Brendan Shaw was again wondered about his work partner. The no nonsense supervisor seemed to defy all conventions and was a complete contradiction for someone working in the construction industry. Adopted into the close knit Murphy family, who treated this London street kid a surrogate son. Alex told scary and heart breaking tales from his time on the streets and hinted at an even worse childhood.

This lunch break and the blond was talking on his mobile to Sorcha Murphy, deep in discussion about wedding plans.

"I can't go on your hen night, Sorcha. That's strictly not cricket. Best thing to do is a compromise and have a joint hen/stag do, then everyone can come and forget gender divisions. You'll have to talk to Sabina, who I think is organising mine. Easier for me because this whole 'civil partnership' is a blank slate where traditions come in. We get to pick and choose all the best bits. You know party, cake and a really simple promises to each other. None of that honour or obey bollocks."

The pair were BFFs, both engaged; which brought up the fact that tall, handsome, tough as old boots and hard as nails Alex batted for the other team. Then again the youngster was no promiscuous party animal, but twenty-four in a committed relationship and already settling down. The Dubliner was pushing thirty-three and had a string of broken relationships and a reputation for being a love rat. He was still reeling from his last girlfriend, who had been far too eager. He still wanted fun, to live a bit and sow wild oats. Milly had seen him as husband material and still clung to the unreal fantasy of suburban married bliss. He had backed away fast as he could when faced with that future.

Alex sighed as he put his phone on the van's dash. "Sorry about that. You know how Sorcha is. Planning everything to the minutest detail and Da will grant her every bridezilla wish. She is going to freak when she finds out Sab's taking me and all my mates out for a curry night. No clubs, no strippers and no stupid dressing up."

"Going out for a curry sounds ideal. Dermot's stag was games of pool and darts as much Guinness as you could handle. God, I got plastered. It was brilliant. You know you are the first person I know getting one of these new partnerships. Should have just called it marriage, cause thats what it is. You both wearing suits then or going more casual?"

"No morning suits, just normal smart casual. Did you see that Paul posted a mock up of me in a freaking white wedding dress on the office notice board. Its hilarious. Full white crinoline Barbie princess with my face stuck on." Alex then tucked into his lunch. A full tupperware of pasta salad. No pies, bacon butties or fry's for this roofer. Unlike Brendan's standard lunch of sausage rolls and packets of salt and vinegar crisps.

"Only the pointing to finish here, then we can get over to yard to get everything sorted for the Hounslow job."

Alex looked at the drive and the semi they were working on. "I'll do that. You get the driveway cleared as the scaffolder's are coming at three. Talk about getting us to finish on time."

"This old chap has been a hard task master and got the quote beaten down to almost cost. Used to work on the roads with Da in the good old days."

"Mr. Conway reminds me of a drill sergeant I used to know." Alex mused on the seventy year old who had watched them like hawks.

"You were in the army?"

"Lasted two weeks. Never been back to Wales since."

….

The sounds were muffled, the only thing he was sure of was pain, intense throbbing bordering on agony from his left ankle, the start stabs from bruised or cracked ribs and a splitting headache at the back of his head. He could feel a clip on one of his fingers, but he could flex his digits and move his hands. He was aware that someone had removed his shirt, helmet, boots and socks. He felt cold despite the warm room. There was something hard in his mouth pressing against his tongue. His neck was being held rigid, he could not move his head. All his reactions were sluggish, the only thing he could think of was that he'd been drugged. It seemed to take an age to try and open his eyes.

The glare of the bright white room which made Alex close them again quickly, the space around him was full of people. Then a stranger spoke in clear tones "Alex, open your eyes again. You're at St George's Hospital, in the Emergency Department. My name is Sam, I'm a trauma consultant. You had an accident today."

The consultant then started ordering the nurses and doctors to reassess the patient. Alex opened his eyes and squinted. The hard tube in his mouth was replaced by a mask. "Alex, you have here to be assessed. You have been unconscious for nearly an hour. Can you tell me full name, Date of Birth and what day it is today?"

"Alexander John Rider, call me Alex. Thirteenth of February 1987. Its Thursday April 19th 2012. I work for Murphy's. Last thing I remember was finishing the repair on Mr. Conway's chimney on Vant Road, Tooting. I was unhooking the safety line and was talking to Desmin. He was on the ground holding the ladder steady. Is he in here as well?"

"Your work colleague came in with you in the ambulance, he just had a few scratches, bruises and is waiting to be assessed by one of the nurses." The constant looked at the two police officers who had come to interview the critically injured roofer.

Alex knew something major must have happened, but the work area had been secured. The gate into the driveway had been shut and a cone and tape barrier at the base of the ladder. Here he was laid flat with a neck brace and blocks in place to protect his spine. Three months back working for Murphy's and he was in hospital. He knew he had a concussion and had from the pain radiating from his left ankle, he guessed he had buggered his good leg.

Alex stared at the ceiling as a team of people talked and fussed, he concentrated on the sound of his own heart beat, using it to take slow deep breaths; trying to take his mind off the pain. He was tempted to drift off as being asleep would take the edge off the deep throb from his immobilised leg. Had he fallen off the ladder or the roof?. All he knew it must be bad to have this number of medical professionals this worked up.

Alex thought about his past adventures had left scars and the long lasting affects of major surgery, "I have an existing medical condition. I had a repair on my sub Carotid Artery after a haemorrhage in 2001" Alex swallowed, leaving out the details of surviving a profession assassin. "I have a check up booked next month with Consultant Roger Hayward at 222 Harley Street. He did my original surgery at St. Dominic's. Something to do with maybe needing a redo of the patch on the artery, just keyhole surgery not cracking my chest open like last time."

Alex saw the flicker of apprehension on the doctor's furrowed brows and the information changed the target of the medical teams. Cold gel was administered and the ultrasound scanner moved over his chest. "There's the leak. Small, but that explains why the Blood pressure is dropping". Three doctor's were staring at the strange images on the scanner. Alex closed his eyes as the experts discussed the need for surgery immediately rather than a CT scan to access his other injuries. In seven weeks, the Registry Office at Wandsworth Town Hall was booked for his and Si's Civil Ceremony. With one stupid slip up, Alex had kiboshed his whole future. Tears leaked out of his eyes, with gritted teeth and balled fists; Alex gave in to the maelstrom of emotion. A wave of pain radiated from his sore head as his heart rate jumped. Alex gasped and could not concentrate as the anaesthetist started preparing him for major surgery.

The PC noted down all the patient had said to the doctors. "Sounds like he has no memory of the incident."

The older policeman had been the first to the scene was an old hand at violent incidents. "The woman already confessed, she was trying to kill her ex-boyfriend. Thinking he was on the roof when she drove into that ladder. Poor kid. Sounds like its really serious if they're taking him straight to surgery. Crazy bitch will be sent down, mark my words. Just pray its for attempted murder."