Well, it's late at night, i'm bored and this chapter isn't supposed to be up yet. It's short, but revelvant. And i THINK there is a time skip next. I can't remember. I am brain dead. I'm going for a cup of tea.
And i'm sure i've used this chapter name as another chapter name before...

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The Dragon and the Rose

Chapter Ten

Healing

When Pete walked in the ward, Tegan was sat up in the hospital bed, inspecting the stitches in her arm.

'How d'ya feel?' he asked, coming to stand by her side.

'I'm okay,' she replied quietly.

'It's big,' he observed, gazing at the wound the knife had inflicted. Tegan shrugged.

'It's just a gash,' she replied. Pete sighed, running a hand over his face.

'I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop this. I should 'ave known-'

'Pete,' Tegan protested. 'Don't blame yourself for what happened. We weren't to know that she was a lunatic. What's happened has happened; don't beat yourself up over it.'

'She stabbed you!' Pete retorted. 'Something like that won't just go away.'

'She's dead.' Silence met her comment as the two stared each other down. 'She can't hurt us now.' The door of the private room burst open and Lucy entered, followed by Bov.

'We heard what happened,' she said, coming to a stop by the bed. 'Are you okay?'

'I feel fine,' Tegan smiled. 'A little light-headed, but I expect that's from the morphine.' Lucy gave a relieved laugh and squeezed her hand.

'If you want anything…' she offered.

'I'm okay for now,' Tegan smiled in reply.

--

Lucy and Bov stood in silence out in the corridor. Finally, the blonde sighed.

'Bov, we need to talk.' Bov looked up, a slight frown creasing his features.

'Yeah?'

'I don't want to argue with you anymore,' she told him, stepping forward. 'It's getting us nowhere. I don't want Charlie to have memories of us arguing all the time; I just want things to be how they used to be. Can we start a fresh slate?' Bov took her hand and pulled her forward.

'I was a bit of a twat,' he muttered, wrapping his arms around her. She pressed her face into his chest.

'I love you,' Lucy smiled, glad to have him back.

'Love you too,' he murmured in reply, kissing the top of her head. The door swung open and Pete appeared.

'The cops are talking to Tegan now,' he said. Lucy tugged herself out of Bovver's embrace and took her brother's hand.

'What happened to Chloe?' she asked, ignoring the dark look in his eyes.

'Police said she… she, er, killed 'erself. Chucked 'erself over the bridge,' he replied.

'Small mercies, eh?'

'Where's everyone else?' Pete asked.

'Keith's gone to pick up Ned and Ike. Everyone else should be 'ere soon.'

--

The fire burnt large in the back garden, the dark night temporarily fended off. Lucy stepped out her back door, followed by Bov who was holding Charlie in his arms. Everyone else was already outside; Pete, with his arms around Tegan; Dave stood with Swill, Libby and Jenny; Ike, Ned and Keith, each with a beer in their hands, all huddled around the fire.

''Ave you got the clothes?' Lucy asked. Bov nodded, holding up the black bin bag of baby clothes that Chloe had given them. It had never been opened.

Pete stepped over and took it, staring into the burning embers. Then, he hurled it in.

The fire crackled and hissed, causing sparks to dart in the air like fireflies.

The group watched the bag melt and burn, a pungent smell filling the air. The black smoke curled in the air, clouding the moon.

The mood was morose and nobody said a word.

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