What's done is done
Hehe, ok, this is quite an action packed chapter (well I think it is) and this is where the twist is revealed.
I just thought it would make it a little more exciting, so yeah, please review it after, I absolutely love reviews:') and enjoy!
Chapter 8:
Gill answered the call, still smiling at Rachel's little performance involving a tea bag, some milk, a biscuit and a Kevin. "DCI Murray MIT" she spoke, as Rachel came into her office and sat down. The smile slowly faded away and Gill's eyes got bigger and bigger. Her hands were shaking and she couldn't talk. "Mm, uhh, hum, yeah, thanks bye" she slammed the phone down and grabbed her coat "come on Rach, we've got to go! NOW!" "Why…where are we going?" Rachel said jumping up. "Boss? Boss wait for me! What's going on?" gill didn't answer; she just ran towards Andy and shouted "can you take over? I just need to…" "Yeah of course, is everything ok?" "I don't know, you can handle this?" "Yeah sure" "ok thanks, sorry everyone, sorry!" with that she ran out of the door and down the stairs, Rachel hot on her heels. She had never seen her Boss move so fast. "Never thought you'd be one for running ma'am!" she shouted, as they headed into reception. "Hey lady! I may be older than you but I'm not that old!" she retorted, running towards the car.
Gill explained the situation to Rachel. Janet had too much blood building up in her lungs, meaning her breathing had packed up, putting her back on a ventilator. She had to have an emergency operation to remove it, and it was a race against time. The longer they left it, the more chance there was of it being unsuccessful. Typical. Rachel thought. When Janet got stabbed by Geoff she needed blood to survive, whereas this time, it was too much blood that wasn't helping.
They rushed to the hospital. They had to get there on time. The rest of the world was a blur. As the car sped down the road, and straight over the lights, all these images were appearing in Rachel's mind. Janet; lying there, as cold as snow, with no movement, no sound, no breath, no life. She couldn't stand it. Everywhere she looked there were reminders of her. In the back of the car after the Geoff Hastings incident, by the corner shop, even in other cars; she was always there, like a ghost. Just thinking about it made Rachel shiver.
She tried to close her eyes but that just made it worse. All these images of her, so helpless and alone. She began to think of all the memories they had shared, both happy and sad. Janet, clinging onto her life in the back of the cop car, Rachel losing her baby, Janet and Ade's break up, Rachel and Nick's deceit, Janet and Andy's fling, Sean, Dom and Alison problems. There was too much. Rachel's eyes welled up, and she felt Gill grab her hand and squeeze it tight. Rachel opened her tears and let a tear slide down her face as she looked towards Gill. "She's my best friend I don't want her to die" Rachel said quietly. Gill inhaled: "I don't want her to either kid, I've known her for over 20 years and she's always been the tough one, she'll pull through, you'll see" Gill squeezed her hand again and then let go, grabbing hold of the wheel again.
They pulled up outside the hospital next to Ade's car. He had obviously bought the girls up. As Rachel and Gill walked into the A&E reception, the younger doctor who Gill had recognised from a couple of days ago came up to them. "DCI Murray, DC Bailey?" he said. "Yes?" gill replied, this was not the time of the place for formalities. "How is she?" the doctor looked at both of them and let out a sigh. "I'm afraid it's not looking good. We need to get her into theatre as soon as possible to stop the blood from getting too far into her lungs. We will have to drain the blood and then obviously stitch her back up. It could be a quick procedure and take approximately an hour, or it could become complex and take up to five hours. The only problem is, the longer it takes, the weaker the lungs will get, meaning the lower her survival chance is going to be. I'm very sorry". Rachel mouth dropped open, and her eyes welled up again. This was so much worse than the stabbing.
They ran along the corridor towards Janet's room. She had already gone down to theatre, as they needed to begin operating straight away. Gill and Rachel hugged Ade and the girls as they got closer. Gills icy exterior really was melting now, but she didn't care, that was the least of her problems. She hadn't given out so many hugs in this week! She remembered what she said to Rachel in Bristol if this is the last thing I ever do for Janet, and I hope to God it isn't, I'm going to do it properly. She knew she would get a bollocking by Julie if she ever found out shed been affectionate, but she really couldn't care less. Janet was the top of her priorities, and keeping the girls calm and thinking happy thoughts. She was the girls Godmother, and she loved them as much as her own.
Hours passed and the doctor still wasn't back. By this time Andy had joined them along with Kevin, although he didn't stay too long. They were all sitting in silence, probably just day dreaming, thinking, waiting. There was a bit of tension between Ade and Andy, because Ade knew about Andy and Janet's relationship, but no-one cared about that now, and they weren't going to argue over it. They knew the more time that went by, the worse it was getting. Taisie and Elise had already been to the canteen three times to get drinks, then had to go to the bathroom a lot as well, but at least it kept them moving, and their minds away from any awful thoughts. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours. Final, three hours after Gill and Rachel had first arrived, the doctor came back. "We think we have stopped the bleeding, but obviously you know how long it has taken us… she is arousing, so the surgeons just stitching her up. The next 4-5days are crucial, any sudden changes and there may not be much hope. Which one of you is the husband?" he said, looking at Andy and Ade. "Um, well, I'm her ex-husband, father to her daughters, but he's her boyfriend" Ade said, pointing at Andy. Rachel looked at Gill. This could turn out to be very awkward. The doctor seemed confused. "So you're her current boyfriend?" he asked Andy. "No, I was her boyfriend, but we decided to cool it for a bit, last week." Andy said. Rachel couldn't help but smile. The doctor was looking awfully confused, having an ex-husband and an ex-boyfriend come to visit? She must be very popular. He thought to himself. "Ok, well I think I'll take you, there's something you may want to see, and I think she wants to talk to you" the doctor said to Andy. Andy got up and followed the doctor, glancing at Ade, and then towards Gill and Rachel, who looked equally confused. "Can't we come and see her?" Rachel asked, she knew this was the question on everyone's mind. "Um you can do, after. I think the latest boyfriend should go first". The doctor wasn't letting anything on. Has Janet decided to take me back then? Or what? Andy thought oh his way down to the recovery suit.
Andy walked into the recovery suit and Janet gave a weak smile. "I'm so sorry Andy, I'm so sorry, I should've told you sooner, I'm so, so sorry" Janet said, weeping into is arms. Andy was even more confused now. "What on earth are you talking about Jan?" "I'm so sorry, I've known for a while, but I couldn't face telling you, telling anybody. Rachel doesn't even know. Andy please forgive me" "of course I forgive you Jan, I love you. I've known ever since training college, and ever since you walked through that door three years ago. What is it? Come on you can tell me"
Janet began to cry. She grabbed Andy's arms as he wrapped himself around her. "I've messed up so much, Andy listen to me, if I die, I want her buried with me, please promise me that Andy. I haven't looked after her like a good mother should, so I want to be with her for eternity. Do you hear me?" Andy sat up, and removed his arms from around her. "Janet what the actual hell are you talking about?" he said, "You're really confusing me now, who do you want buried with you? If you die?" he emphasised the word if, making sure she knew she wasn't going to. Janet sighed and let out a weep. At that moment a surgeon with a blue mask came into the room carrying a bundle wrapped in a pink blanket and gave it to Janet, who sat up weakly. "Our daughter."