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Post by Katrina on May 11, 2011 21:47:42 GMT 1
Thank you for the comments. And any suggestions for a name for Baby 2 would be much appreciated (baby 1 is named but I am blanking for baby 2)
Part 11
“It can't be her” Rob was muttering to himself and yet looking down at the pale figure lying on the bed he knew without a doubt that it was his little Immie. He found himself looking wildly around the little room – one of only a few in the flat – as if willing another figure to appear. But even as he tried to will himself in to believe that someone else would appear, his eyes were taking in the blood and matter that was pooling between his daughter's legs, her pale and clammy skin and her stained clothing that she wore.
“Rob, please” Zara pleaded with him. She couldn't imagine how hard this was for him but she knew that she needed his help. Ryan was trembling like a leaf in the doorway and she knew he would be off no help whatsoever. Her only hope was Rob.
“My little girl” Rob whispered. In his minds eye he was watching Imogen grow up. She wasn't even an adult yet not really. To him she was still the little girl who he had watched at ballet classes when she was 6 and who had ridden her first pony at 7 having given up on ballet. She was still the little girl who had laughed with delight when he had offered to give her rides in the police car and who enjoyed licking out the bowl when her mum made cakes. His little girl couldn't have given birth.
“Rob” Zara tried again. She really wasn't happy about Imogen's condition. Zara didn't even want to estimate the amount of blood the young girl had lost but she knew it was bordering on an unsafe amount. The only vaguely positive – and she used this term loosely – was that it appeared that placenta was completely delivered. “An ambulance Rob I need an ambulance now” “Right, yes of course” Rob sounded detached and confused but he managed to get out his phone and make the call. He sounded so robotic and unlike himself. Zara shook her head sadly. This was going to take some time she knew for everyone to heal. Imogen moved slightly in the bed and made a slight gurgling noise in the back of her throat. Zara leant forward slightly so that she was in the girl's line of vision.
“Imogen” She said softly and she watched as Imogen moved her eyes to look at Zara. Immie's vision was blurred and she wasn't quite sure if she was really seeing Dr Carmichael or not. She had seen so many strange things while she was lying her that perhaps the doctor was merely another vision. Zara gently stroke a strand of hair away from Immie's face and the young girl's eyes filled with tears. “Shh, now Immie it's going to be ok. We're going to get an ambulance and we'll take you to hospital and we'll make everything better” Zara said trying to keep that soft edge to her voice. Tears were threatening to spill out of her own eyes now and she desperately fought against them. For now at least she had to be the strong one because all around her worlds were tumbling.
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Post by Katrina on May 17, 2011 15:55:43 GMT 1
I was so convinced I had posted part 12. I'm really not sure what happened to it. I hope it works this time.
Part 12
“What's going on?” Julia asked, sounding worried. The panic in Zara's voice when she had answered the phone had been so unlike the doctor that Julia had instantly began to panic herself. There was been little updates in the case over the past few hours but still they were all huddled in the Mill despite it being after hours. Zara took a deep breath.
“It's a nightmare Julia” She said finally not entirely sure how much to say. She was travelling back to the hospital with Ryan. It was against procedure but she was driving the police car while Rob travelled in the ambulance with his daughter – although he was still struggling to comprehend that it was really Imogen. She was using Rob's handsfree set not wanting to risk getting pulled over for using her mobile.
“Zara?” Julia questioned with only the one word. There was a hushed atmosphere in the Mill as if they had sense how important this call was. Zara sighed. Everything was completely messed up.
“We found the mother” Zara said finally. Her voice was shaky and unsure. She heard Julia give a slight gasp of relief. Then she heard Julia relay the news to her colleagues. She could almost hear a recollection sigh of relief.
“Is she alright?” Julia asked, as if suddenly coming to her senses and realising that the story may not have gotten a happy ending. Zara shook her head slightly wondering just what Julia would consider alright. She could easily say that Imogen was alive but she was far from alright in terms of her mental state let alone what could still happen.
“She's alive” Zara responded. She could almost feel Julia smiling as she repeated this new information. “We also know she delivered a second baby whose also at the hospital” Zara added. She knew she was putting off the inevitable. She knew she had to get Karen to the hospital.
“Twins” Julia whispered and then explained her comments to her colleagues. Zara could hear them asking Julia questions which Julia couldn't quite answer.
“Julia, there's something else though” Zara said, biting down on her lip a little. She knew she had to do this and it was probably better to get it over with quickly like pulling off a plaster.
