Declan was speedily walking through the hospital. Oliver, Paul and Rebecca had gone with him. They had got the room number Zeke and Ringo were both in. Ringo's room was closer so they went into his first but Ringo wasn't there, although the bed had looked like it was slept in.
"Where is he?" Declan asked but didn't wait for an answer. He turned out of the room and went straight to Zeke's. He saw the Kinski's, apart from Libby and Frazer and Rosie. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Ringo's in there talking to Zeke." Susan said.
"Are they ok?" Declan asked.
"Didn't Carmella tell everybody?" Susan asked.
"I don't think she'd go round telling everybody straight away" Rosie said.
"Oh right" Susan said. "Well, Zeke had two broken ribs but he's ok now. And Ringo's got a punctured lung but his legs are paralysed"
"What? How?" Declan asked.
"The knife hit the same nerves in the leg which means he can't use them for a while" Karl said.
"Can I go in?" Declan asked. They all nodded and Declan walked in to find Zeke in bed and Ringo sitting in a wheelchair. "Hey"
Zeke smiled. "Hey"
"Hey" Ringo said. Declan moved around and sat in the chair next to Zeke's bed.
"How are you feeling?" he asked Zeke.
"I'm alright." Zeke said.
"What about you? Are you okay?" Declan said to Ringo.
"Yeh, I'm ok I guess." Ringo said. "You don't look very well yourself. Are you ok?"
"Oh yeh, I'm fine" Declan said. But to be honest, he wasn't fine. He was terrified about that threat Kevin had made to Oliver earlier. He would tell them both but Ringo and Zeke already had enough on their minds. Ringo maybe he would tell but not Zeke. Not for now. He could see Zeke and Ringo watching him carefully and needed something to change the subject. "So do you know when you're coming out?"
"They want to keep us in overnight" Ringo said. "I don't know about Zeke but I think I'm going home sometime this week"
"I don't even know about me" Zeke said. "But I could be in for a while. I doubt I'm going home tomorrow."
"Well, wouldn't you rather spend all your time in here, making sure you're ok or go home, have to come back and stay longer than you would have?" Declan asked.
"Since when did you talk sense?" Ringo asked.
"Funny, I didn't understand a word of that" Zeke said. "What's the time?"
"About half nine" Declan said.
Ringo and Declan both had the same thought in mind. Zeke didn't have a clue but they both were trying to keep Zeke's spirits up. At least while they could. As long as they had a smile on their face, then hopefully Zeke would too.
Ringo started getting pains in his chest. He breathed in more deeply to make it easier to breathe. Declan and Zeke noticed this and looked at him concerned.
"Ringo, are you ok?" Zeke said.
"Yeh, I'm fine. It'll pass" Ringo said, but he continued to breathe more deeply. He had a sting in his chest that wouldn't go away.
"Are you sure?" Declan asked. Ringo nodded but still had a pain in his chest. He was finding it more difficult to breathe. "Ringo?"
"I-I think need to lie down" Ringo said. He tried to turn around but he hadn't got used to the wheelchair yet. Declan got up and took Ringo's wheelchair. He helped Ringo turn around and opened the door. Everybody turned around to see what was wrong. When Frazer saw Ringo coming out of the room he stood up and walked straight to Ringo.
"What's up?" Frazer said.
"I think he's having trouble breathing" Declan said.
"Ringo, are you ok? Do you want me to get the doctor?" Frazer asked. Ringo shook his head.
"I just think I need to lie down" Ringo said. Frazer nodded and Declan took a step back so Frazer could take him back. Everybody watched him go and when they went out of sight Declan turned around to walk back in Zeke's room but he stood in the doorway. He looked at Zeke. Zeke was staring out of the window, a frown of hatred on his face. He looked incredibly troubled. Not like he was before. Completely different. Declan stepped away from the door.
"Rachel" he said, quietly. Rachel stood up and he beckoned her to go in. She walked in and sat down next to Zeke's bed. The chair was in the way of the window and Zeke turned his head, facing forward.
"Zeke, are you ok?" Rachel asked.
