AUTHORS NOTE: MASSIVE thanks to everyone who has reviewed my fics so far!!! All the feedback is hugely appreciated and gives me the confidence to continue writing!!!
Apologies for the recent lack of updates!
***
HOSPITAL
Kirsty walks hurriedly through the corridors. She knew the way to Kane's room off by heart now. No need to stop and examine signs. Birkett had dropped her outside on his way back to work. Apparently Rhys had asked to see her but she had refused. She could barely stand to think of him, let alone see him and talk to him. Listen to his excuses. The police wouldn't have arrested him if there wasn't evidence to back them up. She reached the room, pausing to compose herself before entering, smoothing her hair down. The guard had been removed from Kane's doorway and he was sat up in bed, flicking idly through a magazine, which he threw aside with a smile when she saw Kirsty. It felt like it had been ages since he had last seen her. He had felt useless sat alone in that hospital bed, thinking about what Scott could be getting up to at his house. For all he knew he could return home and walk into a crack house. He'd put anything past Scott.
"Hey!"
Kirsty smiled weakly down at him, kissing his forehead gently.
"Doc said I could go home tomorrow"
"That's great Babe"
She squeezed his hand lightly, attempting to speak with some enthusiasm. Kane knew immediately that things weren't right.
"Is everything ok?"
She looks at him, grateful for his concern.
"They arrested Dad"
Kane replied almost silently, unsure of what exactly to say.
"Oh"
The guard who had been watching his room had informed him that they had the main suspect in custody. He left shortly afterwards. Apparently it was no longer thought that he was in any danger, and police resources would be better used elsewhere.
He still wasn't sure what to say. Her Dad had tried to kill him and she was in pieces. What could he say? That he was sorry? But it wasn't entirely true. Yet it didn't seem right to say anything against Kirsty's father.
She looked towards him, looking for any sort of reassurance. Her head was a mess. What would happen now? The future was so uncertain for the whole family. Was Rhys even capable of attempted murder? One thing was for sure. There would be battle lines drawn through the family.
....................................
Dani entered the pale interview room, staring at her father who stood awkwardly to one side. A police constable stood, stony faced, at the side of the room.
"You've got two minutes"
Dani turned her head slightly at Carter, who stood in the corridor, giving him a brief smile of thanks that she had been allowed to see Rhys at all. The door closed, leaving just the three of them in the room.
"Dani... I didn't do it... you've got to believe me... I just couldn't"
She smiled weakly at her father. He looked such a mess. Worlds apart from his usual self. He was normally so in control. So strong. He'd coped with so much in his life.
He felt stupid just stood there, knowing he wasn't even allowed to comfort his daughter.
"The police must have something on you for you to be charged"
She wouldn't put it past Kane to set him up somehow. Perhaps it was really his brother. Like that time with Jude, when Jude had been charged with the assault.
"No... it's something else... I did something stupid... really stupid"
"What are you talking about?"
He glanced sideways at the police officer, whose presence seemed to throw a stony atmosphere over the room. He decided to continue. Besides, it wasn't any more than he had told the police in the interview.
"I was wound up over the whole thing... I just wanted him to pay for everything... I... tampered with the brake cable on his car... but I didn't pull the trigger on that gun... I promise..."
Dani could see his desperation. She'd never seen him so low. All she could do was nod.
"...But they won't believe me... they keep pushing and pushing"
He'd spent the past hour having questions thrown at him. Making implications. He'd tried to avoid all questions. His solicitor had advised him to say as little as possible. He'd tried explaining how he tampered with the brakes, but didn't lay a finger on that gun but it was obvious they didn't believe him. Rhys was thankful they called the interview off before he said something about Kane he'd regret.
"They've got nothing to connect you to the shooting... just keep telling the truth"
"I just hope it'll be enough... I've already got a pretty low opinion of the justice system in this country"
He couldn't avoid being charged over the car, that he knew, but they couldn't possibly connect him to the shooting. Innocent until proven guilty.
Dani nodded, remembering.
.................................
CARAVAN PARK
Dani, Jade, Kirsty and Max sat glumly at the dinner table, trying the best to force Dani's cooking down.
