CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Morag had been looked over, she had a mild concussion-hence the dizziness-a few scratches and bruises but otherwise she was going to be okay. Morag was more worried about Laura then herself. She climbed out of bed, ignoring the doctor's advice to stay there and went to find Laura.

She found her in the ICU, hooked up to machines. Her head was covered with a bandage and a nurse was cleaning her cuts.

" Morag?" Dr. Rachel Armstrong walked in at the moment, " didn't I tell you to stay in bed?"

" I want to see if Laura is all right." Morag replied, " How is she?"

" As you can see, still unconscious. She has some swelling to the brain which we have to monitor. And may I ask, has she been drinking?"

" Um yes…but I was behind the wheel…but I haven't been drinking. Why?"

" She had a high reading of alcohol and as a result of her brain injuries it may take her a bit longer to wake up." Dr. Armstrong explained.

" I see." Morag said, " and has anyone called her son?"

" He's on his way." Dr. Armstrong replied, " I'll let you stay for ten minutes but you have to get back to bed. You have a concussion remember?" Dr. Armstrong left the room.

Morag sat down on a chair next to the bed and studied Laura. She felt guilty Laura was lying in a hospital bed unconscious. She had been the one driving after all. She could have done something to stop the car.

Its not your fault the brakes weren't working, Morag tried to reason with herself but still felt guilty all the same.

Things had not been easy for Laura since she arrived to Summer Bay. She moved here to get a fresh start in life but instead lost her son and ended up in hospital.

Morag reached over and clasped Laura's hand in hers, shocked at how cold it was. I hope it isn't a sign. She thought, Laura you had better get through this. I don't want to lose you as a friend.

There were running footsteps and Jacob dashed into the room. Morag dropped Laura's hand like a hot potato and stood up-a little too fast. The room spun dizzily and Morag steadied herself.

" What are you doing here?" Jacob demanded her as he reached the bed.

" I am just visiting your mother." Morag replied.

" You have no right being here, get lost." Jacob snapped.

Morag frowned at him, " I know you are upset but there is no need to speak to me like that young man."

" You were driving right?"

" Yes but-"

" Then you nearly killed her. So you have no right to be here. Get out." Jacob snarled. Morag glanced down at Laura before leaving the room.

Jacob sat down and took his mother hand, " Mum, I'm so sorry." He said then started to sob. He didn't mean to yell at Ms. Bellingham but he had to blame someone.

Blame yourself Jacob, you caused the crash not Ms. Bellingham, he reminded himself as he wiped his eyes.

It was around 9pm when Sam Tate entered the Diner. He looked around briefly and almost walked into the waitress…her name was Irene something.

" Excuse me," he said to her and she looked up.

" Can I help you?" Irene asked, leaning over to wipe up a table.

" Have you seen Jacob or Laura around?" he asked politely.

Irene hesitated as she studied this stranger. She hasn't seem him before.

" I'm sorry and you are?" she wasn't about to tell him anything.

" Sam Tate. I'm her husband," he told her getting impatient. Who did this nosey woman think she was questioning him? " I'm looking for them. Can you tell me where they are?"

Irene knew perfectly well where they were but she also knew this man had a restraining order against him, " I don't know." She shrugged, " I don't know them very well."

Sam could tell when a person was lying and he hated it when people lied to him. He reached out and grabbed her by the arm in a vise-like grip.

" Let go of my arm, you're hurting me." Irene protested as her arm went numb.

" Where are they?" he growled, brining his face up close so that she was staring right into his cold, empty eyes. This man was dangerous.

" I told you, I don't know." Irene replied as she struggled from his grip but he only held on tighter. Unfortunately the diner was empty because it was almost closing time and no one could come to help her.

But she was wrong. Just as she was about to ask him why he wanted to see Laura and Jacob, Barry Hyde walked in.

" What are you doing?" Barry demanded Sam when he realized this man intended on hurting Irene.

Sam dropped Irene's arm, " Nothing," he snarled and stalked out of the diner. Irene rubbed her arm.

" Are you all right? Who was he?" Barry asked her.

" The devil himself." Irene replied shakily.

" Jacob?" Dr Armstrong tapped Jacob on the shoulder and the boy whirled around, his eyes wide with fright.

" Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Rachel apologized.

" What do you want?" Jacob snapped, his heart thudding in his chest. He had been lost his thoughts and this woman came out of nowhere.

" Visiting hours are over," Rachel pointed out kindly, " Would you like me to take you home?"

" Irene invited me to stay the night while Mum's in hospital." Jacob told Rachel, " Can you take me to her house?"

" Sure. I'm off shift in five minutes." Rachel peered at the patient. Laura was still unconscious. She asked Nurse Julie Cooper to monitor her all night.

She checked on Morag, the older woman was asleep. If she felt okay she could go home tomorrow.

Rachel took Jacob to Irene's place and left him there. Irene tried her best to make the boy feel welcome but he was tired and sullen.

" I just want to go to bed." Jacob told Irene.

" Aren't you hungry?" Irene asked him and he shook his head. Irene made up the spare bed in Kim's old room.

It took Jacob a long time to fall asleep. The guilt ate away at him as he tossed and turned. It was round midnight when he finally did fall asleep.

Morag slid out of bed and went into Laura's room. It was well after one pm and she still hadn't woken. Morag sat down next to the bed and held her hand as she thought about the night when Laura kissed her.

When she wakes up you have to tell her, Morag told herself, you have to let her know you have feelings for her too.