Authors Note: Er...Here I am again, I apologise for inflicting yet another story about these three on you all. This is the sequel (of sorts) to "Friends Are The Family We Choose for Ourselves", which in turn is a sequel to"Who Says You can't Choose Your Family". It might be worth reading the first chapter of "Who Says" for back ground, but I don't think its essential? I'll put any warnings at the beginning of any relative chapters, since I'm not entirely sure what will transpire. Hope you enjoy :)

Its February the 12th, and its been five months since Carson was arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud and the attempted murder of James Hathaway. James and Lewis have been keeping touch regularly, phoning and emailing each other. They've even met up a few times, although Robbie's been spending a lot of time in Manchester, and Sam has started school, so its not happened often. Lewis has always said that he'll have Sam after school if needs be, that he'd like to. There had been one day where James had known that he'd get out of work late and asked for Robbie's help, but only one. Hathaway had been ridiculously apologetic on the phone, despite all of Robbie's insistences that it was hardly a chore, and that he liked looking after the little boy. Eventually, he'd convinced James that he really didn't mind, and James had only been an hour late home for his work anyway.

So it was that he wasn't annoyed when James phoned him that morning.

"Robbie?"

"James, how are you lad, how's Sammy?"

"Great, he's great...Just about to take him to school. Last day before half term. There's one little problem though."

"Oh aye, anything I can do to help?"

"Could you pick him up at half three? Only if its not too much trouble that is."

"Course not James. It'll be nice to see him."

"Thank you" James said gratefully as he started to explain. "Its just, I completely forgot that I had a doctor's appointment at half three today, and there's no way I'd get there in time...or be able to reschedule the appointment. I should be back by 5. At the very latest. Not that I need to have one anyway..." That last bit was muttered almost rebelliously and Lewis smiled.

"No worries lad, I'll be there, just remember to tell Sam to look for me in the playground eh?"

"Thanks Robbie."

"See ya later Jim...What's the appointment for anyhow?" He asked nonchalantly, disguising his concern, or trying to anyway.

"Nothing to worry about, just a check up on my knee. They'll poke and prod it for a couple of hours, give me painkillers and send me home. Waste of time really."

"Long as your sure. I'll see you this evening"

.

At twenty-five minutes past three, Robbie was waiting in the school playground for Sam. Its a bitter sweet feeling. He loves this kid like his own son. But that's just it. Sam isn't his son. When his son was that age, he was too busy at work, chasing after dangerous men, or doing tedious paperwork. He regrets it deeply, more than Ken will probably ever know. He's stopped from his melancholy thoughts as he sees Sam walk out of the front door. The little boy looks around in confusion for a short time: Robbie realises that Sam is used to his Dad being a head over the other parents. Soon though, he spots Robbie and grins, running towards him.

"Unca Robbie! Why you here?"

"Come to pick you up lad. Good day at school?"

"Yeah...Where's Daddy?" Robbie took Sam's hand as they headed out of the gate.

"He's gone to the hospital."

"Why? Was it nasty men? Did he ate something bad" Sam starts to look panicked and he clutches Lewis' hand tighter. Lewis can only surmise that James never actually told Sam why he wouldn't be able to pick him up. Probably didn't want to send him to school worrying about his Dad being in the hospital.

"He's fine. Dad's just gone for a check up on his knee." He smiles down at the kid, but there's still a frown on Sam's face. "I promise kidda, just a check up to see how its doing."

"He's def'nately coming home tonight?"

"Aye. Definitely. Promise. Now, what's that you're holding eh?" Robbie points down to a piece of paper that Sam is clutching. The little boy grins as he starts to explain his drawing to Robbie, pointing out all the people and who they are. Lewis needs the guide. Sam drawing skills aren't yet all that developed. Although there is a distinctly blonde looking blob that is obviously Hathaway. If that hadn't given it away, the fact that this blob was taller than all the rest, would have.

.

Once they get in, Robbie makes himself a cup of tea, and hands Sam a glass of milk as the youngster chats about school. He seems happy enough and he's eager to show Robbie how he can write his name.

"That's good lad. That's very good, you've done it much better than I did at your age." Sam smiles at him. "What did your Dad say?"

"Daddy said he was proud. An' then we read a story." Lewis can imagine the smile on James' face when Sam had shown him his first written words. Its pretty similar to the smile Sam is wearing now.

"I bet he was proud kidda. Come on, what do you say we go and put the pizza's in the oven eh?" It's ten to five and James is due back soon. He's probably not going to want to cook, and Robbie doesn't mind feeding Sam. He sticks three pizzas in the oven, whether James wants to cook or not, he's probably going to be hungry.

Robbie has just dished up the pizzas when the doorbell rings.

"I get it! Its Daddy!" Sam runs to the door, and Robbie chuckles as he hears the kid run down the hallway. He mentally counts down to five and waits for the inevitable shout;

"Unca Robbie, I can't reach'a lock." Robbie goes down the hall and opens the door. He isn't expecting James to be leaning against the door frame. The younger man is grey and the smile on his face is forced.

