You busy? Xx
No, is everything okay? Something happen with your Dad? x
I… don't know, can you meet me at the park in 10 minutes? Xx
See you there x
A few hours earlier...
Clara made it home to find her Dad not there, but there was a note on the side. 'Gone to pick up some new DVDs - remembered a couple of films you said you wanted to see. See you soon, love you xx'
She smiled, putting the note in her pocket before heading upstairs to sort herself out.
Getting lost in a book was somewhat of a speciality of hers and Clara only realised her Dad was home when he knocked on the door and walked in. "Some things don't change eh?" Clara looked up to see her Dad smiling at her on the bed.
"I only sat down for 5 minutes…" she looked at the clock, "an hour and a half ago. Oops."
Dave chuckled and walked into the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her, "how are you, good time with your Gran?" he asked.
Clara put her book down properly and sat up, "yeah it was lovely, she gave me some food to bring back so I put that in the freezer. Where did you go to get the DVDs anyway, you were gone a while?"
"Ah yes, about that, shall we go downstairs?" Clara looked at him, a little confused, "just trust me, come on." Dave stood up and Clara followed him downstairs. When she went in the lounge there were a couple of shopping bags.
"That's more than a couple of DVDs Dad," she commented.
"Well observed - good to know you're learning something at this school," he replied and Clara hit him playfully, chuckling. "Go on, have a look."
Clara walked over and glanced over the bags, "Dad… I don't understand?"
"You deserved it. I haven't bought you anything new other than your uniform since your Mum… since she's been gone. There's only a few bits in there, I didn't know about clothes because you've grown so I'll take you tomorrow, but there's some new books in there and the promised DVDs," he smiled.
"And this?" Clara pulled out the box containing a notebook laptop.
"It was on the list of recommended items for the school. You asked, I didn't get - you deserve it," he kissed her head softly. "You start investigating that and I'll go and look at getting snacks and drinks sorted."
Clara started setting up the laptop, still a little bit in shock at what her Dad had done. It was fairly simple to do and once it was sorted she put it down, going to the kitchen. "You not playing games yet?"
"We said we'd spend time together this evening, it's all set up I'll have more of a play tomorrow. Thanks Dad, it means a lot," she hugged him. "Good choices on the dvds by the way," Clara smiled.
"Well we've always had similar tastes you and me," he smiled. "Snacks are ready, shall we make a start?"
The rest of the evening was lovely. They drew the curtains and lay on the sofa with the snack bowls between them. After the first film Clara rearranged everything and moved to lay with her Dad. "You alright sweetheart?" he asked while the opening credits were rolling to the next film on their list.
"Yeah," she sighed contentedly, "just missed this."
"Me too love," he kissed her head softly and Clara smiled.
The film was about halfway through when she started feeling slightly strange. She sat up, rubbing her head. Her Dad sat up too, pausing the TV. "Clara?"
"I'm fine… I'm fine, I just need a moment," she told him, but it wasn't going away. After another minute she slid herself down to the floor. "Dad I need…" she didn't finish the sentence before she lost consciousness and started fitting.
Dave panicked, calling her name but there was no answer. He remembered about moving things out of the way and did so before grabbing his phone and calling 999. He watched, helpless, until the ambulance arrived. When the paramedics came in she was just stopping fitting and Dave finally felt himself let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding.
"I'm Sam and this is Chris, can you tell us what happened?" The female paramedic asked him while the male one knelt beside Clara.
"I know her," the male one, Chris, looked up at his colleague. "What happened? You must be Clara's Dad?"
Dave nodded, "how do you know Clara?"
Chris seemed to pause for a moment, "oh I picked her up from the school before," Dave accepted that.
"I see, um, she had another seizure, I didn't know what to do - I panicked," he ran a hand through her hair.
"Don't worry, you did the right thing. How long was she fitting for?" Chris asked while Sam started doing the obs on her.
"I…. I don't know… maybe 5 minutes?" Dave replied.
"Alright, Sam?" Chris turned back to Clara.
"Pulse and oxygen levels are fine, she's just starting to come round," Sam replied, putting away the kit she'd just been using.
Clara's eyes flicked open and the first face she saw was an unfamiliar one. She sat up, pushing herself backwards away from the figure with all the strength she had. "No!" she screamed. Sam looked shocked, but Chris edged towards Clara in front of Sam.
"Clara? It's Chris, look at me, you're safe," he kept moving forward slowly.
"Chris…?" Clara looked at him, "why? Why are you here?"
