"Ian? is everything okay?"
"Not really, it's Mickey I need your help with something, tell me you're still in Chicago?" Ian asked.
"I am, Ian what's going on?"
"Mandy I've fucked up" Ian croaked gripping the phone tightly.
"Ian take a breath I'll text you my address okay" Mandy tried to soothe her friend, she was worried about her brother and Ian and didn't have a clue what was going on, but if this was one of Ian's Bipolar episodes she knew to keep calm and assess the situation before she did anything or called anyone.
"O-okay" Ian panted taking a deep breath in to try and steady his breathing.
"I've sent it, are you okay now?" Mandy asked trying to decide whether to ask about Mickey or not, last she heard he was in prison, and as far as she was aware that's where he still was.
"Yeah" Ian breathed again turning his head back to make sure Mickey was still conscious, he was...barley, Ian gave him a sympathetic nod, and mouthed the words 'it's going to be okay'. Mickey smiled he knew Ian was just trying to comfort him but he wasn't sure if they were both going to get out of here without being tracked down by the police.
Ian hung up the phone and drove to the address as fast as he could, he was heading out of the city but it was still within the Chicago borders. Ian ran up the steps to the house banging frantically on the door, he didn't give himself enough time to survey the area but he could tell Mandy had done well for herself, she'd obviously gotten out of the escort business, the neighbourhood was nice.
Ian knocked on the door desperately, he was starting to get himself worked up again, what if this was the wrong place. "Mandy" Ian yelled this time using his fists to pound at the door.
"Jesus what the fuck" The door opened, a rather large girl appeared, with facial piercings and jet black hair. Ian looked past the girl trying to search for Mandy.
"Can I help you?" She added cockily. Ian wasn't sure how to reply maybe he had got the wrong address. "Mandy, is she here?" Ian stuttered out, feeling the panic rise in his chest again.
The chubby girl rolled her eyes. "Mandy... there's a lanky ginger dude looking for you, he's a doctor or some shit" The girl walked off shouting up the stairs for Mandy, she was referring to the scrubs that Ian had on, he was wearing a green parker over the top, but the blue scrubs were still visible.
Ian waited patiently at the door for a few minutes, his mind wondered, Mandy obviously hadn't been honest with him, this looked like some dodgy high-end prostitute service. From what he could see the house looked nice and well kept and most of the girls were dressed like business women in smart dresses and expensive looking accessories, at least the ones that were 'on duty'.
Mandy finally appeared Ian couldn't help but envelope her into a hug, it was nice to see a familiar face, it was nice to see Mandy in general, just not under these circumstances. "Mandy" Ian wept. Mandy's first thought was to call Lip or Fiona, she was certain this was his Bipolar disorder playing up, maybe he was off his meds again?.
"Shhh" Mandy soothed trying to break free from the hug. "Ian, where's Mickey?" Mandy finally said making Ian let go.
Mickey. Ianreleased Mandy from his grip running back down the steps to the car. Mandy followed gripping her phone tight in her pocket, she held it as if it was a gun that she was threatening to use, maybe as protection? Mandy knew how bad Ian's manic episodes could get, she wished it was a gun... just in case.
"Ian," Mandy said slowly as Ian just stood by the car now. Mandy had only seen him like this one other time when he had a knife to Kenyatta's throat. Ian said nothing, not wanting to look Mandy in the eyes, he wasn't sure how she was going to react. He slowly opened the back seat door stepping out of the way so Mandy had a clear view.
"Fuck" She gasped her hand subconsciously covering her mouth in shock. "Mickey, oh my god, Jesus Ian he needs a hospital" Mandy shrieked trying to climb into the back with her brother. Ian remained silent, wanting Mandy to calm down on her own terms.
"Mickey?" Mandy stuttered trying to wake her brother, in response Mickey opened his eyes slightly, he smiled. "Hey sis," he said softly trying to reserve his energy and strength. The escape from the hospital had taken it out of him and he was in a lot of pain.
"Ian Jesus help me" Mandy yelled now trying to sit her brother up.
"Mandy look at me" Ian tried to soothe, he brought his hand up to touch Mandy, she shrugged him away forcefully.
"Don't fucking touch me" Mandy hissed, briefly looking back at Ian, she was disgusted.
"Mandy just listen to me" Ian tried again coming round the other side of the car now.
