"Things are looking up, oh finally! I thought I'd never see the day, when you smile at me. We always pull through, oh when we try." PARAMORE

What is this? A mostly comforting chapter? I can't promise an end to the angst but I can say there is more softness/comfort to come. I love all these characters too much to keep them suffering forever!

Steve was pulling into the hospital car park before he had even fully registered what had happened or how he'd gotten there. He found a space and paused for a moment, just to gather his thoughts. His mind was racing as he tried to process what was happening.

Kate.

Josh had called him.

Voice all wobbly as if he'd been crying.

But it was good news.

Kate had woken up.

He had to see her, he just had to be sure this was real and not a dream.

Yes, his last conversation with Bernie had suggested that Kate was getting better.

But he'd been here before, full of hope and then it had all gone wrong.

There might have to be a time when you need to make a really difficult decision…

It might be worth considering what Kate would want…

Steve's heart still ached as he thought of the gravity in those words. He didn't need to be a detective to work out what Bernie had meant.

He could've been in the position where he would have had to make a decision about when to let his best friend die. About what she would want for her funeral…

It hadn't come to that Steve reminded himself, but he was still all too aware of just how close he had come to losing his best friend forever.

He screwed his eyes shut, he couldn't afford to think like that right now. He had to focus on the positive. Kate was awake and alive and she had a chance, that was all that mattered.

"Hi mate," Steve greeted Josh quietly as he came into Kate's bay. All he wanted to do was rush over and pull his best mate into a massive hug, let her know how proud he was of her, how she had done it again, defied the odds, cheated death. But he knew that would be too much for her right now. She might be awake but she was still very weak and very fragile.

"She's sleeping again," Josh answered back. "But the Doctor said that's normal and it feels different now, I just know she's gonna be okay. I'm not so scared anymore."

Kate stirred slightly, she blinked wearily and opened her eyes as she registered the new visitor. Josh beckoned Steve a little closer.

"Hi," Steve smiled.

Kate smiled slowly back at him. "St… Steve," she clarified weakly.

"Yeah, that's me, mate." Steve grinned. "Just wanted to say hi."

"Hi…" Kate echoed sluggishly, her eyes already falling closed again.

Steve knew Kate was going to need time, she was still seriously ill and he knew from previous experience that she would likely be very tired, confused and easily overwhelmed for a while to come. But just seeing her awake and recognising him, it was more than enough for now. He found strength in the knowledge that his best friend was getting slowly on her way to getting better and after everything, even the smallest improvements were worth celebrating.

The world felt that bit less cold and harsh, and though the fear and worry remained, their presence had dulled and they were no longer all-consuming.

"I'll come back later," Steve said giving Kate's hand a gentle squeeze. "Just rest all you need to for now."

Josh stood up and that was when Steve noticed the tears rolling down his cheeks. "I'm just so happy that she's awake," he half cried. "There were times when I really thought…" he trailed off as Steve shook his head gently.

"Not here," Steve motioned to the now sleeping Kate. She needs the rest and let's just let her focus on the positives for now.

"Yeah, okay," Josh sniffed.

"Tell you what," Steve suggested. "How about we go get a decent coffee or hot chocolate somewhere? Not the hospital cafe but somewhere a bit more special. This deserves a celebration."

Josh nodded his head in agreement.

In the end, they settled for a cafe a short walk from the hospital. Up a narrow cobbled street. A Wooden sign hung above the door. Dotty's Chocolate House.

"I've heard about this place," Josh said as they walked through the door. "They're meant to do the best hot chocolates in the city."

The lady from behind the counter smiled warmly back at them. "I'm not sure about the best but we certainly do try."

"That's good to hear," Steve smiled back.

They both ordered a deluxe hot chocolate, Josh's complete with cream and marshmallows before settling down at a small table in a cosy corner of the cafe. The furniture was mismatched and well-worn but still comfortable. Christmas decorations hung from the ceiling and the overall atmosphere was one of joy and warmth. The contrast to the hospital couldn't have been starker.

After finishing their drinks Josh showed Steve the present he'd bought for his mum, he had it ready in his rucksack to give to her when the time was right. And now he could go home and wrap it so she'd have something to open on Christmas day.

"I got some photos printed from what I had on me phone," Josh explained.

