Waterloo road 16 - Yey, I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

Guest - I highly doubt I'm in the 'best' category but as a compliment, I'll take it! Thank you. X

dustdancingintheflickerlight - Aww, you're reviews are always so lovely. I'm glad you've enjoyed this so far.

Virgo girl 14 - I'm sure chapter 2 will be amazing!

Abismith41 -Haha!I don't think it would be to much of a spoiler to say that its probably more than a 'sneaky' possibility. ;)

Sophie1245 - Just to clarify, do you mean Kevin's mother shows up, or Dynasty's like in the 'next time' clips? I'm not sure the Jeremy Kyle-esque storyline really fits with what I have planned for this fic but if it gets requested a few times I might do a one shot for you guys. Also, don't worry about the big feelings reveal, good old Dynasty will have her moment.

Oh wow, that might be the longest replies list I've ever had! Thanks for all of you're reviews.

Chapter Twelve

Kevin watched as Dynasty shook her head slowly, wincing as the bruises that Steve-O had left behind twisted this way and that. Her eyes were wide and alight with fear.

Kevin stroked her arm reassuringly despite the skeptical gloom that he withheld from her.

"Don't worry, Dynasty; they'll find him," Kevin lied smoothly, averting his gaze in an attempt to keep his true feelings private.

Dynasty shook her head again. She took a deep breath and Kevin waited for her to speak again. However when Dynasty opened her mouth it was not her voice that filled Kevin's ears.

"Dynasty!" Imogen exclaimed, rushing around Chalky's hulking frame and taking a seat on Dynasty's bed opposite Kevin.

Kevin squeezed Dynasty's hand tightly and glared fiercely at Imogen as a sharp, torturous scream ripped from Dynasty's throat.

Imogen's lips twisted into a rueful smile which Dynasty acknowledged with a heavy sigh and another wince.

Kevin ran a soothing hand along Dynasty's arm as Chalky took the seat that he had recently vacated.

"So, how are you feeling?" Imogen probed tentatively.

Dynasty's brows knitted crossly. Kevin smiled to himself and mockingly copied her expression. In the short time Kevin had known Dynasty well he had come to recognize this as her 'un-amused' face. He had earned it on several occasions himself, usually accompanied by the threat of a slap and some crude jibe about his intellect. Kevin had, in his experience, found that Dynasty was unable to maintain this attitude for long.

After a short moment Dynasty smiled and turned her attention back to Imogen.

"I feel like I got shot," Dynasty stated wryly.

Chalky let out a soft chuckle into the tense silence that descended around Dynasty's bed. Upon Kevin's incredulous glance, however, he stifled it behind his hand and coughed heartily. He patted his chest theatrically.

"I think we should swap places, you and me-" He nodded at Dynasty. "- I'll be keeling over before my time!"

Kevin lowered his head and blew out a long, shuddering breath. He could feel the frustration building in his muscles, crying for him to lash out as Dynasty's visible discomfort grew. Before Kevin could say a word to stop him, Chalky was speaking again, obliviously plowing through the final strands of Kevin's patience.

"You'll have to prepare me though. You know, let me know what the other side is like so I know what to expect like," Chalky joked, smiling to himself.

Dynasty squirmed awkwardly.

"Right, well I think Dynasty needs to sleep. Imogen, maybe you could... erm... maybe you could let the nurses know that Dynasty's been awake and she's fine but she's going back to sleep."

Imogen smiled and squeezed Dynasty's hand before leaving behind a confused Chalky.

"Thanks," Dynasty whispered gratefully, closing her eyes.

"You're welcome."

Kevin studied the shadows that danced across her cheeks as her eyelashes fluttered gently. He knew that she was only resting, not yet able to succumb to sleep.

Carefully, Kevin shifted his weight from Dynasty's bed and settled himself into the chair beside her once more, ignoring the ache of his fractured ribs.

After a few quiet moments, Dynasty opened her eyes and stared dreamily up at the ceiling.

"Kevin?" she murmured.

"Yeah?"

"It's all a lie," she stated simply. "Purgatory, the bright light at the end of the tunnel; it's a con. There's nothing there, Kevin. No lights, not even darkness, just nothing. Maybe the doctors in here are just really good and I never came close, but... all I know is that one minute I'm falling into the water and the next I'm waking up in here. Between that there's just nothing."

Kevin retracted the hand that still held hers and knitted it together with the one resting in his lap.

"I guess life's more fragile than we thought it was then," Kevin muttered as a reply, focusing his gaze on his hands.

Sensing his distress, Dynasty reached for his hand again but clutched at air as Kevin remained resolutely still in his seat.

"Babes," Dynasty croaked softly, reaching for him again. "What's wrong?"

Kevin lifted his head and analyzed every inch of her face. Smooth skin, full, pink lips and large blue eyes; traits so tangibly still a part of this world.

Kevin shook his head and wrapped both of his hands around the one Dynasty stretched out towards him.

"Nothing's wrong," Kevin reassured her. "Go to sleep, Dynasty."

"No," Dynasty replied hastily, ripping her hand away from Kevin.

Kevin knew before she said anything that she could hear the deception in his voice.

"You're lying. Why are you lying to me?" Dynasty queried in a hard voice.

Kevin huffed in defeat and leaned forward in his seat.

"It's just..." he began.

"Yes?" Dynasty prompted immediately.

"It's just your surgeon said that another inch lower and the damage could have been more... permanent," Kevin hedged, shooting a pointed look at Dynasty's stomach.

Dynasty face fell into a mask of confusion.

"I don't-"

"Children, Dynasty," Kevin interrupted sharply, cursing the words that flowed from his lips. "Children. You wouldn't be able to... I mean we wouldn't... I mean..."

Kevin forced his eyes shut tightly for a moment, shielding himself from the glistening tears welling in Dynasty's eyes.

When he opened them again Dynasty was staring up at him with a terrified and unsure expression as though she wasn't exactly sure what he was telling her.

"But it's not like that. Everything's fine so... everything's fine."

Kevin was uneasily aware of how far from 'fine' their situation was. The weight of Steve-O's disappearance lingered on his heart and Dynasty horrified tears shattered the once naive world they had shared across a chessboard.