Hey, I'm so sorry about the very slow updates, but I hope you enjoy it all the same x

Chapter 20- Screams

At six in the morning, all was quiet in the ward. The only sound was the slow beeping of Dougie's machine. Suddenly, a loud, petrified scream rang throughout the ward, forcing the others awake. Danny stumbled to the wall, switching the lights on, looking around. Harry was awake, peering around the ward with tired eyes, as was Tom. Harriet was sitting up, watching Danny, curiously trying to see who screamed. She forced herself out of bed, lurching over to Danny and taking his hand as Tom and Harry sat themselves up.

'Who was that?' Tom asked quietly, his voice slurred with sleep.

'I think it was Doug...' Danny whispered, gently pulling Harriet over to Dougie's bed. His face, pale and clammy and terrified, quietly whimpering in his sleep.

Danny gently shook his shoulder, 'Doug?' He didn't respond, so Danny shook him harder. 'Dougie!' he shouted. Dougie gave a loud squeak, his eyes flying open.

'What?' he asked hoarsely.

'You were dreaming?' Danny murmured, gently sitting beside him.

'I was?' Dougie asked nervously. Danny nodded.

'Oh. Um. Well, I'm going back to sleep. Night guys, sorry for waking you up.' And with that Dougie turned away from the others and shut his eyes, waiting for the others to sleep. The light was switched off and Danny and Harriet made their way back to bed. When the shuffling of the sheets had stopped and the room had become silent once again, Dougie finally let go. One small tear rolled down his cheek and onto the white pillow underneath his head.

'Rise and shine everyone!' a shrill voice was saying as a nurse walked into the ward, opening the blinds and quickly checking on Dougie's machines and the other's blood pressure and heart rate. Satisfied they were all okay and were awake, she pranced out of the room again, much too cheery for early in the morning. Harry moaned and forced himself to an upright position, wiping sleep from his eyes. His whole body, like the others, was stiff. More stiff than he had ever felt in his life, even after three games of cricket in a row. He no longer felt sick. His stomach felt fine, and strangely hungry once again after his porridge at four in the morning. Tom opened his eyes, looking above his blanket, too scared to move his sore body. Harriet sat, wincing as her muscles pained. Danny awoke, not wanting to sit up. Dougie lay still, his eyes flicking around the room, taking in everything in a single sweeping gaze.

'How's everyone feeling?' Danny asked quietly. No one answered. Gingerly, he made his way from his bed and over to the chairs around a small coffee table near Tom's bed, near the window. Sensing that Danny wanted to talk, Harriet made her way out of bed, and over to the table. Harry lurched from underneath his blankets, walking over to Dougie's bed.

'Can ya get up mate?' he asked quietly, pushing a small piece of hair from Dougie's eyes. Dougie shrugged and nodded. Harry helped him to sit, supporting his friend with his good shoulder. Dougie pulled all the cords off himself, much to the mortification of the others, and with Harry's help, he stumbled his way to the seats, sitting beside Harriet. Tom, who was unable to move, lay in bed on his side, watching.

'So guys...we have the police coming today...' Danny trailed off, seeing everyone's faces.

'Why?' Dougie asked in shock.

'Well Doug, after what happened, you'd think they'd want to know why.' Danny smiled weakly at Dougie, who gave a small bob of his head in return.

'We need a story. They won't believe us about ghosts.'

'We can't lie to the police! That could get us arrested!' Tom gasped.

'Well we've gotta do something! They won't believe us if we say it's ghosts. There has to be another explanation,' Danny said calmly.

'We could just tell them guys. They may actually believe us, or think we were too traumatised to remember properly,' Harriet piped up.

'I agree with Harriet,' Harry said quietly, avoiding Danny's eyes.

'What? You're prepared to make a total fool out of yourself in front of the police?' Danny exclaimed.

'It's better than getting imprisoned for lying to them Danny,' Harry shot back quickly. Danny held himself stronger.

'Well, they might put us in jail for thinking we were lying about the ghosts! Did you ever think of that you twat?' Harry's face turned to a mixture of shock and annoyance.

'How dare you call me a twat Danny! I'm only trying to help our situation! And I think by telling the truth, we won't be burdened with lying for the rest of our lives!'

'Yeah?' Danny spat, 'I reckon the paps would go nuts with that. I can see the headlines now- "Crazy McFly Boys See Dead People".'

'You are so pathetic Danny!' Harry exclaimed. A small voice murmured something. All eyes flicked to the perpetrator.

'I say, we just tell the truth and keep a thick skin about this shit.' Dougie's voice was quiet and feeble, but the annoyance at Danny and Harry was plainly audible. 'The paps can't do much at all. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Anyone remember that?'

Harriet said and Danny and Harry looked at their feet. 'Fine,' Danny sighed, 'we tell the truth.'

'Good. Thankyou,' Dougie replied quietly. A flushed looking nurse ran into their room.

'Dougie! What are you doing out of bed? Nearly gave us all a heart attack! Come on, in you get.' She led Dougie over to the bed once again, connecting the wires back up and putting the IV back into his hand. He flinched as it pierced his skin once again.

'Now, please remain here. Unless you have permission to leave,' she said in a tone of authority. Dougie peered out from under her arm, poking the end of his tongue out at the others, a small smile on his face.

'This is not a game Dougie! You are very ill, and MUST remain here, you hear me?'

'Yes ma'am,' Dougie replied in a feeble voice.

'Good. The police will be up in about fifteen minutes to interview you all. Behave.' And with that, the nasty nurse turned and marched from the ward. Dougie began to giggle under his breath, until his eyes began watering, setting off the others. Soon, the entire ward was filled with giggles and shouts of laughter. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and there stood a nurse, with two policemen behind her. The whole room went completely silent, all watching the door.

'Right, the police are here to talk to you guys about what occurred the night you were all bought in here. First up is Dougie,' the nurse said, and Dougie gave a terrified look to the others. Tom gently rubbed Dougie's arm in comfort.

'I'll ask all of you if you'd be able to come with me, just while we interview each of you in this room,' the nurse said, wheeling a wheelchair over for Tom, and assisting the others out of the room, leaving Dougie alone with the two men in uniforms, looking terrified.

One by one, each of them told their story. All details followed the same storyline. They didn't care whether the police believed them or not, or if the paparazzi got a hold of the interviews and turned them into something terrible. All that mattered was that they were okay.