A.N 18 reviews for my last chapter wow you guys are spoiling me ... but I love it :)

Nice long Chapter this one I had a couple of days off and thought I would use it wisely! As always I would love to hear what you think :)

"Jesus I'd forgotten what money buys you in a hospital are you sure this is just a general ward? This rooms bigger than my hotel suite!"

Nicky's loud obnoxious voice could be heard from the other end of the corridor and Piper smiled tiredly at Alex from the end of the bed where she was tucking the covers neatly around Alex's legs smoothing the blankets as she did.

"Are you ready for the full force that is Nicky Nichols"

Alex just hummed looking understandably nervous her right hand fidgeting with the drip secured to the crook of her arm. Piper ran a soothing hand down Alex's leg and smiled at her reassuringly turning to the door surprised when her father walked in with Nicky in tow his voice one of calm his tone confident.

"I'm not having my daughter in law sitting in some crummy ward if you can't pay for the best what's the point"

Nicky laughed heartily and clapped Bill on the shoulder "I knew I should have made Piper my prison wife"

Piper scoffed and rolled her eyes "Oh yeah cause your family's so poor Nicky"

Nicky just smiled good naturedly "Yeah but Bill's a laugh my mother has a stick permanently rammed up her ass! Sounds to me like your marrying up Vause "

"D...augh'er...in ...law?"

Bill beamed as he made his way quickly over to Alex's bedside planting a kiss on her cheek and taking her hand in his own.

"Well you're as good as now aren't you! Don't worry I don't expect you to start calling me daddy like this big softy over here"

Alex chuckled squeezing Bill's hand as she did and he settled into the armchair closest to the bed causing Piper to sigh irritably.

"That wasn't my seat or anything Dad"

Bill snorted "Alex has been looking at your ugly mug all week my rugged good looks will be a welcome attractive change"

Piper laughed "The fact she's been a lesbian all her life might discount that little idea Daddy. Alex would be more likely to appreciate looking at Nicky"

Alex raised an eyebrow chuckling "More like ...one of ...nurses"

Bill burst out into a fit of giggles only laughing harder at the indignant look on both Piper and Nicky's faces.

"How are you feeling then Alex? I must admit you look miles better today. Probably because you're actually up and awake! I'm sure you've been deliberately pretending to be asleep during my visits"

"Ne'er th..that's when... N..Nicky...comes"

"I fuckin' knew it! real nice of you that Vause I'm not coming again you can sod off"

Alex winked at Nicky's sarcastic tone and Piper stood back watching the three of them banter back and forth fondly.

"Are you feeling better then?"

Bill's smile was sincere and Piper noticed he was trying to keep his eyes averted from the shunt so as not to make Alex uncomfortable and Piper was grateful. It had taken a lot of cajoling on Piper's part to get Alex to even agree to Nicky coming today. Even though Nicky had already visited twice over the last week to ICU Alex had been mostly unconscious and she didn't want Nicky to see her looking the way she did. A compromise had been reached Alex would allow Nicky to visit if Piper did her makeup in her words 'Make me look less fucking corpse like' and so Piper had especially enjoyed applying the familiar black eyeliner she loved so much. The fact that Bill had tagged along was a nice surprise for Piper and judging by the smile on Alex's face it was for her as well.

"Feel b..better ...t'day"

Piper was grateful to her Dad and Nicky glad for the reprieve she was absolutely exhausted, her body and mind nearing their limits, she was craving her own bed and a long hot bath. For the last 5 days she had been enduring 10 minute showers and attempting to sleep either in the chair by Alex's bed or the camp bed Nurse Stevens had kindly procured for her after she had point blankly refused to leave Alex's side. She was lucky if she managed to sleep solidly for anything longer than three hours and the lack of sleep was beginning to take its toll.

"Good you looked like shit the last time I saw you Vause you could have been an extra for a fuckin' Halloween horror!"

Alex laughed though she winced as the movement obviously jarred her head.

"So back to the much more interesting conversation of you eyeing up the nurses... Which fit nurse would you bang if you weren't with Chapman?"

Piper's cheeks flushed with embarrassment she was used to Nicky's crassness usually finding it incredibly amusing but in front of her father! No that was not something she was used to. Before Alex could reply Nurse Stevens came bustling in a saline drip in her hand. Over the week Piper had become accustomed to all the medical equipment that Alex was being subjected to actually finding it quite fascinating.

"We having a party in here? And if you are how come I wasn't invited?"

Piper and Alex just smiled in response but Nicky turned to look the nurse up and down before grinning roguishly.

"Jesus Vause I think I'm jealous, I'd let her give me a bed bath anytime she wanted to!"

