Lemons

The room remained dark as the curtains twitched slightly. The night air had stilled as Shifty looked out of the window. He felt sick, knowing Joey had been hurt because of what he had done.

"What is it?" Grandad asked. "What is no one telling me?"

"Nothing." Shifty answered. "Just that Joey isn't well. Jack took him to the hospital."

The old man shook his head sadly. "Don't lie to me. I'm old, not senile. I still have all me faculties you know." He turned; heading towards the stairs. "Joey isn't ill. It's got something to do with you and Jack whispering earlier. When little Amber was with you." He waved his hand in the air. "I'm old. I know but I have eyes and I have ears! I see what's going on. You've brought trouble to us again. Now you have to work out how to sort it out. Before anyone else gets hurt."

"Where are you going? Grandad?"

"Hospital."

"It's not safe."

"Safe? Safe lad? I'm eighty five years old. I fought in the War. I worked on the Docks. I've walked the streets of Liverpool all my life! I know how the place works. I could be mugged. I could fall. But I could sit ere and worry what's happened to our Joey."

"Grandad."

"Call me a taxi." Grandad snapped. "Now!"

Cxxxxxxxxxx

"Adrenaline." The doctor ordered as the nurse passed him the syringe. Another nurse carried out CPR while an anaesthetist intubated Joey.

"Pulse check." The consultant yelled.

"We have an output. ECG and prep for transfer to icu." The doctor continued. "Family here?"

"Yes. I know his brother Jack and kid sister Amber are in the family room." The nurse paused. "Dunno about anyone else."

"Ok." He sighed. "I'll talk to them." He snapped off his gloves before leaving the Resus Room.

Xxxxxxx

Nellie sat next to Amber, holding the teenagers hand. "Jack said it was you that thought something was wrong."

"I was too late."

"Don't say that." Freddie spoke quietly. Nellie shot him a filthy look.

"Why are you here?" Nellie asked. Freddie closed his eyes.

"Not now."

"Yes now. Why is it that you are here and not with that Tart?!"

"My boy. Not just yours Nellie Boswell. My boy in there too. My sons and daughter. My great niece." He stated firmly. "Not just yours."

Nellie huffed as Jack rubbed his eyes.

"I thought e was dead. When we got there. I thought he was dead."' Jack tried to keep his voice steady. "Ma, I'm."

Nellie took his hand. "This is NOT your fault. If it hadn't been for you."

"No, Amber was the one who realised. We all just take Joey for granted. But, I dunno. Kids see more than we do, Don't they? Notice things like."

Freddie nodded as Amber got to her feet. "I er, I'm gonna get some pop." Adrian volunteered to walk to the vending machine with her as Jack finally cried for his older brother.

Xxxxx

"Go on." Adrian put some change in the drink machine as Amber dodged a drunken man. At just over five foot she looked like a mini Aveline but harder - more worldly than a teenager should be.

"What?"

"What do you want?"

"Orange please."

Adrian pressed the button marked Fanta as a can of lemonade popped out. "Well, isn't that life? You ask for oranges and you get lemons." She shrugged. Adrian watched her.

"You remind me of your mam."

"People say that. Said that." She caught herself.

Adrian nodded. "And I hope you're not referring to us as lemons. Billy, yeah but." Amber smiled as Adrian pulled her into his arms. "Think of us as the Four annoyingly overprotective big brothers and big sister who adore you. I know we're cousins sort of."

"To your mam I'll always be Shifty's girl."

"And she loves you." Adrian looked over to see Billy waving them back to the family room. "Ere we go." He ushered her back. "Looks like there's news."

Xxxxxxx

A/N please review