Thanks, Jess, for your continued lovely reviews, they always brighten my day! And as for leaving it where I did last chapter, think I've said it before but I'll say it again; sorry, not sorry :D

If its any consolation, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

The sound of the crash echoed through the air as the four officers stared at Kit's car, the windows smashed and the metal dented from the car's roll, though it now stood upright. The car that he had swerved to avoid was unscathed, though the young female driver got shakily out, her hand going to her mouth in horror. She could have only just passed her test from the look of her, Tony thought. All around them, people came running, some taking phones out, he was sure to take pictures to gleefully show people later, it certainly wasn't to call the police.

"Steve. Cordon off the area."

Steve stared at the car, white faced and wide eyed, and didn't move.

"Steve! Now!"

Steve jumped at Tony's sharp tone and ran to get the cordon tape from the back of the car, shouting at the crowd to get back. A man, probably somewhere in his fifties, ran past, ignoring Steve shouting at him.

"Get back, now!" Gabriel ordered, blocking the man from running to the damaged car.

"I'm a doctor, look," he said and flashed an ID badge at Tony and Gabriel. "Patrick Meyers, emergency medicine. Maybe I can help until the ambulance gets here? Someone in that car must be badly hurt!"

"Wait there, doctor, by the area car," Tony said, pointing. "If it's safe enough, we'll call you over."

Meyers nodded and did as Tony said, watching as he, Gabriel and Sheelagh went to the car. Kit was slumped in the front over the airbag, unmoving. Gabriel opened the door, leant in and felt Kit's neck.

"There's a pulse," he said. "But he's unconscious."

Tony nodded, and his eyes swept the passenger and back seats; there was no sign of Andrea, even though he hadn't expected there to be there. He looked at the boot. The car had flipped violently. If she was in there, she would have to be very seriously hurt.

"Pop the boot," he said, walking to it.

Gabriel did so, using the button on the driver's side and Tony wrestled with the boot, straining. Gabriel came to help and with their combined efforts, it opened. They both fully expected to find her unconscious like Kit, but Andrea's eyes were open, blinking rapidly in the light. Blood poured from a gash in her head.

"Andrea? It's Tony. You're going to be okay. The ambulance is on its way."

She could see his lips moving, but the sound of his voice seemed to be slower to reach her ears. The agonising pain in her chest and the struggle for breath told her something was very wrong.

"Officers!"

The shout from Meyers was frantic and he pointed at the bonnet of the car from which smoke had been emitting ever since the impact, but now there was flickering orange there, too.

"We've gotta get them out," Tony said, tuning away from Andrea, not wanting her to see his panic.

"That could hurt them even more," Sheelagh said.

"Well, that's better than them both being burnt alive!" he said. "You two, get Maynard out. Now!"

Maybe it was because it was so unlike Tony to shout or be anything but jolly and mellow, or the gravity of the situation, but Gabriel and Sheelagh immediately went to do as he said. Tony waved Steve over and leant back over Andrea.

"Andrea, listen to me. You're going to be okay, but the car's on fire. Me and Steve, we're going to get you out. You understand?"

She could only nod and heard Tony order Steve to take her legs and to be careful. He, Tony, was going to support her head and neck, and he did so like she was a newborn baby. She heard Tony give Steve terse instructions and she was sure it wasn't because he was annoyed with the younger officer, but she'd never heard Tony speak to anyone like that.

"Tony, Steve, hurry!"

Sheelagh's shout was almost a scream.

"Okay, Steve, let's go!" he said and the two men lifted Andrea from the boot and carried her clear of the car, the front of which was now engulfed in flames. Kit was lying on his back near one of the area cars, Meyers already checking him over. Tony and Steve reached them just as the car exploded and the noise was deafening. The crowd screamed and jumped back. Tony and Steve put Andrea carefully down nearby Kit and Tony looked at the burning car, his heart thudding in his chest. Then, his mouth set in a hard line, he turned around and bellowed at the gathered crowd.

"You've already been told, now get back! And if I see any of those phones out, I'll be confiscating them! This is a crime scene with two seriously injured casualties! Now put them away!"

"Tony! Tony, quick!" Steve said. Something's wrong, look, her lips, they're going all blue!"