"Hello mate" James says, as he reaches down to ruffle his son's hair.

"Hello Daddy. You just in time for pizza."

"Great, lead on little man." Sam runs to the kitchen and James follows slowly. Once he gets over the threshold, he grabs at the wall, supporting himself.

"James? You ok?" Hathaway nods tightly and waves a hand dismissively at Robbie.

"M'fine. Knee just hurts a bit."

"I can see that," Robbie mutters. "However, it looks like more than- Wait, did you walk home?"

"No. I got a taxi from the hospital." Robbie frowns. If James got a taxi, it means that the short walk from the kerb to his door has left him in obvious pain.

"What did the doctor's do to you lad? You said it was only a check up." James winced as he let Robbie help him down the hallway.

"Was a check up. They've been poking and prodding it for three hours, its just inflamed." That may well be true, but the fact of the matter is that James can hardly walk. Robbie knows that the man doesn't have his crutches any more, so that's going to be hard for him too. They get James settled on the dining room chair as Sam starts to tell him about his day.

.

Robbie keeps an eye on James throughout the evening, and it becomes clear that the pain isn't abating. Hathaway of course is ignoring it, letting Sam climb up onto his lap, and thinking that Robbie doesn't see the way his knuckles go white as he grips the table edge.

"Didn't the hospital give you some pain killers or something lad? They must have known that you'd be in pain."

"They did give me some. In my jacket." Robbie tuts remonstratively and heads to the hallway fishing the tablets out of James' jacket pocket.

"Robbie..."

"James. Just take them please, this is painful to watch lad."

"I can't."

"It doesn't make you weak to take prescribed painkillers for gods sake man!" Robbie says, thinking he knows what the problem is.

"Its not that. I can't take them. They knock me out."

"That's the idea."

"Can't look after Sam if I'm spark out in bed can I?" Lewis has to fight from rolling his eyes. He should have realised that it'd be something like that.

"Well take some paracetamol then. James, I can see how much you need it." James starts to look stubborn and Robbie takes over. "Come on Sam kidda, get off your Dad now eh?" Sam nods and scrambles off James' lap, eliciting a hiss out of the younger man.

"Paracetamol doesn't touch it, never has."

"How many check ups have you had?"

"Two. Three counting this one." James grunts in pain a little and Robbie sighs. "Last one was just before you came to help decorate." Robbie nods.

"That was the one where they told you that it was permanently buggered wasn't it?" This elicits a smirk from James.

"Not sure that was the term they used, but yeah, that was the basic gist."

"Well, if they know that it's not going to get better, why do they need to keep poking it and causing you pain?" He holds up a hand to silence James' protestations. "Don't even bother James, its written all over your face."

"They need to check that it's not getting worse." That makes Lewis think a little and he stands up decidedly.

"Well, it will if you refuse to take painkillers and then move it unnaturally to compensate. Come on, I'm driving you home."

"Robbie no, we'll get a taxi-"

"-I'm driving you home, then you are going to take that bloody pill"

"- But, Sam"

"I'll stay and look after him. James you're useless to him like this anyway, you couldn't get to him if he needed help as it is. At least be pain free and useless." Robbie thinks that James is about to argue, but in the end he laughs slightly.

"Well, can't really argue with that now can I?"

.

Half an hour later, they are at James' house, fully decorated now, and looking very lived in. James smiles apologetically through his pained expression gesturing to the toys strewn about the living room.

"In a bit of a rush this morning." Sam runs in and picks up a toy plane, landing it by Robbie's foot.

"Not tidied it up Unca Robbie. Cos the city is still going while I'm at school." Robbie smiles.

"Course it is kidda." He looks up to see James, sat on the sofa, head back and teeth clenched. He looked at his watch, it was only ten past eight, but James looked like he could really do with some sleep.

"Come on James, pills and bed."

"M'not a kid."

"Never said you were. But still, painkillers, nightmare pills if you're still taking them, and bed." James nods reluctantly and hobbles into the kitchen to grab the pills he needs to take.

"How fast do they work Jim," James shrugs as he fills glass of water and prepares to swallow them, after checking the boxes for interactions. "Hang on mate, I think you should take 'em in bed, otherwise you might conk out halfway up the stairs." Seeing he sense in this, James heads up to his room. Its a testament to how much pain he's in, that he doesn't try and get Sam ready for bed. The little boy is a bit hyper though, so Robbie doesn't think he'll go to sleep straight away anyway.

"Right Sammy, how about we clean up a little while Dad gets himself sorted eh? Then you can go and say good night to him."

"Can you read me a bedtime story?"

"Yeah go on then, if you help clean up."

"But can you read it when I all snuggly in bed?"

