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If They Only Knew | |||||
Gabrielle found she didn’t have much to do after phoning home. George, John and Tam all left after being shooed away by Astrid. There were things she could do. Like sleep. Or even potentially do something productive. While sitting at the kitchen table for a long while, Gabrielle made a mental list. 1.Laundry, everything she owned was dirty and smelled of smoke. 2. Letters to Shaz, Peter, Cyn and anyone else. 3.….. There was no three That’s what comes of being a completely unorganized schizophrenic, she thought, sighing and starting on her third cup off coffee. Oddly enough she wasn’t beginning to feel wired. Oh well. Laundry it was. She bounded back up to her room and hauled her trunk all the way back downstairs. After this little exertion and strenuous activity she sat on her trunk and watched Frau Kirchher go about dusting her home. “Gutan Tag” she greeted cheerily as she passed Gabrielle Gabrielle nodded. As far as she knew Astrid’s mum knew no English. She wasn’t in any hurry to start up a conversation so she just nodded and smiled cheerfully. Then, quite lazily and slowly she found the Laundry room and started washing. She kept a few things out since it would all have to dry out in the yard when she was finished. About half way through though, he heard Stuart come banging in. Gabrielle groaned and stood up to tell him to stop making noise. “Oi, Sutcliffe you wanna keep it down. I’ve still got an ‘angover you know” she rounded the corner, expecting him to make some colorful comments about the flannel shirt she’d rolled the sleeves up on and Jeans. It was wash day. It wasn’t supposed to be glamorous. But Stuart wasn’t in the mood for making jokes. He sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. Gabrielle’s forehead creased with worry as she walked over to him ad tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. “Stu?” she asked “You all right mate?” He looked up at her, agony twisting his handsome face. He winced and shook his head. In an instant Gabrielle sat down next to him and took his hands in hers “what’s wrong?” “Oh, Gab.” he sighed, closing his eyes and letting out a stifled breath “Me ‘ead feels like it’s going to explode” Gabrielle chewed thoughtfully on her lip. This wasn’t the first time he’d had headaches. They’d happened a few times since she’d been in Germany. Once it was so bad he just passed out from the pain. “Where is Astrid?” she asked. He nodded towards the door “Coming, she’s parking the car” “Is it like last time?” “Worse” he gasped, Gabrielle felt intense pity for him at once, and got him to lie down on the settee. “Lie down Stu.” she coached him, hopping Astrid would hurry up. She didn’t deal with situations like this well. Fortunately, Astrid came bursting through the front door. She ran over to her fiancé and kneeled down next to him, muttering in German. “ Ich bin mude, Astrid.” he moaned “und nicht gut” “ Ich weiß,” she murmured softly, stroking his hair “Ich liebe dich.” Gabrielle tried to make herself go unnoticed of this little display of affection. She understood what he just said “I’m tired, and not good” and she told him she loved him. “Shall I get some tea and painkillers, Astrid?” she asked softly, just loud enough to be heard Astrid looked over at her and nodded, her pretty face was etched with worry and concern and defiantly fear. Gabrielle backed out of the room and went into the kitchen. She put the kettle on almost as if she was on automatic because she defiantly wasn’t thinking about it. Her mind was with Stuart. She knew about migraines. Gabrielle had had them before. They hurt like hell and all you wanted was to make the pain go away. What Stuart was feeling must have been something ten times worse then that for it to make him pass out. Gabrielle wasn’t really a God person. She wasn’t really sure about him or if he existed or what not. But as she made the tea and searched for the painkillers in the medicine cupboard she said little prayer for all of their sakes, that Stuart would be all right. As she entered the room with the tea service she heard Stu say very softly “Astrid, Ich habe Angst” He was afraid. That was enough to make you want to cry. “Here you go” she murmured, softly setting it on the coffee table. Stuart sat up and swallowed the painkillers. Then he looked at Gabby. “We’re gonna go to the hospital” he said, squinting up at her. Gabrielle nodded, unsure of what else to do. Astrid reached over and grasped Gabrielle’s arm. “Don’t tell John or the others, Please, he won’t go if they know” she looked as if she were about to cry herself, so Gabrielle just nodded wordlessly again. “Danke, Gabrielle” Astrid sighed, “Can you help us to the car” Another nod and the girls helped Stuart up from the couch with an arm around each of them. They got down to the curb and Stuart leaned against gabby while Astrid fiddled with her keys. Unable to help herself Gabby asked “Think you’ll be all right?” He looked down at her and gave her a weak grin. “What? D’you think I’d go and die on you” She felt the color drain from her face. Oh god. She couldn’t handle that. That would be far to emotional for everyone. “I…” He shook his head “Don’t worry Gabby.” he said trying to look brave “It’s just a head ache, you know. They’ve always gone away before” She nodded and hugged him as Astrid slid into the car. He got in after her and looked up at Gabrielle as she closed the door. “Don’t worry. And don’t tell the lads. I don’t want them to worry” Gabby nodded and waved as the car pulled away and disappeared around the corner. She let out a huge sigh and put her hands to her head. What to do now? Finish the laundry and get fucking drunk off her head. That’s what. |
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