Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 28

Allie woke around eleven, and Jeremy ended up lifting her out of the bed to hold her as the horror hit her all over again. He reassured her Dan was looking after the children with Max and Margie, and listened to her as she wailed, "I wasn't there, he was all alone Jeremy. I didn't even get chance to say goodbye." He knew there was nothing useful he could say, so he just held her tight, rocking her until the doctor on duty came in and offered diazepam. Jeremy sighed and got her to swallow them, holding her tightly until he could see them taking effect. When she was asleep he lifted her back in the bed, kissing her tear stained face, and allowed himself to cry for a few minutes while no-one could see.

He dozed off sitting in the chair for a few hours, and woke as it was getting light when Dylan came in. Jeremy glanced and saw Allie was still asleep and he whispered, "You back on duty?" Dylan shook his head, "I'm actually not due on for a couple of hours, but I couldn't stop thinking about you guys and what happened. What's the plan for her?" Jeremy shook his head "We'll get her discharged this morning. There's no medical reason to keep her. I need to go and collect Robyn at the airport and break the news. There wasn't any point me telling her over the phone yesterday, I messaged I was stuck in surgery and couldn't talk. She'd just have been upset and panicked trying to get home quicker. The guys who were here yesterday will come and take care of Allie." Dylan nodded looking at the bed "Days like yesterday, I hate this job."

Max called around six, having had next to no sleep. Jeremy stepped outside when he felt his phone vibrate, not wanting Allie to wake any earlier than necessary. He told Max he was arranging Allie's discharge and Max said, "I'll speak to the others and we'll figure out which of us is coming over, but we'll be there in the next hour or so." When he stepped back into the room Allie was awake, sitting hugging her knees looking haunted but calm. He sat on the bed and took her hands gently, "Hey, I'm going to get one of the nurses to come in and help you okay? I've just spoken to Max and they're going to come and collect you and get you home very soon." Her hands were cold and he rubbed them instinctively as she muttered, "Thanks Jeremy and thanks for staying with me." He pulled her close "You don't have to do any of this alone Allie, we're all going to be there for you okay."

Dan and Margie were in the room when Max called Jeremy, but the children were still asleep. Emmie had cried bitterly when Dan broke the news that Michael was gone, and Rose cried because Emmie did. They were both easily placated with hot chocolate and cuddles, and Margie found herself wishing adults could find comfort as easily. They decided it would be best for the girls to have some normality, and Margie would drop them off, explaining to staff what had happened in case they got upset and needed collecting. Dan was going to collect Allie. Max had called Hane and Landon the night before, and they had drafted an E mail to the staff in both firms to inform them about Michael's death. He couldn't face going into the office, and in truth he wasn't sure what to do.

Dan woke the girls who seemed perfectly content. He promised them both that Mommy would be there later, and left them to Margie while he made his way to the hospital. He arrived and found Allie sitting quietly with Jeremy, red eyed but calm, wearing yesterday's clothes. Jeremy stood up and squeezed his shoulder as he passed and Daniel took Allie in his arms. "Hey, I'm here, Rose and Emmie are with Margie, I've got you." Allie wasn't even aware of it but she started to cry and Jeremy rubbed her back and handed Daniel copies of her discharge paperwork. I'm going to go home, get ready to meet Robyn at the airport." Dan nodded, "Let's get you out of here Allie. Thanks Jeremy. I'll speak to you later."

Dan drove to Allie and Michael's house so she could change. He waited nervously in the living area, picking up Rose's toys and putting them in the toy box. When Allie emerged from the bedroom wearing jeans and a T shirt she smiled thinly and he put an arm 'round her as she quietly said, "Thanks for knowing I'd want to change. His stuff is here, just like he's going to walk through the door any minute." Daniel drew her in and said, "Come on, I'm taking you over to Susan and John." He wasn't sure he was doing the right thing, but he wasn't sure what to do." When they arrived they approached the door and John yanked it open having seen them coming. He was still in sweat pants and T shirt and seeing Allie his eyes filled with tears and he took her small frame in his arms. Daniel followed her in and a dishevelled Susan came out of the kitchen and took hold of Allie while John embraced Daniel. Susan and Allie sank to the couch off the kitchen and sobbed. John pulled the back of his hand across his face, Daniel had to turn away and John massaged his shoulders "Come on Dan, let's put some coffee on."

