So you all wanted to meet the mother?

Jeff pulled the trolley through the doors of resus, meeting Maggie at the door, "This is Darcy O'Dora, knocked unconscious after a fall, has been drinking, stats are at 93%, BP 110/90, patient regained consciousness in the ambulance and has been mildly combative."

Maggie nodded, "Okay, let's get her into resus- Lottie?"

Lottie had followed through the doors, following after Dixie. "Hey Maggie, have the pleasure of meeting my darling mother." Lottie's tone sounded far from delighted at the prospect.

Dixie raised her eyebrows in warning, "And this is Lottie Truman, she's got a black eye and a split lip and apparently no idea how she got them."

Lottie rolled her eyes, "I'm fine, jeez. Is my dad working today?"

Maggie shook her head, "Nope, do you want me to call him?"

Lottie sighed in poorly disguised relief, "Please don't. He'll do his nut. And is there some way that you could manage not to tell him about this, patient confidentiality whatever?" She didn't fancy having to explain this one, her fathers relationship with her mother was tumultuous at best and she didn't fancy having to referee an argument between them in the middle of the emergency department, especially considering that her mother was both drunk and concussed.

Darcy moaned, "I don't wanna be here-"

Lottie snapped, "Shut up mum.

Maggie wanted to quiz Lottie on the origin of her injuries but Darcy was actually her patient, "You hang in there Darcy, we'll get you sorted. Lottie can you go and see a nurse about that lip-"

Lottie shook her head, "No, I said, I'm fine. And she just got pissed, fell over and wacked her head on the kitchen cabinet. She might have taken drugs, I went to the shops this morning so I wouldn't know. And I have a mock exam in half an hour which I've actually revised for so bye-"

Darcy called out again, "I told you girl, do your schoolwork and leave me in peace. She never listens. Bloody teenagers yeh know?"

"Please mum, just shut up and listen to the doctors."

Maggie interrupted, "Darcy can you keep quiet for me? And Lottie, go with Abs for me."

Darcy ignored her, "Don't tell me what to do okay you nosy cow? I'm talking to my girl-"

Lottie wheeled round, "Mum!"

Maggie sighed, "It's okay Lottie, I've had worse. No please get that head seen to."

Lottie rolled her eyes and turned around walking towards the door.

Abs caught her shoulder, "Not so fast kid, your dad would never forgive me if I let you walk away with a head injury."

Lottie watched her mother enter resus, "I've got to go. And my dad isn't going to know about this right? But could you text me if she's okay, my numbers pinned to Adam's locker-"

"Give me 5 minutes, 10 minutes tops, I'll call you a cab and in the time that it takes me to clean that lip and rush you through a CT scanner it will be here and waiting for you."

"It takes ages for a CT scan-"

"Well lucky for your head the patient in resus that I've just booked a slot for has just died."

Lottie shook her head, "Lucky for me? And I've only got 5 minutes."

.

Her hastily performed CT scan was checked by Harry Harper himself, Lottie was touched by the way in which the department made special allowances for her. Perhaps it was sympathy, after her mother's display as she was wheeled across reception it wouldn't be a surprise. Abs was quick to question her on the origin of her injuries, "How did you manage to do this then?"

"Can't talk when you've got a needle in my mouth."

"Seemed to be managing fine right up until I asked that question, eh? So what is it Lottie, I've got to put something in the notes. To much to drink, fighting in the school loos again or have you found yourself another hobby?"

"Oi." Lottie frowned.

"Hold still."

"Sorry. Look she just smacked me on the head when she fell backwards, no biggie but I know it looks bad. Dad would kill her. And he would probably not let me stay with her anymore if he found out she was drinking again, and then she'll drink more and I don't know. But if I stay with her she might go to AA again-"

"Lottie you're her daughter, you should have to do that, you shouldn't have to put up with this, you've got to think about yourself."

"She has nobody else. Are you done yet?"

Abs nodded, "Think about it though-"

Lottie slid off the bed, "As far as my dad knows, I walked into a door and my mother is sleeping quietly at home right now. Okay?" And she was in her taxi in twelve minutes and arrived at school with four minutes to spare and her lip stitched up neatly by Abs.

.

She received a text when she turned her phone on after her exam, "Really hope this is you Lottie, not just some random girl that Adam's scrubbed you off for, you're mum's fine and we're keeping her in for observation. Hope the exam went well and no offence but I hope I don't have to see you in a while. Abs."

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