The next morning, Ronnie was the first awake. She sat for a moment trying to figure out what had happened last night – for a moment she thought she might have done something stupid but then it dawned on her that she had not, or at least she hoped so anyways.
Max came in and sat on the black chair. "Alright Ron?" he asked.
"Ermm, yeh. I probably ought to be getting off." She said as she started to get up.
"Why don't you come to the hospital with me? Could do with the company and I'm sure Jack will be pleased to see you."
"I'm not too sure..." Ronnie said as she wasn't positive whether or not Chelsea would be there or whether Roxy was there with Amy."
"Come on Ron, if not for Jack then for me."
"Fine I will!" She said as she let out a deep sigh.
When Ronnie and Max got to the hospital Chelsea was sat with Jack. Ronnie watched through the window with tears in her eyes. Max watched her for a moment and put his arm around her and unfortunately for Ronnie this was the very moment that Jack looked up. Ronnie and Jack held eye contact for the moment before she looked down. Max pulled her in for a hug.
The next thing they knew, Chelsea was running out practically in tears. Max pulled back from Ronnie and they looked at her and then at Jack confused.
Max entered Jack's room with Ronnie close behind.
"G-et a cl-ose goo d look did you?" Jack stuttered.
"Bruv, are you alright?" Max asked concerned for his little brother.
"Ju just go. G ET OUT!"
Max moved towards the doorway as Ronnie just stood there. She turned round to Max and he tilted his head towards the exit suggesting that she left too so she gave Jack a sympathetic smile and followed Max closing the door behind her.
"So we're just going to leave him?" Ronnie asked concerned for Jack.
"Well what else do you suggest, do we just sit there despite the fact he clearly doesn't want us."
"No – we find a way of getting through to him." She said as she went back into Jack's room.
"YOU KNOW JACK PUSHING PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU AWAY ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD LEAST OF ALL YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION TO BE IN BUT YOU HAVE A FAMILY WHO ARE PREPARED TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU YET YOU COULDNT CARE LESS SO FINE, YOU CAN SIT HERE FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF BUT DON'T COME CRYING TO US WHEN DECIDE IN ACTUAL FACT YOU DO NEED HELP." She said whilst pointing her index finger towards him as she stood at the end of his bed.
"Ron.." Max said, not sure whether Ronnie shouting at Jack would be the best approach.
Jack looked up at Ronnie sadly for a moment and then turned his head in the other direction. Ronnie sighed and walked out and this time Max followed her.
"He will soon come round, you see." Ronnie said.
"Yeah but where has this tough love thing got you and Jack so far aye?" Max pointed out. "Wha the odd one night stand and kiss and then you both wonder why you haven't gotten it together. Go easy on him Ron, he has just been shot in the head and don't tell me you would act any differently."
Ron sighed because she knew that Max was right. "Maybe you're right."
Max gave her a reassuring smile and placed his hand on her back as they walked out of the waiting room.
"Gonna come and help me at the club?" Max asked
"Guess I could."
When they arrived at the club it was the first night that anyone had been in since the shooting. They stood for a moment taking in the mess.
"Right shall we get started then?" Ronnie said, breaking the silence. She walked into the office to fetch the spare keys for the cleaning cupboard. Whilst she was there she came across the engagement ring that he gave her last year. She held it for a moment before putting it back.
Once the pair of them had finished cleaning they went their separate ways. Max had given Ronnie some papers that needed to be signed in the hope that she and Jack would reconcile.
That afternoon Ronnie plucked up the courage to go back to the hospital with the papers. As she walked in she took a deep breath not entirely sure what kind if mood he would be in or whether or not he would even want her there.
She paused in the waiting room and looked through the window for a moment before going in.
"Jack..." she said as she took in him being hooked up to machines and wires everywhere.
"I said no visitors." He stuttered.
"Yeh I know, but there are some papers that need signing for the club." She explained.
"C-ant they w wait?"
"Well no, I would have left it if they could." She said as she took a seat next to his bed. Whilst Jack signed the papers she stared at his sad and distressed face and a single tear fell down her face which he quickly whipped away before he could see
"Right well I best be getting back, re-do whatever your brother has done in the last hour." She said with a smile. She lent over his body and was about to kiss his cheek when he wet himself. He turned to one side before her lips had met his cheek, "Go, get out." He stuttered. Ronnie stood back up in confusion when she realised what he had done.
"I'm sorry, I'm ermm, sorry." She said as she ran out crying.
