The Royal Adelaide Hospital was surprisingly busy at 2am with people being hurried into the ER and pale looking family members waiting in the admissions area. The girls dashed into the foyer and quickly found Rob who looked both stunned and shattered.
          Rob looked them up and down, noting that Penny was wearing Marvin Martian pyjamas with matching Marvin slippers, Julia was in purple cat pyjamas with purple fluffy yeti feet slippers which had dangly pompoms and Kirsty was sporting tatty jeans, ugg boots and Ross’s beloved Skyhooks t-shirt.
          They began babbling all at once and Rob just looked at them blankly as he picked up words like "Is he dead?" and "Was there lots of blood?" Eventually he was forced to shout at them to calm down.
          "SHUT UP!" Rob bellowed and Julia, Penny and Kirsty stopped abruptly. "There’s been an accident, as far as I know they were driving home from the pub. Yes, you heard me right, the pub and they ended up wrapping themselves around a tree."
          "Jesus, are they ok?" Kirsty asked, her blue eyes wide with shock.
          "Do I look like a doctor?" Rob replied exasperated. He took a calming breath and continued. "Well, Ross broke his wrist, bruised his ribs and got like cuts from the glass and stuff." He paused as Kirsty’s hand shot to her mouth. "I managed to coax a couple of nurses into telling me that Chris is in surgery and I’ve heard nothing about Liam."
          "Oh my god," Penny gasped, the colour draining from her face. "Frick," she added, leaning back against the wall before she fell.
          "Double frick," Julia added, swallowing. "I’ve gotta go find out where Liam is and if he’s ok."
          "How? You’re not friend or family?" Kirsty shrugged and then squeezed her friend’s arm sympathetically.
          "Triple frick," Julia groaned and took off her glasses to rub her face.
          "Take me to see Ross," Kirsty sighed, looking pleadingly at Rob. "Please."
          "Why? You’re not friend or family?" he mocked, trying to be a little light hearted.
          "If you don’t take me to him I’ll do nasty things to you," Kirsty threatened despite her heart not really being in the right place to punish Rob at that moment.
          "Is that a promise?" Rob chided and grinned cheekily.
          "Come on," Kirsty scorned and grabbed his arm.
          "Ok, ok," he whined, taking her hand and leading the way to Ross’s room.
          "Now what?" Penny asked, looking at Julia once they were alone.
          Julia shrugged. "We wait."

          A millisecond later the foyer doors burst open and Angie dashed into the hospital looking dishevelled and distraught. "I’m Angela Waylon-Jones and my son Christopher Waylon-Jones is here and I demand to see him," she informed the nurse behind the desk.
          "I’m afraid you can’t do that," the nurse replied nonplussed. "He’s currently in surgery."
          "Oh my god," Angie gasped, clutching her chest and sinking into the nearest chair.
          "Quadruple frick," Penny groaned, running her fingers through her curls.
          Julia looked at Penny curiously. "Is that his mother?"
          Penny nodded. "Yeah."
          "She’s frightening."
          "Yeah."
          "You gonna go over there?"
          "Yeah," Penny said sadly. "Wish me luck," she added and approached Angie who was nearly hyperventilating. "Angie."
          Angie looked blankly at Penny a moment and then frowned. "What are you doing here."
          "I heard about Chris," Penny replied. "I came straight here."
          Angie looked Penny up and down. "Yes, I can tell," she sighed. "Couldn’t you have put on some make-up or something before leaving the house."
          "Yeah, wasn’t top priority," Penny muttered as Angie took some tissues from her bag to dab her eyes. "Would you like a cuppa?"
          "Excuse me?" Angie said, surprised by the offer.
          "Oh you just look like you could do with one," Penny said quickly. "Or would you rather I just go away?"
          Angie studied Penny a moment. "A drink would be nice," she said meekly. "Thankyou."
          "I’ll be right back," Penny smiled and headed toward the cafeteria giving Julia the thumbs up on her way.