“What is it?” Julia asked, sounding concerned yet again.
“You need to get Karen to the hospital” Zara said in a rush. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel, the light of St Phil's hospital coming in the view a head of her. Julia gasped and Zara wondered if she was gripping the phone a little tighter out of fear.
“Is it Rob?” Julia asked, and in the background Zara could hear Karen say something about Rob and demanding to have the phone passed to her. Zara felt so much for Karen – her world was about to come crashing down around her.
“It's not Rob, Julia” Zara said, pulling the police car in to a parking space. As she stopped the car she said very softly “It's Imogen. The twins mother is Imogen”
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Post by Katrina on May 19, 2011 12:41:16 GMT 1
Part 13
Getting off the phone with Zara, Julia felt her entire body shaking. She couldn't quite believe what the doctor had said but she knew it had to be true. Nobody would lie about something like that. Julia took a moment to look around the room. Jimmi had a hand placed on Karen's shoulder obviously trying to keep her calm after the Rob comment. Karen was going to need so much more than that in a moment. Julia hated that she was going to have to be the one to shatter her world. It had only been days before that Karen had been talking about Imogen's latest achievements and how she couldn't quite believe how the young girl would soon be leaving college and starting her adult life. The two of them had sat reminiscing about their children and how they had grown up too fast.
“What's going on Julia?” Cherry asked, shifting her position slightly. Julia could see just how tired everybody looked. It had been such a long day. She knew that everyone was desperately seeking the comfort of their beds and a long sleep but she doubted any of them would get it tonight.
“Karen, I think we need to talk in my office” Julia said trying to keep her voice calm and even. She was certain it would be better for Karen to have it said in private. Her life would be scrutinised enough when everything came out, she at least deserved some privacy now. But Karen simply shook her head.
“Just tell me Julia” Karen whispered. In her mind she had already decided what was going to be said. Julia was going to say that Rob had been injured, or even killed, while working. It was a worry that had been with her for so long. Julia walked towards her colleague and knelt down on the floor so that she was near enough eye level with Karen.
“Rob and Zara were able to find the babies mother – there is a second baby – and have taken her to St Phils” Julia started not entirely sure how to say the words or even what words to use.
“Twins – poor girl” Cherry murmured and everyone around her nodded.
“I can't imagine how anyone could abandon a baby” Elaine muttered. Daniel made a sort of grunting noise in the background and everyone turned towards him. Jimmi gave him a sort of look.
“I'm sure she didn't mean anything against Lisa, Daniel” Jimmi said trying to keep the peace. He couldn't imagine how difficult this must have been for Daniel. On the one hand he wouldn't want to be too judgemental towards the girl because Lisa had left Isobel but on the other hand Jimmi knew of the struggle that Daniel and Zara had been having and so someone abandoning something they so desperately wanted couldn't be easy.
“Oh Daniel, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking” Elaine said softly. Julia cleared her throat a little trying to get Karen's attention back. She needed to get this over with. Julia gently took hold of Karen's hand in her own.
“Karen, I'm going to take you over to the hospital” She said quietly, and Karen nodded although she didn't completely understand why. It didn't seem like Rob had been injured and yet there was an awful stifling air to the room.
“why?” Karen asked shakily. Julia took a deep breath and gave Karen's hand a squeeze – a gesture she hoped told the woman that she would be here for her no matter what.
“You and Rob need to be there for her” Julia said “Imogen needs you now” a collective gasp went round the room but Karen simply furrowed her eyebrows. She couldn't quite understand how Imogen came in to all this. Imogen was at home doing her work. Unless Imogen had been injured somehow but then that couldn't be right because the call had been about the baby – well babies now – not an accident. Nothing seemed to make sense any more. Maybe Julia had learnt a new version of English that she didn't know. Julia sighed and squeezed her hand again. It was obviously taking longer for it to sink in to Karen although Julia knew everyone else had grasped it immediately. “Karen, we need to go see Imogen now”
“Imogen's at home” Karen answered, her voice robotic and detatched.
“No sweetie she isn't” Julia said trying to sound reassuring but feeling completely out of her depth. “It was Imogen, Karen. Imogen gave birth today and we have to see her at the hospital”
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Post by Katrina on May 19, 2011 21:40:47 GMT 1
Part 14
“Daddy?” Imogen murmured from her hospital bed. She was surrounded by machines and was connected up to a drip. Everything around her seemed too big while she was too little. She was Alice trapped in Wonderland having drunk from the bottle that caused her to shrink. But she wasn't alone. She could see her daddy just out of the corner of his eye. He was standing bolt upright and seemed so formal that he wasn't quite like the daddy she knew. Maybe he was a wonderland fake.
