Chapter 3
During the week
Declan's friends rally round to try and lift him up emotionally to stop him from slipping into a deeper depression.
Unfortunately they don't seem to be having much success as Declan withdraws from everybody refusing all hands of help.
On Sunday Night
Bridget turns up at the door of the Robinson house in attempt to apologize and to justify her actions.
She just goes into the house only to be seen by Rebecca and says "What are you doing here, haven't you caused enough damage already?"
"What have I done?" said Bridget.
"Don't play games with me, you hurt my son." said Rebecca.
"I need to talk to Declan alone please." begs Bridget.
Only to have Elle hear it and comes out saying "Not a chance you upset Declan enough, now get out." dragging Bridget out of the house and slamming the door in her face.
Elle looks at Rebecca with a disgusted look on her face saying to Rebecca "As if she could repair any of the damage being done, she's got to be dreaming."
Rebecca nods in agreement.
Over the next week
Bridget tries desperately to get sympathy from her classmates but everybody rejects her. Even the teachers have little time for her.
Even Bridget's attempts to befriend Kyle go unrewarded.
Everyone watches Declan closely trying to keep his spirits up.
The Following Sunday
Unfortunately Sunday afternoon, Declan was home alone while the others were caught up with important matters.
Donna decides to go visit Declan hoping she could get him organised for school on Monday.
After getting no answer, Donna looks in the lounge room window for any movements.
She sees Declan lying on the floor next to the couch.
Donna bangs furiously on the window hollering as loud as she can to try to get his attention.
She's shocked when he doesn't respond at all.
Donna runs to the backyard and sees an open bathroom window.
She manages to squeeze through the open window and runs to the lounge room screaming "Declan."
It only took the ambulance three minutes to arrive at Ramsay Street.
In the ride to the hospital, Donna holds Declan's hand trying to coerce him into waking up.
On arrival at the hospital, they rush Declan into the emergency ward.
Donna frantically tries to ring Rebecca and Elle.
In Ramsay Street
From her house Bridget witnessed the drama unfold.
A massive wave of guilt overwhelms her, she makes her way to the hospital.
After notifying Rebecca of the incident, Donna stands patiently outside of the emergency centre waiting for news.
Responding to someone calling her name, Donna turns around to see Bridget standing behind her.
"How dare you show your face after what you've done?" said Donna angrily.
"This is your fault, what you did Bridget was very disgusting and unforgivable."
"But I didn't know it would come to this." interrupted Bridget.
"It's always about you saving yourself Bridget, you lied about the father of your child knowing Josh wouldn't be as responsible as Declan and even now you're trying to avoid feeling guilty."
"Don't guilt trip me Donna." shouts Bridget.
"You want to get your face out of here before Rebecca and Elle get here or you will be real sorry." said Donna.
Bridget opens her mouth to say something only to be shocked with Donna's hand slapping her face.
Bridget runs off bawling.
The nurse comes through the sliding door to where Donna's fuming by Bridget's gall to turn up.
"Donna you can come in now, he's going to be okay." said the nurse.
"Can I talk to him?" said Donna.
"No, he's still unconscious but all his vital signs are good. We had to pump his stomach to get rid of the sleeping tablets."
"Do you know where he got the sleeping tablets from?" asks the nurse.
Donna tells the nurse how Declan's being depressed lately and was prescribed pills recently by his doctor.
For the next two days
Taking it in turns to stay by Declan's bedside. Elle, Rebecca and Donna wait anxiously for him to wake up.
In the early hours of the morning
Declan opens his eyes and looking to the left he sees Donna's head resting on his hand.
Declan faintly murmurs "Donna."
"Declan you're awake." cries Donna.
"Where am I?" chokes Declan.
"You're in hospital Declan, ooh why did you do that?" said Donna.
"I felt so betrayed by Bridget." said Declan.
"Declan, you have got to look beyond now, the future will be better. You will get over this." sobs Donna.
"We would miss you so much, don't ever do this again Declan."
"Where's Mum?" frowns Declan.
"She will be here in a minute, she's just gone to get a coffee, it really hurt her Declan." said Donna.
Three Days Later
Declan is discharged from the hospital.
Over the next week
Declan's friends rally round to visit him regularly. Jay has been a regular visitor. Wishing that the investigation had never started but Declan reassures him "I had to find out sooner or later, I should've being able to cope with it better." says Declan apologetically.
"With all the experience you gained from this incident, you could work for me as a private detective, you have great insight for our male clients knowing how it feels to be betrayed." said Jay.
"Thanks for the offer but I'm going into radio, I like the idea of being an announcer having a sense of humour telling jokes and relaying funny stories like comedy hour." said Declan.
"That's great Dec, you'll be good at it, I'm really pleased your moving on and starting to make plans for your future anything I can do let me know." said Jay.
The Next Day
Declan talks to Donna and tells her he needs to talk to Bridget to say bye to Annie.
"Are you sure?" said Donna.
"That's something I need to do to move on." said Declan.
"That's probably a good idea, I admire your strength." said Donna.
Answering the door Bridget is shocked to see Declan standing there.
"Come in Declan, I've been wanting to talk to you." said Bridget. "I know we can work through this and be a family for Annie."
