Chapter Seven

Two more days passed. So much can happen in two days, yet these two days very little did. Matt continued to remain unconscious, the doctors had kept him sedated another day longer than they had originally planned. His stats had yet to even themselves out completely. Alesha had stayed with him every day, all day, and kept an attentive vigil by his bedside. In truth, she rarely left the room. She sat there for hours, sometimes in silence, every so often she would talk to Matt, and the others hours were filled with talking to Matt's visitors and the doctors and nurses.

Natalie was extremely happy to report, that the men involved in Matt's shooting had been handed in by their mothers, thanks to the television incident appeal they had broadcast. They had been charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, and were awaiting trial, the charge not set in stone as Matt's condition was still fragile, and anything could still happen.

Matt had now been in hospital for four days, and overnight his stats had begun to follow a much more normal pattern. By 11am the doctors had been to check on him and were happy to proceed with bringing him out of sedation. Alesha and Ronnie, who had been there at the time, were warned that he might not respond for quite a while, and it was down to the individual as to when they would naturally wake up. The amount of medication coursing through his body would not help the speed of his awakening either. It was now just a waiting game.

Alesha sat and stared at Matt for hours, watching out for any sign of movement. But there was nothing. It was now not long past 2pm and Ronnie got a phone call, so he took it outside the room.

Alesha was still holding Matt's hand, but instead of watching him she was now re-reading the labels on the IV drip for what felt like the hundredth time. She then suddenly felt a slight squeeze of Matt's hand, her gaze shot back to look at Matt's face to find his eyes had opened slightly.

"Matt?" she said, praying to god she hadn't imagined any of it.

Alesha heard a very quiet grown as he responded to her, and she gave a cry of joy and she laughed happily "Oh my god, Matt! Matt, can you hear me?"

"'Lesha?" his eyes had opened a bit wider, and she could see he was now looking directly at her.

"Yes Matt it's me, oh thank god!" she cried, before she frantically shouted "Ronnie!"

The door was flung open and the detective rushed in, phone to his ear; he nearly dropped it as he saw Matt had woken up.

"Matt!" he joyfully cried, then said excitedly down the phone "Gov, its Matt. He's woken up!"

In all the excitement, he accidently hung up the phone as he went out to get a nurse.

Alesha was gazing at Matt and rubbing his hand, tears in her eyes "Matt, you have had us so scared!"

"Why what happened? Why am I in hospital?"

Alesha frowned "Don't you remember any of it?"

"Any of what?" Matt looked puzzled.

"You were shot Matt, twice. You nearly died!"

Matt shook his head "I don't remember."

Alesha looked baffled, but didn't have time to question him further, as Ronnie came back in with a doctor and a nurse in tow, who quickly set to work checking on Matt. Once all the tests and checks were over with, Matt was left alone with Ronnie and Alesha again.

"Son, we're so glad you've come round, you've had us worried sick!"

"I'm sorry" Matt said, still feeling very groggy. Then it was as if a light bulb had come on in his head. "Ronnie, the baby. I remember ... the last thing I remember...you said Sarah had had the baby. How are they?"

Ronnie was touched "They are both fine, wanna see the pictures?"

Ronnie came over and started showing them to his partner. Alesha developed tears in her eyes, happy ones this time, as she watched the two friends. Knowing that this so easily could not have ever happened.

"And you, my boy, are overdue with my chinese meal you promised me!" he said cheekily.

Alesha laughed and shook her head, Matt tried to laugh but it was clearly painful.

"Oww, no don't make me laugh Ron" Matt smiled "It hurts."

They fell silent for a while, in which time Matt's eyes landed on Alesha, who gazed back at him lovingly.

"Hey you" Matt said sweetly. He moved his arm to reach out to her, despite this action hurting him slightly, he didn't care. Alesha took hold of his hand and hugged it to her, giving his hand a kiss. She looked back at him, willing herself not to cry.

Ronnie coughed, feeling like this was a private moment for the two of them.

"I'll just..." he got up, not saying another word and left, closing the door behind him.

Matt smiled, before looking back at Alesha. Her willingness hadn't worked and she was now quietly crying.

"Hey, come here" he urged her to sit on the edge of his bed, which she did. The two of them so close to eachother now, she sat facing him.

"Don't cry sweetheart" Matt brushed the tears from her eyes.

Alesha replied, dejectedly "I could have lost you."

Matt was surprised by her emotion, he didn't think she felt as strongly as she now clearly expressed in front of him.

"'Lesha, I'm so sorry you had to go through all this. You're the last person I want to upset."

Alesha sniffed "Do you...you don't remember anything after Ronnie's announcement then, do you?"

Matt shook his head "Not a thing. Why, did anything else happen?"

Alesha nodded "I...I said ... I told you something... after you were shot."

Matt was waiting with baited breath "What was it?"

"That I love you" Alesha admitted "And I always have." She breathed a sigh of relief, he knew the truth. "And I know that it'll make everything awkward between us, as you probably don't feel the same way. I know I can deal with it, it's just I had to..."

But Alesha was silenced as Matt put a finger to her lips.

"Do you ever stop talking?" he gave a chuckle. Alesha blushed.

He got hold of her arm gently, and pulled her closer so he could silence her with a chaste kiss on the lips. They broke apart to see that the other was smiling.

"I love you too Alesha. It's always been you."

Alesha's face widened into a bright smile, as she leant down and they kissed again. This time for a lot longer. Alesha did not believe this was real, she had wished and prayed for this moment to come for years. And finally it had.