          With the waiting driving her insane, Julia decided to take affirmative action and try and find out what was happening with Liam. "Excuse me, I don’t suppose you could tell me what room Liam Douglas is in could you?" Julia asked a nurse who was sitting behind the admissions desk.
          "Are you friend or family?" the nurse replied robotically.
          "Would you believe third cousin?" Julia chided. "If not could you at least tell me how he is?"
          "I’ll see what I can do," the nurse said empathetically and turned to her computer. "Mr Douglas has broken his leg, has a mild concussion and obtained some severe bruising."
          Julia let out a hiss of breath between her teeth. "He’s alive right?"
          "He’s very lucky," the nurse sighed. "If only people would listen to the warnings about drink driving."
          "He was drink driving?" Julia said, surprised.
          "Three times over the legal limit," the nurse frowned. "Like I say, he’s lucky."
          "Could you give me his room number?" Julia half pleaded. "Please."
          The nurse studied her for a moment and then said cautiously. "He’s in room 51."
          "Thankyou so much," Julia gushed as she set of to find Liam’s room.

          "I should warn you he doesn’t look too pretty at the moment," Rob declared as he gripped Kirsty by the upper arms as they stood outside Ross’s room.
          "I’ll live," Kirsty breathed. "Although he might not when I’m through with him."
          "Please don’t be mean to him," Rob pleaded. "He’s been in an accident. He’s had a very traumatic experience!"
          "I’ll give him a very traumatic experience," Kirsty scorned as she walked into the room and saw Ross lying prostrate on the bed. The sheet was at his waist and the dark bruises from the seatbelt were already a dark purple on his chest. He had a few cuts on his head and face and his right arm was plastered up to the elbow.
          "You stupid man," she gasped, not quite prepared to see him in such a state.
          "Thanks, that’s comforting," Ross winced, turning his head to look at her and then looked at Rob. "Why’d you let her come here?"
          "It was either her or Mum and you know Mum would just preach at you," Rob shrugged.
          Ross let out a hiss of breath. "You’re wearing my Skyhooks t-shirt. How many times have I told you never to wear it," he scorned, narrowing his eyes at Kirsty.
          "Twelve," Kirsty said quietly. "Well, thirteen now."
          "Why are you here?" he breathed, his attention averting to the soundless television that was extended from the ceiling.
          "Because you were an idiot and got into a car driven by a drunken loon!" Kirsty shrieked before swallowing hard and using her palms to wipe away the dampness from her eyes.
          "Nobody forced me you know."
          "Yeah, you remember that every time you move and your chest hurts from the whiplash," Kirsty scorned. "Or when you try to use you hand and realise it’s encased in plaster and you can’t do anything with it."
          "Did you want me to get you anything big brother?" Rob asked, trying to break the tension.
          "Get me a skipping rope," Ross replied deadpan. "Gotta keep fit you know."
          "Be nice," Kirsty huffed. "He’s just trying to help."
          "I don’t need his help," Ross spat. "And I certainly don’t need yours!"
          Kirsty let out a strangled cry and ran out of the room. Rob stepped closer to the bed and glowered at his brother.
          "Are you that stupid," he snapped. "She’s worried about you. You dumped her for no logical reason a month ago and guess what, she still cares you dickwit!"
          "Your point being?" Ross sighed, keeping his eyes fixed on the television.
          "Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you can take it out on her," Rob spat and stormed out of the room.
          "Yeah," Ross breathed and sunk down further into the sterile hospital pillow.

