** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1

#lookingforlove 14/?

Repositioning the cushion behind her back to make sure she was comfortable Sandra glanced at the clock again sighing as it seemed to not have moved at all in the 30 seconds since she looked at it last. On the computer her name was still the one in the dating site chat room, if she was honest she knew signing on 20 minutes would only increase the nervous butterflies in her stomach but she couldn't help herself. She'd tried everything to distract herself since Esther had left that morning, her attempts at a nap had been a nonstarter, every time she closed her eyes all she could see where lines of text on a computer screen. She'd tried to go shopping, something that never failed to use up hours of her time on any other occasion, and had come home empty handed after less than two hours. Finally after picking her way through a curry, leaving most of it on the plate, she'd taken a bath and settled down on the sofa to wait.

"Jesus Sandra what age are you?" She scolded herself, as she once again looked at the clock and only two more minutes had passed, it was only ten to seven and yet she felt like every minute was passing at a snail's pace. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so nervous about anything regarding a man in her life. Over the years she'd developed a certain level of confidence in her own ability to attract any man she wanted, the main problem was that once she had them she generally decided very quickly that she didn't want them anymore. This time though she really felt that her nerves and lack of confidence were a good sign, if he could make her feel like she was 16 again maybe it was right.

"Oh for the love of god fuck off whoever you are!" She muttered as the phone beside her on the coffee table started to ring and she made a grab for it seeing Gerry's number on the screen and sighing heavily. "Gerry it's Saturday night and I'm busy this better be good!"

"Sorry Guv but this can't wait, Jack just called me, Brian is in hospital he had a fall trying to adjust the aerial on his and Esther's roof or something. Jack says he was given strict instructions not to ring you but I thought you'd want to know I'm going to head over to the hospital and see if Esther needs anything." Gerry replied, something in the tone of his voice and the frustration she could hear sparking concern in her as she imagined all the things that could have happened to Brian as a result of a fall from the height he would have to be at to be fixing the aerial. "I had plans myself but Jack is at his University of the Third Age weekend thing so he can't go I'm not ringing to get you to cancel your plans or anything I'm just letting you know what's going on."

"Why the hell was he fixing his own bloody aerial anyway? God that man is impossible. Is he in the General? I could meet you there?" Sandra Sighed her heart sinking as she stared at the screen and Donnie was still nowhere to be seen so if she went now she couldn't even explain what was going on and he would think she just hadn't bothered to show up.

"No! You need to stay there Jack promised Esther he'd not tell you and I promised him I'd not tell you so if you turn up there He'll be in Esther's bad books and I'll be in deep shit." Gerry sighed waiting until he heard Sandra reluctantly agree to stay put before hanging up and staring at the computer he had set up ready to switch on. He'd promised Jack that he'd go straight to the hospital and he knew if he took the time to wait for the computer to load up and his crappy Wi-Fi to kick in by the time he'd logged on to the site and explained to his lady friend why he couldn't stay it would probably be almost an hour before he was leaving the house. Not only that but how could he explain in a few minutes without it sounding like he was giving her the brush off?

"Damn you Brian Lane I swear I'll make you pay for this!" He shouted grabbing his coat off the back of the dining room chair and rushing toward the door. "If she is worth it she'll understand if you send her a message later Gerald for now you have a dim witted northern to deal with."

Heading out of the door slamming it behind him he said a silent prayer that he was right, if everything he felt in his gut about the woman he'd been talking to was right she'd understand once he found a way to explain and if she didn't then maybe she wasn't as good as he thought she was.

Staring at the phone she'd just set back down again Sandra fought with the conflict that was threatening to tear her in two. When something happened to one of them no matter what plans the others had they dropped them and went to help. It was what they did and now she couldn't believe that she was sitting there debating what she should do this time. With all her heart she wanted to stay, to at least talk to "Donnie" and explain that something had come up but her head told her she couldn't she had to go and make sure that Brian was ok and be there for Esther.

"Brian I swear if you are not dead I will kill you!" She snapped to the empty room closing the lap top screen and rushing out of the room toward the stairs to get dressed and follow Gerry to the hospital. When push came to shove she couldn't not go no matter how much trouble her appearance might get Gerry into. Her friends needed her and if Donnie chose not to talk to her again when she explained then maybe she was better off without him.