Chapter 13

"Mr Jordan? Are you back already? Did you miss us that much?" Noel questioned, with a chuckle, as Nick walked up to reception.

"Not quite, Noel. I'm here on a rather more personal matter," Nick replied firmly.

"Oh. Who are you here to see?"

"Joey Kent"

"Tom's brother?" Nick nodded. "Um, Zoe took him up to ICU. I trust you remember where that is?"

"Yes, yes. Thank you," he turned away and held up his hand as a sign of thanks.

Nick made his way up to ICU. He opened the door to the ward, and asked a nurse for directions to Joey's room.

He stopped outside the room. He was surprised at the sight he saw. Sam Nicholls was by his godson's bedside. Since when did they know each other? Anyway, he thought, and walked in.

"Mr Jordan, what are you doing here?" Sam asked obviously confused.

"He's my godson," he motioned his head towards Joey. "What's wrong with him? Tom was a bit vague on the phone"

"Infection on his lungs. He's being kept under obs for the next twenty four hours, at least"

"Where is Tom?"

"I'm asking the same question"

"So nobody knows where he is?"

"All I know is that Zoe asked Charlie to look for him"

Both went silent. All kinds of thoughts buzzing around their heads. They were looking down at the still child in front of them.

They were interrupted from their train of thoughts by the opening of the rooms' door. There in the doorway stood David. Joey and Tom's father. Not to dissimilar from them both. Just older, without the youthful look. Very little grey was messed with his brown hair. Though his face looked like it had aged a lot in those few seconds it took him to open the door.

"Ah! DCI Kent," Nick announced.

"How is he?" David gulped. He was worrying so much. Another difference between the father and sons was that the senior had a slight hint of a Canadian accent. Small, but noticeable. "That doctor Hanna explained a little. But I'm not a medic, so it didn't make much sense. Any chance of an English translation?"

This caused Nick to smile. "He's doing fine at the moment. I'll go check with a nurse for any extra information," Nick said, walking out the door.

"How do you two know each other?" Sam asked, wanting to know more.

"Nick and I?" Sam nodded. "We're old mates. We went to the same school - when I moved over here. He was a few years above me, but I skipped some years and was in the same year as Nick. Although I did have to repeat final year. Nick helped me get to know my way around and all that"

"Ah. What do you mean 'when you moved over here'? I haven't heard about that"

"I moved over here when I was fourteen, from Australia. My parents moved my family to London, actually. Nick was sixteen then. We lost contact when he went to med school and I was doing my police training. Met up again when I had six kids and my fifth son was on the way"

"You moved back over to London, didn't you?"

"Well now we are thinking about coming to move over here. I don't know what my sons will think, but I want to try and be the father I never was. God! Joey didn't even call me his dad until he was eight. Just so we're clear, I would have come over here even if it there wasn't the accident"

"Of course. Why would I think any different?" David pondered on the thought, glanced round the room and then at Sam. He just shook his heading, brushing off the matter.

Nick re-entered the room. "The doctor will come in in the next few minutes. He's going to take the ventilator off, as the meds have worked quicker than expected and Joey can breath independently"

"That's great news," David let out a long sign of relief.

The few minutes passed and the doctor came in. Joey had the support removed and the doctor left. Afterwards, David and Nick left too. They said they would go have a coffee and just talk.

Six hours passed and Sam had fell asleep in the chair. It took her some time to drift off. She was worrying about where Tom was. Why was he not here? His own brother is lying here - helpless - and he is nowhere.

Sam awoke. She looked up. David and Nick were still gone and she saw Joey was awake, too.

"Hey, how long have you been awake for?" She asked, her voice a little croaky.

"Not long," Joey replied. His mind was on so many things.

"You want to talk?"

"About what?"

"Anything. I don't know much about you, do I? What about yours or Toms childhood?"

"What childhood?"

"I'm listening"

I just had to. You'll see. Please review.