DISCLAIMER - I don't own Sarah or Jareth or the Labyrinth (unfortunately) they belong to Jim Henson & Co, and I'm definitely not making a profit from this.

All other NPC's are a figment of my own imagination.


There was a sensation of infinite dark, and in some middling distance, pain. Huge violent waves of pain that seemed to belong to something else, to somebody else. The pain encompassed everything in the darkness, stabbing like dozens of tiny needles across everything, then for precious fragments of endlessness there ceased to be anything at all. Numbness in the profound absence of light. Relief, sadness and regret with a finality of all things ending.

Ripples of electric blue lit the dark like sheet lightning in clouds, once, twice, three times, disturbing the moment of tranquility and bringing back the pain. It was a different pain. Steady, constant rather than throbbing and erratic. The pain of bruises and aching muscles, then relief came again, like a soft blanket that spread itself slowly over the darkness, soothing, relaxing.

"I'm truly very sorry Toby, but theres really not much more we can do. If we have to resuscitate your sister again her chances of recovery will be significantly affected. You understand about the brain needing oxygen, and if its deprived of that oxygen irreparable damage can be caused. Thats what happened when her heart stopped beating, compounded by the first trauma she had, she might not ever wake up, and even if she does she might never regain what we call higher cognitive functions." The doctor sighed a little as Toby looked at him blankly, and angrily.

"That means she might not ever be able to speak or feed herself or move."

"I'm not signing that form."

"I understand how hard it is, but would your sister want you to see her like this? The no resuscitation order simply means that the next time her heart fails she will slip away peacefully. Her ribs have already suffered major trauma, and trying to revive her will cause even more damage."

"No. I'm not giving up on her and I'm not signing that piece of paper." Toby said stubbornly folding his arms and turning back to the bed where Sarah lay under pristine white sheets, her head bandaged tightly and her arm covered in a cast that had a vague representation of Gob drawn on by Toby in red marker pen.

"This is a heavy responsibility for such a young man Toby, really your mother and father should.."

"My mother is not Sarah's mother, and our father has Alzheimers. I'm the only one who can sign the release and I'm not going to." The doctor sighed again, rubbing his forehead in frustration as Toby continued to ignore the paperwork on the table. They were both saved from more awkward conversation as Anita arrived and ushered the doctor gently out the door.

"Any news Tobe?" She asked closing the door and turning back to the bed.

"Nope. They want me to sign that order thing." Toby shrugged sitting back down on the chair he had earlier vacated.

"We know the risks, but they have to ask honey, I know it makes it tough. Its your choice. Sarah made you in charge of her estates and anything to do with this kind of thing for a reason. Probably because she knew you wouldn't give up on her." Anita set her bag down on the other vacant chair and leant over to kiss Sarahs cheek.

"Now. Chicken or beef?" She asked rifling through her bag before producing pre packed sandwiches and packets of crisps. Toby gratefully claimed the chicken sandwiches and began to eat in companionable silence with Anita. By the time they had both finished he was feeling a lot better about the situation than he had earlier. Anita helped him with his maths homework then they sat and talked about the gallery until visiting times ended. Anita slipped out to the loo leaving Toby sat alone with Sarah.

"You know you're starting to become a really dull sister laying here like this." He whispered taking hold of her bandaged hand.

"Wake up Sarah, I need you." His voice broke making him shake his head in frustration and anger. He almost didn't catch the tiny movement of her fingers in his hand.

"Sarah!" Toby squeezed her hand excitedly. "Sarah wake up!" He stared anxiously at her hand waiting for some kind of response and almost wooped aloud as her fingers twitched again.

"Toby whats the noise?" Anita rushed back in.

"She moved! She moved her fingers!"

"Hang on Tobe the doctors said that might happen, its just automatic reflexes or something." Anita said carefully trying to calm his excitement down.

"No, this was different. I know it was. I'm going to go get the doctor." He ran out the room before Anita could stop him. She stood there staring and her best friend willing her mentally to open her eyes.

"You can do it Sarah, come back to us, we need you!" She whispered squeezing the cool clammy hand sticking out the cast. She held her breath and waited.

