Another Smile Lost

 

 

Mickey Webb collapsed onto the sofa as soon as he got home. He sat staring at the far wall for a couple of seconds thinking about the past couple of months. He was happy at Sun Hill before… ‘it’ happened. It had nearly been a month… Everyone knew… he had moved on, away from Sun Hill… he’s even returned there and faced all his colleagues, the ones that he tried to hide it from and they treated him as normal after the first couple of awkward minutes, so why couldn’t he say it? Why couldn’t he just say that one sentence? That he had been raped. 

     He decided that he shouldn’t think about it, it wouldn’t help. He fished out the TV remote from down the side of the sofa and turned it on. He flicked through the channels, nothing that interested him was on but he decided on a film, which had already started, it didn’t matter, he had watched it before.

      The film had kept him occupied for less then 5 minute and his eyes wondered over to the mantelpiece, where stood three framed photos. One was of him, his mum, his Aunt and two cousins. It was when they were on holiday in Blackpool, it was one of the best times in his life, they had such laugh, and tears filled his eyes looked at their smiling faces. One smile he was never going to see again. The one next to it was of just him and his mum, the day he had finished at Hendon. She had been so proud to stand next to him, in his full uniform. He couldn’t help smiling slightly when he thought back to when he was 16 and announced to her, he was quitting school to start a rock band. He still doesn’t know how he managed to get out the way of the plate she aimed at his head. He wiped away the single tear, which managed to roll down his cheek.

 He stood up and picked the last picture up. It was of him and CID a couple of weeks before all the Don Beech stuff came out. It had been Duncan Lennox birthday and everyone from Sun Hill was down the pub celebrating, even uniform. It had only been there since his first day at MIT, he had arrived home and found himself looking through the box which all the stuff that remind him on Sun Hill, was in. He had found the photo at the bottom of the box along with some Christmas cards that he had received that year. There were other photos, of officers that he had worked with longer but for some reason he felt closer to Kerry, Dunc, John and the others. They always had such a laugh when they went out together and it was different to what it was like at other stations, they felt like his extended family. Then there was all change in CID, all because of Don Beech and he had killed John. That was probably the hardest thing to believe, he thought that they were best friends. Why would Don want to kill him? It got worse when the new lot arrived, most of them treated him as if they had been bent too, well except Kate but she was about the only one.

 

There was a knock at the door, causing him to turn and look at the figure he could see through the frosted glass panel on his front door.  He replaced the photo, next to the others and moved to open the door.

 

“Smiffy?!” He said when he saw the Sergeant stood on his doorstep.

 

“Umm hi…” Smiffy stuttered.

 

“What you doing here?” Mickey asked him.

 

“I tried to ring but your phone is switched off…” Smiffy explained.

 

“Oh right…” Mickey produced his mobile from his pocket, “battery must be dead…”

 

“Right…” Smiffy replied.

 

There was a couple of seconds of silence before Mickey spoke, “do you wanna come in?”

 

“Yeah, sure.. Thanks..” Smiffy stuttered, stepping inside the house.

 

“Lager?” Mickey offered.

 

“Yeah, cheers..” Smiffy accepted.

 

“Right, I’ll be two secs…” he told him, “go and sit down, if you like.”

 

“Okay.. Thanks..”   Smiffy headed for the living room.

 

Mickey watched him for a minute. What did he want? He hoped that he didn’t want to talk about what had happened… all Mickey wanted to do was forget.

 

When the DC returned with two bottles of lager, he found Smiffy holding the picture he was just looking at moments before.

 

“I remember that night..” Smiffy said, grinning as he took the lager.

 

“Yeah, it was a good night…” Mickey agreed, taking a mouthful of his drink.

 

“It’s weird… none of the people in this photo is left now..”

 

“Except Jack…” Mickey corrected him.

 

“Oh yeah…” Smiffy muttered, “but I mean… when this photo was taken no one had any idea what was going to happen.”

