"Will Sio's Gift Help - Sunday 5th December"

[Carmen Denali]

Siobhan: *smiling at Liam as we pull up to the house, I turn to look at Maggie* We made it! Now to find out what is wrong.

Liam: *Gettin' out of the car and going around te open the door for Sio and for Maggie.* Shall we?

Siobhan: *taking Liam's hand, we go towards the house* Yes, Love.

Eleazar: *hearing Liam & Sio's voices I make my way to the door to welcome our old friends*

Carmen: *hearing the tyre's crunch on the gravel outside, instantly tensing as I search my families faces & gently stroke Abbi's hand*

Tanya: *The sound of car doors close I set down my drawing pencils and make my way upstairs to the livingroom*

Katrina: *looks up watching ele make his way to the front door then looks up ar carmen*

Carmen: *nervously swallows and nods to Katie* This is it sis

Siobhan: *standing at the front door, I look at Liam puzzled as I hear a heartbeat and smell a human* What...

Eleazar: * I open the front door to greet Liam Sio & Maggie* Come in, please

Liam: I donna know wife?

Carmen: *closes my eyes, tensing and praying that my friends will understand*

Katrina: *sighs deeply, staring at Abbi - seeing how different she looks from the other night when I first spotted her, looks away*

Liam: *I step aside, lettin' me ladies go in first*

Siobhan: *hugging Eleazar lightly, I look at him questioningly* What is it old friend?

Eleazar: *returns Sio's embrace* I think *pauses* you should come in and see , please * motions for you to walk through*

Siobhan: *walking in the house, the human smell is stronger in here. I take Liam's hand and go in*

Tanya: *Stands in the doorway smiling softly towards the incoming friends*

Katrina: *stands to Carmen’s right, smiling softly at our friends*

Eleazar: *follows behind our friends* The rest of the family are in the living room

Carmen: *looks up at the doorway waiting for inevitable*

Katrina: *places my hand on Carmen’s shoulder, giving her a soft squeeze*

Siobhan: *nodding, I walk into the living room and hug Tanya and Kate. Noticing Carmen, I can tell instantly that something is wrong and I go to her*

Liam: *I stay back with Maggie, waitin' te see what the situation is*

Carmen: *takes a steadying breath trying to hide Abbi for as long as possible as I shift my weight on the couch* Sio, I can explain *looks to the rest of my family nervously*

Tanya: *Follows after Sio into the room, standing just inside the doorway*

Katrina: *walks over to Tanya, and stands next to her, biting my lip softly*

Siobhan: *walking forward slowly, I say softly* Carmen, what is going on?

Tanya: *Smiles at Katie and takes her hand with a squeeze giving her a reassuring look*

Carmen: Sio, please have a seat, I'll explain everything

Liam: *Feelin' the tension in the room, I move a bit closer, stayin' with me wife*

Eleazar: *watches on as my tension builds*

Katrina: *exchanges a glance with Tanya, softening my expression slightly at her smile*

Siobhan: *taking Liam's hand again, I sit and wait for Carmen to begin* ok

Carmen: I know you won't approve of this, but please try to understand before you judge me, will you promise?

Siobhan: *nodding suspiciously* I will listen, Carmen and try to understand.

Katrina: *looks over at Garrett standing off to the side, watching everyone closely, smiles softly at him*

Carmen: *glances nervously at Eleazar before continuing* To make this short and to the point, I befriended a little girl who was lost in the forest, before you panic I have no intention of making her an immortal child *looks to you pleadingly* but she's sick

Eleazar: *leans against the door frame smiling at Carmen reassuringly*

Tanya: *Glances at Garrett and back at Katie nodding for her to join him, Slowly I make my way over to the child on the couch and kneel down on the floor next to her looking to Carmen as she explains*

Katrina: *flinches slightly at the word 'Immortal Child' and looks at Tanya again*

Siobhan: *looking at Liam and Maggie in shock, I continue to listen* I know you wouldn’t make an immortal child, Carmen.

Katrina: *takes Garrett's hand tightly, and leans on him*

Carmen: *smiles softly* Good, I need you to believe me & understand I wouldn't, but I or we were hoping you could use your gift and help us *smiles hopefully, feeling more at ease*

Liam: *I squeeze Sio's hand, tensin' a bit as I reach for Maggie with me other hand*

Katrina: *The tension I feel eases slightly as Garrett runs his fingers through my hair kisses my head, watching carmen and sio*

Siobhan: I don't know if it will work, but I will try.

Siobhan: *thankful for Liam's presence*

Eleazar: *reliefe floods through me as Sio agrees to help us*

Carmen: *smiles instsantly my hope rising & squeezes Sio's hand* Thank you so much

Siobhan: How can I help?

Carmen: *squeezing Carmen's hand, as I know this must be very important to her*

Katrina: *smiles softly at Sio then at Liam and Maggie*

Carmen: Do you need to *drops my voice to a whisper & bites down on my lip* hold her hand to use your gift, I mean would it help or you just have to concentrate?

Eleazar: *watches as I feel powerless to do anything constructive*

Siobhan: *shakes my head* No, I don't need to, I just need to concentrate. * looking to Liam*

Siobhan: *softly* You wish me to will her illness to be gone?

Liam: *I instantly know what me wife needs, movin' over to place me hands on her shoulders and help he focus on her will*

Carmen: *smiles & nods* Please Sio, I just need her to be better, she's just a little girl but.. *bites my lip unable to finish*

Katrina: *Lets go of Garrett’s hand and steps behind Carmen again, placing my hand on shoulder, my other hand combing through her hair, whispers* it's okay..