Zeke shook his head. "No" he said quietly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rachel asked. Zeke didn't say anything. "If you can't tell me who can you tell?" Zeke still said nothing. "Why the sudden change?"
Zeke was still silent. Rachel opened her mouth to speak but Zeke finally said something. "I didn't want anyone to worry" he said, gently.
"So, with Karl and Susan? You didn't want them to worry?" Zeke nodded. "What about Ringo? Were you the same with him?" Zeke nodded again. "Why?"
"I don't know" Zeke whispered.
"Is it because he's hurt too?" Rachel asked. Zeke didn't respond. "Why aren't you talking?"
"I am" Zeke said.
"Hardly" Rachel said. "This won't be like the last time right? You will still talk won't you?"
Zeke looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"When Mum and Dad died, you didn't talk for ages. Only when you had to" Rachel said.
"That was different" Zeke said.
"You don't feel guilty about anything now do you?" Rachel asked. Zeke looked away from her again. "There isn't anything you should feel guilty of."
"Why?"
"Because none of it's your fault" Rachel said.
"And it's not like this was an accident either" Zeke said.
"What do you mean?"
"This. It was all intended. That's just it. And it's not just me with two broken ribs. It's Ringo. He couldn't breathe just now and he can't even walk" Zeke said. He was on the verge of tears again. Rachel didn't know what to do to comfort him.
"But that's not your fault" Rachel said. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Zeke didn't say anything. Rachel sighed and sat back in her chair. She didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say.
"It happened so fast" Zeke said, catching Rachel by surprise. Rachel didn't say anything. She let him carry on. "Ringo and I were just crashing at Declan's. And then they come in and demand something from Oliver. Two of them just take him into a room and leave a load of others with us three. And then they come out with Oliver and said he didn't accept our offer so they made a threat."
Zeke paused for a while. Rachel thought it was a good time to show she was listening. "Which was?"
"What they'd do if he didn't accept." Zeke said.
"W-what did they do?" Rachel said.
"They forced me up, tied my hands behind my back and one of them punched me" Zeke said. Rachel tried not to react as much as she would have. She remained calm.
"Then what happened?" Rachel asked.
"They left. Just left. They acted as thought nothing happened."
"Is that why you were acting so weird?" Rachel asked.
Zeke nodded. "Next day I was walking home with Ringo. I went inside. Then all of a sudden, they jump me. It happened so fast. I wasn't expecting anything. They just tied me up and carried me out. They took me in this van and before it started going I heard Ringo shouting at them not to take me. But then it stopped. It just stopped. Next thing I knew they took me down to this cellar in this rank house and tied me to this pillar in the middle of the room. Then they said their names and I was so scared, I couldn't help crying. Then the one that punched me before. H-he knocked me out. Next morning I w-woke up in a bathroom and I walked out and saw no one there. One of them hid from me. To, to scare me. He forced me to tell him my name and he said that they were going to call you all. All I said was what. And he beat me up"
Rachel listened intently. She couldn't say anything. Nothing right now could make her say anything. She was so lost for words. She did feel like crying but she couldn't put Zeke off. Not now. Now that he was talking to somebody about it. He never normally would. She was right maybe people do change after things like this.
"They took me back down to the cellar and that's when they called you. Then they let me speak to you and when I started speaking to Libby, they took the phone away. Then they made me stand up and…and they made a huge slit across my b-belly. That's what was happening when you heard me. Then they hung up and dropped me on the floor tethered my feet to the pillar and left me alone. I just lay there all day. It was the next morning and one of them came in and told me that they tried to take Declan but Ringo saw them in time."
Zeke was sobbing but didn't entirely cry. Rachel couldn't blame him. She refused to put Zeke off by crying herself. But Zeke kept it together. He didn't look at Rachel at all. He found it easier not to.
"H-he got angry and started to hit me. A-and he took off his belt and started hitting me with that. W-when he stopped he started talking to me about something. I can't remember what but it was something bad. They said it was something they were going to do because Oliver didn't give them what they wanted. I just can't remember what." took away my gag and f-forced me to tell Ringo's name. He left me there long enough to fall asleep. When I woke up, Ringo was there tied to another pillar. He was telling me that everyone was looking for me and that we'd get out soon. I couldn't help but not believe that. I don't know. I just didn't. I fell asleep again and I woke up and Ringo was gone. I thought he just left me there. Then they came down and I pretended to be asleep for the whole time Ringo was there but they still asked me where he was. Then another one of them calls saying that cars pulled up the driveway. They shut the door. I heard Karl's voice and I was about to call him but they gagged me again. When they broke down the door he…he said to me 'this end's here' and covered my airways so I couldn't breathe. I blacked out. I woke up after and saw Karl there. I saw everyone there. That's when I knew it was over."
Zeke started to cry again, harder than ever. Rachel sat on his bed, leaned down to him and hugged him. He cried into her shoulder noisily and she cried too but not letting Zeke know. She only let out a few silent tears and held the rest in. For a long time they sat in each others arms and wept. When they calmed down Rachel sat on her chair again and Zeke just lay there, falling asleep. Rachel watched him not realising her eyes were sending her messages to sleep too. Rachel leaned forward and rested her head at the side of Zeke's bed.
Ringo had gotten in bed by now and had caught his breath. He thought it was some effect to the lung and it would take some time to heal. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go home very soon.
"What was all that about?" Frazer asked.
"It was nothing. Probably some side effect. It'll be alright" Ringo reassured him. Ringo looked at Rosie who was rubbing her eye because she was tired. "It's quite late. Aren't you tired?"
"I am but you're more important" Frazer said.
"What about you?" Ringo asked Rosie.
"I am tired but Frazer's got the keys" Rosie said stretching
and then letting out a
breath of laughter.
"Why don't you go home?" Ringo said. "I'm fine. I need to sleep anyway"
"You sure?" Frazer said. Ringo nodded. "Right well, as long as you're ok we'll get some sleep. I'll come by first thing tomorrow morning"
"You don't have to be here all the time, you know" Ringo said.
"Yeh well, gives me somewhere to be" Frazer said picking up his coat. "If I'm not there then it means either I'm asleep or I can't be bothered."
"Knowing you it could be either" Ringo said, knowing he was just joking. They all said goodbye and when they left Ringo rested his eyes. He wasn't sure he was going to be perfectly fine after what's just happened. Zeke seemed to be coping well. But Ringo wasn't sure if he was deep down or not.
"Do you think they're alright in there?" Susan asked. "They've been talking for a while"
"I'm sure they're fine" Karl said. At that point Frazer and Rosie turned up.
"We're going to go home now. Catch up on up some sleep. We all need some sleep." Frazer said.
"You're right" Susan said after yawning. "Do you think we should?"
"Why don't we get Rachel? Zeke's going to need some sleep too" Karl said.
"Alright" Susan said getting up. They said goodbye to Frazer and Rosie before opening the door into Zeke's room. Susan stopped when she saw them both and smiled at the two of them sleeping. She looked at Karl with a 'do we have to?' face before waking Rachel up. Karl placed his hand on her shoulder gently which woke her up. Susan walked over to Zeke, who was out like a light bulb and moved his hair away from his face as he slept. Karl was bringing a tired Rachel out of the room and when he got to the door he noticed Susan standing there looking at Zeke. He showed Rachel out of the door, walked up to Susan and put her arm around her. Susan placed her hand on Karl's and they looked at Zeke.
"Come on. It's time to go" Karl said. "We all need some sleep"
"I just don't want to leave him. Not like this" Susan said.
"We'll be here first thing tomorrow morning." Karl said. Susan looked like she was about to protest but Karl jumped ahead. "I don't want to leave him either. Oh hell, I don't ever want to let him out of my sight. But we all need some sleep. Especially Zeke. So let him sleep and tomorrow morning, we'll be there when he wakes up"
Susan looked at Karl, considering his words. "Oh alright" she said. She smiled at Zeke and walked past Karl to the door. Karl looked at Zeke and then followed Susan out.
They walked out to find Rachel sitting next to Declan frowning and staring into space. "Come one, Rach" Susan said. "Let's go."
"I can't just leave him here. Not alone" Rachel said.
"I'll stay" Declan said.
"All night?" Rebecca said. "No. You need some sleep too. Everybody does. He'll be fine, Declan"
Declan looked disappointed but nodded.
"I think we should just all go home, get some sleep so we'll be here bright and early tomorrow morning." Rebecca said. "It's been a long day"
Rachel walked inside her home, followed by Susan and Karl. She looked around and saw it was really quiet and weird without Zeke. This was the first time she'd come home after a day out since Zeke disappeared and it felt even stranger. She couldn't stop thinking about what he had said had happened to him. She couldn't believe that it happened to Zeke, her brother. She could feel her eyes watering again and tried her best to stop them but they poured out. She let out a sob and Susan and Karl heard.
"Oh, Rachel, what's wrong?" Susan said, comforting her.
"He, he told me everything" Rachel said. Susan looked at Rachel who moved towards Susan. Susan hugged her and so did Karl.
Rachel had finished crying after a few minutes and she slowly moved away from Susan and Karl. "Umm, I'm going to go to bed now. Thanks"
"It's ok Rachel. You sleep." Karl said. Rachel smiled, weakly and walked straight to her room. Susan watched her walk away while Karl moved past her and sat on the sofa.
"Well" Susan said, swinging her arms and walking to the sofa. "I'll admit I didn't expect him to tell anyone anything so fast"
"I expect he needed to tell someone really" Karl said. "It's expected to be Rachel"
"Maybe she was right. Maybe this whole thing has changed him" Susan said.
"Poor boy. It'll be hard when he gets home" Karl said.
"Oh, but he's back and he's safe. Right now, I'm happy." Susan said. "He's alive. Thanks to you"
"Well, what did you think I was going to do?" Karl said.
"What actually happened?" Susan asked. "For him to get that way?"
"The man had suffocated him. I think because we'd found them, he'd tried to kill Zeke" Karl said, sighing with disappointment.
"Why would anybody want to do such a thing?" Susan said.
"I don't know" Karl said, shaking his head. "Sick people really"
"We'll have to go to court about this" Susan said. "Zeke'll definitely have to go whether he's up to it or not"
"Well, if anything it'll increase their sentence." Karl said.
"It still doesn't take away what's happened" Susan said. "Tomorrow, do you think we could send Rachel to see Zeke whilst we see the doctor for a bit?"
"Why?" Karl asked.
"I just want to make sure my MS is under control. It hasn't perked up." Susan said. "After this, I'm not getting my hopes up that it hasn't."
"Don't worry. We'll go" Karl said.
"Thanks"
"Well, I'm going to bed. We both should. Bright and early for Zeke tomorrow" Karl said, getting up.
"I'll just check on Rachel first" Susan said, also getting up. She and Karl walked into the hall together. Karl went into his and Susan's bedroom but Susan knocked on Rachel's door. When she heard Rachel allow her inside, she opened the door and saw Rachel lying on her bed facing the wall, on her side. "Are you ok?"
"I am now" Rachel said. "I'm sorry about earlier"
"No, don't you worry about it" Susan said. "It's completely understandable"
"It's just what he told me. I wanted to cry but not in front of him. I didn't want to put him off." Rachel said sitting up. "I didn't expect him to tell me, to tell anyone, this early"
"He probably knew he needed to tell someone, and that you would probably be the easiest person to talk to" Susan said.
"I don't know if I should tell you" Rachel said.
"Don't. If Zeke wants me to know then he'll tell me. Or ask you to tell me." Susan said. "I'm not even sure if I want to know, right now"
"Well, I won't tell anybody" Rachel said.
"I'm going to bed now. You make sure you get some sleep" Susan said standing up. She hugged Rachel and walked to the door. "You need it"
"Goodnight" Rachel said.
"Goodnight" Susan said, opening the door.
"Susan" Rachel said. Susan stopped halfway through the door. "Will it ever go back to normal?"
Susan sighed deeply in thought. "I really don't know"
Rachel didn't say anything and Susan walked out of the door. Rachel lay down, constantly going over in her head what Zeke had said. It took a while but eventually she fell asleep.