ReflectionsOfJess: Thank you for your review. Connie's definitely not making things easier for herself. I've got the idea for Connie to protect Grace and discussing this with some friends who have admitted that in Connie's shoes, they would do the same thing to protect their child. It's all a matter of seeing how far Connie will go but also to watch Grace try to carry on as normal, despite her guilt. Thank you again.
Chapter Six
Coming into work to find the bench decorated with flowers was not something Noel expected to find on his arrival this morning.
There were several flowers, with lots of beautiful colours. From a youthful yellow to a pale pink. Most of the flowers looked to be lilies, representing purity, passion, confidence and a need to enjoy life to the full. Not many others seemed to be present as well, although Noel did see a red rose, representing passion and love.
What happened last night?
All Noel could have remembered this morning was having to make a detour into work. Harrington Road was closed off due to an accident where a car was rolled off the road and into a field. When he decided to grad a muffin on the way to work, Noel found out that two people had died in the crashed car which had made the local papers.
Noel kept his eyes on the flowers. It will be a matter of time before someone will be instructed to remove the memorial.
Turning around, he suddenly saw Charlie, Robyn and Duffy walking in. All three appeared silent, especially after seeing him at the memorial. It soon dawned on Noel that something had happened last night and that they've lost someone close to them.
But Noel wasn't sure.
"Hey," Charlie whispered to Noel, looking at the flowers, "I've taken it. That you've heard."
"I only just got here," Noel looked at the memorial, "What happened last night?"
Charlie looked at Duffy and Robyn. Remembering how Duffy took the news last night nearly destroyed him, but he had to tell her, otherwise she would had found out another way. Her relationship was a mentor to doctors as well as nurses and Lily often spoke highly of Duffy. Closing his eyes, even thinking about Lily was killing him inside.
"Noel," Duffy whispered, "Iain, Ethan and Lily. They were involved in a car accident last night."
Noel was shocked to learn this. The crash at Harrington Road. The one that happened last night. Surely, the memorial wasn't for two people.
Noel suddenly realised. Judging by the number of lilies on the bench, that it was Lily Chao who had lost her life. But it didn't seem fair that Lily's memorial was decorated in lilies, for all they knew she'd probably hated them. Just because someone is named after a flower doesn't mean they would like them.
Then he noticed the roses. Two bunches of red roses. There are a lot of reasons for those roses.
And being in love was one of those reasons.
"Oh, my Goodness," Noel was shocked, "Please don't tell me, it was the crash at Harrington Road?"
"Iain and Lily, they've both died last night," Robyn whispered, eyes becoming red, "Ethan's still in hospital. His arm's broken, but he's going to be fine. Although, I don't know if I should call it fine. He was still in shock when we told him about Lily and then Iain."
"They were returning home from that fan convention as well," Noel gasped, "What about Gem? Has anyone spoken to her?"
"She's in shock as well," Charlie whispered, "She had to watch the team try to resuscitate Iain. She was pleading with everyone not to stop."
"We've given her some time off," Duffy mentioned, "Jan's also given Ruby some time off as well. Alicia didn't want to take time off."
The moment Connie stepped outside, she suddenly remembered that she left her car at the car park last night. Too terrified to go anywhere near the car after remembering the vision of Iain and Lily's lifeless bodies lying in that makeshift double bed. As well as the vision of seeing Ethan, trying hard not to move his broken arm. Along with Gem standing motionless in front of Iain and Lily.
Plus, she wasn't quite sure if Grace could stand being in the car anyway. Not after her nightmare. This was going to haunt the poor girl for the rest of her life.
It will be a while before Grace would ever go near a car, let alone go behind the wheel.
"Have we agreed?" Connie looked at her daughter, taking her hand, "You've left your keys at the table when you went for a drink."
"And when I got back to my table," Grace sighed, nervously, "They were gone."
"Good girl," Connie smiled at her, squeezing her hand, "And the truth stays."
"Between us," Grace looked at her.
Connie nervously looked at her, before turning her head around, noticing Lily and Iain standing behind her. She watched as the two held each other's hands before facing the path ahead.
Connie felt guilty about covering the truth about their deaths, but Grace needed stability and safety. She does not need to go to prison for something that was only an accident.
And Lily and Iain's deaths and Ethan's broken arm?
That was an accident.
It's been seventeen hours. Forty-two minutes. And twelve seconds.
Ethan had tried to get back to sleep.
The vision was still there.
