Thanks for all your lovely reviews guys. This is the first fic I ever wrote way back then and it's nice to know people still enjoy "my baby" lol. Here's the next installment.
Chapter 36
Shane's expression was sombre as he sat and looked around the waiting area. The chipped paint on the walls and the worn linoleum were becoming all too familiar to him after spending the better part of seventy two hours practically shut in here. Quite honestly, he would be more than happy if he never to had to set foot inside this place again. The whole atmosphere was tense and it quickly deflated your spirits despite his best efforts to remain upbeat especially for his sister's sake. Because he had stayed here for her. God knows the last three days had been torture for her and he felt Stephanie needed his support. Still it didn't stop him feeling so useless just sitting around waiting for any news about Paul. So far there had been no change in his condition and although the doctor kept assuring them that it was early days yet, everyone was anxious as each day passed with no sign of any improvement.
Sighing softly, Shane ran his fingers through his short, dark hair. He glanced down the corridor knowing he should probably go and check on Stephanie but there was something he had to get out of the way first; something had been preying on his mind ever since Paul had got hurt. But he knew he couldn't make any rash assumptions without talking to his father first. He was the only one who could mind at ease. Or at least he hoped he would. The alternative just didn't bear thinking about and God knows what the repercussions could be.
Pushing himself to his feet, Shane pulled on the cuff on his black shirt and glanced over in his parents' direction. They had both been here on and off the last three days as well and he could see the tiredness and the worry etched on his mother's face. Not only was she worried about Paul, she was fretting over Stephanie too. Vince was equally as worried about his daughter. It was a tough time for all of them right now.
"Dad, can I have a word?" Shane asked as he shuffled his feet awkwardly in front of him.
Vince looked up at his son and nodded, gesturing to the seat next to him.
Shane shook his head refusing the offer.
"We need to talk in private."
Vince raised his eyebrows in surprise but stood up beside his son. Linda looked towards Shane with her brow crinkled in concern.
"Is everything alright, Shane?"
He quickly nodded his head and offered her a reassuring smile. "I just need to discuss something with Dad. It's nothing for you to worry about."
Linda gave him a small smile back and watched both her son and husband walked out the waiting area and into the hospital corridor. Shane's brown eyes were thoughtful as they stared at the floor and his footsteps were slow as he walked alongside his father. Vince got his attention as he patted his shoulder.
"What is it you want to discuss Shane?"
He sighed heavily and with a grim expression he stopped and turned to face him. His father's expression was open and receptive. There was no obvious sign of guilt or remorse on his part but that didn't mean a lot right now. Vince's hatred for Paul had turned him into a virtual stranger. A man he didn't recognise and a man he didn't like very much right now. Still, he was his father and he still liked to think he knew the man in front of him. His gut told him he wasn't involved in what happened with Paul but he needed to hear him say the words out loud, just to be sure. He had to know.
"I need to ask you something okay and I want you to tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with what's happened to Paul?"
Vince's eyes went wide and his mouth parted with shock. He shook his head slowly.
"You think I'm responsible for what Andrew did? How can you think that, Shane?"
Shane lifted his shoulder in a shrug ignoring the pang of guilt in his chest. "Well can you blame me for having a little trouble trusting your integrity right now? I mean you did hit Paul with a sledgehammer yourself not so long ago and he landed up in hospital then. Now the same thing has happened to him again."
Vince sighed sadly as his hands lifted to rub at his face wearily. He knew he couldn't blame his son for that particular train of thought. His actions regarding Paul had never exactly been rational. He'd let his anger rule his head one too many times; maybe too many times. Still, no matter how much hatred he felt for the man who had led his baby girl astray, he'd never wish anything like this on him, not when he could see how broken up Stephanie was about it and it ate him up inside to see her in so much pain. One thing he had never been able to handle is see his children suffer although even that statement could be brought into question after his actions lately. Still anything he done, he'd always believed he had done with his daughter's best interests at heart. He loved Stephanie. He loved both his kids.
