Author's Note
Hi everyone, thanks for reading so far. Just a few points before I get back into it.
Just an extension of the disclaimer, the precious one still stands, but I would also like to point out that the character Rebecca Fleetwood does not belong to me, I have borrowed her from the episode 'Malibu Fire'. The author's references used inside the text are, to the main, untrue. They are simply based on anecdotes and whatever that people have relayed to me. I just felt that their use in the context of the author's own experience would be the best context through which I could include it in the text. Finally, a quick apology for the past couple of chapters. I know they are not directly relevant to the continuation of the piece as such, they are mainly for me; to give me a tool to play with as the story develops and to focus my mind on the track which I will pursue. I also thought that their inclusion would also serve as scenes to bring a different tone to the proceedings.
Jo. xx
P.S. Thanks for all the lovely reviews so far, you're all being far too kind. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy what is to come and keep reviewing. Thanks again.
* * * * *
Chapter 10 - Contact
As Steve had driven to the hospital, he was regaled all the way with CJ and Dion's perceptions of their mother dramatically rescuing Jesse. Steve simply sat in the drivers seat, bitterly silent. This chattering, however, began to penetrate, provoking a reaction from the burly detective.
"Your Mom did nothing brave. She did something very stupid. She could have gotten herself killed." Indefatigable, the boys continued.
"But she saved Uncle Jesse, didn't she CJ?"
"Yeah, wait until we get another show and tell day at school, I'm taking Mom and telling all about today! She's a real hero!"
"Heroine." Dion corrected.
"Is not."
"Is so."
"Ah ah."
"Uhuh."
"No way."
"Way."
"Will you boys be quiet!" Steve snapped as he pulled into the roadside. As if I'm not feeling guilty enough for leaving Jesse and Amanda. But my Dad, I couldn't abandon him. He's the most important think I have, without him, I don't know what I'd do. Steve mentally faltered. Snap out of it Sloan. You've already done enough damage today. Get your head sorted and move. Dad's waiting for you.
Steve inhaled deeply and indicated to return to the regular flow of traffic. He got the Escort moving again and the now subdued party continues on their journey to Renihan-Pierce.
* * * * *
Mark had been settled into his room by his nurse; a thirty-something woman whose otherwise mousey-brown hair was scattered with natural red highlights. She wore hair off her face in a pony tail, making her face look thin and angular. Quite a plain looking face, though, one that you think you could have seen a million times before and never once have noticed, let alone remembered.
Mark was hooked up to an oxygen supply, but that was predominantly as a precaution. His breathing had improved all the way on the journey to the hospital, through the ER and into a private room, where he now was and set to stay overnight to enable to be carried out.
The nurse - Sarah Riding - closed the door quietly behind her as she left Mark to his rest. Mark laid his head back, closed his eyes and took deep, calming breaths.
Later on Mark realised that he had been awakened by a noise, he opened his eyes and sat up to see what or whom had disturbed him. A large figure was distinguishable, backed by the bright light of the sun through the window.
"Steve?" Steve had entered his father's room whilst CJ and Dion were left on chairs in the corridor, patiently awaiting the arrival of their mother.
"Hey Dad. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I'm all right son."
"And the mask?"
"Nothing more than a precaution. And an unnecessary one at that!"
"Dad!"
There was a moment of silence, broken by the ringing of the phone that hung on the wall just above Mark's bed. Steve took hold of it.
"Hello?.Carol?.no but. she's. Oh. Dad, it's for you. Carol."
"Have I had a knock on the head?"
"No it's." Steve mouthed the name. "She may think whoever's after her is listening." He whispered.
"Oh. Carol?"
"I saw the crash on the news. Are you OK?"
"Oh I'm fine. A little shaken, but fine."
"I was worried. What about."
"No one has told me if he has even arrived yet."
"He looked terrible on the news. Mark, please leave the cars. Get back on track as soon as possible. Please. I'll see you soon. Please don't get back in a car. I'm worried."
Mark head the dial tone as the person on the other end had obviously hung up.
"Dad?"
* * * * *
A streak of blond hair flashed amidst the crowds of people.