“Imogen?” It was Zara Carmichael. Imogen clawed at her memory. Zara had found her but it wasn't like the Zara she knew in the real world. The Zara that had found her had been soft and motherly. She quite liked that Zara though. Maybe she could bring the Wonderland Zara back with her to the real world. Everyone would get a kick out of that.
“Zara” Imogen murmured forcing herself to move her head in the direction of the voice. It was harder than she expected it to be but it was worth the effort. Zara's face was warm and kind and filled with a sweet concern but not pity – Imogen hated pity. It seemed strange though. Daddy was all straight backed and he wasn't next to her comforting her. And yet Zara was.
“Yes I'm here” Zara said and she stroked a stray strand of hair away from Imogen's face. The girl was still so pale but from looking at the machines that surrounded that bed, Zara could at the very least tell that Imogen was through the worst of it – medically speaking.
“Where's mum?” Imogen asked, although she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know. If daddy was all strange here she wasn't sure she wanted to know what her mum would be like. Zara gently took hold of Imogen's hand.
“She'll be here soon” Zara said although sneaking a look at the clock on the wall she could see it was taking Julia rather a long time to get Karen here. But Zara knew Imogen needed her mum here especially given how Rob was acting. Zara was thankful that Imogen had been rather out of it in the time between getting in the ambulance and now so wouldn't realise just how long things were taking.
“Good” Imogen gave Zara a small smile. She looked so much like a little girl that it was quite startling to Zara. “Zara, why am I here?” Imogen asked quietly after a few moments. Everything was blurry and cartoonish. The only things that seemed to be real were herself, Zara and daddy but then she didn't really feel like herself and couldn't remember much and dad and Zara seemed opposite to their real selves.
“What do you remember?” Zara asked, her voice turning professional although still soft. Maybe she was the real Zara after all. Imogen blinked a little trying to force her mind to remember before she had fallen down the rabbit hole. Her body was sore so she knew she had done something. Her feet were especially aching.
“I don't know” She sounded frightened. Zara made a sh-ing sound and squeezed Imogen's hand. Everything would come back to her in time. But maybe it was a blessing that for now her mind was protecting her.
“It's ok Im” Zara whispered, even though she knew it was far from the truth.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 1, 2011 14:22:35 GMT 1
Part 15
“How could this have happened?” Karen muttered. She was still sitting in the staff room of the Mill. She knew deep down that they should have already left for the hospital but she had found herself frozen to her seat unable to move or even process the information. Around her, her colleagues peered at her with concerned faces and she realised she hadn't spoken since the moment Julia had broken the news.
“You must have noticed something” Mrs Tembe stated. Her voice was completely matter of fact and Karen couldn't help but glare at the woman. Surely Mrs Tembe had to know that if she had known or even suspected that she wouldn't allowed this to happen.
“Of course I didn't notice” She bit back acerbically. Mrs Tembe glowered for a moment but then decided to back off. This wasn't the moment to argue her point.
“Poor Imogen” Cherry said softly. It had only been a few days ago that she had been talking to the girl and yet she hadn't sensed anything was wrong. Immie had been so excited talking about her work and the latest project she was doing. She thought that she was an observant person and yet how had she missed this?
“Has anyone told Jack?” Karen asked quietly. She felt a little bit relieved that Rob already knew and that he would be waiting for her that he would be strong for her and support her. Julia blinked a little in surprise.
“I don't think so” Julia answered. “I really think we should get going now Karen” she added.
“I'll contact Jack if you like” Jimmi said. He wasn't entirely sure what he could do to help Karen but surely doing something little like phoning Jack would be something at least. One small little weight of Karen's mind.
“Thank you” Karen said softly. Jimmi gave her a small pat on the shoulder.
“Do you want me to drive you both?” Daniel asked, he ran a hand through his hair. Julia looked up at him and he gave her a small smile. “I think I should be there for Zara” he added. He couldn't help but worry about his girlfriend. She had been through so much over the last couple of months and he couldn't imagine how difficult this would be for her.
“I think that would be a good idea Daniel” Julia answered. She was quite glad that someone would be there to help her with Karen. She didn't much like the idea of being alone with the woman who was obviously in shock.
