Chapter two

'Hi! Is Michael Byrne here, I'm his partner!' Sian stopped, the words had come out so naturally, maybe it was a sign. She shook it off, she could decipher the wonders of fate later.

The nurse looked at her clipboard, 'Ah! Yes! Mr Byrne, room ten.'

'How-how is he?' Sian asked anxiously.

'Stable, there has been no lasting damage.'

Sian breathed, tears rolled down her cheek and she was shown to his room. There he lay, her Michael. Steadily breathing, his chest that she had so often snuggled into at night had wires attached to it that lead to the heart monitor.

'Oh no! Oh Michael!' She whimpered quietly, tears rolled down her cheek.

'It looks worse than it is.' The nurse reassured her, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly, 'There are no signs of internal bleeding, just very bad bruising, he's a lucky man.'

However Sian wasn't listening anymore, slowly she went and sat down next to him. Slowly, she reached for his hand. First the stabbing now this! Why? Why him?' She felt disillusioned, she laid her head on his hand and stared to cry properly.

…

Sian didn't know how long she sat there but she was suddenly aware of the hand moving beneath her, she looked up suddenly and saw that Michael had begun to open his eyes. He looked at her, amazed, 'S-Sian?' He whispered, 'Is that you?'

Overcome with emotion, Sian kissed him tenderly, her tears fell on his cheek. She couldn't speak, instead, she begun to cry.

Michael breathed in her scent and felt her soft hair caress his cheek, he rubbed her back softly, 'Shhhhh! It's alright.' He whispered, 'I'm alright.'

'Who…who did this to you?' Sian asked.

'Can't really remember.' Michael replied, 'I remember Wayne came to see me…'

'Wayne? What did HE want?'

'No, no! It was OK!' He reassured her and smiled, 'We had a good talk and left on good terms.'

Sian raised an eyebrow, 'Wayne? YOU and Wayne parted on good terms?'

'Yes, it was weird, we had a good talk, he was going to hurt me but had some kind of break down, I felt a moral obligation.'

Sian shook her head, 'He doesn't deserve it!'

Michael smiled, 'I know.'

'So… if it wasn't him then who…?' Suddenly the penny dropped, they both looked at each other, 'LINDA!'

Micheal groaned, 'I remember now! She came to see me, wanted us to get back together…again! I said no.'

Sian shrugged in disbelief, 'So…So what? She-she just ran you over?'

'Basically…yeah!'

'I'll KILL her!' Sian felt her blood pressure rise in anger, her heart begun thumping hard.

Michael reached for her hand, 'Don't make a scene.' He whispered,'It's alright, I'm alright.'

'Yes! Whereas I can't vouch for Linda by the time I'm finished with her!'

At that, two policemen entered the room, 'Mr Byrne? May we have a word?'

Suddenly, as if on cue, Linda appeared! She had a look of concern on her face that made Sian feel sick, 'Michael!' She cried, 'Are you OK?'

'You bitch!' Sian whispered.

Linda did a double take, 'Excuse me?'

The anger suddenly got the better of her, 'YOU MURDERING BITCH!' Before Anyone, including Sian herself realised what was happening, Sian had chased Linda outside into the car park, the alarm was evident on her face as she ran for her life. But her high heels were no match for Sian's flat ones and Sian caught up with her, grabbing her by the hair. Linda yelped in pain as Sian dug her nails in, 'YOU JUST CAN'T ACCEPT IT CAN YOU?' Sian yelled, 'YOU JUST CAN'T SEE WHY MICHAEL WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED IN A SAD, PATHETIC, PSYCHO LIKE YOU!'

Sian was suddenly aware of a policeman pulling her away and saw handcuffs being snapped on Linda's wrists. Her anger still pounding with her she yelled as Linda was escorted to the car, 'YOU'D BETTER HOPE THEY LOCK YOU UP RADLEIGH!' She screamed, 'BECAUSE, TRUST ME, IT'LL BE FAR, FAR SAFER FOR YOU IN A CELL THAN OUT HERE!' Sian stopped and felt herself shake, an arm went around her.

'That's enough miss, allow one of our policewomen to escort you back inside.'

…

Meanwhile, the nurse came away from the window and chuckled, 'Well!' She smiled at Michael, 'I certainly wouldn't want to cross your partner on a dark night!'

Michael laughed, 'Sian is very much a "tell it as it is" sort of woman.'

…

Sian took a deep breath and headed back inside, she went over to Michael and kissed him tenderly, 'Are you alright darling?'

Michael smiled, 'Yes thank you, and by the sound of things, you've managed to get everything out of your system.'

Sian looked at him, then at the nurse who shared the same, knowing smile and blushed, 'Sorry.' She mumbled.

The nurse smiled, 'No need! I dare say I would react in exactly the same way if it was my husband!'

After she'd left Sian kissed him again, 'Are you sure you're alright?'

Michael nodded, 'I'm fine.' He stroked her hair tenderly and kissed her head.

Sian snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes.