Angel looked at Casino.
`Walk away Casino, please, this is not the time`, she said quietly.
`Oh there was going to be a time then? He asked angrily.
Steve pushed Sylvie gently back inside,
Actor turned towards him.
`We'll deal with this , you should be with her`, Actor told him.
`I'm going to talk to her and if you try to stop me I'll deck you`, he yelled at Actor.
Angel put herself between the two of them.
`That go for me too? She asked.
`If I have to `, he said.
`Take your best shot Casino, and then you can deck Actor and then a cripple and then you can take on a pregnant lady. Be a real big man then won't you? She asked angrily.
Casino felt the rage inside him growing towards this woman that had betrayed him.
`If you were a man I'd kill you for what you did`. He said. I trusted you and you betrayed me, and for that I will never forgive you.
`It wasn't like that Casino`, Actor said softly, Maybe if you just listened.`
I'll never listen to either one of you again, you were going to let her take my kid away, my kid, without even telling me she was pregnant`.
In his uncontrollable anger he took a swing towards Angel .
She saw it coming , closed her eyes but she stood her ground . She felt the wind on her face as he hit the wall behind her.
`I don't ever want to see your face again,` he said angrily.
He gave her one last look that was so full of hate it scared her, and then turned and ran up the street.
Steve opened the door.
`Are you two okay? He asked.
`We're fine`, said Actor. `Do you have a friend you could stay with tonight just in case he comes back`, asked Actor.
`You think he'll try and hurt Sylvie? Asked Steve anxiously.
Actor shook his head.
`No, he would never do that, but he needs time to sort things out in his head before we'll be able to talk to him, He may try to see her but he'll never hurt her` he said.
`I'll take her to our friends cottage , they know all about us, so there won't be anything to explain.` Steve said.
`We'll meet you back here at eleven, that may just give us time to talk to him, if we can find him`, said Actor. `It may not seem like it now , but he is a good man, Steve, he's just hurting so badly right now.
`I understand, would probably feel the same if things were reversed`, Steve said. `But I think you'd better get Angel back to the hotel, she doesn't look to good right now`.
For the second time that night Actor saw that he had let Angel down.
She looked ready to collapse, Damn Casino, an argument was the last thing she needed right now.
`Come`, he said simply, taking her arm in his, and putting the other round her waist to support her..
`We need to find him`, she said.
`We will, but not right now, you need to rest first. Come with me`. He said.
`We will see you tomorrow Steve`, said Actor
Steve nodded and watched Actor guide Angel towards the hotel before closing the door.
…..
Casino found the nearest pub and drank until he could hardly stand.
How could they do this to him?
First Sylvie, not even wanting to tell him that she was having his kid.
Then Angel, just leaving to come here , she should have told him, he had a right to know.
They would all know except him. If Actor knew then the rest of them would.
Probably thought it was so funny, knowing that he was the only one that they had kept the secret from.
Well he would see her, make her tell him why she was leaving, why he wasn't good enough for her'
He would do it right now.
He left the pub and staggered down the street towards Sylvie's house.
He banged loudly on the door.
She was going to talk to him, he'd make her talk.
He bent down and picked the lock with a little more difficulty than usual,he knew he'd had too much to drink, but what the hell,
As the door opened he fell through it and landed on the floor.
Still no one came to see what the noise was.
He closed the door and turned on the lights.
The house was quiet, too quiet.
He staggered upstairs and found the empty bedroom.
They had gone.
She had taken his kid and run.
In his anger he picked up a vase and smashed it against the wall.
Next was a photograph, and the he cleared everything off the dressing table with one sweep of his hand.
Damn them all.
He went downstairs and looked in the front room , and started throwing anything he could. They had gone , they wouldn't need any of these things ever again.
He would never find them now, never know where she had taken his child.
He found the bottle of whisky and downed most of it in one go.
He tried to stand, but found his legs wouldn't hold him any longer.
He never saw them enter the room.
Just felt the floor as he hit it hard when they knocked him down , put handcuffs on him and then dragged him to his feet again.
It was then the drink finally took it's toll, he took one step and then felt his legs start to give way .
They straightened him up and then as he started to fall again they let him go. He hit the floor hard.
He gave them one last look and then passed out completely.
