Return to the Bay

[sevenpuddings]

I'm gunna dance up and down again because of the Peter and Angel scene! It's so cute Kat!! I can't wait for the next chapter!

[Jazer]

Another great chapter. Good to see they finally saved Selina but hopefully they will find Tasha and The Believers soon.

Thanks,

Jarad

[ldscott]

Brilliant!

So glad Barry asked Irene to marry him!

Can't wait to read more!

[I love music]

I didn't realise Selina was married to Stephen, I thought Joey was in love with her! Loved the part where they found Joey, that was really descriptive and I could picture it. The believers story gets better and better, I found myself saying Omigod aloud when I got to where Selina said they were planning to rape Tasha. Great ending to this chapter! )

[vikkysmile]

That was great. Im looking forward to finding out if selinas baby is ok. How many months is she pregnant? Hope she has twins.

[Skykat]

Sorry it's been so long between updates. The next chapter is underway but I'm a bit of a mess at the moment and it's hard to concentrate on writing. I'll update as soon as I can. Thanks everyone for reading, your good reviews are just what I need right now and I hope you'll all bear with me and my infrequent updates over the next few weeks. I'll do them as often as I can.xx

[tasha7905]

That was great. Yeah Barry and Irene. Hope they find Tasha soon. Cant wait for your next update

[Sunny Girl]

I hope things work out for you. Take a breath, take it easy and don't worry too much about neglecting us. Your fans at BttB will welcome you with open arms when you decide to update and become a frequent visitor to the site again.

[Skykat]

To Jess: Thanks for the use of your ears and your brain, it's appreciated chick!xx

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

“Everything seems okay to be okay,” Nurse Julie announced to the expectant Stephen and Selina as they watched their baby’s scan on the monitor.

“So my baby’s going to be fine?” Selina asked worriedly.

“We won’t know for certain until the baby is born but at this stage it seems like everything is just fine,” Nurse Julie assured her gently as Selina burst into tears.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Stephen soothed.

“I’m just so relieved. I couldn’t bear to lose another baby,” she sobbed.

“I know but we won’t. This baby’s precious and it’s got too many people looking after it, I promise our baby will be fine. It’s strong you see, just like it’s mother.” Stephen kissed her gently on the lips.

“All the early indications are good and you’re fit and healthy Selina, there’s no reason why both you and your baby shouldn’t make a full recovery. We’ll probably keep you in overnight to be sure though,” Nurse Julie explained and Selina nodded.

“Can I stay with her?” Stephen begged.

“Babe you don’t have to do that,” Selina reassured him.

“I want to, no, I need to. I don’t ever want to be parted from you again, not even for a night,” Stephen replied.

“Of course you can stay, you might have to sleep on a chair though,” Nurse Julie cautioned.

“Now that I have her back safe I’d probably be able to sleep on a clothes line,” Stephen replied.

“In that case I’ll leave you to it then.” Nurse Julie exited the room and Stephen smiled gently at Selina.

“It will be okay won’t it?” she begged him for assurance.

“Of course it will and whatever happens we’ll have each other, okay?” he assured her. Selina nodded her eyes still full of unshed tears.

“I love you so much you know, thinking of you kept me alive the past few days,” she admitted.

“I love you too. Honestly Sel, when I thought I’d lost you I just kept going over all the stupid fights we had, all the times we nearly lost each other. We’re meant to be Selina and I’m never going to lose you ever again, do you hear?” Stephen told her.

“I hear and I mean it too, you and the baby are the most important things in the world to me, but there is one favour I need to ask of you,” Selina told him.

“Anything.”

“We have to help Joey and not blame him, none of this was his fault,” Selina said. Stephen took a deep breath, the very thought of what Joey had put them through made him seethe with anger but as he looked at Selina he softened. She was safe and he loved her so much that he would do anything for her.

“Okay I promise I’ll do what I can,” he told her.

“Thank you, now will you come and get on this bed next to me because there’s no way you’re sleeping on a chair tonight. I want you in bed next to me with your arms wrapped around me. I want to feel safe again,” Selina told him.

“In that case I’m happy to oblige.” Stephen climbed onto the bEd beside her and held her in his arms and within moments they had both fallen to sleep.

“So the baby is definitely going to be okay?” Irene asked.

“As far as it’s possible to tell,” Nurse Julie replied.

“Oh thank Jesus!” Irene exclaimed and Barry squeezed her hand gently.

“It’s about time we had some good news,” Angel remarked, her lips forming a faint smile as she watched Barry and Irene together. The two had been holding hands since Barry’s unexpected proposal and kept looking at each other with looks of pure love. Angel was delighted for them but she could not help but also feel jealous. She longed for a man to look at her the way Barry did with Irene, she wished with all her heart she could love someone the way Irene loved Barry. The way she had loved Shane, but it was not to be. She had only ever loved once and she had loved too well and it was impossible to ever feel that sort of love again, she realised sadly. Angel’s thoughts were broken by an emergency trolley being wheeled in with Rachel at it’s side and a selection of familiar faces following behind.

“Kane, who is it? Not Tasha?” Angel demanded of him.

“No,” Kane looked at Irene, “it’s Joey. He’s in a really bad way, someone had made a very good attempt at killing him and then hid the body so that we’d struggle to find him,” Kane explained.

“That’s terrible!” Angel exclaimed.

“Yeah but it means Selina was telling the truth out in the bush, there is someone else involved and Joey’s probably not to blame,” Barry spoke up.

“That’s what we figured too,” Kane replied looking pointedly at a shell-shocked Irene.

“Are you okay Irene?” Barry whispered.

“I’m going to see Selina,” she replied, avoiding the issue.

“I hate it when she blocks things out like this,” Barry admitted.

“I guess it’s just her way of coping. Selina might be able to get her to open up though,” Angel suggested.

“I hope so. Jack is there any news on Tasha?” Barry asked spotting him.

“I’m sorry Barry there’s no news that I know of but I’m here on a different matter. Nurse I need to speak to the hospital Director please,” Jack explained.

“I’ll just page him,” Nurse Julie replied flashing Jack a quizzical look.

“I’m glad Selina’s safe,” Jack added in the direction of those waiting.

“Thanks Jack, I just hope you can find Tasha too,” Angel remarked.

“We will, I’ve not seen Peter this determined to crack a case before. We’ll find her,” Jack reassured them.

“Lets hope so,” Barry found himself saying again.

“Rachel how is he?” Irene asked a few hours later as an exhausted looking Rachel emerged from the room where Joey had been being treated.

“We’ve managed to stabilise him but he’s in a critical condition. He received some very severe head injuries,” Rachel replied.

“Is he going to be okay though?” Barry asked.

“Honestly? I don’t know. The next twenty-four hours are critical, that’s all I can tell you,” she replied.

“Thanks Doc.”

“Doctor Armstrong can I have a word please?” Doctor Young called her over.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“I know you’re exhausted Rach but the police need a word with you, I’ll keep an eye on Joey Rainbow for you,” Doctor Young offered.

“Okay thanks, what’s this about though?” Rachel asked.

“Best let them tell you but just bear in mind that they’re questioning everyone and nobody thinks you had anything to do with it, alright?” he told her cryptically. He squeezed her arm and headed off leaving Rachel increasingly confused. She headed in the Direction he had indicated and opened the door to see the Hospital Director, Jack Holden and another officer looking up at her.

“Doctor Armstrong, take a seat,” The Hospital Director offered.

“Sir can I just ask what this is about? My patient is in a critical condition right now,” Rachel replied.

“I appreciate that Doctor and we’ll be as quick as we can but we do need to ask you some important questions,” Jack explained.

“Okay then,” Rachel replied.

“Right could you please tell me about your relationship with Doctor Helpman please Doctor Armstrong?” Jack asked.

“Doctor Helpman? I thought this was an internal issue,” Rachel remarked.

“Just tell the Officers what you know Doctor Armstrong.”

“Well it was no secret. I filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him and he was suspended while my allegation was investigated,” Rachel replied.

“So it’s fair to say you weren’t Doctor Helpman’s biggest fan then?”

“I wouldn’t say that. I actually was his biggest fan when he first arrived here, his reputation was awesome and I was honoured to be working with him but then he started to make me feel increasingly uncomfortable,” Rachel explained.

“In what way?”

“I’m sure it’s all in the details of my complaint but I felt he was making inappropriate remarks and his behaviour was suggestive. I told him I felt uncomfortable with his behaviour and he assured me I was right to speak up but then he began victimising me at work,” Rachel explained.

“In what way?”

“Well he began criticising me on things that a few days before he had thought perfect, finding mistakes that I hadn’t made. He gave me a bad reference for an award when days earlier he had been glowing about the reference I would receive, there was lots of instances and they’re all in my complaint,” Rachel replied.

“So it’s fair to say you were unhappy with the way he was treating you?”

“Of course I was, that’s why I lodged my complaint,” Rachel replied.

“And how did you feel when you realised Doctor Helpman had been suspended?”

“Relieved, that he was being investigated and the truth would come out,” Rachel answered.

“And did you notice that things at the hospital became difficult after Doctor Helpman was suspended?” Rachel paused.

“I guess so yes.”

“In what way?”

“I guess I felt like I was under suspicion not him,” Rachel admitted.

“So it would be safe to say that your life would be much easier if Doctor Helpman was out of your way?”

“I guess so. Why am I being asked all this?” Rachel demanded.

