Alice and Charlotte had reached the hospital in no time and were now wandering through the endless corridors to Danny's private room. Alice felt a pang of sickness as she walked past the cafe, the stench that was hanging stagnant in the air absolutely repulsed her, she walked past quickly taking in the fresher air as she reached an open window.

"Mum?" Charlotte asked as Alice stopped momentarily.

"I'm okay Charlie, just thinking where we're going." Alice lied, thinking on the spot. Charlotte frowned at her mother but didn't push it.

As they reached Danny's room, Charlotte rushed in and gave Rosie and Max a huge hug before hugging Danny too, the tears crept into Rosie and Alice's eyes, as Alice touched Danny's hand gently before sitting down.

"They wanna X-Ray him Alice" Rosie whispered standing and moving over to Alice. "The one they did didn't come back clear or something. I dunno."

"Okay, when they doing it?" Alice asked, shocking Rosie with her sudden calmness, something had defiantly happened... either that, or Alice was losing all feeling, she was giving up, or was it just exhaustion?

"They wanted to talk to you first." Rosie admitted moving back to Max.

"Me?" Alice asked timidly, the pain and fear returned to her eyes.

Rosie nodded sadly as she rested on Max's chest. Alice looked down.

"Hey, I'm sure he'll be fine Alice." Rosie smiled, Alice looked up at her with tearful eyes, although Rosie felt a pang of hurt in her stomach and pain for Alice she kept her smile up. Alice half smiled back before turning to face Danny.

"Listen, we're going to go and get something to eat Alice." Rosie smiled softly standing up with Max. "Charlotte, are you hungry?" She continued, sensing Alice wanted time with Danny. Charlotte was hungry in fact, but she also felt like she couldn't leave her mum, she looked cautiously towards Alice who smiled.

"Go on Charlie, I'll be oright." Alice promised her as Max took hold of Charlotte's hand. They all smiled at Alice with respect before walking off, leaving her for alone time with Danny.

Alice's hand reached into her bag she'd brought with her. She slowly withdrew a little photo frame, the very same photo frame she'd cradled on his pillow earlier, his favourite photo. She placed it down on the side of his bed before withdrawing a few more photos, mainly of them and the family. She stroked his face tenderly, tracing her fingers down his handsome features.

X

Danny sat boredly in the little space he was somehow confined too. No matter how far he walked, ran or crawled, the scenery didn't change at all... it was endless, it went on forever.

No matter how much he screamed and shouted, cried and wailed, he got no response. He just got himself into a bigger and bigger state. He was isolated in this strange place and there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't know what had happened with his dad, it hadn't been a dream... but it didn't feel like reality either, after all his father was dead! But then, he was still the bastard he always had been.

Danny sat thinking about Alice. He thought about her frequently... it was what kept him from boredom. He needed her more than anything, and without her he was lost, a big mess. He sighed as he wiped away a few tears. He felt lonely, isolated, abandoned. He would kill for just one slight echo of her voice, but he didn't even hear that now. He would die for just one hug off Alice. He'd give anything to be back where he belonged.

He sat circling his fingers across what he presumed to be a floor. He began to mumble to himself.

"I need Alice, I love her. What am I meant to do whilst I'm sat here alone? Is this how life is meant to be? Is this punishment for all the wrong's I've done in my life. Maybe this is hell? Maybe I'm dead... after all what does not conscious to the world mean? It means dead surely? If I was unconscious then surely they'd be able to wake me up?"

"No." He heard a voice he faintly recognised but couldn't put his finger on the echo's voice due to the distortion.

"Who, what, where are you?" Danny yelled standing up and spinning round, "Show yourself!"

"In time." Said the voice.

"What if I don't have time... I'm breaking apart." Danny mumbled, as he led back and closed his eyes... this was hell, surely it couldn't get more torturous?

X

"Miss Collins?"

Alice turned round to the use of her name, she dropped Danny's hand gently as she stood up to greet the nurse and Doctor that had arrived. This doctor was different to Danny's doctor, she guessed he was in charge of the X-Ray's.

"We're here to talk to you about X-Raying Danny." The nurse smiled that stupid smile they always smiled. The one that was supposed to be comforting that wasn't... just patronising. Alice became irritated at the fake smile but decided to persevere, this was after all for Danny's best interests.

"Okay." Alice replied in the most polite way she could.

"We're going to use a mobile scanner... a student did his first scan and well it didn't work."

"A student?" Alice asked in disgust and anger, she was furious at the fact someone not yet fully qualified had been near Danny without permission.

"Yes... is there a problem?" The doctor asked.

"Damn right there is!" Alice replied. "I don't want Danny to be put through extra stress because some student can't do something."

"So you're not giving your permission for students to work on your partner?" The doctor asked.

"No I'm not." Alice replied angrily.

"Fair enough, we'll make a note. We'll perform the scan, if you can wait outside." The doctor asked her politely, Alice hated his manner, bed side manner didn't seem to exist these days. She decided not to argue so near enough stomped outside, throwing herself down in the chair.

"Alice?" Evan asked as he walked round the corner to find Alice crying. It seemed like she didn't even realise she was crying anymore. She was shaking violently.

"Evan." Alice croaked wiping her eyes, she stood up as Evan powerfully walked forward and engulfed her in a huge hug. Alice wrapped her arms around him. He'd grown a lot since she'd last seen him. He was almost as tall as Danny! Danny would be so happy and proud to see him. Alice gulped... yeh he would see him, of course he would.

"How come you're out here?" Evan asked as they pulled away.

"X-Raying him." Alice replied as the pair sat down. Evan was scared, no petrified, but he felt it was his job to try and be strong. Dupe had told him about Alice... he felt obliged to help his step mother through this, after all, Alice had only ever treated him with care and helped him through some difficult times. She'd been his mother figure and helped him with the typical mum/son stuff, just as Danny helped him with the father/son stuff.

"He'll be oright." Evan whispered hugging Alice once more.

"I know, he has to be." Alice replied blinking away tears.

At that moment the doctor and nurse walked out, the hugging pair pulled away and looked at the doctors expectantly... something told both Evan and Alice they'd found something.

A/N – Have they found something?

Let's hope not... but I am evil ;)

Anyway, please review if you read, and thank you to the lovely people who do :') x