The vision of Iain slamming his foot against the breaks as hard as he could. The screams that he heard as the car lost its balance with Ethan sitting behind Iain, before tipping over the fence. The sight of Iain looking at Lily before grabbing her hand, squeezing it as hard as he could as the two slid to the left.
How did he survive something that dangerous when he lost two friends because of the actions of a teenage girl?
Why was he still alive, when they were both gone?
"Ethan?" he looked up to see Alicia and Sam walking over.
Oh no! Alicia!
He remembered twenty-four hours ago! He woke up in his hotel room, feeling annoyed that he was on his own whilst Iain and Lily were in the room next door. Together. The memory of going down to the breakfast buffet, noticing how playful the pair were with each other was still on his mind. How offended Iain looked when Lily pinched a sausage from his plate, only to laugh seconds later when he saw Lily say something to him. How happy the pair of them looked together even when he joined them on the table.
They were so loved up, it made him feel jealous.
Twenty-four hours ago, he wished Alicia was with him on the trip.
Ethan felt sickened, he at one point, wished Alicia was with him in that car. The one that ended up crashing.
And the memory of being the only person in the car to have survived still terrifies him.
"You look tired," Alicia whispered, sitting beside him.
"I couldn't sleep," Ethan sighed, looking at Sam, "I'm so sorry about Iain. I knew how close you two were."
"Thank you," Sam whispered, "I still couldn't believe it. Jan asked me if I wanted to come in."
"I would have done the same thing if I could," Ethan looked at his arm, "All I kept on thinking about was that crash. Iain and Lily were going to drop me off at home. We were ten minutes away from my flat as well."
"Don't stress yourself out," Alicia scolded him, "You need to focus on yourself right now."
"Really Alicia?" Ethan looked at her, glared at her even, "Can I tell you what happened last night? My best friend died! Her partner died! And I now have a broken arm that could take months to heal! And today I've got to give a statement to the police about the crash!"
Alicia looked at Ethan shocked. How had she not seen this side of him before? She couldn't remember a time Ethan had gotten this angry, not since Cal died.
"Alicia," Ethan sighed, looking away from her, "I'm sorry. I just feel so guilty."
"Don't," Alicia reassured him, "You've got nothing to feel guilty about."
Charlie set the notes down on his desk. He wasn't expecting to receive the post-mortem results so quickly.
It opened a lot of questions for the ED about the crash. Where was Ethan sitting in the car when the car crashed? Were Iain and Lily in any pain whilst they were unconscious? Were the two even aware of the other's condition after the crash?
Charlie closed his eyes thinking about the two. The first thing he did after walking home last night was to pull his wife into his arms. He remembered Duffy being confused as she was pulled into Charlie's arms, noticing how red his eyes were. She saw the car wasn't there and realised that Charlie walked back.
Telling Duffy, the sad news felt as if his heart fell to the floor and smashed into a million of pieces.
"Charlie?" he looked up to see Duffy enter the room, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Charlie sighed, "We've got the post-mortem results back. For Iain and Lily."
"I didn't think they would have come back so fast," Duffy mentioned sitting opposite him.
"Nor did I," Charlie rubbed the sweat off his forehead, "But they've both suffered from internal bleeding."
Duffy stood up from her seat, walking over to Charlie and wrapping her arms around him. She couldn't imagine what was going on between Iain and Lily when they were in the car, dying.
"Connie's told me something last night which was also worrying," Charlie looked at her, "Grace's car was stolen whilst she was in town yesterday. According to Ethan's description, it must have been someone too young to drive."
"You don't think the two are linked, do you?" Duffy asked.
"I don't want to think about it," Charlie sighed.
Ruby silently knocked on Gem's door with a mug of hot chocolate for her. Opening it up, she walked in, only to find Gem staring at the ceiling, her bedside lamp was still on, almost as if it was on all night. Ruby wasn't even sure if Gem would have been able to sleep.
"I've made you this," Ruby whispered, placing it beside her.
Still, all that came out of Gem was silence.
"Gem?" Ruby whispered, "I'm not good with the interactions. I wished there was something I could say. Iain and Lily, I know how much they've both meant to you. I just wish there was something."
Ruby froze as Gem turned to her side, facing towards her. Ruby started to stroke Gem's hair, knowing she needed someone to be there for her. With Rash at work, Ruby was bestowed upon the task of helping Gem come to terms with what has happened.
Only what could you say to her? She's not only lost her brother, but she had also lost her best friend. All on the same night!
What could you say to someone who had to deal with the heartbreak?
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Ruby asked her, "Could I get you anything?"
