She lay so still and so innocent that she didn't seem real. Her room was crowded, so many people wanted to see her better, wanted to see her recover from her depression. Brodie was there, hoping and wishing, praying and begging that she would get the old Dani back, that she would get her best friend back. It sounded so selfish, but she missed talking with her and just hanging about with her.
Jade was still somewhat confused by the whole situation. Had she heard right when Kirsty and Kane declared their love for each other? Could it be true? Kirsty and, and Kane? It just didn't seem right. Kane was the guy who had raped her older sister, not the guy who was dating her twin, not the guy who loved her twin. It was so weird. It was obvious to all the Sutherlands that Jade and Kirsty were closer than Jade and Dani but even so, Jade wanted her sister to be back to normal so desperately, then maybe her family would return to normal and she wouldn't be gossiped about all over the Bay. It was horrible when someone like Colleen told her something about her family instead of her mum and dad.
Kirsty was in the room but she sat away from everyone else. She felt that if she didn't do this of her own accord, she would be told to anyway. Her undying love for Kane hadn't been mentioned since she'd said it but it was there, it was always there. The looks that her mother and father gave her, the way her sister couldn't be in the same room as her and the way her foster sister frowned on her. It was awful and she felt terribly guilty, seeing Dani the way she was, knowing that it was her fault. Knowing that if she could just control her feelings, Dani would once again be on the long road to recovery. Seeing Kane and Kirsty together had been a major setback. Kirsty loved Dani, she loved her like the great sister she was but she also loved Kane. She couldn't bear to choose, it was just too hard.
Flynn was trying to analyze the whole situation. So much had happened to the Sutherlands in such a short time, it was hard to keep track of. It was as if the family attracted trouble. He didn't understand and he found it awfully unfair. Some people had it all, never had a care in the world, lived life with no troubles at all. Then others, like the Sutherlands, had the troubles of thousands. He would try his best as Dani's counsellor but would it be good enough? She was hurt, betrayed, confused and angry...all at the one time. She would have to tackle each emotion as it came, it would be difficult but Flynn knew he had to do his best for her to restore some normality into her life.
Shelly felt like a failure. How had she let this happen to her family? She felt like a failure as a mother and a failure as a counsellor. All her daughters were getting it rough and she felt like she could do nothing about it. Dani had been out all night and she'd failed to find her, failed to find her like she should have. Dani may be seventeen but she was in no ways an adult. She was still a helpless child who needed the guidance of her parents, was Shelly up to giving it?
Rhys was mad and wanted those responsible to pay. He couldn't even look at Kirsty. He'd agreed with his wife not to bring it up until Dani was found safe and well again but it was on his mind all the time. He was extremely mad but he was using most of this as a front to hide how scared he was. He was in no way up to controlling four teenage girls, especially not his daughters. He was frightened that what happened to Dani would now happen to Kirsty. He didn't understand that Kane was not the same, he didn't understand that she could not change the way she felt.
Then, there was Scott. He didn't know why he was still there. The nurse had already said that Dani would be ok but he needed to make sure. He'd also been told that his mother would recover from being knocked down but then she'd taken a turn for the worse and couldn't breathe on her own. After a month, Scott had to make the painful decision to switch off her life support machine. There was no hope, he had been told. Beth Hunter was dead, she was just a vegetable. He couldn't bear the thought of that happening to Dani aswell. She hadn't been knocked down and she was breathing on her own but he had to make sure. He had to see her talking and moving like any other teenager. Perhaps they would be friends. He didn't know what had happened in her past but it was obvious that Dani hadn't just fallen asleep on the beach. Something had went on and Scott was very curious as to what that was.
*****
A couple of hours later, Dani opened her eyes. She'd been hearing bits of the conversations between the seven people in the room but she was too weak to open her eyes. She felt no pain, not like last time, this time, she just felt numb. As soon as she regained consciousness, it hit her like a tonne of bricks. Sightings of Kirsty and Kane flashed in and out of her mind like lightning. She couldn't let this show, though. She'd given her family too much already, they were all exhausted.
Dani heard an unfamiliar voice.
"You're awake!"
She turned around her head and saw an unfamiliar face. A doctor? No. He was sitting down and too casual for that. Who was he? Scott noticed Dani's stares of confusion.
"I'm, I'm Scott. I found you out on the beach."
"If it wasn't for him, I don't know where you'd be now, Dan."
