Author's notes: Here's chapter 7. Thanks to Fabio and aerialplug for reviewing. Please read and review.
Chapter 7
The accident and emergency department at Saint Hughes is busy. Neil heads to the reception desk, Jake in his arms, only to be told they'll have to wait.
Sitting down on the plastic chairs in the waiting area, Neil resigns himself for a long wait. Jake sits next to him still clutching his arm, he's stopped crying now and is sitting quietly occasionally sniffling.
Meanwhile Andrea has gone in search of baby changing room. Annabelle is in her car seat that handily doubles as a carrier. It's hard to believe it was over a year ago that Andrea would have occasionally have found herself at Saint Hughes following up a case. Being back here now, Andrea feels slightly uncomfortable.
Finally, she finds somewhere to change Annabelle.
Coming out of the baby changing room, she finds herself next to a shop. Knowing what hospital A & E departments are like, they could be here for a while so she pops into the shop to find something to cheer Jake up.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Where's Bella gone?"
"Andrea's taken her to get her changed." Neil says sighing and glancing at the seemingly non-moving clock.
Jake swallows this information and sits thoughtfully for a moment.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Jake."
"My arm hurts!"
"I know but we've just got to wait." Neil says, patting Jake's head.
"Daddy?"
Neil rolls his eyes. "Yes?"
"I'm bored!"
Neil mutters a curse, just as Andrea reappears.
Jake breaks into a smile. "They're back, Daddy!"
Andrea sits down onto a free chair next to Jake. Placing Bella, in her carrier, on the floor by her feet.
"Hey, how's your arm?"
"It really hurts but Daddy says we got to wait." Jake says sulkily.
"Yeh, I know. But you're being really good and showing Bella what a big brave brother she's got aren't you?"
"Yeah" Jake says smiling, "Big, brave Jake" He repeats peering down at his little sister, causing Neil to smirk.
"What's in that bag?" He asks spotting a carrier bag on her lap.
"Jake!" Neil scolds, "Don't be nosy!"
"I'm bored!"
"It's ok." Andrea butts in, "I got you a few comics, Jake. To look at while we're waiting."
"Cool" Jake says sticking his tongue out at Neil, "Thank you" He says to Andrea.
"It's ok."
An hour passes, and they're still waiting. Annabelle is now in Neil's arms. Jake is reading a comic with Andrea, who's become his new best friend.
Andrea looks over to Neil. "Neil?"
"Yeah."
"Have you rung Phillipa?" She asks worriedly
"No"
"Well don't you think you should?"
Neil sighs and shakes his head.
"Yeah, I suppose I should. I just… I hardly see Jake as it is. Knowing Phillipa she'll use this as a reason to stop me seeing him even more."
"She's going to find out anyway Neil. Jake will tell her, let alone the fact if he's broken his arm, he'll be in plaster!"
Neil just buries his head next to Annabelle's.
"Neil, pass her here, and go and ring Phillipa."
Neil reluctantly hands Annabelle over.
"It'll look better telling her now than later Neil." She says as he heads off in search of a pay-phone.
Phillipa turns up half an hour later.
"Jake" She calls as she sees him.
"Where's Neil?" She asks looking in disgust at where Andrea is sitting with Jake.
"He's just gone to find out how much longer there is to wait." Andrea replies, trying to keep things civil for Neil's sake.
"And what may I ask are you doing here?"
"Daddy took me, Andrea and Bella to the park. Annabelle's my sister." Jake announces proudly, "I hurt my arm Mummy, Daddy says it's broke."
Just then Neil appears,
"Neil."
"Phillipa" Neil swallows.
"What do you think you're playing at Neil? I would have thought you'd have more sense than to get back with her. And as for the baby it probably isn't even yours!" Phillipa exclaims looking down on Neil and Andrea as if they were a pair of naughty school children.
"I think I'd better go." Andrea says, picking up Annabelle.
"Yes, I think you should!" Phillipa replies.
"What about …?" Neil starts to ask.
"It's alright Neil, I'll get a cab." Andrea says wanting to make a quick an exit as possible.
"And just for your information Phillipa, the baby's name is Annabelle. Although of course you already know that don't you?" Andrea says sarcastically, turning towards Phillipa. "And I can assure you she is Neil's."
Phillipa just rolls her eyes, "I thought you were going."
"I am. Oh, and next time Phillipa, try signing your letters with your own name!" She then heads in the direction of the exit to the hospital. Leaving a slightly puzzled Neil with a furious Phillipa.
"I didn't get to say goodbye to Bella, Daddy." Jake complains.
"What did she mean?" Neil asks questioning Phillipa.
"How am I supposed to know, Neil?" A nurse approaches.
"Excuse me; we're ready to see your son now."
Andrea stands outside Saint Hughes waiting for a taxi. Annabelle has started to cry. It's a further five minutes before she gets one. She asks first how much it'll cost to get her home.
She'll have just enough money luckily, although it'll empty her purse. But with the weather having taken a turn for the worse, it's now raining, she's glad just to be going home.
Sitting in the back of the taxi, Bella has finally calmed down. It's raining heavily now. The abrupt change in weather seems to represent her day. What had been a happy and enjoyable afternoon has now turned sour and even Annabelle seems to have picked up on its sourness.