Chapter Text
Jamie couldn’t believe it. He had just punched his father. Something in him had just snapped. As Beard threw his father out, Jamie felt his body begin to shake and suddenly he finds Roy coming over and hugging him. Upon the embrace, he breaks down and begins sobbing. The rest of the team are shown to be in shock concerning what had just transpired. An hour and a half later, Jamie arrives home and is shown being ambushed by his father and his friends-who begin brutally assaulting him.
The following morning, Jamie doesn’t show up for training. A concerned Ted asks the team if anyone had seen Jamie-to which Sam tells him that they haven’t-and that that wasn’t normal. Ted concurs. Roy arrives a few seconds later and is informed by Ted that Jamie was late for training. Upon hearing that, Roy immediately becomes concerned- considering what had happened the night before-and tells Ted that they need to do a wellness check. The duo are then shown arriving at Jamie’s house and discovering his bloody, mutilated body-having been brutally beaten and stabbed beyond recognition. Blood was everywhere-it was coming from his head and face-as well as his chest and midsection. Roy immediately feels for a pulse and to his relief finds a very faint one. As Roy notifies 999, Ted (trying to remain calm) urges Jamie to hold on. That help was coming and that he was going to be okay. Unfortunately, by the time the paramedics arrive, Roy is performing cpr.
Keeley and Rebecca arrive at the A&E and are immediately informed by Roy that Jamie was currently in surgery. He tells the duo that somebody (most likely Tartt Sr. and his goons) had brutally assaulted (beaten and stabbed) Jamie within an inch of his life. And the prognosis wasn’t good as he had kept going into cardiac arrest prior to being taken into surgery. In a new scene, as they await news, the group discusses what they’re going to tell the media concerning the attack-ultimately deciding on Ted telling the press that Jamie had been assaulted by a disgruntled fan following the Man City match. An investigation is currently ongoing and they have no other information at that time. A few hours later, the doctor finally comes out with an update. He tells them that Jamie was currently being situated in a room and that he had suffered significant head trauma and had been stabbed about twenty times-causing massive internal trauma. Due to this, he had undergone a craniotomy and open heart surgery-during which he suffered a hypoxic ischemic event and that the extent of damage done wouldn’t be known until (or if) he awoke. He somberly tells them that they should prepare themselves and that he’s sorry he doesn’t have better news. Upon hearing that, Keeley begins sobbing, with a teary-eyed Roy comforting her. Ted, who had been trying to keep it together, abruptly leaves-Rebecca following suit. Once outside, Ted breaks down-telling Rebecca that he should have done more to protect Jamie. Rebecca tells him that he couldn’t have known that Jamie’s father would attempt to kill his son.
Roy and Keeley are the first to visit Jamie who is shown to be on life support. His barely recognizable face was now swollen and a good amount of hair was noted to be missing due to having been shaved for the craniotomy. Jamie didn't look like Jamie. He didn't look like the former prick of Richmond-instead, he was fragile and vulnerable. An emotional Keeley gently clasps his left hand into her own. She tearfully tells him that he’s going to be okay and that his body just needs to rest for a little while. Meanwhile, Roy is trying to keep his emotions in check and abruptly leaves when tears begin clouding his vision. Once in the lobby, he lets the tears fall. During that time, Ted (with Rebecca) is shown doing a press conference and informing the media outlets of Jamie’s current status and that an investigation was currently ongoing. Sure enough-as predicted-Tartt Sr. and his friends were indeed responsible as they had been caught on nearby surveillance entering Jamie’s residence an hour before the attack and leaving an hour later. In the following scene, Mae sees them enter the Crown & Anchor and immediately notifies police. A few minutes later, the trio are arrested and Mae informs Roy-who then informs the others.
An emotionally struggling Ted is next to visit Jamie. He tells Jamie that his father and friends had just been arrested and that he didn’t have to worry anymore. He just needs to rest and heal. He then tearfully apologizes for not doing more in protecting Jamie and hopes that Jamie can forgive him. As tears continue to roll down his face, he tells Jamie that he’s so incredibly proud of the man he has become in the past few months and that he needs to keep fighting. After a few moments of silence, he tells Jamie that he's going to go now as the team has been blowing up his phone for updates (notably Sam, Dani, Colin, and Isaac). Before doing so, he tells Jamie that he's here for him.
Over the next few days, Jamie is continually visited by Keeley, Roy, and Ted-with Sam, Dani, Colin, and Isaac visiting other times. Keeley tells him about getting financed for her own PR firm; Ted tells him that Henry is coming to visit in a few days; and Sam, Dani, Colin, and Isaac update him on what’s been going on within the team (Sam turning down Edwin Akufo-who was not pleased-and Nate now working for West Ham). Also, during that time, Jamie is removed from the ventilator and undergoes a tracheotomy. In a new scene, Roy is with Jamie-updating him on what Phoebe has been up to-when Jamie suddenly begins going into cardiac arrest. As medical personnel work fervently to bring him back, a shellshocked Roy notifies Keeley and Ted. In the following scene, the doctor tells him (now with Keeley and Ted present) that they were able to bring Jamie back, but that the prognosis of Jamie waking up wasn't good. He tells them that they need to consider that Jamie may never recover and need to consider their options concerning his quality of life.
