The Numero Cinco

It was 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning. The boys had left late the night before; Kirsten was not allowing them to waste another minute of their college time. However, they promised to visit every chance they had. Georgia was just sitting down to Regis and Kelly with a glass of Tropicana and creamed bagel when the doorbell rang. She groaned.

She opened the door and saw Aunt Julie standing in front of her with a pitiful look. "Hey…" She said.

"Hi." Georgia said bluntly half-smiling. "Want to watch Regis and K? Fall Out Boy are on."

"Who?" Julie frowned. Georgia signalled for her to come in and she sat back down on the couch in front of the TV. "Where's your mom?"

"In her room. She's not up yet." Georgia said.

"Yeah. How is she doing? She ok?" Julie asked sitting down beside Georgia.

Georgia sighed. "I guess…I'm gonna talk to her tonight. Or later. When the moment's right."

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Julie asked.

"Up to you. I don't kn-" The doorbell rang again and Georgia stopped talking. "Could you get that please?" She asked Julie. Julie opened the door and there was a hard-looking police officer standing in front of her.

"Hello officer." The stern man remained silent. "May we – help you?" Georgia turned down the TV. The officer stepped into the Cohen's house without invitation.

"I'm Detective Morris, I'm leading the investigation with the explosion that happened at the Publix in the city. I need to get statements from everyone. Are you Mrs Cohen?"

"No I'm Mrs Cooper-Nicholl. That's Georgia though, Kirsten's daughter."

The officer stepped forward. "Can I speak to you and your mother?"

"As a matter of fact, not at the moment. She's not out of bed yet."

"Well maybe you could wake her up? I've got loads of people to see."

"Well maybe you could come back later. I'm only 14, you can't interview me without a parent present and my mum is not up yet."

"Listen kid, I'm a busy man ok and I don't have time for you to-"

Georgia stood up quickly from the couch. "She's asleep, ok? Come back in a few hours and she'll talk to you!" She screamed at the officer. "Now get the hell out of my house!" The officer slammed the door behind him and Georgia slowly sat back on the couch.

"What a jerk." Julie said.
"Aunty Julie…"
"I mean, if it was anybody else I would just say 'get a life, get laid already!'"
"Aunty Julie…"
"But nooooo, not him cos he's the police. He's the sheriff, the 'man'." She huffed. "And clearly too much cos did you see the size of the head on that nose?"

"Aunt Julie, ambulance?"
Julie looked in horror at the spreading stain of blood on Georgia's shirt. "Oh my god."

---------

"And now, it's time for the 11 o'clock news…"

"Five days after the raid in a Publix store in Orange County and there are still no leads into the motive for the attack. Although there is only one suspect, it is clear that John Grohl – the suicide bomber- did have plenty of help planning the act of violence. Police are looking for this man, Michael Hawk, last seen on Saturday afternoon in the Newport Bay at 3:45pm – two hours after the bombing.

A total of 4 children and 29 innocent grocery shoppers died during the explosion or at the hospital. 3 people are still unidentified."

---------------------------

"And that's the important thing." Georgia said.
"But you couldn't have done it figuratively? You know, in with a stern word? You had to do it in the actual I'm-standing-up-now-and-popping-five-stitches way?" Kirsten asked jokingly when Julie brought Georgia home.

"You know, I'm gonna go change into some baggy jeans. I'm not really feeling 'fitted' right now." Georgia said standing up crookedly.
"That's fair your guts opened up." Julie said. Georgia laughed. She bent over Kirsten to give her a hug even though it hurt her side. "Love you mum." She said randomly.

Kirsten smiled. "Love you too, sweetie."

"Do you want anything?" Georgia asked Kirsten before going upstairs to her room when Kirsten said no.

Julie smiled. "She's a good kid."

Kirsten's smile grew and nodded her head. "Yes she is."

"She's worried about you, you know? She says you don't talk about Sandy; you haven't cried. That makes me worry."

"Well thanks for your consideration Julie but I don't need taken of. I'm the mom; I take care of my kids."

"Kirsten, Sandy's lying in the hospital so close to dead the nurses are gonna put a tag on his toe and you don't appear to be upset at all! Of all the married people I know, you two are the most in love I've seen my whole life and I would have thought that would mean something in a situation like this."