Tony turned back to Andrea and knelt by her side; as Steve had said, her lips were tinged with blue, like the night they'd found her at the allotments and her skin was markedly pale. The two men could clearly hear her struggling to breathe.

"Doctor! Doctor, quick!"

Meyers looked up from leaning over Kit, and got up, running over to them, leaving Gabriel and Sheelagh with Kit, stethoscope swinging around his neck.

"She's in agony!" Steve said, sounding on the verge of tears. "She can't breathe properly!"

"What's her name?"

"Andrea."

"Andrea, I'm going to just have a listen, okay? See if I can find the problem." He listened to one side of her chest, and then the other, then looked up at the two. "Where's that ambulance?"

"I'll get an ETA," said Tony, getting up. "What's wrong with her?"

"Absent breath sounds on the right," he said. "Collapsed lung."

"Sierra Oscar from 595, we need an ETA on the ambulances," Tony said into his radio.

"Five minutes out, Tony, they've been diverted because of roadworks," said Gina Gold. "Update, please?"

"Ma'am, we had to pull them out, the car caught fire. There's an off duty doctor giving medical assistance, but Andrea had a collapsed lung."

"And what about Maynard?"

"Alive," Tony said. "I don't know any more than that."

"All right, we're less than two minutes out. We'll be with you soon."

"Ma'am," said Tony and knelt back down by Andrea. "How is he?"

Meyers looked over his shoulder at Maynard. "No obvious injuries but of course it could be internal. He's still unconscious."

"Did we do this? When we moved her?"

"No, this would have happened on impact."

"T…T…Tony!"

"Don't speak," he said, squeezing her hand. "It's okay, keep calm. Can't you do anything?" he pleaded of Meyers.

"I'd rather wait…."

"Please!"

"Okay. I'll try." To Steve, he said, "Over there, by the other casualty, there's my medical bag. I need you to get it for me."

Steve moved quickly, there and back in seconds, Tony could almost swear he'd flown. From the bag, Meyers took some sterile gloves, which he put on and unwrapped a long cannula.

"Andrea, I'm going to do what's called a needle decompression. I'm sorry, it's going to hurt, but it's the best chance I have of helping you."

She nodded and Meyers cut her clothing with scissors, throwing them back into his bag. Tony watched him feel down her ribcage, then caught his eye.

"You need to hold her for me, both of you. Keep her still."

Steve and Tony got into position either side, hands on her shoulders and watched as Meyers pierced her flesh with the needle, burying the cannula to the hilt. Andrea's face contorted, and they all heard the hiss of air. Relieved, Meyers removed the needle and secured the cannula, leaving it in situ, then listened again to Andrea's chest.

"The colour's coming back into her face, look!" Steve said.

"Yes," Meyers said. "Breath sounds now present. Keep her absolutely still and don't let her touch that cannula. It needs to stay where it is. I need to go and check on the other guy."

"Needs must," Tony muttered, earning him a curious look from Meyers but he just shook his head and waved for him to go. He looked back down at Andrea, whose face had begun to regain its colour.

"Tony," she said. "Smithy. Is he okay?"

"He's fine," he assured her. "Kirsty is as well, they found her. She's recovering well in hospital."

"Kit?" she asked, trying to turn her head.

"No, no, you have to keep still," Tony said, keeping her head in place. "He's alive. The doctor's with him. Don't worry about him. Just focus on you."

The police cars arrived, followed by the ambulance and fire engine. The firefighters went immediately to put out the ablaze car. Gina was out of the car before it had even stopped and ran over to Andrea.

"Andrea? Gina Gold. We'll get you to hospital. You'll be fine." She looked past Steve's shoulder at Kit. Meyers was still with him, and was handing over to the paramedics his condition. "What about him?"

"Unconscious, has been since we got him out."

"I wouldn't have bothered," she said, in the way only Gina Gold could get away with.

"He needs to face justice, Ma'am."

"You're too old school, Tony," she said and moved aside for the paramedics to get to her. One was Chris, the paramedic from the scene the previous day. He recognised Andrea, she could see, and his eyes moved to Kit, putting two and two together. His mouth set in a line, but he stayed professional and dropped by her side.

"Andrea, right?"

