Chapter 36

Charlie sat with his hand on tops of hers as he looked at her lying there. Thankfully she was breathing on her own, and was just sleeping due to the after effects of the surgery. She began to stir slightly, and Charlie held her hand in his, squeezing it lightly.

"Baz?" He said, as she began to open her eyes.

She turned slightly towards him, as she looked at his injuries, his black eye, bruised nose, bust lip. She could see the worry in his eyes, the fear he felt.

"Charlie?" She said, as she squeezed his hand with hers.

"It's alright, you're alright. You were in a car accident." Charlie began to explain, as he rose up and looked down at her, to avoid her moving.

"Louis?" Baz asked, her mouth dry, and her voice weak.

"He's fine, no injuries, he's asleep, with, um, with Duffy." Charlie answered, as he smiled at her softly, and a little embarrassed, when he mentioned Duffy's name.

"Thank God." Baz said, as she squeezed his hand with relief.

"I'm so sorry Baz, all this, it's my fault. All of it. I'm so sorry." Charlie said, as he squeezed her hand again, tears forming in his eyes.

"No, no, no." Baz said, as she then let go of his hand, and turned her head away from him, wincing with the pain.

"Baz?" Charlie said, getting worried.

"Pain" Baz said, as she winced again.

"Right, ok, I'll let them know you're in pain." Charlie said, as he stood up.

Charlie walked out of the ICU room, and sought out a nurse.

-o-

Duffy was sat in the on call room, watching Louis sleeping. She looked up at the clock and thought about her own boys. They'll be up now, having breakfast, wondering where she was, and their father. She rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, then stroked the bruise on her cheek left by Andrew, and then stroked the other cheek where Baz had hit her. She sighed to herself.

"What are we going to do Louis? Hmm? Your Dad and me? What a mess?" Duffy said, as she then turned and looked down at him sleeping peacefully.

-o-

"There we go Mrs Fairhead, that should ease the pain for you." The nurse said, as she administered the analgesia through the cannula.

"It'll make you drowsy." The nurse added.

"She knows, she's a doctor." Charlie said, as he smiled in thanks at the young nurse.

"Oh, I see. Well, if you need anything, just call." The nurse said, as she smiled at Charlie, then at Baz.

"Thank you." Baz said, as she smiled at the nurse.

"Thanks." Charlie said, as he looked over at the nurse.

"I'll erm, let you get some sleep." Charlie said, as he picked up his coat from the chair next to her.

"Charlie?" Baz said, as she reached out her hand for him.

"Yeah? Oh." Charlie said, as he walked over to her, and took her hand in his.

"What happ...?" Baz tried to say.

"What happened? You were hit full force, into your driver-side door by a lorry, and pushed into a wall. You've had surgery to repair the tear in your liver; which was successful. And you have a displaced fracture in your right ulna, and you've also fractured your right tibia. You have some cuts and bruises. Other than that, you're fine." Charlie said, as he stroked the back of her hand.

"Hmm, fine?" Baz said, as she rolled her eyes at him, and winced with the pain.

"I'm sorry Baz, all this. You lying here. Duffy, and me. I'm sorry, I really am." Charlie said, as he stroked her hand once again.

"Louis?" Baz said, as she turned to look at him.

"I'll take care of him. Ok. Just you get some rest, ok." Charlie said, as he looked at her with worry.

Baz looked at him, and a small tear escaped from her eye. As she nodded at him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Charlie said once again, as he kissed her hand, and then let go.

He stood up, and walked towards the door of the room. He turned back, and saw her watching him, she then turned her head away from him. He sighed, as he then turned back towards the door, and walked out of the room.

-o-

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Kate said, as she walked down the hallway towards the front door.

As she opened the door, she was shocked to find Andrew stood there.

"I came to see the boys Kate." Andrew said, as he looked at her, trying to be as calm as possible.

"Andrew?" Kate said, as she put her hand to her mouth in shock.

"Can I see them?" Andrew asked, as he sighed, knowing full well her reaction said it all.

Kate frowned at him, found her voice and began to close the door.

"Um, I, um, don't think it's, um, a good idea, do you?"

"Kate, they are my boys." Andrew said, as he pushed his hand up against the door, stopping her from closing the door.

"Andrew, please." Kate said, as she tried to close the door.

"Kate, you're being ridiculous." Andrew said, as he pushed the door harder.

The door gave way, and it hit Kate on the head, she fell back against the wall, and landed on the floor.

"Kate?" Andrew said, as he stood in horror as he looked down at her on the floor.

"Dad?" Peter said, as he walked from the sitting room into the hallway.

Peter looked at his Gran, and quickly walked towards her, putting his hand on her arm, trying to wake her up.

"Gran? Gran?" Peter said.

"Out of the way Peter." Andrew said, as he quickly lowered himself to the floor, as he checked Kate's pulse on her neck.

"Call an ambulance Peter. Now." Andrew said, forcefully.

Andrew tried to shake Kate awake, but, she just lay unconscious, her breathing was slow, and her heart rate was strong and rapid.

"Oh, God, Kate. You'll be ok. You'll be ok." Andrew said, as he sat on the floor, his hand on her arm, and he shook his head at himself, shocked at what he'd done.

-x-