Jen tried to swallow... But couldn't... Something was in her mouth,her throat. She raised a hand towards her throat before she heard... "Jennifer. Jennifer dear... It's ok." Who WAS that?

"Nurse. Nurse! She's... She's awake" Nurse?

Jen tried to open her eyes. She saw bright lights which hurt her head so much she quickly closed them shut again. Her hand grabbing at the thing in her throat. It was so sore. Everywhere was so sore.

"Liam. Get a nurse quick".

That voice again! It sounded...Sounded like her...mother! Liam? What was going on? Jen slowly opened her eyes again, blinking into the lights. As her eyes focused she saw the cast on her arm .. And then her mums face came into view. It WAS her mum!

"Oh god sweetheart. It's gonna be ok. It's gonna be ok." Her mum was crying as she leant in and kissed Jen on the cheek. Jen felt the tears on her mums face. Then she saw and heard her dad
"Come on love, here comes the nurses, lets give them some space".

Jen closed her eyes again and had a flashback. A flashback to the jeep. With Tilly. To that afternoon. At the beach. What had happened? What had happened to Tilly?

The next thing Jen knew there were two nurses standing over her, talking to her, explaining that they were going to take out a tube from her mouth that would be uncomfortable for a few moments, but that it would be over quickly.

As the nurses busied themselves around her, Jen closed her eyes and tried to hold back the tears. She wasn't crying because of the pain, but out of concern for Tilly. What had happened? Where was Tilly?

Once the tube was removed from her throat Jen started coughing. Her throat was so sore, like someone had gone down he throat with a cheese grater. A hand passed her some water, she wasn't sure who exactly. Her mind was racing... She slowly swallowed and then as soon as she felt she was able to speak she opened her mouth and croaked Tilly's name.

"What's that sweetheart?" Her mum asked. "What did you say?" Jen was about to say it again when she heard Liam's voice answer in a serious sway "she said Tilly". Jen closed her mouth. Shit!

"Mum ... what... What happened?" Jen mumbled hoping to distract Liam's thoughts.

"you were involved in a nasty car accident sweet. A car drove into the side of you... And... Well you banged your head pretty hard" her mum had to stop to compose her voice as Jen could hear the emotion as she spoke. "Claire called us. She was behind you following in her car, she saw it all"

Claire? This didn't make any sense at all. Where was Tilly? Jen wanted so much to know what had happened to Tilly, to know that she was OK, but she couldn't speak anymore. All she wanted to do was sleep. A nurse came over to them and told them that they needed to let Jen rest now, and that she was in good hands and how they should go and get some rest. Jen's mind was racing trying take it all in. Her body ached so much from the crash, her heart ached from not knowing what had happened to Tilly. after her parents and Liam had left, the nurse gave Jen some pills and she soon fell asleep. As she closed her eyes she saw Tilly lying next to her in the jeep on its side covered in blood. A tear slowly ran down her cheek.

Early in the morning Jen was wheeled down out of the intensive care unit to have another head scan. As Jen lay there on the scanner bed, listening to the machine scan her brain, she was so scared. Her head hurt so much where she had banged it on the impact, it felt like it would explode from her skull. After 15 was the the scan was over and she was being wheeled back into ITU. When she got there, Laim was there waiting for her. "Alright sis?" Jen could tell he was worried, but was trying not to let on. She was his big sister after all.

Jen managed a weak smile. "Been better" she managed to croak. Her throat still so sore. She took a sip of water and closed her eyes. She couldn't wait any longer... She had to ask about Tilly... She had to know what had happened. She would tell Liam everything and hope that he wouldn't say anything to Diane. He had been very disapproving when he had first found out, but that was nearly a year ago, so surely he would see that what Jen felt for Tilly was the real deal. Liam as if being able to read Jens mind waited for the porters and nurse to leave the room before pulling up a chair to Jens bed. He picked up her good hand and slowly began speaking.

"Jen, you scared the living shit out of me!" He smiled. Seeing the tears start to form in Jens eyes he added "you're gonna be ok you know. You know how I know? Because you're a Gilmore and we're as tough as old boots". He paused before continuing "I know Jen. I know about you and Tilly. Claire told me". He looked at Jen in the face before adding "was she with you when it happened?"

Jen wiped a tear that was rolling down her face and slowly nodded "is she ... Is she OK. Is she... Alive?" Liam smiled and said the magic words "Jen she's not dead. I've not seen her, but she wasn't as badly hurt as you". Jen closed her eyes. Thank god. Thank god.

"Liam... I .. I love her you. Please ... don't say anything. Please?"