"You had another seizure kid, your Dad called us," he stopped once he was close enough. "He's just over there," Chris pointed behind him.
"I wasn't out the long was I?" she looked at the clock, "you didn't need to come." Clara held her knees close to her chest.
"We just want to take you in and get you checked out, your Dad's not sure quite how long you were out so we need to be sure," he told her.
"No! I don't need to go," Clara looked to her Dad, "you should have timed it! This is your fault!" she stood up and ran upstairs, pulling out her phone.
Chris stood up and looked back to Dave, "don't worry, she's just come out of a seizure she's bound to be confused - it's not personal. We do need to take her in though, can you talk to her?" Dave nodded, standing up - not sure how to react.
He walked upstairs and knocked on the bedroom door, "Clara sweetheart?" No response. "Just let me in love, I'm not angry," he added. Dave sighed as there was no response and opened the door slowly, continuing when there was no argument from the other side. He soon realised why, however, when there was no sign of his daughter in the room and the bedroom window wide open.
The Park
Clara ran from her house to the park, texting Danny on the way. She didn't know what else to do, she wasn't even sure why she was running, she just needed to run.
Danny was there when she arrived and she almost ran into him. He stopped her, holding her close as she immediately burst into tears. He moved them to a slightly more private spot and sat down on a bench with her. "What's happened?" he asked when she finally settled down.
"I fitted…" she got out, wiping her eyes.
"Just now? You shouldn't be out here!" Danny's grip on her became a little tighter and more protective.
"I screwed up, I shouted at my Dad, I told him it was his fault because he forgot to time the seizure and they want to take me into hospital because they can't be sure it was less than 5 minutes," she explained and Danny shook his head.
"Clara you have to go - this is important!" he told her, "you need to go back home." She shook her head, the tiredness beginning to get the better of her as she curled up on the bench against him. Danny could see what was happening, "you can't sleep here, it's cold out," he told her but she only made a little noise before falling asleep against him. "No Clara… no…" he sighed and stroked her hair gently while he tried to figure out his next step.
The House
"Do you know where she might have gone?" Chris asked, but Dave didn't have an answer. "Alright, try and phone her and I'll put a call out - we need to find her - she's confused and alone."
Dave immediately grabbed his phone and dialled, but there was no answer. He tried again, still no answer. "I don't know what to do, she's never done this before," he was stressed. So stressed that Chris decided now wasn't the time to say she'd run away to the hospital multiple times without him knowing. He'd already contacted people there, but it seemed unlikely she'd head there right now when she'd refused to be taken in.
"Is there any place she could go? Anywhere you can think of?" he asked and Dave paced the room trying to think.
"Her Gran's, I'll phone her," Dave phoned her while Chris went back to Sam.
They were all running out of ideas as Dave came back with no luck. He jumped slightly when his phone rang and he looked at it to see Clara's number. "Clara? Where are you?"
"I'm not Clara," the voice came from the other end. "I go to school with her, I didn't realise she lived round here. I was just running in the park and found her asleep on the bench, I know she has some medical conditions and something didn't feel right so I went for the first number in her phone." Danny did his best to sound a little confused.
Dave got Chris' attention, "which park?"
"Radgate, it's a bench by the lake, will you be long it's just I have to get home?" Danny added to make it all more realistic that he'd just stumbled across her.
"Just stay with her till we get there," he told him and hung up. "Radgate park by the lake," he told the paramedics and they ran out to the ambulance, all jumping in and driving off.
Danny sat with Clara, he'd had to move her off his lap and rested her on the bench but he couldn't resist stroking her hair gently until he heard them coming and he stood up, pretending to be playing on his phone. Dave ran up to him, almost grabbing him until he was stopped. "Hey, the kid found your daughter he doesn't have to pay anywhere near as much attention as you would, don't beat him up," Sam stopped him as Chris went for Clara. "Go to her."
Dave nodded, realising he might be jumping the gun and took a step back, "sorry, thanks for phoning, you can go home now." Dave told Danny who nodded.
"See ya," he said bluntly, hating that he couldn't do more but reminding himself it's what Clara wanted.
Dave turned and went to Clara, kneeling down beside her. "She's not got too cold, I suggest we make the move to hospital while she's sleeping," Chris told him. "I'll grab the trolley."
"Nah, I've got her," Dave told him, "still my small girl," he sat her up and picked her up carefully. "Now as small as she was, but I'm not letting her go anymore," he carried her to the ambulance and they made their way to the hospital.
By the time Clara woke up most of the tests had been done, she opened her eyes and saw her Dad sat by the side of the bed, watching her. He stood up as she came round but she grabbed his hand to make him sit back down. "I didn't mean it," she spoke quietly. "I love you Dad, you did your best."
"I just forgot what to do… I'm sorry love," he kissed her hand softly.
"It's okay Dad, honestly, thank you… how did I end up here?" she asked, suddenly realising the last thing she remembered was a bench in the park.
"Some lad from your school came across you on his run, used your phone to call me. Barely spoke 2 words otherwise but you can't have everything…" Clara pretended to look surprised.
"What did he look like?" she continued the rouse once she'd worked out what Danny had done.
"Coloured, short hair… kinda obnoxious?" Clara held back a chuckle.
"Hm, interesting. He's one of the popular kids, doesn't normally come anywhere near me," she shrugged. "I'll attempt to thank him when I go back, but his girlfriend gives me evils 90% of the time."
"They don't cause you trouble do they?" he asked.
"Nothing more than I can handle," she replied and smiled reassuringly.
"You can't handle a lot these days Clara…" Dave l. concerned.
"Honestly Dad, it's fine. I've got my friends and I'm good. Other than the obvious," she sighed and looked down where she was hooked up. "Who's treating me?"
"I didn't catch the doctor's name. She said she treated you last time." Clara smiled and as if on cue the door opened and Hayley walked in.
"Heyy missy you're awake finally," she looked at the clock, "4 hours - not bad!" Clara chuckled slightly and Hayley checked her notes. "You're doing well, all your scans were as we'd expect so you should be able to go home in a couple of hours. Is everything else okay?" she asked sincerely.
"Yeah it's fine, honestly," Clara smiled and Hayley seemed to accept that. She looked up and saw Greg had just joined the party, that widened her smile. She sat up further and hugged him quickly, something which her Dad seemed less than impressed with.
"Excuse me," he began but Clara looked round.
"It's fine Dad, they all know me here," she told him, "I've been loads."
"When?" he asked and she suddenly realised she was going to have to confess.
Clara looked up to Greg and Hayley who smiled reassuringly, "I come here, when I need help. They know what to do, they've got me through a lot of episodes when…" she took a deep breath, "when you weren't around for me. They know my illness better than even I do sometimes, and they know me. They're friends, they're safe, I trust them with my life - sometimes literally." Her Dad looked shocked.
"You went out without telling me? Clara you're still a child!" Dave stood up.
"I think you're missing the point Mr Oswald," Greg grabbed Clara's hand when he saw her tense up. "Clara didn't know where else to go, we weren't that keen on her coming down here alone at first but we were the best hope she had. You're lucky we didn't get social services involved. We should have, but we didn't." Greg told him and Dave stepped back slightly.
"You're here now Dad, that's all that matters," Clara told him, reaching out her other hand for him. "We are working through this together now right?" Dave nodded and Clara looked the other way again, "I'm okay Greg, he's doing his best - please don't give him a hard time."
The nurse stood back and considered this for a moment before nodding, "well you know where I am," he said before leaving.
"He's very protective for someone who just looks after you in hospital?" Dave questioned as Hayley also made her excuses and left.
"He… he's seen me in my worst state, he's understandably protective. Don't worry, that was awhile ago now. Can we stop with all this now? I really just want to go back to when we we're lying on the sofa and happy," she turned on her side to face him and held his hand tightly.
"Yeah me too love, but given it's now tomorrow I suggest bed as soon as we go home," he grinned and Clara nodded.
#-#-#-#
Once they'd both got up and dressed the next day Dave did as promised take her out clothes shopping. They had a laugh out together, it was nice. Once they'd exhausted themselves in the shops they took found a nearby cafe and Dave bought them both tea and cake.
"Boy do I need this," Clara chuckled and sipped her tea. "Thanks for all this Dad, it's been a lovely morning," she smiled. "And I managed the whole thing without a panic attack - bonus!"
"You've done well today, I'm proud of you," he took her hand across the table briefly to backup his words. Clara smiled and went back to her tea. "I like it in here."
"I remember, we used to bring you when you were younger," Dave smiled and Clara nodded. They both enjoyed their drinks in silence for a few minutes until Dave spotted someone. "That's the lad that found you yesterday," he pointed behind Clara who turned around and saw Danny coming out of the kitchen of the cafe, "must work here. Bit young mind!"
Clara shrugged and looked back, "I'll talk to him back at school Dad," she focussed on her tea and hoped that-
"Clara?" Danny's voice, "I'm glad you're okay." She looked up and gave him a brief look to say I text you last night idiot.
"Yeah, all good. Thanks," she replied fairly awkwardly.
"Well I've got to go on a milk run so… see you around I guess," he shrugged and Clara nodded as he left.
"Talkative chap," Dave commented and Clara smirked a little.
"Lives under his girlfriend's shadow," she told him, finishing up her cake, "cleverer than he lets on though." Dave raised an eyebrow, "what? It's just obvious. We share lessons. He plays his knowledge down because of who he's friends with. It's not right really, but there's not much I can do about it." Clara sat back. Dave was still finishing up his drink. "I've just had an idea for dinner… can I go and get some ingredients? I want to make something special tonight - finish off the day perfectly."
Dave nodded, grabbing his wallet and pulling out some cash for her, "I'm looking forward to it already, don't be long and text me if you need me there."
"I'll be fine, I can do food shopping," she smiled and stood up, picking up her bag and running off to the supermarket across the road.
It didn't take her long to hunt Danny down in the milk aisle, jumping on him from behind and smiling as he spun round to see who it was. "Well hello there stranger," he grinned and Clara hugged him quickly, "what're you doing here?" Danny asked.
"I wanted to see you, thank you properly. I made some excuse that I had a good idea for dinner to make something special… so I kinda need your expertise now too," she chuckled.
Danny rolled his eyes and grinned at her, "alrighty then - let's find something for you to cook."
They walked around the supermarket and Danny helped her pick out some bits, promising to text her the full recipe later. "You did the right thing yesterday," Clara could sense his concern at the table earlier, "the seizure made me very confused, I was hitting out at the wrong people I'm sorry you had to be dragged into that."
"Hey!" Danny stopped in the middle of a thankfully empty aisle and took her hand, "do not ever be sorry for what you can't help Clara. You did the right thing coming to me, at least you didn't run somewhere alone where nobody could help you. This is part of you, I love all of you." They both suddenly made eye contact when they realised what he'd said. "I…"
"You mean that?" Clara asked, not looking away. She was scared, scared of putting her trust so fully in someone, but she didn't want to run either.
Danny took a moment to think about it, but it didn't take long, "I do. And damn I know everyone will think it's stupid and judge me for it, but I do love you."
Clara nodded and kept eye contact with him as she moved closer and kissed him quickly, "I love you too. We still keep this quiet yes?"
"Yes. I like this," Danny smiled, "speaking of which - questions will be asked if we don't both return soon. My parents run the cafe - they'll be complaining if I'm not back with milk shortly."
"Well that explains why you were in the kitchen," Clara chuckled. "Let's go pay then."
#-#-#-#
After they'd both finished eating, Dave and Clara relaxed back on the sofa.
"Well that was lovely, thank you," Dave smiled. "You know I've gotta go to work tomorrow right? Your Gran said you can go round there."
"Oh no I'll be fine Dad, I've got work to get on with and books to read," she smiled.
"You're not supposed to be alone Clara," he warned, "and you're still only a child."
"I'll have you on speed dial, please Dad you know if I go round to Gran's I don't get anything done. I promise I'll be sensible and call you if I feel anything," she pleaded with him. Dave rolled his eyes and gave in.
"You know exactly how to get round me don't you?" he grinned. "The slightest thing though-"
"I know! I know, I'll be fine," she smiled. "I'm gonna go wash up, you finish watching your program." Clara stood up and grabbed the plates, going through to the kitchen. She shut the door and started running the water, dialling Danny's number as she did and plugging her headphones in so she could talk to him as she worked.
"Everything okay?" Danny asked as soon as he answered the phone.
"Yes, why does there always have to be something wrong?" she asked in response as she started to wash up.
"Well in my defence there usually is…" he chuckled and Clara couldn't really argue with that.
"Fair point, well there isn't this time. I was just wondering if you were free tomorrow, I was gonna work through the science project and wondered if you wanted to work together, I could do with the motivation," that wasn't technically true - she was great at working on her own, but it was a good excuse to see him. They had to make the most of the time while they had it.
"Sounds good to me, is your Dad working?" he asked.
"Yep, house is free. You wanna come over about 9?"
"Sure, I'll bring all my stuff over. Do you need me to bring anything?" he checked. Clara smiled that he would ask.
"No it's fine, just yourself and your work. See you tomorrow then?"
"You most certainly will, goodnight," he smiled and hung up.
Suddenly Clara couldn't wait for the next day.