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From Behind The Shadow

Being Strong:

"What happened?" Harriet asked, when Danny stormed out of his office with Jack and the two police officers behind him.

"Nothing. I'm going back to the hospital." He told her then glanced at the officers. "I want to get something from his office."

"I'm sorry, you won't be able to do so until we've finished our investigation."

"I just want to get one thing!" Danny stated.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Can't you get it for him?" Jordan cut in.

"That depends on what it is."

"I just want his MP3 player." Danny told him. "It's in his top draw."

Hodge nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"What did they say?" Harriet asked once they had walked off.

"Where did everyone go?"

"Simon and Tom have gone to help the writers with some sketches." Cal explained. "What did the police say?"

"The normal..." Danny sighed. "They just wanted to know a little about Matt. Whether or not he had any enemies...That sort of stuff."

"I know he's pissed people off in the past, but nothing to make them want to do this." Cal replied.

"I just can't believe all this is happening." Harriet whispered. "Everything seemed to be calming down."

"Well, just goes to prove...Life sucks." Danny muttered, walking towards Matt's office to see what was taking so long.

Jordan sighed and looked at Jack. "What really happened in there?"

"They asked him some questions about their friendship." Jack informed them. "And about why Matt changed his will."

"They really don't think Danny had anything to do with this, do they?"

"I don't know but they have to ask these questions." Jack shrugged and rubbed his eyes. "Danny really didn't help himself."

"What does that mean?"

"Instead of answering their questions, he got angry at them." Jack replied.

"They're accusing him of trying to kill his best friend!" Jordan exclaimed. "I'd get angry too!"

"They weren't accusing him of anything at that point, but shouting and avoiding their questioned made him look guilty!"

"Jack!"

"Not to me!" He rolled his eyes. "But the police are just trying to do their job."

"They should be out there looking for the real person behind all of this!" Jordan claimed.

"Yeah, Danny told them that to."

"What happens now?" Harriet asked quietly.

"They're going to be asking people questions until they find something they can go on." Jack told her. "They'll probably want to speak to you soon as well."

"Yeah, well once Danny is ready, I'm going back down to the hospital." She replied. "If they want to talk to me that badly they can come and find me."

XxXxX

"I wish someone would hurry up and tells us what's happening." Danny muttered as he paced around the small waiting room.

Harriet looked up at him. "Why don't you just try and calm down."

"I can't..." He started but stopped when he saw the doctor walk in. "How's Matt?"

"Well, some tests being done..." He started.

"I need to see him." Danny cut in.

"Mr Tripp..."

"I read somewhere that when coma patients hear music or familiar sounds it helps them come around..." Danny said. "I've got his MP3 player, maybe if I play a song he likes..."

"I don't think that will be necessary."

"Look, it's not going to do any harm..."

"Danny..." Harriet stood up and placed a hand on his arm to try and calm him down.

"Mr Tripp, it won't be necessary because Matthew has come around."

"What?" Danny stared at him.

The doctor smiled slightly. "We're running some tests at the moment and then you can see him."

"He's awake?" Harriet questioned, happy tears filling her eyes. "He's going to be okay?"

"Well, there could still be some complication which is why we're doing the tests."

"But he's awake?" Danny repeated.

"Yes, he's still a little groggy and will be drifting in and out of sleep..." He explained. "He probably won't understand much of what's going on or make much sense for the next couple of hours."

"The main thing is that's he's come around." Danny replied. "Thank you, Doctor, for everything..."

"It's no problem..." He smiled. "Come on, I'll take you through."

Harriet and Danny shared a look of relief before following the doctor down the corridor and into Matt's room.

They both stood silently, watching as a nurse ran some tests.

"What are the tests for?" Danny asked the doctor, quietly but noticed Matt turned his head a little to look at them when he did.

"They're just standard tests. Like I said, sometimes there are a few complications after having surgery." The doctor explained.

"Hear that, Matt...There's nothing to worry about... It's just standard tests." Danny looked over at him. "You've got through the hard part... This is the easy bit."

He sighed slightly when Matt didn't reply but instead closed his eyes. Only to open them a few seconds later when the nurse whispered something to him.

"Remember, it's going to take him awhile to respond..." The doctor told Danny. "He's had major surgery, he's confused and very tired."

"Yeah, I know..." Danny nodded, but all he wanted was for Matt to tell him he was going to be okay.

"Doctor..." The nurse walked over to them and whispered something to him.

"What's going on?" Danny asked.

"Nothing to be concerned about just yet." The doctor tried to assure Danny before moving to Matt's bedside.

"Matthew, can you squeeze my hand please?" The doctor said, taking hold of Matt's right hand. "Good, that's great."

Danny and Harriet looked at each other concerned as the doctor moved around to the other side of the bed.

"Okay, can you squeeze my hand again?"

Everyone watched silently, as Matt just stared at the doctor helplessly.

"One more try?" The doctor said but then sighed. "Okay."

"What's happening?" Danny asked.

"It might be a good idea if you waited outside..."

"I'm not going anywhere." Danny stated, as the doctor moved down to the end of the bed.

"Matthew, can you move your toes?"

