And so, there is a return of the angst, I apologise. I also apologise for how long this took me to update, I had a bit of a block. I hope you enjoy :)


Robbie walks downstairs as quietly as he can, intent on making a cup of a tea. He peaks around the door and stifles a chuckle. Sam is spark out on the sofa, head tipped back and limbs lying in all directions. Robbie is amazed that he ever managed to fall asleep like that, but there he is. Shaking his head with a grin, he puts the kettle on.

As he is pouring the water, he hears a succession of thumps. They are coming from upstairs, so Robbie surmises that Sam is still asleep. Sure enough, the unmistakable thud of a walking stick sounds down the stairs and Robbie can recognise the rhythm of a limping gait.

He grabs another mug from the cupboard and pours James a cup of tea as the younger man walks into the room. It doesn't go unnoticed that James is holding a box of painkillers in the hand that isn't wrapped around the handle of his walking stick. Robbie knows better than to let on that he's noticed. James is smiling though, and it doesn't take long for Robbie to know why.

"That boy of mine, he could fall asleep anywhere."

"Not something he inherited from his father."

"No." James looks thoughtful for a few moments. "No, I'm glad he's been spared what I dealt with."

"Yeah, you had a rough time of it lad." Robbie hands James the cup of tea. "You're alright now though aren't you?" James rolls his eyes.

"You always ask me this Robbie."

"I know James. But...you would tell me wouldn't you? If it started again?"

"I'm not sure Chronic nightmares exactly relapse Robbie..."

"Well I dunno. But if you started getting them bad again, you'd come to me for help wouldn't you?"

"I've had one properly bad dream this year. I have as many normal nightmares as anyone else, I'm fine." He pauses, to take a sip of tea. "But I promise, if it ever gets worse, I'll come to you Robbie." The older man smiles and squeezes James shoulder.

"Good." James smirks.

"It wouldn't make a difference if I didn't anyway, Sam would be straight on the phone to you if I had more than one in a week."

"And so he should do. No man is an island James, and its taken you far too long to realise that you don't have to be." James nods, and Robbie doesn't know whether its merely agreement with what he's said, or acceptance.

Just at that moment, a newly dressed and very possibly newly awakened Sam walks into the kitchen , blinking.

"Morning Sam."

"Mmmm."

"He won't be cognisant until he's had some caffeine."

"Speak f'yerself." James merely grinned and ruffled the young man's hair. "Gerroff Dad."

"Grumpy little git," James retorted, but there was no malice in it. Sam flicked the kettle on and set about making himself a cup of tea.

Once Sam has drunk half of his cup of tea, he becomes much more animated. He is also determined to get his father back for his earlier hair ruffle. Its unfortunate for the ex sergeant that his son is tall enough to get him in a headlock. Robbie is about to tell the two of them to cut it out; James has braced himself and even without his injury, his leg doesn't look comfortable. But the fifty nine year old is laughing (Robbie would go so far as to say James was giggling) at his son's antics. Sam is chuckling as well, starting to try and wriggle away as his father gets the upper hand.

"How'd you like that mate? Eh? Little sod."

"Just because you don't like the fact I can even get you in a headlock"

"I'm hurt that you'd even consider trying to perform a headlock on a man that uses a walking stick."

"Yeah, well you insist that you don't need it, so that's irrelevant. Can't have it both ways." Sam pulls away, and retreats to stand next to Robbie. James limps towards him and Sam ducks behind Lewis. "Ah now Dad, you can't hurt a pensioner."

"OI!"Lewis says, affronted. "Less of your cheek young man." Sam ducks his head apologetically.

"Sorry...I'll make breakfast?"

"Damn right you will kidda." Lewis says, but the smile in his eyes shows that he's not really offended.

.

True to his word, Sam cooks up omelettes for them all with ham, cheese and some herbs that he's found in Robbie's cupboard. After serving them up, he tucks in quickly. Robbie looks on amused.

"Its not gonna disappear kidda. Slow down, you'll give yourself indigestion."

"Nah," Sam mumbled. "I've got an iron stomach. And I wanna get started on your shed."

"Sam lad, I'm not expecting you to start work straight away."

"I know. But I don't want it to take all day. Besides, it might rain later according to the forecast, be handy to get it done by then."

"Possibly yeah. Well, you promise to give me a shout if you want some tea or anything, seen as you insist on not getting paid." Sam rolled his eyes, he'd had this conversation with Robbie on the phone between his offer of help and their visit.

"I promise Uncle Robbie."

"Good lad."

.

An hour later, and Sam is in overalls, carrying the materials through the house to the back garden.

"Shouldn't take too long Unc. Although I'm not sure I bought enough roof tacks"

"Ah it'll be fine." Sam turns around, looking slightly awkward. Robbie watches him fondly for a few seconds, before putting the lad out of his misery.

