Jill and Ash walked to the car in silence, Ash put her music on and was going to sit in the back, but Jill had other ideas
"Ash, sit in the front with me" said Jill taking her headphones from her
Ash knew she had just told them a lot and that they probably had a lot of questions still and she knew she would have to talk but she wasn't sure if she had all the answers just yet
"I'm not going to pressure you into talking, but I miss our little chats" said Jill, Ash thought it was almost as if she was reading her mind
"So, have I" replied Ash putting her music away and sitting in the front
"What, do you want to talk about" asked Ash, once they had put their seatbelts on and Jill had pulled out of the parking space
"What have you got planned for this weekend" asked Jill
"Nothing, I might just stay in my room out of the way" replied Ash
"Why, don't you try and find out what some of the others are up to" asked Jill, concerned Ash was closing herself away
"I, don't really feel like it" replied Ash and at least it was one less thing for them to worry about she thought
"Okay, well maybe you could meet us for lunch one day" replied Jill, knowing she wasn't getting the whole truth
"Maybe" replied Ash, she could see she had caught Jill off guard with her answer
"But, I think you are going to be rushing around helping the others, because we all know you will to keep the peace" added Ash
"No, your Dad and I have talked about this and they are all old enough and besides we have given them enough chances" replied Jill
"Okay then, I would love to meet you for lunch" replied Ash
Just then Jill pulled into the car park, which was really full, it always was at this time of day but luckily for them someone was just leaving
They got out the car
"Mum, whys nan out here waiting for us" asked Ash, seeing Bunty in the doorway
"I don't know, sweetheart" replied Jill, clearly worried
They hurried over
"Mum" said Jill
"Jill, Ash" said Bunty
"Is grandad alright" asked Ash
"Yes, he's fine, I'm just giving the doctors a little space" replied Bunty
"Ash, can you go and get us some drinks" said Jill
Ash nodded and went off
"You two, seem better" said Bunty
"Yes, we had a little chat, but I want to know the truth" replied Jill
"He's taken a turn for the worse, they are doing more tests, they think he has got pneumonia on top of things, I have a feeling they are not telling me something" replied Bunty
"Well, he's in the right place, they can start antibiotics straight away" replied Jill
"I know, it's just I've never seen him like that" replied Bunty
"I know, but he really is in the best hands" replied Jill
"I don't think it's such a good idea for Ash to see him like that" replied Bunty
"Why, not what are you not telling me" asked Jill
But Ash wandered over with their drinks before anything else could be said
Jill found them a table and sat them down
"Stay here, I've just remembered something, I'll be back in a second" said Jill
Jill went off towards the phones, when she was out of sight she went towards the ward her dad was on, she spoke to one of the nurses, to phone Gordon and managed to read his notes, her mum was right it wasn't looking good, she peered through the doors and saw her dad looking so small in the bed and struggling to breathe, did she really want Ash to have this as her last memory of her grandad
Jill stepped into the ward
"Hello, Dad, don't try to speak, Ash is here as well she's with mum at the moment, I just popped into to say I love you" said Jill starting to well up
"I love you too" said Harold
"But I don't think I'm going to get better, look after your Mum she'll need you even if she won't tell you" stuttered Harold, he then coughed
"Dad, I will I promise" replied Jill
"But you have to promise to fight this" added Jill, putting the oxygen mask over his face
Harold nodded, he then tried to take the mask off
"No, let me say this, Ash is a good kid, trust her she will come to you, you both mean the world to her, just give her space, she has been through a lot" said Harold
"I know, but we need you, so just fight this" said Jill
"I'm sorry he needs his rest" said the nurse
"I'll see you tomorrow, love you" said Jill
"Give them all my Love" replied Harold
Jill nodded and walked back towards the nurses station and spoke briefly to Gordon then walked to Ash and Bunty who were still waiting for her
"Mum, what's wrong is it grandad" asked Ash, seeing Jill upset
"No, sweetheart, he's fine" replied Jill
"So, what is it" asked Ash worried, she was thinking maybe she should phone for her dad
