Gordon caught them up fairly quickly
"Mind if I join you ladies" said Gordon
"No, of course not" replied Matron
"Is, everything alright" asked Jill
"Yes, yes, I needed to stretch my legs" replied Gordon, but by the look that he gave Jill, she could tell something wasn't right
"So, what were you talking about" asked Gordon
"We were just saying what lovely weather we are having at the moment, weren't we Ash" replied Matron
Ash didn't reply she was away with her own thoughts
"Ash" said Gordon, louder bringing her out of her daze, she looked at Gordon
"Matron, was talking to you" said Gordon
"Sorry, what was it" asked Ash
"It doesn't matter now" replied Matron
"Yes, it does, we brought them up to be polite and respectful" replied Gordon
"Yes, I am very sorry Matron, what was it" replied Ash, she stopped to catch her breath, she could see the hospital in the distance she looked back to where the others were and she could just make them out
"We, were only talking about the weather, it was nothing important" replied Matron
"Yes, it has been nice" replied Ash, starting to walk again
"Ash, what's wrong" asked Jill
"Nothing, why" asked Ash
"You, just don't seem yourself" replied Jill
"I'm, fine" replied Ash,
"Really" she added, when she could tell Jill didn't believe her by the look she gave her
Gordon put his hand on Jill's arm to stop her from saying anything else and pushing Ash too much
"So, what else have you got planned this week" Gordon asked, trying to change the subject, because he felt guilty that he had started the trouble in the first place
"Not, much now that I've caught up, I was supposed to be meeting sister but she's cancelled now" replied Matron
"Yes, she's staying on for another week" replied Jill
Ash was starting to feel fed up, why was she always stuck with the adults and their boring conversations about work or family, while the others got away scot free able to do what they liked when they liked, even now they were having fun and not having to listen to this
"Well, is there anything we can help with" asked Gordon
"No, no really it's fine, we just have a little natter every now and then, it's fine really" replied matron
"Well, you are always, welcome around ours" replied Jill
"That's very kind, but I know you are very busy" replied Matron
"It's no trouble, once the others leave, it's just us rattling around in the house anyway" replied Gordon
"I tell you what, we could make it a regular thing, once a fortnight you could come to dinner and we could catch up" added Jill
"Well, I don't know" replied Matron
"Ash would like it, wouldn't you Ash" replied Gordon
"Yes" replied Ash, not really sure what she was saying yes to but she hoped it was the right answer
"There, you go, that settles it, we will sort out a day next week and Gordon will pick you up after work" stated Jill
Matron went to say something, but Gordon got in there first
"We, will hear no more about it" said Gordon
"Well, what have you got planned this week" asked Matron, knowing there was no point in putting up a fight, once Jill and Gordon had decided on something that was it, but she was very happy, she loved spending time with them, she looked on them as family
"Not much, making sure they have all got what they need, and they are not causing too much trouble, especially this one" replied Jill jokingly, expecting Ash to retaliate
Jill looked to Gordon, who had also expected Ash to have said something to that last remark, then they both looked at Ash. They were both clearly worried that she didn't seem herself, she seemed more withdrawn than normal, but then she had been through an awful lot recently, but she was different to how she was yesterday before the incident
"Ash, talk to me please" pleaded Jill
"Lizzie" said Ash, she had spotted Lizzie running towards them
"Sorry, doctors" said Lizzie slightly out of breath
"What, is it, Lizzie" asked Gordon
Lizzie put her hand up to indicate she needed one second
"Ohh, I'm not use to this running lark, anymore" said Lizzie, going off on one of her tangents
"Lizzie" said Gordon, using the tone he used on the Kid's when they weren't doing what they were supposed to
"Sorry, I've been asked to get you, there's been an incident" replied Lizzie
"Right, yes" replied Jill, not quite sure what to do
"You, go on, I'll take this one back, and then Katie can take them home" said Gordon
"No, need you can both go, I'm here and I'm sure Ash and I can manage" replied Matron