“I'm not ready” Karen said quietly. Her eyes looking desperately up at Julia. She couldn't face seeing Imogen. Her daughter was a mother and had abandoned her babies. Two babies who were fighting for their lives. Babies who were her grandchildren. Less than a year ago she had been pregnant herself and now she was a grandmother.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 8, 2011 19:24:26 GMT 1
Part 16
“What are we going to do Zara?” Rob asked. He was pacing around the room like a caged animal. Zara was watching him concerned. Imogen had thankful fallen asleep. Zara didn't want her to see her dad acting like this. The poor girl didn't need anything else to worry about. During the short time Imogen had been awake she had been out of it that Zara knew her medication hadn't worn off yet. It was going to be a shock to her when she came round and was confronted by the memory of the day and nights events.
“Imogen's going to need a lot of support” Zara confirmed. When he turned to look at her, he had the expression of a man possessed. She dreaded to think what was going through his mind right now.
“What about Karen, Zara?” Rob asked, his eyes flashing. Zara blinked in confusing. She hadn't even realised they were talking about Karen. In fact other than wondering where she was, Karen hadn't really crossed Zara's mind all that much. She was more concerned about Immie.
“What about Karen?” Zara responded. She still held Imogen's hand in her own. She wasn't sure why but she felt like the girl needed her. She knew she wasn't high on the Hollins list of favourite people and that they weren't high on hers. But she had found the first baby and that she felt gave her a connection to Immie. Almost as if she was their protector. She knew that was stupid but she couldn't help it.
“Have you forgotten Zara? Are you that self obsessed?” Rob bit back at her. Zara gasped a little. She wasn't quite sure what she had done to deserve his anger. “We didn't want to be parents again” he added and again Zara gasped. She had forgotten Karen's pregnancy and abortion. She felt her heart go out to Imogen just a little bit more.
“I'm sorry Rob” Zara said almost as an automatic response. Rob gave a slight nod as if accepting this. He began pacing the room again. Zara was so used to see Rob as the nice guy that it was quite strange to see him acting this way. She knew he'd had a fair hand in Karen making that decision.
“And now we are going to have it all over again” he said as he paced. And he shook his head as if trying to shake away the reality of it. “But it's going to be worse isn't it? Because it's twins and tiny premature twins at that”
“Rob” Zara said trying to get him to return to her and reality and not the place in his head where he currently was. She knew he was in shock but she needed to get him to snap out of it because he was scaring her.
“She's my little girl Zara” Rob said, turning back to her again. He looked at the sleeping girl in the bed. She looked so young and innocent lying there. She looked just the same as she had down when he woken her up two days ago to get her to college. But she had been hiding everything from him and Karen. “She's my little Immie-girl. My baby girl. Our Little Princess” he said listing nicknames his daughter had had growing up. The pet names he and Karen had used for Imogen over the years.
“My little ladybird” he said with a soft smile. He had called her that before she had gotten her name. Before he was Jack, he'd been his Buddy or his little man. But Imogen had been his little ladybird.
“She's still is Rob” Zara said quietly. And Rob looked at her, tears stinging in his eyes. He shook his head slightly but he wasn't sure if he meant it too mean no or if it was just a motion. He looked shattered.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 24, 2011 20:25:08 GMT 1
Part 17
“Can you imagine Karen a grandmother?” Cherry asked, looking at Jimmi. The pair of them along with Heston, Elaine and Mrs Tembe were still sitting in the Mill Health Centre staffroom. Jimmi was searching through Julia's address book trying to find the phone number for Jack. Unfortunately Julia's phone book was rather disorganised and filled with numerous names – many of which were completely unfamiliar to Jimmi. He made a mental note to discuss it with her when things returned to normal.
“I dread to think what's going on in her head right now” Elaine said softly. She couldn't help but think of the expression it never rains but it pours. Mrs Tembe was shaking her head sadly. This all seemed too much.
“It's going to be a long road for them” Heston said. He was starting to feel very tired and he knew that really they should all have been heading home but he didn't want to make a move. Nobody wanted to be alone that night.
“Finally” Jimmi whispered having stumbled across the entry for Jack in Julia's book. Well at the very least he was hoping that it was Jack Hollins and not some other Jack that Julia knew. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.
“You sure you want to be the one to do this?” Cherry asked. She knew how difficult this call was going to be to make. But Jimmi simply gave her a small smile and a nod to let her know that he was going to do this. Slowly he hauled himself out of his seat and made his way to the reception. He sat down in the receptionists seat – the seat that Karen so often sat in herself. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before she was sat here again or if she would even return. Her granddaughter was abandoned here by her daughter. Slowly Jimmi dialled the and waited. He wondered what Jack was doing. Finally there was a slight click as Jack picked up the receiver.
