PART 2

Maddie knew something had happened the night before when she felt herself begin to wake from her sleep.

The mattress below her felt like wood unlike the memory foam comforter she had grown used to over the past year. The pillows under her head felt like paper oppose to the two duck-feathered cushions she had grown used to over the past year. The sheet draped over her body was thin, not like the thick, fluffy quilt she had grown used to over the past year. And, finally, she couldn't feel the arm wrapped around her waist she had grown used to over the past year.

That was the thing that frightened her the most. Where was the warm comfort of another body behind me? She wondered.

She shot up from the unfamiliar bed, a sharp pain shooting through her entire body at the sudden reaction. The impacts of it caused her wince and slowly, she rested her body back into the bed.

Maddie wiped away any sleep from her eyes. Then she took in her surroundings.

Immediately she recognised the blue walls, that smell that hospitals seemed to carry and the whispers coming from the other beds on the ward.

I'm in a hospital.

Her hands were wired up to a machine that beeped every second, letting her know her heart was steady and beating. She had a cast on the other arm, and, running her fingers over her face, she could feel the ridges of open wounds—caused by the impact of the mini-bus turning over.

Laying down and closing her eyes, suddenly, she remembered everything of the night before.

Everyone from the factory went for a celebration dinner. That was it. We were on our way there and Steve lost control of the wheel—why did he lose control of the wheel? I can't remember. All I can remember is screaming and the bus flipping over. And blood down my face. And being pulled away from it all.

But I can remember being put on the ward. Kirk's in the bed next to me with the same injuries. I can hear him and Beth, who's in the guest chair holding his hand, sobbing, blaming herself for not being there, and whispering about Carla getting letting out with only a scratch on her forehead. A tough old bird, that one. Very cool lady. I can't hear Sinead, though... her injuries must be worse. And I can hear Julie talking sweetly to Dev, such a distinctive voice that one.

What time is it?

I can't hear Alya or Sean or—oh, my head hurts.

Who's to say we are all on the same ward anyway? By the looks of it I got off lightly. Thank God for that.

"Sally! How are ya, love? I'd have got here sooner but everyone was asking me what happened."

The sound of Tim rushing in woke Maddie finally. She knew there was someone she had forgotten. It had to be early; Sally didn't have something to say yet. There she was, lying in the bed opposite, almost as if the doctors knew they knew each other or where almost family. The most obvious injury of Sally's had to be the knock to the head, the bandage around her head meant she must have taken quite the knock.

"Hey..., how are you?" Sally crooked.

"I'm okay, how are you?" Sally nodded, not being able to form any words from the shock. Sally wasn't opposite her last night when Sophie rushed in, Maddie knew the questions could wait until later so she put two and two together and figured the damage was worse than it looked.

Wait, if Tim's here, that means...

And there she was, asleep in the armchair besides the bed. The chair pulled so close she was practically on the bed without being on the bed. Her fist was tucked in her eye as she used her arm to support her head as a pillow and still in the same clothes as yesterday. She wasn't kidding when she said she'd be there when Maddie woke up. Sophie didn't look comfortable but she did look peaceful.

Maddie tired her best to shift onto her side but soon groaned. The pain told her she might have bruised her ribs. But still, she stared at the beautiful brunette next to her.

"Tim?" Maddie called over. "What's the time?"

"Five-past-eight," he smiled. Wow, visiting hours are early at this place.

"Sophie," she whispered, trying to rest an arm out and nudge her dozing girlfriend. When Sophie didn't move, she tried again.

Sophie growled, waking from her slumber. She stretched her arms above her head and let out a yawn. All the aches that came from sleeping in a chair hit her.

"Have you been here all night?"

Sophie nodded, not really thinking much of it. After Maddie had fallen asleep, Sophie watched her for a bit before her stomach growling meant she needed to eat. She went downstairs to the canteen and grabbed a sandwich, she didn't really care if it tasted bad, she was more concern on dealing with her body, then rushing back up to make sure nothing had happened in the time she was gone. As much as she loved to watch Maddie sleep, there was only so much one could take before it became tiring and she found herself falling asleep in the visiting chair. Clearly no staff member minded otherwise she would have been woken up and told to left. She must have needed the sleep if she was being woken up by the person who was supposed to be resting.

"You didn't have to do that," Maddie said in awe.

"I couldn't just leave you, you had me worried sick," Sophie sat up and took Maddie's unbroken hand into her own. "I love you, Mads, and I meant it."

