Robbie slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning with no pause and never getting more than forty five minutes sleep in one go. When he awoke for what must have been the eighth time at half seven the next morning, he was unable to go back to sleep and he couldn't quite grasp why.
After a solid ten minutes at staring at the ceiling, the silence of the room enveloping him as he willed his mind to shut up, he realised what was different.
The room was quiet, too quiet. No scratch that, it was silent...
Which meant... he was the only one there. But where was Jason? He couldn't have just gone to the toilet or to get a drink, it didn't take anyone almost fifteen minutes to do that, even if they were dawdling.
But where was he then? Robbie sat up slowly, wiping the sleep from his eyes before jumping down the ladder and onto the floor. Just as he suspected, the bunk below him was empty and when he placed a hand on the still rumpled duvet, it was cold. So Jason had definitely been gone for a long time then.
He frowned, trying to think of his where could be, whilst also attempting to quash the worry that was gradually growing in the pit of his stomach. He left the room, making sure to be as quiet as possible when he began his search of the house. Everyone else would still be sleeping and he didn't want to wake them and start off another dramatic day so early on.
Although he knew it would be pointless, Robbie made sure to check the bathroom first in case Jason was there for some unknown reason. As the door opened with ease Robbie didn't hold back his annoyed groan when he saw it was empty.
Knowing he couldn't give up – afterall Jason could be skulking anywhere, though why he was doing it this early on was a mystery to Robbie – the young Roscoe made his way downstairs, groaning once more as he realised that his twin wasn't anywhere downstairs either.
"Where are you Jase?" He muttered to himself quietly, the worry turning into panic with every passing minute. He couldn't call Jason to try and find him either, having clean forgotten to charge his phone the previous day. Robbie was man enough to admit that he was scared for his brother, in his current mindframe there was no telling what Jason would do, but Robbie was at a loss with what he could do to help.
He sighed, moving to grab his phone from the counter so he could charge it and try to call Jason (though he doubted it would be that simple), when said missing brother slipped through the door, breathing lightly, his face flushed red.
"Where the hell were you?" Robbie hissed, careful to keep his voice down so not wake the others up. "I've been dead worried."
"I went out for a run," Jason replied flatly, shrugging his trainers off and looking thoroughly unimpressed with Robbie.
"It's not even eight yet," Robbie said just as sharply. "What are you doing, going for a run at this time in the morning, on a Sunday?"
"I always go running in the morning. Didn't you know?"
No. Robbie hadn't known. Was he that a bad of a brother that he didn't even realise his twin waking up, leaving and then coming back every single morning?
"Don't you go down to the gym most afternoons with Ziggy too? Or box in the garage?" Robbie asked, not sure if his confusion was coming from the obscenely early hour, his lack of sleep or the fact that Jason never seemed to give a straight answer anymore. "Jesus Jase, how much exercise do you do?"
No wonder his brother was so thin, if the lack of insulin wasn't getting rid of the weight then the ridiculously high amount of exercise he did everyday would definitely do it.
"Enough," Jason replied, looking faintly uncomfortable. Before Robbie could carry on with his interrogation, Jason had pushed past him, pouring himself a generous glass of water and downing it in one.
"Thirsty?" Robbie said, making Jason jump from where he was stood, drinking his second glass of water just as quickly as the first. "See that's either the exercise that you've just done, or the fact that you probably haven't taken any more insulin since last night when mum made you take it. And that stuff only lasts for like three hours."
"Why don't you shove off Robbie," Jason snapped, glaring at his brother. "I'm serious, put some clothes on at least."
Robbie flushed, fully realising that he was standing in nothing more than the boxers he had slept in the previous night, having forgotten to grab even a pair of joggers in his worry for the then missing Jason. "You're just jealous of my amazing body," he joked, more on automatic than for any consideration to his current situation.
Unsurprisingly the joke fell flat and Jason's glare didn't die down. Feeling incredibly awkward and realising that joking about Jason's jealously of his body (whether it be true or not), was not exactly... appropriate in their current situation.
Robbie bit his lip, not sure whether he should say anything to try and fix the damage, or just leave it He eventually decided staying quiet would be for the best, and turned to the tumble dryer (still full from the previous day) pulling out a shirt and trousers.
As he quickly changed, he completely missed the envious look that Jason shot him as he wished for nothing more than to look like his brother, pulling the fat of his stomach under his hoodie and wincing at the sharp pain.
