Sorry for the lack of update! I've been out a lot this weekend but hopefully i'll update more! Just one chapter this time to leave you all on a cliffhanger! mwuhaha
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Café et fraises
Chapter Fifteen
Shannon's Despair
(Part Two)
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. The grandfather clock continued to tick, the pendulum swinging back and forth. Steve's house was silent other than that, Pete and Lucy sat together on the sofa, gripping each others hands. Then, the door opened and Steve came in, his shoes making a clipped noise as he headed towards them.
'We've been to the hospital,' he said in a toneless voice as Shannon came in after him, pushing Ben in his buggy; the toddler was asleep. 'They did all they could.'
'Oh,' Lucy made a small sound, before her hand came up to cover her mouth, a tear running down her cheek.
'He died an hour ago,' Steve continued. An hour? Was that how long they had been sat in this house, waiting?
It had seemed like years. Shannon lifted Ben out his buggy before going upstairs without a word.
'Do you want a drink?' asked Pete, his voice hoarse.
'There's whiskey in the kitchen,' replied Steve, sinking down into the armchair. He leant forward, running his hand over his face. He looked very tired.
'How's Shannon?' asked Lucy in a small voice.
'She's not said much since the doctor broke the news,' her brother replied, eyes staring at the floor. Pete returned, handing out three glasses of Jack Daniels. Steve drained his straight away, as Lucy just stared into its depths. There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs and Shannon appeared. She brushed down the front of her dark jumper before getting out the broom and sweeping the floor.
'Love, you don't 'ave to do that,' said Steve. Shannon shook her head.
'Someone trailed mud in; I've got to clean it up. What if Ben tried to eat some? He's at that stage.' Lucy glanced guilty at her dirty trainers but said nothing. Putting the brush aside, Shannon disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a cloth and some antiseptic spray. Getting onto her hands and knees, she began to scrub viciously at the floor. Steve got to his feet, walking over and putting his hand on her shoulder.
'Babe-'
'GET OFF ME!' she exploded. Lucy jumped at the sudden noise as Shannon got to her feet, throwing the antiseptic bottle at Steve. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her nose was running and her eyes were wild. 'He's dead! My brother! Matt is dead and it's all your fault.' She pointed at the three Dunham's, backing off when Steve tried to approach her. 'You killed him! All of you! With your stupid fucking firm!' Lucy would have laughed if the situation had been different; she'd never heard Shannon swear before.
'You can't blame us,' retorted Pete, eyes blazing. 'It's his fault for running off with Hatcher!'
'Don't you dare say that,' Shannon said, before manically laughing. 'Don't you dare come in my house and blow off the fact that you're a murderer! And you!' she focused her steely gaze on Lucy. 'You brought mud into my house!' Seizing the bottle off the floor, she dived at Lucy's feet, soaking them with antiseptic spray. Lucy shook her head, trying to back off, sobbing.
'No, Shannon, please. We didn't kill Matt.' Steve grabbed Shannon, pulling her away. Pete stepped protectively in front of his sister, eyes still on the sobbing form of Shannon.
'He was my brother!' Shannon shrieked, nose red, eyes bloodshot. 'And… and…' she hiccupped. 'How would you like it if I killed Lucy? Would you like that?'
'Shan, you need to calm down, alright?' said Steve, reaching out his hand.
'No I will not!' Shannon retorted, going to grab the broom again. Pete knocked it out the way and she glared death at him. 'Why are you still here? Don't you think you've done enough damage? You're a worthless piece of crap, Pete. I never want you near my little boy again.'
'You don't know what you're saying,' Pete replied coolly, but his fists were clenched.
'Babe, please,' pleaded Steve. 'Just sit down. Get a hot drink in you.'
'Leave me alone! Leave me alone!' she squawked. 'I don't want to see you. I'm going to bed. Leave me alone.' Staggering back towards the stairs, she dashed up them, still sobbing and talking to herself.
'She's in shock,' Lucy whimpered.
'No shit,' snarled Steve, before rubbing his eyes. There was a pause. 'Sorry,' he sighed, turning to face her. 'It's been a long night. Maybe you should go.'
'Maybe we should,' said Pete in a hand voice before leading the way to the door. Lucy stopped the give Steve a tight hug before she followed Pete out the house.
'That was scary,' she said when they were out of sight of the house.
'Like you said; she's in shock.'
'Yeah but… she went crazy, Pete.' He sighed, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his trackie bottoms.
'She was already crazy,' he reminded her. 'She's just in shock. When she's given it a bit of thought and gotten to terms with what's 'appened…' Bovver was already waiting for them when they got back, nervous to know what had happened but they weren't back at his flat five minutes before his mobile rang.
'Pete, she's gone,' Steve said down the phone. His voice was wavering and thick, as if he was on the verge of tears. 'She's taken Ben, she's taken my boy. What if she does something stupid?'
'I'm on my way, all right? Stay at yours, I won't be long. She can't 'ave gone far.' He hung up, turning to an anxious looking Lucy. 'Shannon run off with Ben,' he said, running a hand over his head. 'I'm going to help him look for her. You stay 'ere with Bov, okay?'
Lucy nodded, sinking back into the chair with a choked sob. Bov pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek. 'Its gunna be alright,' he said. 'They'll find her. It can't be that 'ard to find an American bird in London.' Lucy nodded, holding him close and breathing in his scent to calm her down. But she wasn't sure if it would be as easy to find her as Bov had said.
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Suicide was a big thing. In some cases it was quick and simple. In other cases it could get quite messy.
Shannon didn't want it to be messy. She was stood on Tower Bridge, Ben's pushchair next to her. The blue eyed baby was still a little annoyed to have been woken. He stared up at Shannon.
'It's okay,' Shannon replied to the unasked question. 'It won't hurt. I promise.' Turning, she peered over the side of the bridge into the murky water below. 'We'll be with Uncle Matt soon.'
Ben gave a gurgle and yawned, his little hands bunching into fists.
'Everything will be okay, Ben,' she continued, moving to the buggy and unclipping him. Ben clutched the material of her jumper as she clambered onto the wall, balancing herself against the wall. 'Ready?' she asked the toddler, who rested his head on her shoulder, gazing at her with a look of innocence and slight confusion. Shannon felt no fear now. Just emptiness.
She took in a deep breath.
And bent her legs to jump.
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