Dani turned around and looked at her father. His face showed it all. He was putting on a brave front but it was obvious he was worried and scared, just like everyone else. Dani gave him a reassuring smile even though it didn't convince herself.
"Thank you."
Her voice was hoarse but she tried her best not to let it crack and not to let herself cry. Then they would all know that she was hurting and they would all try and comfort her again and there would be an atmosphere again.
"I, I didn't know where I was, I just kept on running until I couldn't anymore. I had to get away, I had to get away from them."
Dani suddenly noticed Kirsty's presense in the room. Kirsty was looking down at her shoes, pretending not to listen. She turned to her mum.
"Anyone want some coffee or something?"
"Yeah, thanks Kirsty."
"I'll have one too."
"Me too."
"We'll all come, Kirsty, give Dani some time alone to sort herself out, ok?"
"Eh, ok."
"Is that alright with you, Dani?"
"Sure."
Everyone leaving would give Dani some time to let her emotions out. She was adamant that she was not going to do it in front of her family.
They all got up off their seats and walked out of the room, smiling or nodding reassuringly at Dani as they did. Scott was last out.
"Scott?"
"Yeah?"
Dani gestured for him to come back inside the room.
"Thank you, seriously, thank you."
"It's no problem, Dani."
"You did a real good thing. I don't know where I'd be right now if you hadn't come to my rescue."
"Anyone would have done the same."
Well, not anyone, thought Scott. Not the man who killed his mum, not him.
"Yeah, maybe, but it was you who done it for me and I just want you to know that I'm grateful."
"Your very, very welcome. What were you doing out there anyway? It's pretty hilly up that end, no one would have seen you."
"That was my intention."
"What were you trying to get away from?"
"Huh?"
"You said earlier on that you had to get away from them."
Should she tell him? She didn't even know the guy but then he had practically saved her life and he seemed nice enough. Yeah, she decided, it would do her some good to talk about it with someone who was impartial.
"I was talking about my kid sister, Kirsty."
"Which one's Kirsty?"
"The taller one with the not so blond hair."
"Right, ok. Why'd you need to get away from her, and who's them?"
"She was with someone, she was with Kane."
"Who's Kane?"
"He, em, he, there's no easy way to say this...he raped me."
Scott was taken aback. Had he heard her correctly?
"He what?"
"He raped me."
He had. Why would someone want to do something like that to a girl like Dani?
"But...but, but why?"
"How should I know? He supposedly didn't hear me say no."
Dani was trying to be brave about it but it just wasn't working. She couldn't hold it all in. She just let go.
"Why was Kirsty with him?"
"I think she's going out with him."
"Surely not after what he did to you?!"
"I saw them with my own eyes, that's why I ran."
"God, Dani, I'm so sorry."
"Don't say that because you'll be just like Josh. He was sorry and then he, well, he went all mad."
"Who's Josh?"
"He was my boyfriend."
"Was?"
"Well, he's not anymore."
"I figured that but..."
"When I told him about Kane, he pretended to be ok about it but then he went and beat up Kane, really bad, so bad that he almost died. When I found out he done the same to me but with a shotgun on hand, he shot Kane with it aswell."
"Bloody hell! You've not had it easy, have you?"
"Tell me about it."
"I'm sorry, man, I really am."
"Everyone always is but no one can do anything about it."
"I know what you mean."
"Huh?"
Could he tell her? He had to, it seemed unfair otherwise. She'd just spilled out her heart to him.
"I mean that I know how it feels to have no one who is able to help you."
"How come?"
"My, eh, my mum...she died about a year ago. She was knocked down by some scum of a man who didn't even stop to help her. That's why I had to help you, because if I didn't then I would be just like him."
"You're nothing like him."
"I try not let myself be bitter about it but it's hard. If he'd even stopped and called an ambulance for her, it wouldn't have been so bad but he didn't. He just knocked her over and kept on going."
"That sucks."
"Now, I'm a single parent to my sister and brother. Well, they're old enough to look after themselves now but it's not the same. Kit is your age and Leo is nineteen."
"How do you know my age?"
"Your mum, seventeen."
"Yeah, what about you?"
"I'm twenty-two."
"Right."
"So, em, do you want me to leave so that you can rest?"
"No, no, I'm cool...unless you want to leave?"
"I'm cool here too."
"Cool."