"Come on kidda, out with it." Sam shuffles a little before answering.

"Is it ok if Holly comes over? She has an optional lecture that will be done in a couple of hours."

"Of course it is, daft lad. You don't have to ask, I told you. Holly is welcome here whenever Sam, and you make sure she knows that."

"Thank you Unc. For having us and for accepting Holly and everything."

"Don't be silly lad, you're fixing my roof, its you that's doing me a favour. Anyway, I'll let you get on, wouldn't do for you to be still working when your lass comes over would it?" Robbie smirks and Sam's cheeks flush red.

.

At half past one, Robbie comes out into the garden with a plate of sandwiches, James following slightly behind, carrying a tray with everything needed to make three cups of tea on it. As they get closer, Robbie shouts up to the young man.

"Sam kidda, lunch down here for you."

"Cheers," Sam shouts back, before lowering himself to the edge of the shed and dropping the two foot to the floor. He straightens up and meets James' disapproving stare.

"What? What did I do?"

"What didn't you do you mean. What's wrong with the ladder, you'll hurt yourself one of these days."

"S'quicker that way" Sam mutters, before looking pointedly at James' now empty right hand.

"Anyway, you're in no position to give me disapproving stares. You should be using that stick Dad."

"I can actually walk without it you know Sam. I mean, it helps and all, but I am able to physically ambulate without using it." Robbie watches the exchange quietly. It would be amusing if it weren't for the weary concern on Sam's face.

"Maybe you can Dad, but I can see that it hurts you."

"Sam..."

"Now who's got the right to give disapproving stares hmm?" Seeing that he's made his point, Sam gently squeezes James' arm, before launching himself at the ham and cheese sandwiches that Robbie has made.

As they are eating, Sam's mobile phone goes off. James can tell immediately from the smile on his sons face that its his girlfriend on the other end of the line.

"Hi Hol. Has your lecture finished?"

"Yeah, I'm still at Uncle Robbie's."

"...What?...Ham and cheese sandwich. And very nice it is too."

"I'm not eating all the food. What did you need from your room?"

"This isn't the point Holly. Uncle Robbie said that it was fine for you to come over, and also that you're always welcome."

"Why don't you come over and thank him yourself? Well come back with me after we've got the stuff."

"See you in a bit Hol. Love you." Sam hangs up his phone and then self consciously continues to eat his sandwich. He's clearly a little embarrassed and so neither James or Robbie make a comment, there's no need to make him feel more self conscious.

"Hows the shed going then kidda?" Robbie says, as James leans back on the said structure.

"Nearly done now Unc. Although I'm gonna have to go buy some more roof tacks."

"Run out?"

"Yeah I kinda miscalculated. But Hol needs to get her phone from her room in campus, so I'm gonna meet her and we'll walk to the shop and buy more."

"Sounds like you've got a plan then. Is Holly going to stay for dinner later?"

"I dunno, I didn't think to ask her." Sam turns to see why Hathaway is so quiet and he shakes his head as he claps eyes on his father. James has his head resting against the wall of the shed, and he sleeping, arms crossed and legs stretched out in front of him. They can both tell he's only dozing.

"Has he taken a painkiller recently?" Sam asks quietly.

"About half an hour ago lad. With a coffee, but he didn't finish it."

"That explains it. He really doesn't like those painkillers." Robbie and Sam clear everything up, and then Robbie gently shakes James.

"Jim, wake up mate, that's not comfy." James blinks, scowls and then shifts a little, stretching his leg carefully.

"How long was I out? Sorry"

"Ten minutes Dad, don't apologise, its fine." Sam offers his arm to James and pulls him upright, steadying him as he shakes off the fugue of disturbed sleep. Once Hathaway is standing on his own, Sam smiles.

"I'm gonna go get changed. Don't want to be walking around in overalls." Both the older men nod and Sam jogs back to the house.

.

Sam has left to meet Holly and he hasn't taken his car, so they know he will be about an hour. There's a documentary about the intelligence of crows on television, which neither of the two men are really watching.

"Jim?"

"Yes?"

"How confident are you that Sam will get into the fire service? I mean, he's not setting himself up for a fall is he?" James shakes his head, and smiles softly.

"Nah. He'll make it. He's been practising interview questions with me, and his paper application form was good. We did it together. It felt like sitting and helping him with his homework all over again." A knowing look passed over Robbie's face. Sam had found school a bit tricky. It wasn't until he was six that he was properly diagnosed with dyslexia. But with James' support he learned to cope in time for his GCSE's. He'd come around to Robbie's house and excitedly showed off his results, pointing proudly at the C he'd got in English Language and Literature.

"You got it done though."

"Yeah, it took about three hours, and a lot of tea, but we got it done, and I do really think he'll get an interview."

