Disclaimer: Don't own the Guardian and make no money from this

Lulu lost track of time sitting in that waiting room. All she could do was sit with her head in her head in her hands. All she could think of was Nick. She looked up every time someone walked by but no one knew about how Nick was doing. Burton seemed calmer, he was still holding Anne who had fallen asleep on his lap. He still looked as worried as Lulu felt, they didn't speak.

Burton left the waiting room a couple of times to deal with Anne and AJ's needs, 3 diaper changes and some baby food from the cafeteria. Lulu just stayed there throughout wishing someone could look after them through this, it must be boring for them stuck in a hospital waiting room with nothing to do. Unfortunately the only people Lulu would feel safe leaving them with would all be busy at this time and they couldn't put them in the play area without adult supervision, it was on another floor and neither Lulu or Burton wanted to be away from the waiting room for long.

Finally Lulu heard footsteps and looked up.

A man was standing there, dressed in doctor's scrubs. He was middle-aged with a prominent chin and touches of silver in his hair.

"Are you the family of Nicholas Fallin?"

Lulu leapt to her feet as he spoke, "Yes, yes we are. How is he? Is he okay?" Lulu looked pleadingly at him trying to see if he looked hopeful. To her disappointment his face remained impassive, she felt her heart sinking.

"He is alive but I wouldn't say he was okay," Lulu sat back down, both Burton and her sighing with relief, "his injuries are quite severe but things are looking hopeful," Lulu's spirits rose but she didn't smile in case she jinxed it, "his lungs were damaged by smoke inhalation but luckily they weren't punctured by his fractured ribs. He can breathe by himself but he is being given oxygen until his lungs have recovered more. He has third degree burns on his left hand and he has other first and second degree burns, but they should heal okay more or less. He has a contusion to his head but there is no damage to his brain, which is very good What I would be most concerned about is his right hand and wrist. It was severely injured and he has lost a lot of blood from it. However he has received blood transfusions and I have managed to save the hand, I have put it in a cast at the moment. It will take a long time to heal and he may not regain use of that limb fully. Barring infection or complications however, his future looks hopeful," the man smiled as he spoke.

Lulu was so happy she could have jumped up and down and sang. She caught Burton's eye and he looked ready to do the same. Instead Lulu replied calmly,

"Thank you, so much. Thank you Doctor...?"

"Alexander Greyson. And you're very welcome," he said still smiling, "would you like to see him? He should be waking up soon."

"Yes!" Lulu and Burton answered eagerly together. He walked off and Lulu followed with AJ in the stroller while Burton carried the still sleeping Anne. He led them trough some corridors to a private room in an area marked "post-op."

"He is in there sleeping. He should hopefully wake up in a few hours, usually we have set visiting hours but I always think it's nice to wake up and be surrounded by family. If there's any problems call for a nurse by pressing the call button. I should see you again when he wakes up and will be moved to another ward. Okay?"

Burton and Lulu nodded desperate to see Nick. Dr. Greyson smiled again and left them. Burton motioned for her to go first as Lulu entered the room and studied it carefully. It was a very square room with glass walls and blinds, there was also numerous soft chairs which looked much more comfy than the ones in the waiting room and there in the centre of the room, finally Lulu could see Nick.

Her heart swelled with love at the sight of him, even if he was barely recognizable. A blanket covered most of his body but his head and arms were still visible, his left hand was bandaged unlike his right which was in a large cast being suspended in the air. He was covered in tubes and wires, even Nick's face had the oxygen mask on it and his head was bandaged to but you could still see blond hair spilling onto the pillow. His eyes were closed and he looked so pale.

Poor Nick, she thought, but at least he was alive. That ws the main thing. As she nestled into a seat beside Nick she was forced to re-think thier relationship. How could she stay away from him when she loved him so much? Having to think of living without him made her blood run cold and she shivered at the memories of what she'd heard over the speaker, no she wanted to make a go of things and be a proper family. She would tell Nick when he woke up. Well when they were alone, she didn't exactly want to discuss their relationship in front of Burton.

So Lulu began waiting again. Not taking her eyes off Nick's handsome face, she and Burton waited...