Chapter 1.
The bar was buzzing as Cate entered into it in the early afternoon. Walking through many of the, now regular, patrons who acknowledged Cate as she passed them or called out greetings to her. Families were sat in booths to the sides of the building's walls enjoying the meals they were eating and the live music they were listening to, a small acoustic band played up on the small stage at the front of the building.
'Boss!' Cate turned back to the long wooden bar just after she had passed it when she heard Tracy her day manager call for her. Tracy was as tall as Cate, a little older; she had over the shoulder length curly dark brown hair that bounced as she moved. Tracy came straight to the bar as soon as Cate opened the doors to begin cleaning it up and decorating the place. Looking for work having had experience working in bars and needing work, as she was a single parent with a thirteen-year-old daughter. Tracy showed Cate her competence behind the bar and how she dealt with the workmen with their wondering eyes and hands. Impressed Cate hired her and straight away made her the daytime manager for the bar giving Tracy the evenings to be with her daughter and the morning to get her ready and away to school every day. In the evenings Cate would take over with Scotty not too far away, although they both knew they would eventually need another manager for the evenings so the pair of them could deal with the paperwork and business side of the bar. The bar had been open to the public for four months and was already doing extremely well. Bands came from all over to perform, Cate's performance book was filled for the year, the bar had become one of the popular spots for people to perform especially new talent waiting and wanting to be discovered. 'Boss, messages for ya.' Tracy smiled handing Cate a bunch of small squares of paper.
'Seen Scotty this morning?' Cate asked as she leafed through the small squares of paper.
'I'm pretty sure he's in the office.' Tracy smiled watching Cate quickly flick through the messages. 'No message today.' Tracy said knowing what Cate was looking for Cate stopped flicking through looking up to Tracy with a small smile.
'Of course there isn't. How's Ashley getting on at school?' Cate asked diverting the subject to Tracy's daughter.
'OK I think.' Tracy said as she picked up a clean wet glass and began to dry it.
'You think, what's going on?' Cate asked leaning across the bar her eyebrow raised.
'I'm not sure, I think bullying but Ashley won't say anything about it.' Tracy explained a look of worry and concern across her face.
'Cate!' Scotty stood at the back door that led to the office beckoning his sister over.
'You know where we are if you want us to help.' Cate smiled reassuringly as she walked away from the bar to the office where her brother was waiting for her. Entering into the office Cate was again going through the messages in her hands. 'Scotty, have you ever thought to answer any of these messages instead of leaving them all to me?' Cate asked as she shut the door behind her whilst still looking down at the papers not at her brother.
'You know I do and I would have today but I got called out for a collection.' Scotty explained.
'What do you mean a collection?' Cate asked still reading not looking at her brother or the room.
'Wow, you stop being a detective for a few months and you lose the ability to be observant.' A familiar voice said from the side of the room. Lowering the papers and looking across to the leather couch where voice came from Cate eyes widened with joy and excitement.
'Jill!' Cate dropped her bag to the floor as laughing, Jill jumped to throw her arms around her friend as they embraced. 'What are you doing here?'
'What, one of my closest friends opens a new bar and you don't think I come to see it as soon as I can?' Jill asked stepping back from Cate but still holding on to her arms.
'Where's the race?' Cate asked looking suspiciously at Jill.
'No race, it's the off season for me whilst my team reworks the car and other stuff so I'm taking a well earned break and where better to do that than here with you?' Cate laughed and cried out with joy as she hugged Jill again. 'I called last night, Scotty answered and we both agreed this would be a far more fun way of surprising you than any other.' Jill explained as she sat back down on the couch pulling Cate down next to her.
'Well I am surprised, very happily surprised thank you.' Cate said looking over to her little brother just as the internal phone buzzed.
'You're very welcome, now I'll leave you two alone to catch up and go help Tracy.' Scotty said as he excused himself from the room to leave the two friends to catch up.
'So why here, why aren't you in L.A. with Kris and the others?' Cate asked. 'Not that I am not over the moon to have you here but…'
'Don't worry about Kris.' Jill interrupted. 'I've got plenty of time to get to L.A and see her and the others, but I wanted to get here to see this place first. Cate this place is amazing and Tracy out front, nice lady.' Jill said impressed.
'Yeah the place ain't too shabby and Tracy is great but we're still looking for a night manager.' Cate explained taking off her tan leather jacket and tossing it across the coffee table in front of them.
'Why, I thought the idea of this place is for the pair of you to run it?' Jill asked confused.
'Well it is and we do but with being the owners and managers there never seems to be enough time in the day to both run the bar and keep up to date with all the bookings and other paper work so we hired Tracy to be our daytime manager, Scotty and I cover the nights between us but we need to find someone and we will eventually, we've only been open a few months so there's no rush yet.' Cate explained beaming with pride and excitement as she did. Jill could see the change in Cate from leaving the agency and the happiness she had from it. 'Did Scotty show you around?'
'A little, but I am waiting for the grand tour and also to see your house, I hear it is amazing.' Jill enthused smile beaming.
'You've been speaking with Kris then?' Cate deduced, as Kris had been to visit for the grand opening of the bar as was Marcus and Julie.
'Of course, every other weekend you know that.' Jill said nudging her. 'She sends her love by the way, I spoke to her yesterday.' Jill added. Cate nodded as she looked down to her hands.
'Well how about I show you around then?' Cate offered slapping her hand down on to the arm of the couch.
'Sounds great, let's go.' Jill excitedly said grabbing a hold of her bag and standing ready to go. Cate laughed as she stood herself picking up her jacket and bag folding her jacket over her bag as she walked out of the office with Jill close behind her. Standing at the back of the bar Cate began to point out features to Jill explaining what she and Scotty had had done and changed before she started pointing out some of the regulars. 'They look like they're having a loud great time.' Jill smiled widely as she pointed over to a circular table with a group of women sat around it laughing loudly and enjoying each other's company.
'Yeah they're here every day, but they are visitors, tourists really.' Cate explained.
'Really from very far away?' Jill asked interested, having travelled around the world for her racing she now loved meting people from different countries.
'Well, three of them are from here, the US, one is Canadian I think and the other two are European.' Cate explained as she walked further in to the bar.
'That's six I only count fiv…' Jill's words were cut off as she followed after Cate. Cate turned to see what had happened when she heard a small clatter behind her, she saw Jill on the floor having fallen over the person who was lying face down underneath her. Laughing Cate helped Jill back to her feet.
'You OK?' Cate asked as Jill stood.
'Yeah I'm fine but she…'
'Oh don't worry about her. Sara, how many times have I told you, you can lay face down anywhere else but not somewhere that obstructs peoples walking path.' Cate scolded the young Mexican woman who mumbled and grumbled as she got back to her feet and joined her group of friends at the table Cate was pointing out to Jill earlier.
'You get the photo?' Sara asked the dark haired lady at the table.
'Nope missed it, but laughed our asses off when that lady fell on you!' she answered high fiving the blonde woman sat beside her. Sara hung her head shaking it as she walked back to the table and sat down in her seat.
'I fail at life.' She mumbled to which her friends laughed. 'Canada sucks you know.' Sara said to the dark haired woman who only rolled her eyes and continued to laugh with the rest of the table.
Jill stood next to Cate behind the bar as she showed her every angle the bar had to offer.
'You've both done a great job here.' Jill said as she and Cate walked back out to the main bar room again.
'We're very happy with it.' Scotty smiled as he leaned across the bar from behind it.
'I'm going to take Jill to the house, you be alright for an hour or so?' Cate asked her baby brother who only smiled back and winked at her.
'Take the day Cate, go and enjoy yourselves.' Cate leaned across to her brother and kissed his cheek.
'I was hoping you would say that, thanks. You ready to go.' Cate asked turning back to Jill.
'Absolutely. Bye.' Jill waved to Scotty as she followed after Cate. The two friends chatted and gossiped the entire drive back to Cate's home.
'Here it is.' Cate announced as she drove up to the farmhouse.
'Wow.' Was all Jill could manage to say as Cate parked the car.
'You like it, good.' Cate laughed as she watched Jill's eyes get bigger taking in the sight of the large home. 'Come on, I'll show you around.' Cate continued to laugh as she got out of the car, Jill not far behind her. Opening the front door Cate motioned for Jill to enter in ahead of her. Jill walked in to the entrance room from which to one side had a wide staircase leading to upstairs. 'So this is obviously the entrance area, towards the back that way is the kitchen.' Cate indicated towards. 'Over to your left is a sitting room, the smaller room that leads off of that is the den with the TV and all that stuff over here to the right is the dining room and a small library with a pool table and even a jukebox.' Jill looked round to Cate with surprise. 'It used to be in the bar but it didn't work so Scotty and I brought it home here for him to work on and he got it working so it sits in there.' Cate explained. 'Come on let's head into the kitchen. Oh, there's a small bathroom just off there.' Cate pointed out as she and Jill passed the room on their way to the kitchen. Walking in Cate went straight to the fridge. 'Drink?' Cate offered to which Jill nodded still speechless.
'Cate, this is gorgeous!' Jill exclaimed. The kitchen was large with an island in the centre of it containing the kitchen sink and plenty of room to prepare food as well as sit and eat your food on it as kitchen stools surrounded one side of it. Cate placed two glassed down onto the island and poured juice into the glasses. 'How long did it take for this place to be completed?' Jill asked as she took a glass from Cate.
'About as long as it did for the bar, there wasn't a great deal to do, a lot of it was already done it was really just decorating and having a few extras added in like the range stove and other bits and pieces.' Cate explained. 'You want to see up stairs?' Cate asked smirking as Jill nodded excitedly. Leading the way the two former Angels climbed the stairs. 'So you get the choice of three guest rooms.' Cate explained as they walked the landing.
'What about Scotty?' Jill asked.
'Oh he has his own place just outside, it's like an old workers cottage/quarters, it's small, bedroom, bath, kitchen and main room which is really one space, but he loves it.' Cate explained as she opened the door to the first of the three guest rooms, Jill entered in looking around the bright plush room a window looking out across the side fields of the farm land. 'The other two rooms are pretty similar but this one has the best view, not obstructed by anything.' Cate showed Jill the other two rooms and Jill had to agree the first room was the best choice and the one she would use for the length of her stay.
'So where's your room?' Jill asked turning to face Cate who smiled in return and turned to the door behind her.
'Right here.' Opening the door Jill walked into the large spacious room with an en suite.
'Very nice and very you.' Jill said noting the line of cowboy boots along the far wall of the house.
'I thought so.' Cate laughed at herself as Jill looked around seeing the photos on the shelves and walls. As they left the room and began to head back downstairs Jill stopped.
'What about that room, is that another guest room?' Jill pointed to the door of the room that was opposite to Cate's room.
'Not exactly.' Cate said solemnly as she came back up the stairs and opened the door for Jill to enter into, Cate stood in the doorway watching as Jill walked around the room. The room was beautiful, decorated with plain colours allowing the sunlight that would come in through the large windows to paint the walls with its natural light and colour. Two tall bookcases stood against the far walls a door in between them that lead to a smaller en suite than Cate's. A large wardrobe, chest of drawers and vanity table stood against the other walls but were not over powering the room or making it feel crowded. The bed itself was also gorgeous a brass framed large sized bed.
'Kelly would love this room.' Jill said as she stood in the centre of the room looking around it again slowly shaking her head at the thought of her best friend who was yet to come and visit her younger sister.
'And one day I will probably hear her say that.' Cate admitted.
'She still hasn't called?' Jill asked crossing her arms across her chest.
'No, not yet.' Cate replied.
'Have you called her?'
'Yeah I've called her and amazingly whenever I call her she's never home, probably on a case I suppose. Kris, Julie, Bos and even Charlie keep me up to date on how she's doing, they've all promised to call should anything happen and I need to go back.'
'Of course they would.' Jill said looking around the room again beginning to get a little angry with her friend back in L.A. Jill made a mental note to have strong words with Kelly when she next saw her.
'Come on, you can help me cook up tonight's dinner.' Cate offered to Jill wanting to get out of the room and back to happier things. Jill nodded in agreement as she headed out of the room, Cate shut the door after her heading down stairs back to the kitchen.
'Wait.' Jill said as they got to the bottom of the stairs. 'Why would we be cooking dinner now, it's only coming up to lunch?'
'For you maybe but I'm meant to be covering the bar tonight so I cook up a large meal, leaving enough for Scotty for when he gets home.' Cate explained.
'Right, I see.' Jill nodded as Cate smiled to herself.
'It's alright Jill, you can stay here tonight, you don't need to stay at the bar as well.'
'What, and miss the nightlife in your place? No way, I'm there!' Jill enthused. 'Any way I want to see what that Sara girl and her friends get up to in the evening.'
'Mostly get drunk and carry on as they do during the day. Well, four of them get drunk; two of them don't drink alcohol. ' Cate explained. 'But it is entertaining.' Cate laughed.
'Do you perform on the stage?' Jill asked she took the food from the fridge Cate passed out to her on to the kitchen island.
'Only when Four-Leaf and the boys are in town.' Cate smiled thinking about them and the fun they had opening night.
'I wish I could have been here for your opening and your leaving party in L.A.' Jill pouted.
'I know, I would have loved that too but you're here now so…' Cate trailed off as it reminded her again who hadn't been to visit.
'What did Bosley think?' Jill asked nudging Cate out of her own depressing thoughts. Cate laughed at Bosley's reaction.
'Well, I think he loved it.'
'Really?' Jill said with some surprise.
'He loved the live music and the bar and then went out shopping and came back in some pretty sharp western gear. Cate laughed remembering. 'In fact I have a photo of it somewhere.' Cate remembered as she went to the sideboard in the kitchen opening one of its small drawers, after a few moments of rifling through things Cate produced the photo showing it to Jill who fell about laughing with her unforgettable laughter.
'Good 'ole Bosley.' Jill said as she calmed down from her out burst of laughter. 'Kris said it was a great night, there was a lot of support there for the bars re-opening.'
'There was a lot of great support, a lot of Cally's patrons were there and are still coming so that's awesome. In fact Cally sent me a telegram to wish us success.'
'Where is she now?' Jill asked, not knowing Cally personally but now knew a lot about her and the fact she was travelling the world at a lazy enjoyable pace.
'I think she is in Asia, but I'm really not sure, I just know that she is having the time of her life so this all worked out great for all of us.' Cate smiled looking at the photo of Bosley again as Jill handed it back to her.
For the rest of the afternoon the two friends made a meal together sometimes eating more of the ingredients than actually putting them into the meal. Once everything was cooked and then eaten Cate prepared a plate for her brother putting it into the stove so that he could warm it through later when he got home. Dressed and ready to be out for the night Jill and Cate loaded back into her black Mustang and drove back to the bar, parking in the back car space for employees only Cate led Jill through the back door of the bar and headed straight in to the office to dump their jackets and bags before heading out to the main bar.
The night was already crazy busy with people sat at the bar whilst others crowded behind them trying to get served. Others were at the front of the stage where a small area was laid out for dancing, which was heaving with people as other groups of friends and partners sat at the tables and booths enjoying the atmosphere.
'Is it always this busy?' Jill called out to Cate to be heard over the band as they walked down to the crowded busy bar where Scotty and one of their other bar staff were working hard to serve.
'Pretty much and tonight has only just begun.' Cate replied calling out over her shoulder back to Jill. 'That's mine and Scotty's private booth there.' Cate pointed out to the lone booth situated on the raised section of the bar where other tables and chairs were set out around it. 'If you want to sit up there you're welcome to.' Cate explained.
'And miss you working the bar, thanks but if there's space I'd rather sit at the bar.' Jill beamed as they got to the bar.
'I'm sure we can find you a seat.' Cate said as she slipped behind the bar joining her brother and Jack the bar man. 'Hey guys, how we doing?' Cate asked loudly to them to which she received smiles.
'Everything's busy and going great.' Jack said as he crossed in front of Cate to serve the drink he had in his hand.
'Cut out when you want Scotty.' Cate told her brother as she squeezed his shoulder. Turning she noticed that a man had given up his stool at the bar for Jill to sit at; she was giving him her best sweetest Angel smile. Laughing to herself Cate shook her head as she took her place to take drink orders. Once things calmed a little at the bar Scotty called out that he was leaving waving him off Cate watched him leave and say his goodnights to Jill and other patrons in the bar. 'How you getting on over here?' Cate asked Jill as she finally got close to her whilst serving bottles of beer to a customer.
'Just fine, the band is fantastic and there are plenty on nice guys offering a dance or several.' Jill replied as she pointed to the young men now dancing with other women and having fun.
'Have you taken them up on their offers of a dance?'
'Maybe one or two.' Jill said smiling wickedly Cate laughed with her friend only to be interrupted by the telephone ringing. Cate grabbed the phone answering it.
'Wild Angels Saloon.' Cate answered turning her back to the rest of the bar and covering her free ear so she could hear the person at the other end of the phone. 'Hold on a sec, I'm going to transfer you through to another line.' Cate said to the person on the phone hitting a button and replacing the receiver on to its cradle. 'Jack look after things for a few.' Cate said as she took hold of Jill by the crook of her arm pulling her to follow. Jill looked to Cate confused for a moment until she saw the expression on her face.
'What's happened?' Jill asked but Cate stayed quiet until they were in the office. Moving round to behind the desk Cate punched the button that was flashing at her and then the speaker box button.
'Kris?' Cate called, Jill looked to Cate surprised soon followed by concern, why was her little sister calling so late?
'Kris, what's going on?' Jill asked leaning on the desk from the opposite side to Cate. They could both hear Kris's heavy breathing at the other end of the line and her sniffing; she was obviously upset and crying.
'Kris we're coming home.' Cate declared before disconnecting the call. Jill looked to Cate still confused and worried.
'What was that all about, did she say anything to you before we came back here?' Jill enquired as Cate picked up the phone again punching in a number.
'She didn't say anything Jill, Kris for whatever reason was too upset, she just said my name and began to sob.' Jill was about to say something else when Cate began speaking into the phone. 'Scott, sorry buddy I'm going to need you to come back here and cover things, I'll call some of the others see who else I can get in to help out. I'll explain when you get here. Bye.' Cate hung up the phone again.
'You want to phone Kelly or Charlie?' Jill asked starting to pace up and down in front of Cate's desk just as the phone began to ring again.
'No need.' Cate sighed hitting the speaker button. 'Hi Charlie.'
'Caitlin, Jill.'
'Charlie, what's going on?' Jill demanded she was becoming more and more worried by the minute.
'I've booked you a private Jet Angels the sooner you get here the sooner everything can be explained.' Charlie said in his best boss voice.
'Charlie, where's Kelly and Julie?' Cate asked.
'Julie's away with Marcus vacationing in Italy, things have been quite quiet.' Charlie explained without mentioning Kelly.
'What about my sister Charlie?' Cate repeated in a calm voice.
'Caitlin, there was an accident.' Charlie began; Jill stopped pacing and walked up to the desk leaning against it as Cate stood still her hands spread on the desk as she listened.
'What kind of accident Charlie?' Jill asked scared.
'A car accident, she's going to be OK.' Charlie quickly said before either of his a
Angel's could panic.
'How did it happen Charlie?' Cate asked still keeping calm a stern look across her face.
'We're not sure Angel.'
'Was she alone?' Jill asked.
'Kris was with her, but again, she is OK. The accident happened at night, they were driving back home from a case they had just finished; Kris was asleep when the accident happened. The doctors explained this to be the reason why Kris' worst injury is a small cut to the top of her head where she hit it on the car door as the car rolled.' Charlie explained.
'Rolled!' Jill exclaimed as Cate breathed deeply controlling her emotions.
'Everyone is fine just please get to the jet and come home. The plane will be waiting, Cate you know where at the air strip.' Charlie said.
'I do Charlie, we'll speak to you when we land in L.A.'
'Good, I'll speak to you then Angels, please try not to worry.' The phone went quiet as Charlie disconnected the line. Cate gathered together her bag and jacket as Jill sat down on the couch; she had begun to shake and needed to sit.
'What the hell is happening back there?' Jill finally asked looking up to Cate who turned to her friend and sat down on the coffee table facing her.
'I don't know but we're going to find out, like Charlie said, try not to worry OK?' Cate said taking a hold of one of Jill's hands and squeezing it gently. Jill nodded as she took a deep breath when Scotty walked in to the office coming from the back entrance.
'What's going on?' He asked concern plastered across his face.
'We're heading back to L.A.' Cate said turning to look at him Jill still holding her hand.
'Why what's happened, are Kris and Kelly OK?' Scotty asked as he sat down on the arm of the couch.
'There's been a car accident but Charlie assures us they are both fine but we need to go back.' Cate explained as her brother listened nodding his head understanding.
'Well, we knew this kind of thing could happen, I just wish it hadn't.' Scotty said sympathetically as he put a supportive hand on Jill's shoulder squeezing it slightly, Jill looked to him appreciatively. 'Give Kris my best.' Scotty said which made Jill giggle a little.
'I'm sure she'll appreciate that.' Jill said knowing all about the kiss he had planted on Kris before he left L.A. with Cate.
'Come on we'd better go and get our bags packed and get to the jet.'
'Jet?' Scotty looked to the two Angels confused.
'Charlie.' They both said together. Scotty nodded his head understanding straight away. Cate and Jill both got to their feet and headed out before she left Cate turned to her brother.
'You sure you'll be alright with everything?'
'I'll be fine Cate, get out of here and help out the rest of your family.' Scotty ordered nudging his sister out of the door, Cate smiled at her brother turning back to him and hugging him before she left.
Forty minutes later Jill and Cate were at the private airstrip boarding the private jet. As they were seated the pilot of the flight stepped out to quickly speak with them.
'Good evening ladies I'm Dean Cross, I'll be flying you to Los Angeles tonight, the flight should take a little over three hours so please just sit back and relax, we'll get you there as swiftly and safely as we can.' The Angels thanked Dean as he headed back to the cockpit.
'Over three hours to sit and worry.' Jill said aloud as she made herself more comfortable in the luxurious seats.
'Just try and get some sleep Jill.' Cate suggested sat next to her brushing Jill's hair back over her shoulder. 'We'll figure the rest out when we land.' Cate smiled reassuringly.
'How are you so calm?' Jill asked as the plane began to move.
'I don't know must be a family trait.' Cate mused sitting back in her seat. Once the jet had taken off and levelled out Jill finally closed her eyes and slept whilst Cate, sat beside her, stared out the window thoughts rushing through her mind. After an hour or so Jill began to stir as she woke she stretched in her seat.
'Good sleep?' Cate asked smirking as Jill moved around to relieve her joints of their sleepy stiffness.
'Had better, your loud thinking kept me awake though.' Jill teased as Cate looked round to her raising an eyebrow.
'My loud thinking?' Cate repeated smirking at Jill.
'What were you thinking about?' Jill asked as she tousled her hair a little shaking the sleep away from her hair too.
'What I was going to say to Kelly when I see her.'
'And what did you decide on?'
'I decided to wait until I saw her and just roll with it.' Cate smiled gesturing with her hand as she did.
'Probably best, has Kris spoken to you about anything weird going on at home since you've been away?' Jill asked trying to figure out what might be going on back in L.A.
'No nothing, as far as I am aware everything is fine and normal, working cases and trying to have a social life in between. Has she or Kelly said anything to you?'
'No nothing I just wondered if this crash has anything to do with something they're working on?'
'It could be Jill or it could have just been an accident.' Cate reasoned.
'Then why would Kris and Charlie call and have us come home?' Jill countered.
'Well firstly, Kris didn't ask for us to come back I just said we would be and then Charlie asked.'
'But you had reason to say that?'
'Only the feeling that we were needed, Kris is obviously upset and scared, she needs us and Julie is away.' Cate tried to reason her actions.
'And she didn't mention Kelly to you?' Jill asked.
'No.' Cate sighed. 'Which is why I knew we had to come back.' Jill nodded her head understanding. 'The flight's not much longer will find everything out when we get home, Bosley will meet us at the airfield where this thing will be landing.' Cate explained.
'You've spoken to him?' Jill asked not remembering Charlie mention that in the phone call earlier.
'No but that's mine and Charlie's arrangement. I come home in an emergency via this private jet and Bosley will be there to collect me at the other end.' Cate explained smiling as she thought of the conversation and how for any other person this kind of special treatment would be an extravagant and kind of crazy but for her and the other Angels it was just another day at the office. Within, what felt like moments the jet was making its decent to land.
On the ground Bosley paced around the front of his car waiting for the jet to land. As the plane landed and came in towards its hanger Bosley stood still waiting for his friends to exit the plane, finally the door opened allowing the co-pilot to exit followed by Jill and then Cate. The Angels made their way swiftly to Bosley who welcomed them both with open arms.
'It's so good to have you both home.' Bosley said as he hugged Cate before breaking a part and loading into the trusty station wagon Bosley started the engine and began to drive.
'Bosley where are Kris and Kelly?' Jill asked surprised neither one of them were there. Bosley took a deep breath before he answered.
'They're both at the hospital.'
'They're what!' Jill cried out taking a hold of Bosley's arm as she sat in the front passenger seat, Cate sat in the back calmly listening.
'Calm down Jill, they're both fine. Kris is sitting with Kelly, she's still unconscious from the accident.' Bosley explained looking into the rear view mirror to Cate who sat looking out the side window, she was listening he could tell that he could see from the shadows formed across her face from what light was in the car that her jaw was clenched tight. 'I'm taking you both straight there, by the time we get there Kelly will probably be up and awake.' Bosley said hopefully.
'What happened Bos?' Cate asked slowly turning to look at him via the rear view mirror.
'I'm really not sure Cate, none of us are until Kelly wakes up.'
'Tell us what you do know Bosley.' Jill softly said. Bosley took a deep breath as he began to tell the two Angles of their sister's accident.
'Kelly was driving her and Kris back from a case they had just finished it was late but the pair of them wanted to get home rather than stay in he hotel they were at for another night.'
'The comforts of their own beds.' Jill nodded slowly with a small smile knowing her sister and friends love of their own creature comforts.
'Right. So Kelly was driving the last stretch of the journey as Kris slept beside her, she'd already done a lot of the journey herself. From what we and the police can tell from looking at the car and where they were driving it looks as though Kelly lost control of her car for some reason and came off the side of the road.' Bosley finished explaining. 'Until she wakes up we won't know for certain what happened, whether something or someone forced her off the road.'
'Well she must have been going at quite some speed for the car to roll.' Cate reasoned aloud.
'True.' Jill agreed. 'Were there any other marks on Kelly's car to suggest anything Bos?'
'It's hard to tell Jill with all the dents and scratches from the roll it took off the road.'
'Something for us to check tomorrow then.' Cate sighed as she sunk down into the car seat. 'What are Kelly's injuries Bos?' Cate wanted to know before she arrived at the hospital.
'Aside from being unconscious she has a lot of bruising and some minor cuts and scratches from the broken glass to her hands, arms and face, nothing major and no stitches but the doctor said she'll be sore for a while.'
'And Kris?' Jill asked nervously.
'A very mild concussion, and a small cut to the top of her head which need just a couple of stitches. Kris was asleep when the accident took place; the doctor said it probably did her favour.'
'Yeah Charlie told us that.' Jill said turning herself in her seat to face forward again looking out of the windscreen.
'It's not much further.' Bosley said reaching out to Jill lightly tapping her hand that rest on her thigh. Jill turned to Bosley smiling appreciatively.
At the hospital Kris sat in the comfortable chair next to Kelly's bed who still lay unconscious. Kris sat nervously nipping her right thumbnail between her teeth waiting for Kelly to wake up oblivious to the people who quietly entered in to he room.
'Hey, quit chewing your nails.' Jill quietly said not wanting to disturb Kelly. Kris turned quickly to where the voice came from and jumped up to her sisters waiting outstretched arms wrapping Kris in them tightly. 'You Ok honey?'
'I am now.' Kris softly said into her sister's ear.
'I told you we'd be here as quickly as we could.' Cate said from behind Bosley as she walked in to the room. Kris broke away from Jill to go to Cate hugging her as soon as she was close enough to.
'It's so good to have you home again, both of you.' Kris said as she held on tightly to Cate who returned the embrace.
'You alright short stack?' Cate asked as Kris stepped back away from her standing beside Jill who slipped her arm around her waist holding her little sister close.
'I'm fine really. Small headache but I'm told that's normal, I'm just waiting for Kelly to wake up.'
'I'd better go and call Charlie, tell him you've both arrived safely.' Bosley excused himself as he left the room again. The Angels stood at the foot of Kelly's bed for a moment quietly before Cate walked to the side of Kelly's bed looking her sister over for visible injuries. Cate slipped her hand into Kelly's that lay beside her. Jill ushered Kris back to the seat she was in when they came into the room and had her sit again, Jill sitting on the arm of the seat.
'Can you remember anything from the crash Kris?' Jill asked putting an arm around Kris's shoulders and brushing her sister's hair back off her shoulder.
'Not really, I didn't even feel the car swerve off the road.' Kris explained. 'Once the car began to roll, then I woke up but not for long I banged my head and I was out.' Kris said pointing to the small cut that had small bonding strips across it, not stitches.
'So you don't know what caused the accident?' Cate gently asked from where she still stood next to her sister.
'No not at all.' Kris glumly said shrugging her shoulders getting a little upset.
'It's alright Kris, Kel will wake up and explain everything.' Jill reassured.
'Look why don't you two have Bosley drive you home, I can stay here with Kelly. You should be in bed yourself Kris, resting.' Cate offered smiling at Kris.
'Cate's right, why don't we go home get you to bed.' Jill agreed wanting to get her sister home.
'I'd rather stay here with Kelly.' Kris began to counter.
'I know, but I'm here and I promise to call you as soon as she wakes up.' Cate smiled winking at Kris. 'Go on short stack, you look exhausted, go and get some sleep.' Kris could see she wasn't going to win an argument to stay where she was and if she was honest with herself she was too tired to anyway. Nodding Kris stood up Jill with her, looking to Kelly Kris then turned to Cate about to say something when Cate stopped her by speaking first. 'I promise, as soon as she wakes up.' Kris smiled nodding her friend knew exactly what she was thinking.
'Come on Kris, let's go home.' Jill put her arm around Kris and gently guided her out of the room waving back to Cate. The door closed quietly after them, leaving the two sisters alone in the room. Cate looked down to her sister tilting her head slightly to one side as she did Cate then brushed Kelly's fringe away from her eyes a little before taking a deep breath and walking around to the other side of the bed and sitting in the seat Kris had left vacant.
Cate sat in the seat not moving, not sleeping just keeping constant vigil over her older sister waiting for her to stir and wake. It was close to eleven at night when she and Jill arrived and now the sun was beginning to raise Cate noticed the colour change on the wall of the hospital room wall, a golden hue. As the sun rose Cate began to hear the gentler murmurs of her sister waking also. Cate watched as her sister slowly woke lifting her hand up to her forehead, she must have quite the headache Cate thought to herself.
'Where am I?' Kelly asked croakily.
'You're in the hospital Kel, you were in a car accident.' Cate quietly said not wanting to scare Kelly as she had only just woken up in a strange place. Cate stood up and walked to the cabinet beside Kelly's bed where the water jug and empty cup stood beside it. Pouring some water into the cup she sat beside Kelly on her bed and offered the cup to her sister who happily took it from her. 'I was beginning to wonder when you were going to wake up.' Cate smiled to her sister.
'What are you doing here?' Kelly asked after taking a drink of the water handing the cup back to Cate who placed it on the cabinet.
'Kris and Charlie called me, Jill and I came straight home.' Cate explained flatly it wasn't exactly the first thing she wanted to hear from her sister but decided to let it slide, after all she had only just woken from being unconscious for the last few hours.
'Jill is with you?' Kelly asked sitting herself up in bed slightly, Cate helping her as much as Kelly would let her.
'Jill was visiting me in Nashville, surprise visit she only arrived today. We got the call and came straight home.' Cate explained.
'You didn't have to do that I'm fine.' Kelly said in an unfriendly tone.
'I can see that.' Cate sarcastically said back to her sister motioning towards the grazes and bruises Kelly's face was sporting.
