"Argh!"
"Rick?! Johnny, what's happened?" Tee asked as she came to the top of the stairs.
"Tee. I didn't mean to. "
"Didn't mean to what…? Rick!" Tee shouted as she looked down the stairs and saw Rick lying unconscious at the bottom of them. "Johnny, what have you done!" Tee called as she ran down the stairs.
"It was an accident. I just got angry and Rick…"
"Rick? Rick, can you hear me?" Tee asked as she knelt beside him. Rick was lying on his side at the base of the stairs and he was unconscious. "Rick, please."
"Is he ok?"
"He's out cold."
"Should we call Mike and Gina?"
"No, they're over 2 hours away. Get an ambulance."
"Really?"
"Now Johnny."
"Alright," Johnny agreed and he left.
"Rick, wake up."
"Yo… oh…" Elektra said as she came in and saw Tee beside the unconscious Rick. "What's happened?"
"Johnny. He said it was an accident, but his anger gets out of control sometimes."
"Have you called someone?"
"Yeah, Johnny's getting an ambulance."
"When did it happen?"
"About 10 minutes ago."
"Has he woken up at all?"
"No. He's been out cold."
"Rick, it's Elektra. Can you hear me?"
"Rick?"
"Has he hit his head?" Elektra asked as she turned Rick onto his back. "Oh…"
"That looks bad."
"Yeah. He must have hit his head on the bannister."
"Rick? Are you with us?"
"Hmn…?"
"Rick?"
"Rick, we're here."
"What happened?" Rick whispered.
"You fell down the stairs."
"You've hit your head so take it easy."
"We've called for an ambulance."
"I don't feel well."
"We know."
"Just breathe Rick. We're getting help."
"Johnny…"
"He didn't mean it."
"He was… angry."
"Johnny gets like that sometimes. I'm really sorry Rick."
"Just want to feel… the world's spinning."
"Just stay still and breathe."
"They'll be here soon."
"Who?"
"The paramedics."
"You've hit your head and you've been out for 10 minutes."
"Oh," Rick said and he closed his eyes before he went quiet.
"Johnny did this?" Elektra asked Tee.
"He did, but he didn't mean to."
"So it was an accident?"
"Yes. This is Johnny we're talking about."
"It is. He knocked Rick unconscious Tee and probably given him a concussion."
"I know but…"
"Alright. Alright," Elektra said, calming herself down. "Johnny wouldn't do this on purpose, he's too much of a weed."
"Yeah… exactly…"
"Rick? Rick, are you still with us?"
"Rick?"
"I think he's passed out," Elektra said after a moment. "We need that ambulance."
"They're here," Johnny said as he came down the stairs. "I didn't mean to Elektra," He said and Elektra watched him as he went to the door and let the paramedics in. They assessed Rick and took him to hospital. After they left, Tee went to talk to Johnny while Elektra went about her own business.
"How is Rick?" Johnny asked as Tee came into his room.
"He's hurt his head and he's in and out of consciousness.
"What have I done? Tee, I didn't mean to."
"I know, but the paramedics said that he should be alright."
"I still pushed him down the stairs Tee."
"It was an accident."
"Johnny?"
"I got angry about dad and I went into the corridor. Rick bumped into me and I pushed him. I didn't realise that we were on top of the stairs, I just mean to… he's going to be so mad at me."
"He won't. Just tell him the truth and apologise Johnny."
"And Mike and Gina are going to shout at me. They'll sanction me for this and it'll go on my file."
"It has to but… you need to sort your anger out."
"Don't you think I know that!" Johnny shouted before tears formed in his eyes. "I'm sorry Tee."
"It's not your fault."
"It was dad. He…"
"I know."
"He put me in hospital and now I've put Rick in hospital. I'm turning into him aren't I?"
"No. You're not," Tee said and she hugged Johnny as he started to cry. "It was an accident."
"Where's Rick?" Mike asked at dinner time.
"He's in hospital."
"Hospital?!"
"What!"
"He fell down the stairs," Elektra told them.
"Is he ok?"
"He's got a suspected concussion, but he should be alright."
"When did this happen?"
"A few hours ago."
"Hours!"
"Yeah. Johnny called for an ambulance and Tee and myself stayed with Rick until they arrived."
"Was he ok?"
"He was knocked out for a long time."
"Fading in and out. He wasn't really with it."
"Which hospital is he at?" Tracy asked as she stood up.
"St Martha's."
"Ok, I'll head there now."
"Tee, Johnny, Elektra, into the office," Mike said and everyone moved.
"Rick. Are you ok?" Elektra asked as he came in the door with Tracy.
"Yeah, I'm ok."
"He's got a mild concussion so he needs rest."
"I'm glad that you're ok."
"Thanks Mandy," Rick said and Elektra smiled. "Where's Johnny?"
"Johnny?"
"He's upstairs. Shall I tell him that you're back?"
"Please. And can you stay with me… while I talk to him?"
"Of course I will," Elektra said and she rushed upstairs while Tracy brought Rick up behind.
"Why do you want to talk to Johnny?"
"I just do."
"Oh," Tracy said.
"Rick. Are you ok?" Johnny asked as he came in and Elektra was sitting beside Rick on the bed.
"I'm ok. Where's Tracy?"
"She's hiding on the landing."
"Get rid of her."
"I'll do that," Elektra said before she stood up and left. They waited until they heard Tracy go downstairs and Elektra came back before continuing in hushed voices.
"Why did you do it?"
"I was angry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was thinking about our dad and I just pushed you out of the way. I didn't realise that we were at the top of the stairs."
"Why are you angry at your dad?"
"He abused me and Tee. I had to protect her, and he put me in hospital."
"So you weren't mad at me?"
"No one bit. Rick, I'm really sorry."
"It's ok. Everyone's messed up here, so as long as you didn't mean it…"
"I didn't, I swear."
"Then we're quits."
"Sure?"
"I'm sure. I tripped and fell."
"Ok."
"That's agreed."
"Thank you Rick. You're not mad at me Elektra?"
"Not until you do something to make me mad."
"Ok," Johnny said and everyone smiled.
"Now get out. I need to sleep," Rick said and Johnny made sure that Rick was in bed and ok before he left the room.
"What was that about?" Tracy asked as they came down the stairs. "Did you do this to Rick Johnny?"
"No. He fell."
"He tripped."
"I know when you're lying."
"Ask Rick."
"Or Tee. We were shocked, that's all."
"There's something more to this. But if none wants to tell me, fine. But if any of you pushed Rick downstairs on purpose. You'll be sorry," Tracy said before she left and Elektra rested her hand on Johnny's back.
"They won't find out."
"Let's watch some TV."
"Ok," Elektra agreed and they went into the lounge.