Chapter21

Chrissie woke up to a text from Sacha, it read: *Morning beautiful, I'll meet you at work, see you soon, I love you xxx* And if this didn't make Chrissie smile, she got ready for work, this huge smile on her face, she opened the door, and before she could step out she saw a bouquet of flowers, she picked them and looked at the note, *Love you, S x*

Chrissie rolled up to work, with this huge smile still on her face, she saw Sacha in the reception, waiting for her, he had yet another surprise for her, in his hand was a cup of coffee and a cake. Her favourite.

'Aw, Sacha! You didn't have to do all this! The text and flowers were enough' Chrissie couldn't help but smile still.

'Well, now that I've got you, I'm never letting you go.' Sacha smiled.

'Aw, babe, I love you!'

Dan arrived in the hospital for a day's work, and he saw Chrissie and Sacha, together. It broke his heart to see this but he knew it was the right thing to do.

'Hey Chrissie' Dan said whilst looking at her.

'Hey.' Chrissie smiled. 'How are you?'

Dan found this horrible, but he could see that Chrissie was pulling away from Sacha, she didn't want to make this awkward on Dan.

'I'm alright thankyou, and you?' Dan replied.

'Yes, thankyou' Chrissie smiled.

Dan was about to walk away, when Chrissie stopped him.

'Wait, please, I don't want this to be awkward, I want to be friends, just because me and Sacha are making a go of things, doesn't mean we can't be friends, does it?' Chrissie asked, she didn't want to lose Dan, he was a good friend, always there for her, even when they weren't together.

'I don't know Chrissie, I'm sorry.' Said Dan. 'We had a good friendship, and a really amazing relationship, but I don't want to mess that up like I messed our relationship, I can't do that to you again, sorry' Dan walked off.

Sacha knew that Chrissie was in bits, so he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her close, she felt so safe in his arms, she loved him so much, he was the father of her child and the most amazing father ever. But there was this pain in Chrissie's heart, she kept thinking about Dan, she wanted to be friends with him so much and couldn't bear the thought of not having him around, he meant too much to her, not in the way that she loved him, in the way that she didn't want to lose him as her amazing friend, he was always there, she didn't want him not be there.

'Sacha, I can't do this, I don't mean us, I mean, not having Dan as my friend, he's always been there and we've been through so much, I need him.' Chrissie said softly.

'I know, I know, I'm sure he'll come round to the fact that we're together and he'll be your friend, I promise, he can't lose you either, you've been there for him, he can't throw away this friendship' Sacha understood this from past experience.

Sacha never spoke about his past, he didn't want anyone to know, but the truth was, he had a girlfriend, a few years back, but he fell in love with this other girl, they got together, but him and his ex never became friends again. It broke his heart, even though she let him have the other girl, she couldn't be friend with him, he needed her, just like Chrissie needed Dan. Good friend's dont come easily. Once you lose a friend, it's hard to find one just as good, and Sacha knew that, just like Chrissie.

'Sacha, are you okay?' Chrissie asked.

'Oh, yes, I'm fine, we best get to work, I'll meet you here for lunch?' Sacha replied.

'Okay, sure. I love you!' Chrissie exclaimed.

'I love you too, beautiful.' Sacha smiled, and kissed her soft lips.

Chrissie was totally and head of heels in love with Sacha, she knew she had found the perfect guy, who she loved, and he loved her, and she knew, that she'd be with him for a very long time, no matter how much she loved Dan, and wanted to be friends with him, she knew he had to let him come round to the idea of her and Sacha being together, she understood.

A few hours later, it was the end of Chrissie's shift, Sacha finished in 2 hou5rs, so she had time to kill, but she saw Dan out of the corner of her eye, he had all his stuff but she was sure that his shift didn't finish till 9pm, and it was only 5pm, she was confused.

'Dan!' Chrissie ran up to him.

'Oh, Chrissie' Dan said, sounding depressed.

