As John was stretchered into the ambulance Paul went with him whilst Mandy and Steve drove to inform Kayleigh, which neither was looking forward too.
Jess was in the ambulance with Paul as the paramedics wanted them both checked over for shock.
Paul looked devastated and just clung onto Johns hand whilst Jess just felt sorry for everything that had happened.
She tried to offer some words of comfort to Paul.
"I'm so sorry all this has happened" she said quietly.
"Don't be...it's not your fault, despite what Steve said. It was that idiot with his knife. Anyway, you really helped out there. Me and Steve would have run round like headless chickens. I just pray to god he pulls through" Paul hung his head.
"So do I" said Jess.
"God knows how Kayleigh's gonna react...glad Mandy and Steve are telling her...Shit, I've gotta tell our Mum...come on John, please let me have something positive to tell her" Paul sobbed.
As Kayleigh was resting on the couch she heard the front door go and people enter.
"You better have had a good time John Redmond! I don't want to hear you've been moping all night!" she laughed.
There was no answer as Mandy followed by Steve entered the living room. She could see they both looked sombre and Steve looked a mess.
"Where's John?" Kayleigh asked and stood up.
"Kayleigh, I think you better sit down" said Mandy.
"Where's John?"
"Kayleigh love, he's...erm...well there's been an incident" Mandy explained.
"What? He didn't have a drink and fall over did he?" she laughed hopefully.
"No Kayleigh..."
"Steve...What happened to you?" asked Kayleigh in panic mode.
Steve just looked down.
"Kayleigh, please sit down" pleaded Mandy.
"No...I need to know what's happened...where's John?"
Mandy and Steve just looked at each other.
"That's Johns blood isn't it?"
Steve nodded.
"Is he...? I mean is he...?"
"Hes been rushed to hospital Kayleigh" added Mandy.
"Why? What happened?"
"He was...I really don't know how to say it..."
"He was stabbed love" blurted out Steve.
"Stabbed?! John? But who would want to stab John?!"
"He had got into a scuffle and it just happened. I'm so sorry Kayleigh" he added.
"He's alright though isn't he? What was it? Just a cut? I mean he'll be home in a bit right?"
"Kayleigh, it was more than a cut, he was in a bad way."
"Steve!" interrupted Mandy.
"She needs to know Mandy, he aint coming home tonight. We can't keep pussy footing around it Mandy, she needs to know."
"Steve, please...I know you're upset but she's pregnant don't forget."
"What's happened? I don't understand what you're telling me?! How bad is he?"
"We don't know" said Mandy.
Kayleigh sat down and just looked forward with tears in her eyes "I need to get to the hospital. Did Paul go with him? He's not on his own is he?"
"Yeah Paul went with him" reassured Mandy.
Kayleigh stared into space for a few moments.
"Does Jan know?"
"Paul's gonna tell her" Mandy answered "Do you need anything Kayleigh?"
Kayleigh got up "I just need to get to the hospital" she went to go the hall and as she passed Steve she stopped to look at his shirt, rested her hand on it and sobbed as she left the living room.
At the hospital John had been taken to A&E and had been rushed into emergency surgery as they believed there was internal bleeding.
Paul and Jess were in the main waiting area. Paul had rang Jan who was ready to come back from Brighton that minute but Paul explained that he would keep her up to date and she agreed she would travel first thing in the morning.
Paul started pacing back and forth waiting for news as Kayleigh came rushing through.
"Kayleigh" he ran to hug her.
"Where is he? Can I see him?"
"He's had to have surgery, they think there's a lot of internal bleeding. I'm not sure what they're doing. We just got to wait."
Paul got the attention of the Doctor he had been liaising with.
"Mr Redmond?"
"This is John's wife Kayleigh, can you give her an update?" asked Paul.
"Hello Mrs Redmond, we took John down for surgery, the blade unfortunately wounded some arteries which has caused some internal bleeding."
"So what does that mean? Is he going to be ok?"
"They are still doing their best. John has lost a lot of blood so we have to manage that too."
"You didn't answer my question...is he going to be ok?"
"At the moment, he is in a critical condition. We will know more once the surgeons can be sure they have stopped the internal bleeding."
"And if they can't..."
"As I said he is in a critical condition. But these surgeons are the best I know. So lets be positive. I will see you once I know more."
"Thank you."
Kayleigh slumped in a chair sobbing, Jess could feel Kayleigh's heartbreak pouring from her. Mandy hugged her sister.
"Oh my God Mandy...this is all my fault."
"Shhh how can it be."
"He didn't want to go out, he kept saying he would cancel and I kept pushing him, pushing him to go out and have fun. Now look...he might...he might..."
"Don't you dare think like that. Come on, John will get through this."
"I hope so...god he better do! I can't go on if I haven't got John...I need him Mand...our baby needs him" Kayleigh sobbed whilst everyone else was welling up.
"Who would do this? John wouldn't hurt anyone, how did he end up in a fight that led to this?"
Steve and Paul just looked at each other.
"Try not to think about that now Kayleigh...lets just focus on John getting better" Paul said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
30 minutes later there was still no news Kayleigh had calmed down and was sitting anxiously. Paul and Steve went to the coffee machine.
