Fanfic

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Part 3

"I thought I saw Maddy heading of to school?"

"Oh that's not Maddy that's. Um Gaby, her cousin, she's was running a bit of a temperature last night so I'm keeping her home for a few days."

"Oh the poor dear, she looks so sweet lying there, sucking her thumb, has she been crying?"

"Missing her Mum I'm afraid, she's in Germany and Gaby hasn't seen her for a while."

"Oh how sad, no wonder she's fretting. I do believe they could be twins they're so alike."

"Hi Mum, hello Mrs Clements."

"Shush Maddy, Gaby's asleep on the settee, go put your things away and I'll put the kettle on."

"Is eh she alright Mum?"

"Yes much better, now scoot."

"Ok. Mum."

"Good Lord, the likeness is even more striking when you see them together, how do you tell them apart?"

"Oh there are a couple of differences, it's quite easy really and Gaby's much quieter than Maddy."

"I can believe it seeing her there like that, a little angel. Well I can see your going to be busy shortly so I'll leave you to get on, bye Carol."

"Bye June, and thanks for the magazine it was very thoughtful of you."

"No bother at all pet, I'll call round for a chat, when you're not so busy, tata."

Kerlunk.

"Phew, she does go on."

"Has she gone?"

"Oh we did wake you, sorry pet."

"I thought it best to play dead for a bit."

"How much did you hear?"

"Quite a bit. Why did you say I was Gaby?"

"I was going to put her right, but then I remembered the..."

"Hi Gaby, nice hair clip."

"Oh no."

"Sorry Drew."

"Hey Gabs I brought Drew's homework, Will it be cheating if you do it?"

"Argh.." that's as far as I got as Mad started tickling me.

"Take it easy Mad, Drew's had a rough day."

"Awe I was just getting warmed up"

"Stop Mad Please" that seemed to be an invitation as she dived at me again.

"No, No." I managed to get out. I scooted back into the corner of the settee; I didn't dare turn away that would have exposed my kidney area it would have been ten times worse.

Mad didn't let up, I knew I couldn't take much more, I started to panic.

"Your not allowed to be sad and sick at the same time." she giggled.

It was all right as long as it was in short bursts, then I could catch my breath.

If it went on more than 5 or 10 seconds I knew I was in trouble, it had happened once before and the prospect terrified me.

I tucked my elbows over my kidneys, if only mad had attacked my feet I'd have been all right but my lower rib area sent my diaphragm into spasm. I forced my self to keep my legs down. All my normal instincts said pull my knees up, but that's what gave me the nightmares last time.

O god please stop her. I couldn't speak, it sounded like I was laughing but I was really hyperventilating.

Please not again. Not Maddy.

Carol must have seen the desperate look in my eyes, as she hauled Maddy off me.

Relief was almost instant as my chest came out of spasm. If I concentrated I could control my breathing again. I groaned in relief and shuddered as I remembered what had happened last time. Something I'd tried to forget.

"Aw come on Mum, at least I got him laughing"

"Drew, Drew are you Ok." I was heading for the loo as fast as the dressing gown and my breathing allowed.

I made it just in time to throw my lunch down the bowl then sagged to my knees.

"Drew are you Ok?" I just curled up on the floor. I was disgusted with myself, I'd tried for years to control my ticklish reaction, and I read up on anything I could find, looking for something to control it.

Drew I'm coming in alright?" Carol opened the door slowly and came in she knelt down beside me it's ok. Drew, Mad won't do it again, can you stand?

I nodded and slowly stood, Carol held her arms up and I gave her a hug.

"Where does it hurt?"

"My ribs" she put her hands on my back and gave me a squeeze.

Mad peered round the door "Sorry Drew I was trying to cheer you up."

I nodded "I know Mad."

She came to join in the hug, I couldn't help it instinct took over as I dropped my elbows to cover my ribs, they still ached from the onslaught and the 'Heave'.

Mad winced.

Shit! Now I was going to have to explain something I didn't want to think about.

When Carol released me I bent over trying to ease the ache in my stomach muscles.

"Still hurting Drew?"

"It's like a 'stitch' in both sides. "I gasped

"Maddy see if you can find a couple of hot water bottles."

"Come on lets get you to bed so you can..."

"Nooo!... sorry that came out a bit loud."

Carol steered me back to the sofa

"Drew has this happened before?"

I nodded (Dad said twice, I could only remember the once.)

Maddy came back with the hot water bottles Carol checked them and tucked them over my ribs

"What happened last time?"

Shit the one question I didn't want to answer.

I just shook my head and looked down. Pink elephant don't think of the pink elephant.

"Just remember I'm here when you want to talk Drew."

"Why don't you relax and get some sleep? Said Maddy.

"No I mustn't sleep.. Mad promise me..."

Drew I promise I won't do it again."

Mad you can. Just not for very long Ok.?"

"How long.'s that?"

"It starts to hurt after about 5 seconds, it's agony at 10.... At 15 I will do anything to make it stop" Maddy's eyes went wide.

"Mad promise..."

"I already have Drew"

"No...promise.... If I fall asleep you'll keep away."

"WHAT?"

"Please Mad I'm scared...I might hurt you...I was terrified I was going to hurt you earlier."

"Drew you were helpless, anyway you wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Please Mad promise"

"Ok Ok. I promise."

"Drew if you're that scared then I think Maddy deserves more of an explanation than that. Don't you? You can't possibly expect her to keep that promise. We are worried about you."

"I suppose." I shrugged Damn.

Carol came and sat next to me.

"Tell me about the last time Drew, please"

I closed my eyes and thought about it, I wasn't going to get out of this.

"How old were you Drew?"

"Four and a half I think, I was playing on the landing, Jules was chasing me, I can't remember why."

"I take it she caught you?"

"Well she usually did, she was bigger than me, still is."

"Jules was what, Six?"

"And a bit, She was steering me around, just touching my ribs sort of, you know, if she touched me left I turned left, I couldn't get away."

"Had Jules done that before?"

"Well yeah, it was fun, a game..."

"Go on."

"I fell, we were both laughing, Jules started to tickle me, I rolled up like a hedgehog but it didn't help. It started to hurt, I couldn't get enough air."

"Did you tell her to stop?"

"I couldn't speak, I know it sounded like I was laughing but it hurt. I got my legs up between us, I couldn't stand it any more I must have pushed her off. when I got my breath back and looked for her she was gone I looked down the stairs and saw Dad helping her up. I'd kicked her down the stairs."

It had gone very quiet, Mad had her mouth open, Carol was frowning. Shit!

"Wait up Drew, wasn't there a gate on the stair?" asked Carol, I thought for a bit.

"Yes there was, it had a spring on it to keep it closed."

"So it was closed when you looked down?" That threw me.

"I don't remember, I suppose it must have been."

"What did you do?"

"I ran to my room, I thought I'd hurt her I could have killed her." Carol gave me a hug

"Did your Dad check on you?"

"Yeah he came straight up. I couldn't work out why he wasn't angry but he just asked if I was alright and went back downstairs."

"Drew I don't know what happened exactly but I don't think you kicked Juliet down the stairs." Carol was smiling, so was Maddy.

"What! But I..."

Drew. I'm pretty sure, unless that gate suddenly opened by itself then Juliet had to have opened it herself. Don't you see Drew?" I was shaking.

"But, but.."

"Drew your all tensed up, I find a soak in a hot bath helps when I get wound up. Why don't you try it?"

"I'll get it ready Drew." Maddy bounced up the stairs to the bathroom

"All set." Said Mad as I entered the steam filled room.

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