Ruby noticed Gem carefully shaking her head.
"Do you want me to leave?" Ruby asked her.
Another shake.
"Do you want a hug?"
Gem looked up to her, tears beginning to drop as she nodded. Wrapping her arms around her, Ruby stayed still as Gem silently sobbed into her shoulders, letting her emotions out.
"Good Morning," the receptionist greeted, "Holby Police, how can I help?"
Connie suddenly felt sick. The reality had truly hit home with what she was telling Grace to do. How can she live with herself knowing that she will be talking her own daughter into lying to the police?
Did Lily and Iain have a point about being honest?
Or were they just saying that because they hated Grace?
Connie looked behind reception, noticing Lily waiting at the corner. What was she doing there? Of all places? Why was she at the police station? Surely, she couldn't have followed her here. It was an hourly walk to the police station, so Lily couldn't have walked that far.
Then Connie remembered, this Lily wasn't real. She was a fragment of her imagination. The real Lily was unconscious during the accident, she could never have thought that Grace would have been responsible.
"Hello," Connie looked at Grace, "We're reach to report a car theft. My daughter's car was stolen last night."
"Okay," the receptionist nodded, "What we'll need is the car's registration number, make and colour please."
"Thank you," Connie smiled, taking the forms.
Connie guided Grace over to the benches, form and pen in hand. She felt guilty for two reasons. Knowing the circumstances behind Lily and Iain's deaths was one thing, but she felt guilty for not realising how many youngsters have texted behind the wheel before. How could she not have considered that? As a doctor, she was used to seeing young people brought into the department as a result of car accidents either down to substance abuse or use of technology.
It slipped her mind that the number of accidents caused by use of technology was greater than the use of drugs and alcohol.
It haunted her to know that Grace only used her phone behind the wheel once, and this was the result.
"It'll be over soon," Connie whispered to Grace.
Connie sighed, looking at the paper.
It'll be over for Grace, but it might not be over for her.
But she couldn't risk losing Grace over a mistake.
"Hey," Dylan walked into the ambulance station to find Sam staring at the lockers, "They haven't tasked anyone to clear Iain's locker out already have they? It's too soon."
Sam shook her head at Dylan's question. It's a painful thought, considering that at one day, it will have to be done. Guilt watched over her; it would be erasing Iain from everyone's lives. All because of some reckless teenager who ran off leaving the group in the car.
"You're okay?" he asked her, shaking his head, "Stupid question."
"I went to see Ethan this morning," Sam looked at him, "He's still shook up about last night."
"I can't imagine what he's going through," Dylan whispered as Sam walked to the bench, "Did you get home okay? I noticed you've walked it home."
"I couldn't bring myself to go in my car," Sam whispered, "Not after watching Iain die."
"You did well with Gem," Dylan praised her, "No one had the patience that you've displayed."
"I knew that what was Lily would have done. I can't imagine what Gem's going through," Sam sighed at him, looking at Dylan, "I'm not as close to Gem as Lily was. She was like a sister to her."
Dylan saw Sam about to break down. On instinct, he wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hair again. It's been a while since he felt this close to her, even whilst they were married.
It would break him to see her reaction to his discovery.
He needed to speak to either Connie or Jan.
The only question he was asking himself.
Did Iain know before he died?
"You okay?" Charlie sat down with Ethan, "Stupid question."
Ethan nodded, although he wasn't too sure about his answer. Yes, he was feeling better physically, apart from the broken arm. Only, he wasn't okay mentally. The visions of the car rolling off still played on his mind. Along with Iain and Lily screaming each other's names and grabbing each other's hand. The twitch of Iain's hand. The laughter the three of them shared before Iain suddenly stopped the car when they saw the other car had no intention of slowing down. The young girl, he could only see the back of her head when he saw the long brunette hair.
"I don't know," Ethan whispered, "I felt ashamed of myself. Twenty-four hours ago, I wished that Alicia was with us on the trip."
"No one could have saw this coming," Charlie whispered, "But remember, you've survived."
"I got lucky," Ethan frowned, "I don't know how Iain convinced Lily to come with us, but I wished he hadn't succeeded. She'd still be here if she hadn't, maybe they both would have been."
"Please don't think like that," Charlie gently scolded him, "Thinking about the what ifs, they're not going to bring Lily or Iain back."
"What will?" Ethan choked, "If it weren't for that accident, they'd be at the seaside right now with Iain asking Lily to marry him. Instead, they're lying in a cold room. Lifeless."