          Julia found herself standing outside Liam’s room not sure whether to go in or not. She took a deep breath to steady herself before walking into the darkened room. Liam was lying in bed, his leg encased in plaster, the dark bruises from his seatbelt clearly evident across his chest. She sat herself in a chair next to his bed and jumped when he spoke to her.
          "What are you doing here?"
          "Making sure you’re not dead."
          "It was an accident," Liam sighed. "I didn’t see the tree."
          "You were three times over the limit," Julia gasped. "I doubt you would have been able to see much at all. Thank God you had the brains to put your seatbelt on."
          "I don’t remember."
          "I’m not surprised," Julia scolded, crossing her arms.
          "How are the others?" Liam piped up after several seconds of silence.
          "Ross is bruised and has a broken wrist and Chris is still in surgery having god knows what done to him," Julia huffed. "Do hope you’re proud Liam."
          "Shit."
          "Yeah, shit!" Julia snapped, jumping to her feet. "Didn’t you think before you got into that car?"
          "I was three times over the legal limit," Liam pouted. "I didn’t think thinking was an option."
          "That much is obvious."
          "If you’re just here to yell at me you can go."
          "I can’t."
          "Why?"
          "Because I bloody care about you too much!" Julia cried and sat down in the chair roughly. "Damn this little red bitch in my chest."
          Liam started to laugh then winced with pain.

          "Mrs Waylon-Jones?" A doctor wearing green blood-splattered scrubs walked into the waiting room.
          "Oh my god he’s dead isn’t he? My poor baby’s dead!" Angie shrieked, clutching at Penny’s arm.
          "No, no. He’s not dead. He’s going to be perfectly ok," the doctor explained. "He was bleeding internally, he broke a few ribs and he had ruptured his spleen but he should be ok. We want to keep in hospital for a few days for observation to make sure that there are no complications."
          "Can we go and see him?" Penny asked hopefully.
          "Well, he’ll be pretty groggy for a while as he’s just starting to come out of the anaesthetic," the doctor said empathically. "You can go and see him but only for five minutes. He really needs rest at the moment."
          "What room is he in?" Angie asked, her eyes still damp with tears.
          "Room 151."
          "Thankyou very much," Penny smiled as she led Angie towards a lift. They reached his room within seconds and were both shocked to see him with various monitors attached to his chest and an oxygen mask over his face. Angie burst into tears as she dashed into the room. She sat in a chair next to the bed, took one of Chris’s hands in hers and started stroking it. Penny pulled a tissue from the pocket of her pyjamas and handed it to Angie before she went and sat on the opposite side if the bed.
          "Did you feed Bear?" Chris said hoarsely through his oxygen mask.
          "I’ll do it when I go home to put pants on," Penny told him, thrilled he was awake.
          "Hey! Marvin! How you doing buddy?" he grinned, and managed to poke a flannelette Marvin on Penny’s thigh.
          "Oh my god he’s brain damaged!" Angie sobbed.
          "No, it’s just the drugs. I’m sure he’s on some fairly strong painkillers," Penny explained gently, realising that she had to stay strong even though she wanted to curl up and weep herself.
          "Shhh mum. Stop crying. You’ll wake the baby," Chris announced.
          "What baby?" Angie asked confused.
          "The one asleep in the corner," Chris pointed to the far corner of the room.
          "There’s no baby in the corner Chris," Penny mused.
          "Yes there is," Chris said drowsily. "His name’s Petey."
          "He is brain damaged!" Angie shrieked. "My baby. MY POOR BABY!" she fled the room, tears cascading down her cheeks.
          "I’m not really brain damaged!" Chris announced in a singsong voice. "I just wanted to get rid of her."
          "Do you want me to leave too?" Penny asked, her voice soft and concerned.
          "No. You can stay," Chris smiled sleepily. "Someone needs to look after Petey."

