AUTHORS NOTES: I have been ill this last couple of days with writing block, but thankfully, i am cured, with the help of signalfire and her wonderful advice, and also the music of Duran Duran, David Bowie, The Fray and Take That. I love you all.
You may notice that Bov turns into EmoBov. Never mind that. Things (might) sort themselves out in the next chapter. I don't know yet, because i haven't wrote it. But, now, i am going to take a well deserved couple of hours off and watch Shaun of the Dead with my mum, sister and dog.

Anything, but Ordinary

Chapter Four

Stolen

The guys didn't want to mention anything about Ash Michaels to Emma. Keeping her in the dark kept her safe.

Simple.

They hunted the lads down. It was a surprise attack yeah, but they deserved it. Hell, did they deserve it. The fight was rough. Pete stepped aside for that fight, so Bovver could just take down Ash. And take down, he did. With a growl, Bov slammed the fuckers head in the pavement. Ash gave a groan, blood dribbling down his cheek.

'Stop,' he grunted.

'Stop? Fucking stop? Would you have stopped with Emma if we hadn't fucking arrived?' he snarled, kneeing him in the guts. Keith staggered backwards, another man his size gripped in his arms, before he was slammed into a car. Bov turned back to Ash, a sour look on his face, eyes dark; murderous. 'You are such a little bitch,' he spat, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanked it back. The man groaned, eyes bruised and cut, blood dripping from his cut lip. 'I could rip you apart here,' he muttered in his ear. 'I could slit your throat and throw you in a river if I really fucking wanted to. If you even breath in Emma's direction again, I will kill you. Got that, you little cunt?' Ash whimpered, before Bov slung him to the floor and got to his feet.

'Leave off it boys,' Ash gasped, coughing blood onto the pavement. Bovver gave a small smile as his friends stalked away, Swill lingering to kick some guy in the face. When they got back, Emma asked no questions, but stared at their injuries, a small look of concern on her face.

'Oi, boys,' smiled Terry. Pete looked up.

'Yeah?'

'It's Em's birthday tomorrow.'

Swill grinned. 'Dave, can I borrow 40 quid then?' he asked. Dave frowned.

'40 quid? 40 fucking quid?'

'Yeah, 'cause I saw something that Emzie would love!' He got to his feet and checked his watch. 'Store'll shut soon though.' Dave grumbled, pulled out his wallet and handed Swill the cash.

'And if you dare come back with several crates of beer, I will shoot you,' warned Dave, before chewing a peanut. Before long, Swill was back, dragging a huge elephant teddy through the door. Almost everyone in the pub was watching him, as he made his way through the bar. Bov raised an eyebrow.

'What the fuck?'

'Present for Emma! Think she'll like it?'

'She better had do. Came outta my wallet.'

'Better then what Ned fucking has,' commented Pete. The guys looked over at Ned, who was player with a marker pen, the word Emma scribbled on a paper party hat.

'It's something!' he said defensively.

'Just put them round the back of the bar,' said Terry, opening the hatch. Swill took the party hat and put it on the elephant's trunk, before pulling it into the bar.

'Look at all that beer!'

'Get out, prick,' laughed Terry, pushing him out again, before closing the hatch and going to the other side to serve someone. Pete stretched.

'Well, I'm gunna call it a night,' he said, getting to his feet. Bov sighed, but got to his feet as well. He'd see her tomorrow.

'What did you get Emma?' Dave asked Terry when he returned. Terry cleared his throat, and took a sip of beer in a moment's hesitation.

'A diary.' Dave grinned.

'Anything's better then Ned's,' smirked Ike. Ned mouthed 'Fuck off,' but grinned anyway.

'Come on lads. We 'ad to get ready for Emma's party tomorrow.' That had been Swills idea, and Bov had backed him up. It would make her happy, hopefully.

They didn't get to the Abbey, until about 11 the next morning. Dave ordered the pints when they got there, before sitting down beside the elephant that was sat on one of the stools. Emma came through the door at that moment, beaming. She was wearing Ned's hat, and the badge that came with Swill's card. Bov felt a smile form on his lips; an involuntary reaction. It surprised him. He lit a fag.

'Morning darling!' beamed Swill, handing her a cola as soon as she was near. Emma took it, taking a sip and placing it aside. He watched as she brushed her hair over her shoulder, and he moved over. An excuse to be closer.

'Have you given it a name yet?' he asked, taking a drag. Emma smiled, and Bovver actually felt funny in his stomach. For fuck sakes, couldn't he even be near her anymore without his body going all weird.

'Yeah, it's called Petikdaillovedithem.' Bov's fag almost fell out his mouth.

'Huh?' She rolled her eyes.

'Petikdaillovedithem! Pete, Ike, Dave, Swill, Bov, Ned, Keith and Emma,' she told him. 'It's a heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-she.' Swill let out a laugh.

'Ah, she a proper genius!' Bov smiled, and shook his head in disbelief, before taking his seat next to the elephant. He picked up its trunk, giving himself a reason to look away from her. Emma took a seat beside him. God Damit.

'Are we going to do something fun today?' asked Ned. Jeez, he was probably more excited about this party than anyone. Pete moved over to them, with his pint, smiling. He opened his mouth to reply, when the door squeaked open. Bovver looked up with a frown. The pub shouldn't be open yet.

Two people walked in, and Bov felt instant jealousy fill him. They looked like everything he had ever wanted; smart clothes, neat looks, money, most likely with a big house and good jobs. The man gazed about, around two heads taller than his stumpy wife, who had earrings Pat Butcher would be proud of. He glared at them.

'Emma?' The woman's gaze landed on Emma, and she looked stunned. Bov frowned, shifting a little nearer to her. Swill was staring at them, with the same stunned expression, fag burning softly in his fingers.

'Can I help you?' asked Terry, leaning on the bar with a frown. 'The bar aint open yet.'

'Do you really think we have come for a drink? Look at us and look at this place,' the man said. Bov half raised from his chair, but Pete put a hand on his shoulder, to calm him. The woman stared at Emma hard, eyes looking her up and down. Then, she stepped forward, and snatched the party hat from her hat. The elastic snapped with a twang, and Emma let in a sharp intake of breath.

'Gallivanting around with a bunch of alcoholic thugs? I did not bring you up to act like that!' Bring her up? Bov guessed, angrily, that these were her parents. Before he could say anything though, Emma was on her feet.

'They are not alcoholic thugs! Dave is in the R.A.F and Pete is a teacher and Keith is a mechanic!' The woman sniffed. Bov looked up as the door crept open again. Was this a fucking free for all or what? The man that entered looked like someone who was probably from a modeling agency. In his early 30's, the man had dark, perfectly combed hair. Beside him was a man younger than Bov, blond hair flopping down to his eyes. He had a smug look about him.

The older man's gaze landed on Emma, a hungry look in his brown eyes. Almost predatory. Bov clenched his fists, as Emma backed off from the chair, fear in her eyes. Bov got to his feet, face set.

'Emma,' started the man, who he presumed to be Emma's dad. The brown haired man sighed, his eyes never leaving her face.

'Emma, I said you could have your freedom if you attended counseling classes.'

'I forgot.' She sounded vulnerable, and the protecting urge was over powering him.

'You know the rules. You have to come back to us.' Emma was backing off around the pool table, as Bovver stepped forward.

'She don't wanna go,' he growled. He couldn't lose her to a bunch of stuck up twats. The man finally looked at him, amusement in his eyes.

'That is not for you to decide young man.' He turned his gaze back to Emma, stepping forward. Simultaneously, Pete and Bovver stepped into his path. The man cleared his throat. 'Emma is a hospital patient. She is unstable and could flip at any moment. Don't you realize the danger in that?'

Bovver glanced down at his name tag. Dr Matthews huh? No fucking Doctor was going to take Emma away, not now.

'She's fine. She's been with us for ages and she's not tried to kill herself once. She don't need to go back to that shit hole.' Bov had his fists clenched, squaring up to the doctor, eyes never leaving his.

'Get out my way.' Matthews' voice was hard now.

'No!' Bov growled. Swill moved past him, to stand by Emma's side. She looked close to having a fit, eyes moving swiftly from one face to another. Matthews' lip curled, just as Bov raised his fist, giving a well aimed punch in the chin.

'Oh my God!! Thugs! THUGS THE LOT OF THEM! SOMEONE CALL THE POLICE! IT'S ASSULT!' The woman was screaming her head off, staggering out of the doors, her husband close behind her. Bov didn't notice where the Doctor had gone to, in the mist of everything. The blonde man had snuck around the pool table, and was now yanking Emma towards the door. He practically pushed her out, Swill, Bov and Dave on his heels. He saw her fall into the side of the van, before the doctor went to pin her against it.

