Wow. Chapter 50. I cannot believe it's gotten this long. Thanks to everyone who's read, reviewed, helped and enjoyed it along the way. And no, it's not over yet!
I had meant for this to be a double length chapter, but real life got the better of me this week - so regular length chapter it is. Sorry.
Extra special thanks to my medical consultant this chapter. She knows who she is....
"I know it's not bloody visiting hour yet!"
Alex smiled when she heard Gene's voice in the corridor. He'd come every day long before visiting hours started, flashing his warrant card to get him past reception, then flashing his charm to get past the nurses. It worked every day.
"Morning love," he leaned over, kissing her on the forehead. Alex inhaled. She missed his scent. Cigarettes and soap at 8am. The hospital smells were starting to get to her and she wanted to go home. Just a few more days.
"Good morning Gene." She tried to sit up, pushing up on her right arm.
"Alex don't." Sitting on the edge of the bed he slipped his arm under her and helped her to an upright position. "Brought you breakfast." He set a greasy paper bag down on the bedside table. "How're the 'eadaches?"
"Oh give it! I'm starving." He'd brought her one every day. The first two days she'd felt too ill and tired to eat, but now she was starving and there was something familiar and comforting about the greasy sandwich. And it seemed to make him happy to watch her eat it. "Better. Had a very bad one last night, but it went away quickly."
Gene unwrapped the sloppy egg buttie and handed her half. "No bacon." He set the rest back down on the table. "OK, well. Do what the Doctor said. Make sure you tell them every time you 'ave one. Have they said anything yet about letting you out of here?"
Alex swallowed the large bite she'd taken. "Maybe Monday." It was Thursday. "Then I'll need physiotherapy for a few weeks until I have use of my arm. Probably can't be on the street for a bit longer than that. I won't be much use to you." She took another bite.
"All part of my master plan to get women police off the streets." He shifted his eyes from hers. "I am sorry Alex. I didn't know what else to do."
He'd apologized every day. "Gene I'm alright. Michael Pierce would have killed us both. I've no doubt. You did the right thing." She finished her breakfast with one last bite, indicating for Gene to take the rest with him.
"You sure?" He shrugged and wrapped the other half up and put it back into the bag.
"That I don't want the rest? Yes." She knew he'd meant the other.
"No, Alex." He looked at her, eyes questioning.
She grabbed his tie, pulling him closer and kissing him on the cheek. "Yes, Gene. I'm sure." Every day he'd asked her if she was OK, but she knew he really meant were they OK. Did she forgive him for shooting her. In her mind there was nothing to forgive, but she imagined it would take him a while to forgive himself. "Are you coming back later?"
"Of course. Have some paperwork to settle up today. And an inquiry into Pierce's shooting, but that should be routine." He picked up her hand, kissing the palm of it, tracing circles on her arm. "Alex they want to talk to you about the shooting. I can't put them off on this one. They want to send someone by this afternoon to interview you."
"I'm happy to help Gene. I'm feeling much stronger. An interview will be no trouble."
"They won't let me be here."
"I can handle it Gene. I'm tired, but I feel good." Seeing the worry in his eyes she put her hand to his cheek. "Really, Gene."
"OK. I'll drop by later and find out what happened."
Alex nodded. "Can't wait."
--
The tiny box secure in his pocket Gene walked up the stairs and into CID headquarters. He'd stopped at the jewellers to pick up the ring on the way to the station, making another large payment as he did. Only two more months and he'd have it paid off completely. She'd better bloody say yes.
"Guv" Ray was in front of him the instant he pushed through the doors.
"What is it Ray?" He snarled.
"Pierce was transferred to the Scrubs this morning. 'Is lawyer's pleading guilty seein' as he keeps confessing to everyone 'oo gets anywhere near 'im."
"Good bloody riddance. What does that have t'do with me?" He sat behind his desk as Ray stood in the doorway.
"Nothin' Guv. Just thought you might want to know."
"Yes. Thank you Raymundo. Next time you mention that bastard's name I'd like you to be tellin' me someone's gutted him in the prison canteen." Gene looked up with a satisfied smirk, clearly dismissing Ray, who had the good sense to leave and pulled the door behind him.
Reaching into his pocket, Gene pulled the ring box out and set it on his desk. He'd looked at it in the shop. It was bigger than he'd remembered and it scared him more than he'd expected. Christ. What if she said no?
With a sigh he locked the box in the middle drawer of his desk. He didn't want it out of his sight, but he didn't want to carry it around all day chasing criminal scum through the streets of South London either.
--
"Alex?"
Gene pushed through the door to her room. Alex was sitting up, looking brighter than she had all week. She smiled at him as he entered the room.
"What kept you?"
He bent down to kiss her on the offered cheek. "Wanted to make sure your guests had left."
"Guests? You're my only guest Gene. Well, Shaz has come by a few times."
"She has? That's nice of 'er. Brought dinner." He set a bag down on the bed next to her and pulled the room's one chair closer. "I meant the interview. How'd it go?"
