Conor’s POV

Sitting next to Jack in the hospital bed, I stared into oblivion. So many things were going round in my head and I didn’t even have anything to think about! Jack was fine; he is sat next to me tucking into the less than desirable meal they’ve given him.

“What’s that meant to be?” I said with my face screwed up in disgust.

“Cottage pie, I think.” He said, now prodding the gluey mess on his plate.

“Nice.” My face remained screwed up but I nodded.

“It’s the only food I get! I’m starving!” Jack said, stabbing into the mashed potato. I swear the whole cottage pie came off the plate as he lifted it up, before some of it plopped back onto the plate making a loud splatting sound.

“You’re making me feel sick!” I laughed, turning my head away from the ‘food’.

“So the boys are alright?” Jack said after shoving some food into his mouth. I could see it going round and round in his mouth as he chewed.

“Yeah! I’m glad we managed to get guy time actually, it was nice! And to get some food… That was the best bit.” I smirked. “They’re having pap issues like I used to when I first met Ella, though I still get issues now they seem to have moved on!” The scraping of Jack’s fork on the plate was enough to send anyone insane. Why he was even scraping the muck off this plate I will never know. I shoot a look at him.

“Mate, I’m hungry. I got half a bowl of ‘Rice Krispies’ this morning, like 8am, then sandwich and soup at like 2pm, now this and it’s like 7 or whatever. I’m fucking hungry!” He was persistent. He had to continue to insist it was all about the hunger as if I really cared – As long as I wasn’t eating it, I was alright!

“How long are you stuck in here?” I check my phone to see the date.

1 Missed Call

1 New Voicemail.

“Few more days they say. Gotta keep an eye on me!” He smirks. “I don’t mind. There’s this nurse called Kathy…” He whistles and shakes his head. “She is something.”

“Like you’ve never said that before!” I laugh as I check my phone and see it’s Ella that’s called.

“But she’s a nurse! She’s clever and sophisticated!” He pulled a face to say ‘yeah, I’m right!’ but I ignored him as I dialled voicemail and listened to the message from a very distressed sounding Ella.

“Holy Shit!” I exclaim, standing up so quickly I get dizzy. I shoot a look over to Jack, still in awe over this nurse. “Ella’s been arrested!” I said. Jack’s gaze broke and he was suddenly staring at me in disbelief.

“What? Why?” He asked.

“She said they think she killed Barry?” I said, sounding just as unsure and confused as my brother.

“Barry’s dead?” He asked.

“You know as much as me!” I shrug, grabbing my coat and running to the door. “If the boys come out, or Jake comes in tell them I’ve gone to help Ella alright?” Jack nodded at me as if taking orders from his Sergeant and I ran out, practically starting the car before I got in it. I called Ella’s mobile to no avail, I try Jake’s but he doesn’t answer either! What the hell is going on? Shoving my Bluetooth earpiece in, I dial Ben as I begin frantically driving to the police station.

“Conor? Everything alright?” A sleepy Ben answers the phone.

“W-Were you asleep?” I questioned, finding it funny for some reason.

“Yeah, dosed off while the missus watches… What is it? Larkrise to… Something. Anyway…” I smiled to myself, but mentally slapped that look off my face as I realise the seriousness of the situation.

“Ella’s been arrested for the murder of Barry!” I shout down the phone, suddenly having to swerve round a blue Mini that stopped to turn left. “IDIOT!” I shout at the driver, though I know he can’t hear me.

“Ella did- What? Barry? Huh?” As I thought, he was as confused as me and Jack were.

“I tried to call Jake, Ella… Nothing. She left some frantic message!”  I begin to sound hysterical as I pull up to the police station and just manage to lock the car as my legs move quicker than the rest of my body to get in the police station. I run straight up to the reception and slap my hands on the desk, slightly out of breath.

“Can I help you, Sir?” The man slowly looks up from his Sudoku puzzle.