 

“Yeah, was just thinking that before you came…” Mickey told him, “all of it was Beech’s fault.”

 

“Umm…” Smiffy agreed.

 

“Worse thing was, I liked him…” Mickey admitted.

 

“I didn’t really know him but he seemed alright.”

 

“Well he had a lot of practise…” Mickey said and then there was silence again, “You going to tell me the reason you came here? I mean, I’m guessing you never came to tell me that my phone isn’t working..”

 

“No.. not really…” Smiffy’s smile faded and he looked at the label on his bottle, “Inspector Gold asked me to come and see you…”

 

“Inspector Gold?” Mickey repeated, frowning.

 

“Yeah…”

 

“What’s going on?” Mickey demanded.

 

“Look.. Before I tell you anything.. You gotta promise not to go crazy…” Smiffy told him.

 

“Go crazy about what?!”

 

“And… I don’t know the details, right..” Smiffy informed the worried DC.

 

“Smiffy, just tell me!” Mickey pleaded.

 

“Right, okay…” Smiffy paused for a brief moment, not sure how to tell him. He didn’t even know if should… how could he possible deal with this on top of everything else he going through but he knew that the he would want to know, “its about Mr Meadows.”

 

“Jack?” Mickey said, wide eyed, “What’s happened? Is he alright?”

 

“I dunno… he collapsed at work, this morning…” Smiffy explained.

 

“Collapsed! Why?”

 

“I dunno…”

 

“What do you mean you dunno?!” Mickey cut him off, raising his voice.

 

“I mean I dunno…”

 

“People just don’t collapse for no reason…” Mickey continued to shout.

 

“They think he might have had a heart attack!” Smiffy raised his own voice to be heard.

 

“What?” Mickey said quietly and he dropped onto the sofa.

 

“Like I said… I don’t know the details..” Smiffy lowed his voice again and sat next to Mickey.

 

“But a heart attack, he can’t have…” Mickey stated, “he’s not old or really un-fit or anything..”

 

“I know but it’s not rare for some like him to have one is it?”

 

“About do you mean someone like him…” He asked.

 

“Alright, he might not be old but he isn’t exactly young, is he?” Smiffy said, “plus there all the stress he’s been under…”

 

“Yeah, I haven’t help with that have I?” Mickey said, hanging his head slightly.

 

“Mickey, this isn’t your fault…” the Sergeant reassured him.

 

“What if he dies?” He suddenly asked.

 

Smiffy was slightly taken back by the question. When he had found about it, it never crossed his mind that the DCI could actually die…

 

“He won’t…” he finally managed to say, “he’s strong and like you had you his not that old or un-healthy…”

 

“He still could…” Mickey covered his face with his hands, so that he didn’t saw Smiffy the tears, “who would I have then? He’s the only person I had left now mam died…”

 

“Come, Mate.. He’ll be alright,” Smiffy said softly and put a reassuring hand on his friend’s shaking shoulder. As soon as he hand touched his cotton shirt, he realised what he was doing and expected Mickey to move away like did after the attack but he never.

  Mickey, himself was surprised that he never had the urge to pull away but instead he felt glad there was someone there with him.

 

 

*~*~*

 

Adam Okaro knocked on Gina’s door before opening it.

 

“Any word on, Jack yet?” He asked.

 

“They’ve confirmed that he had a heart attack…” Gina told him.

 

The Superintend closed his eyes briefly and sighed before stepping farther into the office and closing the door.

 

“How bad is it?” He asked her.

 

“To be honest, it’s not looking good…” Gina informed him, “he hasn’t woken up, yet..”

 

“This is all we need…” Adam muttered.

 

“Well this is hardly, Jack’s fault is it!”

 

“Yes I do know that!” Adam snapped slightly before taking a deep breath and continuing, “does his family know?”

 

“Yeah, Laura Meadows and his daughter, Lucy are at the hospital now… his son is on his way down…” Gina told him.

 

“Right, well let them know we’re here if they need anything..” Adam reached for the door.

