Kane froze for a moment before rushing back to his car, tearing the door open and getting inside. He roared up the engine and the car skidded back out of the driveway. He had to get the hospital. He had to find out what was going on. Tears were streaming down his face now. He couldn't have lost her. The rain was falling heavier now. Driving conditions were dangerous in this sort of weather and Kane was already way over the speed limit. Tears clouded his vision and the road ahead was a blur as he swerved from side to side. He could hear other drivers blaring their horns at him as they made an effort to get out of his way. Had there been many more cars out at this time his erratic driving would have been certain to cause an accident. A speed camera flashed at him as he tore down the road up to the hospital. He swore under his breath but made no effort to slow down. He skidded into the hospital car park and abandoned the poorly parked car, running towards the hospital building. He knew he looked a state, rushing into the building, out of breath, drenched by the rain and with tears streaming down his cheeks but his main concern was to get to Kirsty. To find out what had happened. He could hear people telling him to slow down, but nothing registered in his mind. He knew the way to her room off by heart by now. He had been in there every day. He burst though a door into her corridor and into Kirsty's room.
The door swung open and Kane staggered in, out of breath, looking run down and soaked through.
"Is it raining out there?"
Kane stared in amazement. Kirsty was sat up in bed. Relief swept through him. Her whole family was around her. They were all looking at him as if he was mad.
"Just a bit"
His reply was strained and weak, but delivered with a stunned smile. He wiped tears and rain away from his face with his hand. He wanted to rush over to her and greet her properly but he was too aware of her family's presence. He didn't know how to behave.
"We'll leave you alone"
Shelley rose from her seat and she indicated for the rest of the family to follow her out.
"How long have you been awake?"
"A couple of hours... where were you?"
"In the pub"
It sounded comical now. Nothing was serious anymore. Everything was going to be alright. The door clicked shut behind the Sutherlands and Kane walked towards Kirsty's bedside.
"I've missed you so much"
He threw his arms around her. He didn't want to let her go.
"I love you Kane"
He had longed to hear that for weeks. Just the sound of her voice.
"I thought I'd lost you... I'm sorry Kirst..."
"What for?"
"For everything... for getting you into this mess"
"It's not your fault baby"
She recalled very little of what had happened back at the warehouse but she didn't like to tell him. It'd only worry him and she could see him falling to pieces already. There would be time to talk another time. She had never seen him like this before. His arms were still wrapped round her. Slowly, he lifted his body away from her and slumped down on a chair, gazing at her lovingly, only just beginning to take it all in. What should he say? He knew she wouldn't appreciate the typical 'are you alright?'. He knew her too well.
"So what's been going on?"
"Too much. For starters I quit my job"
"You're kidding. Why?"
"So I could spend all day sat in the corridor out there. I thought it would be a laugh."
He was feeling great. He couldn't help but muck about. Only minutes before he had thought that she was dead.
"Why out in the corridor?"
"Basically your family wouldn't let me in... until - "
"Until what"
"Until earlier today. Dani had a word with your parents"
"Dani?"
Kirsty was disbelieving. Dani had been very quiet since she woke up. She hadn't looked her in the eye.
"Yeah, I know. We had a talk earlier"
"You and Dani?"
"Yeah. I couldn't quite get my head around it either"
He felt for her hand and squeezed it. His own hand was freezing compared to hers. His whole body was freezing. He had only just noticed he was shivering. His clothes were stuck to him uncomfortably.
"You should get home and get cleaned up."
"I don't want to leave you Babe"
"I'll be fine, honestly. And I need some rest"
"Rest? You've been resting for three weeks babe. How much rest do you need?"
They grinned at each other.
"I'll be back in the morning."
He stood up and leant towards her, kissing her firmly on the lips. He drew his face back slightly and held her head in his hands, gazing into her eyes.
"Night babe"
"Night."
He stepped back from the bed and exited the room. In the corridor, the whole family is sat waiting.
"I'm going to go home... get tidied up"
Shelley nodded slowly in acknowledgement and he departed. Dani stood up and Shelley followed.
"Do you mind if I have a word with Kirsty alone?"
"No... no of course not, love"
Dani smiled gratefully at her mother and entered her sisters room.
"Hey Kirst..."
"Hi."
An awkward silence passed. Last time they had spoken they hadn't been on the best of terms.
"Kirst, I'm sorry for the way I treated you"
"You've got nothing to apologise for Dan"
"I was unfair on you... despite everything that's happened, you're still my sister and I love you... that's why it was so hard"
"I never meant to hurt you"
"I know."