"Good. He's a good lad, he deserves it."

"That he does Robbie." James chuckles lightly and Robbie looks at him with confusion.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing really, I just. I remember thinking when he was four months old, that he was gonna be a politician. For all of about five minutes."

"What on earth gave you that impression?" James grins, and starts to recount the story.

"I'm going now, you'll be ok James?"

"Of course, what you think I can't look after my own son?" he says, a hint of amusement on his face.

"No, no of course not, but..." James interrupts her, pulling his wife into a hug as he grins.

"I'm on leave...Chrissy, they can't call me in. I'm on leave. I'll be here the whole time." Chrissy nods and smiles, reaching up to give him a kiss.

"Right, I'm off. The girls are waiting."As she goes to the door, he picks up the tiny baby from the cot and puts him over his shoulder. As Chrissy leaves, she can just about hear a lullaby being sung softly in the front room. She smiles as she imagines their son staring up into his father's eyes, looking solemn as he always does when James sings to him. Shaking her head a little, she leaves.

Holding the four month-old in his arms, James stretches out on the sofa, holding his son above his head. The baby giggles and James' face splits into a genuine grin.

"You like that little man? Yeah?" He lies on his side and curls his leg, creating an enclave where his stomach is and he sits Sam up in it. The boy holds on to his trouser leg and looks out at the room with acute interest, wobbling in the way that all young babies do. After a while, he looks at James' face and grins a toothless grin, reaching out to touch James nose. Before he can reach it however, he tips over onto his front. There are a few seconds of shocked silence and then the little boy begins to cry. James picks him up gently, walking around the living room shushing the baby cradled in his arms. Eventually, Sam quietens and James sets about giving him a bottle of milk. He watches as his son suckles on the teat of the bottle, and anyone watching would have been able to see the look of adoration on the new father's face. Bottle finished, Sam pushes it away, and lets out a squeal of contentment. A smile grows on James' face and he turns the TV on, carefully nestling the baby in his arms.

"Ah"

"That's right kid. You tell him" James says as his son frowns at the nameless politician on the TV screen.

"AA-AAH. Aaaba"

"You could do better eh Sammy?" He watches as the little boy's eyes start to close and then snap open again, a sure sign that the kid is falling asleep.

James remembers that like it was yesterday. Chrissy had come home and woken him up, and they'd put Sam to bed. He'd spent the night sleeping in her arms, and it had been the first night that week that he'd not had a single bad dream.

Robbie watches as James recalls the memory. It shows how far the man has come, that he can tell the story without tearing up or having to stop. Lewis knows from bitter experience that grief never fully goes away. But he can see that James has come to terms with it to much more of an extent than he had when he'd first turned up on Lewis' doorstep, scared shit-less and clutching his son fifteen years ago.

They are both shaken out of their thoughts by the loud ringing of James' mobile. He looks at the screen.

"Holly...Sam must have forgotten his phone and needs to ask something. That boy would forget his head is it wasn't attached, I swear."

"Stop grumbling and answer the phone you old sod," Robbie says grinning. James chuckles in response as he presses the 'answer' button.

The smile is wiped off his face with alarming speed.

"Holly? Holly what are you-? Calm down love. Hol! Slow down and-"

"What!? No no, say that again."

"Fuck, where are you?"

"The JR. Sam? What have they said?"

"Fuck. Shitting hell. Er...er...Ok love, its ok. I'm- I'm coming ok. We're on our way. Try and stay calm, its going to be alright. We're coming. I'll be there as soon as I can. Call me if they tell you anything." He hangs up and Robbie can see that James' face is ashen

"Jim kidda." Nothing happens and Robbie clicks his fingers near James' face. "Jim, lad. What's happened?"

"Er. H-Holly just called. They're at the Radcliff. Sam's been stabbed."

"Is he ok?"
"She...she doesn't know.. they've taken him off s-somewhere." James gets up and curses as he searches through Sam's bag where he left it by the sofa. "Come on, please tell me you left the keys here son." He finds Sam's car keys and stands up.

"James..."

"No, I have to go to the hospital. Robbie, he needs me. I don't know how bad it is."

"I get it Jim, but-"

"I need to be there, what if something happens? He can't be alone Robbie, I can't leave him alone." Robbie gets up and takes Hathaway's shaking hands in his own.

"I know. Just take a moment lad. You're no use to him if you crash on the way there."

James sees the logic in this, and he takes deep breaths as Robbie keeps hold of him, anchoring him as best he can.

Within ten minutes, (Robbie wisely doesn't mention anything about insurance) James is driving them as fast as he safely can towards the John Radcliff Hospital.

All Robbie can do is hope that its not bad news when they get there, because he knows instinctively, that if he loses one Hathaway, he loses them both.