 

“Already have, sir..” Gina said, “oh and I’ve sent Smiffy to see Mickey.”

 

“Mickey Webb?” Adam gave a questionable look.

 

“Yes, sir… Jack and Mickey are quite close…”

“Right, well okay… but do you think that’s was advisable with what he’s through the last couple of weeks?”

 

“Mickey would want to know…” Gina insisted.

 

Adam thought for a moment, “guess you would know..” he admitted and headed back out to the corridor, “keep me informed…”

 

“Yes Sir!” She called after him.

 

*~*~*

 

Mickey walked towards the hospital’s main entrance, slowly. Normally he would walk at a quick pace, taking no notice of other people watching him but this was different. This wasn’t just some victim that had got beaten up or hurt, this was personal. He wasn’t there because he was ordered to or because it was his job. He was there because he was scared. He was scared of not seeing his Guv’nor again or saying goodbye, he wasn’t going to let happened, not again, not like it was with his mum.

   His heart started to beat faster when he entered the hospital, he hated the place. He thought back to when he was about 6 years old, he’s Nan was ill and had to stay in hospital. He went to visit her one night then the next morning his mum had kept him off school and told him, she had died during her sleep. Every time he walked into a hospital he would think about her and how he not got chance to say a real goodbye.

 

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Jack Meadows,” Mickey stopped one of the nurses, “he was brought in this morning.”

 

“Are you family?” She asked him.

 

“Umm no not really…” Mickey admitted, “he was my boss… he’s a close friend.”

 

“Well, I’m not really meant to let anyone other then family see him.”

 

“Right…” Mickey sighed, what could he do.. He wasn’t family.. “Can you just tell how he is?”

“Well…I’m not meant to..” the nurse looked around, “But as you say you are a colleague, so I’m sure it won’t done any harm.”

 

“I would really appreciate it…”

 

“Okay, well he was brought in this morning after he suffered from a severer heart attack…” She explained, “we’ve run so tests and found that there’s a small hole in his heart..”

 

“A hole?” Mickey repeated, “that’s bad isn’t it?”

 

“Well, it is but its quite common and can be repaired…”

 

“So, he’ll have to have a operation?” Mickey asked, this was worse then he thought. He only thought that it was a heart attack not something where Jack would have to go ‘Under the Knife.’

 

“Yes he‘s lucky, there’s normally a long waiting list but Mr Meadows is scheduled for tonight.”

 

“Tonight?” Mickey repeated.

 

She started to walk off, “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

 

Mickey dropped onto one of the chairs placed along the corridor and rubbed his eyes.

 

“Mickey?” He heard a familiar voice calling his name. He looked up and saw Laura Meadows with a young woman.

 

“Oh, Hiya…”  Mickey stuttered and jumped from his seat, “I just come to see how Jack is..”

 

“Oh right,” Laura said then turned to the other woman, “this is Mickey Webb… he works with your father… Mickey, this is our daughter Lucy.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you…” Lucy said, smiling slightly.

 

“Have you?” Mickey frowned.

“Oh yeah, Dad’s always talking about you…” She explained, “surprised I haven’t meet you before, the way he carries on…”

 

“Oh right…” Mickey said slowly. An awkward silence took hold over the three of them, “Look, I better go..”

 

“You don’t have to..” Laura told him, “Jack would want to see you..”

 

The DC paused for a moment, “how’s he doing… I mean, I’ve asked a nurse but they wasn’t much help…”

 

“He’s still recovering from the tests and all…” Laura told him, “but feel free to go and sit with him..”

 

“You sure?” Mickey asked, he didn’t want to disturb them or anything.

 

“Yeah, go on. We’ve been in there all afternoon, we need a break and Ben hasn’t arrived yet…” Laura told him.

 

“Okay, thanks..” Mickey nodded.

 

“He’s on ward 5,” Lucy added, “do you want a coffee or anything?”

“Ummm..no.. I’m okay thanks…”

 

“Okay, lets us know if he wakes up or anything….”

