Chapter 7

A week later Fiorella was allowed home to her parent's place, she hadn't tried to leave the hospital again, they'd put an extra watch on her to make sure she didn't try to wander. Nikki hadn't been to see her since the night she'd taken her back to the hospital, her clarity during the conversation she'd started with Kate was frightening and she wondered what else was going on in her sister's head. Nikki was determined to find out what really happened, she wanted to know who was to blame for her sister's condition.

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The first night they'd shared a bed they were about 18 months and 2, Nikki had been crying for her sister who'd been sick and wouldn't stop until the younger girl was put next to her in the small bed. Both girls slept completely through that night, neither hearing the storm that was raging outside. It was a comfort thing, when one was ill she needed the other to sleep, when one was upset she needed the other to cuddle her. Many times over the years their parents came into the bedroom to get them up to find both girls in the same bed sock on.

Arriving home at 3 in the morning five weeks later after her drive up Nikki thought nothing about climbing into the bed with her sister; she fell asleep straight away and woke up 5 hours later to find her sister still sound asleep. Nikki sat up and looked at her sister, a small scar was forming on her temple from the brain surgery, several of her wounds had started to fade but other still stood out. In her sleep she looked so peaceful, so much younger and so less troubled.

"I thought you were back." Her mother whispered entering the room, Anna told Nikki it was the latest her sister had slept since returning home. Nikki got up and followed her mother downstairs.

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Anna made the tea and filled Nikki in on recent developments, she'd had the cast taken off her leg, the collar bone was getting sorted and her burns didn't look as bad. The young woman was slightly paranoid about them though, she'd developed a habit of pulling her tops down to make sure they had no chance of riding up.

"And her memory?" Nikki asked.

"Slight improvements, she knows Maria doesn't like her but the feeling is very much mutual. Shame it's stopped Joe from coming round, he's annoyed at her but he should be here. Chances are she'll remember the people who were around." Nikki felt guilty but her mother assured her that Fiorella knew where she was and understood. Anna told her that the other boys had been great, stopping by every day, spending time with her. They'd gotten used to her sometimes odd behaviour, they actually found it humorous when she spoke her mind, her comments on their sister in laws pie had them laughing out loud.

"If this is the best thing she cooks then I'll stick to hospital food thanks. Tastes like manky old insoles." She'd exclaimed taking a bite out of the pie Maria had dropped off as a nice gesture. Maria was actually sat with the family eating and left the table quickly after the comment was made, Joe followed straight after and the remaining Caetano men burst out laughing including their father.

Nikki couldn't help but laugh as her mother told her, Anna chuckled at the memory then nodded as Nikki admitted that she'd do it regardless of brain injuries, she'd slated many meals cooked by their brothers over the years.

"Yes but I'd hoped she'd discovered the art of being more tactful as she'd gotten older." Anna admitted with a sigh. Nikki laughed again; she seriously doubted that her sister would ever be tactful, especially with someone she didn't like.

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Half an hour later Fiorella came downstairs and gave her older sister a hug before sitting down at the table.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Fiorella asked of her sister and Nikki told her she thought she needed the sleep. The two sisters then chatted about the Hammersley as their mother made breakfast and listened to the two girls, it took her back to when they were both teenagers. She loved having her two daughters under the one roof; she just wished it were under much better circumstances. As the girls were sat eating with their mother their father walked in followed by Rufus, Antony and Leo who straight away sat down and began to eat.

"Did you get any fish?" Fiorella asked Leo causing his eyes to widen in shock, the boys and their father had gone out early fishing, Joe had been too but had gone straight home to his wife.

"Well we did but someone was too squeamish to reel it in." Antony replied not catching on at first. Nikki took a while to catch on but Rufus, Leo and their mother were straight on the ball, she'd been told about the fishing once and once only yesterday when she was asked if she wanted to go, she responded by saying no because she was already planning to sit and watch paint dry.

"Good." Fiorella replied also unaware as to why her family were slowly looking surprised. She excused herself so she could go and get dressed and left her family to talk.

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"She didn't realise?" Leo asked expecting her to have remembered remembering.

"She didn't realise when she didn't remember things." Nikki replied knowing that it was a very big deal.

"It's only one thing." Her father said being the voice of reason; he didn't want to get everyone's hopes up.

"Ok, so how about we monitor the situation, test her. But not so she'll get to know." Rufus suggested and everyone else agreed trying to work out what they could do to test her. It was tough trying to figure things out as they suspected she'd know something was up, they quickly stopped talking when she returned to the room.

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"Ok don't worry I'm fine." She said sitting down. "I only bumped my head on the cupboard – I didn't realise it was open." She took their funny looks to be connected to the red bump forming on her head.

"Should I call the doctor?" Leo asked standing up. Fiorella objected saying she'd done the same trick thousands of times and that she was ok, Nikki rubbed her own head in sympathy as the cupboard by the door in their room was lethal at times. The family finally agreed to trust her judgement on the matter and she finished eating her breakfast before saying she was going to get ready for the hospital.

"Why?" Nicholas asked confused.

"Physio on my shoulder, 10 am." She replied giving her father a funny look. "How long are you staying for?" She asked Nikki.

"Back tomorrow, a flying visit." Nikki replied and her sister nodded before heading back upstairs.

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Nikki went with Fiorella and their Father, it was tough watching the young woman struggle to use her arm and leg, there were also times when Nikki caught sight of some of the scars left by the burns. Each one made her want to cry, but she hadn't heard her sister complain once. The boys complained when they caught themselves on the arm with the oven (when they went near it which wasn't very often), but she'd been through more than they could ever imagine. Fiorella worked really hard during the session, she was determined to get better and get things sorted. Whilst Nikki was watching her father went to speak to his daughter's doctor to fill him in on what was happening with her memory.

"We've booked you in for a scan the day after tomorrow, nothing to worry about we just want to keep an eye on the swelling near where the bleed was." The doctor explained to a tired Fiorella an hour later, she nodded thinking nothing of it and drifted off in the car as they drove home. Nikki took the opportunity to speak to her father quietly.

"He says it's a good sign," Nicholas smiled. "Sometimes the brain heals itself, but he wants to check it's nothing more. And we're not to tell her, don't want to get her hopes up." He added in a warning tone.

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Fiorella went for a nap when they got home which Nikki found unusual, she asked Antony about it and he replied that she did that a lot.

"Her energy isn't want it used to be, I think her body needs the extra rest." He said turning off the TV that he was watching, "She sometimes cries at night now, she doesn't recognise herself some days. I think she'd just gotten confident with her body, you know with her not being as skinny as you." He spoke nervously. "Now she's faced with scars, and more than the ones that are on the outside. A diet won't help her with these ones." He finished standing up and heading to the kitchen giving Nikki time to think.

Nikki sat thinking about how he was right, Fiorella had always been reluctant to show her body, always wearing trousers or long shorts rather than skirts, baggy t-shirts rather than vest tops. Family photos from holiday's in Italy showed Fiorella in clothes rather than swimming costumes. Now the younger sister had more to deal with and Nikki didn't know how to help her with that. All she could do was listen.

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