“Hello” He spoke slowly and deliberately but he couldn't really mask the annoyance in his tone. Jimmi took a deep breath.
“Jack, it's Jimmi Clay” He said and he heard some scrabbling at Jack's end.
“Is mum ok?” Jack asked, a hint of worry entering his voice. Jimmi wasn't entirely sure what the correct way to answer that was.
“Jack, I really don't want to do this over the phone but you need to know” Jimmi spoke carefully trying to weigh up which word would be the most suitable. He heard Jack take in a deep breath and Jimmi hated himself for having to put this on such a young man. “Imogen's in hospital. She gave birth earlier today” Jimmi added. There was no need to tell him everything yet that could wait until they were face to face.
“It was her wasn't it?” Jack practically spat the words down the phoneline. A venom in his voice. He heard a voice in the background – it sounded vaguely female and not too happy – but Jimmi didn't have to time to think about that. “Wasn't it?”
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Post by Katrina on Jul 8, 2011 20:03:41 GMT 1
Part 18
“How are you doing?” Daniel asked, stepping in the Imogen's hospital room. He was looking at Zara who was sitting by the side of the bed holding the young girl's hand. Rob had been called away by a colleague of his wanting to discuss what was going on and while Zara hadn't thought it a good idea, Rob had taken the first opportunity to get away.
“Where's Karen?” Zara asked at almost the exact same moment. Imogen was thankfully still asleep. Zara was flagging herself now but she couldn't go. Daniel gave a deep sigh and looked back towards the door.
“She's out there but she's” Daniel paused for a moment not quite sure how to describe his colleague. Getting Karen out of the Mill had been something of a performance and it had taken the combined efforts of Julia and Daniel dragging her while she slumped against them out to his car.
“Not ready to face coming in?” Zara supplied. She could see how weary Daniel looked. For a moment she wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and have him do that same to her. It was a full on physical yearning that overpowered her in a way she wasn't used too.
“Where's Rob?” Daniel asked, noticing for the first time that Rob wasn't in the room. It seemed so strange to be stood her talking about this. It was almost like being a strange dream – not that Rob had ever featured in Daniel's dreams.
“On the phone” Zara answered waving her hand in the general direction of the door. Her movement wasn't quite as fluid as normal. Daniel saw the tiredness and pain reflected in her eyes. Zara rubbed at her tired eyes with her free hand.
“You could do with some sleep” Daniel told her. He felt like an idiot almost as soon as the words had left his mouth but he knew he could do nothing to recall them. Zara in response raised her eyebrows in that way she had.
“I can't leave her like this” Zara said quietly, turning her attention from his face back towards the sleeping Imogen. Daniel couldn't help but feel fascinated by the softness that settled over her features as she looked over the sleeping teenager. It was such a motherly caring look that it almost looked his breath away. But all to quickly she remembered her audience and rearranged her features back to normal. Daniel couldn't help but wonder had he missed those moments when she had watched over his sleeping daughter in the same way. Seeing her now he was almost certain he had. “Everything's such a mess Daniel. Rob can barely stay in the same room as her, let alone look at her and Karen can't even walking in to doorway. And down the hall two tiny babies are fighting for lives that nobody particularly wanted them to have” her words fell from her mouth in a tumbled rush and tears flooded her eyes so such turned her head further away so that Daniel couldn't see. But he felt it all the same in the tugging at his heart.
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Post by Katrina on Jul 13, 2011 19:28:03 GMT 1
Part 19
Part 19
Jack was running. Pushing himself harder than he had ever done before and still it didn't feel like enough. Jimmi had offered to pick him up and drive him to the hospital but Jack had refused that offer. He didn't want to be confined to the car. He needed space and freedom. His legs were pounding the ground but he didn't take much notice of where he was headed. He barely noticed as the different terrains passed under his feet – the hard tarmac, the wet grass, the slippery mud, the broken off twigs and fallen leaves – all made little difference to him. He just kept going.
Over and over in his head he played over Jimmi's phone call which was interspersed by the reports he had seen on the news relating to the abandonment of a baby girl at the Mill Health Centre along with the comments he had heard various people around the university making. He couldn't remember if he had joined in and if he had made a comment himself. It all made him feeling sick now. His stomach churning as he feet pounded. Those comments were about his little sister.
