CHAPTER TEN

INNOCENCE RETURNED

Laura sat in the back of the ambulance with Danny. Listening to what she was whispering to herself.

"I wish I never met you back at college. I wish we never became friends. My life was so much better until you kissed me."

Laura was confused by the whispering. She didn't know Danny to have liked anyone other than her, she had hated Carmilla for so long and then they had become close friends. She knew she had a brief thing with Kirsch just after college.

The whispers just made no sense to her. She had wanted to call Carmilla and ask if she knew anything but she remembered how upset being in the house had made her. It all made no sense. Why would Kirsch just turn on Danny like that. Yeah he had become a bit unstable for a time, but it was down to his Bi-Polar disorder that it had happened. Laura had always been there for her, through her alcoholism, her withdrawals, her rejection from from the Olympic team. Laura was there to help buck her up. She felt that she owed Danny after the battle at Silas.

Laura loved Danny, not in the same intense way she loved Carmilla, she also knew that if Carmilla hadn't shown up at Silas it may well of been them celebrating 20 years together.

"Laura?" Danny asked.

"I'm here honey, you know I'm always here for you." Laura replied.

"I love you Laura. Your the only one that I have truly loved." Danny whispered. To Laura it sounded like Danny was saying her goodbyes.

"Danny don't talk like that. You know you have to fight."

"I don't know if I can any more Laura?" Whispered her friend.

"Fight for me Dan. Fight for me!" She begged.

"I really don't think I can, I'm so tired."

Laura began to cry but she hid it as much as she could. She was hoping that Carmilla would be at the hospital and had managed to get hold of LaF and Perry. She wanted all of Danny's friends there as they were her family after her parents passed away a few years ago.

"Laura? I'm so sorry for everything. You shouldn't be here you should be at home" Danny whispered.

"Dan you have nothing to be sorry for. I should be the one who is sorry for not being there for you when you have needed me. Now shush, save your strength, you're going to need it."

Danny dozed on and off and when they got to the hospital she had finally settled, the drugs must have kicked in. Laura looked around hoping to see a familiar face, but she couldn't.

'I hope you got hold of them' Laura thought as she followed Danny into ICU. Doctors crowded round her to get to Danny, so she moved out of the room into the hallway.

Laura watched all the activity through the window. She didn't want to move. She just wanted to focus on her friend. There was still no sign of Carmilla. LaF, or Perry but she knew that they would be there. They couldn't not be there.

A Doctor came out of the room and walked over to where Laura was standing.

"Good evening, I'm Doctor Roman, I am the lead Doctor in dealing with Ms Laurence. I just have a few questions to ask you, if that is OK?" the doctor said.

Laura nodded numbly, her mind thinking the worst.

"Alright er Miss..." The Doctor fished.

"Oh it's Hollis!" Laura said without thinking.

"Miss Hollis, does Ms Laurence have any medical history we should know about that isn't on her records?"

Laura shook her head..

"OK, is she taking any medication at this time?" he continued.

Again Laura shook her head. "She takes aspirin sometimes" She said suddenly.

The Doctor nodded and wrote it down.

"Finally Miss Hollis, I just need to know, how long has Ms. Laurence been free from Septicaemia?"

"Excuse me, but isn't that blood poisoning?" Laura asked back shocked.

"Yes." the Doctor replied.

"In all honesty Doctor Roman, I never knew anything about that. I didn't even know that she had it."

"I'm sorry that you found out like this, but 6 months ago, it was found that she had Septicaemia only a slight case that could be treated with regular blood transfusions, and antibiotics. Your friend took the antibiotics but didn't start the transfusions. Looking at the quick tests that have been done on her it shows no signs of Septicaemia at all."

Laura couldn't speak she just didn't understand how Danny could keep that from her.

"Thank you for your time, I know it is a difficult time for you at the moment. Is there anything that you would like to ask/" Dr Roman asked her.

Laura shook her head once again.

The Doctor took his leave and left Laura outside the room. She was just about to go in and see Danny when her phone rang.

"Hey Carm, is everything OK? I thought you would be here by now?"

"Hey cupcake, sorry it's taking longer than I thought to deal with everything here at the house. I'm just on my way to see Lola and Susan."

"Carm be careful OK, I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I will be fine, I can look after myself you should know that by now, Cupcake."

"yeah, but it doesn't stop me worrying about you honey. Anyway I best go and be with Danny she looks as if she is coming round a bit."

"Speak later Cutie." Carmilla said as she hung up.

"I Love You..." Laura whispered into the phone.

Laura put her phone away and made her way back into Danny's room. Her friend looked as pale as anything, all she wanted to do was take the pain away for her but she knew she wouldn't be able to take the pain of losing someone away. She could support her like Danny did when her father passed away a while ago.

"Hey Danny, I'm here." Laura whispered to her friend.

"Laura?" her friend whispered hoarsely.

"Yeah?"

"Laura, I'm sorry."

"Dan, I told you earlier that you have nothing to be sorry for."

"Laura, I'm sorry for what happened with me and Carm."

"That was years ago, you made up and are great friends."

Danny shook her head weakly, and tears fell down her cheeks.

"Dan, don't cry please honey, please." Laura said tearfully.

Laura took her hand and held it gently. I'm not going anywhere she thought to herself.

Laura felt herself drifting off into sleep and then the dream started.