Dani walks up to her sisters bed. Shelley is sat by her side alone, reading a book out loud. She stops as Dani approaches and faintly smiles at her.

"I hope she can hear me. I don't want her to feel alone."

"She knows she's not alone"

"All those things I said to her. I was so angry"

Shelley grips Kirsty's hand, a tear running down her cheek. Her daughter looked so peaceful.

"Try not to think about it. She needs us to be strong for her"

A silence passes as Dani sits down on the opposite side of the bed. The door swings open and Rhys walks in, struggling with two cups of coffee and a newspaper under his arm. He hands a coffee to Shelley and puts his down on the bedside table before pulling up a seat next to Shelley.

"He's still out there..."

There was no need to ask who he referred to.

"...it's his fault she's in here and he has no right to sit out there."

"It's not his fault, Dad."

Shelley and Rhys stare at their daughter. Was she really saying this? Dani's voice was steady and quiet. She didn't look at her parents. Instead she looked down at her sister.

"...you said so yourself - these guys were dangerous. This might have happened anyway"

In a way, Dani couldn't understand why she was doing this either. But just seeing Kane sat there in the corridor had made her think. He had looked vulnerable. A shadow of the person that she was terrified of. She knew what it was like to beat yourself up inside. To wish that you had behaved differently. Done something differently.

If he had been another person, if he hadn't raped her, then Kane would have just been another guy, sitting in the hospital, desperately waiting for news about his girlfriend. They had more in common than she had thought. They both would do anything for Kirsty to live. But it wasn't down to them.

"What are you saying Dan?"

"I think we should let him see her"

She monitored her parents reactions. They were shocked, no doubt about it. Rhys swallowed, holding back fury.

"What's this all about Dan?"

Shelley couldn't understand. She was beginning to feel lost whenever she tried to understand her daughters. Nothing made sense anymore.

"I had a word with him earlier. I don't think he would be here every day if he didn't care. If he didn't love her"

Rhys and Shelley exchanged a glance. If Dani was able to be civil towards Kane then they had no reason not to be.

.............................

Rhys and Dani leave the room as Shelley and Kane enter. There is a brief glance between Dani and Kane. He looks thankful, overwhelmed by this undeserved gesture. Kane walks up to Kirsty's bed and stares numbly down. She looked so peaceful. So fragile. He swallowed a lump in his throat, not wanting to break down in front of Shelley. Breathing deeply, he sat down next to the bed and took her hands. Shelley can see the tears appearing in the corner of his eyes and feels suddenly awkward. Out of place.

"I'll leave you for a minute"

Shelley exits the room as a tear falls down Kane's cheek. He can't stand seeing her like this. Tubes all over her. Machines surrounding her.

"Kirst... I can't do this by myself Babe... you have to wake up. We've come too far to lose it all now..."

He stroked her face with his hand, brushing her hair back behind her ear softly. The silence cut him up inside.

"Wake up Kirst..."

He bent over her body, putting his arms around her, breaking down, his voice reduced to sobs.

"I'm sorry Babe..."

Shelley looked throught the panel in the door. For a moment she felt sorry for him. She understood how he felt. For weeks she had prayed that her daughter would be alright.

........................

Shelley re-enters Kirsty's room. Kane lifts his head off Kirsty's bed and turned to face her, wiping away tears. She indicated that it was time for him to leave. He had had about half an hour with her. He hadn't known what to say. He didn't even know if she could hear him. He rose from his seat and bent over Kirsty, gently kissing her on the forehead. Shelley stands nearby bitterly, watching. She despised this man for tearing up her family, but deep down she felt sympathetic towards him. It was obvious that he wasn't coping well.

"Bye, Babe"

Kane turned away from the bed to face Shelley.

"Thanks... for letting me see her..."

"You've got Dani to thank for that."

Shelley still spoke to him coldly. Even after all that had happened. He couldn't believe what Dani had done for him. He knew how much he had hurt her and he couldn't understand why she would want to do anything for him.

"Do you mind if I come in again... tomorrow?"

He spoke cautiously. He knew she wouldn't welcome him there, but just seeing Kirsty had made such a difference to him. He could feel near to her again.

"We'll see"

Kane nodded thankfully. At least it wasn't a no. He took a last glance downwards at Kirsty before leaving the room.

........................

BEACH

Kane stares down from the roadside to the beach, leaning on the wooden fencing. On the beach, there is a figure, silhouetted against the moonlit sea. He quickly recognises the figure as Dani. Should he approach her? How would she react? He needed to thank her for what she had done for him. The conversation earlier that day had cleared the air somewhat. He strolled down onto the sand. She had her back to him, staring out to sea.

"Hi."

Dani swung round, her head pounding. He took a step back, not wanting to overstep the mark.

"I... I just wanted to thank you - for earlier..."

He felt a bit stupid. Awkward. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable.

"...it... it meant a lot. Just to see her"

Dani nodded weakly and forced a faint smile. She makes eye contact for a moment. Being alone with him still scared her. She didn't know what to say or how to react.

"I should go..."

He turned and ascended the pathway to the road. Dani watched him, silent, a strange relief blowing over her as he distanced himself from her.

........................

KANE HOUSE

Kane's car pulled into the driveway. It was late. He had stopped off at the pub for a drink, to calm him down. To keep his mind off everything. He did that most nights now. After he had visited the hospital. It was becoming routine. There was someone at the door of the house and the door was ajar. His aunt was the only one with a spare key. It had just started to rain. Kane hauled himself out of the car and walked over to the patio, where his aunt was stood, waiting for him.

"Sorry... I didn't know you were coming"

"You've just had a call from the hospital"

Kane's heart sank. There was a lump in his throat and his lips were dry.

"They want you to get down there as soon as possible"