Authors Note: Hey everyone. Sorry it's been a while. School and all that. I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who has reviewed it's so nice to be able to read comments and see if people liked it. Special thanks to my regular reviewers: Auggy1984, Loopsey and Tillow. Thanks for all the support guys, it's what keeps me writing! Anyhow, better just get on with it I suppose! (I've noticed formatting is a bit weird, so sorry for the gaps between lines)

Marissa sat in the car and sobbed. Finally pulling herself together she clicked the car into gear and began the drive home. Staring blankly at the road ahead she tried not to think about what Alex said. A stop sign loomed out of the darkness ahead, ambulance lights in the distance.

Great. An accident. Now I'll be stuck here for ages.

Slowing the jeep she drove slowly along the road, waved along by a paramedic in a lurid orange coat. There was an ambulance parked at the side of the road. Next to it an old merc lay where it had skidded across the road. In front of it, and splashed on it's bumper was a smear of blood, showing up vividly in the ambulance lights. Driven by some morbid curiosity Marissa slowed the car further. Another paramedic was talking into a mobile, shouting to be heard over the roar of sirens.

"Yes. A runner, hit by a car. Female, around 18 years. Distinguishing feature blonde hair with a purple highlight. No identification. We don't know what she was doing out here."

Marissa slammed on the brakes, the car behind shunting her bumper.

Blonde hair and a purple highlight. Christ, don't let it be her. Oh god. No.

Flinging the door open she hit the ground running towards the ambulance and casualty stretcher. Two policemen tried to intercept her but she dodged their clumsy attempts, all her attention focused on the ambulance's open doors. Shoving a third paramedic out of her way she rushed into the back of the ambulance.

Alex's eyes were closed. Her blonde hair sullied by the blood which coated it. One of her hands fell limply off the side of the stretcher, fingers open as if reaching out for something.

"You. Get away from there. That's restricted."

Strong arms grasped her as she felt her mind become numb.

"That's my girlfriend. She's my girlfriend, I love her, I want everyone to know. Please god, don't let her die. Not before I get the chance to make it better."

She felt dizzy. Blackness seeped into the edge of her vision.

"This one's blacked out too. She says the casualty's her girlfriend."

"Just get them both to the hospital. Quickly, this one isn't doing so well."

Marissa woke up in a hospital bed. Sun streamed in the windows, reflecting off the stainless steel furniture and blue tiles of the ward.

"Alex, where is she? Is she ok. Somebody, tell me what happened."

"Marissa Cooper?" A nurse leant forward, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You're in county general hospital. Your friend is in our intensive care unit. She was hit by a car. You blacked out in the ambulance."

"Is she ok? Tell me if she's ok!" Marissa was panicking.

"She's doing fine. She just needs observation in the ICU"

"Can I see her? Take me to her, please." Marissa clutched at the nurses hand, eyes filling with tears.

"Are you a direct relation of hers? Because only next of kin can be with her now."

"I'm her girlfriend."

"Sorry Ms. Cooper. Friends aren't allowed visit."

"No, her girlfriend. The other kind. I'm in love with her for god's sake. She's emancipated. Doesn't have any relations, not that I know of. Please, let me go to her."

"Oh. Well, I suppose that puts you into the category of, well I don't know. Let me get the doctor to check on you and then we'll see about that visit."

"Thank you." Marissa sank back into the bed, head spinning with questions.

As soon as the doctor had finished his check up she got dressed and raced to reception.

"Visitor for Alex Kelly. ICU ward 2, room 6."

"Marissa Cooper?"

"Yes."

"Go right in."

Marissa tried her hardest not to run through the halls, but she couldn't control herself. For every step she took at walking pace she took another two at full tilt. Coming to a halt outside the room she steeled herself with a deep breath and put her hand on the door knob.

"Marissa Cooper?" A voice interrupted her.

"What?" She could have screamed her frustration.

"I'm Alex's doctor. If you don't mind I'd like to have a word with you before you go in."

"Oh, sure. Sorry, I'm just so worried."

"That's fine, don't worry about it."

"How is she?"

"Alex is doing well. However she did suffer some injuries from the collision. She has two cracked ribs and a broken leg. But it's the head injury we are most concerned about. During impact her head rebounded off the road with considerable force. We still haven't managed to get her to retain consciousness for more than 3 minutes in a row. When she does become aware she asks for you though. We want to keep her under observation until she can hold consciousness."

Marissa felt tears seeping out from her closed eyelids.

Alex, oh god, I'm sorry babe. I'm sorry I couldn't admit it about us. I'm sorry I made you hate me, that I made you run out there. God it's all my fault.

"Can I see her?"

Alex drifted in and out of consciousness. When she managed to regain some form of coherent thought only one thing filled her head. Marissa. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I'm not scared anymore. I don't care what happens. I just want you here with me. Even if you have to pretend you don't know me. As long as we know, that's all that matters. You're all that matters. As the blackness overtook her again, the last image she saw was her rooms door opening.

Marissa looked at Alex lying in the bed. Her hair was clean now, the cut above her eyebrow stitched and her leg encased in a cast. Drips and tubes were strung around the bed. Even so she looked peaceful lying there. Tears rolling down her cheek she walked over to the bed. Taking Alex's hand she leant down and kissed her forehead.

"Hey, Alex. It's Marissa. You look good baby." She ignored the purple red bruising and swelling of her girlfriends face.

"God Alex, I'm so sorry. I love you. I love you. Don't leave me, not like this babe."

Sinking into the chair beside the bed Marissa laid her head on Alex's limp hand and wept.

Alex felt air on her face. Squinting she managed to get a focus on the flowers beside her table. She tried to put her hand to her head, but felt it trapped under something.

I'm paralysed! Shit! She nearly screamed then, but focusing her eyes on the shape next to her bed she realised who was holding her hand down.

"Marissa."

At the sound of her name Marissa looked up.

"Alex. You're awake. I'm sorry. Oh god I'm so sorry. I love you. I didn't mean it, I want everyone to know now. I was scared. I was stupid. And I'm sorry. Please baby, forgive me."

"No, I'm the one who should be begging forgiveness. I just, I wanted it to be perfect. And it was, I just got nervous about what would happen if you didn't want this anymore. I thought it was for both our sakes."

"It doesn't matter now, I'm here, and I love you. You really scared me this time Alex."

Marissa stood up and leant over the bed, her lips meeting Alex's. Alex leant into the kiss as best she could, trying to memorise how the other girls lips felt. Marissa tasted of coffee and not enough sleep, of perfume and lip gloss, of hospital food and the tang of blood where she had been chewing her lip. She tasted of Marissa. The taste of perfection.

Authors note: Yes I am aware it got a little extreme. But that's fiction for you! There's a bit of a time skip here, about a month or so. Now I know it takes longer for a leg to heal but in the purpose of storytelling I'm avoiding that fact. (And I bet no one would have noticed if I hadn't said it!) So this is about a month on. Alex is healed of all injuries (modern medicine huh?)