Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

43 - Gang's All Here

A/N: Brodie Grundy is a demon and I've never seen a more depressed looking footballer 💔

For clarity - in this story I have changed the families of Trent Bianco and Jack Ginnivan. Anna and Frank are not Trent's parents in this book and similarly, Debbie, Craig, Megg and Brooklyn aren't Jack's family. It is a work of fiction after all!

Certain themes in this read are quite dark, confronting and real - like always I want to highlight real, honest problems in the world, and my own personal life (disability, child loss, pregnancy loss - sorry to get deep but not really) and people's lives through the characters. But I promise, it does have its positive and happy moments and a happy ending. :)

Thanks for all your votes, comments and support on Saving Lotte Sullivan. It truly means the world x

...

'What's happening to her?'

Brayden Maynard asked the doctor this as Ashlyn laid inside the ICU, unconscious. Medical staff in and out of her room. Friends hanging around the corridor.

'Are you her next of kin? Her friend was unable to provide a name' the doctor said ignorantly, as Brayden sighed.

'She's our friend, she lives with us' Ashlee said, a little defensively.

'Does she have a mother? Father? Siblings? Children? Husband?' The doctor asked, as Lotte stood up, eyes red and puffy from crying.

'She has a mother but she's not in contact with her anymore' she said, voice strained.

'Well we require her next of kin details due to how serious her condition is and how rapidly she's deteriorating. We have an emergency contact, but no next of-'

'If I hear you say the words next of kin one more time, I'm going to scream. You need to tell us what's happening to her. She was fine when we left Melbourne, and suddenly Callum's calling telling us she's being rushed to the hospital' Ashlee said, as the doctor sighed.

'I will have to speak to the emergency contact first, if they ever answer their phone' the doctor said, as Lotte looked on, confused.

'Who is her emergency contact?' She asked, surprised it wasn't herself.

'She's listed them as her brother in law. If it's an in law, then I'm sure there must be a husband or sibling somewhere we could contact' the doctor said, pressing them again for more information.

'She's single and she's an only child' Lotte said, as she quickly entered her phone contacts and brought Josh's details up. She knew he never answered unknown phone numbers. He'd probably also had a bit to drink the previous night. That scared her.

'I'm going to go and try to contact her emergency contact again. Please speak to the nurses if anything comes up' the doctor said, as he left the corridor, giving the gang about as many answers as Callum, who also had none.

'Her brother in law can only be Josh' Lotte confirmed, as Brayden nodded. 'Who's calling him. You or me?' He asked.

'You can' Lotte said, as Brayden nodded again and left the corridor.

'I'm really sorry Lotte, but we've been sitting in a car for twelve and a half hours without a break. I really need to find something to eat, or I'm going to collapse' Ashlee said, as she followed her boyfriend out.

'You guys drove all the way here?' Callum asked incredulously, as Lotte sighed.

'She's my best friend and I'd move the earth for her if I had to' She said.