Thirty one

It was 9:30 when Rick was finally discharged. He walked into reception and saw Mike asleep in his chair and Jessie with her arms wrapped around her legs again, fully wide awake, with dark circles and tiredness written all over her. Rick walked over and using the only arm he could, as the other was in a sling, hugged her tightly. She released her arms slowly and hugged him back. "Rick," she said the name almost lovingly in her half tired state. They woke up Mike who got them both into a taxi and drove them back t Elm tree house. They all hopped out and Mike got into the car to go visit some people he had a meeting with while Jessie and Rick walked to the front door. It was already open for them and Elektra and Tee were both stood waiting to welcome them back. Tee noticed how tired Jessie looked and took her straight upstairs to bed, while Elektra and Rick walked past Gus who was trying to fix Beethoven with glue into the kitchen. Rick sat at the table while Elektra made him some lunch as he had missed it earlier. Rick ate it ravenously as Elektra sat opposite him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. He shrugged with his one good shoulder.

"It hurts. And I've been told I might not get full movement back in my arm as my muscles got ripped really badly in my shoulder," Rick replied taking a mouthful of orange juice. He almost spilt it down him. "What's really irritating though is it's my right arm and I'm right handed not ambidextrous," he joked. Elektra smiled before glancing towards the ceiling.

"To be honest she looks worse than you do," she said quietly. He nodded.

"I don't know what happened last night but she's obviously been up most of the night," he said quietly. He was worried about Jessie. He knew she felt guilty and thought it was her fault but he didn't know how she would react to it. The last time something bad had happened she'd gotten depressed and stayed in her room, Rick was scared that this was going to push her off the edge. From above they heard Mike and Gus arguing, followed by Gus storming upstairs to his room. Mike came into the kitchen in despair. "Went well then Mike," Rick joked to him. Mike rolled his eyes and set about trying to convince Gus to be fostered.

Upstairs Jessie was curled up on her bed in the attic, gently rocking. Tee was sat in the corner, just watching. She didn't know what to do about her, but she was worried. "Jessie, are you ok? Shall I get Mike?" Tee asked quietly. Jessie shook her head vehemently.

"no. Just stay with me. Don't leave me," she asked desperately. Tee stood up and went and sat on Jessie's bed. Jessie wrapped her arms around her. "just don't leave me," she said again. Tee nodded.

"I won't," she said.

Just outside the attic Gina was stood listening. What she heard alarmed her a little. She went back downstairs and into the office. She found the number for Jessie's psychiatrist and gave Jack a call. "hi Jack, it's Gina Conway from Elm Tree House. Yeah, Jessie's guardian. We need you to get here as urgently as possible. Yes. She's had a bit of a tough time in the past few days and I'm really worried that she might be getting worse. Yes I understand you are busy. No that's fine. We'll still be in then," Gina was saying down the phone. "ok, we'll see you at 7:30 then. Thank you. Bye," she finished.

Mike came in with Gus, still arguing about the fostering. "You'd like Ronnie and Dawn," he said.

"No I wouldn't," Gus said putting his heels in.

"Please just give it a try Gus," Mike suggested.

"No," he replied and walked out the office. Mike sighed and slumped in his chair.

"I've phoned Jack. I think Jessie is getting worse. She just asked Tee to not leave her alone. I'm worried," Gina told Mike. He leant forward.

"Good idea," he replied. "When's Jack coming?"

"7:30," Gina replied, writing it down in the diary. Mike nodded again and spun back round to work out how to deal with Gus and fostering.

At 7:30 that evening the doorbell rang. Mike went and answered it. "hi Jack, thanks for coming at such short notice. She's in her room. She didn't come out for dinner," Mike told him. Jack nodded. "up the stairs and then up the other stairs. She's in the attic," he added. Jack walked up the stairs and towards the other stairs. Rick, Tee and Elektra were all sat on the foot of the attic stairs.

"Hello. I'm looking for Jessie?" he asked. They all pointed up the stairs and got off them for him. They'd all been up to see her earlier and all were very much aware how bad she was feeling. Jack smiled at them all and walked up the stairs. The moment he walked into Jessie's room he was fully aware of how she was feeling. "Jessie, is it alright if I come in?" Jack called out.

"yes," came the thin wispy reply. Jack walked towards her. He sat down on the chair in her room.

"What's up?" he asked calmly. He was trying not to rile her.

She looked up at him. "Rick could have died from that arrow. If it had been two centimetres left and a bit further down it would have been his heart not his shoulder. And it would have been my fault he died. The arrow was meant for me. I'm responsible for Rick's shoulder being in a sling," she told him just as calmly.

He shook his head. "No it's not your fault. It is Daniel's and his brother's fault. You didn't shoot the arrow. They did. Rick wanted to save you," he said. He had been told everything by Gina on the phone when he had called later on. They sat there together. Talking about it all.

A/N: Jessie is still suffering from depression but don't worry she will be getting better. Indigo :)