She nodded, recognition crossing her own face.

"Y…your friend…"

"He's okay. Don't worry," he said, and he looked at the cannula in situ in Andrea's chest.

"That was him," Tony said, pointing at Meyers. "Emergency doctor, he says."

"He is," said Chris, acknowledging Myers with a wave. "We know him. Good job. Do you hurt anywhere else, Andrea?"

"My head."

"She was in the boot," Tony said, and nodded at the car. "We had to get her out. She's not lost consciousness."

"Probably better that you did," said Chris, eyeing the cindered car. To his colleague, he said; "we need the spinal board."

"Her hands are bound," said Tony. "I noticed when we lifted her out. We didn't have anything to cut it with, but it needs to be preserved for evidence."

"We will," said Chris and took the evidence bag Steve held out. "I just need you to keep her still as are, you're doing a great job."

The colleague returned with the spinal board. Tony and Steve assisted as they slowly and carefully turned Andrea to her side and cut the zip tie binding her hands with ligature cutters. Chris put it in the bag and gave it back to Steve, then he and his colleague secured her to the spinal board.

"Kit?" she said, trying to strain her vision to the side; her head was immobilised in the brace.

"Don't worry about him," Gina said firmly, holding her hand as she was wheeled to the ambulance. "He's being treated, he can't hurt you now. I'm coming with you, and I'll get Smithy to meet us there."

"Is he really okay?"

"I promise, he's fine," said Gina, sitting by her side. "Andrea, did he hurt you?"

"Inspector, I don't think this is the time…"

"I don't think so. I don't know. He injected me with something, I don't know what it was," she said, and her eyes stung as she wondered what she had since she'd first woken up in the boot. "Ma'am, I don't know what he did when I was out of it."

"We'll find out," Gina said, catching the paramedic's glare. "Just keep calm, maybe he's right, this isn't the best time to talk about it."

"This is Andrea, 28, involved in a car crash in which she was trapped in the boot, doesn't appear to have lost consciousness, but reporting of a headache, Dr Meyers was at the scene off duty and performed a needle aspiration to treat a right side pneumothorax, cannula left in situ and secured, equal air entry on both sides. Laceration on scalp, cleaned and dressed. Blood pressure 114/76, heart rate 90, respiratory 18. No known allergies. She was given 500 mils of saline and 10 of morphine."

Chris spoke as he wheeled Andrea's stretcher through the doors of resus, and a doctor listened to him attentively, giving Gina a glance.

"This is Inspector Gold," Chris said. "She rode with her. It was that lunatic who attacked Andy driving."

"And he'll be brought to justice," said Gina. "For the time being, please can we focus on…?"

She gestured at Andrea. Chris scowled, but Gina got the impression that it wasn't really directed at her.

"On my count," he said, "one, two, three."

He and the doctor lifted the stretcher from the trolley to a bed, and the doctor took her hand in his.

"Andrea, my name is Nick Jordan, I'm going to be looking after you, squeeze my hand if you can understand me…" he smiled when she did. "Good girl."

"Am I badly hurt?"

"That's what I'm going to find out," he said and leant over her, shining a torch into her eyes. "Good, equal and reactive pupils." Jordan looked over his shoulder at a scrub nurse and said; "call CT, we should get one urgently."

She nodded and went straight to the phone. Jordan turned his attention back to Andrea.

"I'm going to complete a top to toe examination, is that okay? You just tell me if anything hurts."

He felt down her head, neck and shoulders, stopping at her arm when she winced, Jordan looked at the area he'd been feeling and said; "puncture mark, from a needle."

"The ketamine," said Chris. "The one stolen from the ambulance. Andrea said he injected her with something and she fell unconscious."

"Julie, we'd better add a full toxicology and bloods screening with that CT," Jordan called over to the nurse, then glanced over at Gina when she cleared her throat.

"We're a bit concerned," she said. "About what might have happened when she was unconscious."

He caught her meaning quickly and his eyes darkened, as she thought anyone's would at the thought of anyone doing to horrific to someone, but especially when they were unconscious and unable to fight back.

"I see," he said. "Andrea, we can examine you further to find out, but it's going to be more invasive."

Andrea's eyes closed briefly and she said; "I understand. Do whatever you have to."

