Slightly shorter again but this seemed to come to a natural end.
Danny was glad to see Hayley was on shift and she ran over the moment she saw him stood at the resus doors. "What's happened?" she asked, looking in to see her colleagues working on Clara.
"Another fit, but this was worse than anything I've seen before. She was out for at least 15 minutes and she won't respond now. She's not talking, barely moving. Breathing yes, but that's it and it just… it doesn't feel right, I'm really worried," Danny couldn't take his eyes off the rush of people around her.
Hayley put a hand on his shoulder, "I'll do everything I can, she's strong," she told him before bursting in through the doors. "Clara is my patient," she announced to the room, "can we stop with the panic and take hold of the situation PLEASE!" Everyone stopped and looked at Hayley, "right, we only need half of you here so if you're not allocated to resus can you please leave. Secondly, I need Greg in here. Clara might not be responding, but she appears to be alert. She knows Greg and I well and her situation means she will be more comfortable with us as her main point of care. Finally, I want this to be treated as calmly as possible." The room was immediately much quieter and Hayley finally made her way over to Clara, "hello there love, I hear you're causing trouble again so I think we'd better sort that out hm? Shall we get Danny in now we've got all your lines in?" She looked up to the door and nodded to him.
Danny walked in and went to the other side of the bed, taking her hand. "How is she?"
"Stable, we want to do a brain MRI to check there hasn't been any significant damage as that is our major concern, we just have to take it one step at a time for now," she tried to reassure him.
Danny nodded, rubbing Clara's hair back with his spare hand, "I love you. It's all gonna be okay now."
Hours passed. Danny's parents had arrived and were waiting in the relatives room. Danny refused to leave Clara's side unless absolutely necessary but nothing seemed to be changing. Hayley was beginning to get frustrated, she'd exhausted every option now. "We're going to have to transfer her up to one of the specialist wards. I've spoken to the team up there and they have a bed available. I've explained everything to them, they're very understanding."
Danny nodded, "do you think she'll come round?" he asked.
"Honestly I don't know, but I know Clara and I know she'll try damn hard," she told him, "they're of the same opinion as me that we really can't be sure right now, but it's highly possible it's simply a matter of time. Her brain may just be shutting down a little to recover. The MRI was promising, so hold on to that," Hayley smiled.
"Thank you, I don't know where she'd be without you and Greg," Danny didn't look up, but Hayley knew he meant it.
"She's a special girl," she replied. As she finished the doors to the room opened and the porters came in, "here we go. You can go up with them, your parents are just outside the room I got Greg to explain everything."
Danny stood up and got out of the way so they could arrange the bed and wheeled her out to go upstairs. He followed, keeping close to his parents as they met him and followed up. The ward was big. Clara was put in a side room and immediately wired up to multiple monitors. She seemed to be asleep now, just asleep mind - nothing more sinister.
"You must be Danny, Hayley told me all about you. My name is Dr Garding Unfortunately because you're a minor you can't stay overnight, but you are more than welcome to be here during the day. Are these your parents?" he asked.
"Yeah," Danny replied, not really knowing what else to say.
"Good, you need support. Any news on Clara's parents?" he asked. Danny sighed, he'd tried calling her Dad twice but he wasn't answering.
"Her Mum is dead. Her Dad doesn't care. Right now, we're all she has, but I'll keep trying," he told them, although quite honestly he didn't know if Clara wanted her Dad her or not.
"Alright, thank you. You're welcome to stay for now anyway, the nurses will be in and out but for the moment we are simply observing," he told Danny and left.
"Do you want anything love?" Gina asked him but Danny shook his head, sitting down next to the bed and resuming his position holding her hand. "Is her Dad really not answering?"
"Yep, I've left messages but… nothing," he sighed, "I don't understand him."
"Good job she's got you son," his Dad replied and Danny nodded. "We'll leave you alone for a bit, go and get some drinks from the shop downstairs. Call if you need us, but we won't be long." Danny nodded again, not taking his eyes away.