"Sarah. Toby needs you."

The twitch was definite and Anita nearly repeated Tobys exclamation.

"Come on Sarah, fight it! We're right here, just come back to us!" Anita cried holding onto Sarah's hand in a firmer grip. "You come back right now, do you hear me? Else Chris is going to start framing pictures from your sketchbook and hanging them on the wall." Sarahs hand twitched again making Anita grin, just as the nurse came in being hassled by Toby.

"She moved her hand twice just now." Anita said as an apology to the nurse.

"We did explain that sometimes this is just a natural movement and not deliberate."

"I know, this was something more."

The nurse huffed and walked over to the monitors that clicked and whirred away next to the top of the bed and studied them, absently moving to pick up the chart to compare.

"Well." She said after what seemed to be an eternity. "There is a marked improvement in her heart rate and temperature, but its not conclusive. It may still just be an automatic response or twitch. They happen. I will come and check her again at my usual time." She said placing the chart back beside the bed and touching Sarah's hand gently.

"Its only been 2 weeks, theres every chance she will make excellent progress, but you can't rush it. She has to heal herself and that takes time." She smiled at Toby as he sighed and sat back down by the bed. The nurse left and closed her door behind her.

"Well, we know different don't we Tobe. Wait til I tell Chris, he will be so glad!" Anita said walking around the bed and hugging him. "I will keep watching her, but its time for you to go home, your mom will be here in 5 minutes and you know how she hates waiting for you. If anything happens I will phone I promise!" She said gently as Toby tried not to sniffle.

"Scoot, I will pick you up from school tomorrow as usual." She ruffled his hair as he stood up and grimaced trying to push her hands away.

"You're as bad as Sarah, leave my hair alone."

"Ahh now theres the Toby we know and love." Anita chuckled as he moved over to the bed and kissed Sarah's cheek.

"You'll call, right?"

"Scouts honour!" She said saluting as he nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

The silence was suddenly unbearable as Anita remained alone in the room with the ticking machines and Sarah's silent form in the bed.

"Your brother is growing up and you're missing out on the fun." Anita chided her best friend as she smoothed the covers and walked back to the chair by the window and getting her work out of her bag.

"Now. You need to decide where to move those lithos. Chris doesn't like them by the door, but I'm not sure where they would be better. Maybe by the stairs? How about on the east wall next to Ambrose's sketches. Yes? Ok, good idea." Anita bent and made some notations on her papers and moved onto the next item, pausing to touch Sarah's hand again.

"Have you seen Jareth? I know I shouldn't ask, because you never kiss and tell anyhow, but I left a message at the Hilton for him but hes not returned it. You need to kick him into touch you know." She gasped and then grinned as Sarah's hand very definitely twitched as she mentioned Jareth.

"Well, you know I like the juicy gossip, if he comes to visit you you'd better tell me else I shall be cross. All it takes is a little wish right?" She folded more papers and reached over for her coffee on the side table.

"And if all it takes is a little wish then I seriously wish you would wake up so you can wish for him yourself."

This time it was a definite movement without Anita even holding her hand and she quietly wooped to herself.

"I know you are just there dearest, and I know it must hurt, a lot, but you can't get better, you can't make things better until you wake up and deal with the here and now. You've had some time to yourself, and now we need you back. I know I know, its selfish of me, but honestly if you wanted a 2 week holiday Sarah we could have just booked some time off, this is a little extreme."

Anita shut up as a different nurse came in to replace the saline drip and take notes on the clipboard, she didn't ask any questions but did spend several moments repeat checking what the machines were saying. Anita watched her hopefully but all she got was a brief smile before the nurse left again to carry on her rounds.

"You'd think they'd at least talk to you when they come in, or even me. Its weird being invisible." Anita muttered as she slowly packed away her things and finished her coffee.

"Ok I am off, get some rest we'll talk more tomorrow. We love you Sarah, when I come back with Chris tomorrow I want to see you sitting up and bright eyed you hear!" She kissed her friends slightly clammy forehead and left the ICU, waving to the nurse at the main desk as she went.