"Will you be alright" said Jill to Ash clearly worried, Ash nodded
"I'll be fine, stop worrying" replied Ash
"What about our bags" said Jill to Gordon
"I'll get Alan to fetch them" replied Gordon
"We, can drop them off, on our way home" replied Ash
"Good, idea" replied Gordon, handing Ash his keys, he also knew it would put their minds at rest that they had seen Ash had got safely back to the others
"See, you in a minute" replied Jill
They went their separate ways
Jill and Gordon, were talking about Ash, and how worried they were and what they could do to make it better, meanwhile Matron was asking Ash why she seemed so unhappy
Ash knew she had disappointed her parents and was trying her best, not to make them hate her even more, but she wasn't going to tell anybody that not even Matron
"I'm just a little tired, that's all" replied Ash, they walked the rest of the way in silence
"Where's mum and dad" asked Jonathon
"They had to go, we have to pack up and then take their bags in on the way home" replied Matron
"I'm not going, we only just got here" replied Tom stubbornly
"Well, if Toms not then I'm not" added Katie
"Look, we can argue about it later but they need their bags now" said Ash
They look at each other hoping someone had the answers
"Look if Katie takes me we can give them the bags, tell them we are staying here, leave them the car and then meet you back here" said Ash
"You can't, that's too much" replied Jonathon
"If I don't, they will only worry about me" replied Ash she didn't wait for a reply she started to walk towards the car
"Come on" she said slightly annoyed that they were dawdling, she knew they would need their bags as soon as possible
"I've got money for the bus, if that makes it better" added Ash
"She is right they need their bags as soon as possible, and talking about it isn't going to get them there" said Matron
"Okay, we'll be back soon" replied Katie, getting up and running after Ash who was now nearly at the cars
"How, are we going to get Dad's bag, his cars locked" said Katie
"He, gave me these" replied Ash, already unlocking the car and getting the bag, before Katie could reply
They got into Jill's car and then pulled away
"You had this all panned didn't you" said Katie
"No, I knew you wouldn't want to leave, but they need their bags, I was just trying to make everyone happy" replied Ash, hurt that they could think that about her, maybe mum was right and the others would not have taken the blame for what happened last night if it had been one of them
Katie pulled into the space outside the royal, Ash quickly got out of the car and didn't wait for Katie, she made her way in
"Ash" said Lizzie
"Where are they" asked Ash
"In your dad's office" replied Lizzie
"Okay, thanks" replied Ash, going towards his office
She could hear her parents talking as they had left the door open, but it sounded like they were talking to sister, but they couldn't be she had stayed on for another week
Ash made her way closer
"So, where is she" asked Sister
"Ash, is with the others" replied Jill
"But, I need to see her" replied Sister
"You had the chance, and you decided to stay on" replied Jill, clearly cross
"Yes, you can't expect her to drop everything, when you want her to" added Gordon who also seem angry
Before Ash could knock on the door and interrupt them the on-duty Matron came along the corridor
"Hello, Ash" said the Matron
"Hello" replied Ash, before she had time to say anymore Jill came out of the office
"Thank you, Ash" replied Jill taking the bags from her
"What does she want" whispered Ash to Jill
"To talk to you, but there is no rush, whenever you are ready" replied Jill
"We, are staying at the beach a bit longer, do you want us to leave you a car" asked Ash
"No, we'll be alright, just don't let the others bully you into staying" replied Jill
"I won't, see you later" replied Ash
"Aisling, can we talk" asked Sister
"Ash, are we going or what" asked Katie as she walked though reception
"Yeah, just coming" replied Ash
"Katie, make sure you take care of her" said Gordon
"Will do, see you later" replied Katie
"Bye, mum, dad" said Ash as she gave them a kiss bye on the cheeks and following Katie out
"Sorry, doctors the first arrivals will be here in a minute" said Matron
Just as they could hear the sirens starting to approach
"Sorry, sister but we are going to have to go, we will call you when we have had a talk with Ash" said Jill
Before Sister could reply they walked up the corridor to casualty