He stayed right until 10pm when he had no choice but to leave. Clara was still asleep, not surprising given the situation. Danny left a note by her bedside the way her head was facing so she knew he'd be back and left. As they were getting in the car he made a decision, "we need to go to her house. Whatever Clara or I think of her Dad right now he needs to know, and more importantly her Gran needs to know."
Gina looked back at him in the car and noticed his face, "are you sure?"
"Yeah. I just… he might stop me from seeing her," he sighed, "he doesn't like me at all."
"I'm sure he'll see that you've helped her," she replied, but Danny shook his head.
"Honestly, even that doesn't work, but he needs to know even if that means I don't get to see her, at least she'll have someone," Danny spoke honestly, but it broke his heart to think of not being there for her.
Danny gave his Dad the address and they drove over. When he parked up outside Danny had to take a few deep breaths before he got out. Gina went to follow but he waved his mother back for now and went up to the door, knocking.
The pause between him knocking and the door being answered felt like an age, but eventually there was a turn of the lock and the door was opened. However no sooner had it been opened, Dave was ready to slam it shut again. Danny put his foot in to stop him from doing so. "Have you listened to any of my messages?!"
"I don't need to be lectured by a teenage boy. Isn't it past your bedtime?" Dave replied and Danny got increasingly angry.
"Your daughter is seriously ill in hospital!" he shouted at him, louder than he intended, but it seemed to get the message across. "She had a fit earlier, it went on for nearly 20 minutes and she hasn't fully come round. She's conscious, albeit asleep at the moment, but not responding to anyone. I tried to phone you so many times but you didn't answer, I'm sorry. She's on the adolescent ward in university hospital. It's 24 hour visiting for parents but if you want to be there overnight you need to go soon really. I can't go back till the morning-"
"You won't be going back at all! I told you both I didn't want you seeing each other, go home! Leave her alone," Dave told him.
Danny knew there was no arguing, "can you at least let me know when she comes round? I just want to know she's alright. Please."
"I have your number," he replied bluntly and Danny just had to hope that was a yes. "Goodbye."
Danny had to give in and step back, walking away back to his car. When he got in his parents quickly realised he didn't want to talk and just drove home in silence.
Dave woke up his Mum to explain what was going on. She wasn't well enough to come with him, but he assured her he would keep in contact and be back to help her up. He went down to the hospital as quick as he could without breaking the speed limit and made it up to the ward in record time. He explained who he was and they let him in to Clara's room where she was still asleep. The nurse explained what everything was for and how treatment was going before leaving him to it.
He stayed with her all night, sleeping in the chair but not for long. He was awake when her eyes flicked open again. Clara saw her Dad by the bed and quickly realised that meant Danny couldn't be. She spotted the note on the side and managed to read it in the corner of her vision saying he'd be back as soon as he could. She believed him too.
"Morning love, can you hear me?" he asked her. Even if she could have responded, Clara wasn't sure she would have. "Well I hope you can. I'm right here, they're doing everything they can for you. I just need to go and help your Gran sort herself so I'll be back soon okay? If she feels alright I might be able to bring her up too," he stroked her hair back. "See you soon sweetheart."
He'd been gone less than 10 minutes when Danny walked in and rushed over. Clara suddenly felt a whole lot calmer when he kissed her forehead gently and sat down beside her. "Hey you, still causing trouble I hear?" I've made good friends with the nurses and they're not going to tell your Dad about me coming. I thought he might go home for your Gran," he told her. "I love you so much you know that right? I'll be here as much as I can. I'm gonna go and help at the cafe today but they're gonna call if your Dad goes out and Mum said she'll drive me up. They're being great you know? My parents really like you and they're worried too. They said when you're out you can stay as much as you like, you deserve better than you get at home. Dad even said you should have your own drawer with some bits in for when you need to get away for a few days. I never thought I'd hear him agree to that let alone come up with the idea himself. I do hope you can make up with your Dad though, I hope he starts to understand us. You don't deserve to lose what you had." Danny spoke, not breaking eye contact with her even though he wasn't totally sure she was looking back at him.