Ronnie went straight back to the club to get it ready for opening and she threw herself into it not wanting to dwell on the fact that Jack had just pushed her away. She spent time making sure that everything was perfect and not a thing out of place.
She popped home to get changed and when she got back Max was sat at the bar with a drink in his hand.
"Alright?" he asked as she walked in.
"I will be when tonight's over with!" She told him.
"You'll be fine" he said as he watched her check everything was okay before opening doors. As a few people came in Ronnie let out a sigh.
"Not many people." She said concerned.
"It's early yet, it'll be fine. Anyways I am off. See ya in a bit." Max said as he got of the stool.
"What? Where are you going? You can't just leave me."
"I've got things to do, I'm gonna go to the car lot and then go and see Jack."
When Max got to the hospital Max sat on the chair beside him "alright bruv?" he asked.
"W-hat d do you think?" he stuttered.
"Even with a bullet through the head you're still the same old argumentative Jack." He smiled.
"h... hows the cl-ub?" Jack asked.
"Well I was there an hour ago and everything seemed alright, bit quiet mind but I guess that's only to be suspected." He explained to his brother.
Just then Max's phone rang, "speak of the devil." He said as he looked down at his caller ID and saw Ronnie. "Hello... what?... are you okay?... but they didn't hurt you?... I'm at the hospital with Jack but I'll come now... okay, I'll be there as quick as possible." Max finished talking on the phone and stood up.
"wh... what's going on?" Jack stuttered full of concern.
"Two guys tried to raid the club. One had a gun but no one got hurt. Just think Ronnie is a bit shaken by the sounds of it. Look I better go and see if she's alright. N don't worry they didn't take much, there wasn't much to take. I'll keep you updated alright."
As Max left a tear rolled down Jack's cheek. He wanted to be the one that ran to Ronnie's side when something like that happened but he couldn't. Jack could not have felt more useless if he tried. He clenched his theist and slammed it down onto the mattress angry with himself.
When Max got to the club he found Ronnie sat in the office and a policeman was just leaving. He stood and looked at her pale face. "Looks like this place is going to have a reputation for guns at this rate ay?" Max said but Ronnie didn't say anything.
"I just want to get out of here and go home." She said as she stood up.
"Why don't I take you to see Jack?" Max asked.
"It's past visiting time now besides I don't want him to see like this."
"I think it might do him good Ron and he will wanna know that you're alright." He explained.
"I have no right to be upset, he is lying in hospital because he got shot in the head so I don't really have a right to be upset when a chav just holds a gun up at me." She replied.
"C'mon Ron. Whatever he says you n I both know he loves you and he will be in that hospital worried sick about you right now so the least you can do is assure him that you're okay."
Ronnie rolled her eyes, Jack was the last person she wanted to see but then again, a friendly face was just what she needed after the evenings events.
When they got to the hospital the nurse was adiment that they should wait till morning but Max could see that Jack was wide awake and explained he situation and so she reluctantly allowed them to see him.
"Look who I brought to see you." Max said as he walked in with Ronnie.
"Ar, are you o k?" Jack asked as he looked at a pale and washed out Ronnie who just nodded as she sat down on the chair to his right.
"Why don't I leave you to for a moment and get a cuppa?" Max said as he felt a bit like a third wheel.
Once Max had gone Ronnie sat on the edge of Jack's bed facing him and lay her head on his chest. Jack then placed his right arm protectively around her, wrapping her blonde hair around his fingers.
"I'm sorry, I wanted everything to go perfect." She whispered.
"Shhhh." He stuttered. "Th-is is –my – fault. I – should-nt h-ave –a-lowed –you – to – open –yet." He said, blaming himself for the trauma that Ronnie had just been through.
"I'm fine, can't exactly dwell on what just happened, nothing compared to what happened to you is it." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek. Ronnie remained sat with her head on Jack's chest and he was now gently stroking her back.
When Max came back Ronnie sat up and sat back down on the chair. "Don't mind me. So are you to on again?" as he asked this Ronnie looked down at her shoes whilst Jack looked at him angrily.
"No." Ronnie said sharply much to the shock of Jack. Max looked at his brother who now looked more depressed than ever. "perhaps we better be going, let you get some rest."
Ronnie stood up and brushed her hand across his as she went to squeeze it but then decided not to although for that moment they looked into each other's eyes. "Bye" she said coldly as she walked out.
"You alright bruv?" Max asked once Ronnie was out of the room, waiting for Max.
"g-et out" Jack demanded and so Max nodded and left.