I'm about 90% positive I can have this finished within 2 chapter, maybe 3, but I at this point I doubt that.

Steve stopped breathing and his eyes widened. His breath had caught in his chest and he stared right at Apollo, but as though he wasn't actually seeing her.

'Y-you, love me?' he said, his voice slightly higher than usual.

She laughed lightly then stopped abruptly after deciding smiling made her face hurt too much 'I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't, is that a problem?' she asked. If they were under any other circumstance, alarm bells would be going off in her mind now after his reaction and she momentarily feared she had scared him off, but she was far too sore and tired to worry right now, and just waited for him to reply.

'No, no! no that's not a problem, not at all' he said all very quickly, shaking his head and still wearing the same shocked expression, but with a small smile now on his tired face 'It's, it's just … well I mean I didn't … and it wasn't even …. n-no one's ever said that to me before Polo' he said quietly, looking away as his cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

She ushered him back down into his seat as he had been stood pacing back and forth at the side of her bed for the last few minutes muttering nonsense, but now with a bigger, almost sheepish smile on his face 'that's okay' she assured him 'I don't expect you to love me back right now, I understand if you don't I mean what with losing Darren and having no real family for so long I suppose it-'

'But I do love you' he interrupted, breaking her off mid sentence 'I do, I really do. I have done for months' he stopped to breath and looked at her smiling 'I was just too afraid to tell you'

She shook her head and waved his fears away with her hand 'I thought we'd already established you can talk to me about anything' she said with the air of someone of great importance, looking pleased with herself.

Steve laughed and reached his hand out to stroke her hair again 'yeah but talking to you about my shitty life is one thing, confessing my love for you isn't something I planned on bringing up in just any old conversation'

Well, it's done now isn't it, could you pour me some water?' she asked.

'Yeah, sure. I'm glad that's over and done with now, least it wasn't awkward' he said pouring a glass of water from the jug beside her bed and handing it to her.

'It wouldn't have been awkward' she said after taking a deep drink of water 'unless you freaked out' she said with a small smirk, looking at him over the rim of her glass. He gave her a look slapped the back of her hand playfully, but very lightly.

'Apollo?! You're awake!' Lorraine and James had just come through the ward doors and Lorraine was sprinting down the relatively small ward to embrace her sister, jumping back instantly when her sister hissed in pain. James gave her unharmed right shoulder a small pat 'How are you feeling?' Lorraine asked with a wide grin on her face, unnecessarily plumping her pillows.

'Fine, a little stiff but I'll live' she said, slapping her sisters hands away and fixing her pillows the way she liked them herself.

'I'm so happy you're awake, I was so scared' Lorraine said, again on the verge of tears, as she had been most of the week. James wrapped his arms around her middle, resting his head on her shoulder and smiling.

'Nahh, I'm a Hudson' Apollo said, dismissing her sisters anxieties 'we're made of tough stuff' she assured her. She considered flexing her muscles, but thought better of it and settled for a yawn and another sip of water and handing the almost empty glass back to Steve, who put it down beside her bed.

'Thankfully' Steve added, stroking the side of her face fondly. He found that after the horrific week he'd had, he couldn't bring himself to stop touching her, not when he had come so close to losing her. Those injuries could have easily finished her off, or at least left her either brain damaged or permanently disabled in some other way.

Apollo's face turned serious 'What happened to the others? Where are they Lor?'

Lorraine's smile faded and she shared an anxious look with James who nodded to her 'They're with social workers'

Apollo attempted to frown 'Why? Why aren't they at home with you? We can look after them' she insisted, attempting to get up from the bed. Steve put a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back down.

Lorraine sighed and stepped up to the side of her bed 'It's not that simple, Mom and Dad are in prison Apollo and the police are still trying to figure out what went on in there before James arrived' she gripped the bars around the bed tightly, her knuckles turning white and looked up at the ceiling, as though talking to it 'Forensics are still in the house and social services have to assess whether me and James are fit to take care of the others before they let them come home'

Apollo leaned her head back and covered her face with her hands 'This is some serious shit we've got ourselves into Lor' she said, the words muffled behind her bandaged hands. She groaned and pulled them away, taking Steve's hand again.

'I know' Lorraine sighed 'But we'll get through it'

*

Ruby visited again on Friday afternoon. She had been given the afternoon off of school to come see her friend now that she was awake. And surprisingly, the principal, Miss Connor came with her. She was a friendly blond woman who had constant faith in her pupils, but had lost most of her patience with Steve and was not at all happy to see him. Steve took their visit as a happy excuse to go down to the diner and get himself something to eat.

Apollo was happy to see Ruby, but wanted to tell her what she had told Steve the previous night and how he reacted, but couldn't with Miss Connor there, who was as usual fussing over Apollo and expressing just how happy she was that she was recovering. She had also brought a scrap book of get well messages from her entire grade and some of the older and younger students too. It made her smile as she flicked through the pages; there were plenty of pictures in there too, of people holding up signs reading 'Get well soon Huds!' and 'Miss you loads Apollo!'

They sat with her for over an hour chatting, the principal telling her how the police had been to the school to interview her and some of the staff too, until finally Apollo's doctor came along and Miss Connor took the opportunity to grill him for the details of Apollo's condition.

'So' Ruby said, turning her attention to Apollo as she poured herself a glass of water and got straight to the point 'what have you been itching to tell me all day?'

Apollo stared at her incredulously 'how do you know I've something to tell you?'

Ruby laughed 'Come on Polo, I'm your best friend, if I can't read you like a book after 13 years then our friendship seriously lacking'

Apollo shook her head 'Fair enough. Anyway, I told Steve I love him' she said, then gave her friend the most innocent look she could manage.

'Whoa, hold on a second there, you love him?!' she asked, outraged.

Apollo laughed nervously 'Guess I forgot to mention that then' she mumbled.

'Yeah you forgot to mention it' Ruby said, eyes still wide with shock and disbelief. She couldn't quite comprehend the possibility that her friend was in love with Steve Leonard of all people 'are you being serious?'

'Well, yeah' she said as though it was obvious 'I wouldn't have slept with him otherwise'

Ruby choked on her water and spilt a considerable amount of it down her front, exclaiming 'you slept with him?!' her voice rising. They both looked up to find Miss Connor looking over at them, they both smiled to her, praying she hadn't heard what they'd said.

'Sorry' Ruby whispered, but then added 'but when did this happen?'

Apollo told her the story of Saturday night and the events of Sunday, as far as she remembered. Ruby sat in silence, listening with a frown on her face and her head rested on her hand thoughtfully, making Apollo feel as though she was retelling the story to a judge.

'Jesus Polo' she said once she had finished 'I didn't know they were beating you, I'm so sorry, I should have realised'

Apollo shook her head 'Don't worry about it, I got real good at hiding it'

Ruby looked at her sympathetically for a moment, feeling guilty for not noticing something had been up in all the years they'd been friends 'Are you sure getting so close to him is a good idea?' she asked, almost pleadingly.

'Yes' Apollo said firmly 'Yes I do, it feels right Rubes, please understand that'

'Ruby, I think we should get back to school soon' Miss Connor called from the other side of the ward. Ruby looked up at her and nodded, standing and picking up her coat, hanging it over her arms crossed over chest.

'I don't know Apollo, just be careful okay?' she asked, leaning in to hug her friend. Apollo promised she would and waved goodbye.

Miss Connor came back to her bedside to say goodbye, whispering to her just before she did and giving her a serious look 'you may want to rethink who you're getting into sexual relationships with Apollo'

Apollo watched her retreating back angrily, then turned to lie on her side, taking her frustration out on her pillow.