          "He still loves you, you know," Rob mused as Kirsty sat next to him outside the room. "He’s just being a dick at the moment."
          "Yes that’s plainly obvious," Kirsty agreed. "The him being a dick bit."
          "Yeah he’s good at that," Rob said, trying to be amusing but it was unconvincing.
          "You know he’s going to be ok, right?" Kirsty soothed, taking Rob’s hand. "Sure his pretty little face might be damaged, but that’ll heal with time. The only threat to his life is me beating him to death with a bedpan for being an idiot and getting into that car with Liam."
          "What if something really bad had happened?" Rob asked, his voice choking up a little.
          "Rob there’s no point in wondering what if," Kirsty soothed. "Ross is going to be fine and that’s all that should matter."
          "He could get an infection and die," Rob said mater-of-factly. "It happens in hospitals all the time."
          "Yeah that’s right kid," Kirsty chided. "Be positive."
          "I’m not a kid!"
          "Well you’re sure as hell acting like one now," Kirsty scorned. Rob glared at her before getting up and storming off. She sat for a moment lost in thought before reluctantly getting to her feet and making her way back to Ross’s room.
          Ross was still in the same position he’d been before she left. "Don’t suppose you’ve cheered up at all?"
          "My insides feel like they’ve been wrapped tightly in rubber bands," Ross groused. "So no."
          "I have very little sympathy for you," Kirsty sighed, sitting herself on the bed beside him. "However, your little brother is going to give himself an ulcer with worry."
          "Really?" Ross said, surprised. "I thought he was handling it well."
          "Of course you would, you’re a guy!"
          "Really? I wondered what I was doing with a penis."
          "Yeah, that question has been posed."
          Ross shot Kirsty a curious look. "Be nice or you can get off my bed."
          Kirsty narrowed her eyes, "Make me."
          "I would but I fear for my internal organs if I make any sudden movements."
          They fell silent and Kirsty let out a heavy sigh. "What were you doing getting into a car with that pair of goons anyway?"
          "We were celebrating me quitting my job," Ross replied. "And before you say anything we were all responsible for Liam getting trashed."
          "I’d like to say I’m surprised."
          "He only had a couple of shots but then we started spiking his drink…"
          "You really are a stupid little man aren’t you?"
          "Yeah but on the upside with all the drugs and alcohol in my body I’m quite numb and so I won’t have to deal with my actions until morning."
          "I didn’t think it was possible for you to continue getting stupider in a conversation," Kirsty gasped. "But by god you’re actually doing it."
          "You could at least be a little sympathetic."
          "I tried that and you told me to get lost."
          Ross let out a hiss of breath through his teeth. "Sorry about that, I blame the shock."
          "Yeah you sound remorseful," Kirsty scorned crossing her arms.
          "Thankyou for being here ok," Ross huffed after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "I know Rob appreciates it, and anything is better than having Mum here reading Bible passages and calling in Father Franklin."
          "Father Franklin?" Kirsty winced. "No, I don’t want to know."
          "He likes bowling."
          "What?"
          "Nevermind."
          "What about you huh? Are you happy I’m here?" Kirsty asked coyly, looking lazily at Ross.
          Ross looked into the distance a moment before looking at Kirsty. "What do you think?"

          "So are we going to talk or are you just going to sit there?" Liam asked after what had been an hour of silence between himself and Julia.
          "I was just telling my friends how responsible you are," Julia groused. "What a great role model you try to be for your son."
          "I am a great role model."
          "Yes, let’s hope young Jack takes after his father and wraps his car around a tree nearly killing himself and his friends."
          "That’s harsh."
          "Well you’re a moron."
          "That’s comforting."
          "I honestly don’t know how you could be much more of a moron and it’s taking every ounce of self restraint I have not to wrap those curtains around your neck and throttle you."
          "If you even get up I’m pressing the button for a nurse."
          "I’ll break your arm."
          "I’ll smother you with a pillow."
          "I’ll break your jaw with the bed pan."
          "I’ll knock you out with my plaster."
          "I’ll rip your testicles off with my teeth and put them in a jar on my mantle."
          "Ok, now you’re scaring me," Liam winced and edged away from Julia slightly.
          "I couldn’t do any of that actually," Julia breathed. "My hands haven’t stopped shaking since I got here." She lifted her hands to demonstrate her point.
          "I can’t imagine why you even care enough to be here," Liam sighed. "We haven’t exactly been the closest of friends lately."
          "That would be because you dumped me in some neurotic fit and we haven’t talked since," Julia groused.
          "Exactly, how did you even know I was here?"
          "Rob called Kirsty," Julia shrugged. "We all kinda panicked and raced down here."
          "I don’t know what to say," Liam said softly. "I’m touched."
          "Don’t be," Julia quipped. "Remember, curtain, strangulation."
          "You’re really thinking that?"
          "You really want to know the answer to that?"
          "No," Liam sighed as a nurse stalked into the room.
          "Mr Douglas needs to get some sleep now," she declared. "His family are on their way and we can’t have him drowsy when they get here can we now?"
          "No," Julia agreed. "He’ll need to be awake to escape a serious beating from his mother."
          "I can roll under the bed," Liam announced as Julia got to her feet. "Are you going to come back?"
          "I have to, it’s my job," the nurse said blankly.
          "Not you nursie," Julia chided and looked over at Liam. "We’ll see."
          "Well, thanks anyway," Liam smiled and then winced as he watched Julia saunter sleepily out of the room.
          "Are you needing any painkillers?" the nurse smiled as she started straightening Liam’s bedclothes.
          "Not yet," Liam replied. "Nursie," he added, giggling until he winced.