 

“Yeah, sure..” Mickey agreed and watched them walk off, leaving him on his own again. He then slowly made his way to ward 5; he swallowed before he walked over to Jack’s bed.

     He fought the tears that burned in his eyes, when he saw all the machines that Jack was hooked up to. Mickey wasn’t sure what he should do… he eventually forced himself to sit in one of the chairs that was beside the bed. He wasn’t sure if he should wake Jack or just sit there and wait.

       After about 5 minutes Mickey couldn’t just sit there watching him anymore, wondering whether or not the person he cared most about was ever going to wake up again. He stood up but as he did, the chair hit another one.

 

“Mickey??” Said quiet and slurred voice from the bed.

 

“I didn’t mean to wake you…” The DC stuttered.

 

“It’s okay…” The DCI just about managed to say. He felt like he was floating and that he was dream. He moved his hand to rub his blurred eyes but it caused a shape pain, where a drip had been placed.

 

“I ermm… just came to see how you were…”

 

“I’m fine…” Jack muttered, “You know, can’t keep a good man down and all that.”

 

“Yeah…” Mickey grinned broadly for a second before the smile disappeared and silence reigned over them.

 

“You’re not going are you?” Jack queried.

 

“Well… umm.. I suppose I better let you rest…” Mickey started.

 

“Don’t go…” Jack interrupted him, “you still haven’t told me how MIT is going…”

 

Mickey hesitated slightly before he sat back down. He moved the chair close to the bed, he wasn’t sure if it was so that they didn’t disturb the other patience on the ward or to get out of view of their curious eyes.   

 

“So, how you doing?” Jack said slowly.

 

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

 

“I told you, I’m fine… just a little set back.”

 

“Guv, you’ve got a hole in your heart…” Mickey stated.

 

“Yeah, so… it can be fixed,” Jack insisted.

 

“You‘ve got you operation tonight…” Mickey said slowly.

 

 Jack decided to change the subject, “anyway, how’s MIT?”

Mickey was silent for a minute. They should be talking about the state he was in, not how his new job was going.

 

“It’s okay…” Mickey eventually said, “first couple of days, I was partnered with Duncan Lennox. Just to get used to everything..”

 

“Good,” Jack smiled slightly, “how is Duncan?”

“Well you know Duncan.. Just gets on with everything…” Mickey muttered and rubbed his eyes. He wanted to tell Jack how hard it had been explaining to the Scottish DC why he had to transfer but he couldn’t… he couldn’t add more stress to the DCI by telling him all his own problems.

 

“And did you tell him?” Jack asked.

 

“Yeah, yeah I did… but I didn’t come here to discuss me…” Mickey told him.

 

“I told you, I’m fine…”

 

“Jack, will you listen to me?!” Mickey said sharply. Jack closed his mouth and looked at the DC, who had gone slightly red. “I just wanna say Thank you…”

 

“For what?” Jack asked.

 

“You were there when I needed you…” Mickey explained, “I don’t think I could’ve got through this, if it wasn’t for you…”

 

“Course you would have…”

 

“Well, what ever happens now.. I’ll be here for you..” Mickey promised.

 

“You don’t have to…”

 

“I want to…” Mickey told him, “anything you need, let me know…”

 

Jack went quiet for a minute. He thought about the last month or so… it had been so hard for Mickey, first his mum dying and then getting attacked. Jack could help but worry about the DC.

 

“We’ve been through a lot over the years…” Jack added, quietly.

 

“Yeah, I know…” Mickey agreed, “who would have thought so much could happen to one station.”

 

“Who would have thought Don Beech was bent!”

 

“Not me…” Mickey hung his head slightly. “That’s what started all this off.”

 

Jack looked at him, confused by the DC statement.

 

“I mean, if it wasn’t for him then Chandler wouldn’t have arrived nor would the new CID.  Then Simpson wouldn’t have fire bomb the station… killing Kate, Sam and all them..”

 

“The fire…” Jack repeated quietly.