'Oi! Get the fuck off her,' Swill yelled, grabbing the man's arm and yanking him off her. He tossed him to the floor, too intent on giving out a few punches to notice Matthews had grabbed her around the waist. He moved her towards the back of the van, and as Bov went to dart over there, the blonde doctor grabbed his leg, causing him to trip. He hit his head on the pavement, feeling sickeningly dizzy when he sat up fast.

'Fuck off,' he growled, kicking the man in the face. Blood gushed onto the pavement from his bust lip, and the blonde curled up to protect himself. Bov staggered to his feet, the world tilting sideways. He shook his head to try and clear it.

'Help!' He could hear Emma screaming in the van, and the sound of the engine starting up. 'Help! Help me! Help me!' His stomach twisted, as the van started to pull away. He took chase. 'Help!' She screamed. 'Bov, help!' Those were the last words he heard her say, before he stumbled, gasping for breath, sobs threatening to take over, the blood from his head blurring his sight.

'Emma,' he murmured, trying to rub the blood from his eyes. 'Fuck, no!'

Bovver stared at the ceiling, as he lay on the sofa, stitches at the side of his head from his fall, a scowl on his face.

'Mate, are you sure you're okay?' asked Pete, again. Bov nodded, jaw clenching. 'Look-'

'I loose everyone,' he hissed, sitting up, eyes on Pete. He frowned.

'No you don't.'

'Yes I fucking do.' He ran a hand through his hair, and sat back. 'I shoulda done more, instead of being taken down like a fucking girl!'

'You did the best you could,' Pete said, gently. Emma had been gone almost a week, and even though it had affected all the lads, including Ned, it was a lot worse for Bov. He blamed himself for letting her go.

'I can't forget the fear in her eyes, Pete,' he said, quietly, gazing at his hands. 'Every time I close my fucking eyes… she looks so scared. She was screaming at me for help.' Bov shook his head. 'And I didn't.'

'You couldn't,' he corrected. Bov grumbled something under his breath, and Pete got to his feet. 'Come on.'

'What?' asked Bov, looking up. 'Look, bruv. I don't feel like coming-'

'Bov, we're going to see 'er. We'll get 'er out of there.' Bov stared blankly up at him. 'Do you wanna see her again or what?' asked Pete, a little frustrated at Bov's slow uptake. He nodded. 'Well, hurry up. I'll wait in the car.'

It took a lot longer to get to Meadows Hills, than it should have. But, with Swill and Dave in the back seat, the trip was more enjoyable than he would have thought. Pete pulled into where the big gates were, a large, sign informing them that they were at the right place.

'Can I 'elp?' asked a butch man, small, piggy eyes gazing at them intently.

'We've come for an appointment with Dr Matthews.' The man didn't even ask anything else, and instead, pressed a button and the gates clanked open. Pete followed the driveway, until he came to a small car park. 'Right, come on then.'

'You're here to see who?' asked Dr Matthews, humorously.

'Don't pretend you can't remember us,' snapped Bov.

'Oh I do,' he smiled; it was sleazy. His fingers trailed along the bruise on his jaw, and he cocked his head to one side. 'She isn't here.'

'Well, where is she?' asked Swill, shifting forwards slightly. Dr Matthews eyed him up, and sighed.

'She has been taken to Edinburgh, to another asylum, for her own safety. Let's just say, you won't be seeing her again.' He shuffled some papers on his desk, as Bov scowled.

'Where 'bouts is it?' he asked. He looked up.

'Pardon?'

'Where's this institute place?' Dr Matthews shrugged.

'I don't know. All I know is that she was transferred. Now, I have a meeting to attend. Sorry for the let down boys,' he said, not sounding sorry at all as he moved past them. He held open the door. 'Please?' Pete sighed, and rubbed his jaw, before walking out. Dave followed after Swill, but Bov hung back a little, moving close, so his face was inches from the Doctors.

'Whatever sick fucking game you are playing with 'er, you better stop, 'cause once I find her-'

'You'll what?' he asked softly. Bov's lip curled.

'She didn't need to go back!' Dr Matthews shook his head.

'Come on, mate!' shouted Pete from down the corridor. Bov glared at Matthews, before he stalked off down the white corridors, after his friends. He would fucking find her. Even if it took him ages, he would.

And, if he had waited a moment longer, he would have seen her. Emma slipped into the office, looking down at the floor the entire time. She sighed, and glanced down at the corridor, just as a man in a blue jacket disappeared around the corner. 'At least someone has freedom,' she murmured to herself. Dr Matthews shut the door, and with that predatory gaze, he started towards her.

'We 'ave to go get 'er!' aid Bov, as soon as they were out of the gates. Pete sighed.

'Mate, there could be hundreds of institutes in Edinburgh.'

'I don't fucking care. Dave.' The man in question looked up. 'You still go down to Scotland with that kid, don't you?' He nodded, with a frown.

'You want me to search all over Edinburgh?' Dave asked and rubbed his jaw, before nodding. 'I go down there with Nick next Wednesday. I'll see what I can do, but it's going to take a while.' Bov rubbed his eyes, and sat back, his head against the side window. He pulled out a fag and lit it, taking a drag and letting it out slowly.

'Don't worry, Bov,' said Swill, after a moment. 'We'll find her.'

Three and a half fucking weeks. Twenty-five days. He hadn't seen her for twenty-five fuck arse days. Because they hadn't found her. He had put his hopes on Dave, when he went to Scotland, but there was no sound of Emma or any asylum for that matter. So, they were back at square one. Even though he had the boys, Bov felt… lonely. And Frustrated and angry. If he didn't have the boys, then life wouldn't be worth living. He had nothing, and the things he did get, he fucked up good and proper.

Emma gazed at the pond from the bench she was sat on. It was raining hard, the drops hitting the pond water hard and causing small circles to erupt and spread. It was all happening very fast, and they merged into one another. It was almost hypnotizing. Emma looked up at the thick metal fence opposite her. She wondered what the lads were doing at this moment in time. Down the Abbey most likely, she thought with a smile. The rain soaked her to the skin, her hair plastered to her face.

'Emma?' called a voice. She looked up to see Jeremiah moving through the rain and over the soggy grass towards her, umbrella held high. 'Emma? Come on now, you'll catch your death.' Emma rose from her seat, moving slowly over to the woman, her slippers filled with water. She sighed, shoulders sagging. Jeremiah threw her a pitying look. 'Don't be sad.'

'I wanna be with my friends,' Emma replied, moving alongside her. Jeremiah squeezed her hand.

'I know, darling. We'll just have to see what happens.'

Weeks went by. Frequently, Emma would look out the window and wonder what Bovver was doing and frequently, Bov would lie on his sofa and gaze at the ceiling and wonder what Emma was doing. Swill and Jeremiah fondly called them pining puppies.

But that didn't make things any better.

'Aye, aye!' smiled Pete, as he moved through the bar towards Bov. Dave raised his pint.

'Alright, son?' Pete grinned, and sat down, pulling an envelope from his pocket.

'Tickets,' he grinned. 'Chelsea vs. West Ham, 'ere we come!' Bov merely glanced at the envelope, before turning back to staring out the window, rain rattling off it. Pete watched him. 'Bov?' Bov glanced at him, and then back out the window.

'Yeah?'

'We got tickets for the match.'

'I know.' Pete frowned, glancing at Dave who shrugged. Then, they both looked at Keith. Keith sighed, and moved his chair to sit by Bovver.

'Look, mate,' he began in a quiet voice. The others started to talk, pretending they didn't know what was going on. 'Do you think Emma would wanna see you this sad?' he asked. 'Just enjoy yourself for this match. Eh, if you're lucky, you can 'ave a little fight at the end. To let some steam off. Eh?'

Bovver ignored him. Keith tried again.

'It only for a couple of hours-'

'Alright!' snapped Bovver, putting out his fag, and getting to his feet. Keith stared after him as he left the pub, and walked down the sodden street. The idea of going to fight was quite appealing to him, but knowing she wouldn't be there when he returned, wasn't. He made his way down a back street, just listening to the water drip into the puddles below. The match was at five. Bov rubbed his face, sparking up, before taking the route back towards the Abbey. Just because he was a miserable cunt, shouldn't mean he had to make the others miserable cunts aswell. So, he'd go to the match, kick the shit out some Headhunters. Then he could go home and sulk, like a child. Well, he'd get pinched first. He could feel the buzz of alcohol already. The pub welcomed him back like family.

'Come on, we best catch this train then,' he said, when he got back to the table. Pete grinned, slapping him playfully on the shoulder.

'Good to 'ave you back,' he said.

END NOTES: If you liked it, review. If you didn't, review.