"Why couldn't you have chosen the sports column for me to read, I don't understand fashion" Ringo complained from his seat in the chair beside Donna's bed.
She laughed at him, snatching the magazine and squinting at the page. He grabbed it back and she groaned "Oh come on, you obviously aren't interested!"
Ringo shook his head "The nurse said no straining yourself"
"It's a bit of reading, not a marathon"
He pressed a finger to her lips and continued to read from the article.
...
"I bought all the essentials" Bridget declared later that day as she entered the room with Declan.
"Essentials?" Donna asked curiously, wriggling to sit up against her pillows.
"We were shopping for hours" Declan whined turning to Ringo "Mate we're playing footie later"
The pair laughed as Didge upended a bag full of goodies onto the bed.
"Chocolate, magazines, straighteners, make-up" Donna squealed as she scanned the pile, promptly reaching out and hugging her friend "You are seriously the best!"
"Hey I helped too you know" Declan cried folding his arms
"I know, thank you so much" Donna grinned hugging him too.
"So when are you coming home?" Bridget questioned, taking a seat on the end of the bed.
"Ah, now that is a touchy subject" Ringo told her, smirking at his girlfriend.
Donna tilted her head back and groaned "They never give proper answers, it's always 'soon miss Freedman, or maybe in a few days miss Freedman"
Bridget's eyes widened "Woah, okay sorry I asked" she laughed.
...
"Flowers for the beautiful patient" Susan said softly, entering the room clutching a bouquet
Rachel and Zeke rushed in after her, heading straight for the bed.
"How are you feeling?" they demanded in unison.
"Like I've totally missed the two of you" Donna laughed, holding out her arms so she could hug them both.
"Seriously, this is not resting" Ringo chided from his chair where he was munching on one of the chocolate bars Bridget had bought.
"You worry too much!" Donna sniffed, sticking out her tongue at him.
"Rude" he said in mock horror "In that case, I'll go play footie with Declan"
"Yes go, then maybe I can crack on to some of these really hot doctors" she joked.
Ringo smirked "You wouldn't dare" he told her, placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.
"Wow, he's sure being..." Zeke trailed off, watching him go
"Overprotective?" Rachel suggested, wandering over to help Susan put the flowers in a vase.
"He's just worried about you love" she told Donna, sticking out her tongue in concentration.
The blonde sat back with a smile "Yeah, I know"
...
That evening, just before the end of visiting hours, Kyle sloped in to Donna's room.
"Hey" she greeted, putting down her magazine "How are you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he laughed, leaning against the back wall
"Probably, but to be honest, a lot of people have already asked me that today, it feels good to say it myself for once"
She ripped open a pack of cookies that Bridget had bought, and shoved them towards him
"Hope you're hungry because Didge has given me enough food to supply the army"
Kyle smirked, grabbing a handful before returning to his previous position
"So where's Ringo?" he wondered
"He left to play footie with Declan a while ago, guess he went for a shower or something"
"Has he even left your side before?" Kyle teased
"He's just overprotective" Donna defended "And don't tell me you guys are still arguing"
The boy quickly shook his head "Nah we're all good...when they first brought you in, we talked it out"
Donna nodded "Thank God"
As she was talking, her phone began to ring
"Speak of the devil" the girl sighed, flipping it open "Hiya"
She stuck her tongue out at Kyle who snorted
"No I'm not on my own Kyle's here – well yeah visiting hours are almost up – no you don't have to come back it's fine – okay I'll see you tomorrow – love you too – bye"
"He mad I'm here?" Kyle frowned, peering out the window behind him
"No, he feels bad because he fell asleep when he got home and forgot to come back"
Donna couldn't hide her smile "But I guess he hasn't actually slept much lately"
Before Kyle could reply, a nurse came round a politely told him that visiting hours were over
"I'm glad you're okay Donna" he said softly, hesitantly leaning over to kiss her cheek before disappearing down the corridor.