"Miss Connor. Mrs Connor" greeted the Consultant as he came in, coughing to get their attention as they pulled away from one another. It meant Michelle had no time to question Carla and her motives for suddenly trying to restore their connection with passionate affections. He took a seat and waited for both of them to get comfortable back opposite him.

"I have some good news…Ryan is recovering well under the circumstances. Now we still have him being monitored and he hasn't come round just yet but he is responding well. We just wanted to get you up to date and let you know that you can see him now" he explained as Michelle teetered on the edge of her seat.

She was a mix of emotions, relief mainly though that Ryan was set to be ok. She couldn't believe how lucky he was and she made a mental note to remind him at some point. She had read so many unfortunate stories about kids and drugs and what had happened to them as a result. A lot of them never survived and it had shocked her to read such things knowing that one day that could be her own son and now here she was. She considered herself one of the lucky ones, her son seemed to be fighting fit and from what the consultant was still saying was due to make a full recovery.

Michelle was over thankful as she made her way out of the waiting room, hand in hand with Carla as they were escorted to Ryan's private room. She was anxious, not knowing what to expect and Carla sensed that. She squeezed her hand and took a deep breath just as Michelle did before they were shown inside. Walking in to see Ryan with tubes coming in and out of his body, machine's beeping away and a mask over his face helping him to breathe, Michelle was choked, instantly gasping and squeezing Carla's hand as hard as she could whilst she tried to take in all that she saw.

When she had finally come to terms with it all her hand slipped away from Carla's and she slowly approached Ryan's bedside. With an unsteady hand she reached back and brushed his forehead and up into his soft hair. She was struggling to fight the tears, especially at the feel of his cold skin. He didn't look like her Ryan in that state. Her trembling finger's eventually pulled away and she moved her hand to gently pick his up and hold it.

As Carla watched Michelle from further back in the room even that action made her choke, emotion overwhelming her the same way as she took in what had happened to her nephew. She wanted so much to join Michelle, stand by her side and offer her support but she could see she needed this little bit of distance and time alone. Bowing out Carla returned to the hallway as she held back her tears. Folding her arms she paced momentarily only hearing the general noises that accompanied waiting around in a hospital corridor and she really couldn't take it. Suddenly she started striding away, she needed some air and a strong coffee.

When Carla eventually returned, she was on her second black coffee and in her hand she held a tea for Michelle. As she entered Ryan's little room she startled Michelle making her look back towards the door with a more than frightened look on her face. She was so relieved to see it was her friend and lover, not that she had actually noticed her absence and she smiled at her before turning back to Ryan. Carla felt so much for Michelle, she didn't deserve such heartache and with Ryan not yet awake she could only imagine the hell Michelle must be going through hoping they were right about his recovery. Again Carla stayed back for a few seconds as if hesitating to see if Michelle invited her over instead but she didn't. Approaching with caution Carla headed over, gently placing the tea on the bed in front of her and waiting for her to take it from her.

"How's he doing?" she innocently asked trying to break the silence, but the second she had asked the question she knew it was stupid.

"Alright I think" Michelle mumbled not taking her eyes off of Ryan.

That concluded their polite conversation and Carla had a feeling all still wasn't quite right between them. Moving she crouched beside Michelle in the chair and reached out for her arm. The eye contact instantly restored between them as Michelle looked round to her and knew she had something she wanted to say. She wasn't sure she wanted to do this right now, especially after the awkwardness of the kiss in the waiting room earlier but Carla was trying and she cared too much to discourage her.

"Michelle, I am so sorry. I really am, about earlier and about everything. Forgive me?" Carla apologised in the softest and most sincere voice that Michelle had ever heard her use.

Michelle knew that it must have taken everything for Carla to apologise in such a way. It wasn't the best of apologies but at least it was one. She had been really hurt by Carla, but she admired how even after all that fall out she was still there, by her side, supporting her through the dark moments with Ryan. Smiling she almost cried as she was overwhelmed by emotions, happy and sad mixing within her and she leaned forward to place a feather-light kiss on Carla's lips. It was as their lips met and both their eyes closed that the beauty of such a silent moment of affection was interrupted by a loud beeping coming from one of Ryan's machines.

It was such an obtrusive noise it caused them both a fright and they pulled apart instantly to look up at him. Michelle after the realisation had kicked in and the nurses came in started screaming as Carla tried to keep her back. They needed access to Ryan to do their job but Michelle was panicking. This was not ok and the consultant had said he would be. Confused, upset and frustrated she tried at first to resist against Carla restraining her but eventually she tired and turned into Carla where she cried.

"This isn't supposed to happen Carla. This isn't supposed to happen" She cried as she beat her fists gently against Carla's chest.

"I know, I know" comforted Carla as she kept Michelle pulled in close in an attempt to stop her lashing out and stroked her hair as she watched over Michelle's shoulder at the Doctor's now tending to Ryan.