          Penny, Julia and Kirsty were woken by the sound of a screaming child who was covered in a rather nasty looking rash. The three women sat up blearily and realised they were still in the hospital waiting room.
          "What time is it?" Penny yawned as she stretched her arms above her head.
          "Just after 5am," Kirsty replied, her long blonde hair now a tangled mess.
          "My back is killing me," Julia remarked as their attention shifted to the screaming child.
          "I need to go home and sleep," Penny sighed. "And feed Bear." Julia and Kirsty nodded in a sleepy agreement.
          "I might just check on Rob," Kirsty declared, getting to her feet, wobbling rather woozily and then straightening up. "Just as soon as the blood returns to my legs."
          "I should probably see Chris, make sure he’s ok," Penny said to no one in particular as she too got up.
          Julia watched Kirsty and Penny head toward the elevator and decided she might as well say goodbye to Liam before they hit the road.

          Penny reached Chris’s room and saw that he was asleep, despite being attached to the various devices that were monitoring his various bodily functions. She noticed too that Angie had nodded off in a chair. Penny was fascinated for a moment by how old, frail and harmless she looked in that position. Perhaps there was a nice person under her viscous facade. Angie suddenly grunted, snuffled and her head flopped to her other shoulder. Penny stifled a giggle and headed back toward the elevator.

          Kirsty stepped into Ross’s room and was surprised to see him still awake watching television. "Have you slept at all?" she asked quietly, noticing Rob was asleep in a chair.
          "Nah, I think I’m too drugged up," Ross replied with a sigh. "Have you?"
          "Sort of," Kirsty shrugged. "We’re about the head home to get a few hours."
          "Yeah, can you take him with you," Ross declared, motioning to Rob. "He’ll go to bed if you send him."
          "He’ll probably ask me to join him," Kirsty said half-heartedly.
          "Yeah," Ross agreed. "They’re gonna release me at lunchtime so I need him functional to drive me home."
          "I imagine that would help," Kirsty nodded as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "We don’t want another accident."
          "You’re welcome to come with him," Ross said warmly. "And I wasn’t being crass."
          Kirsty gave a small laugh. "I don’t know, maybe."
          Ross nodded slowly. "Thanks again for being here."
          "No problem," she smiled, getting to her feet and walking over to Rob. "Wakey, wakey Robbie," Kirsty mused as she gave him a gentle shake.
          "Mmm, what?" Rob said blearily. "What’s happening?"
          "I’m taking you home to bed," Kirsty announced cheekily.
          "Bonus," Rob grinned and gave her the double thumbs up.

          Julia poked her head around Liam’s hospital room door and was disappointed to find he wasn’t alone. His mother, brother and a woman she’d not met before were in the room. Liam’s mother was in a chair, both her hands gripping one of his. His brother was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall and dozing and the other woman was sitting on the end of the bed frequently conversing with Liam’s mother. Julia decided it wasn’t her place to interrupt and headed back toward the elevator where Penny, Kirsty and Rob were waiting.