The best way to maintain cover, you see, is to hide in the open. As a child I had this point proven to me when playing a game of hide and go seek. My brother was also playing the game with my friends and I. So well hidden was he that we resigned our hunting after many frantic minutes of searching. On calling out to him to give himself up, a voice rang out from next to me, proclaiming "I'm here!" You see, Luke had slipped out of his hiding place to be amongst the group and joined us all as we sat on the wall and conceded the search. We were so used to seeing him amongst us that we failed to notice him slip in amongst us.
Under this guise, the small blonde continued on her way, not noticed by anyone because she was there, amongst them. She was not, as it were conspicuous by her absence, but inconspicuous by her presence.
However, I digress, so let us now return to the recipients of the phone call.
* * * * *
"Well dad, what did she want?" Mark replaced the mask, which he had moved to enable him to speak on the phone. Although he felt it unnecessary, as a doctor he knew the protocol and responsibility took over.
"She told us to leave the cars and get back on track."
"So she wants us to get back on the train. Does that mean she'll be waiting for us at the train station?"
"I don't know Steve. I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
"How will she know when we arrive?"
"I suppose at a station she will be able to slip in and out discreetly, and as she knows where we are, she can call and check when a train from here arrives. At least that we won't have to find her, needle in a haystack style, she will be able to find us, and I doubt that it will be difficult for her to miss the six of us."
There was a temporary lapse in conversation, which was broken by jubilant shouts from outside in the hallway.
"Mom!" The boys whooped. This was followed by a polite knock at the door, which was in turn proceeded by the door opening and Amanda's head appearing around it.
"Hi guys, just thought I'd let you know that we've arrived."
"Come in Amanda, the boys too."
"Dad."
"It's fine son. Don't fuss." Amanda raised her eyes heavenward.
"I can see that you're recovering nicely." She said as she entered the room with CJ and Dion in tow.
"I feel fine Amanda, thanks. Anyway, what about you? That little stunt you pulled back there." Steve looked away and said:
"The boys were very proud of you, they didn't stop talking about it all the way back." The two children beamed at their mother. "Seriously Amanda," Steve said, "are you sure that you're OK. It was a very dangerous thing you did back there."
"I'm fine. As I told Jesse, just a little singed at the edges." At the mention of Jesse, Steve turned away, overridden with guilt. Mark smiled.
"So Jesse's all right then? See Steve, there's nothing to worry about, I told you."
"Well, there's nothing that won't mend with a bit of time." Amanda corrected Mark.
"What's wrong with him." Mark was suddenly consumed with worry, he should have known that things would have been too simple.
"Well, he's being checked out properly now, but my diagnosis was concussion, inhalation of gasoline fumes and shock. He's got lots of cuts and bruises from the impact and the broken glass, plus he took a couple of nasty bumps to the head."
Mark was taken aback, amidst all the excitement he had been unaware how serious Jesse's condition was.
"I just thought that I'd come and check up on you two and the boys and then go back and find out what the official damage is."
"Is he conscious?" Steve ventured.
"In and out. He's generally disoriented when he is conscious. He's also been pray to some really nasty coughing spasms caused by the fumes. They really seem to debilitate him, leaving him very weak in their wake."
"He'll definitely be admitted then." Mark sounded a little despondent.
"I shall be complaining if he isn't." Amanda said. "Why?"
"We've had a phone call, we're expected."
"Huh?" Amanda looked blank.
"Carol rang." Steve explained, making full use of air quotes. "She told us to get back on track. We think that she plans to meet us at the train terminal."
"How does she know where we are?"
"She said she saw something on the news. I can only presume though, that the news crews arrived after we had left."
"Oh yes! It certainly happened. An old friend of ours seemed to think that Michael J. Fox had been in a car accident and that he was rescued by Whitney Houston!"
"Rebecca Fleetwood?" Mark guessed.
"Right first time."
"Doesn't that woman have any ethical grounding?"
"Apparently not." Steve muttered.
"Anyway, I ought to get back to see how Jesse is. You want to come?" she invited Steve.
"Oh, I don't think."
"I think you should go son. It will do you good." Mark knew that Steve was feeling guilty about leaving Jesse. He also knew Jesse well enough to know that he would understand Steve's predicament and would not blame him in the slightest. This however, was something that Steve needed to find out from Jesse himself, which of course could only be done if he went with Amanda. "Go on you two, before Jesse thinks that we've all abandoned him. The boys can stay here with me."
"Thanks." Amanda smiled gratefully. And without further ado she dragged Steve through the halls to where she had left Jesse.