Siobhan: but she means something to you, Carmen. I understand. *smiles softly*

Eleazar: *moves to Carmen’s side, crouching down, resting my hand on top of hers*

Carmen: *nods sadly* I do *gently squeezes Eleazar's hand gratefully* Thanks Katie I hope so

Liam: *I smile as I watch Maggie move around, te put her hand with mine on Sio and her other hand on Carmen*

Siobhan: *closing my eyes I focus on Liam's hands on my shoulders I picture the child smiling and her face unflushed with fever. I picture the child running and playing I picture the child happy*

Katrina: *watches Sio, then looks down at Abbi in Carmen's capable arms - bites my lip wanting her to get better as quick as possible*

Carmen: *looks between Sio & Abbi and waits anxiously*

Eleazar: *watches on as Sio uses her gift, thinking to myself this has to work as I squeeze Carmens hand*

Siobhan: *I take a deep breath and focus even harder, still picturing the outcome Carmen so desires. *

Carmen: *smiles gratefully at Eleazar & searches Abbi's face praying that this will work*

Siobhan: *opening my eyes, I reach up to touch Liam's hand, feeling Maggie's there too. I look at Carmen* There, my friend, I have willed it. I hope it works.

Katrina: *exhales sharply and smiles down at the child, hoping Sio's willing will work*

Carmen: *smiles instantly* Thank you Sio *nods* I hope so too *glances back to Abbi then to Sio* I really appreciate your understanding

Siobhan: *thinking of the secret yearning I have always had to have a child with Liam, I say softly* I do understand, Carmen. I do.

Katrina: *walks around the couch and kneels down in front of Carmen and Abbi, extends my hand to Abbi and slowly strokes her warm cheek, smiles softly*

Eleazar: *watches on feeling helpless, I look to Sio* Thank you for helping us Sio *nods to Liam & Maggie * thank you all

Katrina: *whispers softly at the little girl* Hi Abbi..*watches her still body, her eyes closed, strokes her cheek once more then stands up and takes my place next to Garrett*

Carmen: *smiles softly at Sio* Thank you, *looks to Maggie & Liam* Thank you for being there for us

Carmen: *smiles to Katie* It's ok Katie I understand

Siobhan: *nodding, I look at the child and speak softly* Anything for you Carmen and Eleazar. Who is she...I know she means something to you.

Katrina: *Smiles at Garrett longingly as he reaches to take my hand in his then pulls me close*

Carmen: *shakes my head sadly* I just found her, wandering not that far from her home one day, sobbing and I knew I had to help her *looks to Eleazar* I didn't mean to care about her so much, it was an accident

Siobhan: Where are her parents?

Eleazar: *smiles softly holding Camrens hand* We know it was darling

Carmen: *squeezes Eleazar’s hand* Thank you *smiles sadly at Sio* She's a foster child and they are horrible people, I don't understand...how could anyone be so heartless to her *falters* she's defenceless

Siobhan: *reaching to touch Carmen's hand* I know. I don't understand it either. I've never understood it. You are good to help her, Carmen*

Siobhan: *reaches back to grip Liam's hand*

Liam: *Pullin' Maggie a bit closer as we share a knowin' look*

Carmen: *smiles gratefully* Thank you Sio, I couldn't not help her, I just pray your help will work

Siobhan: Tis the least we could do for such good friends.

Katrina: *smiles sweetly at Sio* We appreciate it so much

Siobhan: *smiles at the child* I dont even know her name...I pictured her well,

Carmen: *smiles looking up from Abbi* It's Abbi

Siobhan: I want her to be well for you, Carmen

Eleazar: *looks up from Carmen to Liam, Sio & Maggie* Again thank you and you will be staying with us *smiles* we have the guest rooms ready for you

Liam: Aye, we all do, Carmen. *I nod*

Carmen: I can't tell you what that means to me, all of you

Siobhan: *smiling* Anything for you and your family, Carmen. *taking Liam's hand, we follow Tanya to the guest rooms they have prepared for us*

Katrina: *Grips garrett's hand tightly and walks over to carmen, sits next to her, Garrett takes a few steps back and watches the child*

Liam: *Follow behind Tanya, Sio and Maggie. Needin' a moment or two to confer with me wife*

Carmen: *smiles* Thanks again Sio *looks back to my family* I hope this works

Eleazar: *smiles as I watch Liam Sio & Maggie leave the room most grateful for their assistance & friendship, my attention returns to Carmen & Abbi*

Katrina: *whispers to Carmen* I hope she'll get better...

Eleazar: *hearing Kates words I nod* she will get better we need to stay positive

Katrina: *looks up at Ele* You're right

Carmen: *smiles hopefully to you both* Thank you both *looks back to Abbi, her shallow breaths, breaking my heart*

Eleazar: *holds you close feeling your upset & whispers* She will get better

Katrina: *stands up and head into the kitchen, grabbing the cold damp face cloth that I had sitting there, walks back into the room and hands it to Carmen* Here sister, she'll feel better..

Carmen: *nods & leans back slightly taking the cloth* Thank you Katie, replaces the existing one & lays my head on Eleazars shoulder as I watch Abbi closely* I hope so darling

Eleazar: *sits back with you & Abbi trying to comfort you both*

Katrina: *smiles softly and stands up, takes Garrett's hand and goes upstairs*