The doors opened again and two more paramedics came in with Kit on a stretcher, followed by Gabriel. Scowling, Gina waved for them to take him as far away from her as the room allowed, and Chris put up screens around Andrea's bed.

"Is that him?"

"Yes, don't worry," Gina said firmly, moving to block her sight, even though the screens were up, "he's not getting any nearer."

"Is he alive?"

"Yes, but let's just focus on you," she said, and Jordan returned.

"We're taking you straight to CT," he said. "Inspector, if you don't mind waiting here, I'll get someone to update you."

Gina stood back as they wheeled Andrea away, then went around the screens to look in on Kit over Gabriel's shoulder.

"How is he?"

"Came to in the ambulance, Ma'am, but he hasn't said much," Gabriel said, then looked around. "What about Andrea?"

She knew he couldn't really care less about her, and wasn't sure why he was asking but answered anyway.

"They've taken her for a scan to assess for any damage. So, he doesn't have much to say for himself, does he? We'll see about that. Stick to him like glue, don't let him out of your sight."

"Ma'am," he said, and rolled his eyes when she walked away.

Even after everything she'd done at Sun Hill, Andrea was still the golden girl. Still, he thought, and it pained him to admit it; Kit Maynard was far worse. He wasn't the least bit fazed by his own hypocrisy; Kerry led him on, she had it coming, and Hardy, well he never would have kept his mouth shut, no matter what he might have said. Maybe at first, he would, but a few months in prison would probably have loosened his tongue. Still, at least this had taken Andrea's focus off of him; for a good while there, she had been so close to uncovering the truth.

Gina pushed through the doors and walked towards the exit, fully intent on going out to have the cigarette her body was craving. The doors opened before she reached them and Smithy came in, followed closely by Tony.

"Gina! Where is she?"

"They've taken her for a scan," she said, pointedly stopping him going through the doors to resus.

Smithy's eyes narrowed and he said; "Is he in there?"

"Yes and don't even think about it," she said. "Gabriel's in there with him, and he's hardly going anywhere. Come on, just come outside."

"Tony said the car caught fire," Smithy said. "That he had her in the boot."

Gina nodded, lighting her cigarette and said; "yes and thankfully they got her out in time, or she almost certainly would have died."

"We might've hurt her more though," Tony said worriedly.

"Even if that is the case, and I doubt that it is, she's alive," Gina told him. "And if you hadn't gotten her out, she wouldn't be. Look, Smithy…"

"What?" he said edgily. That she was hesitant made him even more nervous, Gina never was one to mince her words.

"Don't freak out, but they need to do more than a scan. They need to do a more…thorough examination." He blinked at her, and she sighed, realising she was going to have to spell it out. "He did use the ketamine on her. And…well, if he did…something to her whilst she was out of it…"

"No," Tony said as Smithy's face whitened. "Why would anyone…of all the sick…"

"And you are both good, decent men, who wouldn't understand why someone would and I thank whoever might be above for that," she said. "Look, he might not have done anything, but we need to be sure."

"I need to be with her," Smithy said.

"Smithy, I'm really not trying to keep you away from her, but…I don't think she's going to want you with her when she's being examined like that. It'll be invasive enough without an audience."

"If he's done anything to her…" Smithy said, hands clenching into fists, the thought of something like that happening to yet another woman he loved, filling him with red hot rage.

"He will face justice," said Gina. "Our justice."

"He deserves more."

"I know, but don't. Andrea wants him to pay through the proper channels. She needs you with her Smithy, not on a vigilante rampage."

He unclenched his hands and took in a deep breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he was no calmer, but thought only of Andrea.

"When can I see her?"

"The doctor said someone would come and update me. Let me finish this, then we'll go inside and wait."

Gina and Smithy had been waiting for a little over an hour – Tony having excused himself to go back to patrol duties – when Julie the scrub nurse returned.

"Inspector Gold?"

"How is she?" Smithy said before Gina could respond.

"This is Smithy, Andrea's friend," she said. "And my fellow officer."

Julie nodded at him. "Well, Mr Jordan has completed his examinations, so if you'd like to follow me, I can take you to the ward to see her."

"Ward?" Smithy said, following her to the lift. "You're admitting her? Why?"