 

“What?” Mickey frowned, at the way Jack’s facial expression changed.

 

“I don’t think I should tell you…” Jack said.

 

“Tell me what?” Mickey asked and then continued when he realised Jack wasn’t going to answer him, “Look, Guv.. What’s going on…Just tell me..”

 

Jack looked at him for a minute. Debating with himself whether or not he should tell him. He had agreed with Okaro and Gold that they would keep it to themselves but now Jack was in no position to find the rightful man, who had in fact killed all those officers.  

 

“Simpson’s innocent..” Jack said quietly.

 

“You what?” Mickey replied in disbelief.

 

“Simpson wasn’t behind the explosion…”

“Course he was… there was evidence…” Mickey stated.

 

Jack shook his head, “He was fitted up…”

 

“Fitted up? but it was Des and…..” Mickey stopped himself, when everything mad sense, “and Danny..”

 

“Yes and Danny…” Jack sighed, “would have thought he wouldn’t do anything like that, after Beech.”

 

“Maybe he and Beech were working together…” Mickey suggested.

“Nah, Beech worked alone, plus they never really worked together.”

 

“So why did Danny do it?” Mickey asked.

 

“We dunno… We don’t know where Des or Danny is..”

 

“What’s happening now?”

 

“We’re on the look out for Des…”

 

“Why Des and not Danny?” Mickey interrupted.

 

“We believe that Des was the one who throw the petal bomb into Monroe’s office,” Jack finally admitted.

 

“What?” Mickey stuttered, as his mouth dropped open in shock. “It was him who killed them?”

 

Jack couldn’t think of anything to say and just nodded. He could see the tears began to well up in the DC’s eyes.

 

“He killed Kate?”

 

“Look, Mickey,” Jack said, trying to sit up, “we will get him. We’re not going to let him get away with this.”

 

“Who’s we?” Mickey looked up, hoping that they could team up on an investigation again.

 

“I dunno…” Jack said. There was suddenly a loud beeps coming from one of the Machines. Mickey panicked and jumped up.

 

“Jack… Jack.. You okay?” He stuttered, “what’s happening?”

 

“Mickey, it’s alright…” Jack said, a smile playing on his lips, “I’m fine..”

 

“What is that?” Mickey said, sitting back down.

 

“It’s just tell us that the drip is running out or something…” Jack explained.

 

Mickey was about to reply when the nurse he had spoken to before came in.

 

“I’m sorry but you’ll have to go..” She told him and gave him a stern look.

 

“Why?” Jack asked, as Mickey went red with embarrassed about being caught out.

 

“Like I said before.” The nurse rolled her eyes, “we’re only allowed to let family in.”

 

“Right, I ermm… better go..” Mickey muttered and went to stand up but Jack grab hold of his arm, stopping him.

 

“He is family,” Jack stated.

 

The nurse looked from the DCI to the DC, she did feel sorry him and decided not to argue. “Alright but you’ll have to wait outside for a moment… we have to run some tests.”

 

“Okay…” Mickey agreed.

 

“Mickey?” Jack said before he left, “get Des..”

 

“What?” Mickey frowned.

 

“Find him…” Jack ordered, “you and Duncan, find him.. Make him pay.”

 

Mickey grinned, “Thought you’d never asked.”

 

Jack grinned at him, as he left but as soon as the DC had got out of sight, the smile faded.

 

“So, how you really feeling?” The nurse asked as she checked his drip.

 

“Like, I’ve ran 10 miles…”

 

“Well, maybe you should get some rest…” The nurse smiled.

 

 

 

Mickey passed up and down the corridor, outside of the waiting room. He couldn’t stand just sitting around, waiting for news on Jack’s operation.

 He was going mad but he couldn’t leave, just in case something happened, plus he promised Jack that he would be there.

 

“Mickey?” Gina Gold’s voice reached his ears, “how is he? Can I see him?”

 

“Ermm.. He’s having an operation…” Mickey explained.

