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I'm sorry it took so long to update but schools gotta come first…or so my teachers say : P
I hope you like this chapter !
Neil ran to his car, opening the door as quickly as possible, he didn't even spare a second thought to the gossip in the pub; he just needed to get to hospital. He managed to feel guilty when he saw Grace and Banksy run out of the pub in an attempt to help but he just started the car and headed to the hospital. He drove like a maniac and was sure that if his car wasn't known by the Sunhill police officers then he would already have been given a speeding ticket, but thankfully everyone seemed too scared to call in the DI so he sped on and was at the hospital in minutes. He rushed out the car into the hospital to the reception desk.
"Um….excuse me..." he wheezed out of breath as he got there, "could you tell me where I might find my son Jake Manson he was moved this afternoon?"
The receptionist looked concerned by his panting but even she had enough sense not to ask him to sit down, his face was murderous. Looking down at her schedule a new kind of frown plastered her face. "He's still in the operation theatre sir…I'm sorry but he'll be a while…he's down in ICU-"
Neil didn't wait for directions, he ran down already knowing the way through the hospital, apart from the fact that he was a police officer and knew the way around anyway but he had practically lived in the hospital for days on end when Jake was ill. He ran down the steps almost falling down them at one point but didn't stop until he saw the back of Phillipa's head. They had gotten used to each other by now and any dislike they had had for each other had now turned into a comradeship as they both had been at Jake's side while he was fighting for life and were now quite close, well as close as any two ex's could be.
He was bursting with questions by now and, out of breath, he gasped. "Pippa! What's happened? I thought he was getting better. Where is he? Wh-"
"Hold up Neil! He's in theatre now, they don't know what has happened, and they just know that it's serious." She pointed to a window she was standing watching intently to what was happening before she watched as he sank into a nearby hospital seat and put his head in his hands, knowing that not minutes ago she'd been doing the same. He seemed to calm down after a while and seemed just as resigned as she as he went and stood next to her, by the window, watching the surgeons trying to save Jake's life.
Neil frowned slightly as he looked for something to talk about, instead of the lifeless body that was being operated on. "What? No Liam?" Neil asked looking around for the young man that he'd grown accustomed to. Phillipa sighed, clearly upset.
"No. I think he's finally gotten sick of the late nights and rushing in and out of hospital. No Grace?" She asked as she realised that she wasn't with Neil, she and Grace had actually against Neil's expectations become really good friends, probably because they actually showed more emotion than a rock, whereas the blokes were always too dignified for that. Or at least Neil tried to convince himself, after the last treatment, where he nearly broke down.
"No. She's still at the pub, I think." He sighed.
"She gotten sick of it too?" Phillipa asked disappointed.
"No. I just left her there because I had to come here as quickly as possible." Phillipa just managed a slight grimace intended to reassure him but they just stood there, waiting for their miracle.
Smithy and Stevie looked at each other confused as Grace and Banksy left, while Callum just looked amused.
"Looks like you two only knew half the story then, there's obviously something more going on, Banksy's in on it and I intend to find out what it is." He said as he got up, for an obviously intentional dramatic exit to the pub.
"Loser. " Smithy snorted as he took another beer off a tray that had just come full of drinks, he looked around but it seemed that most people had taken Callum's exit as a sign to leave. He smirked at Stevie, his speech slurred slightly, eying the drinks, as he said. "You in the mood for a drinking game ….? 'Cos it looks like we got a lot to finish off." He laughed as Stevie just took a shot of Vodka and just took that for a yes.
Grabbing another shot he necked it back, smothering a wince at the foul taste, Stevie grinned at his obvious cover up. "Aww is big brave soldier Smithy too weak for vodka?" She cooed as he glared and made a grab for another.
Grace pulled Banksy along with her as she ran out of the pub worried, but not for the gossip that she knew was probably stirring now they had left rather dramatically, she was really worried for Neil and most of all Jake.
She shivered involuntarily, as they ran out, and Banksy spared her a sympathetic glance before hurrying off to the car park, hauling Grace along behind him. They watched as Neil's car sped off without them and jumped into the car as soon as they could.
