Bandit had given Chili a text message that he would be going somewhere and that he probably would be home later then plannend and that he would explain when he got home and the kids got to bed. Chili replied with a 'Ok'.
He and Calypso were both on their way to the hospital. Bandit had offered to go with her and she gratefully excepted that. They both parked their cars and walked in to gether. When they got out of the elevator they were greeted by Mandy who just walked out of a other patient's room.

''Hi Calypso!'' she said friendly.

''Hi Mandy. And, how has he been today?'' Calypso asked.

''He's been alright. He woke up late today and the first thing he asked when he woke up was if he could get something to eat. So i gave him a breakfast and he just devoured it. After a week and a day without food, i guess that he was really hungry. He even asked for a second breakfast and devoured that too. Then he went to sleep again and he just woke up about a hour ago.''.

''I'm glad that he is doing a bit better now'' calypso said relieved.

''That's positive to hear. So he is recovering well? Bandit asked, directly followed by ''Oh, sorry. The name is Bandit Heeler. I'm a friend of the boy's late father'. I came with Calypso when i she told me about the accident''.

''Pleased to meet you mr. Heeler. I'm sorry for your loss. Mackenzie woul be happy to see another person he knows''. She smiled before she put on her serious face again and continued; ''He's doing well. Better then expected. The doctors have studies and examen him and soon he is able to get out of the hospital. Maybe even tomorrow if someone can take care of him. But there is something else you might want to prepare yourself to..''
Mandy looked at both dogs and they looked at each other worriedly.

Mandy continued; ''He's been asking for his parents the whole time. You know, where they are and when they come visit him. He is rather pissed that no one has given him a straight answer about their whereabouts. We suspect he has some separation anxiety because we see all kind of emotions when he mentions them. Angry, insulted, confusion, fear and sadness.
''Oh dear. I always suspected it but to hear it from someone else is different'' Calypso said.

''I managed to distracted him a little by turning on the television. He's watching some cartoons right now.'' Mandy said before putting her paw on Calypso's shoulder. ''If i were you, i would take him home tomorrow and tell about his parents there in a familiar environment for him. This is not the right time.''

''But we are here now to do that. How do you think we can keep him calm and..'' Bandit said annoyed to Mandy, but before he could finish his sentence her beeper went of and she went away. ''Just great'' he said.

The walked futher and stopped before Mackenzie's room. The door was open and the walked inside. They heard the television. Bandit recognised the sounds of the cartoon that came out of the television and he knew what Mackenzie was watching, as both of his daughters watched the same cartoon sometimes. It was a show about a Thai Bangkaew girl dog who ended up in a strange world inhabited by all kind of amphibians. Her best friend was a pink frog and together they tried to find back her other friends who also ended up in that world. While Bluey and Bingo watched it for their entertainment and the jokes, he and Chili were intrigued by the story itself and the many plottwists and secrets. It reminded them of a lot of a other show Bluey used to watch, Barky Falls.

When he walked a little bit further in the room he got a first glance of Mackenzie. Mackenzie's eyes were watching the screen, but it was clear he wasn't registering it or really focused on what was going on, on the screen. His mind was cleary somewhere else. He didn't even notice the two dogs walking in.
Bandit found it painful to see how Mackenzie lay there helplessly. His broken arm in a plaster, trunk bandage around his waist for his bruised ribs, a chip missing from the ear that stood up and different bruisings and scars around his face, body and legs. Also the pup's red, tired eyes and depressed look broke Bandit's hearth. This was not the same friendly, joyful and playful dog he knew.

''Hi Mackenzie, I'm back as promised and i brought someone with me'' Calypso said softly and careful.

When he heard her voice Mackenzie's eyed sprung open and he turned his head: ''Mum?..Owh!'' he turned his neck to fast and hurted it as he was also having some pain in his neck and back. He saw Calypso and Bandit. At first he was a bit disappointment and hurt that it wasn't his mum or dad, but that feeling got away quick when he saw who were there.

He said soft: ''Hi Calypso, i'm glad you back'' He was happy she kept her promise again. He looked behind her and was surprised to see the big blue heeler standing behind his teacher. Hi Bluey's dad!'' he tried to wave with his hand. ''What are you doing here?''

''I came here to see you.'' Bandit said while giving a smile.

''Me? Why would you do that?'' Mackenzie asked curiously.

