Chapter 7
Tish tore through the hospital, Jen hot on her heels, ignoring her friend's calls for her to slow down. She barrelled through Priestly's door, stopping in the entrance, causing Jen to skid to a halt behind her, narrowly missing crashing into her friend and sending them both sprawling.
Tish stood there, gasping for air, staring wide-eyed at the sight before her. Priestly. Alive. Awake. Green eyes gazing at her from where his head rested on the pillow. Hand, adorned with IV drip and heart rate monitor, lifted inches from the sheets, feebly reaching out to her from the bed.
"Priestly!" she gasped in disbelief, quickly crossing the room to take her husband's hand. The breathing machine had been removed, making him look ten times healthier than when she'd left. She gazed at his face, drinking in his bleary but definitely lucid eyes. She reached out a hand, placing it gently on the side of his face, leaning forward to rest her forehead on his, taking comfort in his soft breath tickling her face. Priestly closed his eyes, basking in her touch.
Sensing that this was a private moment between the pair of them, Jen and Trucker quietly left the room, staying outside in case they were needed. Trucker pulled Jen into a hug, Jen letting out her own silent tears of joy and relief at seeing Priestly coherent and awake.
Back in the room, Tish brushed her nose against her husband's, nuzzling him gently.
"Priestly, you're okay. You are okay aren't you?"
"Ne…never…bett…er," Priestly breathed out, his voice rasping, throat sore from the breathing tubes.
Tish let out a sound which was halfway between a laugh and a sob.
Priestly watched worriedly as Tish sunk into the bedside chair, his hand still firmly grasped in hers. His heart soared at seeing her; he remembered thinking he'd never see her again, trying to burn the image of her face into his retinas as he lay on the hard road, devastated to be leaving her but selfishly glad that she'd be the last thing he'd see. Being alive, seeing her again, his hand in hers, it was a miracle and he'd never felt such joy. This happiness was tempered however by the fact that he could feel her shaking, could see she was barely keeping it together, not quite sure whether to laugh or cry.
"You…you 'kay?"
Another choked sob broke its way out of her smiling lips, as she nodded.
"I'm fine. I'm brilliant. Just so relieved that you're awake. I was so scared Priestly…I thought…" She clutched his hand tighter, crushing the bones together painfully but compared to the cinder block that Priestly felt was resting on his chest, it was nothing. "I thought I'd lost you."
Priestly's heart burned in a way that had nothing to do with the accident; he hated to see her so distraught on his behalf. He squeezed her hand back weakly, using all the strength he could muster, wanting to reassure her.
"Not…going…anywh…ere. Not…ever. Promise. Won'…get…rid…of me…tha'…eas…y."
Tish nodded weakly, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. She kissed the back of his knuckles, before fixing him with a fragile glare.
"Don't you ever scare me like again, you hear me? Never!"
"Won't," Priestly promised, smile twitching at his lips.
"Good," Tish replied.
Priestly saw her smile fall as she chewed on her lip, her gaze dropping to her lap.
"Wha…what…is…it?" Priestly tried, forcing his words out, needing to help his wife, knowing she was in this state because of him.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," she mumbled tearfully, guilt washing through her, nearly suffocating her now that the immediate worry for her husband had lessened.
"Not…" Priestly began.
"Yes, yes it is Priestly!" Tish practically shouted, laying his hand back down on the bed, and walking away to the opposite side of the room, her back turned.
Priestly felt the distance like they were miles apart.
"T…ish?"
After long moments, Tish turned around, arms wrapped around herself, as if she would fly apart if she didn't hold herself together.
"The driver who knocked you down, it was Brad. This happened to you because of me, because I was a stupid whore and... And I can't bear that you got hurt because of me. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Ti…sh!" Priestly ground out as forcefully as he could, ignoring the way his chest and throat felt like they were full of grinding, crushed glass, fighting to keep his focus as the room started to spin around him. He had to stop Tish thinking that way, he had to. "Don't…say…that. Not… Never a…whore… Not…your…fault. I don't…blame…you. I…love you."
Priestly was dimly aware that the beeping sound which had been his constant companion since he'd woken was getting faster and faster, slicing pain cutting through his awareness as his breathing, already painfully difficult, became almost impossible.
Tish was by his side in an instant, her gentle hand smoothing softly over his chest, trying to get him to calm down. His gaze locked on hers, using her strength and presence to centre himself, to fight through the pain. He watched her breathe deeply, mimicking her breaths, feeling the tightness of his chest gradually lessen to a merely painful, not agonising, level.
"Not…your…fault," he repeated once more, needing Tish to understand as the edges of his vision started to darken.
She smiled a watery smile.
"Okay, Renaissance Man," she soothed. "I hear you. You just rest alright?"
Priestly nodded against his pillow, hoping Tish would think about what he'd said, that she believed him. He couldn't fight it anymore, finally giving in to his body's demands to sleep, a natural sleep this time, comforted in the knowledge that Tish was right there beside him. And so long as she was there, everything would be ok.
Chapter 8 of 11 coming soon. Reviews very much appreciated :)
