Season 7. Just how did Boyd get Luke's mobile number? A short one shot that ponders this thought.
Connection.
Boyd felt his heart begin to beat faster as he glared through the mesh wired window into the deserted room. I'm too late. He's gone. Again. A male nurse, John, informed Boyd that the patient he was looking for had left, and then watched Boyd with curiosity as he began a frantic pace back and forth before the empty room.
"Who was he anyway?"
A DSI in the ward twice in as many days, looking for the same drugged up street kid? It didn't happen often in this unit, and combined with the boys unknown identity and memory loss, John was certainly intrigued. What had the boy done? If he was a criminal the police should have informed them and the patient would have been placed in a locked ward. Instead he was gone, long gone.
"He's my son."
The slight strain in the DSI's voice made John look back up, suddenly feeling pity for this man. Boyd turned to leave, anger and sadness mixed in a sorrowful sketch across his drawn and tired face.
"Wait."
Boyd turned, his shoulders slumped downwards with exhaustion.
John scanned down through his clipboard and then smiled slightly. "We run a scheme here for the drug kids…" He faulted, not wanting to offend the man, but then carried on, something telling him that this man before him wanted honesty and not bull shit. "If they leave voluntarily, like your son, we give them a phone with some credit on. It's not much, but its something. Gives them chance to contact somebody, anybody. We set it up with a charity and the police force is sponsoring us. It's not much so far, but it's a start and we've got plans to-"
"Please," Boyd cut in, not wanting to be rude but desperate to know, "do you have a number?"
John scanned down the list, looking for the entry for room number 14. He looked up at Boyd, sure he was doing the right thing and nodded. "Yes, I do." He handed the number over without hesitation. Boyd took it and headed for the doors, almost running, sudden adrenalin pumping through him with relief.
"Thanks," he called over his shoulder as he pushed through the doors. They slapped shut behind him and John smiled. "You're welcome."
Please, Boyd thought as he hurried to the privacy of his car, please have the phone. Doubt began to flitter into his mind - what if Luke had sold it for drug money? What if he was jumped for it? Would he have a charger for it? What if he tossed it, knowing his father would try to contact him? In his hurry Boyd dropped his car keys, then swore as he bent down to pick them up. Only then did he notice the ways his hands were shaking. A sign of weakness? For the first time in his life, he didn't care.
Once shut away inside his car Boyd hurriedly keyed the number into his phone and pressed the call button. He held his breath and closed his eyes with relief as it began to ring. Eventually the phone cut out to answer phone but he left no message, he was too busy soaking up the relief he felt that the phone had actually rang. The connection he had with his son was weak, almost nothing, but still, Boyd felt tears of hope spring to his eyes. He dropped his phone onto the passenger seat and leant his head back against the head rest as he contemplated his options. With a sigh he picked his phone back up and scrolled through the contacts list before making another call.
"Grace, it me. Listen…" he paused slightly, before adding, "I think I need your help."
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