A.N Again I am truly humbled by your response so much so I stayed up extra late last night after a manic weekend to finish this chapter so I could post today as a thank you for your continued support. I'm now heavy eyed and in a need of a decent lie in so I hope you all think this chapter was worth it... :)

Piper's eyes shot open and her body lurched upwards as her sleep addled brain registered the sudden sound of shattering glass. Blinking rapidly, trying to force her eyes to focus, she squinted in the half light trying to work out where she was. For a moment she panicked not recognising the usual sight of her apartment but then her brain kicked up a gear and images from the night before came rushing back to her. It had been her intention to leave when the yawning had began not wanting to exhaust Alex but Alex had continued to talk and the soothing huskiness to her favourite voice had obviously at some point lulled her into a deep sleep.

Becoming more lucid Piper noted the thick blanket that had been wrapped around her and it brought a smile to her face as she imagined Alex tucking her in before retiring to her own bed. It made her heart soar to know that Alex still cared enough about her to make sure that she wouldn't get cold during the night. Sitting slowly upright Piper ran a hand through her hair and attempted to shake the sleep from her body a dull muffled thud could just be heard and Piper became curious. Not wanting to overstep her welcome Piper just sat still for several minutes listening closely for any other sign of movement it would not do her any favours to go rooting around Alex's home without permission. Letting her head fall back on to couch Piper noted the clock that sat above the mantelpiece and she groaned as she read the time at 20 past 4.

Minutes passed and Piper was just beginning to allow herself to drift back off to sleep when a low whimper echoed into the room. She bolted upright instantly alert and worry filled her stomach something wasn't right, straining her ears she heard the sound again and this time she was certain it was something that needed investigating. Deciding that it would be worth facing Alex's wrath at invading her privacy Piper set out finding the source of the noise and she didn't have to look far. The bathroom light was on low and Piper squinted her sensitive eyes at the light just making out the shattered glass across the tiled floor through the partly opened door. Nerves began to creep over her body causing her hands to shake and she clenched her hands internally scolding herself for the childish reaction. Steeling herself Piper pushed the door open slowly a gasp escaping her when she saw Alex sitting curled up on the floor her body trembling the tiles around her covered with shards of glass.

"Alex…?"

"Don't... Come in"

Alex's hands where tangled in her hair, her head resting on her knees, her words sounded slurred and pained. Treading carefully, ignoring Alex's request, Piper slowly made her way into the room her eyes instantly locked on the large packet of prescription painkillers that rested on top of the sink, her stomach dropping at the clear evidence of Alex's ill health.

"Al are you ok?"

Piper crouched down low in front of Alex and gently placed her hands down onto Alex's forearms trying to get a clearer look at her ex girlfriend.

"Go 'way"

It was clearly taking a lot of effort for Alex to speak and Piper suddenly felt panic take hold of her and she struggled to remain calm.

"Is it your head Alex? Have you taken the painkillers?"

Alex nodded then shrugged and brought her head up slowly. Her face was ashen, her forehead ceased in pain.

"Dropped ... glass"

Piper nodded quickly and all but ran to the kitchen with shaking hands she filled a clean glass with water and made her way back to the bathroom.

"How many do you need?"

Piper made sure to keep her voice low and soothing as to not aggravate Alex's headache instead of replying Alex held up two shaking fingers and Piper quickly passed her the correct number of tablets watching with rapt attention as Alex knocked back the large pills quickly swallowing without struggle.

It scared Piper, whenever they had been together and Alex had been suffering with a migraine Piper had always laughed at Alex's inability to swallow two tiny paracetamol without gagging. Alex would do anything to avoid taking them, always cursing and moaning about how they stuck in her throat and made her feel as if she was choking. For her to now swallow two large capsules with little water, without showing a hint of discomfort was another stark warning sign to Piper. How many of these tablets was Alex having to take to be able to control the pain?

"Can you move?"

Alex just groaned in response and Piper shifted her arms under Alex's shoulders and forced herself upright gritting her teeth against her body's protest at lifting such a dead weight.

"No... l.l.l leave me 'lone"

Piper just huffed ignoring Alex's protests she slung her arm up over her shoulder, and wrapped her arm tightly around Alex's waist before moving slowly out of the bathroom.

Realising the couch was the closest option Piper walked into the living room trying desperately to keep her composure, while whispering words of comfort at the sound of Alex's pained groans with each step they took. As they reached the couch Piper lost her footing and they both fell backwards luckily onto the cushions Pipers back colliding with the back of the couch. Alex remained sitting upright for a few seconds before her body slumped sideways and Piper immediately placed her head into her lap while pulling the blanket up over her body. Alex protested weakly her arm trying to push the blanket away but Piper held firm.

"Stop fighting, just relax its me Al, it's just me"

Piper ran a shaking hand across Alex's brow desperately wishing she could take the pain away and her heart clenched at the tears that began to fall from Alex's eyes.