…
Actor sat at the breakfast table with Angel.
`So did you manage to find Casino? She asked.
`Found out he'd got as far as the local pub, but he'd gone by the time I'd got there`, he said.
She looked up and saw him staring at her.
`You do not look well, did you sleep at all last night? he asked noting the dark circles under her eyes
`Not much, but I'm fine, just worried, that's all. I'll feel a lot better when I know he's all right`, she said.
`I'll start looking again straight after breakfast, now eat something please`, said Actor
`No need for that`, Said a voice from the doorway. `I've already found him`.
`Craig, what are you doing here? Asked Angel in surprise.
`Didn't take a mastermind to work out where he'd gone when he didn't come home from the village yesterday afternoon. Specially when Mrs Callan said she'd sent him round to your place with your groceries.
he said.
Angel looked at him and sighed.
`He must have found the letter. Damn , I knew I should have hidden it, stupid of me to leave it lying around, but I didn't expect anyone to be there until I got back.` she said.
`I take it things are bad? He asked.
`He turned up here last night, angrier than I've ever seen him, where did you find him ? Asked Angel.
`He's at the police station. He was so stoned he not only broke into Sylvie's place , he trashed it. The place is a real mess.` said Craig.
`Where is he now? She asked.
`Still in a cell and he can stay there until he can learn to behave`, said Craig angrily.
`You in trouble because he ran? She asked.
`Major Reynolds isn't too pleased but luckily we don't have a mission or the chances are they'd all be heading back inside, he arranged passes for them to keep them out of trouble,
God knows why.` he said.
Angel stood up.
`Just where do you think you're going? Craig asked.
`Firstly I'm going to make sure that Sylvie's all right and then I'm going to talk to Casino.` she said.
`Oh no you're not lady, and you can just sit back down before you fall down.`
She did as she was told , knowing that Casino wasn't the only one he was angry with.
`You lied to me` he said `Peter Roberts never said you were well enough to take this trip, in fact he assures me he advised you against it`,
`Ratted me out did he? She asked
Actor looked at Craig
`I assure you Warden I knew none of this, I would never have agreed to come if I had any idea that it was against Doctor's orders`, said Actor.
Craig returned the look.
`I wouldn't have let her come either and she knows it, she lied to both of us`, he said.
`I needed to do this for Casino, she said.` I thought I could get it all sorted out, and it was working until he turned up last night`, she said.
`Well from now on, this is my concern, not yours. Chief is waiting outside to take you home and you will do just that no arguments` said Craig.
Angel stood up once more.
`I will not go home, and you can't order me too. I started this, and I have to finish it.
`Even if it lands you back in hospital? He asked her, not concealing the anger he felt.
`Even then,` she said. ` But I would be grateful for your help, if you're offering`.
He sighed.
`All right, first we go and see Sylvie, I don't suppose she wants to press charges, but we'd better ask. He said, `But only on the condition that you tell me if you get tired, or if you get a headache, and I want
your word Angel,
`I promise, both of you, if I start to feel ill I'll tell you , okay? she asked
Craig looked at her and knew she had no intention of telling either one of them anything of the sort.
`Well if you don't mind I'll leave that to the two of you and finish my breakfast. `I'll meet you later, about eleven as we arranged.`
`Anything to get out of helping with the clearing up, Eh Actor? She asked.
`Ah, you know me to well my dear`, he said smiling at her.
`All right Actor, I'll take Chief with me, Goniff will probably need feeding so he can stay with you`. He said.
`Thought we'd need all the troops did you? She asked.
`Well as I didn't know what was going on down here, I thought it best to have all of them together, don't want to lose anyone else now do we?
`Suppose not`, she said.
`One last time, will you please let Chief take you home?
She shook her head.
`Not until this is done`, she said.
`Very well then, but be warned , when I do get you back you will rest, even if I have to handcuff you to the bed, ` he said sternly.
`Whatever you say`, she said wearily. `Now can we go?
He stood aside and let her pass him, He was worried , for no matter what she said, she was not as well as she was trying to make him believe, and it was not just lack of sleep.
`I'm fine,` she said as she passed him, as if reading his thoughts.
He said nothing, if that was the way she wanted to play it , that was okay with him, but from now on , he was not going to let her out of his sight for one minute.
…