"You don't think I'm upset? You don't think it's killing me not being able to kiss my husband, to hug him and tell him how glad I am he's ok and that I love him more than anything? Of course I'm upset! But I don't want my kids to be upset. I can't let them know I have doubts. Especially Georgia. If Sandy…" She took a breath. "If Sandy didn't wake up, well it would destroy her."

"And you." Julie added.

Kirsten shook her head. "Of course me."

Georgia jumped down the last step. "Ow! Damn it!"

"Are you ok? Don't jump down the stairs like that." Kirsten said motherly.

"I'm hungry."

"That's right, we need to go shopping." Kirsten said then there was a pause. "Julie will you drop us off?"

Julie and Georgia were surprised Kirsten was so quickly wanting to go out again. "Are you sure?" Julie asked but then carried on. "Of course I will but I can't stay; I've got to do a few messages. I'll only be an hour so I can pick you up."

"Could you take us to the hospital afterwards?" Julie nodded. "Sure."

Kirsten smiled. "Great. I'll get my purse."

-------------------

Georgia stood outside the Publix on Dover Drive. She looked up at its high aluminium slates and concrete walls. She took one deep breath and sighed.

Kirsten whizzed by her in her wheelchair. "What are you waiting for?" She smiled. "Last one there is a monkey's bum." She giggled riding off.

Georgia grinned and whined. "I don't wanna be a monkey's bum!"

Georgia caught up with her mum when they got into the door and they stopped for a moment, looking around them.

"You don't have to do this you know." Kirsten said.

"I know but I want to do this now." She shrugged. "No point in hiding away."

Kirsten smiled. "Good. Well I'm thirsty, I'll just get a Diet Coke then we can start kay?"

"You were in the other Publix when the bomb went off, huh?" Georgia turned to her left to see a Publix employee, in a green tunic, speaking to her. She frowned. "Uh how did you?-"

"You're the 5th person today." She said.

Georgia walked closer to the young lady who was unpacking boxes and packaging. "The lucky number 5."

"My sister was shopping at the time. She and her husband never got out and now her kids have been left with me."

"Gosh I'm so sorry." Georgia said she realised how lucky she was to have her mum, at least, safe and sound and Sandy close to safe. "But her children are staying with you, which must feel like there is still a little bit of your sister in your life."

The lady smiled. "It does. And I have to thank the girl who got them both out of the shop. You see they we re stuck in the crèche and this girl risked her own life and went back into the burning building. Managed to save all the kids that were in the crèche. She was only 14 you know. I read about her in the newspaper." She clicked her fingers. "Uh, uh, Georgina or…Georgia something"

"McRoberts?" Georgia asked.

The lady shook her head and Georgia rolled her eyes. "Cohen?"

The lady snapped her fingers at Georgia smiling. "That's it! You know her?"

"Yeah, she's me."

"Really? You have no idea how much I owe you. You saved my nieces' lives!"

Georgia held up her hands. "No, its ok, you don't have to say that. I'm glad I did it. Thanks though."

"You know there was a whole article on your family in the paper."

"Yeah?" Georgia asked impressed.

"Yeah, your mom is like the princess of Newport! " Georgia laughed, this twenty-something sounded like an obsessed fan. "How is she by the way? I read she's paralysed. And your dad's on life support? That can't be easy."

"My dad is not on a ventilator and my mum is only in a wheelchair. Hopefully only for a while and we're getting by ok."

She smiled. "Well good. Good for you."

"Grace! Get back to work!" The lady's boss yelled from across the store.

"Sorry. I better get back to work. Food has to be bought and nannies have to be paid."

"Well…I could baby-sit for you sometime." Georgia said. "Free. I'd be happy to do it and I think my mum would enjoy it." Georgia smiled.

"Really? For free?"

"Sure." Georgia said with a nod. Then she thought for a moment. Uh…which kids are your sisters?" Hoping she wouldn't get stuck with little monsters.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There isn't a Publix on Dover Drive. There probably isn't even a Publix in California since they're only in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina which I did not realise when I first started writing this. Lol. However, I hope you are still enjoying this. I know it's not as good as the original. I have little ideas but can't seem to develop them into big ones. I'll try to update the next chapter sooner than this.

Thank you so much for all the reviews to those that have. I appreciate it so much. Please continue. I am willing to use your ideas. I decided to take princesssparkle88's advice and use American context when appropriate for each character. IE; Julie referred to Kirsten as 'Mom' but Georgia says 'Mum'.