"I don't know what delusional world you live in but after the lies you told that will never happen." said Declan firmly.
"I'm here to see Annie and say goodbye." said Declan.
"I would advise you to bring Josh into her life, she has a right to know who her real father is."
"Declan, no please." pleads Bridget.
Declan ignores her and says "Where's Annie?"
Later That Afternoon
Donna meets Declan at the cafe concerned about how his visit with Bridget went.
Rushing up to meet him breathlessly she asks him "Are you okay?"
"It's okay Donna relax, I'm fine, It's done and I want to thank you for being there for me, that really meant a lot." says Declan as he embraces Donna in a comforting hug.
Donna stutters "Anything to help a friend."
"Let me shout you a milkshake." smiles Declan.
"Thanks." blushes Donna.
"What's the gossip at school lately?" asks Declan.
"Oh, I got to tell you, Sunny-Lee has a little crush on Zeke." laughs Donna.
"Ooh, I better have a talk with Zeke." said Declan.
"Don't say I said anything, Sunny-Lee will be mad at me." panics Donna.
Declan laughs. Donna smiles to herself relieved that he's back to his normal self.
"Why don't we organise a group date to the movies tomorrow night you, me, Sunny-Lee and Zeke?" said Donna.
"That's a good idea, see we can get the ball rolling with those two." said Declan.
"Okay you text Zeke telling him that you want to go to the movies tomorrow night then i'll text Sunny-Lee telling her the same thing." said Donna.
Next Day
Paul bumps into Steve at the cafe.
"How are you?" said Paul.
"You can imagine my world is upside down, Miranda's going to Perth." said Steve.
"How's Bridget?" said Paul.
"Well after all this, she's decided to make a fresh start at Perth with Miranda, it will be easier for all concerned." said Steve.
"When is she going?" said Paul.
"Tomorrow." said Steve.
"Are you going with them?" said Paul.
"No I like it here, I have my job and friends and we had already discussed getting a divorce." said Steve.
"I'm sorry to hear that, any hope to reconcile." said Paul.
"Not a hope." Steve says sadly.
Few Hours Later
Paul discusses with Rebecca and Elle what he found out from Steve over dinner.
Donna and Declan look at each other and smile.
Declan's mum puts her hand on his shoulder and says "Are you okay?"
"It's cool mum, don't worry." said Declan.
"Well, Donna finish dinner, it's time we made tracks." said Declan.
"Where are you both off to?" said Paul.
"We're organising a blind date for two unsuspecting friends." said Donna.
As they walk out the door Rebecca smiles to Paul "I think the surprise is on them."
Sunny-Lee turns to Donna "Is that Declan and Zeke?"
Donna says "Let's ask them if they want to sit next to us in the cinema."
After they buy their tickets Declan asks Zeke "If you and Sunny-Lee can grab us some seats while I talk to Donna, we will be there in a minute."
Donna and Declan laugh together. This is too easy!
Declan says to Donna "Let's go and get a coffee next door, if we leave them alone they will have to talk to each other."
Declan absentmindedly put his arm around Donna's shoulder leading her towards the coffee shop.
Zeke says "I wonder where those guys got to."
Sunny-Lee says "Oh well, I'm looking forward to seeing this movie."
"So am I." Zeke smiles to himself.
Finishing their coffees Donna suggests "It's time to head back to the cinema."
Declan reaches forward and holds Donna's hand.
"Donna you really proved to be a good friend through this ordeal and actually you mean more to me than just a friend."
Donna's head is spinning the whole evening has seemed surreal.
"Could Declan be suggesting a relationship?" thinks Donna to herself.
"I'm hoping, I could mean more to you than just a friend." says Declan lovingly.
"I, I," stutters Donna.
"I know you might be worried its too soon after Bridget but I can assure you that, that chapter of my life is over and the relationship was always doomed for failure." says Declan holding Donna's hand with both of his gently.
"Declan I," pauses Donna.
"Please Donna, I know we would be good together, this could work, please give me a chance." says Declan.
Pulling her hand away, Declan's face drops in disappointment.
Donna moves around to Declan's side of the table and hugs him whispering in his ear "I love you too."
Sneaking back into the cinema, they look around for Sunny-Lee and Zeke and are really pleased to see Zeke's arm around the back of Sunny-Lee's chair holding her close.
Declan turns to Donna and says "This turned out to be one hell of a good night."
Donna says to Declan "Let's leave them to it."
"I wasn't interested in this movie anyway."
They walk off arm in arm.
Next Day
Erinsborough High
Zeke catches up with Declan.
"What happened to you last night mate?" he says.
"To tell you the truth, Donna and I were sick of you two wasting time being shy." Declan smiles wickedly.
Zeke gives Declan a friendly punch in the arm and they pretend to tussle.
"Hey you guys, cut it out." shouts Dan.
"This is a hallway not a wrestling ring."
Declan and Zeke walk off laughing.
Dan sighs with relief glad everyone seems to be getting back to normal.
Preview of Chapter 4
Life goes on, new beginnings.
Does Ramsay Street turn into couples central.
Will relationships be tested to the brink?
Will someone try to interfere and sabotage the couples?