“I want to see Ella.” I demand, my hand clenching to a fist. You just try and say no…

“Sorry, who Sir?” He tapped the end of the pen against his bottom teeth and the image of me shoving that pen down his throat became more amusing as he kept me waiting.

“Ella. You only just bought her in. You know who it is. You know who I am.” I state.

“Fine, Sir. You can see her as long as you have a lawyer with you.” He smirked.

“You’re going to let me see her…” I threaten.

“Or what?” He said, now tapping the pen between his two sets of teeth.

“Or I can sue you.” Ben entered the room like a knight in shining armour. The receptionist smirks and nods for us to follow him as he leads us down to the basement, furthest cell along where Ella sits facing the wall. The receptionist bangs the pen against the bars.

“Company.” He says with no emotion as he puts the pen back in his mouth.

“Ella?” Me and Ben say simultaneously. She remains facing the wall, her back to us.

“Conor.” She said in a tone that sent a chill down my spine. Something was definitely wrong. “Ben.” She said in the same tone.

“What the hell happened?” I began, I couldn’t help but moan. I was getting no reaction out of her any other way! “I go with the lads to Nandos and come back to a voicemail saying you’ve been arrested?” Ella’s head slowly twisted to look over to us. Her eyes were dead, her face expressionless.

“Barry tried to kill me.” She said bluntly, as if it didn’t mean anything to her.

“He fucking did what?” I shout, grabbing hold of the bars to pull myself closer in her direction.

“He tried to throw me over the pier.” Again she said it with no emotion.

“Well I’m glad he’s dead then.” I state, being slapped quickly in the arm by Ben.

“You’re not allowed to say that!” He whispered in my ear. “Ella, I need you to tell me what happened?” Ben asked nicely. She stood up, her bump more prominent than ever before and walked over to the bars. She put her face as close to the bars as she could.

“You want the story I told them, or the real story?” She whispered to him, just loud enough for me to catch.

“Both.” He whispered back.

“They were play fighting as friends and fell over the edge.” She rolls her eyes to show it was a shit lie and she wasn’t impressed with herself. “But in reality, we met him at the pier. He got all defensive and threatened to kill me cos Conor had taken the one thing that meant something to him, so he was going to take the one thing that meant something to Conor. I fought with him but he was stronger, so Jake ran out and fought him.” There was a prolonged silence but we knew she hadn’t finished. “Barry took Jake over the edge.” She said, barely audibly. My stomach dropped and my heart skipped so many beats I thought it had stopped.

“He what?” I just managed to say. Ella slapped her hands against her head.

“I was so fucking stupid. I couldn’t have seen that coming… I could have prevented it!” She smacked her hand against her forehead. “ I’m losing everyone!” She burst into tears. I wanted to run in there and hug her, stroke her hair and tell her everything was alright as the smell of her shampoo filled my nose. I wanted to feel her soft, smooth skin against mine, but I couldn’t.

“Why have they arrested you if you said it was an accident?” Ben suddenly pulled me from my thoughts.

“An eyewitness.” She said as she sniffed, wiping her tears from her face. “I just…” She paused and jolted forwards, yelping in pain. She put her hands on her stomach. She jolted forwards again clutching her stomach. “Oh shit!” She exclaimed. “The baby!” I, without thinking, ran straight up and shouted for anyone to help. Within seconds a policeman arrived and began chatting with Ben.

“It’s ok, hun. It’s all fine!” I smiled through the bars.

“I’m not having my baby in a FUCKING JAIL CELL!” She screeched as she breathed heavily. Turning round, I see Ben patting the policeman on the shoulder and he ran over, unlocking the cell and calling on the radio for an ambulance to come as quickly as possible.

“Thank you so much!” I smiled at the policeman, who jogged off.

“Conor!” She squealed, grabbing my hand. “It hurts!” She could barely stand, but neither of us were worried. We were nervous, anxious, excited? She’s having a baby… My baby… Our baby!