Angel had slept most of the way home , while Craig and Casino had taken turns with the driving.
`We gonna drop her off at the cottage ? Asked Casino.
`Oh I don't think so , do you? Said Craig smiling
`She ain't gonna like it, she's gonna want to go home, you know that`, he said.
`Well there's not going to be a lot she can do about it once we get her back to the estate, got one of the main rooms ready upstairs so we can keep an eye on her for a few days`, said Craig.
`Well good luck telling her that Warden,` said Casino smiling to himself.
`It will also give you time to finish apologising to her, now won't it? Asked Craig.
`You don't think she's still mad at me ? Asked Casino` I mean we talked about stuff, thought we were sorted`,
`Trust me Casino, another apology will not go amiss`.
`S'pose not`, said Casino looking a little worried. `You know I never meant to scare either of them, don't ya?
`Yeah, I know Casino`, said Craig quietly.
`Wouldn't ever do anything to hurt the lady`, he said as he turned to look at Angel.
`She still sleeping? Asked Craig.
`Like a baby`, said Casino smiling.
`Good , we're almost home, lets hope she stays that way until it's too late for her to argue,` he said.
Casino laughed.
`Some chance Warden, maybe we should just threaten to send Goniff home with her, that should make her want to stay for a while`,
Craig smiled at him.
`It's a thought Casino, it's a definite thought`. He said.
…..
The following morning Angel was woken by a quiet tapping on her bedroom door. She pulled on her dressing gown and pulled the bedclothes round her before she called.
`Who is it?
`It's me`, a voice called back.` You decent?
Angel smiled to herself
`Come on in Casino`, she said.
`Thought you deserved a treat`, he said as he place the breakfast tray in front of her.
She looked at him and grinned
`You didn't have to do this but thank you, it does look very nice`' she said.
`You're welcome, and it wasn't just me, ` he told her.
`Naw we all did our bit`, said a cheerful voice from the doorway.
`Good morning Goniff`, she said.
Mornin' love `, said Goniff smiling broadly, `You feelin' better?
`Much better thanks for asking`. She teased .
Goniff just kept smiling
`So what did I do to deserve this then? She asked.
Nothin' came the reply `We just thought you should have a bit of a treat that's all, you spoil us often enough so we figured we'd return the favour`, said Casino.
Angel looked at them both.
`Well thanks, it's appreciated`, still not convinced.
Good , then you enjoy it and we'll go and get ours, see you later`, said Casino,
Both men looked at her and waited until she had started to eat what they had brought her before they left the room, closing the door behind them.
….
Angel finished her breakfast, dressed and picked up the tray to take it to the kitchen, As she opened the door she found Chief standing in front of her.
`Take that for you `. He stated.
She handed him the tray.
`Thanks`, she said smiling at him.
Together they headed for the kitchen .
`Thought you'd try and carry that down yourself? Asked Casino as they entered.
Angel looked at them.
`Ok , spill what's going on? What have you done that I don't know about yet? She asked.
Goniff put on his best hurt look..
`What ? We can't do something nice for you now and then`.
Of course you can Goniff`, she said smiling sweetly at him.` Now what have you done?
`Ain't done nothing`. Said Chief.
Angel looked at Actor.
`It is true, ` he said `We have been on our very best behaviour while you were away`.
`Somethin's going on`. She said, and you might just as well come clean, cos I will find out.`
Actor looked at her.
`It was merely pointed out to us that we are very unappreciative of all that you do for us, and that it would not hurt us to say thank you now and then with a little treat.` he said.
Angel looked at them.
`Sylvie, I take it? She asked.
`Yeah. ` said Goniff. `Told us in no uncertain terms that we were lucky to have you, `
`Like we didn't know that`. Said Chief quietly.
Angel smiled at them.
`If I didn't like doing what I do you'd be the first to know`, she said.
`We don't want you to go`, said Goniff suddenly.
`Go where? She asked.
`You know , leave and go back to helping Mary `, he said.
`I get the feeling that I'm missing a vital part of this conversation. How about you start at the beginning? She asked.
`Warden says you're leaving, ` said Goniff.
`He say why? Asked Angel.
`That's not entirely true Goniff,` Actor said butting in.
Angel looked at him.
`All right , let's have it`. She said.
Actor looked at the men sitting round the table.
`Well go on then , tell her`, said Casino.
`Goniff overheard Mary talking to the Warden about you going to help her for a while, said she needed you until she could find a replacement for the nurse that had left`, said Actor.
`Warden said he thought it was a good idea, that it would give you a break from taking care of us`.
Angel stood up.
`You leaving? asked Chief.
`I am going to find out just what is going on around here`, she said and left the kitchen without another word.
…..
`So Goniff's been eavesdropping again has he? Asked Craig.
`Would seem so`, said Angel.
Craig smiled at her.
`So you want to tell me what's really going on? She asked.
Well for starters nothing until I got round to talking to you this morning`, he said laughing.
`I'm pleased you find this so amusing`. She said.
`Well as usual Goniff only got part of the conversation`, he said.
`You want to tell all? She asked.
