"So what, you gonna try it on with me?!" Lara yelled at the violent policeman.

She was terrified. She had tried to act tough on the outside, tried to scare him into admitting what he had done to his wife, she didn't mean it to get this far, never thought that her own life would be put in danger just because she was protecting a patient. But it had, and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Lara was in way over her head.

He strode towards her, menacingly. She fought hard to keep her brave face on but she was beginning to crumble. She inched back nervously, knowing full well what he was capable of. She was genuinely frightened for her life but she didn't want to give Collier the satisfaction of seeing her terror. She wouldn't let him win. She did not want to be another one of his victims but it was becoming increasingly clear that there was a high chance she could do nothing to stop him.

He pushed Lara to the ground. She tried to cry out in pain but she was too scared to move, too shocked for her mind to register what was happening to her. The police were supposed to be authority figures, people you could rely on and trust. Lying on the damp, cold floor, she inwardly laughed at the morbid irony of the situation. She was being attacked by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Lara just winced in pain and looked around desperately for something to defend herself with.

She reached for a brick that was lying a little way away from her but stopped. Her attacker was standing over her, pinning her to the ground and the eerie silence, and the raw anger flaming in his eyes made Lara freeze.

In a strange, twisted way, she was mesmerised by the figure towering over her. For the first time in her life she felt utterly helpless. She was too shocked for tears to flow and too terrified to cry out for help. She couldn't do a thing.

He struck her round the face, still not saying a word, but he didn't need to. His eyes told her more than any words ever could. She was glad, as glad as she could be, that he didn't utter a word. Hearing him say what Lara could tell he was thinking would just make the situation too real for her. He didn't need words to scare Lara, his whole demeanour was enough. He bent down further, his face inches from hers, as she tried to roll her head to the side, not wanting to see his face as he brought his hands around her neck.

Lara closed her eyes, not wanting to look him in the eye when he finally touched her. She could feel his hands getting tighter and tighter around her throat. She coughed and choked as his strong hands cut off her air supply.

All of Lara's inhibitions left her as she became light headed from lack of oxygen. She was a doctor, she knew what was happening to her, she had treated people like this before but, until this moment, she couldn't begin to imagine what it felt like.

This is it, she thought. This is where it ends.

Then she was shrouded in darkness, the darkness of her own subconscious as she slumped to the floor.

***

When she came too, she was surrounded in a bright light. Blinding her and obscuring the car park and everything around her from view. Including her attacker.

She scrambled to her feet, desperate to keep sight of the man that was on top of her but he was no where to be seen. He could have been standing right next to her but she wouldn't have known. The brilliant white light was disorientating and she had trouble keeping her balance.

The light dimmed and she could now see in front of her. He wasn't there. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and gasped, Lara was about to swing around and scream but she stopped. She felt completely calm, a warm soothing feeling enveloped her whole body and soul and she was at last able to focus.

She was ready to face DCI Collier but she didn't need to. She saw his dark silhouette stagger backwards and land on the wet concrete about 10 feet away.

She felt a presence next to her but was no longer scared, just confused. I said you will always be my girl she heard a voice say in her head, I will always protect you.

Suddenly the light subsided and she was left in the same glow of the street lamp that she was in before. 'What the hell was that?' she thought. 'I haven't felt like that since...'

She smiled, suddenly realising what had happened. "I knew I wouldn't be able to get rid of you that easily" she said sarcastically and laughed out loud. "Thank you." Lara closed her eyes.

"Lara?" she could hear someone calling her name but it took her a while to see who it was. "Lara. are you OK?"

Josh was standing over her, surveying her wounds and wondering what was going on and Nikki was at the ambulance, collecting dressings. "We were bringing a patient to A+E and we saw that guy unconscious in the middle of the road. Did he try to hurt you?" he said and pulled her to her feet.

Lara looked at the concerned paramedic and knew why he must be worried but she still couldn't wipe the relieved smile off her face. "I'm fine Josh, really" she told him. "Everything's perfect."