Chapter XXV

''Sir, please come with me. I really need to take care of your hand,'' the young nurse repeated for the fourth time, but John didn't care. His knuckles, badly bruised from bashing into Green's face two days in a row, were the last thing on his mind right now.

''Miss, as I've already told you, I'm not moving until I see her,'' John replied, pacing up and down the hospital corridor.

The police and the ambulance had arrived only 3 minutes after he had made the call. He was surprised that they had managed to show up so quickly, until one of the police officers had told him they had gotten a phone call a few minutes prior to his, reporting that someone had been hit by a bus in front of Anna's place.

Since the police had needed to take a statement from him, John had been forced to stay at Anna's while she had been taken to hospital. He had tried to go with her, almost punched the paramedic when the poor lad had tried to close the ambulance door on him, but Anna's pleading eyes had made him calm down and stay, so he could let the police know what had happened.

And in a way it had ended up being a good thing, because he'd had the opportunity to find out that the someone who had been hit by a bus had been none other than Alex Green himself. He had died instantly, and John had caught himself feeling nothing but relief when he had overheard the police officers discussing the incident.

But in a way Green's death did not matter right now. So when the police had finished questioning him, John had immediately run to his car and driven to the hospital to be with Anna.

That had been three hours ago, and he was still waiting to see her.

''Sir, your hand is badly injured. I can't let you risk an infection,'' the nurse insisted. By the look of his hand, she could tell that he was in pain.

''Miss, I know you're trying to do your job, but I'm fine, all right?''

''With all due respect, you are not fine, Sir.''

''For god's sake! I'm not going anywhere until I see her!!''

''I'm sorry,'' he quickly apologised and sat down on one of the plastic chairs. ''I'm so sorry,'' he repeated, and then started sobbing. ''I didn't mean to...'' he began. It had finally dawned on him how much worse this whole situation could have been if he hadn't shown up when he had.

''It's all right,'' she spoke soothingly, and sat down next to him. ''It's going to be all right.'' The paramedic who had brought Anna in had told her what had happened to them, and she really did not blame him for snapping.

After a few minutes of silence, she gently examined his bruised hand. ''I can work on it here.'' She disappeared for a few minutes, returning with a tray of supplies, and quietly started cleaning and bandaging his hand.

xXx

Half an hour later, the large white door John had been staring at finally opened.

''Please call us if you need anything, anything at all,'' a policewoman said to Anna, who was now clad in an ugly grey hospital tracksuit.

''I will, thank you,'' Anna replied shakily, clutching a plastic bag containing all of her belongings.

''Is there anyone you can stay with tonight? I can ask one of the nurses to find you a bed...''

''She is staying with me.''

Both women turned toward John, who was quietly waiting for Anna to notice him.

''John...'' Anna almost cried with relief when she saw him.

''Miss Smith?'' The policewoman looked at Anna, making sure she was all right going home with him.

''It's OK,'' Anna nodded. ''Thank you. For everything.''

''Sure,'' the woman smiled. ''We'll call you tomorrow. Get some rest, Miss Smith.''

''I will, thank you,'' Anna said, before the policewoman disappeared back through the door.

The moment the door closed behind her, Anna's arms went around John. And he just held her, no words needed between them.

''Let's get you out of here,'' he whispered after some time had passed, and he walked her to his car.

After a quiet drive, John unlocked the door to his cottage and let Anna walk in first.

''Can I take a shower?'' she asked.

''Sure,'' he nodded, and walked her to the downstairs bathroom. ''The towels are in the closet.''

''Thank you.''

xXx

''Anna?'' John knocked on the bathroom door, after he had taken a quick shower himself upstairs.

''Yes?''

''I've got some fresh clothes for you. I'll leave them outside the door, if you want them.'' He knew his clothes would be far too large for her, but he could not let her spend the night in that hospital tracksuit.

''Thank you.''

He knew she needed some time to herself. A lot had happened in the last few hours, and he could only hope that she'd be OK.