"Oh that!" Alex bent over the paper bag. "What's in here?" She sniffed. "Chips?"
"Fish too." He looked affronted.
"A girl can only eat so much grease Gene. And they were here and gone in under an hour this afternoon. Out by half past three."
"Yeah? And?"
"Routine. Really." She covered his hand with hers. "Now. Tomorrow. Can you possibly bring me a banana for breakfast?"
"On one condition" he pulled two paper wrapped bundles out of the bag and set them on Alex's side table.
"And what's the condition?"
"I get to watch you eat it. Slowly."
Alex giggled as Gene smirked at her. "Agreed." They ate in silence for a few moments, Gene watching her closely.
"So you look good. Better, I mean. 'Ow're you feelin'?"
"OK. Better. I had a bit of a headache this afternoon, after the interview. Had a bit of a kip though and it seems to have gone away."
"Headache? Did you tell the doctor?"
Alex shook her head. "It went away. Do you think I should?"
"You got knocked on the 'ead Alex. A couple o' times. I think you should tell the doctor. Just – don't let him keep you any longer 'n they 'ave to. I want t'bring you 'ome on Monday."
She smiled at him softly. "I miss you too Gene." She leaned back against her pillows with a groan. "And I miss our bed, and my clothes. I just want to get out of here."
Gene pulled his food away as Alex smacked her hand on the bed in frustration. "Alright! Leave my dinner out of it!"
"Sorry." She stole a chip off his paper. "Gene, I was thinking."
He choked on his food. "Should I be worried?"
"You tell me." She set her dinner back on the side table. "I was thinking that maybe, when I get out of here, we might want to re-examine buying a house." Seeing the confused expression on his face she added, "I mean together."
Gene finished the mouthful he was chewing and swallowed. "A house. Are you sure Alex?"
"Yes. I mean, if you still want to, that is. I understand if you may have changed your mind about it."
"No!" Alex looked briefly stunned. "I mean, no I 'aven't changed my mind. Yes! Yes I want to. I do." He reached for her hand, squeezing lightly. "I've been thinkin' too. Been thinkin' maybe I've been a bit thick 'headed about some things and maybe we should -"
Excuse me ma'am. Sir." The nurse took two steps into the room. "It's time for your medication Ms. Drake. Have you finished dinner?"
"What?" Alex had been staring at Gene. He'd had the oddest look on his face. "Oh, yes. I've finished dinner."
Gene stood up quickly as the nurse stepped closer. Christ! What had he almost done? Be just like him to ask her to marry him in a hospital bed over greasy chips with tubes stuck in her arms. Would serve him right if she said no.
"What are they givin' you medication for?"
"Just painkillers" Alex mumbled, swallowing the pills the nurse had handed her. She gulped half a glass of water. "For my shoulder."
"Oh." He waited for the nurse to finish.
"Visiting hours are over, you know." She said pointedly to Gene before she left.
Gene scowled after her. "Bugger that. I'll stay if you want." He was hoping Alex wouldn't remember he'd been interrupted mid sentence.
"That's OK. I'm pretty tired. Should probably get some sleep."
"Alright. But tomorrow's Saturday. I'll be here all day."
"What are you going to do here all day?"
"I'll bring the papers. Maybe I'll read to you all day." He smirked.
Alex rolled her eyes. "I can hardly wait for that." She let him kiss he on the forehead. As an afterthought she added as he walked out the door. "Bring me a Guardian!"
"Not bloody likely!" He shouted back from the corridor.
--
Walking quickly to the lift, Gene slapped the call button in irritation with one hand as the other reached into his pocket for the ring box. Thank god he'd bloody stopped himself. That wasn't at all how it was supposed to happen. He'd take her out, somewhere posh. Wouldn't even get pissed. Well, not too pissed. She'd be out of the hospital Monday, back to desk duty in a week or two. Then maybe, once they found a house they liked. Who was he kidding? Once they found a house she liked.
Gene laughed at himself as the doors opened, wondering how on earth he'd got himself here.
--
After letting himself in to the quiet flat, Gene went straight to the living room and turned on the telly. With Alex gone he'd found himself unable to sit still in the silence and he needed something to keep himself from going mad.
Stripping down to his boxers, he sat in front of the television with a drink and his cigarettes, watching Crossroads. He'd opened the box with Alex's ring in it – that's how he thought about it now, Alex's ring, and set it next to the bottle of whisky. He stared at it, barely looking at the telly. Would she like it? It was a bloody big rock. Cost him enough. He'd decided not to spend all of his savings on it, and Harry had agreed to let him pay it off over longer than usual. Good thing, too, if Alex wanted to buy a house as well. Bloody hell life could get complicated.
