Emma woke, a dull pounding in her ears and a tight pain at the base of her neck. She opened her eyes and saw the hospital room around her. She raised her chin up off her chest where it had been lolling and plumped up the pillows behind her, noticing for the first time the sharp pains in her side. Wincing and doubling over she saw that the other bed in the room was occupied by none of than Will.
Climbing down carefully from her bed she took her blankets and lay down next to Will who half opened his eyes before smiling and wrapping his arms around her fragile little body. Her skin prickled with warmth as his fingers ran over it and she sighed, resting her head against his chest comfortably.
Several hours later DI Sam Nixon and DI Doug Mitchell barged in through the doors to be confronted with the two PC's curled up together on one bed. Emma was wrapped in a pale yellow blanket, Will's hands snaked round her back and hers pressed against his chest. Sam and Doug paused and looked at one another before clearing their throats loudly.
Will's eyes fluttered open and he took a moment to adjust to his surroundings before he realised his Inspector was standing at the foot of his bed. Emma shifted and grumbled softly. "Not now Will, I'm sleepy." To the amusement of both superior officers.
Will cringed and gently shook Emma's shoulder. "Em…Em our DI's are here. We're in hospital sweetie, don't you remember?" He said as she opened her eyes and looked around nervously.
"No…no I do remember." She blushed, hiding her face in Will's side as she wrapped the blanket more tightly around her. "Hi Sam…I mean Ma'am." She said as she faced them.
"Hiya Em. Sorry to barge in on you like this but we need your version of events, after all, you are the only people who know the full story." Sam said pulling up a chair next to the bed and bringing out her notebook.
"Oh okay." Emma mumbled and in turn she and Will filled them in on what had really happened.
Doug cleared his throat and looked at his watch before murmuring something about another appointment he had to get to. As he left the ward Will rolled his eyes and both Sam and Emma giggled although Emma clutched her side a moment later. Sam picked up her chart from the end of the bed. "Hmmm…three stitches to the forehead, a mild concussion, cuts and bruising to the chest and arms and two fractured ribs. You took quite a beating honey!" Sam exclaimed as she listed Emma's injuries.
"Yeah well thugs aren't generally known for their compassion and friendliness." She giggled back, snuggling into Will.
"So how long has this been going on for?" Sam asked, hands on hips, a smirk on her face.
"Oh…about four days I think." Will said kissing Emma's forehead. "Unprofessional, call it what you like but I couldn't resist her. I mean she's a good lookin' girl." He added looking hard at Sam.
"Don't worry I'm not going to slap your wrists. I thought something was going on between the two of you anyway." Sam replied laughing.
"So how's Phil?" Emma asked cheekily and Sam squirmed. "Or am I not allowed to ask when you're on the job?"
"You're for it later Missy. Next time we're out I'll get you so drunk that you'll just spill all your secrets and then we'll both have something over the other, how about that?" Sam retorted getting up from her chair. "You both have two weeks Compassionate Leave before you have to return. I'll probably drop in past Em. Take care of yourselves." She added as she backed out the door.
Will leant back against his pillows and pulled Emma closer to him. "Is everyone at Sun Hill as nice as you two?" He whispered smiling.
"Mmmm…I think that's a matter of opinion. It's good there though, I don't think I'd prefer it anywhere else. Uniform all get along really well and CID aren't that bad despite them always nicking the good cases!" Emma replied happily.
"Sounds great." Will mumbled back before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep again. A day or two later Will sat fully dressed on the side of his bed waiting for Emma to have her cuts redressed before they left the hospital for good. They were apparently supposed to have been staying in longer but they pestered the nurses so much they had been granted early leave!
Emma winced as the nurse pulled the stiff bandage tighter around her ribcage. "Now, no exercise for you and make sure you let those heal properly." The nurse said sternly as she pointed at Emma's ribs. "And you." She said turning her finger on Will. "Take good care of your girlfriend in the future!"
Will and Emma laughed as they checked themselves out on the discharge forms and then left the ward arm in arm. "You know the flat that I said was mine during the undercover…yeah well that's not actually my real place. I live not far from here actually." Emma said as they walked along the road.
"I live quite close to Barton Street Station but yeah I had a separate place for the undercover. It made more sense at the time." Will replied, chucking slightly.
"Do you want to come back to mine?" Emma asked looking up and Will's smiling face. He agreed and the walked off down the road, Will's arm tucked protectively round her waist and her head resting casually on his shoulder. Emma unlocked the door to her house and let them both in, shutting the door behind her to keep the cold out.
An hour or two later Emma pushed the plates from their dinner across the coffee table and leant back into Will, yawning slightly as she did so. "Are you tired sweetheart?" He asked concernedly and she nodded causing him to get up from behind her on the sofa and pick her up in his arms, carrying her up the bedroom. He lay her gently on the bed and then crawled up beside her, holding her tight to him but being careful of her crushed ribs.
"It's going to be weird not seeing you every day and not working with you." Emma murmured as she closed her eyes.
Will shifted slightly and grinned. "Well you never know." Emma's eyes flew open again and she stared hard at him, willing the words she wanted to hear to come out of his mouth. "Yeah okay so I put in a transfer…I'll be joining Sun Hill with you when we both get off Compassionate Leave." Will said leaning down to kiss her.
"Oh that's great! I can't wait babe." Emma squealed, kissing Will back and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I thought you'd be happy." Will whispered, resting his forehead against Emma's and closing his eyes. "I thought you would be." He repeated sleepily and they drifted off together.
Thanks to those kind people who reviewed. This was the last chapter. Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed it. Love ya xxpip