"I'm afraid you're not going to be able to see Grandad today, I've had dad on the phone, there's been an emergency I've got to go back to work" replied Jill
"That's okay, we can come tomorrow instead" replied Ash, being understanding
"Yes, we can, right let's get going, Mum I'll call you later" said Jill
"Yes, drive carefully" replied Bunty
"Bye nan, give grandad my love" added Ash
Jill drove back to the royal in silence, Ash thought this was strange, but she knew her mum must have lot's going through her mind getting ready for what was coming
They walked in to an empty reception
"I need to talk to your dad, just wait here" said Jill
Jill knocked on Gordon's office door
"Come in" said Gordon
Jill entered and shut the door behind her
They were in there for what seemed like a long time, Ash had gotten bored of waiting and was pacing up and down she was starting to think that this was weird, surely there should be someone here by now from the accident
Meanwhile Jill and Gordon were talking about Harold and what had just happened
"I couldn't let her see him like that, so I had to make up an excuse" said Jill
"I agree you did the right thing" replied Gordon
"You should have seen him Gordon, it's not looking good" said Jill
"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry" replied Gordon
"Right, let's go home and see what the others have done" replied Jill
"Yes, let's go home" replied Gordon, getting up and giving Jill a hug
Gordon opened his office and they noticed how restless Ash was
"Ash" said Gordon
"Dad, I'm fine" said Ash, knowing what he was going to say especially after their little chat earlier
"Ash" said Gordon again
"Really, I'm fine" replied Ash, before she could say anymore the phone rang, Gordon moved to answer it
"The royal" said Gordon
"Gordon, it's me" said Jill
"Okay, thank you for letting us know" replied Gordon
Jill put the phone down and made her way to reception, she put an arm around Ash and waited for Gordon to get off the phone
Gordon pretended to continue the conversation then hung up
"Right, we can go home, all the wounded have been sent to Ashfordly" said Gordon
Ash didn't think anything of it, it wouldn't be the first time this sort of thing had happened
They made their way home Ash was in Jill's car and Gordon followed on his own
They pulled up the house was in darkness, Jill opened the front door, there was no sign of life, Ash followed Jill in and took her shoes off then made her way upstairs, she could hear Jill and Gordon talking, it sounded as if the others had left the kitchen in a mess again
"And I bet they haven't even started packing yet" said Jill
Gordon switched the oven on and then made them a drink while Jill went upstairs, she checked their bedrooms, then went and knocked on Ash's door
"Come in" said Ash
Jill entered
"Sweetheart, is everything alright" asked Jill
"Yeah, I just need to take my mind off the ache" replied Ash, she was sat on her bed rubbing her side, trying to get comfy
"Well, the others are out but we could play a game" replied Jill
Ash knew she was trying so agreed
"Come on then let's go" said Jill, holding out a hand to Ash
They made their way downstairs
"We've decided we are going to play trivial pursuit" said Jill to Gordon in the kitchen doorway
"Have we" asked Ash and Gordon at the same time
"We, have" replied Jill
"Sweetheart, go and set the board up, we will be there in a minute" replied Gordon
Ash did as she was told while Gordon grabbed the tray for the drinks
"What's this all about" he asked
"Two birds with one stone" replied Jill
"You get to keep an eye on her" replied Gordon
"Plus, we help take her mind off her ache" added Jill
"Well, it sounds good to me, have they" started Gordon
Jill shook her head, knowing what he was going to say
Gordon sighed
"Well, let's go and enjoy our evening" said Gordon, picking up the tray and walking to the front room
"So, are you ready yet" asked Gordon
Ash nodded
"Where's mum, is she alright" asked Ash
"I'm fine, we're just disappointed with the others" replied Jill from the doorway
"Is there anything I can do to help" asked Ash
"Yes, you can help us enjoy our evening, starting now" replied Gordon
They sat and played the game until Gordon knew it was time to check on dinner, He got up and left them to it
He could hear Jill and Ash laughing, he hadn't realised how much he had missed that until now, he didn't mind that they were laughing at him, he just liked that they were finally getting back to how they were
"Right if you two have had enough time, dinner is ready" said Gordon from the doorway
