Drive

Agnes closed her eyes and swore. She remembered Betty and Mark asking her to babysit and to get a room together for Cathy coming home. She had assumed her only daughter was coming to visit, possibly with her husband. Sighing heavily she pushed the memory to the back of her mind.

"Agnes." She turned as she heard Winnie speak to her. "Are you alright, Luv?"

"Me? Yes, Winnie I'm fine. I'm fecking grand."

"Shall I make tea?"

"Not in my kitchen! You sit down. I'll put the kettle on." Agnes headed towards the kettle as Betty and Winnie sat down.

Xxxxxx

Mark drive his van along the main road towards the city centre. His hands gripped the steering wheel as he forced himself to concentrate on the driving rather than worrying about his little sister.

"Get outta my way! Oh for jeez! Can you not see I'm in a rush! Fecking fecking idiot ice cream van." He swung the van around as he overtook the annoying ice cream van. Swearing under his breath he tried not to think about how upset his Ma had been or how shaken Cathy had been when they had arrived in London.

Xxxxxxx

"What do you mean? You promise I'm coming back to London with you." Cathy did her best to keep her nerves under control. "I can assure you I'll be doing no such thing."

"Ah Catherine O Dowd."

"Brown. The name is Cathy Brown. I've not been an O'Dowd for a long time and I never will be again."

"Get in the car." His voice remained menacingly low. Cathy felt her heart rate speed up.

"No."

He grabbed her wrist, tugging her towards her. She pulled back just as the carpenter's van emblazoned with her brother's name came into view.

"Car! Now."

"No!" Cathy pulled her arm back. "I told you, I am not going anywhere with you. Not now, not tomorrow or next week! Never!"

"Cathy!" Mark called as he almost ran from the van. "Cathy!"

"It's ok, Mark." She glared at her ex husband before stepping towards her brother. "I'm fine." Mark marched towards the bigger set man. "Behave, would ya, he ain't worth it."

Mark felt his hands curl into fists as he stepped toward.

"No. But you are." Mark almost whispered. Michael backed away, heading towards his car as Mark advanced on him. Cathy caught her brother's arm.

"And Mammy is worth more. Enough. The last thing she needs is the Guarda picking you up for fighting in the street." Mark sighed,stopping in his tracks.

"I'll take you home." He decided. Cathy nodded, knowing that she was in no fit state to go to work.

Xxxxx

"Rory!" Dermot shouted as his brother raised his arms waving at him. "Will you calm down?"

Maria held Ringo in her arms as she watched the brothers. Rory and Deano were clearly upset.

"What is it?" Buster asked as he picked up one of the triplets.

"Cathy."

"What about her?" Maria was lost.

"Yer all to come to our house. Cathy is in trouble. Betty and everyone is there. You have to come."

"Cathy? What's wrong with Cathy?" Buster handed John a toy train. The baby toddled off as Maria set Ringo down.

"We're coming." Dermot grabbed Paul as he headed past him. "Please don't tell me this is all to do wiv er scumbag ex!"

"Dermo?"

"Long story."

"Well, I wish I knew what it was." Rory flapped his hands as Maria frowned slightly.

"I know she came home to live with you and Mrs Brown. I don't know the details."

"She cried a lot." Dermot sighed. "I know that much."

"Let's not keep Mammy waiting." Dermot grabbed his jacket before ushering his family out towards the car, wondering what had really happened to get his already editable brother in such a state.

Cxxxxx

A/n please review