"Kane told me what you did for him"
Dani didn't reply. She couldn't. There wasn't much she could say.
"Thanks"
Dani smiled faintly down at her sister.
"Look, Mum said that before the... incident you were considering a mediation session"
"Yeah..."
"Look Kirst, after everything that's happened in the last few weeks I just want the family to be happy... I can't pretend to accept your relationship but I'm prepared to listen and try to understand if that's what it takes for you to be happy"
Kirsty was overjoyed to hear this. This was all that she could have wished for. It had taken a near death experience to achieve it, but finally she had got what she had always wanted.
"Thanks Dan... that means a lot... more than you can imagine"
They smiled at each other, less forced this time. More sisterly.
"Come here"
Dani hugged her sister
"We were all so worried about you"
The door swung open and Shelley put her head in.
"We should probably head off now - it's well past midnight."
.........................................
HOSPITAL
Morning
Kane is in early, hoping to beat the Sutherlands there. He wanted to spend some time with Kirsty before they turned up. He felt too awkward with them around. He had bought a large bunch of flowers for her. He had felt awkward buying them. He didn't have a clue which ones to get. It was much easier buying for his aunt. She always liked the same ones. He had never bought flowers for anyone else.
He entered Kirsty's room quietly. She was sleeping. Maybe he had come too early. The hospital had been unusually quiet. He put the flowers down gently on her bedside table and took a seat, gazing at her, smiling to himself. He couldn't quite believe how well his life was turning out.
He sat back, content with her company, the sound of her steady breathing.
.........................................
Kirsty stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She smiled as she saw Kane sitting by her bedside, looking down at her.
"How long have you been there?"
"About twenty minutes now... I didn't want to wake you"
She eases herself into a sitting position. She is aching all over. The bed had been uncomfortable and she had only managed to get a little sleep.
"I brought you these"
He lifted the flowers up slightly and she smiled at him.
"They're beautiful... thank you"
She paused for a moment
"Dani had a word with me last night - she's agreed to take part in a mediation... I really think that my family will listen now - they've been much more understanding recently... its been amazing"
Kane was willing to give anything a go if it meant he could be with Kirsty and that she was happy. He nods.
"Shall I have a word with Flynn?"
"Mum said she would this morning - before she comes in"
The door opens and Rhys enters, followed by Shelley. They pause when they see Kane.
"You're in early"
The same could be said for you, Kane thought. He knew it wouldn't be wise to say it out loud so he opted for a less sarcastic approach.
"Yeah... I'm going to go grab a coffee. Can I get anyone anything?"
Shelley and Rhys shook their heads. He looked down at Kirsty
"Just some water"
"Water it is..."
He glanced around awkwardly before leaving. Kirsty looks hopefully at her mother.
"Did you have a word with Flynn?"
"Yeah, he's arranged a mediation session for in a few days - you should be out of here by then"
"With any luck"
.........................................
Kane walked slowly back along the corridor, cup of coffee in one hand, water in the other. He didn't know whether to go into the room. He didn't want to disturb anything. He opened the door cautiously and walked slowly inside, placing the cups on the bedside table.
"Can we have a word outside?"
Rhys' voice wasn't as forceful towards him as usual. Kane glanced at Kirsty curiously. She shrugged. She knew as little about it as he did.
"Right... yeah"
He went back outside and was followed straight out by Rhys. He looked calmer than usual.
"You know Flynn's organised a mediation?"
"Yeah... Kirsty mentioned it"
"Look Kane, I don't think I'm ever going to accept this relationship, mediation or no mediation but I can honestly say that I've never seen Kirsty so happy"
He paused, biting his lip in thought.
"I'm only going to say this once - so long as Dani is able to come to terms with this, then there is no reason why you cannot keep seeing my daughter... But if you ever, ever do anything to hurt her you will be sorry we ever met"
He held out his hand. Kane looked at it for a moment, before shaking firmly. Rhys said nothing more and re-entered Kirsty's room. Kane followed shortly after, slightly puzzled by Rhys' change of heart.
"I should get going - I said I'd drive Dani and Jade to school"
Rhys kissed his daughter on the forehead before leaving. Shelley followed him out.
"What happened?"
Kirsty was obviously as much in the dark as he was.
"He said that if Dani was alright about us then basically he couldn't object to us seeing each other... what did you say to him?"