''Well, because i care about you. When i heard you were here i just wanted to see if you were okay'' Bandit said friendly while he got a chair and sat next to the bed Mackenzie laid in.

Mackenzie gave a faint smile. ''Thank you Bluey's dad. That's kind.'' He sighed and turned away his face. His ear drooped a little. ''I wish my parents would care about me''.

''Mackenzie, your parents do care about you'' Calypso said, trying to reassure him.

Mackenzie turned his face towards her and looked angry as tears were forming in his eyes. ''Then why are they not here!''. He shouted as he also clenched his fists. ''No one is telling me where they are and they didn't even bothered to show themselves here. I want to see them but…*sigh* i guess they don't want to see me like this.''
Calypso comforted him by giving him a hug.

Bandit: ''Mackenzie. That's not true. They really do love and care about you''.

''Then why are they not here? Where are they? Did.. did they abandon me?'' Mackenzie asked Bandit.

Bandit wasn't really sure what to say or do.
''No, no. They haven't. but..uh…you see..''' Bandit sounded nervous as he wasn't comfortable with lying and was trying to find the right words.
''Look, Mackenzie. They are not here because they were also involved in the same accident as you were. So, that's why they are not here right now. But, i have good news. Tomorrow you will go home. The doctors said it was okay!''

Mackenzie gave a smile. ''Really? For real life? I can go home tomorrow? That's great! And now i understand it all!'' His tail began to wag a little. Bandit was happy that Mackenzie looked a bit better and seemed to forget about the crash by hearing that he was about to go home. But Bandit did not realise that Mackenzie misunderstood him. Mackenzie was right now thinking his parents were at their house and recovering there like he did here now and that thats the reason why they couldn't visit him. But tomorrow he would go home and see them again. For now Mackenzie was a bit reassured.

Calypso and Bandit stayed a little bit longer and talked to Mackenzie. He wanted to know how everyone at school was doing and talked with Bandit a bit about history. Something he was interested in and knew that Bandit knew some things about. When Mandy came in with the evening meal, they said goodbye and left. The would come back to pick him up tomorrow and he was looking forward too it.

-
At the carpark:

''Well, he seemed a bit better at the end of the day. Telling him he goes home quick did the trick'' Bandit said while walking towards his car.

''I hope so. But tomorrow won't be easy. I have to tell him what happend. No escaping this time'' Calypso said with a worried face.

''You know you don't have to do this alone right? I will bet here. Maybe i bring Chili with me as extra support.''

''Thank you mr. Heeler''.

''By the way. I never asked, but how did you found out about him being here and well.. the acident?'' Bandit asked Calypso. So she told him the whole story about her worries, her being a volunteer and finding out, about the visited from Friso from the national child safety services council, how she became caretaker of Mackenzie and how she stayed with him until he woke up and how she helped him after that.

''Geez. That's kind of a rough week you had'' he said with sympathy. Are you sure that you can do this all alone?''

Calypso sighed. ''No, i don't think i can. I still have to search for someone else to be the second caretaker of him together with me and i don't know how i can help him after that. There is so much to do. Inform his family overseas, financial matters, funeral preparations, adoption, etc. I'm not the right person to do all that kind of things. And he is way to young to understand or to do that himself''.

Bandit heard her sorrow. He wanted to help her. Be a part of this. For Mackenzie, but also for his dead friend. To make sure his son would end up right.
''Listen, i am willing to help and be the second caretaker along you, if you are alright with that.''

'Calypso looked up. ''Really?''

''Well.. i have to talk with my wife about it aswell but i think she won't mind. I can help you with everything and i will help Mackenzie getting through this''. Bandit said seriously with a determined expression.

Calypso thanked him and they promised each other to stay in touch. He would pick up Mackenzie from hospital the next day and bring him home and she would wait for both of them there. They said goodbye to each other and drove to their separate homes.

When he got home he noticed a yellow Holden Commodore car parked in front of his house. He knew what that meant. They had company. Well, Chili had. He sighed and walked in tot heir house. He knew were they were. The living room was empty and he quickly run upstairs to see if his children were sleeping. He opend their bedroom door and saw that they were both in a deep sleep. Bingo was lying in her bed in a weird position, smiling and holding her favorite toy. Her older sister was lying straight in bed and was snoring a little bit. He smiled at the sight and closed the door carefully. He then thought about Mackenzie and that he lost his parents. A shiver went down his spine. He thought it was awful and promised himself that he would see his children grow up.

