Chapter 36

Squeaking was all that she could make out. It was playing on her nerves. Why were there squeaks? Lily tried to open her eyes but they were too heavy. Her arms wouldn't move either, she felt all stiff. Panic began to surge through her. She had to move, she needed to move.

Slowly she fought on for movement. The more she tried the more drained she became. It was no good she couldn't move. She tried then to relax. She lay there still focusing on her breathing. That had to be a good sign; it meant she was still alive.

As her breathing began to become regular the squeaking sound changed. Whispering replaced it but she was unable to make out the voices or the words. It almost sounded foreign to her ears. It couldn't be right.

The whispering drained away slowly. She wondered what was happening. There was heavy breathing coming from close beside her but she couldn't pinpoint where. Once more she tried to open her eyes.

Everything was dark. Had she managed it? Then shapes started to focus and she realised it was night. She was in a bed that much she was sure of. She tried to call out but she couldn't her voice was but a strained whisper.

Movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention. There was somebody walking around. She tried to call again. The person stopped and looked at her bed, but then shook their head and moved on.

A snort startled her and she turned her head catching sight of the sleeping man. James was scrunched up in a chair. He had one arm covering his eyes while the other was tucked under his chin. A small smile played on her dry lips. With all the strength she could muster she knocked his legs off her bed.

"I was just thinking Sir."

He had sat up straight and was looking around. A small look of relief came to his face as he remembered he wasn't in work. He leaned back into the chair and picked his feet up onto her bed again. His eyes were already closed. Gently she managed to tap his leg again and he leaned forward.

She blinked as their eyes met and she was surprised when he jumped back.

"SHE'S AWAKE! SOMEBODY SHE'S AWAKE!"

He was jumping up and down on the spot almost as if he had never seen somebody wake up before. She was surprised when a door banged open and three people came running into the room. The lights around her bed sprung on and she was forced to blink while her eyes tried to refocus.

"Evans can you hear me?"

The voice was familiar. She didn't know why though. Her eyes were still not use to the bright light and she tried to look through it.

"Do you think that there's some kind of damage been done?"

"I don't know son, best to give us some space."

James was pushed back by the voice and she reached towards him trying to draw him close.

"Wait. Lily it's me. Do you know who I am?"

She wiggled her fingers at him. Why wouldn't he take her hand?

"Son I'm telling you step back."

"James."

It had been spluttered through what could have been a cough. She wasn't sure if she had actually spoken it or had just thought it. The light around her dimmed and she saw a familiar figure stood there.

"Did you say something?"

She smiled gently as she continued to wiggle her fingers.

"James."

It strained her throat saying it but the man smiled at her nodding. Finally a hand touched her fingers and she locked them not wanting to let go. She felt lips on the back of her hand but she kept her eyes locked with the mans.

"Now do you know who I am?"

She nodded slowly and mouthed the word, unable to actually speak anymore.

Eddie.

He smiled and she felt his lips on her forehead.

"Owens her memory seems to be okay."

Owens that's whose voice it had been. Carl Owen her old boss. But why was she here? She guessed here was the hospital. It didn't make much sense to her at all. She felt more than saw them move around her checking her body out.

Still she couldn't work out what was happening to her. The last thing she remembered was Lyn's funeral. It had been horrible and really hard but that surely couldn't have put her in hospital.

The lights went off over head but the one on the cabinet continued to shine. The healers left her and James alone. She had been almost unaware of how tight his grip on her hand was.

"You scared me again."

She turned her head slowly it was a little sore. Her voice had completely failed her now so she was reduced to mouthing her words.

Why.

"Why? Because you've been laying in that hospital bed for two weeks."

Her mind began to boggle. Two weeks it couldn't have been. How could it have been two weeks since Lyn's funeral? She couldn't understand what had happened. She felt James squeeze her hand and she let his eyes wander up to his.

"You fainted went down pretty hard. Peter tried to catch you but he slipped and you both ended up hitting your heads."

She made a little 'o' shape with her lips and saw a brief smile play on his features. She'd knocked herself out and it sounded like it had been a bad knock as well. She didn't know what to think to this and looking up into his eyes saw something new there. His eyes were soft and filled with love. But there was a sadness to them, a worry and yet relief all mixed into one.

How's Peter.

It didn't seem as if he had caught what she had tried to say. She looked around and then back at him watching as his eyes went to her mouth.

How's Peter.

"Oh Peter. He's alright. Complaining he's got a lump the size of a Quaffle on his head. Seems to think that Lyn planned it. Well you know with her sense of humour and all. But no he's alright its you we've all been worried about."

Why?

"You haven't woken up since it happened. Apparently you've had some sort of umm… coma I think was the word they used. But that doesn't matter anymore you're back."

She smiled watching as he moved from the chair onto the bed. His arms were wrapped around her and she felt safe. She felt his lips on her forehead and she leaned against him glad to be back.