Walking Down The Line, chapter 32

They were just getting up to leave the cafe when Tre's cell went off. He pulled it from his pocket, and frowned when he saw it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Cool?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"Oh good, it's Gillian McPhee here, from Berkeley Memorial Hospital, would I be right in saying you know a Miss Emerald Taylor?"

Tre looked really confused, and Mike looked even more so, watching his friend and only hearing half a conversation.

"Yeah, I know Emerald, why? What's she done now?"

"I think it would be best if you came to the hospital Mr. Cool, you see, we've been unable to get a hold of her parents, you're the nearest thing to a guardian we have."

"Ok, I'll be there in about.." He looked at his watch. "20 minutes?"

"Excellent, thank you very much."

"No problem, bye."

He shut his phone and stood staring at it for a minute. he jumped as Mike put a hand on his shoulder.

"What was all that about?"

"We need to go back to the hospital, something's happened to Emerald."

Before the bassist could answer, Tre was out the door, car keys in his hand. Mike sighed and followed his drumming friend.

Half an hour later they were standing outside Emerald's hospital room, waiting for Doctor McPhee to see them. All they could see of the girl was her back, and she seemed to be hugging her knees, muttering to herself.

"Ah, Mr. Cool, Mr. Dirnt, thank you for coming back."

"What's going on Doctor?" Tre jumped in before she could head off into any euphemistic ramblings. She looked him the eye for a second, then seemed to sag.

"She tried to kill herself again. We left her on her own for a while, came back to find she had broken one of the syringes in the cupboard, which should have been locked I know, and she cut her wrist. Luckily we found her in time." She looked in at the girl. "She's been sitting there for the last hour, singing to herself, just the same verse over and over again."

"Can we go in?"

"Certainly Mr. Cool. I have some other patients to see, just press the buzzer if you need me." She smiled again, then headed off. Tre had his hand on the door handle when Mike spoke.

"I'll go phone Billie, let him know..."

"Nah, leave him, he's happy at home with his family, we can tell him tomorrow. You coming in?"

The bassist shook his head. "I think she'll listen to you best. I'm gonna go find a coffee machine, see if I can get a better coffee than earlier. I'll meet you in the lobby."

The drummer nodded, and his friend hugged him tight before heading of. Tre took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

Daddy can you hear me?
I'm calling out to you.
Don't hurt me when I get home,
Don't beat me black and blue.

You said I was your princess
And we'd be happy...all-the-time.
You didn't keep your promise
So now I want to die...

Tre felt tears welling up in his eyes, a lump in his throat, he didn't know what to say. Suddenly, as though she had felt his presence, Em turned round to look at him, and burst into tears.