''I'll be in the kitchen if you need me,'' he added, and looked down at the cat, who had been following him all around the place since they'd arrived. ''Come on, Mer. Let's get you something to eat.''

xXx

''I still cannot believe that you have a cat,'' Anna said, when she walked into the kitchen a few minutes later and saw him sitting on one of the bar stools, the cat napping peacefully in his arms.

''Well, sometimes neither can I.'' He smiled at her, glad she seemed to be feeling a little better.

''Thanks for these.'' She put her hands into the pocket of his enormous hoodie, which said "York Fire Department" on the front.

''You're welcome.'' He grinned when he saw how adorable she looked in his pyjama bottoms and his old hoodie.

''Are you hungry? I can make you something if you want.'' He stood up and placed Mer in her basket by the fridge.

She shook her head. The truth was she was tired. So, so tired.

''Do you want to talk?'' he asked next, not really sure what to say.

''No, not now.'' After telling the police repeatedly about everything that had happened back at her flat, she really did not want to talk about it anymore. At least not tonight.

''I hope you don't mind, but I answered your phone while you were in the shower,'' he said quietly. ''It was Gwen. She knows what happened and where you are. I told her you'll see her tomorrow. Is that all right?''

''Yeah, thanks,'' Anna nodded. She loved Gwen like a sister, but right now, for some reason, being alone with John was all she needed.

''Are you OK?'' he asked gently, even though he knew it was something she'd probably have a hard time answering.

''I don't know,'' she admitted, her voice shaking.

''Come here.'' He pulled her into a hug, and she went gladly. ''You are safe.'' He held onto her tightly, afraid something bad might happen to her if he let go.

''Thank you.'' She looked up, her eyes shimmering. ''I'm so glad you came before he...before he...'' She didn't trust herself to finish the sentence without bursting into tears.

''Me too.'' He tightened his hold around her and kissed the crown of her head. ''He's dead, Anna,'' he said at last. As shocking as it might be, she needed to know.

''What?'' she looked up, confused.

''A bus hit him as he tried to run away.''

''What are you talking about?''

The last thing she remembered clearly was John pulling Green off of her - after that, everything was a blur. So John filled in the gaps.

''Thank you,'' Anna said, when he was done talking. Finding out Green was dead somehow allowed her to breathe normally again. He was dead. He could not hurt her anymore, her or anyone else.

''Anna?'' John called softly, noticing her staring blankly at a spot behind him.

''I'm tired,'' she said, and then found herself in John's arms as he lifted her.

''Let's get you to bed.''

Carrying her into the guestroom, he set her down on the bed.

''What?'' He raised his eyebrows in surprise when she clung to him.

''Please stay.''

''Are you sure?'' The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable with him in the bed alongside her all night.

''Yes,'' she nodded. '' I know he can't hurt me anymore, but the only place I feel safe right now is in your arms.''

''OK, just let me lock the front door and turn off the lights.'' He stood up. '' I'll be right back. I promise.''

And he was. Coming back into the room, he saw that she was already under the covers. Taking his shoes off, John lay down gently next to her, and before he knew it Anna had wrapped her arms around him.

''May I hold you?'' John asked. He didn't want her to feel trapped, especially after what had happened to her just a few hours ago.

''Please do,'' Anna said, and as his arms enveloped her tiny frame, she pulled herself even closer to him.

It took her a while, but eventually Anna's breathing evened, telling him that she had managed to fall asleep. But not John. He just kept staring at the ceiling, holding her tight.

He had almost lost her today. Who knew what Green would have done to her if he hadn't shown up when he had. Just thinking about it made him feel sick to his stomach.

Turning his head to have a better look at her peaceful face, John was struck with the realisation that Anna Smith was worth the risk of having his heart broken again.

Vera was right. There was no point in denying it any longer. He loved Anna. He, John Bates, was madly in love with this amazing woman, and for the first time in a very long time he was not afraid to admit it to himself...or to her.


BETA: ANNAMBATES! xoxo thank you!

hi! I hope you are all keeping safe and staying home doing nothing like the rest of the world! take a nap...and leave a review! ;) xoxo