Hi everyone, thanks for reading so far. Just a few points before I get back into it.
Just an extension of the disclaimer, the precious one still stands, but I would also like to point out that the character Rebecca Fleetwood does not belong to me, I have borrowed her from the episode 'Malibu Fire'. The author's references used inside the text are, to the main, untrue. They are simply based on anecdotes and whatever that people have relayed to me. I just felt that their use in the context of the author's own experience would be the best context through which I could include it in the text. Finally, a quick apology for the past couple of chapters. I know they are not directly relevant to the continuation of the piece as such, they are mainly for me; to give me a tool to play with as the story develops and to focus my mind on the track which I will pursue. I also thought that their inclusion would also serve as scenes to bring a different tone to the proceedings.
Jo. xx
P.S. Thanks for all the lovely reviews so far, you're all being far too kind. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy what is to come and keep reviewing. Thanks again.
* * * * *
Chapter 10 - Contact
As Steve had driven to the hospital, he was regaled all the way with CJ and Dion's perceptions of their mother dramatically rescuing Jesse. Steve simply sat in the drivers seat, bitterly silent. This chattering, however, began to penetrate, provoking a reaction from the burly detective.
"Your Mom did nothing brave. She did something very stupid. She could have gotten herself killed." Indefatigable, the boys continued.
"But she saved Uncle Jesse, didn't she CJ?"
"Yeah, wait until we get another show and tell day at school, I'm taking Mom and telling all about today! She's a real hero!"
"Heroine." Dion corrected.
"Is not."
"Is so."
"Ah ah."
"Uhuh."
"No way."
"Way."
"Will you boys be quiet!" Steve snapped as he pulled into the roadside. As if I'm not feeling guilty enough for leaving Jesse and Amanda. But my Dad, I couldn't abandon him. He's the most important think I have, without him, I don't know what I'd do. Steve mentally faltered. Snap out of it Sloan. You've already done enough damage today. Get your head sorted and move. Dad's waiting for you.
Steve inhaled deeply and indicated to return to the regular flow of traffic. He got the Escort moving again and the now subdued party continues on their journey to Renihan-Pierce.
* * * * *
Mark had been settled into his room by his nurse; a thirty-something woman whose otherwise mousey-brown hair was scattered with natural red highlights. She wore hair off her face in a pony tail, making her face look thin and angular. Quite a plain looking face, though, one that you think you could have seen a million times before and never once have noticed, let alone remembered.
Mark was hooked up to an oxygen supply, but that was predominantly as a precaution. His breathing had improved all the way on the journey to the hospital, through the ER and into a private room, where he now was and set to stay overnight to enable to be carried out.
The nurse - Sarah Riding - closed the door quietly behind her as she left Mark to his rest. Mark laid his head back, closed his eyes and took deep, calming breaths.
Later on Mark realised that he had been awakened by a noise, he opened his eyes and sat up to see what or whom had disturbed him. A large figure was distinguishable, backed by the bright light of the sun through the window.
"Steve?" Steve had entered his father's room whilst CJ and Dion were left on chairs in the corridor, patiently awaiting the arrival of their mother.
"Hey Dad. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I'm all right son."
"And the mask?"
"Nothing more than a precaution. And an unnecessary one at that!"
"Dad!"
There was a moment of silence, broken by the ringing of the phone that hung on the wall just above Mark's bed. Steve took hold of it.
"Hello?.Carol?.no but. she's. Oh. Dad, it's for you. Carol."
"Have I had a knock on the head?"
"No it's." Steve mouthed the name. "She may think whoever's after her is listening." He whispered.
"Oh. Carol?"
"I saw the crash on the news. Are you OK?"
"Oh I'm fine. A little shaken, but fine."
"I was worried. What about."
"No one has told me if he has even arrived yet."
"He looked terrible on the news. Mark, please leave the cars. Get back on track as soon as possible. Please. I'll see you soon. Please don't get back in a car. I'm worried."
Mark head the dial tone as the person on the other end had obviously hung up.
"Dad?"
* * * * *
A streak of blond hair flashed amidst the crowds of people.
