Caroline and Dupe were stood outside, they were finally alone. Dupe was quickly becoming bored and Caroline really needed the air. The stench of the hospital was one she detested, and the overhanging atmosphere of heartbreak was beginning to linger and consume everyone. Truth be told, Caroline needed a few minutes to gather her thoughts. Although she wished with all her heart that Danny survived his surgery, the oblivious Caroline wanted to be prepared for the worst. Truth be told, most the family feared the worst... Danny was weak, and even the strongest fighter can't fight forever.
"So..." Dupe mumbled as the two sat on a bench in what had been marked as a quiet garden. A place for people to collect their thoughts, to cry if they wished. It was a beautiful place, so inspirational. "What do you think?"
"I don't know Anders." Caroline sighed, "I... I don't know Alice will make it through."
"You think Trevanion's gonna die then?" Dupe asked, tensely and nervously. His voice was hoarse, he was holding on to that glimmer of hope.
"Anders, this is big surgery for a weak man. Danny's a fighter, and god we all love him but... well it'll take a miracle." Caroline looked down. "We have to think realistic Anders, if he survives that's fantastic, but Alice isn't going to survive he doesn't."
Dupe nodded slowly as he wrapped an arm around Caroline, she leant into him. This was hard for her, she was losing Danny in her mind. She just preyed that he made it through.
"She's so broken Anders, it hurts." Caroline mumbled as a few tears trickled down her cheeks. "Yet she keeps pushing it aside for the kids, she keeps strong for them, for Danny, but all the while she's at breaking point. I don't think she'd get over it if we lost him."
"I know." Dupe replied wiping his own eyes, "I know."
"Evan was fantastic though, did you see how he handled Alice? The way in which he settled her and talked to her, the way he hugged her?" Caroline added, she was now just spilling her thoughts out as they came. "Just like Danny."
"Yepp... You know what, we need to think positive, Danny wouldn't like this. Come on, Let's go back in." Dupe took Caroline's hand and stood up, she nodded and stood up with him as he kissed her lightly. She smiled before following his lead... but she still held her original doubts.
X
Danny had survived his surgery and was possibly by some miracle stronger than he'd been before. As the doctors and nurses continued their own work on stitching him up, the surgeon and Danny's own doctor in charge of him decided to walk out and speak to the family. Both were still in shock from what had happened... it truly was unreal.
Evan had finally managed to sit Alice down and had his arm wrapped around her comforting her in the way a son should, Charlotte was sat on the opposite side of her, her arms were also wrapped around her mum, and Liv sat with Rowan across from Alice, sending encouraging looks and smiles whenever she looked up. The squeak of the shoes came down the corridor and all the family immediately stood up. Evan walked forward with Alice as Rosie followed close behind.
Alice studied the doctor's faces intently. The faces they wore and the silence they had automatically worried her. Surely they'd smile if he was okay? Surely they'd be happy, walk quicker? Alice began to peel the negatives away, revealing a life of heart break.
"Is he okay?" Evan asked as the two medical professionals stood in front of them, they were silent and watched the family.
"Well..." The surgeon stopped wiping his brow.
"No, no, no! He can't be..." Alice stopped. "He's not is he?"
"Please can we sit down?" Asked the doctor, everyone nodded expecting the worse. Alice watched him, her eyes barely blinking.
"We lost Danny during surgery." The doctor began, Alice let out a small whimper as Evan squeezed her tightly, "But he seems to be the only excpetion, he defied the laws of medicine, Miss Collins, Danny did not die in surgery, he survived it. It's like he came back from the dead... like he found some form of inspiration, a bit more fight. If anything, he's a stronger man than what he was."
Alice breathed a huge sigh of relief before bursting into tears. But these were not tears of distress they were happy tears. Danny had survived! Alice grinned widely as she embraced Rosie, Evan, Liv and Charlotte in one humongous hug. They all laughed as everyone grinned. This was the best news they had heard.
"When can we see him?" Alice asked.
"Soon, he's on his way back but well except for the children who can accompany you Alice, two at a time please yeh?" The doctor smiled, he shook Alice's hand. "You've got an amazing man Alice."
"I know, I pinch myself everyday." She replied returning his hand shake enthusiastically. "Thank you so much."
"No problem, let's just hope he wakes up from this coma soon." The doctor smiled before shaking Evan and Max's hands as well as Dupe's.
The surgeon and doctor walked away, Alice was sat smiling to herself. He'd made it, he really had. Now he just had to get better, surely if he could survive this he could wake up! Right now, all Alice wanted was to see him.
"Listen, Alice... it's getting late and well we understand you probably want time with Danny and the kids, me and Anders are going to go home with Fatani, Buhkle and Cashile. Rowan and Vanessa have offered to wait for Charlie and Liv." Caroline smiled patting her shoulder. "We'll come over tomorrow and speak to him."
"Yeh no problem. Thanks Caroline." Alice smiled giving her a hug.
"No problem, now you get him told that he best be waking up!" Caroline laughed as the departing family made their way out.
Alice watched them all leave, Rowan and Vanessa walked up to her, everyone was anxiously awaiting Danny's arrival, and they wanted to speak to her whilst she was half sensible.
"Alice, we really hope he gets better soon." Vanessa smiled. "We're glad he's got through the surgery."
"So am I..." Alice smiled. "Thanks for being here. He'd really appreciate it."
"You're family Alice... and so is Danny." Rowan said warmly giving Alice a hug, he and Vanessa sat down as the double doors opened and the nurses wheeled Danny in. Alice remained standing watching him, love was evident in her soft eyes as all the children stood up.
"Alice you go in first." Rosie grinned. "I mean, we can all go in after can't we? Just have five minutes alone with him." Rosie persisted as Alice looked to Charlotte. "I'll send everyone in when you've had five minutes!"
"No arguing Alice." Liv piped up, grinning.
"You know how stubborn we can all be!" Evan added.
"And how cheeky!" Charlotte laughed.
"Okay okay!" Alice agreed as the nurses came out announcing that they could see Danny.
X
"Danny you can stop"
Danny stopped automatically and flopped to the floor, he was absolutely knackered!
"Have some water and food" Came his sister's voice as it all appeared in front of him.
"Thanks Gina." Danny replied grinning. "So when do you make your appearance."
"Ah, in my own time, you know me, I never was on time for anything." Gina's laugh echoed far away.
"Yeh, I remember you being late to Auntie Rita's wedding! You burst through the doors just as they said is there any reason she couldn't get married! Thought it was gonna be a dramatic wedding, then you killed it with comedy... Sorry I'm late, terrible car trouble!" Danny laughed.
"Hey, you were meant to fix that car!" His sister argued.
"I did, you if I remember correctly forgot to put the screenwash cap on after filling it with Anti Freeze!" Danny laughed.
"Oh shut up and eat. You'll see me soon enough, you're almost ready. You survived this test. Alice is proud of you." He smiled as the voice drifted off. That's all he needed, for Alice to be proud of him...
A/N – What do you all think then?
Btw, the garden thing with Dupe and Caroline is not a made up thing. If you ever get the misfortune of going to Ninewells in Dundee, there is actually like a place where you can sit, cant remember its name though! I remember sitting there for five minutes alone when I had to ring my dad to tell him some rather bad news!
Anyway, enough of my life story! Hope you enjoyed, this chapter isn't as good as I wanted it to be, but its getting a bit late hehe!
xx