000 I don't own this, at all, not a sausage 000 Well thanks for all the reviews! TLI should receive special thanks from everyone as its partly thanks to her that this now has direction and an ending which Im really looking forward too! 000

Malcolm groaned and stared at the floor tiles. He hadn't felt this bad in a long time. Even when he was pinned to the hull by a mine and had the disgusting sensation of his own urine swishing round his feet he hadn't felt this bad.

Bad does not cover how I feel. I should create a new word for how bad I feel.

It is supposed to hurt just thinking? I mean I've had physical pain before but not this searing pain.

It's kinda woolly. Woolly? Yeah woolly.

Someone up there hates me.

Someone down here is trying to open the door.

Malcolm blinked.

"Malcolm! Malcolm open the door sweetheart!"

Argh! No shut up! Noise bad. Noise very, very bad!

Please, just leave me alone……………

"Malcolm answer me! C'mon love! Open the door!"

I'll tell you to bugger off but that involves energy.

Why don't I have any energy?

Oh, can't think. Thinking hurts. That BLOODY RACKET HURTS!

Is this what dying feels like?

Hmm, maybe not.

Anyway, just because I'm stuck…………in Happyville doesn't mean I'm dying.

Besides, I have no intention of dying, it goes against my survival instincts.

Malcolm whimpered at the sudden noise of the door bursting open. There was the heavy dull thud of running feet and hands pulled at him.

"Get help!"

It took what seemed like an eternity for Malcolm to finally realise who was holding him. That could've also been due to the fact his eyes wouldn't stay open for more than a second.

"Emma?" he mumbled.

"It's ok Malcolm, it's gonna be ok," she said desperately.

Everything blurred alarmingly as more hands grabbed onto to him. He couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.

But the darkness didn't return. Sleep didn't take him and the agony only increased.

Malcolm felt very alone as the capable hands of the medics tended to him and his 'family' were pushed away.

Help me, someone help me.

People were talking to him. He didn't reply, the effort to form coherent sentences was beyond him at this point. Tubes were inserted; hyposprays were pressed against his neck and faces swam in and out of view.

It seemed like a thousand years had passed by before he was settled in the cold, clinical, local hospital. He had closed his eyes a while ago but sleep didn't claim him. Hovering somewhere between insanity and exhaustion he forced himself to pay attention to his surroundings.

"What is it Doctor?"

"I can't say at this moment in time, we've sent a blood sample off for analysis but that's all I can tell you at this point in time."

"You don't know what it is? Help him!"

"We can't treat him till we know what's wrong with him; the blood test will tell us more Mrs Reed. In the meantime we'll keep him comfortable."

Yeah, real comfortable

"Malcolm?"

He heard footsteps move away and forced his eyes open. Two faces smiled down at him. One was Emma.

The other was Trip.

"Hey Mal, long time no see."

"Hey Sweetheart," said Emma smiling gently. "You gave us quite a scare."

Malcolm blinked.

Trip turned away and said something to the wall behind him and Emma leant forward and brushed sweaty hair from Malcolm's forehead.

"Don't worry about the boys, your mum's watching them," said Emma. "Stuart came with us and frightened most of the hospitals staff half to death. I think he's currently demanding why no one is seeing to you."

"Malcolm, can you hear us? The Doc just asked you a question."

"He's proud of you, you know," said Emma sighing.

"Stay with me Mal."

Malcolm gave a small moan of confusion, his head felt like it was on the verge of splitting in half, he could barely move any part of him, Trip had suddenly appeared from nowhere and only he could see him.

"Aww, c'mon on Mal………..don't do that again………..PHLOX!"

Trip's worried face suddenly disappeared from view and Emma clutched at Malcolm's arm.

"Nononononono!" Emma cried. "Don't die on me Malcolm! I need you! The boys need you!"

Malcolm gave her a look of confusion before a steady beep sliced through his consciousness.

Oh God that's me.

In an instant he was swept back into the darkness.

Malcolm experienced a familiar sense of security. The darkness was a constant; it was the one thing he could rely on that had never really changed much during his confusion.

A muffled sound reached his ears.

He strained to hear it but it always remained slightly out of his reach. However one sound cut through loud and clear. A steady tone, and something that sent chills through him.

"Time of death 1630 hours."

"Time of death 4:30pm."

A burst of harsh light penetrated his senses. He'd heard of people seeing a light when they had 'died' before, but the light they'd described was warm and welcoming. This light was harsh, direct and pierced his every thought. It dragged him towards it, its pull irresistible to him.

And for the first time in nearly five years………

Malcolm Reed opened his eyes.

000 Confused yet? Lol! Review! 000