"Nothing... much. It was more what you said - when you were locked up together back at the warehouse"
The whole saga at the warehouse was a blur in Kane's mind. Whenever he thought about it all he could see was Kirsty tumbling backwards. Her lifeless body surrounded in blood.
"Whatever you said back there did the trick anyway"
"Yeah... and if this mediation works out we could just be another normal couple. We'd never have to worry about being seen together... would it be too much to ask for me to come over for Sunday dinners with the family?"
Kirsty smiled. She could just see it now. Rhys hurling steak knives across the dinner table.
"Lets just stick to the 'seeing each other' for now."
"I'll settle for that. Lets just hope I say the right things at this mediation"
The door swung open and Kane staggered in, out of breath, looking run down and soaked through.
"Is it raining out there?"
Kane stared in amazement. Kirsty was sat up in bed. Relief swept through him. Her whole family was around her. They were all looking at him as if he was mad.
"Just a bit"
His reply was strained and weak, but delivered with a stunned smile. He wiped tears and rain away from his face with his hand. He wanted to rush over to her and greet her properly but he was too aware of her family's presence. He didn't know how to behave.
"We'll leave you alone"
Shelley rose from her seat and she indicated for the rest of the family to follow her out.
"How long have you been awake?"
"A couple of hours... where were you?"
"In the pub"
It sounded comical now. Nothing was serious anymore. Everything was going to be alright. The door clicked shut behind the Sutherlands and Kane walked towards Kirsty's bedside.
"I've missed you so much"
He threw his arms around her. He didn't want to let her go.
"I love you Kane"
He had longed to hear that for weeks. Just the sound of her voice.
"I thought I'd lost you... I'm sorry Kirst..."
"What for?"
"For everything... for getting you into this mess"
"It's not your fault baby"
She recalled very little of what had happened back at the warehouse but she didn't like to tell him. It'd only worry him and she could see him falling to pieces already. There would be time to talk another time. She had never seen him like this before. His arms were still wrapped round her. Slowly, he lifted his body away from her and slumped down on a chair, gazing at her lovingly, only just beginning to take it all in. What should he say? He knew she wouldn't appreciate the typical 'are you alright?'. He knew her too well.
"So what's been going on?"
"Too much. For starters I quit my job"
"You're kidding. Why?"
"So I could spend all day sat in the corridor out there. I thought it would be a laugh."
He was feeling great. He couldn't help but muck about. Only minutes before he had thought that she was dead.
"Why out in the corridor?"
"Basically your family wouldn't let me in... until - "
"Until what"
"Until earlier today. Dani had a word with your parents"
"Dani?"
Kirsty was disbelieving. Dani had been very quiet since she woke up. She hadn't looked her in the eye.
"Yeah, I know. We had a talk earlier"
"You and Dani?"
"Yeah. I couldn't quite get my head around it either"
He felt for her hand and squeezed it. His own hand was freezing compared to hers. His whole body was freezing. He had only just noticed he was shivering. His clothes were stuck to him uncomfortably.
"You should get home and get cleaned up."
"I don't want to leave you Babe"
"I'll be fine, honestly. And I need some rest"
"Rest? You've been resting for three weeks babe. How much rest do you need?"
They grinned at each other.
"I'll be back in the morning."
He stood up and leant towards her, kissing her firmly on the lips. He drew his face back slightly and held her head in his hands, gazing into her eyes.
"Night babe"
"Night."
He stepped back from the bed and exited the room. In the corridor, the whole family is sat waiting.
"I'm going to go home... get tidied up"
Shelley nodded slowly in acknowledgement and he departed. Dani stood up and Shelley followed.
"Do you mind if I have a word with Kirsty alone?"
"No... no of course not, love"
Dani smiled gratefully at her mother and entered her sisters room.
"Hey Kirst..."
"Hi."
An awkward silence passed. Last time they had spoken they hadn't been on the best of terms.
"Kirst, I'm sorry for the way I treated you"
"You've got nothing to apologise for Dan"
"I was unfair on you... despite everything that's happened, you're still my sister and I love you... that's why it was so hard"
"I never meant to hurt you"
"I know."
"Kane told me what you did for him"
Dani didn't reply. She couldn't. There wasn't much she could say.
"Thanks"
Dani smiled faintly down at her sister.
"Look, Mum said that before the... incident you were considering a mediation session"
"Yeah..."
"Look Kirst, after everything that's happened in the last few weeks I just want the family to be happy... I can't pretend to accept your relationship but I'm prepared to listen and try to understand if that's what it takes for you to be happy"
Kirsty was overjoyed to hear this. This was all that she could have wished for. It had taken a near death experience to achieve it, but finally she had got what she had always wanted.