'How's Kris is she OK?' Kelly quickly asked remembering she wasn't the only person in her car.
'She's fine, mild concussion and a small cut to the top of her head.' Cate explained calming her sister. To which Kelly sighed with relief. 'Do you remember what happened?' Cate asked carefully broaching the subject. Kelly leaned back thinking back to the drive and the accident.
'I remember bright lights.' Kelly began.
'From in front or behind?' Cate gently pushed.
'Behind I think, I'm not sure, it's all a bit of a jumble.'
'That's ok take your time.' Cate soothed.
'Don't baby me Caitlin.' Kelly scolded.
'Excuse me?' Cate said taken a back by her sister's reaction.
'Don't talk to me like you would a witness, like you're a cop.'
'Kel all I want to know is what happened to cause your car to go off the road the way it did and roll with both you and Kris in it.' Cate explained beginning to lose her temper.
'What do you think I'm trying to tell you, just give me some space to think it through, to remember.' Kelly ordered.
'Fine.' Cate said getting up from the bed and grabbing her jacket from the chair beside them. 'You think it over, I'll go and let the nurse and whoever know you're awake and go call the team let them know you're ok.'
'Are you running back to Nashville after that?' Kelly asked coldly. Cate stopped at the door her hand on its handle for a moment before swinging the door open and walking out. Kelly leaned her head back into her pillows slamming her hands down in frustration onto the mattress. 'Damn it!'
Cate made the nurses aware that her sister was awake who in return thanked her as they headed into her room to check on her. Cate walked on to the payphones, shoving some coins into it Cate punched in Jill and Kris's number after all of two rings the phone was picked up.
'Cate?' Jill's voice came through.
'Yeah Jill, She's awake.' Cate simply said.
'We're on our way.' Was all Jill said before disconnecting the call. Cate smiled to herself as she hung up the pay phone before grabbing it again, putting in more coins and punching in another number.
'Hello?' Charlie answered straight away.
'Hi Charlie it's Cate. Kelly's awake.' Cate explained using her free hand to rub her tired eyes.
'That's great news Cate, is she alright, does she remember anything?'
'Kelly's just fine Charlie and yeah she remembers but it's all a jumble right now. I've called Jill and Kris they're on their way here now. I'm going to get a cab back to my place Charlie, freshen up and head out to the impound that has Kelly's car, check it over.'
'Is everything alright Cate?' Charlie asked instinctively knowing there was a problem still between the two sisters.
'Same as usual Charlie, look I'll wait for the Munroe's to get here and then I'll head off, shouldn't take long just to look over the car see if it was more than accident.'
'Alright Cate, keep me informed.'
'Will do.' Cate promised before both she and Charlie hung up their phones. Leaning against the wall for a moment Cate took a few deep breaths before heading back to her sister's room.
Walking back into the room she was shocked to find her sister up out of bed and getting changed back into her clothes.
'What the hell do you think you're doing?' Cate demanded as she stopped by the foot of the bed.
'What does it look like Cate, I'm fine, I can sign my release papers and leave.'
'Kelly you've only just woken up after being unconscious for over ten hours, are you insane?'
'No, I just don't need or want to be here.'
'Tough!' Cate yelled at her sister who turned to stare her down. 'Don't even try it Kelly.' Cate crossed her arms across her chest.
'Are you going to forcibly stop me from leaving?' Kelly asked practically daring her sister to try.
'Don't be a fool Kelly, just please get back in to bed and stay there until at least a doctor says it is ok according to them for you to leave.' Kelly turned back to getting herself dressed and ready to leave as a nurse came in with her release forms. Cate intercepted them before the nurse could give them to Kelly. 'Nurse would you mind asking the doctor to step in please.'
'What do you think you're doing now?' Kelly shouted at her sister.
'Trying to protect you from harming yourself.' Cate yelled back as the doctor walked in along with Kris and Jill in the midst of their argument.
'Well you've done a bang up job of that so far.' Kelly coldly snapped looking at Cate through narrowed eyes. Cate fell silent holding the same look at Kelly that she was giving Cate. Walking up to Kelly, who stood her ground not cowering away as many others would have, Cate handed her, her forms.
'Sign your damned self out then, why should I care.' Cate calmly and coldly said before turning and walking out of the room, Jill following after her.
'Cate don't go.' Jill called after her.
'You talk to her Jill, I'm going to the impound to check on the car.' Cate called back.
'How will you get there without your car?' Jill asked trying hard to keep up with Cate.
'I have other transportation Jill. I'll check in later.' Cate smiled as she slammed opened the door to the stairs. 'Think I'll walk off the aggression.' Cate smiled to Jill as she started heading down the stairs.
'Be careful!' Jill called out after her before turning and heading back to Kelly and Kris.