With A Little Help From My Friends.

Chapter 4: I'm Here

'Where's Mommy grandma?'

Maureen Mcgill tensed at the question. She knew soon enough she'd have to tell her little grandma that Mom was ill in hospital. But it still hurt her thinking that she'd have to tell her in the first place.

She couldn't believe it; she'd walked in just a day ago and found her daughter close to death in the bathroom. It soon became evident it was a suicide attempt.

How could she try and kill herself if she had two children who had just lost their father.

She didn't even realise that Stacey had been feeling suicidal. She'd wished she'd insisted to stay with Stacey. But she didn't and now the kids were paying the price.

The phone and Maureen raced to answer it.

'Hello Williams Residence'

'Mrs. Mcgill' A voice asked.

Maureen braced herself, she could feel it coming. It was one of those retched journalists who'd been phoning all morning asking how her daughter was, unfortunately CNN had just had 'breaking' news that Stacey Williams had been rushed to hospital for an unknown reason.

'It's Claudia' the voice said softly.

'Claudia who' Maureen asked suspiciously 'Claudia Kishi, Stacey's old friend from Stoneybrook'

'Oh my goodness, Claudia I'm so sorry, how are you?' Maureen asked

'I was okay until I read the papers...I heard Bradley had died.... Was it true?'

'Unfortunately...yes...Oh Claudia he was a great man.... And he was trying to save her...that's what's making it even harder for her to deal with'

'I haven't spoken to Stacey since we had the dumb high school fight when we were sixteen, and I had always meant to try and get back in touch...And then I found it.... And I just felt so... I don't know guilty....I mean she was my best friend....And I want to be there for her again'

'Claudia, if I give you the address of the house...you have to keep it confidential'

'Oh Mrs. Mcgill I wouldn't dream of telling it anyone else'

Maureen repeated the address to Claudia, who on the other end wrote it down.

'And Claudia.... There's something you should no.... There's an exclusive on CNN right now.... They're saying Stacey was taken to hospital late last night'

Claudia gasped.

'That's the press Mrs. Mcgill its dog eat dog out there, for the juiciest story... I mean..'.

'Claudia...wait' Maureen interrupted her 'Claudia...it's...it's true'

The line went very quiet, and Maureen thought she'd gone.

'What...what happened' Claudia asked quietly

'I found her in the bathroom last night...She'd taken an overdose of paracetomol.... And she drunk a bottle of alcohol...'

She heard Claudia swear in the background.

'God...Will I be to late...' Claudia asked the inevitable question

'The doctors told me she's stable...but critical...I just suggest you get here asap' Maureen advised her fighting back tears.

'I'm getting the next flight over' Claudia announced, they exchanged emotional goodbye's.

It was midnight... And Claudia sat at Stacey's bedside...which was guarded by two policeman- trying to keep away the caring 'family or 'friends' who turned out to be press wanting more gossip.

Maureen had informed them that Mrs. Claudia Kishi-Smith was coming to visit her friend.

She had to have I.D to prove she was who she said she was.

And so she sat there, stunned by the girl she saw lying in the bed. Totally reliant on the machines. Gone was the girl who Claudia regularly saw in the papers under best dressed.... Now she was this pale, girl who looked so vulnerable.

She stayed there for a few hours, apologising over and over again, telling how stupid their fight was, and how she wanted to make amends, and finding out how badly everything was going had spurred her on to stop acting so childish and make the first move.

She stood up feeling emotionally and physically drained.

She opened the door and suddenly was stopped by a croaky voice that made Claudia stand stunned facing the doors.

She turned around and she saw Stacey, wide-awake.

'Why are you here, Claudia' Stacey asked

Claudia went through her whole speech and Stacey stared at Claudia, was it all genuine. Who could she trust anymore?

Stacey realised she was genuine. And burst into relieved tears.

'I've had my mom, but my only friend who I was closest to was Jenna, my sister-in –law and she's blaming me for his death' She said.

They talked and renisniced, and eventually she saw Stacey yawn.

'I'll leave you to get some sleep'

'Wait,' Stacey said 'Where are you staying, and how long are you here?'

Claudia smiled, that was so like Stacey making sure everybody was happy.

'I'm staying at your house...in one of the guest bedrooms, is that okay?'

'Of course' Stacey said

'And I'm staying as long as you need me here, there's no getting rid of me now' Claudia said half-joking, half being serious.

'Good, I've missed you Claud'

'I've missed you to Stace, I'm here' She said softly.

And she walked out of the hospital room.