"The radiologist is concerned about something on the scan," she said. "And she's been sick. I don't know any more than that, I'm afraid. He'll be along to update Andrea when he's reviewed the images from the CT."

She pressed the button for the seventh floor and Smithy shared a look with Gina until she asked what they were both afraid of the answer to.

"And…what about the other examination?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "I really don't know. I'm sure Mr Jordan won't keep her too long."

They exited the lift and she buzzed them into the ward, leading them towards a bay with four beds, one of which had the curtains drawn around it. Julie stopped and pointed them through. Smithy parted the curtains with shaking hands and stepped in. Andrea was sat up in the bed, tears running silently down her face. He sat on the bed and gathered her in his arms, kissing her hair.

"That was horrible," she said.

"I know," he said, and thought that even if it had turned out that Kit hadn't done anything, being examined like that must feel just as bad. "But we have him now. He's not going anywhere."

"As soon as he's fit to leave, it'll be in handcuffs," Gina said. "He's not going near you again."

"How badly hurt is he?"

"I'm not sure. I've left Gabriel guarding him, so I'll go and check in with him shortly, see if there's any more news."

Andrea gave Smithy a glance at her mention of Gabriel and she saw it was news to him, and she could see in his face he'd read the thought crossing her mind and he shook his head. Surely, he thought, he wouldn't let a dangerous man go because of some petty grudge? She felt then, the bile rising and lurched forwards. Smithy snatched the bowl, giving it to her just as she vomited. Gina poked her head out of the curtains and waved down a nurse.

"Can we get some help, please?"

Andrea slumped back against the pillows, groaning and said; "everything's gone a bit blurry."

"Andrea?" Smithy said worriedly and the nurse pulled him gently out of the way.

"Andrea, are you feeling dizzy at all?"

"A little."

"What's wrong with her?" Smithy asked, feeling Gina's hand grip his.

"I'm not sure. I'll go and call the consultant, come and get one of us right away if she gets any worse."

"Can I give her some water?"

"Small, slow sips," she said. "But nothing to eat."

"Couldn't stomach it anyway," Andrea said. "How's Kirsty? Can I see her? Don't get me wrong, I could throttle her for what she did to you, but just for my own peace of mind…"

"Soon," Gina said. "Let's make sure you're up for it."

"Up for seeing someone?" Andrea said and there was silence. She looked at the two and even with her blurry vision, she could see the look they shared. "Oh right. What else don't I know? What's she done now?"

"It can wait," Gina said firmly. "You need to be calm."

"Look, if it's about her screwing Kit behind my back in Venezuela, the secret's out," Andrea muttered. "I would question it, were it not for the fact she has form."

There was too long of a silence and she looked up, catching the look the two exchanged.

"There's something else, isn't there?"

"It can wait, Andrea," Smithy said, pouring a glass of water. "For when you're a bit better."

She took the glass from him and took a sip, then put it down, grabbing for the bowl as she was sick again.

"How's the sight?"

"Worse," Andrea muttered, rubbing her eyes.

Gina turned but the curtain opened before she could reach for it and Jordan came back in, rubbing sanitiser into his hands.

"Hi Andrea, sorry to keep you waiting. First and foremost, I need to put your mind at rest about one thing; the internal examination showed no signs of sexual assault."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as we can be," he said. "None of the bruising, tears or lacerations notable. Various cuts and bruises elsewhere, but after a crash like that, that's to be expected."

Smithy slid his hand into hers and she felt the relief radiating from him. She nodded. "Thank you."

"The pneumothorax also seems fine, thanks to Dr Meyers' prompt actions. Now, about the head injury. The nurse says you're having some blurred vision,"

"And she keeps being sick," Smithy said.

"Yes," he said. "The scan, it's showed a haematoma under the head laceration."

"Is that bad? Isn't that just like blood under the skin?"

"This is a little more serious than that. There's a small subdural bleed."

"You mean on my brain?" Andrea said faintly, feeling Smithy's hand tightening on hers. "Are you going to have to operate?"

"I don't want you to panic," he said soothingly. "We're going to keep you under observation. This kind of thing does have a way of working itself out."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then it is a possibility that we will have to operate, but let's just take this one step at a time."

