A/N I know I'm really bad at updating and I wish I could promise a quick follow up but no guarantees! However, i can promise faithfully that this story will be finished - I hate to leave things incomplete. I don't know how many chapters are left as I am crap at planning but I don't think we will make it to 70! Perhaps lol
Thanks for continuing to read and all you wonderful people who review and alert my story. I truly appreciate it.
Lady Piwah
Chapter 56
Andy spent the evening and a large portion of the night helping Morris in tracking down the relevant people that had been identified from the phone records. He had never been more grateful for the partner that he had been assigned when he returned than he was right now. Morris was always diligent in his work but his commitment to this case and helping Prue was a step above anything else and Andy would never be able to express how grateful he was to his friend. So he sat at his desk opposite and started the tedious job of trying to track these people down. When it got too late to call anyone, they took their papers into an interview room and spread everything out between them to try and piece some more pieces together.
They were both aware that with Prue's help this process might go an awful lot quicker but they also knew that Prue was still in the very early stages of processing everything and anything they could do to not add pressure or stress was the best course of action right now.
By the time they were done, the picture became a lot clearer and they knew many gaps would be filled in with the interviews they had scheduled for the next day. Morris was going to interview the PI and a couple of the prostitutes that they had contacted and as much as Andy wanted to be there he knew it would be a bad idea. He didn't want to jeopardise the case in any way and if that meant stepping back in some areas he was ok with that.
Being ok didn't mean being fine with it though. Interrogation had always been a good way to blow off some steam verbally and he needed that kind of release right now but he was going to have to find an alternative. He needed to find a way to release his emotions in a way that wouldn't hurt Prue or the case. He had no doubt they were heading towards a pretty significant conversation in the very near future and he wanted to be calm when that happened.
As he and his partner separated in the parking lot and said goodnight, Andy cast his mind back to the things that made him calm. The things that brought peace to him. The list wasn't too extensive he had to be honest. He sat silently in his car waiting for his inspiration – at least that's what he told himself. He already knew deep down that the only thing that was going to calm him and clear his mind was to see Prue.
The need had been creeping up on him all evening but he had shoved it aside determined to allow Prue and her sisters to truly reconnect. They were the most important relationships she had and right now they needed each other.
She needs you too his subconscious was saying. He knew that that voice was the truth but it still scared him. Even after everything he had said to Prue, he still couldn't help but worry that he wouldn't be enough for her or that he had done too much damage in the past. He briefly wondered if Prue was thinking about him and the things she needed to say as he had no doubt that there were things she needed to say – especially since she now knew they had read her diaries.
Before his mind could travel further down the path of the revelations the diaries had revealed he forced himself to stop thinking and allow instinct to take over. Before he knew it he was pulling into a parking space outside the hospital and trying to figure out how to get into Prue's room as visiting time was most definitely over. Glancing at the clock on the dash he realised it was nearly 2am. He knew that Prue would almost definitely be asleep as the previous day had to of been draining but he just wanted to sit and watch her for a while. He knew her presence would calm him like nothing else ever had and with that in mind he made his way into the hospital.
After stopping to charm a nurse into allowing him access, Andy quietly crept into Prue's room being careful not to make any noise. Gently lowering himself into the chair at the side of the bed, Andy allowed himself the luxury of simply looking at a sleeping Prue.
'Even after everything she's been through, she still looks beautiful and peaceful and innocent lying there in that bed. I wish to God she were innocent still. Of all the scenarios I envisaged in my head about meeting Prue again, this never even entered my mind as the smallest of possibilities. It hurts so much to know how she was suffering while I was away from her. I may not have been happy in my marriage but that pain is nothing in comparison to what she endured.
I need her to know I don't blame her for anything. I need her to know that I absolutely understand why she made the decisions that she made and I also need her to know how sorry I am. From the moment I walked away from her all those years ago I have wanted to go back. As soon as I was at the end of the street that day I wanted to turn around and run back, crushing her to me and begging for forgiveness but I was too much of a coward. Or maybe I was too proud I'm not sure. But I need her to know that she has been front and centre in my mind and my heart for all these years, no matter where I was, what I was doing or who I was with. I know that I can be the man she needs if she will only give me a chance. There is so much for us to talk about and so much to be forgiven but I would give everything I own to be able to get to that point. I will give it my all. I have to. For her and for me. As long as I am around Prue, I promise no-one will ever hurt you again'.
As his thoughts drifted off into daydreams of a life with Prue, Andy slowly reached out, gently took her hand in his and the rested his head gently next to their clasped hands. He smiled slightly to himself as he felt Prue's fingers instinctively move to mould around his own in her sleep and he gently closed his eyes finally succumbing to the exhaustion.
Noises and light began to intrude upon Prue's sleep and she slowly found herself leaving her dreams behind. As she slowly became aware of her surroundings she felt something unexpected. Prue became acutely aware of a weight on her arm and another person in the room. The instinctive panic kicked in and she began to shake even before she had opened her eyes. Prue didn't want to open her eyes because she didn't want to see Roger's face staring at her in hatred and contempt. Through the panic flooding her mind Prue held tight to a voice repeating over and over 'please let this be a nightmare' and refusing to acknowledge the other voice telling her that she knew that was not the case. Prue quickly realised she was losing control as she was bombarded with memories of the torments Roger had put her through and tears began to creep out from behind her tightly closed eye lids, her whole body began to shake harder and her breathing became shallow and laboured and she tried desperately to prepare herself for the inevitable onslaught.
Andy became aware of a noise out of place in the room and remembering where he was, shook himself out of sleep in a flash, quickly trying to locate the anomaly that had woken him. His gaze landed on Prue and his heart immediately plummeted. At first glance it would look as if she were having a nightmare but he could tell from the movement behind her eyelids that she was awake but trying to keep her eyes closed.
He immediately realised why. She must have woken to feel him next to her and feared the worst. He felt like such an idiot for making her feel this way. Shifting his weight in the chair he moved a hand up to Prue's face gently and tenderly stroked her cheek as he began murmuring words to her. "It's ok sweetheart, it's only me, it's Andy. Open your eyes and look at me beautiful, I promise you I am right here, no-one else. I'm sorry I scared you but I promise you it's me and I'm not going to hurt you. Open your eyes Prue, let me look into your beautiful eyes. Please sweetheart, please."
Prue felt the words wash over her and felt the tenderness with which he stroked her cheek and held her other hand and her eyes began to open automatically without a conscious decision being made.
The sight that greeted her caused her to release all the tension she was holding as the damn broke and tears crawled down her cheeks, covering Andy's hand that was still gently resting there. He gently reached down to kiss their joined hands and her eyes followed his every move, feeling a flutter in her stomach as his lips grazed her hand ever so gently. She couldn't help but be affected by the way he took such gentle care of her. Despite everything that had happened in the past she could never be afraid of the man in front of her. He was her saviour and she needed him to know that. She needed him to know that she trusted him implicitly and that she felt safe with him. There was so much else she wanted to say but she needed to take her time. She needed to process and she knew he would need to process but she had come to a conclusion when talking to her sisters the night before – she had spent so much time upset and angry and scared and if she was truly going to put the past behind her, then she needed to be honest with herself and with the people in her life. And that most definitely included Andy.
"Thanks Andy. I'm sorry I woke you up by reacting that way. It's silly really. If I had simply opened my eyes I wouldn't have panicked in that way. I'm sorry." Prue said, grasping the bull by the horns and saying how she really felt for once. As she did, she could feel a spark of the old Prue coming back. The one before Roger and before her grandmother and before the baby.
"You don't ever have to apologise sweetheart. I should have thought. In truth, I only meant to stop by for a few minutes to make sure you were ok. For some reason being near you calms me down and washes away the days stress. I guess I must have fallen asleep. I'm sorry for scaring you." Andy said, stroking her cheek and hand as he looked deeply into her eyes.
A part of him felt hope blossom at her words and actions. He, too noticed the glimpse of the girl he fell in love with so many years ago and he hoped it was the first glimpse of many to come.
"I'm glad after everything that I make you feel that way Andy. I know that we have a lot to talk about and I don't want to put it off more than necessary. But if its ok, I just need a day or 2 to think and process everything. Talking to my sisters has really helped me put a lot of things into perspective and deal with some of what has happened. I want to talk to you about everything. About all of this and what happened before and us. But I just need a little more time. Can you give me that Andy? I know I am asking for a lot given what I have put you through but please, just give me that time and I promise we will talk about absolutely everything for as long as you want." Prue said, gaining confidence as she spoke, determined to make him understand.
"Of course I can give you that Prue. I'll give you whatever you need to be able to move on from all of this. You just the say the word and I'll be here I promise." With that said, Andy leant down slowly, giving Prue plenty of time to protest or move, and when she didn't he gently brushed his lips against hers for a few seconds before squeezing her hand and quietly saying good bye and he got up and left the room.
Walking down the corridor, Andy couldn't contain the happiness inside of him. He just knew that the Prue he fell in love with was making a come back and the feel of her lips on his after so long was the best feeling in the world.
Meanwhile, inside the small hospital room, Prue sat dazed starting at the door with her hands gently touching her lips. As what happened sunk in, Prue couldn't help the huge smile that spread across her face as she remembered the feel of his lips on hers.
