Gary's alarm rang early the next morning. He didn't even need it; once again, it was a fairly sleepless night. He switched it off and sat up; rubbing his eyes. He dragged himself up and slumped through to the bathroom. He took a cold shower to wake himself up before changing his clothes. He yawned and grabbed his keys pulling on his jacket. He skipped his breakfast as normal and went to the restaurant.


He sat at the bar after taking the trash out. His head was throbbing; a searing migraine. He had been having these a lot recently.

He pulled out his phone and rang his new waiter; telling him not to come in.

He locked up and leant against the wall; his head was getting worse, he stumbled slightly as the pain grew.


The door to Miranda and Stevie's shop flew open.

Stevie looked up instantly.

Gary dropped to the floor, smashing his head on the handle on the way down.

"Gary?!" Stevie said shocked running to him.

Blood trickled from his head.

"Oh my god; what've you been doing to your self?" Stevie whimpered pulling her phone out of her pocket; phoning an ambulance.


Stevie sat in the waiting room terrified. It was partially her fault Gary had gotten so ill... she was mad at him... she shouted at him so much after Miranda fled... But despite her own problem with him; he needed her so much at that point. He needed someone.

"STEVIE?!"

Stevie stood up and looked around.

Clive was running down the corridor, diving around people and dodging trolleys.

"What the hell has happened?"

"I don't know, he stumbled in and just passed out... cracking his head off of the handle..." Stevie said confused.

Clive sat down besides her. "How is he?!"

Stevie shrugged.

"Have you heard from Miranda...?"

Stevie nodded; she's fine but lonely up in Scotland, I don't know if she's going to come home..."

"Well. I am; dad died a few months back; I might as well come home..."

"Oh..."

"Have you told her? Miranda. about Gary?"

Stevie shook her head.

"Why?"

"She doesn't need to know..."

"What?! She doesn't need to know that GARY... is unconscious..." Clive was starting to raise his voice.

"Excuse me? Can I have a word?"

Clive and Stevie stood up; facing the doctor.

"We've done a few tests and it turns out that Mr Preston is extremely tired and there's no sugar in his body what so ever... do you know if he's being eating..?"

Stevie and Clive looked at each other.

"We don't know... I haven't spoke or seen him in ages after we had a massive fall out..." Stevie said softly.

"I've been away for a few months... but; he's a chef! I mean, surely he knows about food and that..." Clive added.

"We'll we've put him on a drip and fixed up his head... were going to keep him under close eye until he awakes, so we can find out what's happened to him..."

"Can I go in?" Clive asked.

The nurse nodded and left.

Clive went through to Gary's private room.


"Hiya..." Clive said softly sitting on the seat besides his bed. "What've you gotten yourself into this time?... Wake up mate... please... I can't see you like this..."

His eyes wandered up and down Gary; his head was badly cut; his face really pale.

He stood up and wandered the room. picking up his notes; reading through them... He paced the room reading them.

There was a sudden coughing and choking noise.

Clive's instant reaction was to look down at Gary.

His eyes were slowly opening and he was choking.

Clive ran to the door. "NURSE!" He screamed before going back to Gary.


Clive stood outside, giving the doctor a few minutes with Gary alone.

Stevie was on the phone to Miranda, telling her about his accident.

The doctor spoke to Clive before leaving.

"What's she saying?" Clive asked.

"She wants to speak to him..."

Clive cocked his head towards the door.

"I'll ring you back in a few minutes, let me talk to him first, I've been rotten to him... really, really rotten..." Stevie said on the phone before hanging up.


"Gary?" Stevie said slowly entering the room.

He looked at her sleepily; he was laid on his side his bad side of his head facing up. The drip in his right arm.

"How are you..?"

"What do you care..." He moaned.

"I'm so sorry! I over reacted..." She pleaded.

"I needed you..." He whimpered.

"I know! But I was so angry with you and selfish! I blamed you for it... when I shouldn't have..." She stroked over his face gently with her thumb.

"Have you heard from her?! Please Stevie? Tell me. Have you heard from her at all?!"

Stevie nodded. "Everyday... I just rang her now; told her about how you were and your accident... she cried..."

Gary started to cry.

"She told me to ring her back... and put you on the phone... she wants to talk to you; it might have something to do with the 380 something texts..." Stevie teased.

Gary laughed weakly; wiping at his tears. "What are you waiting for; ring her?!" He urged.

Stevie pulled out her phone and dialled. "Yeah, he's here... ok; well... I'll stand outside; give you some privacy... Alright! Bye!" Stevie handed him the phone and left.

"Miranda?!" He asked desperately.

"Gary?!" She replied matching his tone.

Gary burst out crying. "When are you coming home?!" he pleaded desperately.

Miranda started to cry too. "I don't know..."


Stevie and Clive were nosily starring through the window at him.

He was crying so much; he kept wiping at his face... wiping the tears away.

"What do you thinks happening?!" Clive whispered.

"I've no idea... I just hope they work things out... I mean, these past few weeks; look at him... he's landed himself in hospital without her... who knows what would happen if it was to be longer!"


Gary hung up and put Stevie's phone on the side. He sat up and wiped at his face. He was still crying but smiling ecstatically. An effortless smile. A smile that had been parted from him for what seemed like a lifetime.