Piper brought her hand up to her face and groaned, her headache only growing with Nicky's outlandishly comments, but Nurse Stevens just laughed good naturedly.

"It's good to see you again too Miss Nichols. I'm just going to change your drip Alex then I'll be out of your hair I'll come back later to do the observations while you have visitors"

Alex looked relieved and Piper nodded to the nurse grateful for thoughtfulness.

"See gorgeous and considerate are you single?"

Bill Chapman burst out laughing from his chair his face coloured slightly and he winked in Nicky's direction.

"I'm beginning to like you Nicky"

"I'm bloody not come on leave the poor woman alone! I don't want you scaring her off Alex and I like her I don't want her transferring due to your inappropriate harassment!"

Piper was cringing but to her credit Nurse Stevens didn't look at all fazed she carried on changing the drip while Piper and Nicky glared at each other. Once she was done she gathered up the now redundant empty saline bag and headed towards the door.

"I'm very flattered Miss Nichols but I'm afraid I'm not only taken I've been happily married for three years and I'd like to stay that way"

Nicky sighed dramatically "Well your husband is one lucky bastard"

"I would say I'm the lucky one but I'll make sure to tell my wife you think so"

Nicky's jaw dropped comically.

"Right Alex I'll be back in an hour" and with that the nurse threw Nicky a wink and then left as quickly as she had arrived.

"Well I didn't see that coming"

Piper and Alex just shared an amused look at Nicky's face still painted in shock her head shaking from left to right. Piper smiled then looked in her Bill's direction he was sat quiet with a contemplative look across his features and Piper's smile flickered slightly.

"You ok Daddy?"

Bill looked at his daughter and gave a brief smile "I'm fine darling I've just had a rough couple of nights sleep that's all"

Piper wasn't convinced "You and mum ok?"

"Fine... fine"

Piper looked closely at her dad and then to Alex who also didn't look convinced but before she could ask further questions Bill turned to Alex.

"So any idea how long until you will be coming home?"

"Not y..et got t..to start re..hab. Which... d..de'ends on obs"

Bill nodded "Good well make sure you let me know how those observations are coming along. I was at Andrew Riley's on Tuesday for a poker night, you remember Andrew? Tall, dark hair thinning on top? When you told him you were Piper's girlfriend he replied and I'm the Queen of Sheba? Yes well he introduced me to a fantastic new whiskey liquor which I reckon will be right up your street. I could probably sneak a sample in here on my next visit and-"

"Not a chance there's no way in hell Alex is touching alcohol not for a while at least!"

Alex's expression immediately darkened but Piper felt no guilt at her sharp words. There was no way Alex was risking her recovery all for a bloody scotch with her dad, no she was not dealing with the stress.

"No don't look at me like that you know the rules"

"Darling I was only jokin-"

"If wan' a ...ssscotch I'll fuck'in 'ave one"

Alex's voice was cold the anger clearly heard Bill and Nicky both twitched awkwardly Bill especially looking uncomfortable that his joking had led to this. Piper paid them no notice her own temper rising quickly through her tired stressed body.

"You'll risk your health for the sake of a drink? Real mature Alex. Fucking sod the medical advice and do as you please, I don't know why I'm surprised really you have always done exactly whatever the fuck you want sod the bloody consequences and bollocks to everyone else"

Bill stood up slowly his eyes flickering nervously between the two of them "Piper that's enough"

Piper glared at her father her temper still bubbling away and she raised her arms skywards scoffing loudly.

"No am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? She has enough to battle with without sticking alcohol on top of it!"

Afterwards when she was thinking rationally Piper would concede that she had overreacted but now with stress and worry coursing through her exhausted self her rationality had taken a detour and every piece of frustration was rushing out of her.

"Hush your noise and calm your tits Chapman it's one drink she's not planning on going fuckin' clubbing"

"Back off Nicky this has fuck all to do with you"

"Piper... t..hat's enough"

Alex's voice was quiet and calm a clear contrast to Piper's ever increasing hysteria.

"No no it's not I don't want you putting your recovery at risk for the sake of a moment of sheer bloody mindedness!"

"K..Kid-"

"No Alex! Do you want to be stuck in in that hospital bed like this for the rest of your life?! Do you?!"

Alex looked like she had been slapped and Bill took charge "Right Piper that's enough. Come on you're coming with me lets go and get some coffee"

The fight left Piper completely as she took in Nicky's look of complete shock and the stricken expression across Alex's features. Her body visibly slumped as her dad wrapped an arm around her shoulder pulling her into his body. Once they had reached the hospital vending machines Bill pulled away taking hold of Piper by the shoulders and Piper found she couldn't meet his gaze.

