Chapter 13
Ed jumped from a fitful sleep as his mobile rang next to him
"Hello?"
"Ed it's Jai."
"Ah Mr Big Shot Doctor. Finally remember you've got a little brother then?"
"Listen Ed, I've got some bad news, I don't know how to break this to you mate but Aaron's been brought in."
"Oh god! What happened?"
"We think he's been mugged. He had no wallet or phone on him when he was found. It's really serious Ed. They've used a knife on him. He's been stabbed four times."
"I'm on my way!"
Ed hung up the phone and sighed. Aaron had been found. Which lead to the possibility of Aaron being ok and waking up and telling everyone what happened. He looked down at his clothes, Aaron's blood smeared in several places. He quickly ran upstairs to get changed and dialled Chas' number.
"Hello?"
"Chas it's Ed. You need to -"
"Ed? Are you okay? Have you been crying?!"
"Chas it's Aaron! He's hurt!"
"Hurt? Hurt how?"
"My brother's just called me, He's a doctor at Hotten General. He said Aaron's been taken in with stab wounds!"
"Oh god no..."
Chas hung up the phone and looked at Adam
"Aaron's in hospital!"
"What?"
"Ed just called me! Aaron's been jumped! Some lowlife has stabbed my son!"
Jackson who was sitting on one of the tables near the bar heard the commotion.
"Chas, Adam, I know I'm not your favourite person right now..but get in my van. I'll take you up there."
"Why do you care?" Adam asked
"Look, I know what I did to Aaron, and I'm sorry for it, but I still care about him!"
"Weren't that fussed about him when you were bouncing on another blokes back though were you?" Chas spat
"CHAS! Look right now I just want to get to the hopsital and make sure Aaron's ok and if that means getting a lift off HIM, We have to do it." Adam sobbed.
eeee
Ed was already at the hospital by the time Chas, Adam and Jackson arrived.
"Ed! What's going on?"
"Chas I'm so sorry! I'm sorry I let him go out there on his own! I should have gone with him!"
"Don't worry about that now. Just tell me how Aaron is!"
"He's in theatre. They said that one of the bartenders from Bar West found him."
"How bad are the injuries mate?" Jackson asked
"I ain't your mate. You've got some nerve showing up here after what you did to Aaron, don't you think?"
"Ed this isn't going to help! Just tell us how Aaron is! Please mate.." Adam begged
Ed continued glaring at Jackson
"They said he's been badly beaten, and stabbed. They said that there was about five stab wounds. He's lost a lot of blood. He's in theatre at the minute to see if they can stop the bleeding."
Adam sighed and sat down "How long was he outside for?"
"They don't know. They said he could of been lying there for hours."
Ed sat down and held his head in his hands and sobbed. Chas placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. "Ed, love, None of this is your fault, ok? Our Aaron's a fighter. He's come through tougher times than this."
"I hope you're right Chas. I really do.. I-I Can't live without him."
Jai Roberts opened the double doors leading to theatre, and walked over to Chas "Mrs. Livesy I assume?"
"It's Dingle. I'm divorced from Aaron's father. How is he?"
"I'm Doctor Jai Roberts, I've been assisting the operation on your son. We have managed to stop the bleeding for now, But your son's injuries are very severe. I'd say he was lying in that alleyway for an hour, tops. There's no easy way to say this Miss Dingle, but please, prepare yourselves."
"Are you saying my boy might not make it?"
"With the extent of your son's injuries, I'm afraid so. I'm very sorry to say he may not make it through the night."
"NO! Jai please, this can't happen! IT CAN'T HAPPEN!" Ed screamed, falling to the floor, hysterical.
"We're doing all we can Ed, okay? We'll do everything we can for him."
"Please don't let him die..."
"Has...Has someone called Paddy?" Adam asked between sobs.
Chas shook her head and stood up, pulling her phone from her pocket. Jackson stopped her. "I'll do it, Chas. You need to stay here."
Chas nodded and sat back down next to Ed. "Thanks."
Doctor Roberts looked at Ed "Ed, Can I talk to you please?"
"Yeah.." Ed sniffed, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. Jai took him into the relatives room and sat him down.
"Well, That was quite a performance you gave out there."
"What?"
"Don't play dumb, Ed."
"You think I did this? How dare you? I would NEVER hurt Aaron!"
"Like you swore you wouldn't hurt James? Or Dylan?"
"I've changed since then! I've been to anger management, I've been to a shrink! I was wrong for what I did to them but even I'm not capable of something like this!"
"You better not be lying to me. Ed!"
"I'm not. I swear!"
"Good. But if I do found out you've been lying to me...So help me I'll make damn sure you never do this again."
"I'm your brother for gods sake! Do you really think I'm capable of this? Aaron could die! I may be a lot of things Jai but I am not a murderer! I've never laid a finger on Aaron and I never will!
"You may not get a chance to prove that."
"Just do your job and keep Aaron alive. Whatever it takes!"