Lifting his head, Vince sighed softly and his brown eyes looked straight at Shane. His face wore a stern and sincere expression. "I can assure you son that I had nothing to do with it. I promise you."
Shane just watched his father silently for a moment wondering if he could trust his own judgement on this. Because in his heart he really felt that his father was being honest with him. It was just a shame that his past actions meant he could never fully trust him, not where Paul was concerned. Scratching at his cheek, his expression became stern.
"Well, I'm just going to have to take your word on that. But I warn you Dad. If I ever find out you had any part in this, I will never, ever forgive you. I can promise you that." he warned him.
Vince nodded his understanding and they both walked back in silence towards the waiting area. Linda watched them carefully as they approached her and she gave Shane a smile as her husband sat back down next to her.
"Did you get whatever it was sorted out?"
He nodded and smiled back warmly to reassure her. The last thing he wanted was his mother worrying even more than she already was.
"Yeah, we did. Listen, I'm going to go and check on Stephanie. I want to make sure she's okay."
Linda nodded grateful Shane was checking on her and feeling a little concerned herself about her daughter. Stephanie had hardly left Paul's side in the last three days and had refused to listen to her or Patricia when they had told her to eat something or get some rest. The only person that seemed to get through to her at the moment was Shane and Linda was extremely grateful for that. She wouldn't be able to handle it if anything happened to her or the baby. God knows, her nerves were shot as it was every time she thought of Paul.
Sighing heavily, Linda glanced across at Paul's parents who were sitting just down from her and Vince. They were both leaning against one another after dozing off a short while ago. She just hoped they were finding a little respite from their anxiety and their pain. Not that they wouldn't be sleeping for long. They couldn't. They were just too worried about their son and she couldn't imagine what they were going through as they waited for any news on Paul's condition. God knows this was tough on all of them. She could only hope and pray that Paul would pull through this injury and just come back to them.
Shane was greeted by the beeping and humming of the machines as he entered the room quietly, gently closing the door over behind him. Stephanie was asleep and her head rested on Paul's lap, her hand firmly clasping his almost like she was scared to let him go. Thin darts of sunlight speckled her hair as they shone through the tilted blinds. Shane smiled fondly as he wandered across to the bed, his hand briefly touching her brown strands tenderly pushing them back from her face. He was glad she was finally getting some rest. His brown eyes slowly drifted up to Paul. No matter how many times he saw him lying there, he still couldn't get used to all the wires attached to him and the odd tube in his mouth that he breathed through. Yet his face looked so relaxed and peaceful and he found it hard to believe Paul was fighting a battle to save his own life although the bruising on his forehead and the thick row of stitches were a constant reminder of what he had been through.
Sighing sadly, Shane sat down carefully on the edge of the bed trying his best not to disturb his sister. Her light breathing was a comfort to him as he sat in silence just watching Paul thinking about him and everything he had been through lately. All he'd ever been guilty of was being in love Stephanie but unfortunately that love had come at a price, maybe even to the extent of him losing his life. Lightly shaking his head, Shane quickly pushed that thought from his mind and the sound of his own voice surprised him as he found himself talking to the man who he considered family and not only that, a close friend.
"I want you to know that you're going to make it Paul." He paused for a second his eyes watching his face for any sort of reaction but of course Paul remained absolutely still. His soft sigh echoed around the hospital room. "You have to believe that, man. You have to believe you'll get better. You've got so much to live for you know. There's Stephanie and the baby and also the business; a business that you were put on this earth to be a part of."
As Shane paused absently raking his fingers through his hair, he was unaware that Stephanie had opened her eyes, her expression soft as she lay still and listened to her brother.
"You know you can't let that bastard win, Paul. You can't let Andrew take you away from Stephanie. That's what he wants, you know. He knows how much Stephanie loves you and he can't stand it. It eats him up inside and that's why he did what he did to you. He wanted you out of the picture and I'll be damned if you're going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he succeeded."