She was though, Clara could see straight into his eyes and it made everything better. He knew exactly what to say and do, so did his parents - definitely a family thing. Danny went on to talk about how he was going to have to do a lot of washing up today because the dishwasher was on the blink and he would get really wrinkly hands, much to his disgust. Clara giggled internally at his facial expressions, glad he could treat her normally.
A little while later one of the nurses came in, "time to go, we just buzzed him into the corridor," she told him, taking Clara's obs as she did. "See you later."
Danny kissed Clara gently and thanked the nurse before leaving quickly, hiding round the corner until he had seen Dave and Clara's Gran head into the room and it was safe to head out.
A couple of days passed and nothing seemed to change. Clara watched as her Dad came and went, occasionally bringing her Gran. Danny came in a couple of times but it was never for long enough, and even that got less frequent as her Gran was able to cope more on her own so her Dad wasn't leaving as much. Today she woke up feeling different. There was nobody in the room when she opened her eyes and so she tried something, soon realising she was able to move her head and limbs around now. She knew she could talk now too, but she didn't want to. In fact she returned herself to the position she'd been in and shut her eyes, this was all too much.
The nurse came in, chatting away as she always did. She seemed nice, cared a lot, but Clara couldn't bring herself to show her new found recovery. "Your Dad said he'll be back soon, just gone to get a change of clothes. Danny couldn't get here in time, but he sends his love. He's a good one, you're very lucky." Clara couldn't see but she felt her do her blood pressure and take her temperature. "Ah, here's your Dad," she sounded far too cheery about that. Clara spotted her Dad walk in and sit down beside him.
"Hey love, your Gran sends her love but she wasn't quite ready, I might go and get her at lunch though," he smiled and sat down, pulling out his book. Just as he did his phone went off and he pulled it out, stepping out of the room to answer. Clara waited and he came back a minute or two later. "That was your Gran, she's in a bit of a mess at home so I need to go back. I'll be as quick as I can I promise." She didn't respond, watching as he left again.
When he was gone she was alone in the room again. Clara leant over quickly and opened up the cupboard by her bed, pulling out her spare phone and quickly texting Danny please come before putting it all back and lying back.
Danny almost ran into her room about 15 minutes later and Clara sat up, almost wincing at the pain but not caring when he pulled her in for a hug. "Your Dad said he would call when you were responding," he told her, kissing her head, "I'm so glad you're back."
"Dad doesn't know," she spoke quietly, "I was too scared, nobody else knows."
Danny kissed her properly now, "oh love, I'm here now," he told her. "You shouldn't be scared, your Dad is clearly trying he's been here loads."
"I know, I don't know why I'm scared, I just want him to accept you," she sighed.
As the door was still open it didn't take long before one of the nurses spotted her sat up, "woah when did this happen?!"
Clara almost hid herself behind Danny who spoke for her, "I think she woke up feeling better, but she was too nervous to say anything."
"Oh love, you don't have to be scared of us. Why didn't you tell your Dad?" she asked.
"I just… couldn't. I don't know, I just couldn't," she sighed and leant against Danny's shoulder.
"Alright, that's okay. I'm gonna go and get the doctor because they'll need to check you over. Are you okay with that?" Clara nodded and the nurse left.
"This has been such a mess Danny, why did this happen? I've felt trapped for days…" she could feel herself getting teary and he turned around, immediately rubbing the tears away from her eyes.
"You're not anymore, it's gonna be fine okay? I think your so called friends have learnt their lesson anyway," he told her. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"You only went to the loo, how were you to know? And before you say anything your parents aren't to blame either, they weren't to know either. We'll get back to normal… whatever normal is."
Danny chuckled softly, "we don't do normal Clara, there aren't that many like us out there," he smiled.
"Weirdly though I wouldn't want it any other way," she sighed happily and rested against him as the door opened again and the doctor rushed in.
"Clara! It's lovely to see you sat up, how're you feeling?" he asked. Clara had got to know this man pretty well even if they'd never spoken.
"A little stiff, but to be honest I feel fine," she told him.
"That's not surprising, your body has taken a slightly unusual way of healing after such a serious seizure, but all your scans have been clear throughout so we were fairly convinced of a good recovery. Are you in any pain at all?" he was checking all the obs in her notes as he spoke.
Clara actually spent a couple of seconds thinking that over, realising she hadn't focussed on her body much at all, "no not really, I just need to move around and loosen up I think."
"That's not a problem, just take it easy - you haven't walked in a few days," he told her. "Alright we will keep you under observation for one more day but all being well you can go home tomorrow if you feel ready," he smiled.
"Thank you," Clara replied and watched as he left, the nurse following. "Can you help me up?" she asked Danny who nodded, moving so she could get her legs over the edge of the bed and letting her put her arm over his shoulder to get up.
Clara had to find her balance for a moment but soon enough she was upright. "What on earth is going on in here?!" The noise made her jump so much that she slipped back down onto the bed. Danny stopped her from falling too hard and sighed as he realised her Dad had got back rather sooner than they'd thought. He looked up as Verity, the nurse, half ran in behind her, looking rather sheepish that she had missed him arriving. "I thought I told you he wasn't allowed in."
Clara glared at him, suddenly realising she was still too scared to talk to him. Danny looked down at her as he felt her fear. "It's not their fault Mr Oswald, Clara text me to come. I'm not here to hurt her or take her from you, I'm here to help," he tried to explain, resisting the urge to tell him that he was pushing her away.
"You took her and look what happened!" Dave shouted at him.
"Mr Oswald none of this is helping your daughter," Verity interrupted and Danny knew she was right and that there was only one way to sort this right now.
"It's fine, I'll go," Danny replied and turned to Clara, "you're gonna be fine okay? He's your Dad, he wants to help you, let him sweetheart," he smiled and kissed her head before letting her go and leaving.
Clara watched him leave and then looked back down as her Dad walked over, "how did you text him?" he asked and she froze, but didn't reply. "Never mind, that's not important, it's just good to see you up. How are you feeling?" She still couldn't talk. "Clara?"
Verity walked over, "you alright?" Clara nodded, "is this what you told me about earlier?" she nodded again. "Danny was right with what he said you know?"
"What did he say?" Dave asked.
"Why do you care?" Clara replied, not looking up. "Why don't you like him?"
"He's a bad influence! I mean look at you! You ran away from home to him and look where you are now," he spoke angrily.
"I ran to him because I felt safe there and I didn't with you! I ran there and his parents welcomed me in and treated me like a normal kid. What happened wasn't his fault, he wasn't even there - he was in the loos. When it mattered he was there for me. He stayed as long as he could, barely left my side. You on the other hand ignored all his messages! What am I meant to think Dad? I just want you to accept this for what it is!" Clara managed to get out, almost shocking herself.
Dave was stunned, never expecting that to come from her. He didn't know what to respond immediately and sat down by the bed. "I…" he started, stuttering over his words. "I don't know, I don't know how to react. Your mother dealt with all that, all the emotional stuff. She'd have known, she'd have been a much better judge of this all. I guess my instinct is just to protect you."
"How is this protecting me though Dad? You're making me choose between the two men I love most, how is that fair? I get it's not easy for you, that's why I didn't want to tell you just yet, but you know now so the only thing we can do is work through this. Compromise if we have to, but you have to see how much he cares, surely you can see that?"
Dave sighed, she wasn't wrong, not really. But then Clara rarely was, she was like her Mum in that respect - always saw things logically. "I'll try, I promise. I'm so sorry I've let you down, again, I'm really not doing very well am I?"
"3rd time lucky?" Clara smiled a little and Dave nodded. "Fancy helping me back up? I really need to walk."