A few weeks later, Sam (along with Dani, Colin, and Isaac-who in that time fixes Jamie's hair by buzzing it all off) are with Jamie when his eyes slowly begin to flutter open. He was finally in the awakening process. Or so they had thought. During the next few days, Jamie’s eyes open and shut, but he shows no signs of awareness. It’s then learned that Jamie had most likely entered into a vegetative state-due to the hypoxic trauma. In the following weeks, Jamie remains in a vegetative state and the doctor once again discusses Jamie’s future. A week later, Jamie is shown being transferred to a hospice facility (Ted and the others having finally accepted the fact that Jamie most likely would never fully recover from the trauma).
A month later, Jamie is still in a vegetative state-continuously opening and shutting his eyes, but showing no signs of awareness. In that time, Keeley, Roy, and Ted practically lived at the facility with him. In a new scene, the hospice doctor discusses with the trio the topic of removing Jamie from life support and just making sure that he's comfortable. They admantantly tell him no. Jamie will wake. He just needs more time. However, a couple of days later, they emotionally watch (Keeley sobbing with Roy and Ted unsuccessfully trying to keep it together) as doctors disconnect his trach from the ventilator keeping him alive. Afterwards, a wheezing sound can be heard coming from Jamie. In the following days, the team (including Rebecca) visit Jamie one last time. As he watches Dani telling Jamie his goodbyes, Ted suddenly breaks down in tears-Rebecca comforting him. A few days later, Keeley is with Jamie (who is still hanging on)-telling him about how her PR firm had been shut down due to a disagreement with her boss-when he suddenly becomes aware of her presence (brief lucidity) before zoning out again. In a new scene, the doctor tells her (now with Roy and Ted present) that Jamie was now in a minimally conscious state. In the following weeks, Jamie slowly begins to show more signs of awareness-beginning to stay awake for longer periods of time (finally recognizing that people were with him and actively trying to communicate-though no words come). His trach was also removed. Upon learning of Jamie's improvenent, the team is overjoyed (Dani stating that it's a miracle). Unfortunately, the issues surrounding his extensive trauma present themselves a week later. He suddenly forgot who people were (notably Ted and Beard) and that he played football for a living (his current team being Richmond, but his former being Man City); he began blanking out during conversations and suddenly forgot who the person was and/or what they had been talking about-one such instance occurring during a conversation with Sam, Dani, Colin, and Isaac concerning a recent (and unusual) incident between Dani and Zoreaux. He became highly emotional-lashing out or crying when he couldn't effectively communicate or do something he should be able to do. The doctor tells Ted and the others that Jamie had significant cognitive and mobility (due to atrophy) impairment. His behavior was normal for someone in his condition. Watching Jamie continually struggle was hard for Roy as he was now a shell of his former prick self-his personality now that of a toddler.
A couple of weeks later, Jamie is transferred to a rehabilitation facility. Once there, he begins occupational and physiotherapy (with Keeley, Roy, and Ted sometimes present). After every session, he is shown weak and exhausted-sleeping until woken up. On one such instance, Roy came to visit and was told that he could visit, but that Jamie was currently asleep-having fallen asleep after speech therapy and muscle exercises a few hours prior. However, in the following weeks, his cognitive and mobility functions begin steadily improving (though still a challenge at times). He was now able to verbally talk (though it takes him a minute) and move around with a walker and cane. Upon hearing Jamie say 'hey guys' for the first time since his attack brought tears to Ted's eyes. A few days later, he's visited by Rebecca and Higgins and asked if he remembers the attack-to which he doesn't. In the following scene, he is told by Roy (and Ted) that his dad (alongside Denbo and Bug) had nearly succeeded in killing him (as well as their subsequent arrest). It had been touch and go for a while as he had sustained critical head and internal trauma (critical brain swelling and multiple stab wounds). He had gone into multiple cardiac arrests and had had a hypoxic ischemic event during the craniotomy. He wasn't expected to ever recover-his initial awakening and current recovery being an unexpected miracle. Upon learning all this, Jamie becomes emotional-Keeley immediately comforting him.
In a new scene, Rebecca (with Ted and Roy present) discusses with Jamie's physicians about the likelihood of him returning to football. They subsequently learn (to their relief) that if Jamie continues to improve, then in about a year or so. When Jamie learns of this, he's immediately overcome with emotion. In a new scene, Jamie is shown finally visiting the team during training. It's lovingly noted by Isaac that his hair was finally growing back.
A few months after entering rehabilitation, Jamie is finally released into the care of Keeley and Roy. During the first night, they’re suddenly awoken by Jamie reliving the night of his brutal (and almost deadly) assault. As Keeley holds him, he sobs. He is then subsequently shown having a session with Dr. Sharon. He tells her how he now vaguely remembers a banging sound followed by execruciating pain as he was repeatedly punched (his head being bashed against the tile), a crushing sound as he was stomped on, and sharp pain all over his body as he was stabbed. He remembers that as he lost consciousness he prayed that somebody would find him. She then calmly and quietly listens as he begins to sob. It takes a few months for the nightmares to finally not occur as often, but when they did, someone was immediately by his side to comfort him (mostly Keeley or Ted-who had become another father figure in Jamie’s life). When the nightmares had been frequent and Ted was present, he would hold Jamie and tell him to just let it out-as the sobbing began.
Epilogue
A year later Jamie is shown back to his near former self and rejoining training.
The End