"I know it hurts, I know and I'm sorry I wish I could help more"

Alex clenched her eyes shut a painful sob spilling past her lips and Piper entwined their fingers tightly together in one hand and continued to rub soothingly across Alex's forehead.

"Shh come on, it's ok it'll ease soon. Please don't cry Al please otherwise I'll start to cry and you'll have a snotty drivelling mess hanging over you"

Piper attempted a watery smile but Alex just shook her head she opened her eyes and Piper was taken aback by how dark and dull the once vibrant iris's had become.

"Don't deserve you ... should go ... home"

Piper shook her head forcefully and squeezed Alex's hand tighter her own tears beginning to pool in her eyes, her vision blurring.

"Don't say that. You do, you do deserve me. It's always been me and you Al, it always will be"

Piper watched helplessly as Alex shook her head and clenched her eyes tight as her body shook with pain.

"Stop it Alex I love you, I still love you and I'm not leaving ok? I'm not leaving you no matter how hard you try to push me away"

Piper brought her hands up to Alex's head and buried both hands deep into her hair pushing her fingertips into her hot scalp massaging the fiery skin as best she could, praying that it helped to soothe the pain. Piper pressed and rubbed until ever so slowly Alex's body began to relax and the tears slowly stopped falling as the combination of painkillers and Piper rhythmically rubbing in soothing circles, ignoring the burn in her own muscles her left arm at an awkward angle, began to take effect.

"Feels good... please don't... stop"

Alex gave a ghost of a smile which Piper whole heartedly returned.

"Remember that day in Amsterdam Fahri had been giving you shit all day and you forgot your jacket in the morning. You came back to the hotel stressed out, freezing cold and soaked to the bone?"

Alex nodded bleary eyed and Piper continued never stopping the movement of her hands.

"You sat on the floor against the bed wrapped in two towels raging and swearing. It was the angriest I had ever seen you and I admit I felt a little at a loss as to how to calm you down. But then it was like your whole body just slumped and you leant your head back pouting, complaining of a migraine and what did I do?"

Alex smiled "This"

"Yep I sat there for a good forty minutes running my hands through your wet hair and massaging your scalp, telling you all sorts of tales from my childhood as my arse went numb and my arms went dead and what did you do?"

Alex chuckled weakly "Slept"

Piper mock scowled "I still don't know how much of my family history you slept through or how I didn't notice you gently snoring away"

Piper laughed and continued to recount memories from their different travels to Alex until she noticed that Alex's eyes had grown heavy with tiredness her own voice reducing to a whisper.

"Sleep it'll help with the pain"

Alex screwed her face up in protest but Piper shook her head and placed a gentle kiss to Alex's hairline.

"No ... go to sleep I'll still be here when you wake up"

Alex still looked like she was going to argue but Piper knew it was a losing battle.

As if resigning herself to fate Alex nodded slowly before whispering a quiet "Good" at Piper before closing her eyes and turning her head.

Piper smiled and watched how Alex's body slackened and her face relaxed completely as she gave in to the need for sleep. Slowly Piper removed her hands from Alex's head and shifted her body slightly to stop her legs from getting pins and needles before she took one of Alex's hands back in her own needing the familiar contact.

Now that Alex had gone to sleep the events of the last hour washed over Piper and she felt the fear creep around her once more. If she hadn't been here Alex would have lain on her cold bathroom floor all night in nothing but her lace nightie freezing in agony on her own. How many times had she already faced this all by herself and how much longer could it possibly go on? Piper couldn't stop the questions swirling around her brain no matter how hard she tried to silence them. Was this really how they would end? Nicky had said the surgery was risky which is why she had come for her so that she could see Alex. 'One last time' her brain snidely interjected and Piper felt bile raise in her throat at the thought. Studying Alex's face Piper raised a hand cupping the face she loved so much her finger gently stroking up and down her cheek. Alex twitched and Piper froze, she had not meant to disturb her.

"Pipes..."

"Shhh go back to sleep. I'm here, it's ok, you're ok"

Alex only nuzzled her head into Pipers hand, kissed her palm and settled back into a deep sleep. Piper knew in that moment that Alex still loved her she knew it with absolute certainty in the morning they were going to talk and Piper wasn't going to allow Alex's pride and stubbornness to push her away no matter how much she tried. Piper made a promise to herself that no matter what happened or how difficult this became she was sticking around for the long haul.

With that determination burning through her Piper stayed awake all night keeping a watchful eye over Alex her eyes becoming increasingly heavy until the sun slowly began to rise. It's first rays had just begun creeping through the apartment windows when Piper could fight it no more her exhausted eyes slid shut the need to sleep eventually winning out. Her hand however stayed firmly wrapped around Alex's the emotional need for contact just as great as the physical need for sleep.

A.N Poor Alex :( I genuinely felt quite emotional writing this. As always I would love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment :)