The three of them sat down to dinner and were having a chat, they had finished eating but were still sat there talking when the phone rang Jill got up
"Weatherill" she answered
"Sorry Doctor, there has been an accident all hands needed" replied the night matron
"Okay, understood we're on our way in" replied Jill
Jill put the receiver down and went through to the dining room
"Gordon we have to go now" Jill said
"What is it" asked Gordon
"There's been an accident that's all I know" replied Jill
"Right" replied Gordon getting up
"Is there anything I can do" asked Ash
"Yes you can stay here and get a message to us that your sister and brothers have turned up" replied Jill
"You think" started Ash
"No we just need to know they are here" butted in Gordon
"Right let's get going" he added going to the door
Ash was left on her own again she was use to it by now but why tonight she was just about to open up to her parents, maybe this was a sign that she was suppose to keep it to herself.
She cleared the table and started on the washing up when the others came through the front door
"Where's mum and dad" asked Katie
"They got a call" replied Ash
"What about dinner" Tom asked
"You were late we started without you" replied Ash
"What are you doing" asked Jonathon
"Phoning mum and dad to let them know you are here" replied Ash
"Ohh hello Lizzie it's Ash, is mum or dad free" asked Ash
"I'll just have a look" replied Lizzie
Lizzie had been gone for only a minute
"Ash, are you still there" Lizzie asked
"Yes" was all Ash had time to say before Lizzie started talking again
"Good, how are you" Lizzie asked
"I'm fine thanks how are you" asked Ash
Lizzie didn't have time to reply, she heard Jill in the background
"Thanks Lizzie" said Jill taking the receiver
"Sweetheart, are you alright" asked Jill concerned
"I'm okay, the others are here" replied Ash
"Ohh, thank God" replied Jill, relieved
"Is there anything else I can do" asked Ash
"No, thank you sweetheart" replied Jill
"Bye" replied Ash
"Bye" replied Jill
"Doctor" said the night matron
"Yes, coming" replied Jill
Jill followed matron through to casualty, where she caught Gordon's eye and saw him breathe a sigh of relief
It was nearly midnight by the time they got home, Jill was silently dreading the mess she was coming home to. In her mind she could still see the plates on the table and the mess in the kitchen where the others had made themselves something to eat.
Ash however had been very busy once they had left, she had washed all of their dinner plates and then had come back downstairs once the others had finished and gone to bed and tidied up after them as well.
She then had filled the kettle, she was just about finishing and was going to make herself a hot water bottle to help ease the pain when she saw the lights from Gordon's car pull into the drive way.
Jill was the first through the door; she heard a noise in the kitchen and went straight through
"Sweetheart, are you all right" Jill asked, looking around
"I'm just a bit achy, so I thought this might help" replied Ash holding up the hot water bottle
"Let me guess while you were waiting, you just did a little tiding up" replied Jill
Ash nodded "Would you like a drink the kettles hot" Ash asked
"I think I might just go straight to bed and so should you" replied Jill
"Night mum" replied Ash
"Night dad" Ash said to Gordon going up the stairs
"Night" replied Gordon without thinking it was only when Jill followed her out of the kitchen that he did a double take; he didn't have to say anything for Jill to have to start explaining. Which she did while making drinks they then went into the front room to unwind.
They had been sat there for nearly an hour and were just about to make their way up when they heard movement upstairs.
Ash had woken with tears streaming down her face from a nightmare and a bad pain, she had knocked on her parent's door but there had been no reply so was making her way back to her room
"Sweetheart" said Jill making her way up the last few steps
"Mum" said Ash running into her arms
"It's alright your safe" added Gordon
"What is it what's wrong" asked Jill while guiding her through to her bed
"It's going to sound stupid" replied Ash
"No it's not" replied Jill
"It was a stupid dream and I was in pain" started Ash
"It's alright" replied Jill soothing her
"I'm sorry" replied Ash
"You've nothing to be sorry for" replied Gordon
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes
"So what's this all about" asked Gordon
Ash looked at her parents who looked so tired she felt she couldn't keep them up any longer
"I'm really tired do you mind if we talk about this tomorrow" asked Ash
Jill and Gordon looked at each other and nodded
"But if you change your mind you know where we are" replied Jill
"Thanks" replied Ash stifling a yawn
"Night, sweetheart sweet dreams" replied Jill
"Night" replied Ash lying down
Jill and Gordon left the room but like the first night they left the door open