Chapter 13

William stayed the night, and he didn't let go of her hand once. Some of the nurses tried to get him to leave. Sme told him to go home, others tried to convince him she would heal better without the pressure he was putting on her. his reaction, threaten to get them fired and kiss Lizzie's hand. She woke up once that night. She had a dream about what would have happened to her if she hadn't run to the kitchen, or had William there at all in her life. The look on her face when she said that made him want to cry, and William knew he played his emotions close to the chest. but he knew that he had to be strong. He knew that she needed him to be there for her. He knew that when the time came, she would be there for him, just like all the times they had been there for each other before. He knew Lizzie. He loved Lizzie. And no matter what Lizzie needed him to do, he would do it for her. Anything short of abandonment, homicide, and anything that caused him to be away from her. Though, hiring a hitman would not be out of the question for him, if she really needed it. When he finally decided that he could close his eyes for a few moment to get some sleep, he was sitting in a poorly padded wooden chair, with his head resting next to their entwined hands, and his spine bent at the most uncomfortable angle he had ever felt. But this was Lizzie. Lizzie needed him. So he would stay. Just for her.

Only for her.

Lizzie woke up in the morning and just sat there for a while, staring at a sleeping William. He looked so uncomfortable, his body bent over with his head resting on her bed while still managing to sit in the chair. Yet at the same time, his face held a combination of peace and strength that she had always known he had in him. She loved to watch him sleep. Though she would never admit it, sometimes she would watch him sleeping at home, and then at the first sign of him waking up, she would shut her eyes, wait five minutes, and pretend to wake up all over again, just so that she could see his face looking at her as soon as she opened her eyes.

A nurse walked in, wearing dark purple scrubs covered in cream paw prints, and greeted her in a whisper. "He's still her."

"What do yo mean he's still here?" lizzie looked back at William.

"Some of the other nurses told me they threatened to get them fired if they tried to get him to leave your side. Apparently they had been trying to do it all night." They shared a quiet laugh.

"I need to remind him to work on his people skills."

There was a long silence while the nurse went through part of her routine.

"He must love you very much." She said even more quietly.

"What was that?" Lizzie looked at her inquisitively.

"i just said that he must love you very much. The amount of loyalty that has shown while you were asleep."

She blushed. "Yesterday was our one-year anniversary."

"Well, congratulations." Charlie tilted his head suspiciously at the new-comer.

"Thank you." She heard a slight growl coming from Charlie. "Charlie!" He looked at her. "She's a friend." He put his head back down on the bed. "Sorry. He's actually very nice."

"Can I pet him?" She was looking at the machine on one side of Lizzie's bed.

"Sure." The nurse gently placed a hand on Charlie's head and started scratching behind his ear. Charlie thumped his tail and licked her hand.

"I was wondering," she pulled her hand away, "Once you feel a little better, can I bring some of the kids down to see him?"

"Of course. I would love that. He needs to get used to kids." She leant forwards and patted him on the head.

"I saw your chart. Congratulations." The nurse smiled.

"Thank you." Lizzie looked at William, still asleep. "Could you bring a blanket for him? He looks so uncomfortable." The two of them laughed lightly.

"The late shift said he refused to let go of your hand last night. There should be some in the cupboard, one sec." She walked over to under the TV and pulled out a blanket. She placed it over William's shoulders and started to leave the room. "I'll leave you two then."

"Wait. What's your name? For further reference."

"Mary. Mary Carter."

"Pleasure. You can call me Lizzie." She awkwardly stuck out her left hand and the shook.

"Alright. As long as you call me Mary. None of the Nurse Carter stuff."

"Deal." Lizzie let go of Mary's hand.

"I need to finish my rounds. See you later."

"Looking forward to it." Lizzie looked back at William. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. "Easy, tiger. Don't sit up to quick." Lizzie laughed.

William straightened and winced when his spine made popping noises. "Lizzie? How long have you been up? And who put this blanket on me?"

"I haven't been up long. And my nurse Mary put it on you." She looked down at her hands. "Can you kiss me?" She blushed.

William inched forwards and tilted her chin up. "You didn't need to ask. I was already planing on it." And he pressed his lips to hers. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Let me make a few calls?"

"And while you're at it, take Charlie out?"

"Okay." He kissed her quickly, grabbed Charlie's leash and the two of them headed out the door.

Lizzie took the opportunity to examine the room more fully. It was plain and boring, just like any other hospital room. A chair was missing from the table by the window, which Lizzie had assumed was the chair that William had pulled up. She laughed a little to herself. William. My William. She looked down at the rings on her fingers and started to play with them. There was a light knock on the door. Lizzie turned her head to look.

"Ms. Lucas?"