Skins: Endgame

Chapter 7

Effy gradually woke up from an uneasy sleep. She didn't know where she was. Looking around without moving too much, she noticed Freddy and Tony sitting across from her. Both of them eyed her with alertness. She'd had the opportunity to rest but there was no chance she was out of the woods yet. She looked towards the ceiling.

"Effy are you ok?" Asked Freddy.

"Eff, don't worry, it's going to be alright." followed Tony.

"I'm back," said Effy.

"Back in hospital Eff." Tony replied.

"No," she said, rather weakly. She had used up most of her strength the previous night. "In here. I can hear the voices again."

Tony and Freddie looked at each other. Tony sat back in his chair, in thought, as Freddie leaned over towards her to speak.

"It's ok, I'm here. Tonys here too and soon so will your mum. We're all here for you."

Effy turned towards him, her face full of guilt.

"I didn't mean what I said to you," she moaned.

Freddie was forgiving. She hadn't been in her right mind at all that night, didn't know what she was saying.

"Ssh, ssh, ssh," he muttered.

"I'm so stupid," she replied.

Freddy put his hand on her shoulder.

"It's all right. We're together. We'll be together."

At that moment, John Foster walked into the room.

"Good morning. How are we doing?" He asked.

Effy, previously almost motionless since waking up, started to become agitated.

"No!" She said, her voice more powerful, "Tony, I don't want him anymore, Freddie, I don't want him!"

Tony stood up as Freddy rounded on Dr Foster.

"You're John Foster," blurted out Freddie.

"And you must be Freddie," he replied, before turning to Tony, "And you must be Tony. Effy showed me a picture of you a while back."

Freddie took a step towards him before saying, "You need to leave."

"She's my patient," stated Dr Foster bluntly, without giving any indication he was going to leave."

Tony, still annoyed over Cook, was in no mood for Dr Foster upsetting his sister, but before he could intervene, Freddie made his demand clear.

"Not any more. We want someone else. You're done with her... Fuck off."

Dr Foster hesitated for a second. Taking one last look at Effy, he eventually relented and left the room. Effy seemed more relaxed but still seemed very troubled.

"You deserved better." She said.

Freddie once again comforted her, "Ssh, it's all right, just go to sleep, all right?"

She was actually fading back into sleep by this point, but she had the willpower to say a few more words to Freddy, the last words he would ever hear he say to him, "I love you, I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you... I love you..."

She was asleep, holding Freddie's hand. Gradually, he fell asleep as well. Tony didn't. He just sat there observing them. Not with disapproval, but more with a happy, satisfied look.

An hour later, Anthea turned up. She acknowledged Tony and moved over to Freddie, waking him up. He turned around to look at her. Quietly, he got up and they embraced each other.

"I don't like this place," he muttered.

"Neither do I," She replied, "I'll look after her. Tony..."

She and Tony also hugged, as he left with Freddie.

Outside, the two of them began walking to the bus stop.

"She was wrong you know."

"What?" Freddie replied, completely missing what he said. They had been walking in silence and he hadn't even expected Tony to talk.

"Effy," stated Tony, "When she said that she doesn't deserve you. She was wrong. I saw the way the two of you were. In there, back at the roadside. She really cares about you. I could feel it."

Freddie didn't know what to say. Tony continued.

"I loved the way you stood up to that prick in there. I don't know the full story but she was agitated the second he arrived. She definitely deserves a lad like you, a lad who looks out for her. You're a good man Freddie."

"She mentioned you," said Freddie, "She always looked up to you."

Tony laughed. "I'll bet she did, we've been through a lot... Listen... You catch this bus, I'm going to go get a taxi. There's something I need to sort out.

Freddie looked alarmed. "Listen about Cook, he's not what you-"

"Look me and him clearly have problems," said Tony, "but don't worry, it's nothing to do with him. I just need to go and visit an old friend."

Now at the bus stop, he extended his hand to Freddie. Freddy shook it. Saying goodbye to each other, Tony strolled off into the distance.