"Eh, Paul, why is that Jess bird still here...its nowt to do with her."
"She's shaken up too Steve, the police will be coming here to interview her as well as us. She wants to know how John does."
"It's a bit awkward. Surprised Kayleigh or Mandy haven't clocked her yet. Ere do ya reckon she's gonna tell the police what happened between them ...we cant have that getting out, it'll break Kayleigh's heart."
"Well I suppose she's going to have to really..."
"Should we tell Kayleigh first before she hears it third hand?"
"What now? I don't think so Steve...I don't think its going to help. Anyway that should be least of our worries. Lets just keep that kiss of theirs to ourselves for now."
"What kiss" asked Mandy creeping up.
"Oh...hi ya Mandy...what's that love?" asked a jumpy Steve.
"What kiss you talking about?"
"Kiss? We weren't talking about a kiss, were we Paul?"
Paul just stared at Steve.
"Well somethings going on! And I won't let up until I know."
"Steve, just tell her."
"Tell me what?"
"Well the guy that did this to John was coming on to Jess...that woman out there."
"What woman?"
"The woman sitting near us out there...anyway...John stepped in at the bar and stayed with her most of night in case he came back."
"And...?"
"When she left the bar, he went with her to wait outside for a taxi...just to look out for her...you know...incase that bloke came back...well me and Paul followed a few minutes later...And before we knew it...we saw them kissing."
"To be fair it looked more like she kissed him and John was...well...John really" added Paul.
"Then what..?" asked Mandy.
"The bloke from the bar turned up again and got into a scuffle with John and we ran over then the next thing John was on floor..."
"So your telling me that my sister may end up bringing that baby up on her own because John had his tongue down someone else's throat?!"
"No Mandy, it wasn't like that...you know John, he's just too nice for his own good" added Paul.
"That doesn't excuse this, I get the being nice bit, but to be kissing some other woman whilst his pregnant wife is at home..."
"No one could have predicated this though Mandy..." pleaded Paul.
As Mandy turned round Kayleigh was there with tears streaming down her face" she turned away and walked off.
"Nice one Mandy!" said Steve.
"I'll speak to her" Paul said running after her.
"Kayleigh, come here, lets have a chat...What you think you heard..."
"I don't think Paul, I know what I heard. This night has become a complete nightmare...how has any of this happened? My lovely John goes out and everything I'm hearing just isn't the same man."
"It is Kayleigh...he spoke about you all night. Even to that Jess."
"Jess, that's her name is it?"
"Yeah, she's out in the waiting room. She helped with trying to stop the bleeding, she's not a bad person she's devastated this has happened."
"Oh, well I'm glad John was snogging someone good behind my back...I'm the devastated one!"
"He didn't snog her, she kissed him and he stood there like an idiot not knowing what to do with himself" Paul laughed making Kayleigh smile.
"Yeah that sounds more like John."
"That is what happened, he tried to protect her from some dickhead all night and now he's paying the price" Paul started welling up.
Kayleigh put her arms round him.
"Oh Paul...I can't believe this is happening."
"Nor can I Kayleigh...nor can I."
By this time Jess was giving her statement to the police regarding the events. As Kayleigh went to sit back down she looked over at Jess and gave a slight smile. Once the police left Jess to chat to Paul, Kayleigh went to sit next to her.
"I take it your Jess."
"Yes, and your Kayleigh?"
"Yep."
"How are you doing?" asked Jess.
"Awful. Just can't believe this has happened...not to my John."
"I'm so sorry Kayleigh, if I hadn't have been in that bar and..."
"Don't play the blame game...John didn't even want to go out tonight and I forced him...it's just so unfair."
"Yeah..."
"I know you kissed him...Paul told me."
"I'm sorry Kayleigh, he just was...so helpful and kind...I just got the complete wrong end of stick...honestly...he spoke about you all night."
"Did he?"
"Yep, about you, how lucky he was and about becoming a dad...I saw your picture in his wallet. He did nothing to deserve this."
Kayleigh still had tears in her eyes.
"Paul said you helped try and stop his bleeding."
"Yeah, I've done first aid courses so had a little bit of knowledge to help...just hope I helped enough."
"Me too."
"Before he lost consciousness he did ask me to tell you that he loved you and that he loved the bump and he was sorry."
Kayleigh cried at this.
"Thank you for what you tried to do" Kayleigh said wiping her eyes.
"Is it ok if I wait for news? I'll stay out of your way."
"Of course" Kayleigh stood up to leave "oooh..." she grabbed her belly.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah...just a twinge..." Kayleigh left Jess and sat back with Mandy.
"You ok Kayleigh?" asked Mandy.
"No...not really."
"What did she say?"
"Just what Paul said...but its made me realise something awful."
"What? What happened?"
"Nothing happened, but I realised if anything happens to John...you know...if it's bad...I won't have been the last person to kiss him."
"Oh Kayleigh..."
"I need him to be alright Mandy" she sobbed some more.
"He will be love, he will, he'll do it for you and that little one in there."
"He better" Kayleigh said as she hugged her sister.