Forty seven

They were back at Elm Tree when the first of the three incidents happened. Unfortunately they all happened within minutes of each other and the peace and quiet of Elm Tree was about to be shattered. Literally.

CRASH!

Jessie, Holly and Tee ran out of their bedroom. They had been helping Jessie learn her lines for Grease when the sound had happened. "What's going on?" Jessie asked as they entered the kitchen.

As she was saying this Blake, Josh and Tyler all came in from the garden Josh saying "Vas' happening" mimicking a member of One Direction. Jessie glared at her brother. She was a One Direction fan, as was Josh, but Josh had been to a book signing by them and she'd been ill in bed. Josh grinned at her. He hadn't let her forget that.

Jessie shook her head and brought her attention back to the scene in the kitchen. There was a smashed flowerpot by the window seat, the flowers and soil laying scattered on the tiles. Then there was the figure laying passed out on the floor, who Mike was leaning over, checking their pulse. Mike moved slightly and Jessie saw who it was.

"RICK!" she shouted. Holly grabbed her to stop her.

"Jessie. Wait. Give him space," Mike said holding his hand up towards her, silencing her quickly.

"Mike, what's going on?" Jessie asked, panic evident in her voice.

"He collapsed. He was moving the plant pot for Gina and then he just collapsed," Mike explained calmly. The boy stirred gently. "Rick? Rick, can you hear me?" Mike asked.

"yes," came the whispered response. Jessie felt herself relax and Holly let go of her. Rick sat up slowly but was pushed back down by Mike.

"don't move. You've hit your head and I need to check for concussion," Mike told him. He checked Rick's pupils.

"I'm not concussed. I'm Rick Barber, my girlfriend is currently stood behind you and is called Jessie. That's Josh, Blake, Tyler, Holly and Tee," Rick said pointing at the surrounding faces. We all sighed and let Rick sit up. "Mike I'm fine," Rick said reassuring everyone.

"well just don't do anything else too strenuous tonight. We don't want you injuring yourself," Mike said as Lily ran into the room.

"it's not Rick you need to worry about, it's Zach," she said reaching out towards Holly and leading everyone into the living room. The sixteen year old was convulsing and shaking. He was very pale and when he spat, he spat out blood. Jessie felt her stomach clench. She hated things like this.

"Someone call an ambulance," Mike shouted, trying to help the boy. Jade pulled out her phone and dialled the number quickly.

"hello, yes we need an ambulance, at Elm Tree House. It's a boy. No, I don't need to stay on the line. Ok," Jade said quickly. Blake grabbed the two people nearest him which happened to be Charlie and Jessie and dragged them outside onto the pavement to wait for the ambulance. They sat on the pavement.

"thanks Blake," Jessie said. He shrugged.

"You didn't look to good in there so I thought if I got you away from the scene you might get some colour back into your cheeks," Blake said shrugging. Charlie grinned.

"You did go really pale Jessie. It was quite funny to watch," he teased. Jessie rolled her eyes and flapped the air near the boys faces. They laughed. They heard a siren suddenly. All three jumped up and waved their arms in the direction so the ambulance could see where to go. Jessie ran ahead to open the gates and the door for them. Blake and Charlie watched as the paramedics jumped out and ran after Jessie into the living room. They followed behind and arrived at the scene as everyone was being told to wait in the corridor and out the way of the paramedics. Jade looked terrified, Holly and Lily looked haunted and Charlie had the urge to comfort the three girls. They had been his companions for the past year as had Zach and they were all close to each other. He pulled all three girls into a hug.

"He'll be fine girls. We've all had funny turns like this before," Charlie said trying to reassure them. Holly nodded.

Mike came out behind the paramedics. He turned to face Holly, Lily, Charlie and Jade. "I'm taking you four to hospital. Apparently it could be to do with something you were living with and we need to get you all checked out," Mike told them seriously. They exchanged a worried glance but nodded and went and got their shoes on. He then turned to Jessie and Josh. "Did either of you eat, drink or touch something when you were there?" They nodded, looking slightly guilty. "We need to get you both checked out too then," he said and they trailed after the other four.

Gina stood with the remaining kids as Mike drove behind the ambulance to the hospital. Blake was stood next to Elektra and Faith. "they'll be ok won't they?" he asked. Faith shrugged. Usually she was full of optimism but nothing was certain now. They all turned back into the house but Blake stayed outside. He felt one of his bi-polar turns coming on and he thought the inside of the house had had enough battering for one day. He walked over to the elm tree in the centre of the drive and waited for his mood to change. In his angry state he kicked the tree, screamed at it and tore at the bark. He sat slumped at the bottom. He was calm and relaxed now.

He glanced down at his hands, they were bleeding but that was something insignificant what the others were going through. "Why is life so hard?" he murmured to himself.

Jessie's POV

We were sat in the back of the minibus with the runaways. I couldn't believe what was happening. First Rick had a funny turn, then Zach got ill and we could all have caught it, then from what I saw of Blake, as we were leaving, he was having an episode. "Why is life so unfair?" I questioned Josh. He shrugged.

"It makes us stronger people apparently," he replied to me. He opened his mouth to start singing but Charlie clamped his hand down on Josh's mouth. I giggled. Charlie knew how bad Josh's singing was, they were sharing a room. Josh pouted and licked Charlie's hand.

"Eww. Josh that is gross," Charlie told him sternly. Josh just stuck his tongue out. Jessie sighed. It was going to be a long time in hospital.

A/N: DUN! DUN! DUN! What is going to happen to everyone? You'll have to keep reading to find out... oh wait. You can't. As I haven't posted the next chapter. Ha! Sorry! That's mean. Love you all and thank you so much for your reviews they mean the world. Love Indigo :)