LINDSEY'S POV:

I made my way downstairs at 4:30am that morning, making way into the kitchen, shocking myself as I saw Joe sat in the darkness of the dining room…

"Why are you sat in the dark all by yourself, eh?" I questioned, flicking the light on

"Thinking about things; Mum, me and you, how lucky Freddie is to have you" he replied "I'm sorry for mouthing off when you first arrived"

"It's okay, you weren't to know" I assured him "how you coping?"

"Okay. Gotta be, haven't I? I'm the eldest. I've gotta be the glue" he informed me

"You don't have to be, Joe" I admitted "it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be angry. Your Mum wouldn't want you bottling it all up"

"But what about my brothers? I've gotta be strong for them" he sighed

"You have to come together in your times of need" I replied "be each other's support network. If one of you wants to talk, talk. If one of you wants to shout, shout. Just be there, Joe"

"But what if she dies, Linds?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me

"Don't think like that" I begged, covering my hand with his as I sat down "Sandy's the strongest woman I know. She'll pull through this, we'll make sure of it"

"What do you think her chances are?" he questioned "medically speaking?"

"I really couldn't say" I informed him "but from what I gather they've found it early so I'd say really good"

"Thanks, Linds, and thanks for being here for us all, after everything" he sighed

FREDDIE'S POV:

I woke up a little after 4:30am, Lindsey not in bed. Seeing the door was ajar, I made my way out of the room and down the stairs, stopping in my tracks as I heard Joe and Lindsey talking, talking about Mum…

"She'll pull through this, we'll make sure of it…"

I swallowed a lump in my throat and made my way back upstairs, climbing back into bed, hearing Lindsey join me ten minutes later, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind…

LINDSEY'S POV:

I woke up at 8:00am, Freddie not in bed. Guessing he must be downstairs, I grabbed my dressing gown from the chair in the corner of the room and pulled it around my body, making my way downstairs and into the kitchen…

"Where's Freddie?" I asked Ziggy, Joe and Jason as they sat at the dining room table

"We thought both of you were still in bed" Ziggy informed me "Mum, you've not seen Fred, have you?"

"No, sorry, why?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me

"He's not here" I informed her "I'm gonna get dressed and go have a look for him"

"Is there anything I can do?" Sandy inquired as I made my way out of the room

"Relax, and keep your blood pressure low. Your operation's tomorrow" I replied

Making my way back upstairs, I grabbed my phone from my bedside table, dialling Freddie's number, cursing under my breath as it went to answerphone…

"Hi, this is Freddie, sorry I can't get to the phone right now but if you leave your name and number I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks, bye"

"Freddie, it's me, Linds, where the hell are you? I'm going spare and your Mum's about to too. I'm coming to look for you. Call me when you get this" I sighed, hanging up the phone

Quickly getting washed and dressed, I grabbed my handbag and my keys, making my way downstairs and out of the front door…

FREDDIE'S POV:

I sat in the garage, staring at the plaque we'd had mounted in memory of Dad. Sighing heavily, I stood up, beginning to walk around the garage, looking at all the bits of machinery and tools we had. Being snapped out of my trance as my phone bleeped, signalling I had a voicemail, I saw it was Lindsey…

"Freddie, it's me, Linds, where the hell are you? I'm going spare and your Mum's about to too. I'm coming to look for you. Call me when you get this"

I took my garage keys from my pocket and locked up, making my way through the car park and through to the woods, needing to clear my head…

LINDSEY'S POV:

"Linds" Cindy's voice shouted as I made my way past Price Slice

"Hi" I greeted her, sighing heavily as I stopped walking

"What's the matter?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me

"You've not seen Freddie, have you?" I asked

"No, why?" she inquired

"We're back because Sandy's got, well she's not well, and Freddie's gone AWOL" I informed her

"Sorry to hear that. How's everyone coping?" she questioned

"As well as can be expected. Freddie going AWOL is the last thing we need" I admitted "Sandy's going spare and she's meant to be keeping her blood pressure down"

"Lindsey" she stated, motioning behind me. Turning around, I saw Freddie walking down towards me

"I'll catch up with you later, yeah?" I suggested

Nodding her head, she made her way back inside the shop as I walked over to Freddie… "I don't know whether to hug you or slap you"

"Hug me please" he begged, pursing his lips together nervously

"Why? What's the matter?" I questioned "Freddie, talk to me"

"You're not going back to Joe, are you?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at me

"What makes you think that?" I asked, confused

"I heard you talking to him this morning" he admitted

"What exactly did you hear?" I questioned

"You saying to him that we'd pull through this together" he informed me

"I meant as a family, not as me and him. There's no chance for me and him anymore, Freddie. You've gotta believe me" I sighed

"I do, I'm just an idiot" he admitted

"You got that right" I chuckled "where have you been anyway? You're freezing"

"I went to the garage and then went for a walk in the woods" he informed me

"And how long have you been awake? And what have you had to eat and drink?" I asked

"Since 4:30am, and a glass of water, that's it" he replied

"I could slap you right now but you'd probably collapse from tiredness, lack of food and dehydration" I informed him "you're an idiot, Freddie Roscoe"

"But I'm your idiot, yeah?" he inquired

"Yeah" I replied, smiling at him weakly "and I do love you"

"I love you too" he mirrored, pouting his lips, my smile widening. Pressing my lips against his softly, I quickly pulled away…

"Let's get you home" I sighed, taking his hand in mine as I led him back towards the house