The best way to maintain cover, you see, is to hide in the open. As a child I had this point proven to me when playing a game of hide and go seek. My brother was also playing the game with my friends and I. So well hidden was he that we resigned our hunting after many frantic minutes of searching. On calling out to him to give himself up, a voice rang out from next to me, proclaiming "I'm here!" You see, Luke had slipped out of his hiding place to be amongst the group and joined us all as we sat on the wall and conceded the search. We were so used to seeing him amongst us that we failed to notice him slip in amongst us.
Under this guise, the small blonde continued on her way, not noticed by anyone because she was there, amongst them. She was not, as it were conspicuous by her absence, but inconspicuous by her presence.
However, I digress, so let us now return to the recipients of the phone call.
* * * * *
"Well dad, what did she want?" Mark replaced the mask, which he had moved to enable him to speak on the phone. Although he felt it unnecessary, as a doctor he knew the protocol and responsibility took over.
"She told us to leave the cars and get back on track."
"So she wants us to get back on the train. Does that mean she'll be waiting for us at the train station?"
"I don't know Steve. I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
"How will she know when we arrive?"
"I suppose at a station she will be able to slip in and out discreetly, and as she knows where we are, she can call and check when a train from here arrives. At least that we won't have to find her, needle in a haystack style, she will be able to find us, and I doubt that it will be difficult for her to miss the six of us."
There was a temporary lapse in conversation, which was broken by jubilant shouts from outside in the hallway.
"Mom!" The boys whooped. This was followed by a polite knock at the door, which was in turn proceeded by the door opening and Amanda's head appearing around it.
"Hi guys, just thought I'd let you know that we've arrived."
"Come in Amanda, the boys too."
"Dad."
"It's fine son. Don't fuss." Amanda raised her eyes heavenward.
"I can see that you're recovering nicely." She said as she entered the room with CJ and Dion in tow.
"I feel fine Amanda, thanks. Anyway, what about you? That little stunt you pulled back there." Steve looked away and said:
"The boys were very proud of you, they didn't stop talking about it all the way back." The two children beamed at their mother. "Seriously Amanda," Steve said, "are you sure that you're OK. It was a very dangerous thing you did back there."
"I'm fine. As I told Jesse, just a little singed at the edges." At the mention of Jesse, Steve turned away, overridden with guilt. Mark smiled.
"So Jesse's all right then? See Steve, there's nothing to worry about, I told you."
"Well, there's nothing that won't mend with a bit of time." Amanda corrected Mark.
"What's wrong with him." Mark was suddenly consumed with worry, he should have known that things would have been too simple.
"Well, he's being checked out properly now, but my diagnosis was concussion, inhalation of gasoline fumes and shock. He's got lots of cuts and bruises from the impact and the broken glass, plus he took a couple of nasty bumps to the head."
Mark was taken aback, amidst all the excitement he had been unaware how serious Jesse's condition was.
"I just thought that I'd come and check up on you two and the boys and then go back and find out what the official damage is."
"Is he conscious?" Steve ventured.
"In and out. He's generally disoriented when he is conscious. He's also been pray to some really nasty coughing spasms caused by the fumes. They really seem to debilitate him, leaving him very weak in their wake."
"He'll definitely be admitted then." Mark sounded a little despondent.
"I shall be complaining if he isn't." Amanda said. "Why?"
"We've had a phone call, we're expected."
"Huh?" Amanda looked blank.
"Carol rang." Steve explained, making full use of air quotes. "She told us to get back on track. We think that she plans to meet us at the train terminal."
"How does she know where we are?"
"She said she saw something on the news. I can only presume though, that the news crews arrived after we had left."
"Oh yes! It certainly happened. An old friend of ours seemed to think that Michael J. Fox had been in a car accident and that he was rescued by Whitney Houston!"
"Rebecca Fleetwood?" Mark guessed.
"Right first time."
"Doesn't that woman have any ethical grounding?"
"Apparently not." Steve muttered.
"Anyway, I ought to get back to see how Jesse is. You want to come?" she invited Steve.
"Oh, I don't think."
"I think you should go son. It will do you good." Mark knew that Steve was feeling guilty about leaving Jesse. He also knew Jesse well enough to know that he would understand Steve's predicament and would not blame him in the slightest. This however, was something that Steve needed to find out from Jesse himself, which of course could only be done if he went with Amanda. "Go on you two, before Jesse thinks that we've all abandoned him. The boys can stay here with me."
"Thanks." Amanda smiled gratefully. And without further ado she dragged Steve through the halls to where she had left Jesse.