Steve smiled when he saw the frame and the photo Josh had chosen. Both of them decked out in Nottingham Forest hats and scarves grinning wildly into the camera. A selfie that captured Kate's relationship with her son at its finest. Happy, loving, and sharing in their passion for football.

"That's brilliant Josh. Your mum is gonna love it."

"I just wanted something to remind her that I care about her." Josh replied. "She can put it up by her bed so I'm always with her. Sounds proper cheesy I know…"

"No it doesn't," Steve insisted. "It's perfect. She's really gonna love it. You picked a great picture of you both."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"She really will."

"It's just weird to think," Josh said quietly. "Like we took that photo not quite a year ago, and now looking back we seem so innocent. So obliviously happy, with no idea what was gonna happen this year and all the awful things to come. I guess I just never expected anything like this to happen. I knew mum's job could be dangerous at times, that sometimes she had to stay away to keep me safe, but I never thought that it could mean she would almost die. It just makes me wish I'd done things differently, that I'd made more time. That I hadn't blindly believed me dad when he said she doesn't care."

"Y'know Josh," Steve fixed Josh with an earnest gaze. "I'm a copper same as your mum and I never expected this either. I don't think anyone ever does. Life has a funny way of catching you off guard like that. But we got through it and more importantly, your mum did too. She might have a long way to go yet, but she's got the both of us and I know she's gonna keep fighting. And if you take anything from this, it's that your mum cares about you, more than anything."

"Yeah," Josh agreed quietly. "I know that now, and I'm just so thankful for having the chance to do things right this time."

They continued to sit and soak in the atmosphere for a while, chatting quietly about nothing in particular, just sharing their relief that things were starting to get better.

Kate was sleeping again when Steve returned later that evening. His heart sank slightly but he knew she needed the rest. Her battle with sepsis had clearly taken its toll and as he looked at his friend under the dimmed lights he realised just how unwell she still looked. With dark circles under her eyes and pale and drawn-out skin so seemed so fragile and he couldn't help but notice how much weight she had lost. Kate would have a long recovery ahead of her, right now she seemed so broken but he found hope in the fact that she had not been beaten.

He smiled warmly at Kate, deciding to let her rest and turned to check in on Jo instead. He didn't know if anyone had told her yet and he knew she would want to know that Kate was awake, even if she might have to wait to see her.

"Hi Jo," he greeted the brunette with a smile.

Jo smiled back weakly. "H… h-hi…"

She too seemed very tired.

"I just wanted to let you know, Kate woke up earlier today, properly woke up. She's sleeping again now, but she's awake and she recognised both me and Josh. It's a really good sign."

Jo blinked wearily at him a few times as she tried to make sense of what Steve was telling her. Her brain had been feeling particularly foggy today and she was struggling to process and understand information.

"K… K-Kate a… a-a… w… w-wake?" She reframed what she understood as a question hoping that Steve would give her the clarification she needed, she had to be sure.

"Yes, Kate's awake," Steve repeated, though it was the smile that spread across his face that told Jo all she needed to know.

She grinned back at him as best she could, eyes twinkling with joy, and filling with tears.

"H… h-hap… p-py t… t-tears." Jo wiped at her cheeks.

"Yeah," Steve nodded. "Happy tears.

Jo got to see Kate the next day, she was still reliant on a wheelchair and the assistance of the nurses to get around. It was frustrating, but for the sake of being able to see Kate, it was worth it. Just knowing that Kate was awake had helped her heart to feel lighter and maybe she could find the hope she so desperately needed to get through everything that was still to come.

"H… h-hi," Jo suddenly found herself blushing like a lovestruck teenager.

"Hi," Kate smiled weakly in return.

"It's g… g-good to s… s-see y-you," Jo gushed as her eyes filled with tears.

It was such a feeling of relief to see Kate awake, breathing on her own, colour slowly returning to her cheeks and no longer reliant on machines to stay alive.

Only a short visit, knew from her own experiences how overwhelming it can be.

"C… c-can we j… j-just s-sit?" Jo asked. "St… s-still h-hard f… f-for me t… t-to t-talk."

Kate smiled weakly in response, she wasn't ready for lengthy conversations yet either. "That's fine, it's just good to see you."

Jo smiled, beaming almost from ear to ear. Her smile was honest and true smile, one of her first real smiles in a very long time

"G… g-good t… to s… s-see y-you t… t–too."