"Hey, hey that was bang out of order back there there was no need for all that especially in front of me and Nicky"

Piper just carried on looking at the floor now she had left the room she could feel her body wilting, guilt and embarrassment settling in her stomach and she wanted to weep.

"What was all that about Piper?"

"Nothing really I suppose it's just I can't help but worry, I love her so much and she's going through hell and I'm just so worried all the time. It's like a permanent fixture in my stomach and it feels like it's eating me alive. It's just hard Daddy, it's so hard"

Piper started to cry and Bill pulled her tightly into his arms rocking her making shushing sounds down her ear. The sounds and movement would have sent her to sleep had they not been standing in a busy hospital corridor.

"Darling I think you should go back to your apartment tonight and get a decent nights sleep. No before you argue, I think you're burning yourself out and let's be honest Alex doesn't need the stress of you two arguing on top of everything else does she?" Piper shook her head hesitantly "I know you mean well and so does Alex but she's a grown woman Piper you need to treat her like the adult she is and not a child otherwise she is going to hate you for it. You know how fiercely independent she is, this is already hard enough without you getting on her case"

Piper didn't reply she just let her dads words wash over her what he was saying was the truth but it didn't help her feel any less stressed.

"You can't control everything she does Piper otherwise she's not going to have a life of her own and she'll grow to resent it"

Piper felt offended "I'm just trying to look after her"

Her father smiled at her gently "I know that Piper and she knows that but give Alex some credit she's perfectly capable of looking after herself. Alex is fighting this illness so that she can have a life not an existence remember so don't try and suck the joy out of living"

"I'm not trying to I just got overwhelmed and eurghh I did the famous Chapman thing, lost my temper instead of talking like a rational human being"

Piper laughed humourlessly and presses her hands into her eyes that were burning "God I really do need some proper sleep"

Bill laughed and placed a kiss to Piper's forehead "You do now come on you're going to go back in there and apologise. We'll drink these coffees then me and Nicky are going to leave but tonight I'll be back"

Piper looked at him confusedly "Why?"

"Well someone's got to stay with Alex haven't they?" Bill grinned but Piper could tell there was something bothering him behind his smile.

"Have you and mum been arguing again?"

Bill nodded sheepishly "Gives me an excuse not to go home"

Piper bit her lip she knew exactly what her mother really thought about Alex and she was concerned that this would only fan the flames to her mother's temper.

"Don't look so worried it's between me and your mother you don't need to get involved ok?" Piper nodded hesitantly "Now come on let's get these coffees otherwise Alex and Nicky will be wondering were we've got to!"

"Bill are you sssure you..re ok?"

Alex felt guilty watching Bill shift and struggle on the fold up camp bed in the corner he was obviously uncomfortable but had so far refused all her efforts to try and convince him to leave. Bill stood up stretching his arms high above his head before he grabbed one of the blankets and settled into the chair next to Alex's bed.

"It's not the bed Alex I just can't seem to settle tonight"

"D..Do you wan' t.t...talk 'bout it?"

"There's not really much to say me and Carol fought, she kicked me out of the house and here I am" Bill shrugged his shoulders before he smiled "I'm actually quite glad I'm here tonight otherwise I would have had to stay at Piper's flat and I don't want her worrying about me and her selfish cow of a mother especially not while-" Bill closed his mouth looking sheepish but Alex just shook her head and gestured for Bill to continue she knew exactly how Bill was going to finish that sentence and she agreed whole heartedly with him.

"Well you know what I mean while she's spending so much time here and all that"

"I ... 'ave t..tried... to... make 'er go 'ome"

Alex felt guilty, after Piper's outburst this afternoon it was apparent how much strain she was under. She was still sleeping so much she just presumed that Piper had been getting the rest she needed at the same time as herself but the bags under Piper's eyes told a different story. No matter how much she tried Piper had been adamant that she was staying with Alex and she would not be talked into changing her mind.

Before Bill could reply the night nurse came in and busied herself doing Alex's observations when it came to the checks on her left side Alex sighed resignedly she was sick to death of these infernal checks she just wanted to be left alone.

"N..no ... p..point"

The nurse visibly bristled "Well if you're going to have that attitude you best get used to sitting in that bed because you'll never be signed off to leave"

Alex felt her hackles rise white hot anger flared up inside of her this woman pissed her off she was nothing like Nurse Stevens. This one was rude and abrupt with absolutely no bedside manner how she ever became a nurse Alex didn't know. Determined to prove her point Alex put all her effort into trying to make her left leg move nothing happened and Alex gestured with her right arm.

