Author's note: It's been a while since I updated, I apologise for that, life got a bit crazy and didn't leave much creative mind space for me to work with. Nonetheless I hope you like my eventual update, I will try not to keep you waiting so long next time. please feel free to let me know what you think of it.

Jack struggled to concentrate on what the doctor was saying to him. He was exhausted, although it was only 6 o'clock or so. Lou had been and gone earlier that day with sandwiches for his lunch, so many he had kept some for his tea too. Those were still sitting on the bedside locker, untouched, partially buried under flowers and cards sent by well-wishers. Each day seemed to bring more of those. Just earlier Lou had left with an armful of wilting flowers, whether to bring home or to throw in the nearest trash can, Jack didn't know, or care to ask. He hadn't even thought of removing the old flowers, to be honest he had hardly even noticed they were there.

Focus, he scolded himself, realising the doctor was still talking, clipboard in hand. But he couldn't. His mind refused to concentrate, his thoughts were flicking back and forth. From meaningless things in an attempt to distract, but always back, back to Lisa. Amidst his scattered thoughts he noticed he had neglected to open the blinds since he had closed them earlier that day when the low lying winter sun had been shining in at his eye level, dazzling him. The room behind him was dim, in stark contrast to the harshly lit corridor behind the doctor.

From what he could tell the doctor was filling him in on more tests they wanted to carry out over the next few days if things remained unchanged.

Unchanged, basically if she doesn't wake up they want to do more tests to tell me they still don't know why she isn't waking up, thought Jack to himself, his exhausted mind finding no comfort in the doctor's reassurances. It had been nearly a week since the accident now, five days since that once again found himself longing to be alone, being in the company of others frustrated him. It was only ever a distraction from Lisa, he just needed to be by her side. What he longed for above all was to hear her voice, to see her eyes, because in the back of his mind he feared he would forget. Forget the way her voice sounded when she was only half awake or the way it got high when something was frustrating her. How her eyes seemed to see right into him, piercing blue, always kind. He couldn't let himself forget, he wouldn't…

Once again Jack had to remind himself to focus on what the doctor was saying to him. Scolding himself for allowing his mind to wander again he met the doctor's eyes and concentrated on taking in what the doctor was saying.

"Jack…"

The frail voice stopped the doctor dead in his tracks. The doctor's reaction was the only indication for Jack that he wasn't imagining things. He spun to face the bed, some part of his brain registering his hat falling to his feet. The rest of his brain had other things to think about. Like whether or not he had imagined her voice calling his name. Whether or not he was imagining those blue eyes, wide eyes, looking right at him.

He couldn't move. He was afraid he was dreaming, if he moved he might wake up and he might never see those eyes again. Surely though he couldn't be imagining those eyes, or the emotions brimming behind them. So many emotions that Jack struggled to pinpoint them all, he saw shock, fear, relief and disbelief. Emotions mirrored in his own eyes he was sure.

"Jack-"

This time her voice was louder and Jack saw her lips forming his name with his own eyes. The realisation that this was real crashed over Jack and he was broken out of his frozen state. He rushed forward to her side.

"Lisa…" his voice broke with the emotions swirling inside him. A sudden thought hit him.

She said my name! She knows me, she remembers me. Jack's relief was immense, the only fear greater than him forgetting the sound of her voice was the fear that she would wake and not remember him, or anything. Before he could dwell further on this he realised Lisa was crying.

Jack's relief is quickly pushed aside by the worry. "Lis! Lisa, are you ok? Are you in pain?"

Lisa's teary eyes meet his and between sobs she replies, "No…well yes…but that's not why, why I'm crying…"

Jack was confused, fearing she was overwhelmed by everything, he cautiously continued. "Then…why?"

"Because…because I remember"

"Remember what Lis?"

"Everything." she smiles, her eyes are still full of tears but she smiles at Jack and he can see the love in her eyes, her beautiful eyes that he feared would never look into his again. By now the lights were on, the blinds open and the room was full of doctors and nurses bustling around checking the monitors. Dr Conrad, the doctor Jack had been speaking to, put his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Mr. Bartlett, can I ask you to step out for a little while, just so we can fully examine your wife."

Jack can't bear the thought of leaving her side now and Lisa appears to agree, she has Jack's hand held in a death grip, if he looked Jack knew her knuckles would probably be white.

The doctor looks sympathetically between the two, "I assure you it won't take long."

