Chapter 3

When Kendall woke his watch told him it was 4.07a.m. He blinked to clear the sleep from his eyes and sat up, his body protested from the angle he had fallen asleep. A blanket slipped from his shoulder as he did so, he assumed Logan had put it over him. He looked over to the bed. Katie was sleeping, fitfully but asleep. It had taken almost an hour before she calmed down enough to have the nurses and doctor check her. Everything seemed fine, there was no permanent injuries anyway.

Logan and his parents had left sometime around midnight after much persuasion from Kendall. There was no point in all of them being here. Logan had put up most of the fight but Kendall just needed to be alone with his sister and he knew Logan respected that. He promised he would be back first thing in the morning.

Logan's parents had been amazing. He honestly couldn't have done what they did for him in identifying his mother and they were looking after all the funeral arrangements too. Kendall honestly didn't know where to start with that. It was hard enough to think about actually attending it.

There had been no more said about CPS. Kendall didn't know what they were going to ask or need from him. He was scared, he knew that much. How was he supposed to look after Katie? He had a job in the local supermarket but he had recently quit so he and Logan could move down to Minneapolis for College.

College! Kendall had completely forgotten. He and Logan were leaving. He didn't live at home anymore. His home was a small two bed apartment in a small college town 2 hours from here. How was he meant to leave Katie now? He couldn't. He needed to get a job and look after Katie now. He couldn't just up and leave now. College would just have to wait. He was staying at home. None of his stuff had been moved yet so it would be easy for him to just put his stuff back in his room.

Now he would just have to tell Logan.

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When Logan had arrived the following morning he picked up a small bunch of yellow flowers on his way for Katie along with some breakfast for both of the Knights. He had his dad drop him off at Kendall's house to pick up his car before heading to the hospital. It was a strange feeling looking at the house. A few of the neighbors had heard about Mrs. Knight and had left a few bunches of flowers. He decided to use his spare key to park Kendall's car in the drive. All of his boxes were still in the back. For now Logan decided to ignore them. They gave him a sinking feeling when he looked at them and right now he just didn't want to face that. He quickly reached in for the suitcase and pulled it out, opening it and grabbing some clean clothes for Kendall before returning it to the car.

Logan didn't know how Kendall was. He hadn't answered Logan's text message that morning making Logan worried but he tried to push it to the back of his mind and just wait to see how Kendall was doing. When he got to Katie's room neither of the Knights were there. When he stepped out of the room he walked in Kendall himself.

"Oh hey. Where's Katie?" Logan questioned looking back in the room.

"They wanted to make sure that there was no more damage from the head injury I think. Dr. Wright said its just precaution"

"Okay. Have you eaten yet?" When Kendall shook his head Logan handed him the brown paper bag with the food he had brought with him. Kendall gave him a thankful smile and went to sit in the chair in Katie's room. Logan followed and sat on Katie's now empty bed. He watched Kendall eat before questioning him. "Did you sleep?"

"A bit, not much though" Logan nodded in understanding. "Just couldn't seem to shut my brain up, you know"

"Yea I guess that's understandable" He stalled for a second before continuing "Has the doctor said anymore about CPS?" Kendall nodded.

"Yea someone is coming this morning. They want to talk to us before Katie gets out of here which the doctor said could be tonight or tomorrow morning" Kendall rubbed the back of his neck, slouching in his seat.

"Well that's good isn't it? Katie coming home?" Logan offered. Kendall let out a hollow laugh.

"Home to what?" Logan dropped his head deciding to not push the issue. He instead held out the bag of clothes he had brought him.

"Here, I brought you some clean clothes. I thought you might want to change" When Kendall finally looked up, Logan tried to give him a supportive smile. He tried to return it before taking the bag.

"Thank you" Just then Katie was wheeled back into the room at that moment. Logan jumped up from the bed when she came near and gave her a small smile.

"Hey Katie. How you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm okay" she said lightly, not really looking at him. Kendall assisted the nurse putting Katie on the bed. She asked if they needed anything.

"Well your breakfast will be here soon, okay Katie?" She nodded as she got herself comfortable on the bed. As the nurse left Logan spoke again.

