A/N: Thank you for your continued support, I appreciate it so much, once again please remember to like, favourite and review it means the world, I love seeing your guesses of who the attacker will be and what you think of the characters.

L xx

The air was cool as the early summer breeze hit Lia as she stood leaning against a brick wall, it had been a couple of hours since she had stormed off from Rob, she watched as her phone flashed with messages and missed calls. Her phone began to buzz in her hand as she seen her friends name pop up on the screen, she took a deep sigh before answering.

Maisie?

Are you okay? Where are you?

It doesn't matter, I'm fine I promise.

Are you sure?

Yes definitely. Pinkie promise.

Right well I'll hold you to that. I told Michelle I'd ring her if you were in contact, where should I tell her you are?

Just tell her I'm fine and I'm walking around town.

And are you?

Please Mais.

Okay but message me when your back so I know your okay.

I will promise

Be safe.

Lia said her final goodbye before ending the phone call, she took a deep breathe before she walked through the doors of the hospital and walking up to the front desk.

"Hello can I help you?" The nurse asked.

"I'm looking for what ward Tina McIntyre's on," The young girl explained.

"And what relation are you?" The nurse smiled.

"Sister," Lia blurted out without thinking.

"Right no problem, she's on ward 22," The nurse smiled as Lia did so too and walked off in the direction.

She followed the signs towards ward 22 trying to pull all of her thoughts together as she went until she finally reached the ward. She went past every room having a quick glance in each until she found Tina. She stopped for a moment in a trance, Rita and David were sat around her bed, she continued to stare into the window, she had never seen anyone in such a vulnerable position before. The older women lay there still, her head bandaged together, the machines beeped as her chest moved up and down slowly. Suddenly she was snapped out of her trance by David staring straight back at her and beginning to move, she quickly turned her body and tried to walk away as quick as possible.

"What are you doing here?" David asked as Rita followed him out the room, Gail coming up behind the girl with three coffees.

"It doesn't matter, sorry this was a mistake," Lia explained going to turn around.

"Probably came to finish the job for her mum," David muttered as Lia whipped her head around, speechless.

"David!" Gail warned.

"David I know you're upset but she's only young," Rita scolded before turning to Lia, "Are you okay lovey?"

"Come on David why don't we go for a walk," Gail suggested as he rolled his eyes and nodded walking past Lia.

"Come sit down," Rita welcomed taking a seat and signalling the young girl to sit next to her with her hand, "Does Michelle know your here?"

Lia shook her head as a tear rolled down her face, "I argued with this girl at school, then Rob had go at me so I walked off."

"You should let her know where you are sweetie, let her know your safe," Rita suggested as Lia shook her head, after a few moments of quiet Rita began again, "Why are you here Lia?"

"I just wanted to see how she was," Lia explained, "I wanted to see if she was any closer to waking up. I know I'm gonna sound really selfish when I say this but I was hoping if she was any closer to getting better she'll be able to prove that my mum is innocent."

"That's not selfish lovey, that's normal, your going to miss your mum," Rita answered.

"She really didn't do this to Tina, I know she didn't, she couldn't," Lia pleaded as Rita put her hands on top of the young girl's.

"I know. I believe that your mum doesn't have the ability to do this, I believe her," Rita revealed as Lia turned around to face Rita.

Lia went to reply but stopped her herself, took a breathe and went to begin again, "Thank you."

As Rita nodded, "Do you want to see her?"

Lia shook her head, "I don't think I could see her like that, could you just tell me how she's doing?"

Rita nodded again, "She's stable for now, she's in a coma and they're looking at seeing if they can pull her out of it soon as she is getting stronger results each day."

"That's really positive," Lia smiled slightly.

"Do you want me to drop you back at the Rover's?" Rita offered.

"Do you mind?" Lia asked.

"No not at all, it'll make me feel better knowing your home safe," Rita smiled as Lia smiled back, at this moment Gail and David came round the corner.

David began to walk into Tina's room before stopping himself and walking over, "Sorry Lia about what I said, that wasn't fair on you. I'm just worried for Tina."

"It's fine, I'm gonna go now, I hope she's better soon," Lia nodded and began to get up.

