Nick

She was going to kill me; I couldn't be late, not for our first date. Not that it was really a date but I was hoping it was. Let's face it, I wasn't a spring chicken anymore and unable to entice the ladies as I did when I was younger. Anyway it had to be different with her. She wasn't my usual type, classier, more sophisticated. At that time though she was playing hard to get and I wasn't really sure if she was attracted to me. But for the time being as it was I was more than contented to play along and anyway I had always liked to play a bit of cat and mouse. But something about that situation was different, she made me nervous and a feeling I liked as not a lot of women could do that to me. I arrived at the restaurant about twenty minutes late and walked over to the table where she was sitting. Gone was the usual high pony tail and grey suit it was instead replaced with hair that hung loose around her face and flowed in soft waves down her back. Her outfit was in casual autumn colours with a pair of casual jeans and brown leather boots to finish off the look. There was even a hint of makeup covering her face and this made her youthfulness all the more evident. I felt my heart flutter as I looked at her and couldn't remember feeling like this about anybody before in my life. It wasn't until that moment that I realised all the other times I had thought I had been in love, were just an illusion. I knew this time it was for real but don't ask me why as no amount of words could have explained the way I felt. I just hoped she wasn't too annoyed with me but the frown creasing her eyebrows even from a distance away seemed to tell me she wasn't impressed. I didn't like that feeling at all but again words seemed to fail me as to why. What was this woman doing to me?

I apprehensively rushed over to the table apologising for my lateness, briefly muttering that the E.D had been overrun by an RTC. When she stood up and looked at me I thought my heart was going to stop beating (I wouldn't have minded though as she would have had to give me the kiss of life, but as a police officer I didn't think that would be in her job description).

I asked a passing waiter for another glass of whatever she was drinking without looking at what was inside the glass. I watched as her frown lines deepened even further. This wasn't the first impression I had wanted to give. It was not going well.

'You do realise that is a Bloody Mary. I'm on call.'

In an attempt to rectify my mistake I managed to get the attention of another waiter and ask for a soft drink instead. She looks at me guiltily as if she suspects how much I wanted to impress her.

'Oh sorry, I didn't mean to stop you from drinking; it looks like you could do with one.'

'No no it's okay I would rather be in sync with you, please.'

I indicated the chair that she had stood up from and she sat back down content in the knowledge that I had not stood her up, like she had assumed. We soon began to feel comfortable with each other and I was having a really nice time as I listened to her speak about her job, her passion and the fact that she cared really came through. She wasn't hard and emotionless like I had first thought. To her, her job was her vocation. She just had to wear an emotionless mask to be able to get through what her job entailed. In this environment, she was comfortable and relaxed. To me it was a pleasure to behold. I loved hearing her laugh and every time she smiled I am sure I had a mirrored expression on my face. I even found it slightly amusing that we ordered the same food, even down to 'No onions'. It was like I had been mismatched all this time, like a piece of me had been missing and I had only just found my perfect match. Halfway through our 'date' her phone rang and my heart instantly dropped like a stone. I thought it was going to cut our date short. Apparently there was a life threatening incident in the cells and they needed her to go and sort it out. I got out of my seat preparing to leave but what she said next surprised and delighted me in equal measure.

'You don't want to come with me do you? It would be a bit of an eccentric end to a first date but why not? It's just that I don't know how long they will need me for, could be half an hour, could be all night. I'm really sorry about this.'

I smiled in agreement and to show her what a gentleman I really was I paid the bill before we headed off to the police station and whatever lay beyond it...

Together the physios and I wheel Yvonne down a long hospital corridor. All that can be heard is the squeaking of our shoes against the plastic lino. We approach the red door at the end behind which stands the object which will change both of our lives forever. Christine steps in front of me as we stop outside the door and opens it.

'Wait, I need a moment please.'

Christine and Mark quickly, discreetly disappear behind the door, they tell us to take our time and to come in when we are ready. As soon as the door closes behind them I go and crouch in front of Yvonne only to see her eyes filling with tears. I take her hand wanting more than anything to make her smile and to reassure her that whatever the chair looks like behind the door it wasn't go to change anything between us. In fact in my opinion it will only make us stronger. I also know in Yvonne's opinion she will find it hard to ask for help after being so independent. She's too proud, that's her problem, but again it's one of the things I love about her. She doesn't need to say anything for me to know how she is feeling. Despite me continuously telling her that she's not a burden on me, that I will still love her no matter what happens I can tell that she is feeling the complete opposite. I give up trying to tell her, knowing she already knows, just sit and watch as she attempts to compose herself, squeezing her hand in constant reassurance, though whether it's for her or me I'm not entirely sure.

After a while her tears stop and she glances at me with a glint in her eye and an ever so slight smile plays on her lips. I smile back at her, realizing how much I miss that playful look.

'What is it?'

'Did you really mean all that stuff earlier, about this being a new start for us?'

'Love, you know I did. I wouldn't have said anything otherwise. Why?'

'And you're sure it won't change anything between us'

I sigh and cup her face in my hand, rubbing my thumb along her cheekbone. She stops my hand, takes it in own and begins to trail kisses onto my palm. Her next question is a mumble in between kisses. I take my hand back and resume my earlier action, which seems to be soothing her no doubt frenzying emotions. It was also calming my racing heart. I must be more nervous than I thought.

'What did you say love, didn't quite hear that.'

In response Yvonne leans forward. I see a fleeting look of pain in her eyes and she gives me a weak smile. She whispers in my ear, so low I can barely hear her. A smile curves at my mouth however when her warm breath hits my ear. I realise just how lucky I am that she is still here with me and still alive. Right at this moment I know I will be incapable of denying her anything she asks for. I love her more than life itself. I just want her to be happy, now and forever.

'Don't worry babe, just a twinge, it will pass. I said prove it. Sneak me out tonight. I know you will probably argue with me, but babe I'm sick of being in here. All these anti-biotics, the poking, prodding, everything, Please love. '

I take her hand and kiss each fingertip, so glad that she seems to be getting back to her old self. The woman I love with everything I've got and who loves me back just as much.

'I will see what I can do. I'm not making any promises though. I'm sure you will get into their good books faster though if you shallow that pride of yours and come and see this chair with me'

'You mean the big metal prison sentence on wheels'

'Come on love, we have talked about this, it won't be as bad as you expect and anyway it could be fun if you get what I mean.' I wink at her in a cheeky way, which causes a fit of giggles to erupt from her. In that moment she looks about ten years younger as all her stresses and fears are forgotten if only for a moment. It is lovely to see and it lifts a heavy weight off my heart to see her so happy. I glance at my watch and suffer a bit of shock when I realise how much time has come to pass, out in this chilly corridor. It has been almost half an hour, but feels like mere minutes.

'Come on they are probably wondering where we have got to. Ready?'

Yvonne looks at me, the sort of look which betrays your true feelings. However when she speaks, she surprises me and manages to keep her voice stable.

'As ready as I will ever be. Come on. Let's go'

Before we move I give her a kiss on the top of her head and again reassure her that the chair won't change anything. As I grasp her handlebars she puts her hand over mine and clasps my hand tightly. She is still nervous

'Well if I can persuade your consultant to let you out tonight, where would you like to go?'

'Well I don't know maybe the restaurant we went to on our first date, or just we could just sit outside in the car. They seem to have particular relevance for us don't you think? If you choose the first, remember no onions... But if your choice is the latter... we can do a lot in thirty minutes...'

With big smiles on both our faces I wheel Yvonne through the door, safe in the knowledge that as long as we have each other, we can get through anything as long as we were together. All we have to do now is hold on to each other and keep one another alive. Our hearts beat as one now...