Jack was reluctant, but knew there wasn't much choice. "I'll be right outside" he murmured leaning down to kiss Lisa gingerly on the forehead, just below where the bandage lay.

Pursing her lips and squaring her jaw, Lisa nodded in response.

There she is, thought Jack, always so strong, and stubborn. Jack left quietly, looking over his shoulder to hold her gaze until the door swung shut between them. Out in the hallway Jack let out a breath he hadn't realised he had been holding. To his own surprise his immediate thought was to call the others to let them know. Settling into the chair directly opposite the door Jack pulled out his phone and dialled the number for the ranch, knowing they were sure to be at home at this time.

"Hello?" It's Georgie that picks up the phone.

"Georgie, it's Jack-"

"Jack, hi! Is everything ok? Is there something wrong?" Georgie replies in one breath.

"Georgie. Everything's fine, everything's good in fact…"

"Everything-? Jack, is…is Lisa awake?" Georgie quickly picked up the implication behind Jack's words and change of tone.

"She...yeah she is. The doctors are with her now." Jack couldn't help but smile, she really was awake.

"Jack that's fantastic news! I'll tell Amy now, do you want us to come down?"

"Thank you, Georgie. No don't rush or anything the doctors will probably be a while, you all take your time."

"If you're sure…."

"I'm sure Georgie, we don't want to overwhelm her right away either." Jack assured her.

"Oh yeah of course. Well ok, I'll tell Amy and she can give you a call in a while. Tell Lisa we all said hi and we'll see you both later!"

"Thank you Georgie."

"Bye Jack." Jack let the phone fall into his lap. As he sat in the chair he refused to let his mind worry, he wasn't about to start thinking about what problems may yet arise for Lisa, they could deal with those as and if they occurred. For now, he was content with just being relieved she was awake and responding. Over the next while Jack watched as doctors and nurses bustled in and out of Lisa's room until, finally, Dr Conrad exited the room and made his way over to Jack. Jack quickly stood to greet him.

"How is she doctor?"

"Your wife is doing well Mr. Bartlett, her motor and sensory functions are not showing any lasting effects of her trauma besides the expected stiffness from lack of use. Her memory-"

Jack's breath stopped, this is what he feared, Maybe remembering my name was a fluke, maybe that's all she remembers. His expression must have betrayed his thoughts as the doctor was quick to reassure him.

"It's nothing serious, Mrs. Stillman-Bartlett appears to have almost full memory recall, although you and family members could be a better judge of that as time goes on. However, she does not remember the events leading up to her accident. This is not uncommon among head-trauma patients, you need not worry. These memories may come back to her over time."

Relief flooded Jack, "Is she going to be ok doctor?"

"It will be a long recovery, her leg will take a long while to heal and her head injury will most likely cause headaches and dizziness for some time, but yes, she will make a full recovery."

"Thank you doctor, thank you so much." Jack fervently shook the man's hand. "Can I see her now?"

"Of course, she's exhausted but asking for you." The doctor returned Jack's handshake before turning away.

When Jack entered the room Lisa was propped up in the bed. Seeing him enter she smiled and made to sit up straighter, turning her smile into a grimace as her hand fluttered to her side, clutching her ribs.

"Lisa, how are you feeling?" asked Jack striding over to help her. She waved away his attempts and grimaced once more at the movement. He let his hand fall to the bed. Always so stubborn, thought Jack, it pained him to see her in pain like that.

"A little beat up to tell the truth." she replied letting her hand slip into Jack's outstretched hand. "Jack what happened?"

He didn't need to ask, he knew what she was asking. What else could be on her mind?

"How much do you remember?"

"Everything, I thought," Jack recalled the first few words she spoke after waking, she had said she was crying because she could remember. "…except what happened apparently. The last thing I remember was being in your kitchen, it was early… Please don't tell me I did all this to myself making breakfast." The thought seemed to genuinely worry Lisa for a moment.

"No, no you didn't." Jack assured her, biting back a smile at her fear of injuring herself at such a mundane task.

"Then, what?"

"Well, I guess I better start where you left off…" Jack took a deep breath. Time to put all my practice at long speeches to good use, he thought wryly.

"Please do." Lisa squeezed his hand encouragingly, he could see the apprehension in her face, although she tried to hide it. Taking encouragement from the strength she never failed to show, Jack began to recall that day aloud in as much detail as he could manage.