Chapter 5

Something was wrong with Nita, Kirsty new that much. She wasn't herself at the moment, quiet, withdrawn and she even turned down the offer of a lift to town from her dad. Kirsty hated having to work the Saturday shifts, especially when all she wanted to do was spend time with Nita. She had, Kirsty noticed, been spending a lot of time with her friends recently, coming home late from school, leaving early. Opening the doors to the emergency department and quickly moving out of the way of Dixie and Jeff pushing a trolley out, Kirsty knew that she was going to have to make the time to talk to Nita.

"Nurse Clements".

"Mr Jordan".

"Need your skills in cubicle 2. 14 year old female, can't get anything out of her". Jordan handed Kirsty the notes.

"I'm on it" Kirsty replied heading towards the cubicle. Kirsty's eyes widened as she read the notes.

"Tally, I'm Nurse Clements, Kirsty, want to tell me how you got the cut on your face?" Kirsty said reaching out to touch it. The young girl jerked away from her touch. "Tally?"

"I fell over. On the way to school." Tally couldn't look Kirsty in the eye.

"Tell you what I'll clean your face and then you can see if you feel like telling me what really happened eh?" Kirsty offered a smile as she pulled the curtain across.

Reaching into the cupboard and pulling out the cotton wool and swabs she needed Jordan approached. "Any luck in cubicle two? I'm about to call the parents".

"No, wait, don't. I've got a feeling she won't open up if her parents are here".

"Kirsty, you know the rules, she's a minor her parents have to be called…"

"And you're a stickler for rules all of a sudden?" there was an air of annoyance in Kirsty's voice that she hadn't meant to be there.

"First day back Kirsty, don't want to be upsetting the wrong people do I?" He shot a glance over at Zoe. It was only then that Kirsty noticed Zoe was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

"Nah, I definitely think it would take more than forgetting to ring some parents for you to get into her bad books…."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nick looked genuinely confused.

"Forgot my phone when I left yesterday. Had to pop back. Couldn't help noticing you and Zoe were more then cosy in the staffroom…" Kirsty grinned.

"You've got 1 hour, then I'm calling them". Nick said. With a smile Kirsty shut the cupboard door and went back over to the cubicle.

"Right Tally let's see what the damage is" she said reaching out and starting to clean the open wound on the girls face. "Alright sweetheart, want to try telling me again how you got this injury?"

"I told you, I fell over. It was stupid. I'm stupid".

"Hey, hey don't say that", Kirsty stopped what she was doing and sat down on the end of the bed.

"It's true. He says so".

"Who darling, who says so?" Kirsty didn't want to push her but she was on borrowed time.

"He says I'm worthless. No one notices because they don't care." Tears were brimming in the young girls eyes as she spoke. This had to be the worst part of the job for Kirsty, seeing a young girl so distraught and not being able to help.

"Is someone hurting you? Did someone do this to you?" Kirsty reached for her hand, and in doing so noticed a bruise on her arm. A bruise that looked so familiar, like a mark of someone holding her wrist so tight she couldn't move it. "If you tell me who did it I can help. Was it someone at school?".

"What, no one. Told you. I fell over".

"Mr Jordan is calling your parents, they will be here soon, maybe you would rather talk to them?" A look of fear shot across Tally's face. Fear. Panic.

"My, my dad. Don't call him. Please." There was a sound of desperation in her voice. Kirsty looked deep into Tally's eyes.

"Why? Why don't you want him here? I'm sure he'll be worried sick about you".

"No he won't." Tally couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face as a sob escaped her lips. Kirsty reached over and held the girl tight. She was the same age as Nita, which made this even harder for her. In between sobs she managed to get some words out. "It's not his fault. He gets angry. It's only since mum left". Kirsty hadn't been expecting that. At all.

"I've got to go and get something…." Kirsty couldn't finish her sentence. She had to get out of there.

She slammed the staffroom door behind her, and raised her hands to her face as she cried hysterically. She hadn't noticed that Adam was in the room and didn't know what to do when she saw him. Adam knew. He rushed over to her a flung his arms around her.

"Hey, Kirsty what's happened? You're a mess" he said.

"She's 14. The same age as Nita. It could have been Nita in there…."

"What could have been Nita?"

"I can't do it anymore Adam. I don't even get the chance to talk to my own daughter, there's something wrong with Nita and I don't know what it is. What sort of mother does that make me?"

"Kirsty, stop, you're a great mother, you know that. Nita loves you…" Adam always knew what to say. Kirsty looked up at him, her face in his hands. She started to move her face closer to his. Their lips were almost touching when the door opened. Kirsty jumped back and wiped her face.

"Adam," Lenny's Scottish accent filled the silent room, "need you out here".

Adam looked at Kirsty and left. Her feelings were all over the place. All she knew was that she had wanted that moment to last forever. Her and Adam, alone.

Kirsty watched helplessly as Tally and her dad left the emergency department. There was nothing she could do, but watch her go.

"Earth to Kirsty"

"Zoe. What can I do?"

"You can help sort out these files, some old drunk went right into the filing cabinet" she said handing her a pile of paper, "It's not your fault you know. If the kid won't say anything then there's nothing we can do".

"Doesn't make it any easier though does it?"

"Well we all have to find ways of distracting ourselves…"

Kirsty smiled as she followed Zoe's gaze, Nick. "Hmmmm seems like someone's happy Mr Jordan is back". Kirsty smiled as Zoe's eye's grew wide and she opened and closed her mouth, obviously unsure of what to say. "Kirsty… I… We…"

"I think it's great. You both deserve to be happy", Kirsty smiled, and noticing the look on Zoe's face added, "I won't say anything". Zoe nodded and smiled.

"So, got anything good planned for the evening?" Kirsty asked.

"Anything but the pub."

"Bit too much to drink last night?"

"That's an understatement"

"Still, looks like you had fun at Nick's though…" Kirsty mocked. Zoe grinned.

"You?"

"Night in with Nita. Just me and her. Pizza and a movie I'm thinking". Kirsty knew she had to find out what was wrong with Nita. She had to.