Your Love Is King – Part 6
Mickey's eyes fluttered open and he groaned as his head rang, slowly sitting up, only realising then that he had been thrown over Sam from the force of the blast. He gingerly touched his head, wincing as he attempted to crawl over towards Sam, shaking her shoulder.
Sam groaned, barely opening her eyes as she shifted slightly, gasping softly.
The sounds of screams and shouts rang in the officers ears, the uniformed officers who'd been further up the street running down to them, calling for back up, ambulances and the fire brigade.
"I can't feel my leg…" Sam whimpered, Mickey running his gaze down her body to where her leg had obviously been badly broken.
"The ambulance will be here soon…" Mickey winced as he turned, slithers of glass protruding the wound in his forehead.
"Sarge, Mickey!" Amber crouched in front of them. "Are you alright?"
"I can't feel my leg…" Sam whimpered again, before passing out.
Charlie scowled, tossing and turning as she slept, Rebecca grumbling as her mother moved, snuggling closer, the two of them curled together asleep in Gina's spare room, clinging to each other.
Gina closed her eyes and sighed as she replaced the receiver of the phone, slowly getting to her feet as she padded through to the spare room, standing in the doorway looking through.
Rebecca calmed as Charlie did, her hand falling onto Charlie's stomach, as it slipped from the grasp she'd had on her jumper, her head still resting on her mothers chest. Charlie's arms tightened around Rebecca, her head lolling forward so it was resting in Rebecca's hair.
Gina glanced at her watch, before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind her quietly. There was nothing Charlie could do, and upsetting her now would be pointless.
Smithy's eyes widened as he listened to what Neil was saying, the words running round in his head, repeating the same phrase. The house had been completely destroyed, what ever hadn't perished in the explosion had been lost in the fire. All their belongings, pictures, memories, toys….all gone. "The girls-"
"They were at Gina's at the time, no one was in the house." Neil said quickly, moving to sit beside the bed. "Mickey and Sam are being seen by the doctors now, as are a Mr and Mrs Jenkins from next door-"
"You said no-one was in the house…" Smithy stammered.
"They were outside. It's mostly cuts and bruises, Sam's leg is broken. Your neighbours are mostly smoke inhalation and shock…"
Smithy turned his head to look at Neil, having tuned out from what else he was saying as he thought.
"This is important Smithy." Neil moved, sensing Smithy wasn't completely listening. "Is there anyone who has a grudge against you?"
"Only half the criminals in Sun Hill." Smithy muttered, feeling helpless.
"Is there anyone in particular?"
"Guv, if I knew, I'd have said when I was brought in!" Smithy's tone rose and he glared at Neil.
"If you have anything I need to know." Neil stood up, pulling his jacket back on.
"Does Charlie know…?"
"Gina was informed." Neil said briskly, moving to the door.
Smithy glared harder at Neil's back, cursing his own helplessness.
"….My-my house." Charlie stammered, her grip increasing on the cup of coffee in front of her. "Why is someone doing this to us?" She whimpered, dipping her head, "I don't understand"
"I'm sorry." Gina squeezed her hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Charlie blinked back more tears, pulling her hand from Gina's to rub her eyes.
"It wouldn't have achieved anything." Gina said softly. "You couldn't have done anything."
"It's my house!" Charlie pushed the chair back, standing up. "I should have been there."
"..And done what?" Gina said plainly. "You needed the rest, for the baby's sake as much as your own." She stood up, carrying Rebecca's breakfast through to her.
Rebecca turned to look behind her as Gina walked through with Charlie behind her, beaming and holding her hands up for the bowl. "Fank oo."
"Good girl." Gina smiled, passing the bowl down, watching as Rebecca quickly became engrossed in the children's programme she was watching.
Charlie desperately hugged herself, rubbing her arms. "Does Smithy know?"
"I assume so." Gina pursed her lips, moving away from Rebecca. "Neil rang as soon as he found out, said he was going to the hospital."
"Neil." Charlie scoffed bitterly, "He'd have loved that."
"Charlie…" Gina sighed, pursing her lips.
"I'm going back to the hospital." Charlie picked her jacket up, pulling her car keys out of her pocket, "Rebecca, finish-"
"She can stay here." Gina looked between them. "Give you two chance to talk…"
Charlie nodded, squeezing Gina a tight watery smile, before hugging her tightly. "Thank you so much." She whispered in her ear.
Gina blinked, before smiling slightly, gently rubbing Charlie's back, watching as she pulled away and went back to Rebecca.
"You be a good girl for Nana." Charlie forced Rebecca a large smile, bending down to kiss her.
Rebecca grinned and nodded, looking up as she gave Charlie a weetabix covered kiss. Charlie chuckled and wiped her own mouth, using the spoon to clean Rebecca's as she cuddled her quickly, kissing her again before standing up. "Be back soon sweetheart." She smiled, "Love you more than the houses in the world."
"Loveoo more than the peoples." Rebecca beamed.
"Love you more than the stars."
"Loveoo more than the moon'd"
Charlie smiled proudly and ruffled Rebecca's hair, before squeezing Gina's hand as she walked out to the car, heading to the hospital.