Chapter 4

Jett refused to leave Joel's side once he was out of surgery, even when the police had to question Joel about who shot him.

I guessed it was a good thing, because Joel was refusing to say anything while Horatio was questioning him and I was making sure his blood pressure was okay.

"So you're saying the person who shot you had a balaclava on?" Horatio asked. "Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be sure?" Joel asked. "That was what I saw."

"You literally told me as soon as I came in here that he had a hood on," Jett said.

"Hood, balaclava, same thing," Joel said. "I got shot, Jett. I'm not going to remember every single detail of who did it. My mind is foggy enough as it is."

It was clear to me that Joel wasn't telling the truth. He either knew who it was, or at least knew the details of what he looked like. Why he wasn't saying anything was a mystery to me.

"Joel, you need to tell the truth," Horatio said. "We need to catch this guy before he does something worse to someone else. We can't let another killer get on the loose."

Joel still didn't say anything as he looked away, and shifted in the hospital bed as if he was uncomfortable.

"If you're not going to say who it was, can you at least say why he shot you?" Jett asked. "It will give the police more lineage so you won't be ratting them out if that's what you're afraid of."

"We just had some sort of altercation, alright?" Joel asked. "I don't know who it was, nor what they looked like, so just leave it."

There was no way Joel was going to say anything with me and Horatio in the room. He might tell Jett alone, but he definitely didn't want to let Horatio know, or probably even me.

"Horatio, if it was something serious, I'm sure Joel would have said so," I said. "If he thinks that person will harm another person, he would speak up, right Joel?"

"Uh, right," Joel said. "It was just an altercation. I'm pretty sure he won't go around shooting other people."

Horatio sighed. "That doesn't make things better, Joel. He could have killed you. Are you really going to let him get away with it?"

"Maybe he just needs to rest," I said. "Give him some space. We'll see if he comes forward later."

Since I was finished checking over Joel, Horatio and I left the room, closing the door behind him. "I just don't get why he's not saying anything," Horatio said. "Some guy shot him. Wouldn't he want him to be in jail?"

"I'm not a police officer or anything, but I watch a lot of TV," I said. "It could be because the person who shot him has something over him. Maybe blackmail? Or he's threatening someone Joel loves and cares about. He's probably just scared."

"Yeah, probably," Horatio said. "Maybe he'll tell Jett, and Jett will come forward for him."

"Maybe, maybe not," I said. "If he doesn't come forward, I know the police will still be able to track down whoever did it. After all, you caught a serial killer a few years ago."

"Yes, and that was only because Kenny remembered what he looked like," Horatio said. "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have found him as fast. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to head back to the police station and tell the chief that Joel is refusing to say who shot him, or at least who the shooter looks like."

Horatio left, and I continued my day at work. I had to check up on Joel a few times to make sure his blood pressure was okay, and I knew he ended up tell Jett who shot him because Jett was no longer asking Joel about it. And if Jett really cared about Joel, he would want to know who did it.

After I got off of work, I started walking to my family's house. Julian texted me while I was at work to tell me that Mom and Dad were home, and I really needed to talk to them about giving Noah and Julian more attention.

That was all they wanted, and I didn't know why they weren't getting it.

On the way there, I saw Cleo walking out of the grocery store while pushing a stroller and carrying a few bags. She looked like she was struggling, so I walked over to her. "Need any help?" I asked.

"Yes, please," Cleo said. "I literally had no food at home so I bought more than my stroller can carry." I took the grocery bags from her hands and she started leading me to her house. "So, what have you been up to today?"

"Just work," I said. "I saved someone's life today too, so that's fun."

"You know, you say that casually, but it is not casual at all," Cleo said.

"Meh, it is for me," I said.

"Right, you're a doctor," Cleo said. "Speaking of, do you know of any places that's hiring? I don't have much money left in my bank account, and what I do have left I now have to put aside for rent after I paid for all these groceries."

"Depends," I said. "How good are you at waitressing and or cooking?"

"I'd like to think I'm pretty good as a waitress since I was one for a few years during high school," Cleo said. "Why?"

"The 50's diner here is the easiest place to get hired if you know the owners," I said. "And I happen to know the owners, so I can refer you."

"Really?" Cleo asked and I nodded. "Thank you so much. I wouldn't know how to repay you."

"Hey, you don't have to repay me," I said. "Consider it my welcome to Spruceworth gift. And if you ever need someone to watch Celeste while you work, I'd be happy to do it. You know, as long as I'm not working. If I am, there's a daycare centre and they're the best."

"First referring me to the diner, and now offering to watch my daughter?" Cleo asked. "If you keep this up, I really feel like I'm going to be in your debt."

"Don't feel that way," I said. "I really love children, so I wouldn't mind watching Celeste at all." I looked into the stroller to see her wide awake looking at me. "Hi." I gave her a small smile, and then she smiled back, looking all excited. "She's definitely a happy baby."

"She is," Cleo said. "She's the best thing to ever happen to me."

________________

Hollyoaks played their cards right. Harry wasn't killed off nor shot. Ste was shot, but he survived.

Well, they played their cards kind of right. My son Harry is currently heartbroken. Thanks, Ste. -.-

Since Harry wasn't killed off, I'm not killing someone off in here. Well, for now lol. But fun fact: Joel was never going to be killed off. He was only the distraction. No matter what happened with Harry, Joel was going to survive. Calvin's dad's fate was the one who depended on Hollyoaks.

You know what I love more than my son being heartbroken. Being left on read. :D I love it so much.

And the internet has been down for two hours now, so I'm quickly hooking my laptop up to my phone's data so I can publish this.