"Dad's in a mess"
Dani couldn't face to look across at Kirsty. It was all too much. Just knowing she and Kane were together sickened her. It was all down to him. Why couldn't Kirsty realise that? He'd have been better off staying well away
"Serves him right"
Kirsty stabs her fork into a piece of potato, visualising it as Rhys' face. How could he do that to her? She had so much hate and yet so much love for her father. But she knew her loyalties lay firmly with Kane, and right now all she could feel was love for him. She would stick by him, come what may.
"Kirsty! Do you really think he did it?!"
"You want my honest opinion? YES! He hates Kane, he tried to kill him - I know that!"
"Dad needs our support right now... after all he's done for us in the past, especially since Mum left... he deserves more than this!"
"He tried to kill my boyfriend and you expect me to feel any sympathy for him?!"
Dani sighed. That was one thing Kirsty and Rhys had in common. Stubborn to the end, but once they'd chosen where their loyalties lay they would stick by them. A temper that was liable to blow up at any moment.
"He didn't!"
Kirsty shook her head.
"Yeah? How can you be so sure?"
She received no reply, only glances from Jade, Dani and Max. She pushed her plate away furiously. Why couldn't anyone understand?
"I'm not hungry"
She headed towards the door.
"Where are you going? Kirsty!"
The door slammed behind her.
...........................
Kirsty leant on the railing at the wharf. She had opted to go to the wharf, she and Kane's special place, just to give herself some space to think.
"Hey"
Kirsty swung around to face Seb, an immediate scowl crossing her face. That was all she needed.
"How is he?"
Kirsty held back from throwing insults at Seb. She wasn't in the mood to have him poking his nose in.
"Alive... no permanent damage but - "
"I meant your Dad... not him"
"I don't know and I don't wanna know"
"So you're just going to desert your family?"
"What's it got to do with you?"
"He's using you Kirsty..."
She sighed. She'd heard it all before.
"...I don't want to see you get hurt"
"I can look after myself, I've had to... it wasn't like you were much good to protect me"
"So you're with Kane because he acts the tough guy?!"
"I'm with him because I love him!"
"And you never loved me?"
"That's right! You want to know why Seb? Because you're boring! You're pathetic and blaming Kane for me not loving you just proves it! I don't know what I ever saw in you!"
"We had something good Kirsty..."
She could feel his breath on her cheek. Her back was crushed against the wooden fencing. She was getting nervous now. She had to remind herself this was Seb. The harmless, weak and pathetic Seb she knew so well.
"...why did you go and ruin everything?"
"Seb, get off me"
She attempted to move.
"Just give me... us, another chance... you deserve better than him"
"I wouldn't go out with you again if you were the last guy on the planet"
She threw her knee up into his crotch and he doubled up in pain. Taking only a brief glance at her former boyfriend she walked hurriedly away towards the Drop in Centre. With any luck Flynn would let her stay there for the night.
...........................
Several doctors and nurses rushed into the small hospital room as the alarm alerted them to the deterioration in Kane's condition. He was unconscious, dead to the world.
...........................
Carter strode into the hospital, irritated that his evening off had been spoilt by a phone call from the hospital. More trouble with the Phillip's.
"What happened?"
"Someone had a play with the machines Kane was connected to... he'll live, but he's just lucky the docs acted so quickly"
Carter nodded
"So we've got another case of attempted murder?"
Carter frowned, hoping he hadn't got the wrong man.
"Looks like it"
He cleared his throat grudgingly.
"So... any visitors?"
The nurse nodded. She's stopped a man on his way to see Kane earlier. Kane had been asleep at the time and the man had promised to be quick.
"Yeah... I think he said he was a cousin of Kane's..."
She pauses thoughtfully. She had just accepted the mans word that he was a cousin. Normally visitors only lied about their identity to see someone they were close to.
"I think he said his name was Josh West?"
Carter nods. Josh's alibi for the time of the shooting had seemed pretty reasonable. A respected businessman had claimed he and Josh had dined at an expensive restaurant on the seafront shortly after Josh's confrontation with Kane. Apparently relations between Josh and Kane hadn't exactly been rosy, for obvious reasons though. Josh blamed Kane for anything that went wrong in his life, in particular the breakdown of his relationship with Dani. It had been clear during his brief interview that he still held a lot of hatred towards the man.
"I reckon we'd better pay Mr West a visit... and you better give Scott Phillips a call to tell him what's happened with his brother"
...........................
CARAVAN PARK
Kirsty rushed into the house
"Kirsty, where have you been?"
After seeing Seb she had wound up at the park, where she had sat and finally come to a decision about what she was doing.
Dani runs up to her
"I needed to think, and I've decided I need to spend a couple of nights away from here... there's too much going on"
She would feel better once she'd had some time to come to terms with things. When the whole family realised Rhys wasn't coming back. Not for a long time.
"Where are you going!"
"I'm staying at the Drop in Centre"
"Kirsty, please don't do this"
Kirsty walked towards the stairs shakily. She didn't want to have to leave the family home, but she had no choice. If she didn't leave she was only going to be at war with the family anyway. They'd support Rhys, she knew they would. But Rhys tried to kill Kane, and she could never let that go. He had been prepared to destroy her happiness for an ancient grudge. She ran up towards her room.
"You can't just abandon your family and live a happy life!"
Jade was furious at Kirsty's new plans. Kirsty couldn't even be bothered explaining that it wasn't a permanent arrangement. Instead she ignored her, throwing heaps of clothes into a bag. Not caring if they got creased. She just had to escape the family. Zipping up her bag she walked towards the door
"You'll regret leaving us!"
The door slammed shut as Kirsty left and Jade fell back on the bed, exasperated. Kirsty was making the biggest mistake of her life.
...........................
Kirsty walked into the Drop In Centre.
"Hello?"
Maybe Flynn had already left. But surely he'd have locked up. She couldn't see anyone. She glanced around nervously as the lights cut out.
"Hello?"
She rose her voice, which was now shaking. Something wasn't right, and she knew she wasn't alone. There was something that told her this. Staggering back in the direction of the door and the glimmer of light from a streetlight outside she dropped her bag. Turning to pick it up she heard a noise from the direction of the door. Spinning around, she found herself facing the barrel of a gun.
Apologies for the recent lack of updates!
***
HOSPITAL
Kirsty walks hurriedly through the corridors. She knew the way to Kane's room off by heart now. No need to stop and examine signs. Birkett had dropped her outside on his way back to work. Apparently Rhys had asked to see her but she had refused. She could barely stand to think of him, let alone see him and talk to him. Listen to his excuses. The police wouldn't have arrested him if there wasn't evidence to back them up. She reached the room, pausing to compose herself before entering, smoothing her hair down. The guard had been removed from Kane's doorway and he was sat up in bed, flicking idly through a magazine, which he threw aside with a smile when she saw Kirsty. It felt like it had been ages since he had last seen her. He had felt useless sat alone in that hospital bed, thinking about what Scott could be getting up to at his house. For all he knew he could return home and walk into a crack house. He'd put anything past Scott.
"Hey!"
Kirsty smiled weakly down at him, kissing his forehead gently.
"Doc said I could go home tomorrow"
"That's great Babe"
She squeezed his hand lightly, attempting to speak with some enthusiasm. Kane knew immediately that things weren't right.
"Is everything ok?"
She looks at him, grateful for his concern.
"They arrested Dad"
Kane replied almost silently, unsure of what exactly to say.
"Oh"
The guard who had been watching his room had informed him that they had the main suspect in custody. He left shortly afterwards. Apparently it was no longer thought that he was in any danger, and police resources would be better used elsewhere.
He still wasn't sure what to say. Her Dad had tried to kill him and she was in pieces. What could he say? That he was sorry? But it wasn't entirely true. Yet it didn't seem right to say anything against Kirsty's father.
She looked towards him, looking for any sort of reassurance. Her head was a mess. What would happen now? The future was so uncertain for the whole family. Was Rhys even capable of attempted murder? One thing was for sure. There would be battle lines drawn through the family.
....................................
Dani entered the pale interview room, staring at her father who stood awkwardly to one side. A police constable stood, stony faced, at the side of the room.
"You've got two minutes"
Dani turned her head slightly at Carter, who stood in the corridor, giving him a brief smile of thanks that she had been allowed to see Rhys at all. The door closed, leaving just the three of them in the room.
"Dani... I didn't do it... you've got to believe me... I just couldn't"
She smiled weakly at her father. He looked such a mess. Worlds apart from his usual self. He was normally so in control. So strong. He'd coped with so much in his life.
He felt stupid just stood there, knowing he wasn't even allowed to comfort his daughter.
"The police must have something on you for you to be charged"
She wouldn't put it past Kane to set him up somehow. Perhaps it was really his brother. Like that time with Jude, when Jude had been charged with the assault.
"No... it's something else... I did something stupid... really stupid"
"What are you talking about?"
He glanced sideways at the police officer, whose presence seemed to throw a stony atmosphere over the room. He decided to continue. Besides, it wasn't any more than he had told the police in the interview.
"I was wound up over the whole thing... I just wanted him to pay for everything... I... tampered with the brake cable on his car... but I didn't pull the trigger on that gun... I promise..."
Dani could see his desperation. She'd never seen him so low. All she could do was nod.
"...But they won't believe me... they keep pushing and pushing"
He'd spent the past hour having questions thrown at him. Making implications. He'd tried to avoid all questions. His solicitor had advised him to say as little as possible. He'd tried explaining how he tampered with the brakes, but didn't lay a finger on that gun but it was obvious they didn't believe him. Rhys was thankful they called the interview off before he said something about Kane he'd regret.
"They've got nothing to connect you to the shooting... just keep telling the truth"
"I just hope it'll be enough... I've already got a pretty low opinion of the justice system in this country"
He couldn't avoid being charged over the car, that he knew, but they couldn't possibly connect him to the shooting. Innocent until proven guilty.
Dani nodded, remembering.
.................................
CARAVAN PARK
Dani, Jade, Kirsty and Max sat glumly at the dinner table, trying the best to force Dani's cooking down.
"Dad's in a mess"
Dani couldn't face to look across at Kirsty. It was all too much. Just knowing she and Kane were together sickened her. It was all down to him. Why couldn't Kirsty realise that? He'd have been better off staying well away
"Serves him right"
Kirsty stabs her fork into a piece of potato, visualising it as Rhys' face. How could he do that to her? She had so much hate and yet so much love for her father. But she knew her loyalties lay firmly with Kane, and right now all she could feel was love for him. She would stick by him, come what may.
"Kirsty! Do you really think he did it?!"
"You want my honest opinion? YES! He hates Kane, he tried to kill him - I know that!"
"Dad needs our support right now... after all he's done for us in the past, especially since Mum left... he deserves more than this!"
"He tried to kill my boyfriend and you expect me to feel any sympathy for him?!"
Dani sighed. That was one thing Kirsty and Rhys had in common. Stubborn to the end, but once they'd chosen where their loyalties lay they would stick by them. A temper that was liable to blow up at any moment.
"He didn't!"
Kirsty shook her head.
"Yeah? How can you be so sure?"
She received no reply, only glances from Jade, Dani and Max. She pushed her plate away furiously. Why couldn't anyone understand?
"I'm not hungry"
She headed towards the door.
"Where are you going? Kirsty!"
The door slammed behind her.
...........................
Kirsty leant on the railing at the wharf. She had opted to go to the wharf, she and Kane's special place, just to give herself some space to think.
"Hey"
Kirsty swung around to face Seb, an immediate scowl crossing her face. That was all she needed.
"How is he?"
Kirsty held back from throwing insults at Seb. She wasn't in the mood to have him poking his nose in.
"Alive... no permanent damage but - "
"I meant your Dad... not him"
"I don't know and I don't wanna know"
"So you're just going to desert your family?"
"What's it got to do with you?"
"He's using you Kirsty..."
She sighed. She'd heard it all before.
"...I don't want to see you get hurt"
"I can look after myself, I've had to... it wasn't like you were much good to protect me"
"So you're with Kane because he acts the tough guy?!"
"I'm with him because I love him!"
"And you never loved me?"