"Don't worry I've got you covered" he smiled as he handed her the second bag he had brought with him. She again thanked him as she took the bag and began eating. "And I got you these too" He placed the flowers on her bedside locker. She actually gave a small smile.

"Thanks Logan" Kendall knew she would be okay with Logan for a few minutes. He excused himself to get changed and walked to the nearest bathroom. Once changed he went to the sink and finally looked at himself in the mirror. He barely looked himself. He looked older and he looked tired. His eyes seemed dimmer than normal. He couldn't keep looking at himself like that so he threw water on his face to wake himself up before cleaning up and heading back to Katie's room. He vaguely registered that Logan must have gotten these clothes from his car. He was brought back to his dilemma from last night but he couldn't think about that now.

When he got back to Katie's room he was stopped by Dr. Wright who was stood with a blonde woman in her 50's Kendall guessed. He assumed this was the CPS woman. He walked up to the two women.

"Kendall this is Debbie Griffin she is with Child Protective Services. She just wants to talk to you and Katie" The woman held out her hand to Kendall which he took.

"I am so sorry to hear about your mother. How is your sister doing?" Her tone was kind and comforting but Kendall just couldn't put his guard down.

"Yeah she's good. Confused I guess" She nodded and placed a comforting hand on his arm.

"That is understandable" She picked up her bag looked at Kendall again. "Shall we go and talk to Katie" Kendall nodded and lead the woman to Katie's room. Logan and Katie was talking and Kendall was glad to see Katie seemed to be smiling at whatever Logan was saying. Both looked up when Kendall and the woman walked into the room. Kendall decided to make the introductions.

"Katie this is Mrs. Griffin. She needs to talk to us about some stuff" Debbie walked to the bed and held a hand out to Katie.

"Please call me Debbie" Katie took her hand. Her eyes fell on Logan and she extended her hand to him. "And you are?"

"Sorry I'm Logan" she smiled withdrawing her hand.

"Are you a friend of the family?" she quizzed, not in a pushy way just a conversational way. Logan looked to Kendall to see his reaction. When he got no response of any kind, he gave a polite smile.

"Something like that" She gave him a questioning look before Kendall came to Logan's side.

"Logan's my boyfriend" Debbie seemed to be taken aback but pushed it aside and smiled again.

"Oh, well you boys do make a handsome pair I must say" Kendall seemed to relax a bit. Debbie placed her bag on the table at the foot of Katie's bed, setting herself up. Logan took Kendall's hand and squeezed it.

"I'll just leave you to it then...Do either of you want something my parents will be on their way soon" Both said no before Logan left the room. Kendall replaced Logan on the edge of Katie's bed. Debbie took Kendall's chair and smiled at the pair. It was Katie who spoke first.

"I don't understand who you are" Looking at the woman sat beside her bed. Debbie smile and pulled out a badge before handing it to Katie.

"Like Kendall said I am Debbie Griffin. I work for Child Protective Services. I'm just here to make sure that since it is just you and Kendall now that you are both okay" Katie had always been more mature from her age and was skeptical of the woman.

"Put we're fine" Katie said addimently.

"Katie, you and Kendall have lost both of your parents and believe me I am very sorry for your loss but it is my job to make sure that you are okay and that you will be looked after in a safe and proper environment. Do you understand?"

"You want to make sure Kendall can look after me" Kendall placed a protective arm around Katie's shoulder and rubbing her arm.

"I think it is quite clear your brother is very capable of looking after you. My job is to make sure that it is the best thing for you" Kendall could almost feel Katie's temper before he heard it.

"It is the best thing for me! You're not going to take me away from him!" it was clear Katie was getting upset. Kendall tried to relax her but it did no good. "NO! No, you're not leaving me too, okay! I'm staying with you" She had now turned herself away from Mrs. Griffin into Kendall's chest and was sobbing into his clean shirt. Mrs. Griffins gave a sad smile as the door opened and Dr. Wright and Logan walked in after hearing Katie's cry.

"Is everything okay in here?" the doctor questioned. Mrs. Griffin gathered her things.

"I don't think Katie is up for talking much now" she looked at Kendall. "I'll be in touch, okay?" he nodded, turning his attention back to Katie who was repeating the fact Kendall and her were not being split up over and over into his chest. As Debbie left, Logan followed. He caught her at the end of the hallway just as his parents were arriving.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Griffin?" she turned at the sound of her name and smiled at him.

"Can I help you? Oh it's Logan right?" she said once she got a look at his face. He nodded. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Can you be straight with me? Is Katie going to be able to stay with Kendall?" His father had joined him at his side.

"Logan is everything okay?" he turned his attention to the woman his son was talking to. "Hi, I'm Henry Mitchell - Logan's father. You are?"

"Hello, I am Debbie Griffin. I am with Child Protection Services. I'll be taking over Katie Knights case" They shook hands and Logan's mother introduced herself to the woman. To Logan's surprise, his mother spoke.

"Perfect we were told you were coming to see Katie. We rang your office this morning to speak to you but we were told you had left" Debbie smiled.

"Oh you're the family who is applying for temporary guardianship of Katie" Logan looked at his parents stunned. Both of his parents nodded

"Dad what are you talking about? Temporary guardianship? Have you spoken to Katie and Kendall about this?"

"Its more like a helping hand Logan. The last thing Jennifer would have wanted was to see Kendall and Katie split up. Kendall's only 18 years old. How is he meant to look after Katie on his own?" His mother cut across her husband to answer.

"He's not on his own. He's got me!"

"Yes and we don't deny that Kendall is going to need your support now more than ever but it doesn't change the fact that Kendall is barely an adult. All the best intentions in the world won't be worth anything if he can't support Katie financially. What happens when you both go to college in the fall? What happens to Katie then?"

Logan was so angry at his parents for doing this behind Kendall's back but he couldn't help but see the logic behind all of this. He had avoided the college issue when he got Kendall's clothes from the car and the sinking feeling he felt when he did so. Now that feeling was returning. But still this was Kendall's life. It was unfair of them to be planning it without him there.

"I don't know but don't talk about him when he's not here. This is his life, his family. He should get a say in this" Debbie could tell there were a lot of emotions coming out so she decided to put a stop to this discussion now.

"Look, Logan I admire the way you're standing up for Kendall but your parents raise valuable points about Kendall's financial stability. Mr and Mrs. Mitchell I need to head back to my office but I will be in contact with you and Kendall in the next day or so, okay?" They nodded and shook her hand before she left. She turned to Logan last.

"I will do my best for them both okay?" She promised. He nodded, resigned that he wouldn't win this battle today. He thanked her and she walked away from the three of them. Logan then turned to his parents.

"Do me a favour? Don't mention this to Kendall or Katie just yet. This is the last thing Katie needs now, she's already terrified that she's going to be taken away from Kendall" His parents nodded and promised they wouldn't say anything for now. And headed down to Katie's room.

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The rest of the day passed relatively without hassle. Katie had cried herself to sleep and had woken at some point in the afternoon. After lunch she watched some movies on Logan's Netflix. At 7 the nurse came in with a smile on her face.

"Doctor says you are good to go, Ms. Knight" she smiled grateful to finally be leaving this place. Logan had gotten Katie some clothes that afternoon when he went to grab lunch. She changed into them while Kendall went to sign whatever paperwork needed to be signed for her to leave. It was decided for the next week at least, Katie would use the wheelchair due to her concussion and general health after the accident. To Kendall's surprise, Katie accepted the request from the doctor though he wasn't sure if it was to do with her just wanting to leave the hospital quicker and an argument with her doctor would mean a longer stay. After a few thank you's, sorry's and goodbyes Katie finally left the hospital.

She and Kendall went in Logan's car. When they pulled up to Kendall's house there was another car already in the drive apart from Kendall's, one neither he or Katie recognised. Kendall carried Katie to the door while Logan opened it for him bringing Katie's chair with him. There was a light on in the living room when he opened the door.

"Hello?" He motioned for Logan and Katie to stay where they were. He cautiously walked towards the living room " Somebody there?" He stepped around the door-frame and stopped.

"Hello Kendall" This was the last thing Kendall needed now.

"Granddad"

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