Maddie was never one for all that clique "I love you, I couldn't live without you" talk whereas it was a part of Sophie's everyday dictionary, but since meeting Sophie she understood what it meant and why people say it.

On Christmas Day, Sophie told her she was The One. The One, the chosen one, the special one, the one you're supposed to marry and spend the rest of your life with. Maddie never believed in any of that, either. Maybe it was due to her upbringing, maybe it was due to the fact she'd never witnessed true love or experienced it. But the more and more time she spent with Sophie Webster, the more she began to be believed in it. The brunette defiantly had an impact on her, and last night and this morning, seeing Sophie lying there in the hospital chair next to her proved this girl was for keeps, she wasn't going anywhere, she cared about her. Someone genuinely cared for Madeline Heath, words she never thought she'd even think of.

"I love you, too," Maddie smiled gently and used any strength she had to squeeze Sophie's hand. "Still, you didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did," Sophie rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't have slept if I was at home. Dad knows I'm here, I texted him last night and Tim—"

"Is right here."

"Oh," Sophie turned around. "Hi, Tim..."

Then she saw her Mum. Maddie watched as Sophie swallowed the lump in her throat. It was one thing to have one person she cared about in hospital, but two... She felt so helpless. Sally managed a weak smile before Sophie walked over and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Having kept her eye on Maddie, she had about her own flesh and blood's whereabouts, but she was always there in the back of her mind.

"Hey, Soph, you don't mind watching your Mum, do ya? I need to make a few phone calls," Tim asked.

"No, it's fine," Sophie whispered, stroking her Mum's hair.

"Go," Sally breathed. "I'm going to try and get some more sleep anyway. I feel exhausted."

"I wish I hadn't pushed you to get that job now, none of this would of happened," Sophie whispered, picking at the corners of Maddie's bed sheet.

"Don't be stupid. I needed a kick in the backside. From you and Carla, none of us saw this coming."

"I just feel like it's my fault," Sophie looked up at Maddie. She sucked in a breath, she hated to see Maddie in pain—she hated seeing anyone in pain.

Maddie looked away from her, if Sophie started crying then she defiantly would be joining her and she was the stronger one out of the pair of them, in terms of who kept their emotions in check. Sophie took hold of Maddie's hand again and gave it a squeeze before looking over her shoulder and seeing Sally was her eyes closed still. Most of the patients around her were asleep, too, for whatever reason. It felt like it was late evening but, judging by the sunlight, it was really only noon.

"I've got to be going to the shop soon," Sophie frowned.

"Did Dev not let you have the day off?"

"We closed for the morning but there is work to be done. He's taking the night shift so I can come see you again after dinner."

"Okay," Maddie mumbled. She traced her thumb over her girlfriend's knuckles. The most innocent of touches meant so much to her, and to think only a few months back, she pushed Sophie away at any chance of happiness.

"How long have you got to have your arm in plaster for?"

"The doctor said at least six weeks," she looked down at her right arm—looks like she wasn't going to be filling out any of Underworld's client lists or validating any cars for a while. "The X-Ray was pretty bad."

Sophie nodded, understanding doctor's orders. It reminded her of the early days after the car incident. She couldn't leave the house for weeks after her operation. She knew Maddie was going to be limited to the things she does for a while.

"Ugh, why couldn't you have landed on your left arm?"

Maddie burst out laughing, throwing her head back, but quickly realising where she was, she sniggered and turned her head to the side to try and control her giggles.

Even through the pain she was able to laugh. And it was rare to laugh at Sophie for reasons that weren't related to her clumsiness, religious remarks Maddie never understood, or bad jokes. It was rare for Sophie to make a sexual innuendo, or a comment on the subject matter. She was very innocent in that sense—outside of their four walls anyway. So without everything being said directly, Maddie knew exactly what Sophie meant by what arm.

"You're lucky your Mum's asleep."

"Oh yeah," Sophie's face turned a bright shade of red before she slowly looked behind her, her eyes shut. She was relieved to see Sally hadn't changed her latest position.

"What would she have to say about your bedside manner, ay?" Maddie smirked.

Sophie scrunched up her nose, a face she always pulled when she was confused. "I don't think you know what that term means, Mads."

The blonde shook her head. "You're right, I don't. Now come up here and give me a cuddle," she patted the side of the bed.

Now that was an offer Sophie couldn't refuse.