Chapter Fifty

My phone startled me. Another unknown number. "Miss Jones?" enquired the well-spoken voice on the end of the phone.
"That's me…" I said.
"This is Mr Johnson at the Brannigan Clinic. Mr Judd has just arrived. We are just settling him into his room. If you'd like to visit him, you could come in about an hour?"
"That's great – thank you." I said. I contacted everyone, including, of course, Harry's family who I had already told about the accident. They had been to see Harry in the hospital near the hotel and had naturally asked me lots of awkward questions about what had happened and what had caused him to drive off in the state he was in. I tried to be as vague as I could.
Tom and Dougie said they would meet me at the clinic in an hour. Still no response from Danny. I tried to put my worries about him out of my mind.

I steeled myself for seeing Harry again. After my shock the first time, I was pleased to see him looking better. However, it was the first time Tom and Dougie had been allowed to see him, and they were shocked to see the state he was in. I was able to reassure them that he was looking a lot better than when I had first seen him.

He was still unconscious from the drugs he had been given to make the journey less painful for him, so we didn't stay long. The nurse who was attending to him told me that he had not yet fully regained consciousness by himself and that he was still in a critical condition, but was stable and his vital signs were good. He no longer needed mechanical help to stay alive, but was being monitored very closely and she reassured me that she would contact me if there were any change. I thanked her and left with Tom and Dougie.

They came back to Harry's house with me. As we walked through the front door, Dougie noticed the bags and boxes in the hallway. "You haven't had a chance to finish unpacking yet, then?" he commented.
I coloured slightly. "Um, I'm actually re-packing, ready to move out!"
Dougie looked at me, stunned. "Why?" he asked in amazement.
"Well" I said. "After what's happened I'm not sure whether Harry will still want me living here, or anything to do with me!"
"Of course he will!" replied Dougie. "He loves you to bits! He won't let some silly spat ruin the future he has all planned out for you!"
I smiled at him. He didn't know the full story. I hoped he never would. I was starting to think my guilt was making me think the situation was far worse than it actually was, but until I could speak to Harry, I wouldn't know for sure.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I opened it. It was Danny! "Oh thank God!" exclaimed Tom. "You're ok!"
"'course I'm ok!" said Danny, cheerily. He seemed a little unsteady on his feet and I wondered if he had been drinking.
I invited him in. He acted as though nothing had happened.
"Harry's getting better" Tom said.
"I know!" replied Danny. "I've just been to the clinic to see him!"
"Oh!" I said in surprise and secretly very glad Harry was still asleep. I wasn't sure he would be particularly delighted to see Danny.

We went through into the kitchen when my phone rang. I answered it. "Miss Jones?" It was Mr Johnson from the clinic again. "I thought I should let you know Mr Judd is regaining consciousness."
"Is he?!" I squealed. "I'll be right there! Thank you!" I hung up and turned to the boys who were all looking at me in expectation. "He's waking up!"
"Come on!" yelled Dougie. We all piled back out the door and into Tom's car.

When we got to the clinic, the doctor told us he had literally just opened his eyes and that the clinical staff were attending to him but we would be able to see him in a few minutes. "Just one at a time and only for a short while" he said. The others said I should go in first. When I was permitted, I slowly walked into the room. This was it! How would Harry react? Would he recognise me? Would he be pleased to see me? My heart was in my mouth.

Harry's eyes were closed and the nurse finished adjusting his sheets, smiled politely and discreetly left the room. I approached the bed and took his uninjured, left hand in both of mine and said "Harry? Harry, can you hear me? It's Alex". He stirred slightly at my touch and turned his head. With difficulty, he opened his eyes and looked at me. He opened his mouth.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" His voice was cracked, like his throat was dry but his eyes flashed.
I gaped at him. "I, er, I, I" I wasn't sure how to react. I tried to withdraw my hand, but he held onto it.
"I knew you were just using me to get to Danny. I'm just the fucking drummer, remember?" His voice was intimidating, but tinged with sadness. Suddenly, he writhed in pain and one of the machines he was connected to began to beep alarmingly. Medical staff rushed into the room.
"Miss Jones?" said one of the nurses, looking at the machine. "It's very important that Mr Judd stays calm. It's not good for his head injury if his blood pressure increases!"
"I, er, I, I" I said again. I tried again to move away from Harry, but he was still holding onto my wrist with an alarming amount of strength.
"You get out. You hear me? I never want to see you again". His voice was quiet, but menacing. I ripped my hand from his grasp and fled, sobbing from the room.

Tom caught me as I flew past. "Alex!" he exclaimed. "What's wrong? We heard the alarms go off!"
"Oh Tom!" I cried. "He told me to stay away from him! That he never wants to see me again!"
"I'm sure he didn't mean it!" said Tom, trying to be comforting.
"I'm sure he did mean it!" I replied. I looked over at Danny. "I wouldn't go in there, if I were you!" I said to him. Danny looked shocked and a little upset.
"I want to go home" I said.
"OK" said Tom. "They probably won't let us see him now anyhow". He ducked back to the reception desk and gave them his phone number to contact him with updates on Harry, giving some excuse about my phone being broken.

We drove home in near silence. Tom offered for them to stay and keep me company, but I just wanted to be alone. Harry had made my position quite clear and I just wanted to go home as soon as possible, to be with my family and my son.
Tom dropped me off at the gate. "You sure you don't want us to come in?" he asked.
"Quite sure" I replied. I thanked him and closed the door. He waited until I had opened the front door and then drove off. "That's probably the last time I will see any of them" I thought to myself, sadly.

I busied myself packing non-essential stuff into bags and boxes. It was heart-wrenching to pack up George's stuff. As I worked in his room, I was devastated that he would probably never see his lovely little room and how beautifully it had been decorated. Or the racing car bed Harry had bought for him. Or play with any of the toys that sat, unopened in their boxes. I was flooded with an overwhelming sense of grief for the future I could have had.

I made myself a cup of tea and went to sit in the living room. My head was whirling and I felt sick. I realised I hadn't eaten much all day so went back to the kitchen to make a sandwich. I was just carrying the plate back through when there was a knock at the door. "What now?" I thought to myself, irritated.
I opened the door. Danny was standing there. "Are you ok?" he asked, a look of deep concern on his face.
"Yes" I said. Then, my emotions took over. "No!" I cried, breaking into floods of tears once again.
"Hey" said Danny, stepping forwards and embracing me. I'm not sure how long I stood there on the doorstep, my head buried in Danny's shoulder, wrapped in his arms.

Eventually, I recovered myself enough and he gently released me from his embrace. I wiped my streaming eyes and nose on my sleeve. "Oh, Danny" I said. "I've made such a mess of everything!"
"Come on" he said, "Let's get you sorted out". His tone was kind and firm, fatherly almost.
He led me back into the living room and sat me down on the sofa. My cup of tea and sandwich sat untouched on the coffee table. He handed me a tissue and then offered me the tea. It was stone cold.
"I'll make you a fresh one." He said, disappearing off to the kitchen. I sat and munched my sandwich mechanically, not tasting it at all. I just felt numb. I was glad to have company, but my semi-functioning brain was warning me Danny was not the right person to be seeking it from, given the circumstances.
I followed him through into the kitchen. "Does anyone know you're here?" I asked.
He hesitated. "No. I thought about telling Tom, but decided against it. I just didn't like to think of you being on your own after what…after what happened earlier".
"Thank you" I replied. "I'm very glad of the company".
"Good" he said, smiling at me.
"I think actually," I said, "I need something a little stronger than tea!" I felt a bit better after eating the sandwich, but felt the need to dull the pain that I was feeling in my heart.
I went back into the living room and went to the mini bar. I selected a bottle of brandy and took a glass from the cabinet. I gestured to Danny who smiled and said, "Yeah, ok".
We both sat on the sofa, sipping our brandy. I could feel its warmth starting to course through me and started to relax slightly.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Danny asked.
It was my turn to hesitate. What should I say? Did I tell him verbatim what Harry had said? He deserved the truth, I decided. I downed the rest of my brandy and moved back to the mini bar to refill my glass.
"H…Harry…" my voice cracked with emotion as I said his name. "Harry said I had just been using him to get to you!" I crossed the room and sat back down on the sofa next to Danny.
"Really?" said Danny. "I would have said it was the other way around…" I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. I ignored his comment and continued.
"Then he said he was just the fucking drummer and told me to get out and he never wanted to see me again".
Danny blew air out sharply between his teeth and looked at the ceiling. "Him and that fucking chip on his shoulder! He never thinks he's good enough for anything!" He looked back at me. "Do you think he meant what he said?"

I blanched slightly, remembering the look of hate in his beautiful eyes and the tone of malice in his voice. "Oh yeah" I replied, nodding. "He meant it for sure!"
"Oh dear" said Danny. "I don't really know what to say…I mean…this is all my fault after all…"
"Yes!" I said, standing up. "Yes it is! Why couldn't you just have left me alone?"
"Hey!" said Danny, standing up as well. "It takes two to tango, you know!" He pointed his finger accusingly at me. "You didn't exactly push me away!"
"Yes I did!" I replied defiantly. I placed my hands on his chest and shoved him. "I told you to back off…that I loved Harry"
"I seem to remember that was AFTER you kissed me?" he replied.
"You kissed me first!" I said, thumping his chest.
"You kissed me back!" he countered.
"I tried to walk past you!" I was getting angry now and had started beating my fists on his chest. "You grabbed me by the wrist and pushed me up against the wall!"
"Like this?" he said, grabbing both my wrists to prevent me thumping him any more.
"Yes!" I said, my heart was racing and I was feeling light-headed from the brandy.
I tried to wrestle my arms free, but he held them firmly in his large, strong hands. He pulled me close to him and leant in to kiss me. I leant forwards and kissed him hard.
I was angry, upset and confused. I knew that I loved Harry, but he had made it quite clear how he felt about me being around. Danny was here and I knew he wanted me and I found myself wanting him.

Danny released my wrists and moved his hands to my waist. He began stroking my lower back. I didn't want him to be gentle. I placed my hands on his upper arms and pushed him backwards towards the wall of the living room. He was a little taken aback, but co-operated with me and I soon had him pressed up against the wall.

We were kissing furiously now. All my anger and frustration was coming out and spurred on by the brandy, it was all coming out in a fit of passion. I lifted up his t-shirt and began running my hands over his bare chest. His muscles weren't as well defined as Harry's, but they were still pretty impressive. Danny's hands moved up my back in reciprocation and he deftly undid my bra strap and then grasped the hem of my t-shirt and started to lift it up. I ripped it off over my head, letting my bra fall to the floor.

Danny broke our kiss to remove his own shirt and then swiftly spun me around so I now had my back to the wall. He was pressing up against me and again, I could feel his cock growing hard against my thigh. I lifted one of my legs and wrapped it around his thigh. He moaned slightly as I gently ground my crotch against him.
He started kissing my neck, and then trailed kisses down my body until he reached my breasts. My nipples were already hard and sensitive and I gasped as he sucked and gently bit them. I placed both legs back on the floor and reached down to his belt. He grabbed my hands. "Stop!" he said, looking up at me. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course I'm sure!" I snapped. "I need to feel you inside me now!"
He seemed a little surprised at the tone of my voice, but let go of my hands and allowed me to unfasten his belt and then ease his jeans over his hips and down his legs.

He made no move to remove my jeans, so, taking the initiative, I crouched down in front of him. My mouth was conveniently at groin-height and I fondled the bulge in the front of his boxers, slowly stroking my fingers up and down it. He moaned again at the feeling of my touch and then I eased the waistband of his boxers down and grasped his growing erection. He was only semi-erect, but I could feel him hardening under my touch. His cock was not as large as Harry's, but it was large enough. I took him into my mouth and started to move.

Danny inhaled sharply through his teeth and placed his hands on the back of my head. His cock continued to grow in my mouth and when I had got it nice and wet, I took him in my hands and continued to stroke his shaft. I looked up at him as I did it and he looked down and met my eyes. "Jesus Alex! Harry said you were good at this!"
"Why does he keep coming up?" I wondered to myself, desperately trying to put all thoughts of Harry out of my mind and concentrate on what I was doing.
After another few minutes of stroking and sucking, Danny motioned for me to stand up again. He fumbled with the zip of my jeans and pulled them and my knickers down. I stepped out of them and kicked them to one side. He placed two fingers on my clit and started to rub. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "You're so wet!"

"That's because I'm so fucking horny!" I replied. He removed his fingers and manoeuvred himself so that his cock was at my entrance. He rubbed the tip of his cock to coat it in my juices and then thrust into me hard.
I gasped again as I felt him enter me. His cock was thick and hard and I clawed my fingernails up and down his back. I had no idea where this almost animalistic state had come from. All I knew was that I needed him to fuck me hard and fast.
"Oh yes!" I gasped. "Like that! Harder!"

Spurred on by my encouragement, Danny increased the deepness and speed of his thrusting. He lifted one of my legs to change the angle and increase the depth. Soon, he was filling me completely and I gasped breathily with every thrust. I could feel my orgasm building quickly, thanks to the wickedness of the situation and Danny's well aimed thrusting.
"Danny!" I panted, "I'm going to come!"
"So am I" he replied, through gritted teeth and I felt him hesitate and start to withdraw.
"Don't you dare!" I shouted in his ear and, grabbing his bum with both hands, pulling him into me harder.

Even if he wanted to pull out, there wouldn't have been time as we both climaxed together. It was one of the most mind-blowing orgasms I had ever had. After standing wrapped in each other's arms for a few moments, he withdrew and quickly pulled his clothes back on. I did likewise. Neither of us said a word. I suddenly felt a little embarrassed about how I had been with him.

Danny pulled his t-shirt over his head and looked at me, smiling a little shyly. "That was amazing, Alex."
I smiled back and kissed him on the cheek. "It was" I replied. "Thank you".
"You're welcome. I hope I've been of some…" he coughed "…comfort?"
"Oh yes" I said. "That was exactly the sort of comfort I needed!"
"Look" he began and then stopped.
"What?" I asked.
"I had better be going…"

He sat down on the sofa to put his shoes back on. I looked across at him and was suddenly hit with a very strange feeling that I just couldn't pin down.
"Well" I said. "Thank you for, er, coming!"
Danny grinned at me. "My pleasure!" he replied.
"And mine!" I said, smiling back but still having a very strange feeling. I saw him to the door. He kissed me on the cheek and said: "See you soon, Alex"
I returned to the kitchen and made myself a fresh cup of tea.
Later, while having a shower and mulling things over, I just couldn't shake off that strange feeling.

Why did it feel like I'd just had sex with my brother?