Hay Everyone! Here is a story I've had rolling around in my head for a while now so I've decide to post it up. And I'm sure you all know very well I own next to nothing here. Only my character, her dog and the places where I work her into the story line belong to me. I would like to say one thing however; I'm not sure how many of you know the truth about "Sue Thomas F.B.Eye" but the programme was created from the events of a real woman's life. She overcame so many things and I would just like to say how much of an inspiration she is to me. She helps me realise that everything happens for a reason and even when we feel alone, there is always so many people around us who truly love us. We just need to open our hearts to them and let them in.

Thank you so much Sue and Katie,

Leanne xxxx

P.S: If anyone would like to find out more about the real Sue here is her website: http://www.suethomas.info/index.shtml

Introduction.

The car swerved dangerously across the wet road as I tried to gain control over my car. It was raining heavily making it hard to see out the window, so I had been going slowly just in case. But obviously the driver of a car that had been speeding did not see me until it was too late. He had swerved to try and miss me but still he clipped the car enough to send the back end swervering from side to side. I tried not to panic as I felt the car slip and start to tip over. I heard the windows shatter and the crunches of metal, then everything went black and I knew no more.

I woke up a few days later in hospital and started to panic when I realised I couldn't hear anything. It took four nurses to hold me down so that the Doctor could give me a sedative to help calm me down. They left me sleep after that, so the Doctor placed my file on my bedside table so I could read it when I woke up and understand why I could not hear anything.

The next time I woke up I forced myself to remain calm and lifted my hands to the sides of my head. I could feel the bandages there and decided it was best not to touch them anymore until I found out what was going on. I looked around the private room I was in and noticed the file sitting on the bedside table. I reached over and picked it up with a feeling of dread. What I read inside reduced me to tears. When my car crashed all the noise had perforated my eardrums, but that wasn't all. On top of that, when the windows shattered glass had gotten into my ears and cut them to pieces. I was rushed into hospital and underwent a dangerous procedure so that the Doctors could remove all the glass from my ears. It had saved my life… but I would never regain my hearing.

Four Weeks Later

I lay in the bright white hospital bed, a bandage wrapped around my head covering my ears; the smell of disinfectant tickled my nose as I stared out the window at the people going about their everyday lives. The Doctor spoke to my parents outside my room, explaining to them that I would need to get a hearing dog and the best place to go would be London. They didn't really like the idea but as soon as I was allowed to leave later that day, after spending a month cooped up inside, a nurse accompanied me to the training home to get a hearing dog. I needed someone with me 24/7 until I got a hearing dog, so a carer who worked with situations like these was assigned to help and look after me for the day. We had to take a train up to London, and then catch a bus before getting a taxi; I needed a reputable dog that would be able to take care of me.

Once we got out of my dad's car, he having dropped us off at the train station, I climbed out of the car and took my carer's hand. She was about 5'6", a head above my 5'3". She was a pretty woman with brown hair and honey warm eyes that made you feel safe. She led me through the glass revolving doors and over to the desk. I stood there at her side and kept my eyes glued to the grey tiled floor. Out the corner of my eye I watched as she went into my bag, taking out my wallet. She rummaged around and took out my medical card and showed it to the man with slightly greying hair sitting on a desk chair behind the dirty plastic window. I guessed he didn't believe what she said but I just decided that he had to ask as company protocol. That felt a lot less personal. A lot less painful. Sarah handed back my wallet and card for me to sort out knowing I needed something to do.

We got onto the train and took a seat near the window so I could look out and relax. I concentrated on reading the book I had brought with me and ignored everything going on around me. At one point during the journey a young man walked up to me and started talking. I didn't realise but thankfully Sarah did and explained to him that I was deaf. He had asked why that mattered and tapped my shoulder. I jumped and swung my head around to look at him. He moved his mouth slowly.