"I'm gonna drop Lia off at the Rover's and get a shower David, I'll be back later on," Rita informed David who nodded and walked off back into Tina's room.

The car ride back to the Rover's was quiet, Lia didn't really know what to say to Rita apart from thanks however somehow the company was such as breathe of fresh air. After speaking to Rita and finding out how Tina was and the fact that Rita believed Carla's innocence it felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. The car pulled to a stop and Rita took her seatbelt off and opened the car door as Lia did the same.

"I'll walk you in," Rita explained as Lia smiled back.

"Thank you for talking to me," Lia thanked as they walked towards the Rovers.

"Anytime my love, anything you want to talk about, I'll be ready to talk," Rita replied as Lia smiled back in thanks.

The older women pushed the door open and held it open for Lia as she walked in behind her, Liz was stood behind the bar and saw the pair walk in, "How annoyed is she on a scale of 1 to 10?"

"I'll let you figure that one out," Liz said with a slight laugh.

"Right I best go get my armour on then," Lia quipped back as she turned to Rita, "Thanks again for today."

"Remember Lia, my doors always open for a cup of tea and a chat," Rita reminded her as Lia nodded and walked behind the bar.

"Wish me luck," Lia sighed as Liz laughed slightly.

"You'll be fine," Liz laughed back hitting her lightly with the tea towel in her hand as Lia took a deep breathe and entered the back room of the Rover's.

"Where have you been!" Michelle exclaimed as she looked round the corner from the kitchen as she heard the door open.

"I know I'm sorry okay, sorry I stormed off, sorry about Rob," Lia apologised quickly.

"Come sit down," Michelle signalled as they both took a seat, "Where've you been?"

"The hospital to see Tina," Lia revealed as Michelle looked a little taken back.

"Right, okay, and what happened?" Michelle asked.

"Rita saw me, we talked for a bit, she told me how Tina was doing and what was happening, and then she told me that's she believed mum was innocent," Lia explained.

"Really!" Michelle exclaimed.

"Yeah," Lia nodded, "She said she didn't believe mum was capable of what happened to Tina."

"That's positive at least," Michelle nodded before sitting silently for a moment, "What happened with Abbie."

"She's being having a go for weeks, I just snapped," Lia sighed.

"I get it's hard babe but you can't just go around smacking anyone that annoys you-"

"You and mu-"

"I wouldn't even bother if you are about to say the words me and your mum do, cause, number 1, very rarely does that happen and number 2 when has your mum ever said do exactly what me and Chelle do," Michelle smirked slightly.

"I am sorry," Lia sighed again.

"I know you are," Michelle nodded pulling her niece into a hug, "Me and Rob were thinking that maybe it might be best to send your work home from school for a bit and you do it here rather than going in and dealing with all of the comments off others?"

"Do you think I could actually do that?" Lia asked hopeful.

"I'll talk to the school in the morning but I don't see why not, under the circumstances," Michelle nodded as Lia smiled at her.

"Thank you Chelle."

"Although, you do know I'm gonna have to ground you for at least a week," Michelle explained as Lia shot up, her mouth open wide.

"What!" Lia exclaimed.

"Oh come on, if Carla finds out you've been fighting in the street and I did nowt about it," Michelle answered raising her eyebrows, "Do you really think my life would be worth living."

"Fine," Lia rolled her eyes as Michelle laughed slightly at her niece and her attitude, at that moment Amy came running into the back room.

"Chelle, dad wants to know what's for tea," Amy stated as Steve came in behind you.

"Amy! I told you not to ask yet, I said Chelle and Lia were talking," Steve sighed looking to his wife apologetically.

"It's fine, I'm bored of her voice anyway," Lia smirked waving her hand.

"Oi missus," Michelle retorted knocking into her niece before looking to the daughter and father duo, "I was thinking we could maybe go to the Bistro tonight?"

"Yeah!" Amy grinned.

"Thought you said I was grounded," Lia quipped back.

"Yeah well, I'll let you have one last night of freedom," Michelle grinned as Lia rolled her eyes.

"Right you two go get ready, we're leaving in 10," Michelle announced as Lia and Amy left upstairs and Steve walked into the room.

"Everything okay?" Steve asked hugging Michelle.

"I think so ... for now at least," Michelle sighed leaning into his hug.