RICKY'S POV:
"I don't even know what ward they're on" I admitted to Brax as we walked into the hospital
"Let's ask at reception" he replied, entwining his hand with mine, leading me over to the desk
"Can I help you?" the receptionist questioned
"An RTC was brought in earlier today; James and Eleanor Sharpe. I'm their daughter, Erica" I informed her "can you tell me where they are please?"
"Take a seat and I'll get a doctor to come and see you" she replied, smiling at me warmly
"Thank you" I stated, moving to the seats on the other side of the foyer "I should call Adam…"
Brax nodded his head in agreement. Smiling at him weakly, I pulled my phone from my handbag…
"Erica Sharpe?" a doctor questioned a few minutes later just as I finished my phone call with Adam
"That's me, but I'm just waiting for my brother to get here" I informed him
The doctor nodded his head in understanding… "And how long will he be?"
"He said 15 to 20 minutes" I replied
"Okay" he stated "notify reception when he's here and I'll come back"
"I will, thank you" I informed him, watching as he walked back down the corridor
"I should go" Brax admitted
"What? No, I need you here" I proclaimed
"Adam's not gonna be happy seeing me here, is he?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at me
"I don't care" I informed him "I want you to stay. I need you here, Brax"
"Okay" he replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him "I'll stay"
BRAX'S POV:
I arrived back from the cafeteria with mine and Ricky's drinks to find Adam sat next to her. Exhaling a breath, I made my way over, handing Ricky her coffee…
"What're you doing here?" Adam asked
"I brought Ricky in" I informed him
"Well I'm here now, you can go" he replied
"No" Ricky proclaimed "I want Brax here. He can stay"
"No, he can't" he informed her
She turned to Adam, the looks he was shooting her saying it all…
"I'll see you out" Ricky sighed a couple of minutes later
I nodded my head in agreement, grabbing my jacket, making my way to the exit, her following me…
"Sorry" she admitted as we stepped outside, out of sight of Adam
"It's fine" I replied "call me if you need anything, okay? I'll be here in a shot"
She nodded her head, signalling yes… "I love you"
"I love you too" I mirrored, leaning forwards, kissing her softly
RICKY'S POV:
I made my way back into the hospital, taking my seat next to Adam again…
"Why was he really here?" Adam questioned
"Like he said, he brought me in and didn't want me to be alone, so he stayed" I informed him
"There better not be anything going on between you two" he hissed
"He's my best friend, Adam" I replied "so please can you stop the threats? Our parents are in hospital. We don't know whether they're going to survive"
The doctor Brax and I had spoken to earlier made his way down the corridor to Adam and I a few minutes later… "Is this your brother?"
I nodded my head, signalling yes… "Adam Sharpe"
He nodded his head in understanding… "If you'd both like to follow me"
I swallowed a lump in my throat and glanced at Adam, both of us following the doctor down to his office…
"Take a seat, please" he stated as he led us into the office, motioning to the chairs in front of his desk. Doing as he said, we took the seats, him moving to sit behind his desk… "When your parents were brought in, they were in a very bad way. We had to take your mother for emergency surgery to try and stop the internal bleeding but I'm afraid we couldn't"
"What're you trying to tell us?" I questioned
"Your mother died earlier this afternoon. I'm very sorry for your loss" he replied
I inhaled and exhaled a breath, glancing at Adam… "What about our Dad?"
"Your father is in a coma. He had a very severe head injury when he arrived, and he's currently being monitored" he explained, his pager beeping as he spoke. Glancing down at it, he looked back up at us… "I'm very sorry, but I have to go"
"You can't just walk out when you're explaining our Dad's situation" Adam proclaimed
"Adam, please" I begged
"Please wait in the waiting room and I'll come find you as soon as I can" he informed us
"I should have him struck off for negligence" Adam scoffed as he left the office
"Is that all you can think about? Our Mum's dead" I proclaimed, making my way out of the room
"Ricky" he sighed as he hurried after me
BRAX'S POV:
"Any news, mate?" Heath asked as he made his way into the living room
"Not yet" I replied, continually checking my phone "how's Case?"
"Asleep" he informed me "he wanted Ricky"
I sighed and smiled at him weakly… "Maybe I should give her a call?"
"Nah, wait till she gets in touch with you" he replied
RICKY'S POV:
The doctor walked into the waiting room an hour or so later…
"He's gone too, hasn't he?" I questioned
"I'm very sorry" he replied "the page I got; it was about your father. He was convulsing and suffered a brain hemmorage. There was nothing we could do"
"Of course you could've done something" Adam proclaimed, storming from the room
"I'm sorry about my brother" I sighed, running a hand over my face "what happens now?"
"Some paperwork will have to be signed but as you're under 18, your brother will have to do it" he informed me
"I'll sort it" I replied
He nodded his head… "Once again, Miss. Sharpe, I'm very sorry for your loss"
RICKY'S POV:
After locating Adam, calming him down and getting him to sign the paperwork, we left the hospital, arriving home an hour later. Climbing out of the car, I started to root for my keys in my handbag when I heard Adam start his car engine again…
"What're you doing?" I asked, bending down to speak to him through the open window
"You'll be alright sorting things, won't you? Okay, good" he replied, reversing out of the driveway
"Adam…" I proclaimed "Adam!"
He sped off down the road and I sighed heavily. Looking back at the house, I threw my keys back into my handbag and made my way to Brax's…
BRAX'S POV:
"Brax…" Heath called as he answered the front door
Walking through to the hallway, I saw Ricky stood on the doorstep, tears streaming down her face…
"Thanks, bro" I replied, placing my hand on his shoulder as he walked back into the house
"Adam's gone" she informed me "he just drove off after dropping me home and asked me if I'd be okay to organise things. I'm sorry, I just, I just couldn't be alone"
"Hey, it's fine. Come in" I stated, pulling her into the house, shutting and locking the door behind us "talk to me…"
"They've gone. They're both gone, Brax" she admitted, sobs beginning to tear through her body
Pulling her into me, I wrapped my arms around her tightly as she began to sob against my chest, each cry breaking my heart. Once she'd calmed down I don't know how long later, I led her into the living room and sat her down on the sofa, moving into the kitchen to make her a drink…
"I heard" Heath informed me as I organised her a cup of tea
"I'm gonna kill Adam when I see him" I admitted
"What's he done now?" he questioned
"He's just disappeared. Dropped her off at home and drove off" I replied
"What a scumbag" he proclaimed
I nodded my head in agreement, glancing back at Ricky as she stared into space… "Are you okay to listen out for Casey tonight?"
"Course" he replied "I'm gonna head to bed. Night"
"Night" I mirrored
RICKY'S POV:
I pulled one of Brax's t-shirts over my head and climbed into bed beside him, snuggling into his embrace, his arm wrapping around me tightly, his fingers beginning to run through my hair…
"What happens now then?" he asked, breaking the comfortable silence we were laying in
"As soon as the funerals are over, we're out of here" I informed him
"What?" he questioned
"What?" I mirrored, sitting up, turning onto my stomach so I could see him… "Brax, if I stay around here, you and I know that Adam's going to make my life a living hell and I'm not going to be able to be with you. I'm not having him control me, so we're still going"
"Are you sure?" he inquired
I nodded my head, signalling yes… "I've never been surer of anything in my life"
Pulling me into him again, he kissed my lips softly, his hand caressing my cheek… "Okay"
Poor Ricky – do you think she's thinking straight, or is her grief messing with her head?