"Thanks Dan... that means a lot... more than you can imagine"
They smiled at each other, less forced this time. More sisterly.
"Come here"
Dani hugged her sister
"We were all so worried about you"
The door swung open and Shelley put her head in.
"We should probably head off now - it's well past midnight."
.........................................
HOSPITAL
Morning
Kane is in early, hoping to beat the Sutherlands there. He wanted to spend some time with Kirsty before they turned up. He felt too awkward with them around. He had bought a large bunch of flowers for her. He had felt awkward buying them. He didn't have a clue which ones to get. It was much easier buying for his aunt. She always liked the same ones. He had never bought flowers for anyone else.
He entered Kirsty's room quietly. She was sleeping. Maybe he had come too early. The hospital had been unusually quiet. He put the flowers down gently on her bedside table and took a seat, gazing at her, smiling to himself. He couldn't quite believe how well his life was turning out.
He sat back, content with her company, the sound of her steady breathing.
.........................................
Kirsty stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She smiled as she saw Kane sitting by her bedside, looking down at her.
"How long have you been there?"
"About twenty minutes now... I didn't want to wake you"
She eases herself into a sitting position. She is aching all over. The bed had been uncomfortable and she had only managed to get a little sleep.
"I brought you these"
He lifted the flowers up slightly and she smiled at him.
"They're beautiful... thank you"
She paused for a moment
"Dani had a word with me last night - she's agreed to take part in a mediation... I really think that my family will listen now - they've been much more understanding recently... its been amazing"
Kane was willing to give anything a go if it meant he could be with Kirsty and that she was happy. He nods.
"Shall I have a word with Flynn?"
"Mum said she would this morning - before she comes in"
The door opens and Rhys enters, followed by Shelley. They pause when they see Kane.
"You're in early"
The same could be said for you, Kane thought. He knew it wouldn't be wise to say it out loud so he opted for a less sarcastic approach.
"Yeah... I'm going to go grab a coffee. Can I get anyone anything?"
Shelley and Rhys shook their heads. He looked down at Kirsty
"Just some water"
"Water it is..."
He glanced around awkwardly before leaving. Kirsty looks hopefully at her mother.
"Did you have a word with Flynn?"
"Yeah, he's arranged a mediation session for in a few days - you should be out of here by then"
"With any luck"
.........................................
Kane walked slowly back along the corridor, cup of coffee in one hand, water in the other. He didn't know whether to go into the room. He didn't want to disturb anything. He opened the door cautiously and walked slowly inside, placing the cups on the bedside table.
"Can we have a word outside?"
Rhys' voice wasn't as forceful towards him as usual. Kane glanced at Kirsty curiously. She shrugged. She knew as little about it as he did.
"Right... yeah"
He went back outside and was followed straight out by Rhys. He looked calmer than usual.
"You know Flynn's organised a mediation?"
"Yeah... Kirsty mentioned it"
"Look Kane, I don't think I'm ever going to accept this relationship, mediation or no mediation but I can honestly say that I've never seen Kirsty so happy"
He paused, biting his lip in thought.
"I'm only going to say this once - so long as Dani is able to come to terms with this, then there is no reason why you cannot keep seeing my daughter... But if you ever, ever do anything to hurt her you will be sorry we ever met"
He held out his hand. Kane looked at it for a moment, before shaking firmly. Rhys said nothing more and re-entered Kirsty's room. Kane followed shortly after, slightly puzzled by Rhys' change of heart.
"I should get going - I said I'd drive Dani and Jade to school"
Rhys kissed his daughter on the forehead before leaving. Shelley followed him out.
"What happened?"
Kirsty was obviously as much in the dark as he was.
"He said that if Dani was alright about us then basically he couldn't object to us seeing each other... what did you say to him?"
"Nothing... much. It was more what you said - when you were locked up together back at the warehouse"
The whole saga at the warehouse was a blur in Kane's mind. Whenever he thought about it all he could see was Kirsty tumbling backwards. Her lifeless body surrounded in blood.
"Whatever you said back there did the trick anyway"
"Yeah... and if this mediation works out we could just be another normal couple. We'd never have to worry about being seen together... would it be too much to ask for me to come over for Sunday dinners with the family?"
Kirsty smiled. She could just see it now. Rhys hurling steak knives across the dinner table.
"Lets just stick to the 'seeing each other' for now."
"I'll settle for that. Lets just hope I say the right things at this mediation"
