Always There
Chapter One
Abandonment has always been a common factor in his life and it came in all forms; his first experience came about when he was younger; his father was never in his life. For twenty-two years; he was absence. He came back into his life last year; revealing that he has a wife and three daughters however he couldn't even be truthful about that. For a while; things between them seemed good. Something had to go wrong; it always does and that's exactly what happened. The family broke apart and to make matters worse; he lost his father once again. This time for good with his last memory being Danny telling him that he is no longer apart of the family. His whole world came crashing down again when the police informed them all about his death. He never liked those police officers; never had luck with them. He found himself intoxicated; the last thing he could remember before he blacked-out was getting into the bath...
He opened his blue eyes; the room seemed blurred. He could hear a woman's voice however he couldn't understand what she was saying. The door opened with two nurses coming in and they looked down upon him as they prodded him like he was an object. The room came into clear view now; he realized he was in hospital. The woman was a worried looking Leela Lomax; she had tears in her eyes. She sat back down on the chair; holding onto his hand however he felt nothing. All thoughts were in his mind; he almost wished that he was just in a bad dream and he would wake up in happier times. A time when he had his two children Leah and Lucas with him, times when he had Amy Barnes supporting him and other times when he had Brendan Brady in his arms. He had none of those things anymore.
"Leela; please..." Ste paused; he could hardly say the words with Leela looking on; urging him to go on.
He caught his breath.
"Call Amy; tell her everything...about dad,I want the kids to know"
This resulted in Leela breaking into tears again as she let go of his hand. She just gave a nod which is when the door opened with John-Paul McQueen in the entrance. He has been crying over Danny's death. Not like he would tell Ste that; he didn't need to know why he has just been sobbing. Though he would have an idea why; his father and John-Paul were close and he accepted that with a grudge.
"I'm sorry; I can come back later if you would like" John-Paul breathed as he looked at both of them with a look of sympathy.
Ste closed his eyes; he couldn't deal with all this right now and all he wanted right now was for Amy to know. He desperately missed her and his children so much; they use to be his whole world at one point and now their just another memory. With their contact becoming less and less as every day passes. He hides all his feelings when Amy calls; pretends everything is good when really all he wants to do is cry and tell her how everything in his life is falling apart but he never does. He just says 'I'm fine' and Amy takes his word for it before saying her goodbyes. If he's in a really desperate mood then he will ring Brendan's old phone and once again; it goes to voicemail every time. He sometimes does it just to listen to his voice even if it's just through a voicemail.
"I will tell Amy; I promise" Leela assured him.
Her voice being barely comprehensible as John-Paul wrapped his arms around the grieving woman. She sobbed into his shoulder; at this moment in time. It didn't matter what he done to her family; she just needed comfort and was willing to take it from anyone. Ste barely making a sound as he watched in silence; his eyes were filled with sorrow.
"I'm so sorry; so sorry" John-Paul tried to say; he meant that for everything he done to their family.
The affair he had and for their loss. He kept repeating the words 'I'm so sorry' countless times as he grabbed tighter onto Leela. Getting quite emotional himself as tears came down his cheeks. He felt awful; he was thinking about getting back with Danny just a few weeks ago and now he is gone forever. His eyes looked towards Ste, who had his eyes closed once again, daring not to open them again until his sister and boyfriend were gone. John-Paul rocked Leela gently as she sobbed.
A couple more moments; they left the room together with Leela asking John-Paul to tell Amy instead for her. To which he agreed to; he couldn't say no. Besides he knew Amy from a previous time; last time they spoke must have been about Sarah and Craig's engagement. That was so long ago and that was barely a talk at all. Back in the room; Ste re-opened his eyes. The whole room was silent once again as he kept thinking about Brendan; he always did in times of crisis. It eased the pain slightly; knowing that his true love is still alive and out there. A few minutes later and they both came in. John-Paul didn't look very pleased after his conversation with Amy. She accused him of taking advantage of Ste since he is in a bad place and she reminded him that he use to hate him. So it's clear to him that Ste never told her about their relationship at all. It left him feeling very uncomfortable at even the thought of himself taking advantage.
"I can't even; I'm sorry; I got to go" John-Paul prevaricated with a sense of evasiveness.
He walked away much to Leela's unbelievability as she scoffed. Which is when her hatred for him returned. This man had an affair with her father; breaking up their family. Now he has the nerve to date her brother and leave him when he is at his weakest; she never knew the whole truth of cause.
"You're just going to leave him now while he's like this? What a great boyfriend you are; just go; because he doesn't need a feeble little man like you" Leela vehemently hurled.
With Ste barely saying a word; he could hardly speak and he was confused to what was going on. He just watched as John-Paul left without saying another word as he felt Leela's eyes firmly on him. When he was gone; she turned back around towards Ste with a sad smile. Holding back onto his hand.
"I'm sorry for what I said before to you; I didn't mean it, I just lost my mum and dad; my whole world was falling apart around me" Leela cried.
She just wanted her mother and father as she began to sob again. Ste put a comforting hand on hers. He heard her say under her breath through tears "I wish my mum was here" which made more tears go down her cheek.
"Leela; you can go home if you want... Go be with Peri" Ste instructed; wanting to be alone.
Besides he knows that that is where she should be; with her daughter and sister. If he was in her shoes then he go straight home to his child. A few moments passed before she gave him yet another nod; she seemed to agree.
"I will come back later; I could bring Tegan and Peri with me... you be as right as rain soon I'm sure" Leela gently reassured him.
She gave another small sad smile before leaving him to his thoughts and walking out the room. He relaxed a bit more until his door opened yet again; he turned towards it and a man he has never witnessed before was there in a nice looking suit; he was in early fifties or perhaps he was older. He spoke..
"Hello; I heard you were in hospital from the locals; Steven Hay I presume, my name is Bob"
He seemed very kind though with a hint of ruthlessness about him. He sat on the chair across from his bed; looking down on with a look of pity. Ste was very confused as to how he knew his name and where to find him.
"Who.. Who are you?" Ste asked him nervously; he was trembling with fear as his heart was beating fast.
Bob gave a small smile as he thought he might ask him that question though he was sworn to secrecy. He wasn't in Hollyoaks by accident; he was in this village with a task and that task was to make sure no harm comes to Steven again. He was sent here by Brendan Brady from the prison after he was released; he sent him there to watch over his beloved.
"Just think of me as your guardian angel sent from the higher -archy of a place of tortured souls" Bob replied; he was very odd.
Almost like he was a poet and because he seemed so different to anyone in his life. Ste asked no more questions; it gave him a strange sense of solace in a time of great distress and sadness.
"Farewell Steven; any trouble and I'm just one call away" Bob then spoke; placing his phone number in Ste's hand.
Before leaving him as suddenly as he arrived.
...
TCB