He went downstairs again and knew were to look to find his wive and her company. He went to the kitchen and opened the sliding doors to the garden. And as he expected he saw them. Chili and her best friend Frisky, sitting in plastic, white garden chairs. A empty wine bottle in the grass and one half full on a cooler with a bowl of nuts and crisps. Both woman talking and laughing while both of them holding a glass.

''Evening ladies'' he said while walking up to them.

''Bandy! There you are!'' Chili said with a smile on her face as she turned around. ''What was taking you so long. What have you done this time?'' she says teasingly.

''I will tell you later. It's not really a wonderful story to share right now. Hi Frisk. How are you?''

Frisky smiled at him. ''Doing great. How about you? You look like you were involved in a car crash'' she said jokingly.
Bandit found the joke poor taste but she didn't know what he knew so he couldn't be mad now. So he just laughed nervously and fakely. He quickly changed the subject.

''Doing ok. Where is Rad?''

''Your brother was at your mum today. Helping her with the usual stuf. Hanging up some new pictures on the walls, rearranging furniture again, repairing some dents that your father made, guiding them how to use their laptops and tablets. That kind of stuff. He is home now, sleeping like a baby after a hard day of work dealing with your parents.'' Frisky answered.

''Haha poor Rad. He should give up. They will never learn how to use those things''. Bandit laughed.

''She called me twice yesterday about that bloody tablet'' said Chili. ''First time in the morning asking how to turn it off. Half a hour later asking how to turn it off. It took me almost two hours to explain it to her. Why did Stripe had to give her that bloody thing?''

''Because he got a new one, he did not know what to do with his old one and when he forgot to buy her a present for her birthday he smelled a opportunity to get rid of that thing'' Frisky said annoyed.

''Haha, classic Stripe'' Bandit said.

''He's a stubbie short of a six pack that bloke'' Chili added.

''Get yourself a chair and sit down with us'' Frisky said to Bandit.

''No thank you. I'm tired myself. It has been emotionally stressful the last couple of hours and i just want to go to bed''. Bandit said, not realising he revealed something a bit.

''Why, what happend honey?'' Chili said.

''I will tell you later Chili beans. It's serious but not the right moment to tell now while you two are having a good time. It will ruin your evening.'' He said honestly.

''Bandit, you can tell. Frisky is not a stranger'', Chili tried. She now wanted to know what was bothering her husband.

''No. I understand. It's not of my concern and if you two need a moment alone, i will leave'' Frisky said while standin up.

''Oh no, please don't go'' Bandit said to her. ''I just don't want to be a bother and bring the mood down. I will tell her later''.

''Well the mood has gone already now'' Chili said a little bit frustrated. ''Just tell me what has happend''.

Bandit sighed and bursted out. ''I just got the news that Josh and Charlotte have died''.

Chili clapped her hand over her mouth. ''No..no. Really. How.. when?'' she stuttered.

Bandit closed his eyes and he continued speaking. ''Last week. You remember that segment about that horrible car crash on the news? Drunk pitbull, flew of the road. Losing his cargo of steal pipes that impaled a dog, leading his car to crash. That were them''.

''Oh my god. I remember hearing that. Are those friends of yours?'' Frisky said.

Bandit nodded. ''Yes. Two Border Collies. Josh is a friend of mine and Charlotte his wife. They…'' before Bandit could continue Frisky let out a scream.

''Are you talking about Charlotte Border. She is dead?!'' she shouted in surprise.

''Yes. You know here?'' Bandit asked surprised.

''Yes, she is a colleague of mine. We haven't seen her at work in over a week! She hasn't showed up at work on her scheduled days'' Frisky let out a tear and sank in her chair. ''No wonder we couldn't reach her. She had three days off next week and we thought she or our manager mixed up the dates. But i didn't know she was dead! She was so kind, how awfull. ''.

Chili carefully grabbed Bandit's arm. ''How do you know this?''

''Well, apparently Bluey's teacher Calypso is now the caretaker off…''

''MACKENZIE!'' Chili interrupted Bandit with tears now also in her eyes while she suddenly realised the border-collie pup when hearing her daughter's name. ''Oh my god! What happend to him. Bandit please don't tell me he's also…''

Bandit quickly grabbed a chair, sat down next to her and took her hands. ''Mackenzie survived. He's in the hospital. That is where i was tonigt i just came back visiting him''.
Chili breathed a sigh of relief. ''Oh, that's wonderful to hear''.