He spoke with such confidence, she had faith in him. "Yes, doctor."

"Atta girl," he said. "Please keep the ward staff informed if the pain gets any more intense."

"I will," she said and he exited. Andrea slumped against the cushions. "Damn you, Kit."

"We should let you get some rest," Gina said.

"I'm not going," Smithy said stubbornly. "I'm not letting her out of my sight."

"Okay, well you can keep me updated," Gina said. "I'll go and check in downstairs, make sure there's order."

"Ma'am," Andrea said and she left. Outside, she and Smithy heard her exchange words with a familiar voice, then the curtains parted again and an equally familiar face appeared.

"Angus," Andrea said, pushing herself up slightly.

"Hi," he said, stepping in. "The police came to see me, told me what happened. I had to come. Are you all right? What've they said?"

"She has a bleed on her brain," Smithy said. "They're going to keep her under observation but if it doesn't work itself out, they might have to operate."

Angus nodded, but the worry was clear in his face.

"It might. Work itself out. Sometimes it does," he said and sat down in the vacant chair. "They've got him, though."

"Yeah. Silver lining," said Smithy, then his eyes narrowed. "You didn't try it, did you? Going near him?"

Angus shrugged, unashamed. "I tried, I failed. I wasn't getting near him, some bawbag called Kent saw to that."

Andrea laughed and so did Angus, watching the two of them laugh made Smithy laugh as well.

"I don't know what that meant, but I take it nothing nice," he said.

"Ow," Andrea said, clutching her head. "No, it wasn't, but its accurate, trust me."

"I take it you don't get on?" Angus said.

"You could say that," Andrea said. "At least he seems to be doing his job."

"This sounds like a story," Angus said. "Another day, though. I think you've probably been through enough today." He picked up her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'm so glad you're okay. They've got him, though. And he'll pay."

"For everything," Andrea said. "Including what he did to Bruce. Have you seen him yet?"

Angus shook his head, tears springing to his dark eyes. "I've been putting it off and putting it off. I did want to see him one more time, though…"

"I can come if you like," Smithy offered. "I'll get the arrangements made. Unless you'd rather see him alone, I can still make the arrangements…"

"No," Angus said. "I mean, I'd appreciate it. Both offers. Thank you, that's really kind. I'll let you get some rest Andrea. I just had to see you for myself, know you were okay."

"I'm glad you came," Andrea said and lifted her arms. Angus reciprocated and hugged her, careful to mind her head.

"I'll come back tomorrow. Can I get you anything, is there anything you'd like?"

Andrea shook her head. "No. Your presence will be more than enough."

"Sleep well," he said. "I know I will."

He left. Andrea settled back into the bed and looked at Smithy, holding his hand.

"I'll miss him. When he goes back."

"Yeah. I will too. Nice guy," he said and cupped her face with his free hand. "You brave, silly girl. What on earth were you doing, going with him?"

"Exactly what you would have done. Don't deny it."

"Yeah, well, I never said I was smart doing that," he said and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I was worried sick. I've seen everything he's done and all I could think was; the next time I'd see you, it would be like that."

"I'm sorry…"

"No, no, I don't want you to apologise. I want to say something to you and I need to say it now, before I lose my nerve again. I love you."

"Smithy…"

"I said it," he said, looking away as if he could scarcely believe the words came from his mouth. "Whatever you've done, whoever you are, I love you, Andrea. I have done for ages now." He looked at her hopefully; she stared at him in stunned silence and he kissed her hand. "Say something, please?"

So afraid she'd been of hurting him again, she'd been holding back her feelings for him for weeks, months even. It wasn't just that, though, after Marc and Kit, she'd been so afraid of letting Smithy into her life, she'd kept him at arm's length. But now, seeing Angus' pain at losing his brother, and thinking about the pain of Bill's daughter, she had a different perspective on things.

"I love you, Smithy, I think."

"You think?" he said and let out a laugh. "That's enough for now. I get it. You've had some bad luck with blokes. But I promise, I'll never hurt you like that.

"I believe that," she said. "Let's get this all over with, Smithy. Then we'll talk."

"I think I can wait for that," he said and turned the lights above her bed off. "You sleep now. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere."