: I should have known that it would only be a matter of time before I fell victim to a Tracy Plan.
"I'll be ok. It's only my ankle really. It could have been a lot worse."
"I should never have gone there."
I chuckled at Tracy finally having a moment of growth. It had only taken her three years. "No. I did specifically tell you not to. Then again, when have you ever listened to anything I've told you?"
Tracy pulled away slightly and jokingly shoved me. She knew as well as I did that the answer was never, and that there was no point trying to argue.
"Just promise me you won't do this at your new job. I should ring to warn them about what they're getting themselves into!"
Tracy laughed slightly, before looking upon me with care. "I don't think they'd be quite as forgiving."
I gave her a smile, squeezing her shoulder. The look in Tracy's eyes was killing me now that things had calmed down slightly. The fact that this could be one of our last moments together suddenly hit me, and I felt an ache in my chest.
Tracy rested herself back on me, putting her arms around me. I hugged her gently, knowing that putting any more feeling into it would start me off.
I couldn't do that. Not here, not now.
Tracy pulled away after a few moments and got to her feet. "Do you want me to get the car or are you ok to walk?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "If you wouldn't mind going to get it."
"Of course not." Tracy took her phone out of her pocket as it made a noise. "Sapphire's taken the bus back, so I'll go get the car and we can go to the hospital."
I gave her a smile before she set off. As I watched her walk away I could feel my emotions getting the better of me, and quickly wiped away a tear that had managed to spill.
I knew Tracy, and I knew that if she knew the effect her leaving was having on me that she'd refuse to go, not wanting to upset me. I knew what an opportunity this was for her, and that I couldn't be the reason she didn't take it.
I wiped away another tear.
I closed the door after Tracy had helped me into the car. She joined me on the other side, giving me a smile.
"Can we just take a minute? I'm still a bit shaky for driving."
"Of course." I gave her a smile back. "I'd rather we didn't end up in another accident."
Tracy giggled, then sighed.
We sat in silence for a few moments.
"I can give Gina a ring and see if Melanie could come and drive us," I said. "That was a lot, it's perfectly understandable if you're not up to driving."
Tracy winced. "I'm not sure I want Gina to know at the moment. I'm not sure she'll take it very well!"
I chuckled, remembering Gina's reaction earlier when I'd realised where Tracy and Sapphire had gone. Tracy definitely had a point!
I looked over to her. She looked quiet, like she was thinking about something else.
"You ok?"
She snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah, fine."
I looked at her quizzically, but she was giving nothing away. Thinking back to what I'd said I realised I'd mentioned Melanie. Tracy hadn't exactly been welcoming to her, and I sensed that that was a difficult topic at the moment.
Silence filled the car once more.
Eventually Tracy took a deep breath. "Right, I think I'm ready. You want to go?"
"If you're feeling ok."
Tracy started the engine. "I think I can make it to the hospital."
I gave her a smile. "Let's go then."
Tracy gave me a smile back, before she put her foot on the accelerator.
Tracy POV
We arrived back at Elm Tree a couple of hours later. Mike had been seen to and given a crutch, thankfully his ankle wasn't broken, just badly bruised. I gave him a worried look as we went to the door, knowing we'd be greeted by Gina.
Mike gave me a reassuring look back. "I'll explain to her," he said. "She knows we were at the hospital but that we're both ok."
I couldn't quite bring myself to believe it. Even on my last day I had a feeling Gina wasn't going to let me off with this one.
We went into the hall and we're greeted by Gina coming out of the office.
"Mike!" The concern in her voice was clear. "What happened? Are you alright?" She put her hand on Mike's back and guided him to the sofa.
"Just had a bit of an accident," Mike replied. "I'll be fine."
Gina turned to look at me. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm ok."
Gina sighed. "Well at least that's something. Sapphire told me you were at her flat. Have you got her things?"
I exchanged a look with Mike. In the panic to get out of there we'd completely forgotten about Sapphire's suitcase.
"I'll replace them," said Mike. "I don't think we can get them back now."
Gina looked at us quizzically. "Why not?"
I looked back to Mike. He gave me a meaning look.
I looked to the floor and sighed. "The ceiling collapsed."
"The cei..." Gina shook her head incredulously, lost for words. Then she gestured to me. "Come with me."
I looked helplessly to Mike as I followed Gina into the office. She shut the door behind her and gestured for me to take a seat.
I sat and waited for the telling off.
To my surprise, Gina softened, giving a sigh. "I'm not going to miss your Tracy Plans, that's for sure!"
I gave a small smile.
She sat on a chair and wheeled it over to me, taking my hands. "I am going to miss you though."
I looked up at her. "Really?"
"Of course." She paused for a moment. "Don't get me wrong, I was furious when I found out you'd gone to Sapphire's flat, and even more furious that Mike had to go and drag you out. But I know why you did it, and your level of devotion to these kids is admirable. Whoever is in your care next will be very lucky to have you."
Tears came to my eyes. My mind flicked back to the first time I'd met Gina, her wanting me away from the kids for using Cam's credit card. For her to say that the next set of kids were going to be lucky left me lost for words.
And that didn't happen very often.
"Though I assume you've learnt your lesson now," she continued. "I don't think the next lot will be as understanding if you collapse a ceiling on them."
I smiled, though I still couldn't shift the niggling bit of doubt in my mind that Mike still wouldn't miss me. Forgiving as he was of what had just happened, he would probably still be glad to see me go.
Gina looked at me closely for a moment, then took her hands back. "Go on, you'd better go home and get changed. The kids want to throw you another goodbye party, and I think they've been working on something special."
I nodded, standing up. I was covered in dust, dirt, and whatever else, and knew I'd be grateful to get into some clean clothes.
I left the office to see Mike still on the sofa.
"I'm going to go home and change." I looked at him, covered in the same things I was. "I think you should probably do the same!"
Mike looked down at himself and made a face of agreement, before looking back up to me. "Bring Cam and Seth back with you if you like. Make it a proper celebration."
I nodded. "I'm really sorry."
Mike shook his head. "It's over, Tracy, ok? I'm ok, you're ok, we're going to finish the goodbye party. Forget about it. You made things right by getting me out of there, I don't need an apology."
Tears came to my eyes, and I fought them back. I was going to miss Mike so much: his understanding, his calmness, his way of always knowing the right thing to do. I turned away to stop my heart from breaking.
"I'll see you soon." I gave him as much of a smile as I could muster, before I left the house to go back to my car, Mike watching after me as I went.
A/N These always seem to end in really weird places, but the next shot is Elm Tree House and then Tracy introducing Cam and Seth to Melanie when she comes back for the party. I've wanted to write this piece for years, and never quite got round to it or worked out how to do it properly. I hope I've done it justice, the last episode was amazing but I always wanted a little bit more of a moment after we see them get up to leave the flat, so I hope you liked it. Please review :)