"Sorry?" I had asked. "Oh! You're saying sorry! That's fine. Would you like to sit down?" I asked. He nodded his head and Sarah wrote down he said 'please' politely. I nodded and moved my things for him to sit down. He motioned to Sarah's notebook, I'm guessing asking if he could use it but I butted in hoping I guessed right. "Hang on, I've got a notebook in here that I carry for other people to write on." I said digging around in my bag. I passed him the book and pen and we talked all the way up to London. He even gave me his e-mail address before we all got off.

The bus ride was fine but I was getting really frustrated. I was surrounded by people and traffic and I couldn't hear a thing! That's why I hadn't minded being in the hospital. Sometimes some wards were quiet. Thankfully I had Sarah with me and she helped calm me down slightly. Sarah pressed the button and motioned for me to get up. I grabbed my bag and coat and followed on behind her quickly taking a hold of the back of her coat so we didn't get separated.

We walked up a long road on the outskirts of London and came to a stop in front of a huge pair of double gates. I watched Sarah ring the buzzer as I stood back a bit looking beyond Sarah's head at the mansion behind the gates.

Beyond the big metal gates I could see dogs running around and rolling in the grass as their trainers looked on. The mansions walls were cream coloured bricks and had huge bay windows. I felt Sarah take a hold of my hand and start to lead me up the drive as I looked around me in awe. The place gave off a feeling of peace, quiet and tranquillity. It was something I dearly needed after the journey to get here.

A lady greeted us at the door and led us to the kennels explaining to Sarah that all the dogs here were fully trained. I paused at one of the kennels as Sarah and the lady continued walking. There on a blanket lay a beautiful golden retriever. His head popped up and tail started wagging as I came near. I read his name on the plate on the wall and knew instantly that he was the dog for me. Jock. He was beautiful. I bent down and pressed the back of my hand against the metal and he started sniffing my hand, trying to lick it through the mesh on the kennel door.

Sarah and the lady realised that I wasn't following them anymore and stopped, looking around for me. It didn't take them long and seeing the happiness on my face Sarah started making the arrangements for me to take Jock home as my hearing dog. The lady, Sandra, agreed that I could take Jock and walked over and opened the door to his kennel so I could meet him properly. As soon as Sandra had opened the door, Jock ran out and jumped on me licking my face happily. I laughed loudly from my sprawled position on the floor and started playing with him. Sarah came over and signalled for me to get up and follow, I took her hand as she helped me up and Jock obediently followed me to the mansion.

All together it took us an hour to sort out all the paper work before Jock could be handed over to me as my official hearing dog. It would cost me nearly all of my savings to buy Jock from Sandra as it cost £900 including his papers and I didn't have a lot of money after just finishing college and it would be unlikely that I would be getting a job anytime soon. No company wants to employ a deaf person. I was looking around the room lost in thought when Sarah tapped me on my leg and pointed out that I had to write all the information onto the empty check slip. As I went to sign the check Sandra took it off me and ripped it up. She quickly started scribbling something on a piece of paper before handing it to me after a few moments. 'I want you to take him for free. I know you have only just gotten out of college and you will need all the money you have now just to get yourself sorted out.' I looked up at her shocked and shook my head vigorously from side to side.

"I can't do that!" I exclaimed, "It's awfully kind of you, but I can't do that! It wouldn't be right!" She smiled at me and laughed and I felt saddened when I couldn't hear it. I looked at the next piece of paper that she slid in front of me. 'I insist. Instead of thinking of it like that think of it as an early Christmas present okay? I only have one request for you and that is to take care of him and keep in touch. Okay sweetie?' I looked up at her with tears in my eyes and walk around the table and hugged her tightly. I pulled away from her with tears running down my face. "Thank you so much, I'll never forget what you are doing for me." I hugged her again as she rubbed my back soothingly.

The journey home was more bearable with Jock there. He didn't seem to care that I couldn't hear anything as I made a fuss over him as he lay across my lap and the seat next to me. I spent the entire trip back reading my book as I stroked Jock's head. I felt peaceful and content for the first time in weeks and I knew that with Jock's help, support and unfailing love and loyalty I'd get through just fine.