(Author's Note: Set in 2010. What if Brendan never killed Danny? Set during the December 2010 Era).

Wake Up Call

Chapter One

Brendan called Danny bluff on his threat. The man was surely smarter enough to know not to threaten someone's life in front of a witness (Warren Fox). So he let Danny leave, trying to explain what he was talking about to Warren. The two men (now business partners) were having a celebratory drink together. Though Brendan felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he had a gut feeling it wasn't going to be a casual call. The simple name 'Steven' flashed up on his phone screen; without even picking it up, the Irishman took his leave immediately...

...

Two masked men have broken into the Hay-Barnes household (on the orders of Danny Houston of cause). Thankfully Leah, Lucas and Amy were spending the night with Mike and Zoe. Rae was the first to scream, she was quickly pulled back by a terrified Ste. Much to his own shock, the first number he thought to call was not the police as he rang Brendan's number...

...

"Go away!" Rae cried to the masked assailants.

It was not her they were after however. Danny had only paid them to kill Ste. A robbery gone wrong is how it was going to be staged. Sounds of them ransacking the place gave Ste and Rae some time to try and make an escape. The first thing on Ste's mind was to get Rae out first, he wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He rushed towards the window with a lamp, glass smashed; this caught the attention of the two paid thugs. As they charged into the room at full speed. Rae was in hysterics by this point...

"Move!"

The man who shouted had a rough tone to his voice. The second man pulled Rae away (despite her desperate kicking at him). The first man had his attention on Ste (he had pulled out a knife). Ste was shaking so much, never before has he felt so scared in his life. Was this it?

"Don't hurt him!" Rae begged with fresh tears coming down.

Just when everything seemed lost. The sounds of Brendan Brady and Warren Fox were heard (never before has Rae been so happy to see them). Though the damage has been done as the man pushed the knife into Ste's stomach in a panic, making him collapse to the floor in pain. Warren was the first to enter (thankfully he was the bulkiest one out of the lot). He charged at the man holding Rae...

"Get off!" came the muffled reply.

Rae watching as the two men fought on the floor. She couldn't believe what was happening, she just stayed down on the floor in fear. Brendan knew he had to go after the first guy (this was much more dangerous as he had a knife). Though the image of Steven bleeding had given him some sort of adrenaline. Brendan picked up a shard of glass, smashing it against the man's face (making him yell out in pain). He dropped the knife in the process and ran away like the coward he is.

"Oi!" Warren yelled however the man was gone (the second man soon following).

The only thing stopping Brendan from chasing them down was Steven's safely.

"Phone an ambulance!" Brendan yelled at Warren.

The man did as he was told for once. Ste felt so dizzy, the whole room was spinning around now. He was convinced he was going to die right there and then, a single tear came down his cheek. The last thing he felt was Brendan pulling him closer towards him, his head now resting on Brendan's lap...

...

"Shouldn't you let Rae do that?" Warren questioned as they all awaited for the ambulance to arrive.

Though the Irishman was in too much of a state to care. Rae just watching from afar, this was the first time she recognized that Brendan actually does care. The way he gently placed his fingers through his hair, it was almost like he forgot he had an audience. Warren soon caught on that this was the "little friend that Danny would pay a visit to". It wasn't some woman, it was Ste.

"Don't die on me...I need you" Brendan whispered; giving him a kiss on the top of his head.

Rae let a tear fall down her cheek. She loved Ste however she understood it wasn't reciprocated. Brendan was the first person he rang and he was obviously the only person he wanted right now.

"Let me see him" Rae then cried as she made her way past Warren.

Brendan seemed unwilling to let him go however the sounds of the ambulance made him do so. A crew of paramedics rushed onto the scene, quickly putting the injured Ste onto the stretcher. Brendan immediately ready to follow him into the ambulance though one of the paramedics said...

"Only one allowed"

After sharing a glance, Brendan let Rae go in after him as he watched them shut the door and quickly drive away.

...

"What was that about?" Warren asked as he watched the ambulance drive away into the distance.

"Rae was upset"

"So you thought you would take her place? Don't take me for a fool Brendan...He's your dirty little secret isn't he?"

"Don't...I need to get to the hospital"

...

TBC