“Doctor Armstrong, this morning myself and my colleague found Doctor Helpman’s body at the bottom of a cliff. Autopsy reports reveal he’s been dead for more than twelve hours, probably since yesterday afternoon or early evening,” Jack explained.

“What!?” Rachel was genuinely floored by the revelation, “But how? Why? How did he die?”

“That’s what we’re trying to ascertain Doctor Armstrong but it does appear he received a blow to the head prior to falling down the cliff,” Jack explained.

“You mean? You’re saying? Murder?”

“Yes Doctor Armstrong; murder,” Jack confirmed.

“And you think I did it?” Rachel demanded.

“That’s what we need to figure out, you certainly had the strongest motive,” Jack explained.

“But I would never do something like that!” Rachel was horrified.

“I need you to tell me where you were yesterday afternoon Doctor Armstrong, I need your exact whereabouts covering the time period from about two o’clock onwards,” Jack explained.

“Two O’clock? Yesterday? I was in Noah’s Bar for hours yesterday afternoon, probably until about five. Then as I was leaving I bumped into an old friend and we were chatting outside when Mr Stewart approached us and asked us to help us with the search,” Rachel replied.

“Right, obviously we’ll check with Mr Stewart but I will also need the name of your friend and where to find him,” Jack replied.

“His name is James Sutton. I think he should be waiting for my shift to finish with Dan Baker at Leah’s house,” Rachel replied.

“Right we’ll check that out. You say you were in Noah’s Bar all afternoon, who were you with in there?” Jack asked.

“I was…” Rachel paused, knowing the damage her answer might do, “I was with Kim Hyde,” she told him.

“Kim Hyde? Your former patient Kim Hyde? The person you’re meant to have nothing to do with because he has a girlfriend?” the Hospital Director demanded.

“We were just talking, as friends. He does have a girlfriend, Kit Hunter and there’s nothing between us. I was actually talking to Jamie about me and him making a go of things,” Rachel explained.

“This will have to be investigated Doctor Armstrong, you were warned to stay away from Kim Hyde. With this in mind and the fact you are being investigated by the Police I feel I have no choice but to suspend you until further notice.”

“You can’t do that! I have a patient who’s critical out there!” Rachel protested.

“I’m sorry Doctor Armstrong but there are plenty of other Doctor’s in this hospital.”

“Doctor Armstrong isn’t the only person under suspicion, the whole of the hospital staff are,” Jack attempted to defend her.

“That may be so PC Holden but in light of Doctor Armstrong’s recent behaviour I feel I have no choice in this matter. Please pack up your things Doctor,” the Director informed her and as a devastated Rachel looked at him she thought she detected the glimmer of a smile.

“Right then we’ve cleared the search area of all civilians except Alf Stewart who’s co-ordinating the search for this woman. I’ve instructed him that he’s to be closely watched. We’ve got armed police searching now and they’ve been warned not to take any chances so can you update me on how the search for Tasha is going and what PC Holden’s up to?” Peter demanded of Sergeant Bellmore.

“Well we have no new leads on Tasha but we’re working on it. I’ll let PC Davis fill you in on that and Holden’s working on the other case and will be tied up for a little while yet,” Sergeant Bellmore explained.

“What other case? How many times do I have to tell you that Holden’s needed here!” Peter fumed.

“Yes well unfortunately Detective Baker I have a very prominent dead body on my patch and PC Holden has been assigned to the case so you’ll just have to handle things without him or can you not manage a case alone?” Sergeant Bellmore sneered.

“Be very careful who you’re speaking to Sergeant.” Peter stormed from the Sergeant’s office and slamming the door behind him, went to his own office. Taking a deep breath he picked up the phone. “Hi yeah it’s me. I know I got all your messages but I’ve been busy. We found Selina Matheson and it seems these two cases are connected. Did you know that she was the daughter of Saul Bennett? She intended to kill Selina as revenge for his death, it might explain why she’s so deranged,” Peter explained. “I’m planning to look into her past a bit closer see if we can uncover anything more but we do know one thing for definite…”

“What’s that?” his contact demanded.

“That she’s already returned to the Bay. We know her new identity and alias but what we don’t know is what her next move will be. That’s what we need to figure out sooner rather than later,” Peter explained.

“Is it worth me coming down? More hands on deck and so on?”

“No, stay where you are. The last thing we need is you turning up here, you’ll completely blow this if you come here,” Peter insisted.

“Fine I’ll stay out of it for now but be warned Peter you better not mess this up.”

“I don’t intend to.” Peter slammed the phone down and sat back in his chair. Swivelling it round to face the door he jumped up in surprise.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded angrily.

“I want to know what’s going on Peter,” she replied.

XXX

Thanks to everyone for your nice comments and reviews, it's really appreciated right now. xxx

[Gypsy & Will Fan]

This is great! More soon please!