Everything had been a blur; it was unclear what was reality and what was a torturous nightmare of silence that was regularly interrupted by the beeping of the machine at the hospital bed. The white walls reinforced the numb emptiness of the last however many days or weeks that had passed.
"Sorry, excuse me. My name's Nancy, Nancy Osborne. I'm a friend of Ste's. I just wanted to come and see how he's doing; how you're both doing."
Sunil turned his head away from the bedside to look at where that voice had come from. Nancy, a small but vibrant woman, had appeared at the door. She had a sympathetic smile as she let herself in and approached the bed. He didn't know why, but Sunil stood up and wrapped his arms around Nancy, holding her close and crying. "Come, sit down and tell me all about it." she said, rubbing his back soothingly like a baby before sitting herself down on the opposite side of the bed.
"Have the doctors said anything yet?" Nancy asked, observing Ste's still body. "Not enough... They know he's definitely broken a lot of bones. Some of his ribs are broken again, his left leg, his right arm... all broken. They're not sure how his head and his brain are so they're doing tests but... I haven't heard back from them. I'm... I'm so scared." Sunil whispered, wiping tears from his face using his sleeve. Nancy dug into her little handbag and reached over to hand him some tissue. "You mustn't worry, it won't make it any easier. You have to think positive." she said lightly, holding Ste's hand. "I can't! How can I? What if he has damaged his brain? He'll never be the same again! I'll lose him and it will all be my fault!" hissed Sunil, much to Nancy's surprise. "That's not true! I suffered some pretty scary brain injuries myself not too long ago and I recovered! I thought I'd never speak again but I am telling you that you need to be there for him when he wakes up!" she retaliated. Sunil fell silent immediately and turned his focus back to Ste. "I hate seeing him all wired up and helpless like this..." Nancy moved her chair over so she could be beside Sunil to comfort him. "I know, it looks awful. You should go and get some fresh air or something. Go and see the others. Have you seen Danni today?" Nancy suggested. "I went to see her this morning but she was still asleep. I should go and see her. How do you know her?" Sunil asked, presuming that she probably knew who Danni was through the news stories that were circulating. "We're both very fond writers! She's a wonderful girl. I'll take care of Ste, you go and see her." Nancy smiled.
Leaving the room and realising that the world was still going on outside was still a small shock every time. Nurses, doctors, patients and visitors all rushed around the hospital carrying on as if they had their own lives and problems to sort out. Sunil stumbled outside for a moment just to let the cool breeze of the afternoon hit his face. A deep breath of the crisp, fresh air filled his lungs and he was then ready to head back inside.
Upon arrival at her room, Sunil saw that Danni had finally woken up and was even sitting up in her bed. "Danni! You're okay! I just came to check on you! How are you feeling?" Sunil said as he rushed to her side. "I feel really dizzy... but I'm okay. Where is everyone?" she asked, massaging her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Has no one told you anything since you've woken up? Didn't a nurse or someone not come in to tell you what happened?" Sunil asked. Danni shook her head slowly as it would have caused a great deal of pain if she were to do so any harder. "Well, apparently, Patrick bit Maxine's shoulder and that caused the crash. Someone fired a gun in the car and the bullet hit Patrick and went through him and then hit Sienna, too. The car crashed into Ste and then into the ditch..." Sunil choked finishing the sentence. "The gun! Is Sienna okay?! Where is she?!" Danni sat up and looked a little more frantic and worried for her sister. "Calm down! It's okay. Sienna is okay. Patrick isn't, though, he's dead. The bullet went through his lungs. The crash didn't kill him but he died shortly after from the shot. The bullet only went through Sienna's arm. She's healing really well. Actually, I should tell you, for some reason, Sienna has been taken back to the mental hospital she was at before. They want to examine her more." Sunil explained as he watched Danni's face go from relieved to worried once again. "What?! That's outrageous! We have to get her out of there! She doesn't belong in there right now, she needs to be around her family! What were they thinking?! What about Nico and Maxine? Please tell me they're okay!" breathed Danni. "Yes! They're both absolutely fine. Nico's just in shock, so is Maxine, really. They're out of hospital already. Dodger is taking care of them at home. Don't worry."
