Chapter Six: Call My Name

Despite everything, all the feelings that told John he couldn't go back and see Alex like that, he did anyway. The same day he got back from being on the road he went to see her. Randy was sitting next to the bed, still looking tired, he was talking to Alex and she was nodding along. Randy saw him first.

"Hi." He greeted, but it wasn't friendly. He got up from his chair. "I'll go get something to eat."

John didn't enter the room until he'd left. He noticed the brusing on her face was fading.

"Hi John. Don't ask me what's wrong with him. Everytime someone comes to visit he leaves the room."

"It must be hard for him." He explained, taking Randy's seat. "Anyway, how are you feeling?"

"Better. Except for the amount of doctors coming in and showing me flashcards with things on and asking pointless questions."

She began picking at a piece of microtape on her hand that was covering a tube. "I hate it in here."

"Everyone hates hospitals."

"People who come to see me sit there and look at me all sad. Most of them cry."

"I'm not surprised. You have a lot of friends. They don't like seeing you like this."

Alex sighed and leaned back against the pillows. "I feel sorry for Randy the most. He's here all the time and he tries to treat me like I'm the same person, but I think he hates me."

John's sympathy for both Alex and Randy grew at that point. He took hold of her hand and immediatly noticed that her wedding ring was missing.

"He doesn't hate you, he loves you. It's just difficult for him."

"It's not difficult for you."

Of course it was. Everytime he looked at her, his heart gave a twinge. He wished he could turn back time and save her. It was only going to get worse for her. Soon she'd have to go home and everyone's hopes that leaving the hospital would help her, would be firmly planted on her shoulders. Part of him hoped that too. that onces he was back amoungst her old things that everything would fall into place and it would be alright. He didn't want to tell her that.

"We're friends and no matter what happens, we'll always be friends. Even if we have to start all over again." Alex smiled and with the stiches running from her lip, it gave her a joker- esque apperance. "We'll, you're high up on my list of people I'm beginning to like. Mostly because you don't start every senatnce with 'Do you remember when....''

"What would be the point in that?" John asked. "I have to go. I'll see you when you get home."

He stood up, but Alex garbbed hold of her wrist. "Wait. Can you write your phone number down. Just incase I freak out or something when I get home. I like talking to you."

His first answer was no. No, because Randy wouldn't like the thought of them becoming friends. No because they weren't friends. John still loved her, but he didn't want to tell her that and he wasn't sure if he could keep it to himself. But she needed someone, and that someone just so happened to be him. Randy was, as always, stationed outside the door, waiting for John.

"Don't think just because I need your help means I won't be watching you two. She's still my wife and as soon as she remembers she'll remember I love her and that you two are over."

"Do you think I don't know that?" John asked."

"'I think part of you doesn't. I think part of you thinks this is some sort of second chance for you. To get close to her."

John shook his head. "That's twisted Randy. All I'm thinking about his helping Alex get better. There isn't anything in it for me."

Randy didn't like Alex sleeping. He couldn't contain the fear that for some unexplainable reason, she'd fall back into a com and that would be it. Talking to her was strange, like talking to her clone or something.

It could be worse, she could be dead.

But in a way, in a horrible way she was dead, and he felt bad for thinking that, but it was true. He still had every hope that she'd get her memory back, but kept telling himself it wasn't such a big deal if she didn't. Randy was still the same person Alex had fallen in love with, it could happen again. On the other side, John was different, at least to Alex. His infidelity was forgotten, and thus forgiven. He was the person she'd originally fallen for, not the jerk who'd broke her heart. What if.....? No, he didn't want to think about that. Looking at her, asleep or her side, her bruises quickly fading, but her fresh scars red, he couldn't help it. What if Alex fell back in love with John?