His brown eyes searched once more for a reaction but he knew it was pointless. He wasn't going to get one. Not today. Maybe not ever.
"This is stupid." he sighed as he rubbed his face wearily. "You can't even hear me, can you?"
"Yes he can."
Shane jumped slightly startled by Stephanie's voice. She lifted her head and her lips pressed together in a sad smile as she reached for his hand lightly squeezing it.
"Paul hears everything Shane. That's why I talk to him every day. That's why I can't leave him all alone. He knows we're here."
Shane nodded hearing the conviction in his sister's voice. She truly believed what she was saying to him and the reason why she had barely left his side.
Shifting on the bed, he watched Stephanie sit up and sit back in her chair, her hand still holding Paul's. He sat up and took the seat on her other side and that was when noticed the untouched sandwich that lay on the floor beside her feet. He sighed as his brow furrowed in her direction.
"Stephanie, you have to eat."
"I'm not hungry Shane."
"I don't care. You still have to eat. You have to take of yourself for you and the baby's sake." He paused for a minute as Stephanie rubbed her thumb across Paul's hand, her blue eyes watching him tenderly. "You know Paul will be pissed when he wakes up and finds out you're not eating or looking after yourself properly."
She turned to glare at him. "That's emotional blackmail, you know."
"As long as it makes you eat, I really don't care."
Stephanie's lips curved up gently, touched by his concern. Shane always did like to play the older protective brother and she had to admit that it helped her to know he was there for her, looking out for her. As her lips parted to attempt a reply, the sound of the door opening interrupted her.
They both stood up, Stephanie reluctantly letting go of Paul's hand as the doctor, a nurse and a hospital porter entered the room. The middle aged balding doctor gave them a smile as he walked across towards the bed.
"There's no need to be alarmed. We're just going to take Paul away for some tests."
"What kind of tests?" Stephanie asked, alarmed. "Is he okay?"
The doctor smiled at her trying to reassure her. "There's nothing to be worried about. We're going to take Paul back up to Neurology to do an MRI scan. We want to check to see if the swelling has gone down and also to make sure there is no fluid on the brain."
Stephanie nodded and absently rubbed her stomach as she felt the baby kick. She felt Shane wrap his arm around her and hug her to him and she leaned into him grateful for the comfort. They both watched in silence as the doctor and nurse sorted out the equipment and wires attached to Paul before they started to wheel him out of the room. Before they left, the doctor turned back round to Stephanie.
"Paul will be back in an hour or so. Maybe you could grab a bite to eat in the meantime?"
Stephanie nodded and continued to watch them wheel Paul out into the corridor reluctant to let him out of her sight for even a moment. As the door clicked shut behind them, she sighed softly and turned to Shane who was rubbing her arm affectionately.
"Did you pay him to say that to me?"
Shane chuckled and shook his head happy that despite everything that was happening right now, Stephanie still had her sense of humour. "No, I did not but he did make a very good suggestion. So, how about it? Do you fancy accompanying me to the cafeteria?"
Stephanie sighed and nodded her head. "I guess so. At least it will help me take my mind off what's happening to Paul up there."
She bit down her lip before looking up at her brother. He saw her unshed tears as they glistened in her big eyes.
"I'm so worried Shane." she whispered. "What if the swelling hasn't gone down? What if Paul's not getting any better?"
Shane pulled her into a hug and held her closely to him. His fingers squeezed her arm firmly. "That's not going to happen Stephanie. Paul's going to make it. You'll see. You have to have faith that everything's going to be alright."
He heard her sniff before she brought her head back up from his shoulder, her eyes red with her tears.
"I'll try. It's just hard to be positive when he's lying there like that, you know?"
"I know." he sighed. "Come on. Let's go get something to eat."
Shane put his arm protectively around her as they walked out the room and towards the cafeteria.