"We've managed to stop the bleeding, only time will tell," the doctor told them.

Jim nodded, finding it ironic that for once he was the calm one whilst Michael looked liable to punch something. "Thank you," he said quietly, the doctor nodded and moved off.

"This time he made no promises," Michael observed.

"He probably feels he's made enough," Jim replied, turning to join Michael at the window to Jackie's room.

"I'd better go home to Jean, she'll want to know what's happening with Jackie," Jim continued after a moment.

Michael nodded, "I think I'll stay here for a bit longer."

Taggart nodded, both men knowing Michael was likely to stay there all night. With a final word of goodbye, Taggart left. Michael waited until he was out of sight before he slipped into Jackie's room.

He pulled the chair up close to her bedside and took her hand in his. "You've got to stop scaring me like this, Jackie," he told her, "do you hear me? Stop messing around and wake up, please Jackie. I need you," he whispered.

He blinked back his tears, knowing that it was true. He did need her and if she were to die...well, he didn't know what he would do. "I love you Jackie," he whispered.

At some point after his confession Michael must have fallen asleep as he found himself awakened some time later by Jackie's hand moving in his. Wiping the sleep from his eyes with his free hand he lifted his head blearily. He was greeted by Jackie slowly opening her eyes and looking around her.

Her eyes settled on Michael and she smiled.

"Hey you," she whispered, her throat raspy from lack of use.

"Hey yourself," he replied, giving her a relieved smile of his own.

Jackie glanced at all the discarded coffee cups that littered the small table by her bed, "You've been here a while," she observed, still a little groggy.

"Taggart was here too," Michael told her, "even McVitie and Stephen dropped by at one point."

Jackie looked up at him, "But you stayed."

Michael nodded, "Yeah, I stayed," he agreed softly.

She regarded him for a long moment, "Why don't you go home, I'm going to be fine now. You need your rest," she told him.

Michael gave her a hard look, "Don't be stupid, Jackie, I'm fine." He raised an eyebrow, "Or are you sick of me all ready?" he teased.

Jackie shook her head with a smile, "No." She paused, remembering something vaguely about blood, "How close did I come to dying?" she asked quietly.

Michael dropped her hand and looked away, "Too close," he murmured.

"I'm sorry," she told him, she wasn't sure what for but she just felt she should apologise. He looked up and smiled at her, taking her hand in both of his as he did so.

Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she knew that this should all mean something important: his sitting there with her and holding her hand, but at the moment she was too tired to try and figure it out.

Just his being there was enough.