Harriet bit down on her thumbnail, watching as the toes on Matt's right foot moved a little but the ones on his left stayed still.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

"It appears that Matthew doesn't have any feeling in the left side of his body..."

"He's paralysed?" Danny whispered.

"It may be temporary..." The doctor stated. "We'll have to run some more tests..."

"Oh my, God..." Harriet gasped slightly, tears filling her eyes.

"No, you're wrong..." Danny shook his head and moved to Matt's beside, taking his hand. "Squeeze my hand, Matt..."

"Mr Tripp..."

"Come on, Matty...stop messing around..." Danny ignored him. "You can do it, I know you can..."

"Sir, if you'd like to come with me...I can explain what will happen..." The doctor said softly.

"Matt, please, come on..." Danny pleaded, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "Come on, Matty, just...just concentrate...Come on..."

Danny could see Matt staring back at him, even though his eyes were filled with tears that he was refusing to let fall. He knew that Matt was using all the energy he had to try and move his hand but he just couldn't and that's what scared Danny.

"Come on, please..." Danny barely whispered.

"Mr Tripp, you're not helping him." The doctor told him gently.

"You've got to do something...You've got to fix this!" Danny stated. "He's a writer... he... he needs his hands... he needs them to write... please, just fix it."

"Danny..." Matt managed to mutter, almost unheard.

They all turned and looked at him. Danny could tell from the look in his eyes that Matt was telling him to stop.

He let go of his hand slowly and rubbed his eyes.

"Lets go to my office." The doctor suggested to Danny.

He nodded and stood up, glancing at Matt. "I'll be right back, okay?"

Matt didn't reply but his eyes followed them as they walked out. He then looked at Harriet who was stood by his bed but also watching Danny and the doctor leave. He stretched his right hand out and just managed to touch her arm.

She turned around to face him, smiling slightly and took his hand in hers.

"Everything is going to be okay." She whispered, bringing his hand up to kiss it softly and he replied by squeezing her hand.

XxXxX

Danny sat on a bench outside the hospital, with a cold cup of coffee in his hands. He came up to get some fresh air and to let everything that had happen sink in.

"Danny?"

He looked up and saw Jordan walking towards him.

"Hi." He replied, standing up. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if there's any news." She told him.

"He's woken up."

"What? Oh my, God! That's great!" She exclaimed, but noticed he didn't look as happy as he should do. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah..." He whispered, sitting back down.

"What is it?" She sat next to him.

He stared down at the coffee. "He... he can't move his left side."

"What?" Jordan asked, concerned. "He's paralysed?"

Danny shrugged. "The doctor said it could be temporary."

"Really?"

"He said some times this happens after major surgery...it could repair its self... Or they can treat it with physiotherapy."

"Well, that's good right?" She questioned. "That they can treat it?"

"What if they can't?" He asked, looking up at her. "What if it's permanent?"

"Danny..."

"He couldn't move, Jordan..." He told her. "He was just lying there, helplessly...And he couldn't speak... He said one word... He said my name...That's all he could manage...It's not right... He shouldn't be like this..."

"Just give it time," she said softly, reaching out and taking his hand. "He'll get better."

"What if he can't ever walk again?" He whispered, tearfully. "Or if he can't use the left side of his body?"

"If... if it does come to that then I'm sure Matt is strong enough to get through it with all our help." She assured him. "And that's an if it happens...We've got to stay positive."

"He paces when he writes... he moves around a lot... It helps him." Danny told her. "And how is he meant to be funny after something like this?"

"I don't know...But we've got to be strong."

"I hate seeing him like... I just wanted him to tell me he was okay..." His head dropped into his hands. "But he couldn't speak...Normally I can't get him to shut up."

Jordan smiled a little at the comment. "I bet you in a few days, you'll be begging him to be quiet, just like normal."

"I hope so..." He whispered. "God, I really hope so."

"Come on, let's get back inside." She told him, standing up but keeping hold of his hand.

He nodded slightly. "Okay and thanks."

"Don't thank me." She told him. "It's what I'm here for."

"I know... But thanks anyway."

She smiled at him again before leading him towards the hospital entrance. "Come on."

They walked towards Matt's room but Danny stopped her before entering.

"What?" She asked.

"Maybe we just should leave them." Danny whispered, gesturing through the window at Harriet standing next to Matt's bed.

Harriet gently ran her fingers through Matt's hair as he slept, peacefully. She couldn't believe all this was happening. No matter what he's done in the past, no matter what he has said... he doesn't deserve this. She just wished she knew how to make it better. She closed her eyes when she felt more tears fill them. All she seemed to be doing was crying. Just as a tear rolled down her cheek, she felt a hand gently brush it away. She opened her eyes and saw Matt looking up at her.

She smiled, taking hold of his hand, kissing the palm softly, as more tears fell. She leaned down, burying head his shoulder, she wanted to be strong but she couldn't... She was so scared for him.

He slowly moved his arm down her back, trying to gather the strength to pull her closer but he couldn't. She got the hint and carefully moved onto the bed next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder, gently and put one arm around his body, whilst the other still gripped his right hand. Sighing contently, she closed her eyes and just held him closely to her.

TBC

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