"Ian get away, don't you dare touch him" Mandy snapped trying to shield her brother, but Ian was a lot stronger and taller, he could have easily pried Mandy away if he had wanted.
"M-mandy please, it's okay... let him talk" Mickey managed to say, he only spoke so Mandy and Ian would stop shouting, Mickey let his eyes rest shut again.
"He doesn't want to go back to the hospital" Ian spoke slowly.
"Wait he's already been to the hospital, Ian what the fuck is gong on? What the hell happened? He's meant to be in prison" Mandy replied more calmly now.
"I don't know exactly, but he broke out with the help of someone, he hasn't told me much about it.. t-there was a car accident, okay, I tried to take care of him, I tried to help him I did, he had a brain bleed and then the ICU-
"Jesus Ian what the fuck, are you off your meds?" Mandy cried at hearing the words brain bleed, and ICU, she only just noticed the fact that Ian was dressed as a doctor.
"M-Mandy" Ian stuttered feeling overwhelmed. "I'm so sorry" he added feeling the tears pool in his eyes. Mandy observed this and decided to cool her tone a bit, Ian was just doing the best with what he had, and she knew how much Mickey meant to him.
"It's okay... how long has he been like this? " Mandy spoke trying to keep calm best she could.
" A little longer than 2 weeks" Ian spoke quietly hoping Mandy would miss-hear.
"2 weeks! Jesus Ian" Mandy seethed, she was furious mainly at the fact she was only hearing about this now.
"Mandy I'm sorry, things got really bad, I almost lost him-
"We Ian" Mandy corrected.
"What?" Ian replied.
" 'WE' almost lost him, he's my brother Ian, all it took was one fucking phone call, you couldn't even manage that?" Mandy spat raising her voice again, she stood away from the car now, inching closer to Ian.
"M-Mandy I'm sorry I didn't-
"What?... you didn't think? No shit Ian what the hell, I could have lost him too!" Mandy cried shoving her enclosed fists into Ian's chest.
Ian welcomed the blow and embraced Mandy as she got closer pulling her into a hug. "Mandy I'm so sorry, I didn't think, I just- ...I'm sorry" Ian stuttered holding Mandy tighter despite her attempt to break free.
Mandy took a breathe knowing her struggle was useless. "We could have lost him Ian and I would never have had the chance to say goodbye" she finally replied more calmly now. Ian slowly let go looking Mandy in the eye now.
"I'm so sorry Mandy, " Ian said again, this time looking past Mandy to see into the car. Good Mickeys chest was still moving.
"Don't ever let anything like this happen again without telling me?" Mandy said almost showing no emotion she loved Ian like a brother but she wanted him to know she was serious. Mickey wasn't just his.
"I won't" Ian replied with begging eyes.
"Promise me" Mandy demanded.
"I promise, now help me get him inside?" Ian asked realising they had been outside for some time now and there was a major risk of them getting caught. It also came across his mind that he hadn't heard from Carl yet. He was starting to get worried.
"Yeah come-on" Mandy replied gently prying her brother from the back of the seat with the help of Ian they got him to a half standing position, resting him against the car for added support.
"How are we going to get him upstairs?" Mandy questioned, huffing trying to catch her breath, she'd forgotten how heavy her brother was.
"Here," Ian said mustering up every last bit of strength he had physically and mentally, he scooped Mickey up into his arms as if he was in some action movie and there was an explosion going off behind him.
Mandy couldn't help but giggle to herself at the sight of the two boys despite the current situation.
"What are you laughing at" Ian smirked puffing between words, he was clearly struggling with Mickey. Last time he had the help of both Carl and Lip to get him up the stairs, but it's not like Mandy could help, she was tiny and not very strong.
"You two, so fucking cute, " Mandy smiled leading the way now, her bedroom was up the stairs and down the hall.
"I'm sure Mick would protest if he had the strength" Ian laughed trying to look around but it was hard with an unconscious Mickey in his arms. It was almost like a really posh boarding school or something.
Ian couldn't help but think with Mandy's current job that she would be sharing a room or something similar, but he couldn't have been more wrong, in fact Mandy didn't just have her own room she had her own walk in wardrobe and private bathroom for herself and her 'guests'.
"Lay him here" Mandy pointed to the big double bed that was situated in the middle of the room, it was a four poster bed, Ian was starting to feel like he was in a five-star hotel.
Ian laid Mickey down as gently as he could but his body still connected hard with the bed. "This is all your room?" Ian asked trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah fucking nice huh?" Mandy smiled again.
"Pretty fucking amazing" Ian smiled back he couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. Jealous of how happy she was, he wished he and Mickey could be the same, his only thought for their future was being on the run, is this what it would take for them to be happy, be on the run forever? Eventually, they would get tired and slip up, probably get caught. "Mandy?" Ian sighed bowing his head he let his thoughts take over again.
"Yeah" Mandy replied raising an eyebrow at her friend, she felt the mood change and made her nervous, almost like an unwanted chill in the room.
"Doesn't matter" Ian mumbled.
"It always matters, what's wrong Ian?" Mandy asked adjusting Mickey's pillow to make him more comfortable.
"Am I doing the right thing?" Ian asked looking a Mandy as if she had all the answers, Mandy joined him taking a seat beside her friend.
"What do you mean?" Mandy asked.
"I mean should I have taken Mickey from the hospital?" Ian questioned looking back at Mickey then at Mandy.
"Did you take him from the hospital?" Mandy asked.
"Yeah" Ian sighed again.
"Is that what the scrubs were for?" Mandy laughed a little, she also knew that Ian wouldn't have done this without help and encouragement from Mickey of some sort.
"Yeah, Mickey didn't want to go back to prison, I couldn't let him go back, he was being beaten in there Mands...I made him a promise, I promised I wouldn't let him go back there, I can't break that promise...I won't" Ian sniffled feeling himself well up again at the thought of Mickey being stabbed and beaten.
"Ian it's okay, you're doing what Mickey asked aren't you?" Mandy questioned.
"Yeah" Ian mumbled again, holding Mickey's hand gently he was drifting in and out.
"Right then that's all that fucking matters, you are doing right by my brother Ian and that's all I could ask for. I mean you got him this far, you've kept him alive and that's all I need to know. What's done is done but what matters now is he's out...unlike my fucking dad. Mickey didn't deserve to be in there E" Mandy smiled softly.
"But Mandy the cops there not going to stop, I don't want this to be our life" Ian sighed laying down beside Mickey. Mandy joined.
"Ian stop worrying just take it one day at a time okay, don't worry I'll help you get out of here" Mandy smiled again turning her head to look towards Ian.
"I know but it's not just that, its Lip, Carl and the car, its Fiona's fucking car-"
"Wait that's Fiona's car?" Mandy asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, and Carl he was running from the cops he was the one that helped me get Mickey out, I haven't heard from him since the hospital, If something's happened and it's my fault, i'd never forgive myself" Ian felt the butterflies rise in his chest again. Mandy noticed the panic in his voice sitting up to calm him down.
"Ian it's okay, but just look at who you're talking about, how many times has Carl dodged the cops, he'll be fine alright just take a breath" Mandy cooed slowly rubbing her hand across Ian's back in an attempt to comfort him.
"E" Mickey spoke softly, drawing Mandy's attention back to her brother, she stood up so she could see him better, moving around to the other side of the bed, so she could take hold of Mickey's other hand.
"Hey it's okay I'm here" Ian spoke, leaning over Mickey slightly so the injured boy wouldn't have to move to see Ian's face.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Mandy asked moving closer to her brother, she took note of the gauze and dressings on his head, obviously from the brain bleed. There was a lot of dried blood it almost acted like a glue that Mickey's hair was tangled into.
"Good" Mickey smiled making a half fist to try and give her a thumbs up.
"Funny because you look like shit" Mandy smiled back, trying to keep the tears at bay she was normally really good at hiding her emotions.
Mickey laughed wincing at his aching ribs. "E" he repeated.
"I'm here Mick it's okay" Ian smiled, he couldn't help but join Mandy in shedding a tear. For the first time in weeks, he felt safe.
A/N: Hey everyone I want to apologise, i know you all keep saying just get better and update when you can but I can't help but feel bad for not updating sooner I'm still in hospital and will be here at least until the 29th of this month (being tube fed in case anyone is curious a few people asked me last time), but I will work on the next chapter when I feel up to it. Thank you all so much for your continued support and patience it means the world to me! And as always sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors. Please review! :)