Over at the airport Robyn came through arrivals blissfully unaware, but seeing Jeremy's face she looked worried. She kissed him and he held her extra tight. Drawing back she saw he clearly hadn't slept much even though he'd had a shower and shaved. "Hey, you okay? What's wrong?" He took a breath, "Can we grab a seat?" Her anxiety grew as they grabbed a couple of seats just in the terminal, "You're scaring me Jeremy, what the hell's the matter?" When he told her she put a hand over her face to stifle a scream, but it was enough to attract attention. "Oh my God Jeremy, why didn't you tell me? What happened to him, how and is Allie okay?" He sighed, "I didn't want you to find out by phone and you might not have been able to get an earlier flight. Then you'd have been alone, a plane ride away trying to deal. Allie spent the night in the hospital, Dan picked her up this morning. I sat with her all night Robyn, she's a mess, you can imagine. It was basically a massive brain bleed, he died before any of us got there. Jeremy began to sob, "Robyn I was on my way down to the ER when I heard Allie scream, I'm never, ever going to get the sound out of my head."

John had called Max and told him to come over with Margie. Then he messaged Jeremy to tell him where they all were so he and Robyn could join them. Allie was still in Susan's arms her head pounding. She said pitifully, "I should have been there, I can't stop thinking he was all alone." Daniel felt like his heart was breaking and he tried to coax her to have some coffee. Susan sat her up, "Dan's right Allie honey, you've got to try and eat and drink. You've got two little people who need you." Allie sobbed louder, "I'm just so broken." Daniel sat the other side of her and pulled her into his lap shushing her and whispering, "We've got you Allie. We've all got you." John brought her some Kleenex and after a few minutes Dan lifted her back onto the couch and pressed the coffee cup into her hands. She managed to drink some and he kissed her forehead.

She was calmer by the time Max and Margie arrived. Susan was getting dressed so John made some drinks while Daniel moved to let them sit and comfort Allie. A visibly shocked Robyn arrived shortly after with Jeremy and hugged her friend whispering "Allie I'm so so sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here." Allie sobbed bitterly again and Daniel took Jeremy into the kitchen with John saying quietly, "Jeremy I'm worried, she looks terrible." Jeremy rubbed his back, "I can get someone to prescribe more diazepam, but it's only really delaying her dealing with it. Maybe seeing the kids will help. Let me talk to her yeah?" Daniel nodded and John sighed. Jeremy asked for a glass of water and pulled a packet of pills from his pocket. When John handed the water over he went to his wife and Allie, crouching down he said, "Allie, I need you to drink this water and take these headache pills okay? Emmie and Rose are going to need you later, so I want you to lie down in Susan's spare room and try and at least rest." She glanced at Daniel suddenly looking anxious "Where are Emmie and Rose now, who has them?" Daniel moved to the other side of her, "It's okay, they've gone to school and day care. We thought it would be better for them to stick to a normal routine." Allie nodded letting out a long breath, "Dan, did you tell them?" He nodded, "Yeah, they're too little to take it in Allie. Emmie cried but I don't think she really understood. But when they get home you're going to hold them and love them and tell them Mommy's still here yeah?" She nodded at Daniel with tears spilling down her face, taking the glass and the tablets from Jeremy.

When she'd finished she got up and Daniel steadied her and took her to the guest room. She lay down and he wiped a couple of tears away as she said, "Would you stay with me for a little bit Dan?" He kicked off his shoes and got on the bed holding her from behind against his chest so she felt safe. Within minutes he felt her relax and her breathing slow. He waited to make sure she was asleep before carefully removing his arms and getting off the bed to re-join the others.

They all looked up anxiously when he came in carrying his shoes, "She's asleep." Jeremy nodded approvingly "It's what she needs most right now." Robyn said, "What's happening tonight? Shall I stay over with her?" Margie said, "She can stay with us, we can just keep the girls like last night." Dan shook his head "I've been thinking. We have to try and keep thing's as normal as possible for Rose and Emmie. They both have a bedroom at Allie's and I can stay over to keep an eye on her. The longer she stays away the harder it'll be for her to go back and Rose needs to be in her own surroundings." Max sighed, "Much as I'd like to keep her close at our place I think Dan's right Margie." Margie crossed the room to Daniel and kissed him, "If you need us, you just call. We'll be there in minutes."