Realizing he'd been dozing on the sofa, an hour later Gene got up and went to the bedroom. This was the worst part. Going to bed without her, knowing she wasn't going to crawl in after whatever awful soap she was watching finally ended. Even though it had only been a few days he'd found he missed her instantly. He couldn't sleep the first night from worry, and every night after that he'd spent half the night on the sofa, heading to bed when the white noise from the television finally got to him.
Tonight he wasn't so worried. Alex would be home in a few days. He stretched out on the bed, his feet tangled in the sheets and let his mind wander. Her warm body would be lying next to his, he could kiss her goodnight. Of course, she wouldn't be up for anything for a while, until her arm healed and she had use of it. But then again, he was sure it wouldn't stop them completely.
Lying in bed thinking about Alex, he found himself aroused for the first time in days. Sure, he'd woken up every day with a hard on, but in the stress he'd ignored it. Now he didn't want to ignore it. He could use the bloody release. Not slowly, he stroked himself, breathing in the smell of Alex still lingering on her pillow. Groaning, he shifted his leg, giving him easier access as his fingers gripped his shaft, moving faster over his full length. Oh god. He missed her, wanted her body next to his, wanted her hand on his cock, wanted her legs wrapped around him. He stroked harder, wishing he were deep inside her as he brought himself to the end, exploding onto the sheets with a groan.
--
"Shit!" When Gene finally opened his eyes the next morning it was after 9:30. He'd planned to be at the hospital earlier than that so he rushed through his morning routine, passing on the shave, and careering the Quattro through the streets, somehow managing to pick up the papers and Alex's requested banana along the way. He'd even brought the ring with him. Until it was on her finger it wasn't leaving his person.
Gene had walked the route to Alex's room so many times since she'd been admitted that he no longer noticed much of the goings on in the hospital. Balancing several papers, two teas and a banana he failed to notice the hospital staff, who were buzzing a bit more than usual. He also didn't notice the crowd gathered outside Alex's room until one of the nurses caught him by the arm.
"Excuse me sir. You'll have to get out of the way. You shouldn't even be here."
"What's going on here? Why's everybody in there? What's the matter?"
Ignoring Gene as they rushed past him, he watched as they pushed Alex to the already waiting lift. Looking desperately for one of the nurses he knew, one from during the week, the worst fears crept quickly into mind. He had to know if she was still alive.
Quickly he dropped his bundle on a chair in the corridor and grabbed a nurse as she flew past him.
"What is going on?" He somehow managed to still be calm. Must be the police training. He didn't feel calm at all.
"Really sir, I can't tell you."
"Yes you can. Pull her file. I am the person you get to tell about everything that happens to her. Is she still alive?"
"Yes. Yes." The nurse pulled away. "Someone will be right with you." She hurried after Alex.
Gene paced in the corridor, waiting for what seemed like hours. It may have been hours, he couldn't tell. He was sitting in a found chair, face in his hands, when a doctor he didn't recognize came out to talk to him.
"Mr. Hunt?"
Gene nodded, afraid to talk.
"I'm Dr. Reston." Gene shook the offered hand.
"What's happening?" He was amazed at how terrified he sounded.
"I'm afraid Miss Drake has slipped into a coma. The trauma to her head appears to be more severe than we originally diagnosed and -"
"A coma? I don't understand." This wasn't possible. "She was fine yesterday." His head was spinning.
The doctor shrugged. "Possibly. I wasn't here yesterday. But with head injuries it is possible for them to manifest themselves some time after the original trauma."
"How do you know?" Gene shook his head. "I mean, how did you find it?"
"I believe when the nurse went to wake her this morning for her medication she was non-responsive, and called me."
"Who are you? Where is she?" Gene stared into her still empty room.
"I'm the neurologist on call this weekend. We had to take her to theatre to do some emergency surgery. An x-ray showed the possibility of a blood clot putting pressure on the brain and causing all this. To relieve the pressure and remove the clot we had to drill a hole through her skull. The clot itself was quite large, but we think the operation will prove successful. She seems stable now, but we are still waiting for her to wake up after the anaesthetic."
Drilled a hole in her head? "How long will this last?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. It could last a few hours or a few days. Or it could last longer."
Gene looked sharply at the doctor. "Longer?"
"Months. Years sometimes."
"Years?" Gene swallowed hard.
"Sometimes. Although in that case the likelihood of recovery is slim."
"Will she come back here? To this room?"
"No. They're moving her to the Intensive Care floor. She should be there soon."
"Where is that?" He'd never felt more lost than at that moment.
"Eleventh floor. You can go up now. There's a small lounge up there. They should let you wait until she gets transferred.
Gene nodded thanks and went into Alex's room to gather her things.
--
There wasn't much. He put everything in her small carrier bag along with his papers and her banana and left the room.
Punching the button for the fifth floor, Gene went to the canteen to wait. He wasn't hungry but he'd rather wait there than in intensive care. After buying a tea he found a table in a corner near a window, away from other people. He didn't want to hear anyone talk. He'd wander up every hour or so and see if she'd been admitted to the unit yet.
A coma. Now what was he supposed to do?