Sorry it's been a while again! i wasnt sure where to take the story from after chapter 5 and chapter 6 went into a direction i'd never planned to take along with this chapter. I still have no idea where to take it so if anyone has any ideas please let me know. DarknessDeadly sorry about the last cliff hanger, but i must warn you there could be more xx

Thanks for the reviews they are greatly appreciated. xxxx


I sat in the waiting room just staring blankly into space. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I wiped it away and sniffed. I exhaled a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding. I looked down at the floor trying to compose myself. I heard the door open and I felt my breath catch in my chest, my head was thumping and I closed my eyes to try to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. I managed to breathe properly and compose myself as best as I could. I lifted my head up slowly and saw Smithy standing in the doorway with two polystyrene cups. He smiled at me and I looked at him, my eyes heavy, expectantly.

"They've took Max into theatre to stop the bleeding. They said the damage was caused when the knife was removed. The wound was clean until that point but as the knife was pulled out it sliced into Max's liver. That is what is causing him to lose the most blood. They need to deal with that."

I nodded. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Did they say how long they'd be?" I asked Smithy. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry Rosie. They said they wouldn't know until they got him into theatre."

"Thanks Smithy." He walked over and sat down beside me. He put an arm around my shoulders. I felt the tears prickling my eyes. I tried to collect myself.

"I brought you a cup of coffee." He said handing me one of the polystyrene cups. I leant onto Smithy's shoulder, my eyes, which were really heavy were threatening to close which they eventually did and I began to doze off when suddenly all of the blood, Max lying on the floor in pain and the paramedics doing CPR on Max and James mocking me flashed through my mind and I woke with a start. I was overcome with tears, they were spurting out and I could barely breathe.

"I told him this wouldn't work. I warned him. He wouldn't be in this state if he'd bloody well listened to me. But he has to be Max the bloody hero! If he gets through this I'll bloody well kill him myself!"

Smithy came over to me and tried to pull me into a hug. "Smithy, don't." I said stepping back "It'll only make me worse. And I can't be worse."

"Rosie you need some sleep."

"I can't, every time I close my eyes I see Max on the floor and all the blood and the paramedics doing CPR. And then at the very end I see James with his class of whiskey raising it in a cheers motion." I put my head in my hands and rubbed my eyes with my thumb sitting up and looking Smithy in the eye. I smiled a sad smile at him and he leaned in and kissed me on the head.

"He'll pull through Rosie. Max is a fighter. He wouldn't want you losing sleep over this. We'll get Steele one way or another." The way Smithy said that last part he seemed intent and that's what scared me the most. I didn't want someone else to get hurt. I had to deal with this myself. I would bring James down. As soon as I spoke to Max I'd go straight to the police and admit everything that happened up in Newcastle. I didn't care as long as Steele was out of the way. I'd lose my job and maybe go to jail but if it meant that Max would be safe I'd take that chance. James killed me and then Max came along and he reawakened me again. I felt alive again. Just then a door opened it was a doctor. She looked at me with sorrowful eyes and then put her head down.

"No! He can't be." The tears began pouring from my eyes "Max, he's a fighter. He can't be." Smithy pulled me into his arms hugging me close and shushing me.

"I'm sorry Miss Johnston, Mr Cutler arrested again in theatre. We did everything we could but unfortunately it wasn't enough. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Can I see him?" I asked.

The doctor smiled sadly "Yes. You can. Follow me."

Smithy looked at me. I took his hand.

"Please come with me."

Smithy nodded and we walked along the corridor in silence behind the doctor. We were led into a side room and the doctor closed the door behind the three of us.

"Guv, Grace, Max what the hell is going on?" I said whilst walking towards Max's bed and taking his hand. He smiled at me. "You really scared me you know."