`Mary called before we left to pick you up, asked how you were and if you would be well enough to help her out for a couple of days a week as the nurse she has helping out at the moment is being
transferred and until she can get some one else to volunteer she'd be a little short handed. I told her that you might like the change and that if you wanted you could leave us to our own devices for a
little while. Nothing was said about you leaving for good, and you only have to do this if you want too. If you don't then that's okay too, we left it for you to decide what you wanted to do, and let her
know one way or the other as soon as you could.`
`That's it? She asked.
`That's it`. He said smiling at her. `Looks like the eavesdropper goofed again`.
`I did think for a second that you 'd had enough and wanted me out of the way`, she giggled.
Craig laughed.
`Then you should have known better , shouldn't you? He asked.
Why exactly do they think I want to leave? She asked.
Craig looked at her.
`They found out what happened with Casino, and figured you'd not want to stay as he scared you, I suppose. You did tell them that you would leave if you didn't feel safe being here`, he said.
`But that was when I first arrived, they surely can't think that I still feel that way can they? She asked him.
`Don't think anyone's ever stayed around any of them for too long, seems it makes sense to them that you would want to leave` he said.
`Well I don't mind helping Mary out, but it definitely has to fit in with my job here, all of you have to come first`, she said.
Craig smiled at her.
`I know that, but I'm not too sure that they believe it, they have put Casino through hell since he came back, especially Chief, couple of the fight got a little near the edge, got tough to separate them, `
Craig looked guiltily at her.
`What did you say? She asked
`Think I might have told him that I wasn't surprised you 'd want to leave if they kept behaving like that`, he said.
`Fuelled the fire huh? She asked.
Guess I did , just a little, didn't think for one second that they'd actually believe it, Guess I must be getting good at this con stuff`, he said chuckling.
`Craig Garrison you are unbelievable`, she said .
He looked at her and raised one eyebrow.
Doesn't hurt to keep them on their toes `, he said `and the fighting did stop`,
She laughed at him.
`Oh well , I think I'd better go back and explain things, before they start planning any more little tricks to make me want to stay`, she said.
He looked puzzled
`Breakfast in bed`, she said smiling.
`Oh`, he said.
`Like I wouldn't think they were up to something`, she said.
`I'll leave this with you then? He asked.
`Yeah, I'll sort it`, she said
`Missed you being here, you know`, he said seriously.
`Place does kind of grow on you doesn't it? She asked.
`Yeah , they do don't they`? he said as she left
Angel giggled and head back to the kitchen.
….
As she closed the door behind her she felt rather then saw him.
She turned and walked towards the stairs, and seeing him sitting there sat down beside him.
`You okay? She asked.
`Depends`, said Chief.
`On what?
`On whether or not you're stayin'.`
Why would I want to leave? She asked .
`Thought maybe you were getting tired of being stuck here with us`, he said.
`If I ever feel that was all I have to do is quit`, she said. `It's that easy`.
Chief continued to stare at the floor.
`Things are better when you're here`, he said simply.
`They're better for me too`, she said.
Chief looked at her.
`You're my family , where else would I want to be but with you? She asked.
`Even when we drive you crazy? He asked
`Oh especially then`, she chuckled.
Chief smiled.
`You're not leaving? He asked.
Angel shook her head.
`Got no reason to go, and a hell of a lot of reasons to stay`, she said.
`I love you , all of you , you are a very special part of my life, and I don't want to lose that, I might help Mary out for a while, but that doesn't mean I won't be back, and it is only for a couple of days a
week`, she said.
Chief smiled at her.
`That's okay then ,` he said standing up and offering her his hand.
As she took it and stood up he looked at her and smiled once more.
`We love you too, place ain't the same when you're not here`, he said.
She smiled her thanks.
`Could still keep up the breakfast in bed thing going though , made a nice change to be spoiled for once`, she teased.
He grinned at her,
`Will see what I can do`, he said.
As the clock struck ten thirty she looked at him`
Almost time for elevenses,` she said. `Wonder if I could con someone else into making tea for a change`,
Chief laughed.
`Don't doubt you can do anything you want`, he said.
They turned towards the kitchen and as they reached the door three faces looked at her.
`Well? Asked Casino
Angel smiled at them, knowing that she would never leave them, that she cared about all of them too much,
`Who's turn is it to make the tea? She asked `Can't be mine, I'm still on sick leave`.
Casino and Goniff thumped each other on the arm.
`Told ya mate, breakfast in bed works every time.` said Goniff.
`You told me? Yelled Casino, `It was my idea and you know it`.
`Ah now come on mate, we both thought of it`, said Goniff
`Now , now children, what have you been told about fighting? She asked sternly.
Casino and Goniff looked at each other and smiled.
They turned towards her , put their hands behind their backs and lowering their heads they started to shuffle.
Angel tried not to laugh.
`Not to do it ,cos it isn't nice`, they both said together, like to five year olds caught doing something they shouldn't.
`Angel couldn't contain her laughter any longer.
`Oh make the tea`, she said.
`Yes Ma'am` they said.
Angel looked at Chief and saw he was smiling .
She winked at him, and smiled back.
`I take it this means you are staying? Asked Actor.
Angel looked at the four eager faces.
`Maybe just for a little while longer, ` she teased.
Actor sighed , and took her hand and kissed it.
`For as long as we need you? he asked hopefully.
`We'll see`, she said grinning at him, `We'll see`.