His little sister. There wasn't really that much a gap between them in age but Imogen was always going to be his baby sister. His parents still teased him about how jealous he had been when they had first bought her home. A little crying baby who demanded their attention. Little had changed about Immie other than she had grown taller and developed the ability to walk, talk and hold her own head up. She still craved attention but he loved her. No matter how often they argued he loved her just the same. He rarely admitted it too her. Immie teased him relentlessly when he did. But that didn't change how he felt.
He couldn't even begin to think what he mum and dad were going to do. It wasn't even a year ago that he had been faced with being an older brother for the second time. Less than a year ago his family had nearly been torn apart. Everything had started getting back on track. His parents were back together and seemed to be acting more like a couple than they had before. Imogen had finally stopped thieving and had finished the community service she had been given. And for once in his life he was doing quite well.
But everything felt so different now. How could his life had changed in such a small space of time? His parents were now grandparents. The word pulled all of the air out of his lungs and he found himself struggling even more to keep his legs pumping. Everything was blurring in front of his eyes. He tried to force himself to breathe but his chest was aching and his heart pounding. He didn't know how far he had run or how long he had been out. He knew he'd pushed himself too hard. But he relished the pain. He needed something physical to cling too,
In his pocket he felt his phone buzzing. He didn't even remember putting in there. He paused and pulled the phone out, his fingers brushing his wallet. How had that got in there? He looked at the phone display – Cassie. He swore silently to himself. He wasn't in the mood to speak to Cass. A wave of guilt washed over him. He'd disappeared on her. With a flick of his finger he rejected the call. After he stood and for a moment looked around him trying to work out where he was. He rubbed at his eyes. It was the park but he barely recognised it. He walked a little further and felt himself collapse down against a bench. Every part of him was spent. He closed his eyes and just waited.
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Post by Katrina on Jul 28, 2011 18:25:48 GMT 1
Part 20
“How did this happen?” Karen spat as Rob sat down next to her on the seat in the sort of reception area of the ward. Karen was shaking, her emotions fighting hard with each other to be the dominant one. Rob too was rather unsettled. The phone call had been from one of the other officers telling him, as a matter of courtesy which officer would be taken over the case now that Rob was personally involved.
“I just don't know” Rob said mournfully. He had hoped after the whole shoplifting situation that Imogen might have learnt her lesson and actually talked to them about her problems. His anger, whiles still pulsing through him, was slowly losing its stronghold against a feeling of sadness and worry.
“Have you seen them?” Karen asked. Their was a hardness to her voice that Rob was unfamiliar with. He knew he was referring to the babies. He had been trying to keep his mind away from them as much as possible.
“Not since I found out” he couldn't bring himself to say that they were his grandchildren aloud. As much as he was worried about Imogen and what would become of her after this, he was also desperately worried about the babies. Karen nodded slightly.
“That's probably for the best isn't it? Not seeing them” She said and Rob looked at her and saw a coldness in her eyes. He was certain it was just the shock talking but he couldn't quite believe that the woman who was sat next to him was his wife. Rob heard footsteps and he turned his head. He was grateful for an excuse to stop looking at his wife. He saw Julia walking towards them, an anxious expression on her face. She tried to force herself to give Rob and Karen a smile.
“I didn't know you were here” Rob said softly, he felt Karen tense just that little bit more beside him but he tried to force it from his mind. He didn't really feel up to dealing with Karen. Julia sighed and took the remaining seat next to Rob.
“I left Karen with Daniel, I have an old friend down on SCBU who owes me a few favours so I thought I'd go check in on the babies” Julia answered “I know it's not really my place but you have so much on your plate that I thought it could do my bit” Julia added in a rush. Rob nodded slightly. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty about this. He heard Karen make a slight noise in her throat and Rob hoped that Julia didn't hear.
“Thank you Julia” Rob said softly. Julia nodded but Rob couldn't help but notice she looked uneasy and there was a pained sad look in her eyes. “Is there anything the matter?” He asked, his heart lurching in his chest. Julia looked away from him at the doorway of Imogen's room.
“One of the babies isn't looking too good” Julia answered finally. Rob felt a lump rise in his throat as an image of the two babies found it's way unbidden in to his head. Baby A. Baby B.
“Which one?” He asked finally. Baby A was so tiny and had been exposed to the cold and he dreaded to think what that had done to her poor little body. Julia took in a deep breath. She hadn't even been allowed in to see the babies.
“Baby Girl B” Rob felt a lump settle inside his throat but beside him he didn't even feel Karen flinch.
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