''Like i said. I talked to Bluey's teacher today who was very tired. I asked her if everything was alright and she told me the news. After that crash they couldn't identify Josh and Charlotte so they couldn't figure out who Mackenzie was untill she found him. She works as a volunteer in the same hospital, so that's how she found him. She asked if i wanted to see him and so i did, that's why i dropped Bluey off here and then went away. Poor boy is bruised, broken his arm, bruised his ribs and is a bit moody and depressed. But i can't blame him, it's understandable. Just in a bad shape overall. He had been in a coma for six days after that car crash and woke up just three days ago. And guess what. The hospital has decided he is okay now and tomorrow he needs to leave. Can you believe that?''

''No f-ing way?! A child in a condition like that'' Frisky said in disbelief.

Bandit nodded. ''Unbelievable and scandalous''.

''Chili, Calypso asked me a favour. But i want you to be okay with that''. Bandit said to Chili who was looking at him wondered and waiting what he had to say. ''She is his care taker but legaly she needs a co-care taker for Mackenzie. She asked if i want to do that with her''.
Chili looked at him without saying anything.
He continued: ''It's just helping him. You know, helping him getting through this, make sure his finances are going well, the funeral, will stuff. Just until his family comes from New-Zealand. Are you okay with that?'' he asked a bit nervous.

Chili gave him a small smile while her tears were still visible. ''You big oaf. That big hearth of yours for others is amazing. I understand that you want to help and i think it's great that you want to help the child of your friend. But do you know how to help and that you can do it? It's a lot of extra work dear and you are busy already'' she said to him.
''I can do it. For Mackenzie. And for Josh. I have to him. He would have done the same''.

''I trust you dear''. Chili said while giving him a small kiss. ''And please, don't do this alone. I will help too''.

''And so will i!'' Frisky said.

''Then were doing this together'' Bandit said.

Frisky grabbed a extra glass for Bandit and filled three glasses with the remaining wine. Then they toasted in memory of their lost friends, and for Frisky her colleague. They then sat in silence, lost in their own minds with their own sorrows and memories in their chairs for a while. It was only abrupted once by Bandit once whe he slapped his face out of nowhere. ''There are mozzies everywhere tonight!'' he complained.
They sat there for over a hour. It was really silent outside and they all just stared at the sky. Suddenly after a while Chili sat up right in her chair.

''Wait a goddamn minute Bandit!'' she shouted.

Bandit and Frisky looked both at her in surprise.

''Did you say that Mackenzie is leaving the hospital tomorrow and is going home?!''

''Well, technically it's already tomorrow but yes. Yes he is.''

She stared at him with disbelief. ''You are picking him up and take him home?''

''Yes…'' Bandit said with unease not knowing which direction this conversation was going.

''And then!" Chili snapped at him.

''Well, then he is back home again. He is looking forward to it.'' Bandit said a bit annoyed by the tone of his wife.

Chili sighed frustrated. ''Bandit, think about it. So you are bringing him home. He gets home. You tell him his parents are no longer alive and then. You just say goodbye and leave a ten year old all alone? In a empty house while he just learned what happend to his parents?''

Bandit opend his mouth to defend himself but stopped himself. He looked down at the ground in shame and slapped himself on the forehead. He never thought of that fact.
''Fuck, F-ing Biscuits!'' he yelled frustrated at himself. ''I never thought about that. How for duckcakes could i be that stupid?''

''Don't hit yourself to hard about it Bandit. It's the emotions.'' Frisky said trying to calm him down.

Chili hugged her husband, feeling sorry about the way she told him her sudden thought. ''It' okay. None of us thought about that. Calypso or the hospital neither.''

''We should be there for him'' Bandit said. ''If he wants to stay there, i stay there with him for the night. Or a week or month if necessary. If he doesn't want to be there, i will make sure the spare room upstairs is ready for him and then he can sleep here''.

''If you need a extra room, just know that me and Rad also have a spare room available for him. And if you need extra help, please call us'' Frisky added.

''Thank you Frisky'' Bandit and Chili said to her.

''Bandit. We are going to get Mackenzie through this somehow. But together. Let Calypso know tomorrow that we will help her!''. Chili said determined. They hugged as the night grew darker.

After a while Frisky left and Bandit and Chili went to bed and both fel fast in a deep sleep. The next day promised to be a complicated and probably emotional day.