When Fools Rush In

Chapter 27 - Flashing Lights

Another bright, white light flashed in Lucy's rear view mirror. She let out an audible groan and swore aloud. It was the second speed camera she had triggered as she accelerated back towards Manchester, John's frantic voice replaying in her head over and over as she tried to fathom what was happening to Jack.

She had never run up the stairs to her flat so quickly. Breathlessly, Lucy ran to her bedside cabinet, flinging open the bottom drawer. Jack's black T-shirt was neatly folded on top of the set of keys she had placed in there weeks ago. Grabbing the keys, she turned on her heel and ran back out of her flat, throwing herself into the car and taking care to glance at her phone. John had left a message.

John Stones - still can't get through to J, let me know when you get there and what's up - JS

Lucy wished John had managed to get through, had managed to find out he'd just fallen asleep for the afternoon and was feeling much better. She started up the engine and motored through the city to Jack's, wheels skidding again. A sense of panic had gripped her. Something in her gut told her the rushing and the speeding was justified. She knew this is what she would say to the police when the penalty letters arrived in the post.

The underground car park and back entrance to the building was suddenly familiar again. Lucy had been fraught and distressed when she had last set foot in there, and now she was back in a similar state, for a different reason. The lift seemed to take an age to get to Jack's floor high up in the clouds.

She took a deep breath as she approach the front door to his apartment. What if he was actually OK, padding around his flat sipping a cup of tea, his ex-girlfriend randomly entering his flat with the spare set she had taken with her? What if he thought he was being burgled, and went to attack her? God, she would look stupid. How would she even explain why she was there, cheeks burning red with exertion, breathless, her hair in a long, knotted mess over her shoulders?

Lucy knew she would only need the Yale key, that the door wouldn't be double locked if he was in. She slowly slid the key into the lock and turned it. The door nudged open with her weight; he was home.

The hallway was in darkness, the light from the hall outside flooding in behind her as she tentatively stepped into the flat.

"Jack," she called, her voice shaky, careful not to shout or sound too urgent. "Jack, are you there?"

As she inched down the hallway she noticed a dim light coming from Jack's room. The door was open. 

Approaching slowly, almost stealthily, she heard his voice.

"Luce - Luce, is that you?" His voice didn't sound right.

"Yes, it's me," replied Lucy, reassuringly, now at the doorway to Jack's room. She was blinking to adjust to the darkness of the flat, then she saw his bedside lamp was on. He was in the bed, under the covers, his head flat to the pillow as he lay down. Just by glancing at him, she knew he was ill.

"Oh God Jack, are you alright?" Lucy exclaimed, knowing full well he wasn't. Her slow movements ceased as she rushed towards him, trying to make sense of the situation.

She stared down at him as she stood over the bed. His eyes were glazed over, his face flushed, his hair soaked in sweat and flat to the pillow. He immediately reached out with his hand to her, weakly grabbing her wrist. He was shaking severely.

"Shit, what's wrong? How long have you been lying here like this?" Lucy placed her hand on his forehead which was burning.

"Er - few hours..." stammered Jack, his voice shaking with the rest of his body, "Luce...please...I don't know what's wrong...I feel so ill..."