Have I Got News For You?

They had been holed up in the relatives room like caged animals for over six hours and barely a word passed between them, but Seth's resentment and anger towards Bart bubbled beneath the surface as he watched him pace up and down, wearing a hole in the mucky orange carpet.

"SITDOWN. He finally erupted. Youaregettingonmynerves."

"I can't something isn't right."

"He has a point."

Heidi mumbled. It had been two hours since Jason should have had the operation and so far they hadn't so much as seen a doctor pass by what she had renamed their little section of hell.

"Shut up or even better do us all a favour and get lost."

Seth rose to his feet and marched over to Bart; he stopped inches from his face and pronounced every word deliberately.

"Iamgoingnowhere. Bart stepped back from him and wiped flecks of spittle from his face. IloveJason.Nomatterwhatyouthink."

"I think he can do so much better than a lay about like you."

"ButJasonloveshim. Heidi interjected. Sowearegoingtohavetoacceptthatevenifwedon'tlikeit."

"And I don't like it."

Seth clarified.

"Iknow. Bart conceded. AndIunderstandwhy.IregretthatIhurtJason,butIwashurtandconfused.Jasminehadjusttoldmeshewantedtobeaboy,eventhoughwehadjustkissed.Icouldn'tdealwiththat.IthoughtIwasgoingtolosetheonepersonIhaveeverloved,soIbeathimtothepunch.Itwasbetterhegothurtthanme,formeanyway."

"You have no idea how much you hurt him."

"Yeah well you have no idea what I was going through."

Bart mastered all his self control, not to lash out at him.

"Ithinkwedo. Seth replied sarcastically. Ilostmysister,mybestfriend,beingatwinisastrongconnection,nooneunderstandsthat.Ihadtowatcheverydayasshehasstruggledtoacceptherself.Sodon'ttellmewedon'tknowwhatitislikebecausewehaveallbeenlivingit."

Bart literally froze, as Seth sank to the floor, his body shaking uncontrollably as tears streamed down his face.

"Iamsosorry. Bart mumbled incoherently but sincerely. He sat next to him on the floor and draped his arm round his shoulder comfortingly. Youshouldhavetoldme.Wecouldhavesupportedeachother."

"We were hardly the best of friends."

Seth quipped but they shared a smile at the truth behind that statement.

"No, but we did have something or rather someone in common. She may have meant different things to us as Jason does now, but we both still love him."

"Did you mean what you said before about Jason?"

"Which part?"

"That you love him no matter what."

"Every word."

"All that matters to me is that you are sure this time."

"I am Seth. 100%. When we finish college I want to move with him to Manchester and start our new life together. I have been an idiot but that is in the past. I am ready to make this right. Not all of us McQueens are the same. You have to let me prove that to you."

"I believe you. I just want him to be happy. He deserves that after all this."

"You all deserve to be happy."

"MrsCostello? Bart recognized the friendly tone of the nurse who had taken Jason to theatre that morning. CanIhaveaquickwordinprivate?"

"Of course."

"It's nothing to worry about."

She smiled at them all reassuringly and winked at Bart. Seth and Bart sat in a companionable silence straining to hear the conversation taking place outside, but they needn't have worried as Heidi's harpy tone echoed through the hospital.

"YOUHAVEGOTTOBEKIDDINGME! She stormed back into the waiting room and loomed menacingly over Bart who cowered under her angry glare. WHATDIDYOUSAYTOHIM?"

"Mum.Calmdown. Seth stood in front of Bart protecting him from her wrath. What'shappened?"

"What'shappened…Heidi screamed hysterically. Yourbrotherhasdecidedhecan'tgothroughwiththeoperation. Seth stood statuesque, unable to form a clear though. Andhisreasonisheloveshimtoomuch."

"Woha.Hangonasecond. Bart staggered to his feet ready to defend himself, or run for the hills he wasn't sure which exactly. ItoldJasonIlovedhimforwhoheisnow,notasJasmineandthatIwanttostartourlifetogether,sothiscan'tallbeaboutme.Letmegoandfindoutwhathappened."

"Y…Y Y You happened."

Heidi spluttered furiously. This time it was her spittle Bart wiped from his face.

"Mumsitdown. Seth forced her to back away. She looked ready to commit murder.Youneedtocalmdown.LetBarttestthewaters.IfthisisreallywhatJasonwantsthenyou'vegotJasmineback."

Heidi smiled as that realization sunk in.

"Fine. But make it quick."

"I will."

Bart promised, as he sprinted out of the room, putting as much distance between himself and Heidi. He never thought he'd be scared of any of the Costello's apart from Carl but as it turned out, she could out do him in the terrorizing stakes.