CHAPTER 9 – Hospital

It was 3.27 AM when I woke up to the sound of the phone. I was in Stacey's double bed. Mia and Brian were in one room with the two spare beds pushed together, Letty was in Junior's bed, and Vince and Leon were in another of the spare rooms.

I stirred then realised I was the only one who could answer the phone. "hello" I said sleepily.

"Dom" Stacey cried in to the phone. She had been at Mark's for three days and hadn't called once so I knew something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" I asked completely awake.

I rushed to get dressed in the dark I didn't have time to turn on the light my mind was racing to think of logical things so when I stubbed my toe on the bed walking to the door I yelled out waking the entire house probably. I exited the room and descended the stairs.

"Dom, Dom" Mia called walking down the stairs. "what's going on?" she asked as she reached the bottom.

"Stacey's taken Junior to the hospital his temperature is up in the hundreds and he wont stop screaming" I said searching for any set of car keys in the kitchen.

"I'll wake the others and we'll meet you there" she said

"no, no Mark's probably there, maybe cops. No, it's not a good idea I'll call when I know something" I told her walking to the front door having found Vince's keys to the Black Nissan.

Stacey had given me brief directions I wasn't sure where I was going but somehow I found the hospital. I walked in and don't remember asking at reception where he was it was just a huge blur. I turned a corner and I saw Stacey and Mark standing in each other's arms. Mark had his back to me, Stacey noticed me and pulled out of the hug. She began to walk towards me Mark turned around.

"Ah god Dom" She said in tears hugging me.

"Is he ok?" I asked panicked

"They don't know yet their doing some tests," she sobbed in to my shoulder.

"He's the reason you've been acting strangle lately isn't it?" Mark asked as Stacey sat on the chair in the hallway. "He's been staying at your house hasn't he?"

"Mark I'm sorry I should have told you but now isn't the time to be having this discussion" she said to him wiping the tears away with the sleeve of her t-shirt.

"This isn't a discussion," he said raising his voice but not shouting. "You've been lying to me!" he realised.

"Mark please can we talk about this some other time?" she pleaded

"No we don't need to talk you can come fetch your stuff when Junior's better" Mark said beginning to walk away.

"Wait" she said standing up and grabbing his arm "your breaking up with me?" she asked

"Stacey you've been lying to me, your ex has been living with you and you neglected to tell me what sort of relationship is that?" he asked before walking away.

She sat back down clearly in shock. "You ok?"

"I'll get over it I just wanna know that my son is ok," she said beginning to pace up and down the hallway.

"He's gonna be fine. He's our son he's a fighter just like we are" I reassured her. I sounded convincing didn't I? I wasn't so convinced myself.

"I just wish someone would come tell me what's going on. They've been in that room nearly an hour with him Dom I want to know what's happening to my son" she broke down in to tears again. I held her in my arms and just allowed her to cry. Let her get it all out.