They smiled at each other. Both found it strange that they could tell someone they knew so little, so much. Dani found it weird that she was trusting a man but she was glad, maybe she was on her way to getting better.
Jade was still somewhat confused by the whole situation. Had she heard right when Kirsty and Kane declared their love for each other? Could it be true? Kirsty and, and Kane? It just didn't seem right. Kane was the guy who had raped her older sister, not the guy who was dating her twin, not the guy who loved her twin. It was so weird. It was obvious to all the Sutherlands that Jade and Kirsty were closer than Jade and Dani but even so, Jade wanted her sister to be back to normal so desperately, then maybe her family would return to normal and she wouldn't be gossiped about all over the Bay. It was horrible when someone like Colleen told her something about her family instead of her mum and dad.
Kirsty was in the room but she sat away from everyone else. She felt that if she didn't do this of her own accord, she would be told to anyway. Her undying love for Kane hadn't been mentioned since she'd said it but it was there, it was always there. The looks that her mother and father gave her, the way her sister couldn't be in the same room as her and the way her foster sister frowned on her. It was awful and she felt terribly guilty, seeing Dani the way she was, knowing that it was her fault. Knowing that if she could just control her feelings, Dani would once again be on the long road to recovery. Seeing Kane and Kirsty together had been a major setback. Kirsty loved Dani, she loved her like the great sister she was but she also loved Kane. She couldn't bear to choose, it was just too hard.
Flynn was trying to analyze the whole situation. So much had happened to the Sutherlands in such a short time, it was hard to keep track of. It was as if the family attracted trouble. He didn't understand and he found it awfully unfair. Some people had it all, never had a care in the world, lived life with no troubles at all. Then others, like the Sutherlands, had the troubles of thousands. He would try his best as Dani's counsellor but would it be good enough? She was hurt, betrayed, confused and angry...all at the one time. She would have to tackle each emotion as it came, it would be difficult but Flynn knew he had to do his best for her to restore some normality into her life.
Shelly felt like a failure. How had she let this happen to her family? She felt like a failure as a mother and a failure as a counsellor. All her daughters were getting it rough and she felt like she could do nothing about it. Dani had been out all night and she'd failed to find her, failed to find her like she should have. Dani may be seventeen but she was in no ways an adult. She was still a helpless child who needed the guidance of her parents, was Shelly up to giving it?
Rhys was mad and wanted those responsible to pay. He couldn't even look at Kirsty. He'd agreed with his wife not to bring it up until Dani was found safe and well again but it was on his mind all the time. He was extremely mad but he was using most of this as a front to hide how scared he was. He was in no way up to controlling four teenage girls, especially not his daughters. He was frightened that what happened to Dani would now happen to Kirsty. He didn't understand that Kane was not the same, he didn't understand that she could not change the way she felt.
Then, there was Scott. He didn't know why he was still there. The nurse had already said that Dani would be ok but he needed to make sure. He'd also been told that his mother would recover from being knocked down but then she'd taken a turn for the worse and couldn't breathe on her own. After a month, Scott had to make the painful decision to switch off her life support machine. There was no hope, he had been told. Beth Hunter was dead, she was just a vegetable. He couldn't bear the thought of that happening to Dani aswell. She hadn't been knocked down and she was breathing on her own but he had to make sure. He had to see her talking and moving like any other teenager. Perhaps they would be friends. He didn't know what had happened in her past but it was obvious that Dani hadn't just fallen asleep on the beach. Something had went on and Scott was very curious as to what that was.
*****
A couple of hours later, Dani opened her eyes. She'd been hearing bits of the conversations between the seven people in the room but she was too weak to open her eyes. She felt no pain, not like last time, this time, she just felt numb. As soon as she regained consciousness, it hit her like a tonne of bricks. Sightings of Kirsty and Kane flashed in and out of her mind like lightning. She couldn't let this show, though. She'd given her family too much already, they were all exhausted.
Dani heard an unfamiliar voice.
"You're awake!"
She turned around her head and saw an unfamiliar face. A doctor? No. He was sitting down and too casual for that. Who was he? Scott noticed Dani's stares of confusion.
"I'm, I'm Scott. I found you out on the beach."
"If it wasn't for him, I don't know where you'd be now, Dan."
Dani turned around and looked at her father. His face showed it all. He was putting on a brave front but it was obvious he was worried and scared, just like everyone else. Dani gave him a reassuring smile even though it didn't convince herself.