"I'm fuck'in ... tryin' nothing's ...hap'ning!"

The nurse made a note on her sheet continuing as if she hadn't heard Alex's outburst.

"Left arm"

Alex growled sweat was beginning to bead across her forehead from the effort but she tried concentrating with all her might. Just when she was about to stop Bill stood up abruptly hovering over the bed a look of awe across his face.

"Alex do that again!"

Her concentration broken Alex turned to Bill confusedly "Do what?"

Bill gestured to her hand and Alex concentrated hard slowly but surely Alex could feel a funny sensation like pins and needlessly spread up her left arm and her fingers began to twitch and uncurl. Beaming brightly Alex managed to curl her fingers slightly and unfold them again her breath coming in gasps from the effort.

"That's enough for now Alex I'll be back in four hours"

Bill raised his eyebrows dramatically as the door slammed shut loudly "Well isn't she just a bundle of joy not even a bloody well done or nothing!"

Alex couldn't muster the indignation she was too ecstatic over what she had achieved.

"This is brilliant Alex! Shall I ring Piper and tell her?"

Alex thought for a moment before she shook her head "N..no let 'er... sssleep"

Bill just nodded smiling "You bothered if I stay in this chair?"

Alex shook her head she truly wasn't without Bill this operation may not have been quite so positive she was truly grateful to him for his help plus she genuinely like his company. The first time round with Piper she had never really understood her girlfriends relationship with her father having never experienced it herself. In these last four years though Bill had always made a real effort to include her, they would never have the same relationship he and Piper had for obvious reasons but having that fatherly figure was nice.

"I'm going to get a drink do you want some water?"

Alex nodded gratefully and Bill busied himself pouring two glasses of water he placed a straw in Alex's and she smirked in amusement when he hesitated awkwardly holding out the glass.

"You want me to help?"

"P..Please"

Bill held the glass steady and Alex took a long drink glad of the ice cold liquid. Although the saline drip was providing her with plenty of fluid she liked having a drink for herself it made her feel more normal. Bill's mobile began to ring and he excused himself placing the now empty glass onto the stand at the end of Alex's bed before he reached into his jacket pulling out his phone.

"Guess who this is?"

Alex chuckled tiredly "P..Piper "

Bill nodded and smiled as he answered the phone "Hello darling"

Alex listening contentedly to the one sided conversation letting Bill's voice soothe her into a semi sleeping state while she tried to continue to move her fingers.

"Alex?"

"Hmmm?"

"Piper wants to speak to you"

Alex opened her eyes and clumsily took the phone from Bill and held it up awkwardly to her left ear "Hey K..K..Kid"

"Hello my love"

Piper's sleepy voice made Alex smile she could vividly picture her wrapped in the duvet her body on the left her head on Alex's pillow. It was always the position Piper would adopt if she for any reason was in bed without Alex. It was strange not having Piper with her nodding in the chair next to her but she reasoned that it would be even worse for Piper who had gone back to sleeping in her bed alone. It was a sobering thought that it could easily have turned out that Piper slept on her own, alone, the right side not being occupied by her again and a cold shiver passed through Alex.

"You r..read'y for b..bed?"

Piper yawned loudly and Alex chuckled "Yeah I'm really tired but I can't seem to settle I miss you so much and I think the silence isn't helping I've gotten used to having constant background noise it's really weird not hearing the machines"

Alex grumbled "Wi..sssh I could..n't b..bloody 'ear t..them "

Piper laughed "My dad being good and looking after you?"

Alex smiled in Bill's direction "Yesss 'e ...is"

Piper continued to chatter to her and Alex could slowly feel herself struggling to concentrate. As Piper continued to talk Alex could feel a tingling sensation begin to wash over her body and the feeling made her feel slightly nauseas. Hoping it would ease Alex continued to listen but after a few minutes her body began to twitch which in turn caused her to wince as the movement made her head burn in pain. Bill looked at her curiously as her body began to twitch more noticeably and worry began to seep into her mind.

"P..Pi..pes I'm g..gonna ... 'ave to go. I l..love you ...'k?"

Bill looked at her with concern and she shakily handed him the phone just as she felt her hand begin to spasm.

"No she's fine Piper the nurse has just come in so I'll call you back in the morning ok? ... Yes darling I'll tell her ... Goodnight"

Alex tried to keep her eyes focused on Bill but the pain was coming more strongly now forcing her to clench her eyes shut she could feel her limbs beginning to spasm more severely, her jaw also tensing and she guessed she was having some form of fit.

"Alex what's going on? What do you need?"

"N..n..nurse" she heard Bill move quickly the movements hurried and the alarm button sounded next to her head.