Sunil grabbed Danni's hand and squeezed as the following silence reminded them of their previous issues. Danni had taken Nico on a dangerous quest to track down her real father which ended in them being kidnapped and almost killed by Patrick. Danni had apologised sincerely but Sunil had already moved passed it. He was just glad to have his best friend back and to finally know she was safe.
A soft knock on the door alerted them to another visitor, Freddie. His smile seemed out of place and uncertain but he stepped inside anyway. His relationship with Danni was just blossoming before her departure. She had left without an explanation to him so he had learned about everything that had happened through street gossip and the news coverage. Again, Freddie seemed brilliantly understanding and accepting of what had happened and was also just happy to see that she was okay. Sunil left them alone to chat after he realised he was no longer needed.
Sunil's phone buzzed in his pocket, indicating a phone call. He had received so many calls from everyone in his contact list asking if he was okay. He had even received a couple of shady phone calls from local and national news stations asking for commentary on what had happened. He answered and was surprised to hear Amy's voice.
"Hey, I called Dennis and asked him to give me your number, I hope that's okay. I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry you haven't heard from me and the kids sooner. We're actually on our way up to the hospital now if that's okay?"
"Oh, of course, that would be great! Yes, I'm positive Ste will want you all to be here. He hasn't been responding to anyone so hearing you and the kids might do something. I'll see you soon."
Entering Ste's room again, Sunil discovered that Tony, Diane and Sinead had decided to visit. The severely uncomfortable tension between Nancy and Diane caused Nancy to understandably leave earlier. "Heya, just thought we'd pop in quickly and see him. How is he doing?" Tony said. Sunil explained each detail once again, becoming slightly hateful towards having to repeat everything. Sinead was sat by Ste's side, gripping his hand and crying. She appeared to be talking to herself or to him but her voice was too distant to pick up what she was saying. Diane and Ste also had a dodgy history but Sunil was truly appreciative that she was woman enough to show up. She smiled pitifully at him and had brought flowers with a get-well-soon card to put on his bedside table.
Once they had left, Amy arrived almost immediately after. She poked her head in through the door and allowed Leah and Lucas to walk in first. This was not the first time they had seen their beloved father in a hospital bed and it probably wouldn't be the last if things were to carry on the way they were. "Sorry, I hope we're not too late for visiting hours, there was a lot of traffic on our way in." Amy apologised, staring briefly at Ste's body before hugging Sunil. Leah and Lucas seemed fairly hesitant about approaching Ste but Amy gently nudged them over and asked them to speak to him and tell him how much they loved him. Amy and Sunil watched in total emotional awe as Lucas read aloud a card he had written for Ste. Leah helped him with some of the words and they both kissed a cheek on each side when they finished. "Is daddy going to wake up soon?" Leah asked, looking to both her mother and Sunil. Amy obviously didn't know so she passed on the question to Sunil to answer. "Of course he will, princess! I hope so. He has to see you and your beautiful jumper you're wearing. And I'm sure he's going to want to see your beautiful card, Lucas. Keep talking to him and he will hear you!" They quickly turned back to Ste and made themselves comfortable before chatting away to his motionless body.