"That's right! You want to know why Seb? Because you're boring! You're pathetic and blaming Kane for me not loving you just proves it! I don't know what I ever saw in you!"
"We had something good Kirsty..."
She could feel his breath on her cheek. Her back was crushed against the wooden fencing. She was getting nervous now. She had to remind herself this was Seb. The harmless, weak and pathetic Seb she knew so well.
"...why did you go and ruin everything?"
"Seb, get off me"
She attempted to move.
"Just give me... us, another chance... you deserve better than him"
"I wouldn't go out with you again if you were the last guy on the planet"
She threw her knee up into his crotch and he doubled up in pain. Taking only a brief glance at her former boyfriend she walked hurriedly away towards the Drop in Centre. With any luck Flynn would let her stay there for the night.
...........................
Several doctors and nurses rushed into the small hospital room as the alarm alerted them to the deterioration in Kane's condition. He was unconscious, dead to the world.
...........................
Carter strode into the hospital, irritated that his evening off had been spoilt by a phone call from the hospital. More trouble with the Phillip's.
"What happened?"
"Someone had a play with the machines Kane was connected to... he'll live, but he's just lucky the docs acted so quickly"
Carter nodded
"So we've got another case of attempted murder?"
Carter frowned, hoping he hadn't got the wrong man.
"Looks like it"
He cleared his throat grudgingly.
"So... any visitors?"
The nurse nodded. She's stopped a man on his way to see Kane earlier. Kane had been asleep at the time and the man had promised to be quick.
"Yeah... I think he said he was a cousin of Kane's..."
She pauses thoughtfully. She had just accepted the mans word that he was a cousin. Normally visitors only lied about their identity to see someone they were close to.
"I think he said his name was Josh West?"
Carter nods. Josh's alibi for the time of the shooting had seemed pretty reasonable. A respected businessman had claimed he and Josh had dined at an expensive restaurant on the seafront shortly after Josh's confrontation with Kane. Apparently relations between Josh and Kane hadn't exactly been rosy, for obvious reasons though. Josh blamed Kane for anything that went wrong in his life, in particular the breakdown of his relationship with Dani. It had been clear during his brief interview that he still held a lot of hatred towards the man.
"I reckon we'd better pay Mr West a visit... and you better give Scott Phillips a call to tell him what's happened with his brother"
...........................
CARAVAN PARK
Kirsty rushed into the house
"Kirsty, where have you been?"
After seeing Seb she had wound up at the park, where she had sat and finally come to a decision about what she was doing.
Dani runs up to her
"I needed to think, and I've decided I need to spend a couple of nights away from here... there's too much going on"
She would feel better once she'd had some time to come to terms with things. When the whole family realised Rhys wasn't coming back. Not for a long time.
"Where are you going!"
"I'm staying at the Drop in Centre"
"Kirsty, please don't do this"
Kirsty walked towards the stairs shakily. She didn't want to have to leave the family home, but she had no choice. If she didn't leave she was only going to be at war with the family anyway. They'd support Rhys, she knew they would. But Rhys tried to kill Kane, and she could never let that go. He had been prepared to destroy her happiness for an ancient grudge. She ran up towards her room.
"You can't just abandon your family and live a happy life!"
Jade was furious at Kirsty's new plans. Kirsty couldn't even be bothered explaining that it wasn't a permanent arrangement. Instead she ignored her, throwing heaps of clothes into a bag. Not caring if they got creased. She just had to escape the family. Zipping up her bag she walked towards the door
"You'll regret leaving us!"
The door slammed shut as Kirsty left and Jade fell back on the bed, exasperated. Kirsty was making the biggest mistake of her life.
...........................
Kirsty walked into the Drop In Centre.
"Hello?"
Maybe Flynn had already left. But surely he'd have locked up. She couldn't see anyone. She glanced around nervously as the lights cut out.
"Hello?"
She rose her voice, which was now shaking. Something wasn't right, and she knew she wasn't alone. There was something that told her this. Staggering back in the direction of the door and the glimmer of light from a streetlight outside she dropped her bag. Turning to pick it up she heard a noise from the direction of the door. Spinning around, she found herself facing the barrel of a gun.