Disclaimer not mine

Family?

Ellie slumped in the chair next to her brother as her Aunt Helen checked her watch for what felt like the hundreth time in as many seconds. They all knew Janine was likely to be in surgery for a couple of hours but none of them wanted to think about what the outcome of the surgery may be. Richard glanced at the teenagers unsure of what to say.

"I should ring, check on Tom and Lucy." Helen got to her feet as Ellie nodded. Richard smiled slightly as he thought of the two year old and her older brother. Sometimes he had no idea why Pete had walked out. It was ridiculous as far as he was concerned.

"Ok." Michael sighed as he felt his sister rest her head against his arm. "Ell?"

"Mm."

"Richard is right. It's Mum. She's be screaming at us for no good reason before you know it."

"She only ever yells at you when you are being a plank." Ellie sighed as Michael tried and failed to look offended. Richard shook his head and smiled slightly. Eleanor Lewis was clearly her mother's daughter.

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"This is Detective Constable Kat Skelton, I'm DS Paul Butchers." Butchers started as the younger man glared at them. Kat pulled her warrent card out of her pocket as the man they believed to be Ian Jones glared at them. He took in the warrent card and the look in Kat's eye before pushing past her and running towards the main road.

"Oh shit." Kat groaned as she turned and sprinted after him, knowing that Butchers would be a few hundred yards behind before she was anywhere near to making the arrest.

"Oi!" Butchers yelled as Jones disappeared into the distance with Kat hot on his heels. Pausing to gasp for breath he radioed for back up, hoping that there would be enough uniformed officers in the area to help.

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Richard got to his feet as he saw Helen reenter the Relatives Room. She nodded curtly as he stepped past her and walked to the door leaving Ellie to doze on her older brother's shoulder. Quietly he pulled out his mobile and called Shapps, knowing the DS would be moving Hell and Highwater to find the person responsible for Janine's injuries.

"Hiya, Shapps."

"Boss."

"Anything?"

"Well." He looked along the main road watching for any sign of movement. "He hasn't been to his mother's yet. DId you know Elaine Mason had remarried? Apparently she's Elaine Tyler now."

"Nah, hadn't heard."

"No? I'm guessing my invite got lost in the post. How's the Guv?"

"In surgery." Richard sighed. "Brain scan showed something the doctors weren't happy with so they rushed her to theatre."

"Bloody Hell."

"Yeah, you could say that. Look, I need to know what is happening back with you lot. Is Hogg being a pain in the arse or what?"

"Nagging like an old fishwife. Apart from that she's keeping out of our way. Kat and Butchers have gone after the Bouncer. He has to know something about Kezia. And when you think about it the way that poor kid died is similar to how Mason's lot were killed."

"True." Richard glanced back towards the A&E department.

"What I reckon."

"Go on."

"Is that Mason paid the Bouncer to do his dirty work. He reckoned none of us would still be around to work it out. He did threaten you and the Guv in court that day."

"I know."

"What was it he said again?"

"That he coud wait." Richard narrowed his eyes as he thought about the slimey little murderer he had been happy to see go to prison. "That me and Janine were dead men walking. He'd fine us and make us pay."

"Well, he was true to his word on that one."

"If it was him. I haven't really been able to talk to Janine yet."

"Shit, that bad?"

"Yeah." Richard closed his eyes. "Don't tell the others but there is a good chance we'll loose her this time." Shapps sucked in a breath as he heard his boss speak, aware that his friend was on the verge of tears.

"Not Janine. Not her."

"Shapps." Richard paused as he realised Ellie was almost running towards him. "I've got to go. I'll call you." He hung up before Shapps could say another word.

"The doctor wants us back in there." Ellie sighed as he turned to face her. "Mum's out of theatre."

"Oh thank God." He smiled slightly as Ellie ran a hand through her brown hair. "He says he has to talk to her family."

"Do you want me to wait out here? If he only wants to talk to family."

"Oh don't be so thick, Richard." Ellie pulled a face as Richard felt his heart stop. For a moment it was as if Janine was there not the sixteen year old child berating him.

"Ok."

He followed the young girl back into the hospital as he silently prayed Janine was going to be ok.

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A/N More soon. :D Please review, sorry it has taken me so long to update this story.