"Sunil, can I speak to you outside for a moment?" Amy asked suddenly before telling the kids not to touch anything. He followed her out of the room, unsure of what it could be that she needed to speak about. "I just wanted to catch up on everything, really. How has he been, I haven't heard from him at all in ages." she started. "He's been really great. He's been working non-stop really and we're both saving up to get our own place. He really has changed this time..." Amy looked a bit unconvinced. "Why do you sound a bit off? Is something the matter?" she continued. "No, of course not! I'm just still really worried for him and these brain test results. I'm sure you heard but he actually saved my life and pushed me out of the way from the car. It could have been me in that bed... Actually, there is something... I'm not sure how to feel about it. Brendan has asked Ste to sign up for his visitation list. He's being moved to a nearby prison." Amy looked rather angry once Sunil had finished. "You can't let him see Brendan. That's not going to do him or you any good, is it?" she said forcefully. "Yeah, but I can't not let him do stuff he wants to do! I think he even knows it's a bad idea but it's Brendan, of course he's going to go and see him any ways! I don't know how to feel about it but I can't stop him." Leah and Lucas suddenly whipped the door open. "Mummy, look! Daddy's eyes are moving! I think he's waking up!" Leah beamed. They jumped up and down in excitement as Sunil and Amy rushed into the room to see if he was waking up. Ste's eyes were, indeed, appearing to open up. His eyelashes flickered and the lids opened ever so slightly before closing again. A few moments had passed and it was as if nothing had happened and he was still again. "Come on, daddy!" Lucas yelled, shaking his hand gently.
Sunil took a seat on the bed and grasped his other hand. "Ste, can you hear me? We're all here, we're all here waiting for you. Leah and Lucas are here with Amy. Nancy and the O'Connors came to visit earlier. Sinead was so upset to see you like this but you're going to be okay, aren't you? Please, wake up. We need you to wake up." There was still no response whatsoever other than the whining beep of the hospital machinery. "We love you so, so much. What you did was something I will never be able to thank you enough for. You didn't just save my life, you came to stop me from leaving you, something I don't think I'd ever be able to do now. The only way I can possibly ever come close to thanking you enough is by giving you all of my life and all of my love. What I'm trying to say is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, loving you. I know it didn't go right the first time you suggested we should get married but that was because I didn't understand how much I need and love you. I need you to wake up now so you can ask me properly because I will say yes this time. No more excuses or doubts. If you'll have me, I'll marry you! Leah can be our flower girl and Lucas can be our best man and you're going to look so handsome in your suit-" As tears began to stream down his face once again, Leah handed him another tissue from the bedside table. She pulled herself onto the bed and cuddled into his arm. "So, I need-, we need you to open your eyes and let us know you're okay."
Lucas now pulled himself onto the bed also and carefully placed himself so that he could hug his father without hurting him. "Come on, daddy." Leah whispered, watching in anticipation. It appeared that they hadn't got through to him as there was no more movements but moments later, his eyes began to open again. It seemed like a miracle had taken place. Even Amy had begun to cry, overwhelmed with emotion. Ste's eyes drooped low and the sudden light was clearly making it difficult for him. Eventually, he could open them enough to look around the room. Sunil kissed his hands thankfully as Leah and Lucas began carefully placing kisses all around his face, avoiding the oxygen mask. "You're awake! You're awake!" they cheered with joy. "I better go and get a nurse for him!" Sunil gasped, placing his hand back down gently and rushing out of the room. "I'll come with you, there's something else I need to tell you!" Amy said swiftly as she followed him out.
They paced through the halls to find a nurse but Amy seemed like she had to tell him something in private. "What's wrong?" Sunil asked in concern, picking up on her worried facial expression. "I don't even know how to tell you this... I'll just say it! I'm pregnant." she said nervously. Sunil didn't know how to react to the announcement. It seemed slightly odd and inappropriate to bring it up at that very moment and it seemed irrelevant to anything going on right now. Amy realised that was what Sunil was thinking and continued to elaborate. "I fell pregnant after a one-night-stand and I don't know who the father is... I don't want to abort the baby but I don't know how I'm going to manage with three kids and finishing my degree! What do you think I should do?" Sunil was still taken aback by the revelation but he had an instant solution to her problem.
"If you're trying to ask me if we'll take the kids for a while, I'm pretty sure Ste will absolutely be fine with that."