Just over a week – nine days to be exact – and Jonny was finally stable enough to have the sedation keeping him in a comatose state withdrawn. The medically induced coma he'd been placed in after surgery had helped to allow his body the time to heal. The infection that riddled him mere hours after being operated on had cleared and his scar was healing just as it should. He'd pulled through that first night, and the three nights after that and once his vitals had showed significant signs of improvement, both Serena and Sacha agreed to trying to take him off the ventilator. Elliot had taken Emma so that both Jac and Mo could be at Jonnys bedside, only for the two women to be ushered out the very moment he started to deteriorate. It had been twenty minutes of pure fear that this would be the moment he'd let go but in the end, they were all just relying on the machines to continue to do their jobs once again. It was both frustrating and heartbreaking but it was decided that Jonnys body was just still not strong enough to come without the help.
Now, Jac once again stood at his bedside as the breathing tube was being pulled and replaced with a nasal cannula. Though Jonny was still a long way from recovering, this was at least progress. Though she was already aware of what could happen, Jac had still been warned that it could take hours – maybe days – for the effects of the sedation to fully work it's way out of Jonnys system, and he may not wake until then. There were brief moments where she thought he might be on the verge where he might be waking; the flicker of an eyelid or the twitch of a finger but nothing came of it. It was too much to hope that he'd wake that first day. Jac placed a feather light kiss to Jonnys forehead before leaving to relieve Elliot of babysitting duties, missing Jonnys eyes fluttering open for the briefest of seconds.
Jonny was somewhere in the middle of an abyss. At moments he felt as though he was laying on a cloud and at others he felt as though he was on a bed of glass, the sharp pieces slicing through his skin. Pain came in waves, building until warmth spread through his veins and a feeling of numbness overcame him. For the briefest periods of time, Jonny became aware of voices. He recognised them, knew who they were yet couldn't place them. He was aware of them speaking to him, speaking about him yet he couldn't understand what they were saying. He couldn't make sense of the jumble of words to form a sentence. He managed to understand his name but then he was dragged back in to a numbing sleep.
He felt as though he was choking.
Something was obstructing his throat. Again he was aware of people talking to him but he was still unable to decipher who they were or what they were saying. Warmth spread through him again as he gagged on the thing now being pulled from his throat. For a second it felt as though he couldn't breath but the feeling passed as soon as it came. The next time he became aware he could feel thing tubing wrapped round his face and forcing oxygen up his nose. It was... comforting.
Pain was replaced by an intense itching in his lower abdomen that he could not move his hands to scratch. There was no energy in his weakend limbs but relief came and went in burst as someone came periodically to check on him. He almost like it.
Jonny had no way of knowing how much time was passing yet the different people coming in and out of his room was increasing. He was sure there was only one person left now – a woman he thought. She was one who didn't say much but when she did, the sound made him almost happy to hear it. He tried now, really tried to open his eyes and find out who she was. He felt her moving closer until ultimately pressed her lips to his forehead and walked away. It was at this point that Jonny finally opened his eyes, for only a second, in time to see the woman leave through the door, her flaming red hair flowing down her back.
Jonny repeated this multiple times, never being aware long enough to answer anyone or give any indicated that he was aware of what was going on. He still felt tired, so very tired yet this time when he opened his eyes he found himself able to take in his surroundings. He didn't though. Instead, Jonny focused all his attention on the flame haired woman sitting silently next to his bed. He recognised her, knew exactly who she was. Seeing he now had his eyes open, he felt her slip her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. Jonny felt himself being pulled back, his eyes once again becoming heavy but he gave Jac a smile, a small smile which she returned. He returned to being blissfully unaware of everything that had happened.