"Follow that car!" Grace said, she saw Banksy's mouth pull into a small smile, as he started the engine; I've always wanted to say that! She thought, as Banksy put his foot down and raced after Neil's car. They both knew where he was heading and within fifteen minutes they managed to get there and not bothering as they parked on double yellow lines, and flashed their warrant cards to a doctor as he opened his mouth to reprimand them.
Getting to the reception desk Grace left the talking to Banksy as she scanned the room for any sign of Neil.
"Um, excuse me, can you tell me which ward Jake Manson is in please?" He asked, she looked at him disbelievingly.
"Are you family?" Grace's head whipped around as she cursed annoyed.
"No" Banksy said, managing to keep his cool. "But we do have to speak with Mr Manson very urgently." He whipped his warrant card out and Grace hastened to copy, as he managed to keep his bluff.
"O-of course I'm sorry he's down in ICU undergoing surgery-" Grace dragged him off before he could say 'Thank you' and mirrored Neil as she ran down the stairs, Banksy catching her as she stumbled.
She all but ran to Neil when she saw him. "Neil! What's happening? How's Jake?"
"He's still in surgerory." He sighed as grace pulled him into a comforting hug. "Sorry for not waiting for you, but I needed to know he was alright." He smiled as Grace hugged him even tighter in response.
Banksy stood awkwardly to the side of them, observing their conversation that just confirmed what all the rumours had been saying. Before he turned to the women next to him, holding his hand out. "I'm Banksy. Nice to meet you." She took his hand.
"Phillipa. I would say that this is nice but I'm afraid it's not." She said sighing, and he grimaced his sympathy. "Hey Grace. It's good to see you again." She said as Grace turned to her, and hugged her.
"Hey, Phillipa….how is he?" They both sighed and went to sit down as Banksy and Neil just stood awkwardly, eyeing each other.
"I really don't think we need to hug, Guv." Bansky said smiling as he saw a shadow of a smile on Neil's face.
"Yeah, me neither." Neil said, looking slightly more comfortable as he turned back towards Jake.
"Don't worry I'll cover for you on Monday if you need to take a few days before coming back to work."
"Cheers." Neil replied, clapping Banksy on the back in a gesture of appreciation.
They all stood there knowing it was going to be a long night….
Stevie and Smithy were fully drunk as it reached four in the morning and were both giggling to themselves over something really not funny that Smithy had just said, as the barman came over and said, "Hey I'm closing up now, and I really think you've had enough to drink, don't you?"
Bursting into a fit of giggles they grabbed their stuff and stumbled out of the pub.
"Spoil sport." Stevie mumbled as they sat down on a bench outside.
"How about we call a taxi, and we can have a few more drinks at my place?" Smithy suggested.
"Sure." Stevie said, as they caught each others stare and burst into a new fit a giggling, neither of them knowing why. Their gaze locked together again and they both stopped laughing as they found themselves closer together than intended, their lips inches apart. Stevie licked her lips in anticipation and Smithy leaned forward.
They both jumped as phone started ringing. Stevie ducked her head as Smithy coughed self-consciously, the moment broken. Smithy pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered his voice throaty, "Hello? Smithy here…..Uh huh….okay….I'll be right there."
Stevie raised her eyebrows at him questioningly, trying to recover from her embarrassment. "Who was that?"
"Oh, it was Jo. She needs help on the shift tonight, and I owe her one from a few nights ago. I'll have to sober up a bit but still." Stevie nodded, and grinned as she looked up.
"You owe me now for not giving me some more alchohol, and I'll think of some thing really gruesome for you to do to pay me back." Her smile widened as he groaned. "I'll get you looking in toilets and dumpsters for the most little jobs." She finished mock threatening.
"Great." He said sarcastically. "I'll see you , hey, here's money for the taxi." She grinned at him as he walked away in direction of the station, both thinking back to their near kiss, wondering what it could mean, there had been that whole thing with the undercover but they were only friends…Right?
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Good or bad I don't mind …
Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon