No one had dared to mention anything. No one wanted to upset the balance. Instead Mandy had put on Mad Max, hoping that forgetting that moment would help. Ian was sat on the sofa with Lip and Mandy, although Mickey had wanted to be sat next to him. He didn't mind after seeing Gallaghers mind trying to put pieces together. This was no longer a fairy tale or a game. It was fucked up.

"Do you fancy a drink?" Mandy said to Ian and Lip as she got up to go to the bathroom.

"Yeah, what you got?" Ian said immediately, he knew what they had.

"Whatever you want, we got it." Mickey chipped in, hoping to be noticed, he had felt slightly left out.

"Vodka and coke." Ian replied whilst watching the film, not realising that every set of eyes were focused upon him. Was it really that much of a crime to ask for what he wanted?

After an exchange of looks Lip gave the nod, he could have one... No more. He wasn't even sure he should have any alcohol. Although he allowed himself a smile of the thought of his brother in the ice, drunk and on crutches. Mickey walked in to help his sister.

"You sure about that?" Mickey said, suddenly appearing to be the grown up for the first time in his life. He'd never previously missed an opportunity to get Gallagher drunk before now. This was different.

"Yeah, it's fine. Lip said he can have one or two. Who knows, maybe it'll help him relax." Mandy replied, pouring a small amount of vodka into Ian's glass and grabbing a few beers out of the fridge.

After another moment, Mickey allowed himself to openly speak his mind. "Mand, what's up with him?"

"What do you mean?" Mandy wasn't looking at her brother as she put some ice into the vodka.

"Well, he said he was fine, but he keeps looking at the wall. It like he doesn't remember what actually happened." Mandy finally looked at her brother.

"Maybe he doesn't really remember everything, or maybe he was telling us the truth. Maybe the painkillers..." Mandy continued to say.

"... No Mand. He doesn't seem to remember it at all. Are you sure he's not going to freak out if he gets pissed? Should we explain to him what happened? I mean, what has he actually been telling Fiona?" Mickey said as Mandy walked back in with the drinks.

Mickey was still stood in the kitchen a moment longer than he should have been. He grabbed his beer and took a shot of vodka for good measure. Maybe Gallagher had it right, maybe he wasn't supposed to remember his most guilty secret. His most innocent pain, his most destructive act of love.

.

The film had finished, no one felt like talking much. Mandy and Lip had gone to get more drinks, they felt like they should leave Ian and Mickey for a few minutes. They hadn't actually spoke since they came in, and after all the whole point of Ian coming around was that they could talk. There was no way Lip was going to leave Ian too far away, but he couldn't resist a few moments away from the absent minded brother.

Mickey slipped over and sat beside Ian, who looked around and smiled. It somehow settled him, why were they worried? Where they really worried about looking after a child here?

"What did you make of the movie?" Mickey said, little steps.

"Good, I hadn't seen it before. Is there a sequel?" Ian said, still smiling. Yes he could tell Mickey had been worried. He wasn't stupid, he could tell they were all talking about him behind his back. It made him feel 4 foot tall! "You don't need to worry, I'm not drunk."

"Why would I ever worry about you being drunk Gallagher?" Mickey said, allowing himself to feel relaxed again.

"Well you'd have to deal with cleaning up after me!"

"Wouldn't be the first time... So how are you feeling?" Mickey allowed his hand to land on Ian's thigh. It wasn't unnoticed by Ian.

"I'm fine, like I said. Sometimes when you say I'm fine, people seem to think that you're speaking Greek." Ian was looking at Mickey's face, telling him that he wasn't being subtle. "You know... I say I'm fine. And then you look at me, waiting for a different answer... And then I say it again, and you lot seem to think that I must be hiding or lying so you wait again..."

"Ok, ok. We get it. You're fine." Lip said, they'd been listening in from the kitchen.

"So am I allowed to actually get some vodka then?" Mickey said looking suspiciously at Mandy.

"What's that look about. You've been having vodka... Not much but you've been having it." Mandy was smiling. This was Ian Gallagher. She knew that he wasn't pretending to be ok, he just wanted to have some fun.

"Pull the other one... Is that the bottle with water in it?" Ian said laughing as Mandy put the bottle down and poured him a real drink.

"So, is there a sequel?" Gallagher said as everyone breathed a shy of relief.

Oh yes, it was party time. All they needed was a party boy.