A/N: written for TinkStar87, raiyana and anybody else that wanted a happier ending.
A/N2: a recent family funeral made me feel much more optimistic; enough to add to this.
Additional Part/Alternative Ending
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He hadn't been awake long when the phone rang. The caller ID proclaimed it to be Donna's former home number and his stomach immediately sunk.
They never called him to idly chat. Since the accident, they usually wanted to know the latest information about Donna; things like treatments, visiting hours, survival expectancy and stuff like that. But those phone calls had stopped during Sylvia's angry phase, when she'd blamed him personally for the loss of her only child. She'd even gone as far as pointing out to the hospital staff that SHE was Donna's next of kin, not him! Yes, that had really helped get over the shock off both their lives being shattered by some idiotic car driver who'd jumped the lights. Not.
Anyway, Wilf had promised to smooth things over at home, and he'd not heard anything from them since. He doubted this was them phoning to become best friends. Instead, he suspected they had news from the hospital. Probably wanted to return Donna's personal things, or…. Had the hospital staff decided Donna was brain dead and they were phoning to give him the date to say the final goodbye before switching off her life support?
The thought almost choked him.
It felt inevitable, but he didn't want to hear it yet. Not now. Not ever.
Sucking in a deep breath, he pressed the button to accept the call. "Hello. John Smith speaking."
"Hello John," the female voice at the other end said. "I'm calling because the hospital has just phoned us. There's some news about Donna."
He closed his eyes, willing the tears to stay where they were for the moment, to let him hear this without breaking down. "Oh?"
Sylvia carefully stated, "Her eyes fluttered open when the nurse checked her vitals this morning."
Stunned, he asked, "What did you say?"
"She's starting to wake up. Her eyes fluttered open for a few moments. She's finally started to come round out of the coma."
"I…," he spluttered, unable to believe this news. "She did? That's good. Really good."
"We'll see you later then," she hopefully enquired.
"Yes. Later. I'll be there as soon as I can arrange transport. Thank you so much for letting me know," he near wept. "Bye."
The next phone call was almost automatic. He'd dialled it before he was even aware of the action. "Will? I desperately need a favour. Sylvia has just phoned me to say Donna is waking up. Would you take me to the hospital?"
"Of course. I'll be there right away. Got to help make you presentable, haven't I," Will cheekily answered.
John had managed to hold it together while Will whooped with joy, but as soon as the call ended, he broke down. The end was finally in sight, and it wasn't Donna's death. They could hope again.
Inside his head, he heard her voice smugly declare, "See! I told you I'd be here with you for ever."
"As if I'd let you go," he scorned the voice.