"It's ok Alex you're going to be fine"

Bill's hand was wrapped tightly around her own and she could feel his warm hand against her shoulder holding her body steady. Fear began to creep through her being and she squeezed Bill's hand hard feeling like she needed to anchor herself. As the door opened to her room her body convulsed violently, the pain in her head spiked in magnitude and Alex felt herself wretch blindly jarring her head again in the process. The pain finally overwhelmed her and she gave in to the darkness that had crept into her mind craving unconscious relief.

"I'm being deadly serious Dan I do not want that woman anywhere near Alex! If she so much as appears in this room I'm filing a complaint"

Alex could hear Bill's angry words filtering through from the corridor outside it had woken her up hearing Bill shout loudly into the phone but at first she just presumed it was Carol. When Bill had noticed she was awake he had quickly taken his call out into the corridor but Alex could still hear his angry tones.

"Nurse Stevens has been in this morning and she told me that it was due to not enough anti-convulsant being administered. The fit caused a bleed on her brain now luckily, as we both know, it has been successfully drained with the shunt but if it hadn't Dan and Alex had been wheeled back into theatre you would have had a lawsuit on your hands!"

Alex turned her head sluggishly she could just make out Bill's form through the window his arms gesturing wildly and her heart warmed at Bill's obvious concern. Bill's voice tapered off no longer raised and a few minutes later he returned to the room his face flushed with anger.

"You d..didn't 'ave t..to ... d..do that "

Bill looked irritably towards the door "Yes I did it's not right she was a bitch that nurse and useless to boot I'm not having her being in charge of your care"

"Thanks ... "

Bill's face softened and he took her hand in his own "You don't need to thank me. I had just gotten off the phone with Piper when Dan called she's completely furious I thought it would be better if Dan dealt with my version of the Chapman temper. I think if that nurse turns up again Piper will have her head"

Alex physically winced at the thought of how furious Piper would be when she arrived and she actually hoped for the nurses sake she didn't return.

"Ssstill I'm 'k it c..could 'ave b..been worse"

"Yeah and that's why I'm so cross"

Alex gave up trying to calm Bill down and so she dozed while he stalked up and down her room. A tell tale bang echoed into the corridor and Alex winced as she heard Piper's voice echo loudly "Where the fuck is she?!"

Bill's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline when he heard the anger in Piper's tone. Quickly he exited the room and when he returned he was manhandling Piper, through the door forcefully, who was still trying to find out which nurse had been on duty the night before.

"P..Pipes come 'ere" the anger seemed to drain from Piper's body and Alex kept her tone calm and soothing "M..miss..ed you"

Her love smiled gently and she crossed the room quickly coming to settle at Alex's bedside.

"Hey I missed you too. How are you this morning honestly?

"I'mm ...'k"

Piper's face contorted into a deep scowl "No thanks to that incompetent fool she'll be the one needing a hospital bed if she ever sets foot in this room again"

Alex chuckled, angry Piper was hot if she wasn't incapacitated in this bed she would be fucking Piper up against the wall her protectiveness was a turn on.

"Don't look at me like that"

Piper's cheeks had coloured slightly and she glanced between Alex and Bill who was still standing by the door "L..Like what?"

"You know what"

Piper moved up closer so that she could whisper in Alex's ear and Alex watched amusedly as Piper looked over her shoulder to make sure her father wasn't listening.

"Like you want to ravish me you're making me horny"

Alex chuckled then groaned theatrically keeping a coy smirk on her face "J..Just you wait ... until we're b..back 'ome ... I won't f..forget"

"I know I'm old but I'm not deaf or stupid please don't make me hear things my sensitive dad ears shouldn't be exposed to"

Piper blushed beetroot red and Alex couldn't help but laugh as Piper buried her head into her neck as if she could physically hide herself from her father.

"Nurse Stevens will be coming to do your checks in half an hour Alex do you want to show Piper what you can do?"

Piper looked at her curiously and Alex smiled as she stretched out her left fingers and flexed them against Piper's hand that was resting on the bed. The movement was still awkward and very laboured her arm still not moving but Piper's whole face lit up as she looked from her hand back to up to her face a look of pure joy on her face.

"Oh Alex that's brilliant"

Piper threw her arms around her and Alex felt a hum of contentment travel through her Piper's elation brightening the whole room.

"See Piper two sets of functioning fingers! I'm sure you'll be celebrating that the minute she gets home!"

Bill's voice was teasing, the innuendo heavily implied and Piper sat bolt upright blushing profusely her face a picture of horror as Alex just laughed uncontrollably.

"Daddy!"