 

“Operation! What for?!” She asked.

 

“They found a tear or something in his heart…” Mickey sat down on one of the chairs, “he’s having a ‘Tribal Heart By Pass…”

 

“A Tribal ‘what’ Pass?” Gina asked confused.

 

“Tribal Heart By Pass..” Mickey said again, “they’re taking a vain from his leg and putting it in his heart, in order to re-pair it.. Or something..”

 

“Right,” Gina nodded, taking in the latest information, “the family here?”

 

“Laura and Lucy are…” Mickey told her, “Ben’s been held up.”

 

“Okay, then… I guess I’d better get back.” She sighed, “you be okay?”

 

“Course I will..” The DC nodded.

 

“Right, well, call me when you found anything out..”

 

“Yeah, sure..”

 

Mickey let out a long sigh as he watched the inspector disappeared out of the  hospital and settled down for a long night, waiting for news.

 

 

 

It was gone midnight and there was still no news about the operation.

 Mickey had returned to the waiting room with Laura and Lucy, plus Ben had arrived as well. He placed his cold cup of coffee on the table and rubbed his tired eyes. He looked at the other three people in the room. Ben was stretched out on about four chairs, while Lucy and Laura were curled up together. All three of them were fast asleep.

  Mickey had tried to sleep but every time he closed his eyes, he could see Des Taviner killing his friends and colleagues and him killing Kate… the woman he loved, the woman that had left her boyfriend for him only minutes before being killed. Then there was everyone else died in the fire, what had any of them done to deserve it? One thing he knew for certain was that he was going make him pay, not just for Kate and the others but for Jack as well, he had promised him. He owed him as well; he had been there for him, whenever he had need him. He had helped with Chandler and with his attack. Now it was his turn.

 

He saw Lucy stir out of the corner of his eyes, he looked over at her.

 

“Mickey… you still here?” She asked, starching out.

 

“Umm… yeah, I didn’t want to leave without knowing…” Mickey said quietly, looking down into his drink. “I can go if you would preferred me too..”

 

“No.. no, its fine.” She smiled at him, “its nice of you to stay.”

 

“Well, he’s a mate, isn’t he…” Mickey replied, slightly embarrassed about showing his caring side.

“My dad has got lots of mates…none of them are here.” Lucy rolled her eyes.

 

“Be a bit cramped, wouldn’t it?” Mickey smiled.

 

“You know what I mean,” Lucy said, with a smile playing on her lips, “what makes you so special?”

 

“How do you mean?” Mickey frowned.

 

“Well, you’ve sat here all night and Dad talks about you a lot,” Lucy explained.

 

“Yeah, well we’ve been through a lot…” Mickey smiled slightly.

 

“Yeah, I know..” Lucy agreed.

 

“What do you know?” Mickey asked, worriedly.

 

“Just that there’s been a lot of chancing at Sun Hill, over the last couple of years…” She told him, giving him a curious look, “what did you think I meant?”

 

“Nothing, nothing…” Mickey told her, relaxing again.

 

“You okay?” She asked him.

 

“Yeah, I’m fine…”

 

“You sure?” She continued.

 

“He said his fine!” Her bother’s voice cut in, “leave the poor bloke alone!”

 

“I was only asking!” Lucy shot back.

 

“What time is it?” Ben asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

 

“12:30...” Mickey told him.

 

“God, how long are they going to take!?” Ben said, slightly annoyed.

 

“Well, I don’t want them to rush it!” Lucy snapped.

 

“And you think that do?!” Ben demanded, glaring at his younger sister. 

 

“Well, where were you?!” Lucy demanded tearfully, “me and Mum were on our own all afternoon, we had to sit there and watch him being pumped with drugs and…”

 

“What do you want me to do!?” Ben shouted, “live at home all the time!  I do have my own life, you know!”

 

Mickey shifted, uncomfortably; he didn’t know what to do. He knew brothers and sisters are meant get on each other’s nervous and fight but he didn’t know what to do. Should he say something or should he keep quiet. 

 

“Well you two give it a rest!” Laura said, when she was woken by the noise.

 

“Mum… sorry, didn’t mean to wake you..” Lucy said quickly.

 

“No, its okay…” She smiled slightly at her, “I didn’t mean to fall asleep anyway.”

 

“Still, mum.. You should get some sleep,” Ben added, leaning forwards.

 

“I told you, I’m fine…” She said.

 

The silence in the room started again and everyone began to check their watches and move around as they waited nervously. 

  The atmosphere was to tense for Mickey and he found it to hard to just there, silent. He placed his cold cup of coffee down, on the small table in front of him and stood up.

 

“Shall I get some drinks in?” He asked.

 

“Yeah, yeah thanks mate…” Ben nodded.

 

“I’ll help you…” Lucy offered standing up.

 

Before they had chance to leave Jack’s doctor entered, they both stood dead.

 

“How is he?” Lucy asked, straight away.

 

The doctor looked around at them and then his eyes settled on Mickey, “ermm.. I think it might be best if only family were here..” He suggested.

 

There were those words again, Mickey thought to himself. ‘only family’ and that didn’t include him. No matter how much he cared about Jack, no matter how close they were, he wasn’t family and that’s what mattered to everyone. He wasn’t important.

 

“I’ll get those drinks…” Mickey muttered and headed for the door.

 

“Mickey, stay…” Lucy grabbed his arm, “you’ve waited all night.”

 

Mickey looked back at her and then to the doctor, as if he was asking for his permission, all he did was shrugged.

 

“So, how is he?” Laura repeated, Lucy’s question. Lucy and Ben sat nether side of her, all their hands clasped together. While Mickey leant back against the wall, as if he needed the support, in a way, he did.

 

“First of all, I would like to say, how sorry I am…” the doctor started.

 

“No…” Laura’s hand shoot to cover her mouth, “no.. no..”

 

“Sorry for what?!” Ben demanded, as he gripped Lucy’s and his mother’s hands tighter as they both started to cry.

 

“Your father did have a missive heart attack and a serious heart condition which was caught pretty late..” The doctor started to explain.

 

“But you saved him right?” Mickey asked.

 

“I’m sorry…” the doctor hung his head slightly, “we tried all we could…”

 

Mickey listened to the doctor’s words, as he delivered the message. The same message that he had to deliver over the years of being a police man, the same message that June Ackland had deliver to him, when his mum had died.

  He couldn’t hear what the doctor had said next but he could hear the other three people in the room, crying, ’the family.’ He sank to the floor, as his fingers racked through his hair and tears falling from his face, silently.

  The glanced over the others, all huddle together, comforting each other, as they cried and listened to the doctor talking.

  It was if he wasn’t there…. They had forgotten him but he wasn’t important… he wasn’t family.

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

It was now 1:30 and the tears had stopped flowing as Mickey walked around on the cold night, in a state of shock. Jack was dead, he wasn’t coming back. Another smile lost. Who was he going to talk to? Who was going to be there for him? Normally would talk to Jack, but he couldn’t… not now. He had to talk to someone; he had to find someone who would understand. He head to the house of the first person he thought of.

 

 He didn’t hesitate on knocking on the door, he knew if he did, he’d panic and not go though with it.

 

“Who is it?” The occupation of the house asked, as the door opened but with the chain on.

 

“It’s Mickey…” Mickey managed to shutter, “Mickey Webb.”

 

“Mickey?” They said, as they slide the chain off.

 

“I’m sorry, its late,” Mickey muttered, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor as the door opened full.

 

“Mickey, what is it?” They asked.

 

Mickey looked up, tears filled his eyes, “can I come in?”

“Mickey, what’s happened?” They asked, nervously, when they saw the pain and exhaustion in the young man’s eyes.

 

“Please, can I come in?” Mickey begged and sobs began to shake his body again, “please…”

 

“Ahh, come on…” they said, taking his arm and guiding him to the house.