"You're so grim," Jason said instead, trying to take his mind off of the pain.
"What? They're clean and I'm dressed now aren't I?"
"Well if you're doing what I tell you, then leave. Now."
Rolling his eyes at Jason's comment, Robbie turned fully back to his brother, jumping up so he could sit comfortably on the kitchen counter. The two brothers stood in silence, unsure of what to say to one another and Robbie cursed. When had it gotten so difficult between them? Before, they used to be able to talk whenever they wished, about anything and everything.
There was no secrets between them and if there was ever a lapse in conversation, it never left an awkward silence. When had that changed?
Oh yeah, when Jason had stopped taking his insulin and started killing himself on some insane mission. "Why do you do it?" Robbie asked, only realising he'd voiced the question when Jason shot him an odd look.
"Do what?" Jason's confusion sounded innocent enough, but the fear painted on his face, showed Robbie he knew exactly what he was talking about.
Robbie cursed the lack of control he had over his brain to mouth filter, though he didn't look away from Jason. Oh well, in for a penny in for a pound.
"Why don't you take your insulin?"
Jason stiffened noticeably, glaring at Robbie. "I don't kn-"
"Don't give me that bullshit Jase, I think we've moved past that stage. I'm not going to argue with you about whether you're taking your insulin anymore, because we both know you're not, but I want to know why. Why do you feel the need to do this to yourself? What is so bad that you can't talk to anyone about it?"
Jason was silent for a moment, but as he opened his mouth, Robbie thought for the first time he might have gotten through to his brother. Maybe, just maybe, Jason had heard him and was reacting to he said.
That hope was snuffed out like a candle as soon as he saw the steely determination in Jason's eyes. He wasn't going to get anywhere, not whilst Jason was still protesting.
"Before you go psychoanalysing my life," he began coldly, walking over to Robbie and trapping him where he was sat. "Why don't you do it for yourself first. You've got just as many problems as me Rob, maybe even more. I mean, all those fights you get into, the blackmailing, robbing a shop at gunpoint even, kind of indicates there's something really wrong in your head.
"You're just a scared little boy, desperate for people's attention because you know that in five years time, you'll be nothing but a sad little has-been. You're screaming for attention Rob, desperate to show the world you're not pathetic, but that's exactly what people think of you. You put up this big brave front, desperate to show everyone what you're made of, but we all see through it."
It took all of Robbie's self restraint to stop himself from jumping down from the counter and hitting Jason once more, but his other brothers words from yesterday afternoon rang through his head, keeping him grounded.
He said nothing, staring at Jason's bruises and trying to keep in control of his emotions. He'd already hurt his brother these last couple of days, both physically and mentally, he was not going to do it again. The lack of reaction he gave, seemed to shake Jason slightly, and the two brothers stared at one another, waiting to see who would make the next move.
Eventually, Jason took another step forward, placing his hands on the counter, one on either side of Robbie's legs and opened his mouth, looking like he was going to start his relentless tirade once more.
Before he could say anything else, the kitchen door swung open, revealing a still sleepy Sandy. As she blinked curiously at two of her boys, Jason leaped back like Robbie's touch burned, and made to leave the kitchen.
However, he hadn't even made it fully past Sandy before he was physically stopped. She had placed a hand on his bony shoulder, giving him a dubious look. "Insulin?"
"What about it?" He asked innocently, knowing full well what she meant. He couldn't take his insulin again, he'd already taken too much yesterday and he needed to spend today making up for Saturday's weakness.
"Have you taken it?" Jason opened his mouth, lie at the ready, but Sandy wasn't looking at him, instead staring over at Robbie. "Has he taken it Rob?"
"Doubt it. I ain't seen him take it anyway."
"Cheers mum, thanks for letting me answer." Jason snapped, shrugging her hand off of him.
"So you're saying you have taken it then?" Sandy said smoothly, turning back to Jason and arching a brow. "You'll be willing to take a blood sugar test then."
"Of course you can test. I've taken it this morning, I've got nothing to hide." Jason lied, hoping it wouldn't come to that.
Sandy nodded, ignoring Robbie's shocked look that he sent her way. "You see that's funny, because I put your insulin away in one of the cupboards last night and if I'm right, it won't have moved an inch and there will be exactly the same amount of insulin in the cartridge as there was before."
Jason didn't say anything, choosing to glare at his mum instead, though she ignored it in favour of moving to the far cupboard and opening it, the disappointment obvious as she stared the the insulin, which true to her belief was in exactly the same spot.
Not saying a word, she opened the case, noting the exact same measurement of insulin there had been the previous night.
"Take it Jason," Sandy told him sternly, passing him over the cartridge and waiting for him to fill it out with the necessary amount.
"And if I don't?" Jason said, getting a sick sort of satisfaction from the look that passed over both her and Robbie's faces.
"Don't test me," Sandy said sharply, her voice betraying none of her emotions. "Just take it."
Knowing there was no way he could win this and wanting to avoid another argument, Jason snatched the kit and began measuring out, sharply injecting himself and wincing as he felt the medication enter his system.
"I hate you," he told Sandy, slamming the kitchen door behind him as he left the room, leaving his devastated mum and brother behind.
"He don't mean it mum," Robbie told the older woman softly, jumping off the side and hugging her tightly. "He might not see it now, but we're helping him."
"I know, I know, it's just so difficult seeing him doing this to himself. You're all my babies and I hate seeing any of you hurting, but normally I can do something about it, but this... well I'm at a loss."
"I know mum, we all are." Robbie sighed, hugging Sandy tighter as she sniffed, holding back the tears. "But we'll fix this. We'll do everything we can, but I promise you, we'll help Jason."
Sandy pulled back, smiling through her tears as she squeezed her youngest's shoulders tightly. "I'mso proud of you Robbie, I know I don't always show it, but you're doing me so proud right now. I love baby."
"Love you too mum."
}}}}}}}}}}
"Come on Holly," Ruby groaned, buzzing the flat's doorbell for the fourth time in just as many minutes.
"What?" Cindy's steely tone rung over the feed and Ruby groaned inwardly.
"Sorry if I woke you Ms. Cunningham, is Holly there?"
"She's probably sleeping, like I was. You do know what time it is right?"
"Yeah, but we agreed to meet up to do some... school work."
"And it couldn't have waited till a more respectable hour?"
"Not really," Ruby said, trying to keep her annoyance in check, as well as making sure to sound as apologetic as possible. "It is half nine though."
"Exactly. Far too early for this. I'll go wake her up then, if it stops your incessant buzzing." The line was silent for a few minutes as Ruby waited impatiently for the younger girl to arrive, checking and re-checking her phone to see if Robbie had gotten back in touch with her, sighing in frustration when she saw everytime that he hadn't.
"I'm so sorry," Holly muttered apologetically when she stumbled out of the front door, passing the bag full of insulin cartridges over to Ruby, before pulling on her jacket. "We didn't get back till late."
"Too busy drowning your sorrows?" Ruby asked sarcastically, though Holly seemed to not hear her as she threw her hair up into a messy bun.
When Holly had straightened herself up slightly, they turned out of the main part of the village, making their way to the Roscoes house. "You ready for this?" Ruby asked seriously as they walked together in complete silence.
"No." Holly answered truthfully, not hiding her nerves. "Jason's going to hate me for this."
"Jason will forgive you. We're doing the right thing, him not taking his insulin is really dangerous and he's obviously caught up in something if he felt the need to get rid of it in the village."
"You're right." Holly said quietly, bracing herself as they entered the street that led to the house. The two girls wandered over to it, their pace slowing the closer they got.
They knew they were doing the right thing, they knew they needed to show Jason's family what he was doing to himself, but that didn't stop the feeling of guilt raising itself up and consuming them.
"Here goes nothing." Ruby muttered, pressing down on the doorbell and hoping that Jason wouldn't be the one to open the door.
Luckily, her prayers were answered, and a stressed looking Freddie opened the door instead. "Jason's not in," he told them shortly, going to close the door behind him, but the two cries stopped him in his place.
"We're not here to see Jason." Ruby told him earnestly, holding up the bag full of insulin and noting the shocked look that passed over Freddie's face, when he heard the clatter of cartridges. "Can we come in? We need to tell you something."
I'm glad you all seemed to like the explanations I did last chapter, as I was scared I start boring people.
Well this seems to be it doesn't it? I mean the family have to finally get hold of the insulin now, it's right under their noses. But don't ever doubt a soap fic, there's so many twists and turns you're bound to get dizzy ;)
