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Chapter 13: All I Ask

In the blink of an eye, two weeks had passed. Rachel herself appeared to be stirring more and more, entirely confused, yet, that was something, wasn't it? Not to mention the revoking of the vote of no confidence; her righteous role was ready and awaiting. Eddie couldn't help but see that as something to smile about.

Though above all that, he couldn't help but long for her to wake up, to feel the relief flood through him as that undoubtedly led towards him beginning to feel certain that Rachel would be okay.

On the rare occasion that Rachel did come round, however, she appeared to be murmuring various things. One particular comment relating to Stuart Hordley had caused Eddie's stomach to turn, mind wandering back to him and Melissa (someone who had, evidently, done a disappearing act).

Two weeks ago, Hordley had been stable. Yet that was then, and this was now. Eddie's instinct was screaming at him to dig deeper, discover any potential dangers for Rachel once she returned to full strength.

With this in mind, Eddie took a moment to lean over her, planting a kiss to Rachel's temple with the knowledge he'd be back within the hour.

He moved closer to the reception desk as he emerged onto the corridor, knowing that his upcoming words were a long shot, yet equally feeling as though it was worth it, he had to try.

"Hi. I'm looking for a Mr Stuart Hordley. I believe he sustained injuries from the fire at Waterloo Road school, just over two weeks ago now."

The woman nodded, her uncertain features doing nothing to suppress Eddie's concern as she glanced up at him, "are you a relative of Mr Hordley's?"

Eddie winced, battling internally with himself - to lie or not to lie?

"I'm the deputy head at Waterloo Road school. I'm just wanting to see him, to know if he's okay."

Yes, Eddie pondered, as understanding made an appearance in the woman's expression, now he was getting through to her.

"I'll have to contact someone. See what I can do. And your name is?"

Eddie allowed himself to smile as he passed over his name, letting his mind slip into wondering what exactly would be said to Stuart if he got the opportunity. Eddie would certainly have to tone down the anger, he knew. The last thing he needed was to be losing control of his emotions, something which Hordley was more than capable of triggering.

It seemed an age before the blonde haired woman made a return, choosing to stand rather than sit as she leant against the desk, "Mr Hordley is happy to see you. He's on ward 52."

Happy to see me. Eddie blinked in disbelief, knowing the feeling certainly wasn't mutual, but this had to be done.

Smiling his thanks, Eddie made the relatively short distance to the ward - each step convincing him that this was a terrible idea, that he would only end up getting more riled up.

And yet he didn't stop, didn't stop until he reached Stuart Hordley's bedside, a sickening feeling settling in Eddie's stomach upon noting how well he looked. And there was Rachel, a couple of corridors away, lying unconscious with visible injuries. The world certainly worked in a rather strange way, he pondered.

"Well, Eddie, how very good to see you," Stuart spoke as though he had conquered the world, placing down the newspaper as if it were gold dust.

"Let's skip the pleasantries shall we Stuart?" Eddie couldn't help himself from biting back, lowering himself into the sole chair surrounding the man's bed.

"What? Have you got a bee in your bonnet because the police couldn't find any evidence against me? I heard they ruled it as an accident," he leant forwards, lowering his tone to a mere whisper, "I must make a great arsonist. What do you reckon though, shall I stick to the blackmail, make life easier for myself?"

The bloke certainly wasn't making it easier for him to keep his cool, Eddie absently thought with a scoff.

"You really are something else Stuart."

"Maybe I've just got a spring in my step now your girlfriend's little Pandora's box is wide open for the world to see."

"I really would quit while I was ahead if I were you."

"And why's that? What have I got to lose?"

"Let's return to blackmail. Do you know, I thought Rachel was a one off for you. But Melissa… I didn't see that coming."

If anything the anger was back in Stuart's expression, eyes ablaze as he consolidated this new information.

"You know?"

The smirk came naturally to Eddie, how could it not when Stuart was back to being the one squirming, looking uncomfortable.

He simply nodded, resting his elbows on his knees whilst leaning forwards, clasping his hands together, "I know about you blackmailing Melissa. I know about you telling her to keep quiet about the fire. About her bigamy. I'm sure the five year stretch would be extended with double the blackmail."

"Melissa wouldn't betray me like that. You call the police, she goes to prison for bigamy. And then it'll be just like the other little incident, no evidence."

Eddie swallowed down the anger, wanting nothing more than to ram a third fist into Stuart's face - hospital bed or no.

"I mean it this time, Stuart. Stay away from Rachel."

Eddie stood, suddenly reminded of their conversation several weeks ago, Stuart seeming unnerved, on edge. All he could hope for was that this discussion would have a far better end result than the last one. Rachel wouldn't be in harm's way again, not if Eddie could help it.

….

Having taken the long route back to Rachel's ward, making a stop off for a hot drink, it was over fifteen minutes later before Eddie found himself standing a metre away from her, blinking in disbelief towards the sight that met him.

Rachel was sitting up, awake, looking alert; chatting away to one of the nurses who Eddie had exchanged several conversations with. Suddenly he was cursing himself, cursing Stuart Hordley - the one time he wasn't by Rachel's side, she had woken up.

These feelings were soon quashed however, once Rachel caught his eye, looking up at him with the same love she had done dozens of times previous.

He was rooted to the spot as Rachel exchanged a goodbye with the nurse, not quite believing his own eyes as she smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She really was okay, Eddie told himself. On the road to recovery.

"The nurse told me you'd popped out," Rachel found herself saying, not taking her eyes off of Eddie the entire time - his look of relief, the pure adoration she found in his eyes. It was everything she had needed to see in that moment, "said you've been here every day. I just… you know, wanted to thank you."

Eddie himself took her hand, the way she squeezed it lightly, smiling a watery smile telling him that this wasn't a dream, he wasn't going to wake up to the heavy blanket of worry which came with wondering if Rachel was going to make it through.

"No thanks necessary. I was always going to be here," Eddie paused, brushing a thumb across her knuckles, just as a way of assuring himself that she wasn't going anywhere either, "how are you?"

"Throat's a bit sore, and my… my chest, well you'll know about that. Nothing I can't handle."

Rachel had tried to conceal it, Eddie knew, brush past the feelings surrounding the scar spread across the right side of her chest. Yet it was a topic for them to return to, he concluded, and made sure Rachel knew this with the look he offered her - aware that she could read his every expression.

"We'll get through it all, together."

Rachel tilted her head, unable to deny how amazing it felt to have someone so supportive by her side. Her heart of gold deputy and the person she loved the most, "of course we will. Together."

Eddie's mind turned to Melissa, Stuart, and everything he knew. Not to mention the vote of no confidence. All of these things he would have to explain, with added reassurance. Eddie would do all that and more, but, for now, both adults were content with simply being in each other's company. Nothing could get in the way of that.