"Well" started Jill with a cheeky grin
Ash giggled
"Hurry up, dinners getting cold, we can finish this later" replied Gordon, pretending to be hurt
They sat down to dinner and for the first time in a long time they just made small talk, it felt to all of them like no one was forcing the conversation, it just felt right
When they finished
"Right, young lady, your mum and I are going to clear up, why don't you see if you can get hold of your friends and make plans for the weekend" said Gordon
"Maybe later, I would rather help you first" replied Ash
She was putting off phoning her friends, she felt so out of the loop, she hadn't really seen much of them what with one thing or another, and besides it should make them happier at least they would know where she was and what she was up to
Jill and Gordon looked at each other, Jill was right she was hiding herself away
"Okay, you can dry up" said Jill, knowing they would have to try a different tack
Gordon started washing up, while Jill started tidying up and making drinks, Jill went to say something but before she could the phone rang
"I'll just get that" said Jill
"Sweetheart" said Gordon
"Dad, look I know what you are going to say, but don't worry, please" said Ash
"Alright, smarty pants what am I about to say" asked Gordon handing Ash a plate to dry
"That mum is worried, that I am not going out" replied Ash
"Have you been listening in to our conversations" asked Gordon
"Depends" replied Ash
"Depends on what" asked Gordon
Just then Jill put the phone down and walked back in
"Everything alright" asked Jill
"Yes, who was that" Replied Gordon, giving Ash a quick glance that meant he hadn't finished with her yet
"It was matron, checking on everyone after earlier" replied Jill, not realising what she had just walked in on
"Well, why don't you go on through Ash and I have nearly finished here" replied Gordon
Jill then knew something was up and looked at Ash who had, turned her back and was slowly drying a plate, Jill then looked at Gordon
"We won't be a minute" said Gordon
"Okay, I could do with just checking on some paperwork" replied Jill
She didn't really have too but she knew Gordon had it all under control whatever it was
Jill went into the study and shut the door, but stayed in the hallway she could clearly hear them talking
"So, it depends on what" asked Gordon
"What the punishment would be" started Ash
Gordon looked confused,
"Well if I say yes and I get grounded, then the answer is yes" said Ash
"And if there is no punishment" asked Gordon
"Then the answer is no, I just know what you are like" replied Ash truthfully
"Ash" said Jill, she couldn't bear to hear anymore of the conversation
"Look, I haven't heard anything, but I can see you prefer to know where I am, and every time I go out you are clearly worried, I just wanted to be one less thing for you to worry about, what with everything else," replied Ash
Ash didn't say it, but she knew they were keeping something from her, about her grandad, and she was starting to think there was never an accident
"Well, the only punishment then is you have to spend more time with us, for this weekend, then you have to start going out with your friends more next week" replied Jill
Ash rolled her eyes
"With less of that attitude" joked Jill
"Take, this through, I need a word with Mum" added Gordon
Ash took the tray and went into the front room
"Did you think she is telling the truth" asked Gordon
"I do, she has always been the best at reading between the lines, remember I told you earlier it's not always what is said, plus we haven't been good at letting her out of our sight, it doesn't take much for her to pick up on things" replied Jill
"I guess you are right" replied Gordon
"We all have to let go in order to get back to where we were" said Jill
"Well, lets just get through the weekend, then we can start next week, one step at a time" replied Gordon going toward the front room
"Right, I've got a game to win" said Gordon loudly
Both Ash and Jill laughed
"Hey, what's so funny" asked Gordon
"That, you think you will win" replied Ash
"Right, that's it I've been holding back, but no longer, prepare to eat your words" replied Gordon
"That's fighting talk, Mr Ormerod, let's hope you can back it up" replied Jill
"Just, you wait and see" replied Gordon, sitting down and rolling up his sleeves
They carried on playing for another hour until Jill had won
"Does anyone want a drink" asked Ash
"Yes please" replied Gordon
"I tell you what Dad can make them, seeing as he didn't win" replied Jill
Gordon got up and left the room