'Where are you going? Why have you got all your stuff? Dan?' Chrissie asked.

'I wasn't gonna tell you, I wanted to, but I thought it'd be best if I just left.'

'Left?'

'Yes, I'm leaving Chrissie, I can't do this, It's hurting me, seeing you happy with Sacha, but you deserve to be with him, he makes you happy, like I never could, I betrayed you, I kissed another man? And I shouldn't have done that, we were meant to be getting married and I screwed that up with you, by doing what I did. I'm sorry.' Dan said, with tears in his eyes. 'I might come back, but for now, I'm leaving.'

'But..' Chrissie trailed off. 'You're my friend, I need my friends'

'Chrissie, you have friends, you have Sahira, Jac, Greg, Sacha, Elizabeth, and many others, you don't need me. 'Dan mentioned.

'But I do.' Chrissie whispered.

'I'll always love you' Dan whispered back.

They shared a moment, just a quick, 5 second moment, They realized they missed each other but she knew, deep down, she always loved Sacha.

'I love you..' Chrissie said. 'But I love Sacha too.'

'I understand darling, I really do, just be happy, and be safe, my flight leaves at 10pm'

'Flight? Where are you going?'

'I need to get away, It's only for two weeks, then I'm coming back, I promise. It's just a holiday'

'Okay, but please don't go forever, always be my friend?'

'I'll always be your friend, always'

Dan kissed her on the forehead and headed out the door, he waved to Chrissie, she didn't know that this would be last time she ever saw him.

A couple hours later, Chrissie was waiting for Sacha to finish, when the reception got a phone call, Eddi picked up the phone and her face dropped, but Chrissie's heart dropped even further, she knew something was wrong.

'Okay, I'll let everyone know, thankyou' Eddi said on the phone. 'Chrissie, can you come here a second?'

'What's wrong? Who was that?' Chrissie asked, looking worried.

'It was a hospital.. In Manchester, It's Dan..' Eddi trailed off.

'Tell me!' Chrissie yelled.

'He's been in a car crash, they don't know if he's going to make it.' Eddi mentioned.

'I need to sit down' Chrissie went to the seat and sat down, it didn't sink in, he was her friend, he was the one he loved for a long time, she was scared.

'I'm so sorry Chrissie' Eddi said, sympathetically.

Sacha walked into the reception, to surprise Chrissie, but she was in no mood for surprises, all she wanted was a hug from her perfect man, and just cry about her friend, she was praying he was going to be alright, she felt it in her heart that he wasn't going to pull through, but she didn't want to believe it.

'Babe?' Sacha said to Chrissie, putting his hand on her face, 'whats the matter beautiful?'

'It's Dan, he's been in a car accident'

Sacha pulled Chrissie close and she buried her head into Sacha's neck. But she shot straight up when she heard the phone ring again, she clutched Sacha's hand so tightly as she saw Eddi's face drop. Chrissie knew it, knew there was something wrong.

'Yes!' Chrissie shouted.

'I'm sorry Chrissie.. Dan's dead' Eddi said with tears in her eyes.

'No, NO!' Chrissie screamed.

She ran up to Sacha and collapsed into his arms, she couldn't stop crying, she was shaking uncontrollably. She didn't want this to happen. She needed Dan, he was the best friend, even if they weren't together anymore, he was a good friend, and everyone needs a good friend. The day ended with Chrissie, a broken Chrissie, leaving Holby with Sacha to go home, Sacha knew that this would take some time to get over, so he just had to be patient with, he knew that she loved him, and wouldn't leave him.

'I love you Sacha, I love you so much!' Chrissie told Sacha. 'I just need time'

'I know, I understand, I'm always here for you.'

'Thankyou, come on, let's go home.'

Chrissie and Sacha both got in the car and Sacha drove them home. They had, had a horrible day, all they needed to do was go home and calm down, Dan was gone but he wasn't forgotten, Tomorrow was the memorial, Chrissie needed to calm down before this. She needed to be strong.