"Of course I can Sam." The two of them pick up all the cars and put them in Sam's toy-box, that is kept by the side of the sofa. Robbie reasons that they've given Hathaway enough time to get himself sorted out and he carries Sam upstairs. Once they get into James' bedroom, its clear that James has taken the pills. He's already half asleep, and he doesn't look like he's in pain. Sam climbs up onto the bed and puts a hand on James' shoulder.

"Sleep now Daddy. See you in'a morning." Robbie smiles as he imagines James saying that to Sam every night. Sam lays his head down on James chest and tries to wrap his arms around James neck at an impossible angle. James brings his arm up to put it over Sam and smiles sleepily.

"N'night S'mmy" The drug is clearly working, James is asleep in minutes. Robbie gently pulls Sam off and James immediately curls onto his side. Sam looks ready to drop as well, so Robbie gets him ready for bed. Once Sam is ready, he gets into bed. Lewis is already sitting up at the headboard, and the boy snuggles into him. He can tell that the kid feels uneasy so, Robbie puts his arm around him as he holds the book. Sam frowns before he starts reading and wriggles out from the covers, running over to the armchair that James has clearly put there for his own use, it dwarfs Sam. When he turns back to Robbie, he can see that Sam is now clutching Fluffy and he smiles at the boy.

"Away lad, are we gonna read this or not?"

"Yeah! But Fluffy wanted to hear too. He missed you Unca Robbie."

"Ah well, I've missed him as well. And you kidda." Robbie reads Sam the story, trying not to dwell on how ridiculous the plot line was, it'd never stand up in court. When he's finished, Sam is still awake and he looks sad.

"Right lad, what's wrong?" Sam turns his head into his pillow and mumbles quietly.

"Nothin' wrong. Just sleepy" Its not true, and Robbie knows it. He picks Sam up and settles in the armchair, the boy curled up on him, with his arm almost squeezing the stuffing out of the stuffed toy. Robbie pulls Sam's comfort blanket over to him, and carefully lays it over the little boy on his lap, enveloping him in blanketed hug.

"Sam lad, what's wrong? You can tell me, I don't like seeing you looking sad. Your Dad doesn't either."

"Daddy won't know, the medicine maked him all asleep." Sam mumbles into Lewis' ribs

"That's true, but he'll still not want you to be sad." The child doesn't answer for a little while, burying his hand in Robbie's shirt and curling up even smaller than before. When he does speak, his voice is small and quiet.

"Wanted a'stay at your house Unca Robbie. Not here."

"Why Sam?" Robbie frowns, its not a good sign when a child doesn't want to sleep in their own house. He knows immediately that its not anything to do with how he's treated, James is a loving father. But something is obviously upsetting him.

"Your house might fix Daddy. Cos you there an' then you can fix him." Robbie's heart sinks, this is only going to upset him, and its clearly not making Sammy happy.

"Why does Daddy need fixing Sammy? His knee will be feel better tomorrow you know?"

"I know. An' the doctor sayed Daddy's knee not gonna be fixed anyway." He looks up at Robbie and then shifts so that he can hold onto Robbie's hand. "It not Daddy's knee that's brokened." Lewis almost misses the words and he moves Sam so that he's sitting on his lap properly, blanket still wrapped around him.

"What is wrong with him Sammy? Come on, you can tell me, maybe I can fix it eh?" There's silence for a short while before Sam speaks.

"Daddy not sleeping again. He having nightmares all the time and he can't sleep. An' he telled me not to worry, but then he screamin' an' I worry anyway an' I can't fix it. " Sam has tears in his eyes and Robbie sighs softly. He knew it'd be too good to be true. James having nightmares again is not a good sign at all.

"Is he still taking his pills Sam?" Robbie doesn't like to ask the boy questions like this, but he needs to know. Sam nods.

"I maked him show me. Ev'ry evening. We both take our tablets. 'Cept mine is vitamins not medicine." Robbie smiles at this, he can imagine Sam stubbornly insisting that James lets him see that he's taking his medication.

"That's good then. Well don't worry, Daddy had some very special strong tablets today, so he won't dream tonight. He'll get a good nights sleep ok?" And so will you bonny lad, you haven't been have you? The little boy nods and climbs into his bed, settling without fuss and falling asleep, soon after Robbie kisses his forehead, like he knows James does every night.

.

As he lies in James' spare bedroom, his mind is in a whirl. Its is all kinds of not good that James is having nightmares again, Robbie has seen him after some and they must be draining him. What is doubly not good is that he's having nightmares and he's still taking the medication, which means that it's stopped working.

What is also very not good, is that Sam is left to deal with it. Oh, Robbie has no doubts, that James is doing everything he can to hide it from the young boy and to reassure him, but its clearly not working. Sam is all to aware of what's going on and he's young, scared and doesn't know what to do to help his Dad.

As he falls asleep, he resolves that he's going to stick around tomorrow and try and help sort it out. The questions is, will James let him?