"Thank you."
Her voice was hoarse but she tried her best not to let it crack and not to let herself cry. Then they would all know that she was hurting and they would all try and comfort her again and there would be an atmosphere again.
"I, I didn't know where I was, I just kept on running until I couldn't anymore. I had to get away, I had to get away from them."
Dani suddenly noticed Kirsty's presense in the room. Kirsty was looking down at her shoes, pretending not to listen. She turned to her mum.
"Anyone want some coffee or something?"
"Yeah, thanks Kirsty."
"I'll have one too."
"Me too."
"We'll all come, Kirsty, give Dani some time alone to sort herself out, ok?"
"Eh, ok."
"Is that alright with you, Dani?"
"Sure."
Everyone leaving would give Dani some time to let her emotions out. She was adamant that she was not going to do it in front of her family.
They all got up off their seats and walked out of the room, smiling or nodding reassuringly at Dani as they did. Scott was last out.
"Scott?"
"Yeah?"
Dani gestured for him to come back inside the room.
"Thank you, seriously, thank you."
"It's no problem, Dani."
"You did a real good thing. I don't know where I'd be right now if you hadn't come to my rescue."
"Anyone would have done the same."
Well, not anyone, thought Scott. Not the man who killed his mum, not him.
"Yeah, maybe, but it was you who done it for me and I just want you to know that I'm grateful."
"Your very, very welcome. What were you doing out there anyway? It's pretty hilly up that end, no one would have seen you."
"That was my intention."
"What were you trying to get away from?"
"Huh?"
"You said earlier on that you had to get away from them."
Should she tell him? She didn't even know the guy but then he had practically saved her life and he seemed nice enough. Yeah, she decided, it would do her some good to talk about it with someone who was impartial.
"I was talking about my kid sister, Kirsty."
"Which one's Kirsty?"
"The taller one with the not so blond hair."
"Right, ok. Why'd you need to get away from her, and who's them?"
"She was with someone, she was with Kane."
"Who's Kane?"
"He, em, he, there's no easy way to say this...he raped me."
Scott was taken aback. Had he heard her correctly?
"He what?"
"He raped me."
He had. Why would someone want to do something like that to a girl like Dani?
"But...but, but why?"
"How should I know? He supposedly didn't hear me say no."
Dani was trying to be brave about it but it just wasn't working. She couldn't hold it all in. She just let go.
"Why was Kirsty with him?"
"I think she's going out with him."
"Surely not after what he did to you?!"
"I saw them with my own eyes, that's why I ran."
"God, Dani, I'm so sorry."
"Don't say that because you'll be just like Josh. He was sorry and then he, well, he went all mad."
"Who's Josh?"
"He was my boyfriend."
"Was?"
"Well, he's not anymore."
"I figured that but..."
"When I told him about Kane, he pretended to be ok about it but then he went and beat up Kane, really bad, so bad that he almost died. When I found out he done the same to me but with a shotgun on hand, he shot Kane with it aswell."
"Bloody hell! You've not had it easy, have you?"
"Tell me about it."
"I'm sorry, man, I really am."
"Everyone always is but no one can do anything about it."
"I know what you mean."
"Huh?"
Could he tell her? He had to, it seemed unfair otherwise. She'd just spilled out her heart to him.
"I mean that I know how it feels to have no one who is able to help you."
"How come?"
"My, eh, my mum...she died about a year ago. She was knocked down by some scum of a man who didn't even stop to help her. That's why I had to help you, because if I didn't then I would be just like him."
"You're nothing like him."
"I try not let myself be bitter about it but it's hard. If he'd even stopped and called an ambulance for her, it wouldn't have been so bad but he didn't. He just knocked her over and kept on going."
"That sucks."
"Now, I'm a single parent to my sister and brother. Well, they're old enough to look after themselves now but it's not the same. Kit is your age and Leo is nineteen."
"How do you know my age?"
"Your mum, seventeen."
"Yeah, what about you?"
"I'm twenty-two."
"Right."
"So, em, do you want me to leave so that you can rest?"
"No, no, I'm cool...unless you want to leave?"
"I'm cool here too."
"Cool."
They smiled at each other. Both found it strange that they could tell someone they knew so little, so much. Dani found it weird that she was trusting a man but she was glad, maybe she was on her way to getting better.