Charlie sighed. Deep down, this accident was going to affect everyone, but it was going to have a negative impact on Ethan. He wasn't sure if Ethan was going through the stress of surviving a crash, the loss of his best friend or suffering survivor's guilt.
This was going to stay with Ethan for a long time.
"Do you need me to get you anything?" Dylan asked Sam as they waited outside, "Coffee?"
"Just some water, thank you," Sam whispered before noticing the memorial.
The number of flowers left on the bench had doubled. All decorated with colours of red, yellow, pink, orange and white. There were even cards left all over the site as well, along with a Batman hoodie and an Eevee plushie.
Sam's eyes narrowed. If she remembered correctly Iain hated Pokemon, so the Eevee plushie must have been meant for Lily. How little about Lily did Sam knew about her? Have they really spoken about each other's interests? Was all they did was talk about how big of an idiot Iain had been?
It soon dawned on Sam. Comic conventions also sold old anime as well as manga and computer games. It didn't take Iain time to convince Lily to tag along with them to the convention. It soon dawned on Sam that Iain had shown something to Lily, and she went with them.
"You're okay?" Dylan asked her, passing Sam her water bottle.
"Thanks," Sam nodded, "I've just realised how little I knew about Lily. I never took her to be a fan of Pokémon. Iain hated the franchise."
"I remember it being mentioned," Dylan smiled.
"I knew little about everyone," Sam looked down.
"People surprise you," Dylan looked at the memorial.
"Do you think about people when they die, others would think how well they knew them," Sam whispered, "But then you've found that they may not have known them for as well as they thought they did. I thought I knew Lily well. I didn't even know she likes Pokémon."
"Sam," Dylan whispered, "Please don't beat yourself up about it. Not many people did know that. Lily was very private about her life."
"And I thought we were good friends," Sam whispered.
Connie opened the door to the sitting room. Taking off her coat, she hung it up with Grace following her behind. She watched as Grace took off her coat and hung it on the rail, before standing still looking at the rail.
"Grace?" Connie asked nervously.
"I shouldn't have lied," she whispered, "What about the families of the victims? What about Dr Hardy? What about the person who could get sent down in my place?"
"No one's getting sent down," Connie told her, "But we do need to carry on as normal."
"But."
"No buts," Connie looked at her, "They'll find the car. But they won't find out who was driving it. Eventually, they will have to close the case."
Grace still looked unsure at her mother's suggestion. Yes, they're protecting the family, but what about those who her victims had left behind after their deaths? What about Dr Hardy? Would he recover mentally and physically from the accident?
But what about the victims themselves?
If she hadn't texted behind the wheel, who knows what they would have been doing now?
"Grace," Connie sighed, "Why don't you work on your revision? You've still got your exams coming up."
"Mum?" Grace looked at her, "What about the future?"
"We can worry about that later," Connie sighed, "I know you've got interviews for university coming up, but you'll need the grades before you enrol."
Grace looked at her, grabbing her notebook and slowly walked into her bedroom. As soon as she heard the door close, Connie sat herself down, worried about the impact of the crash. It seemed that this would haunt her daughter for the rest of her life.
"Supposed a congratulations are in order."
Connie looked up, noticing Lily and Iain glaring at her.
"Look, this is going to haunt her for the rest of her life," Connie sternly warned them, "She's going to have nightmares haunting her for the rest of her life. She's put off driving and she's been put off her phone. She's been punished enough!"
Connie looked at the two. Silence filled the air, as Lily and Iain looked at each other, before they looked at the door and then over to Connie. It seemed to Connie that it still wasn't enough.
"What more do you two want?" Connie glared at them.
"We want our lives back!" Iain shouted at her.
"I'm sorry," Connie apologised, "There isn't more that I could do for you two."
"Then think about everyone else," Lily mentions, "Grace had taken our lives. Please, don't let her take another."
"I'm not," Connie insisted.
"Doesn't look like it," Lily growled, folding her arms, "There could be a massive fall out. One that could easily be prevented if Grace would just tell the truth."
"Think about Gem," Iain warned Connie, "And Ethan. What must be going through their minds right now?"
"I'm sorry," Connie sighed, "I can't let our family be torn apart."
"Yet" Lily glared at her, "You're willing to let ours."
Connie closed her eyes after hearing Lily's voice taunt her. Turning her face away, she grabbed her phone and threw it over to where she last saw Lily and Iain. She was determined to get rid of the two voices. There was no way she was going to let Lily Chao and Iain Dean torment her over the accident.
If they had a child, they'd understand that Grace shouldn't be punished for an accident.
