18 reviews for my last chapter... WOW! Thank you! I was also amazed that no one had expressed a desire to cause me bodily harm after the way I left you hanging at the end so I've come out of hiding.

I hope this chapter lives up to your usual expectations I have had family visiting this weekend and have sacrificed some sleeping for writing so I hope my story telling hasn't suffered too much with my sleep deprived brain. I warn you though before you read you may need a tissue ...

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and I once again thank you for the continued support.

"Miss Chapman?"

"Piper?"

Piper opened her eyes blearily she couldn't remember where she was or how she had got here and she struggled to gain her bearings. Her whole body ached and she felt nauseous from the little amount of sleep she had managed to get.

"Piper?"

Her vision began to clear although for a moment she was disorientated, the bright lights above her head causing her to wince and shut her eyes again. Shaking her head she opened her eyes for a third time and this time her brain had awoken enough to recognise her surroundings, the realisation sending pure fear straight through her body before it settled deep into her chest.

"Alex!"

She struggled upright her body trembling and swaying and two strong hands steadied her shaking body their grip on her shoulders firm and reassuring.

"Easy Piper, easy"

That voice was the familiar sound of reassurance and when Piper looked up she was met with the kind face of Nurse Stevens looking straight at her. The nurse looked stressed and tired which did nothing to ease her worry and she forced her tired brain to engage.

"Alex?"

Nurse Stevens pushed her so that she was sitting back down into the hard plastic chair she had fallen asleep in and the nurse sat down next to her all the while keeping a one handed hold of her shoulder.

"We've had to take Alex to the ICU to be monitored closely she has bacterial pneumonia and we've had to ventilate her to allow her body to gain enough oxygen to function. We've also placed her into a medically induced coma to give her body the best chance at fighting the infection"

The words swam around Piper's brain over and over. Each time they became larger, more frightening, echoing louder making her blood run cold in her veins the feeling as though she was turning to ice creeping over her.

"But Alex said it was just a cold"

Piper hated how insecure and childlike she sounded in that moment especially when Nurse Stevens looked at her with such pity in her eyes.

"It probably felt like it Piper but because Alex's body has already been weakened with recovering from the brain surgery and all the rehabilitation the virus has managed to grow quickly without much resistance from Alex's immune system"

Piper nodded mutely her brain still struggling to take in the information she was being given.

"The reason Alex cannot breathe is because her lungs have filled with fluid meaning they cannot absorb oxygen from the air well enough to sustain her body. At the moment we are pumping her full of steroids in the hope they will give Alex's body the tools to fight the infection so that it doesn't cause anymore damage or spread elsewhere"

Piper just stared at Nurse Stevens for a moment before her brain kicked up a notch and she stared at her in horror "This is really serious isn't it?"

"It is. We are doing everything we can to help Alex fight this but her body has been weakened from its recent trauma and it is a severe case of infection she is having to try and fight. Right now we need to control the bacteria to stop it from spreading through her body. If the bacteria spreads it can lead to the body going into shock and it is this we need to prevent"

Nurse Stevens looked genuinely devastated as she spoke and Piper could feel the panic building up inside her. It was so intense she felt as if the walls were closing in on her and she closed her eyes tightly shaking her head from side to side, her breaths coming in short sharp gasps.

"Piper it's ok, open your eyes and come with me"

The nurse spoke calmly and clearly as she pulled Piper's shaking body forcefully from her seat and half carried her panicking body down the deserted corridor heading quickly to the nearest door. As soon as she was pushed through the door and Piper took in her first breath of crisp cold December morning air she emptied the contents of her stomach into the nearest bush her body heaving with the effort.

Nurse Stevens rubbed her back soothingly and Piper fought her panic taking deep breaths of cold air and she slowly began to feel better the sensation of being walled in disappearing slowly. Standing up straight Piper stepped out of the nurse's comforting hold feeling embarrassed at her mini breakdown and she averted her eyes to gaze over the hospital carpark.

"I'm sorry that was unnecessary I apologise"

"You don't need to say sorry Piper I know how you must feel. I can imagine you thought you were over the worst and now this has happened I understand it must be a lot to take in"

"It's not fair how can this be happening? We've been through the worst she survived fucking life threatening brain surgery now what you're telling me is a common cold is a threat to her life?! I just don't think I can believe it"

Piper wanted to cry but she couldn't her body felt numb to everything around her and she turned back to face Alex's nurse her voice steady although inside she was terrified.

"On a scale of 1 to 10 how bad is it?"

"I'm not answering that Piper"

Piper reached for the nurses hand clutching at it tightly in her own "Please I need to know, I need to know if you think she's going to be ok?"

"Piper the next 12 hours are crucial then after that I'll be able to fully assess Alex again and provide you with a further update. All I can say right this minute is I think you need to call your dad and tell him what's happening. Then you need to come with me and sit with Alex, hold her hand and encourage her to fight this because Alex needs you Piper and I think I know just how much you need her"

Piper started to rock on her heels shaking her head from side to side the overwhelming urge to just run threatening to consume her as the crushing realisation was becoming too much to handle.

"I can't tell my dad, I can't"

The tears, that only moments ago she could not find, suddenly built and she choked on a loud sob as she spoke "It means it's real and I don't want it to be"

"This is very real Piper you have done so well so far but I think you need someone to be here for you ok?"

Piper sniffed loudly and scoffed at the nurse's gentle words "I haven't done anything"

"You kept Alex's oxygen levels up when she fell unconscious, the paramedics told me you where breathing for her just as they instructed. You will have saved Alex from being starved of oxygen which in turn will have helped prevent any long term injuries to her brain. So far you have done really well not to completely give in to fear but I'm worried it will begin to take its toll and I can't look after both of you"

Piper took a deep breath and tried to force herself to appear calm even as her hands trembled with nerves "I'm fine"

The nurse just shook her head knowingly "Call your dad then I'll take you up to the ICU I need to get back to Alex and I know you do too"

"Bill? I came as soon as I saw your message I'm sorry it's taken so long I've been dropping my mother at the airport"

Bill tore his gaze from the window and turned to Piper's bushy haired friend. Nicky looked how Bill felt her face was ashen, creased with worry, her hair dishevelled and her top was on inside out. Bill found himself trying to smile in thanks that she had obviously hurried here.

"Piper called me last night to bring them both here but then she text just saying she had made other arrangements I never even thought that she had ended up having to call an ambulance. When I didn't hear anything more I just presumed they had come home again no problems"

Nicky came to stand next to him and when she turned to look through the window Bill winced at the pained gasp that fell from her mouth a whispered "Fuckin' hell" falling from her lips.

"Thanks for coming Nicky"

"You don't have to thank me... Fuck look at the state of her Bill she looks like a fuckin' corpse"

Bill wanted to reply with 'which one' but he held his tongue. Next to Alex's pale lifeless body Piper was sat upright her back ramrod straight, her body painfully still like a statue. Her glassy eyes stared forward at Alex's face unblinking, the only sign of life the tears that had continued to fall unchecked down her cheeks streaking her face falling on the clasped hands in her lap.

"Have you had any further update?"

Bill tried to speak past the lump in his throat but he couldn't instead he just nodded and he was grateful Nicky didn't push him to speak. Eventually his throat loosened and he spoke keeping his eyes firmly forward.

"They can't get her temperature down they've administered the second lot of antibiotics and now it's just a waiting game to see if she responds. It isn't looking good Nicky"

Nicky nodded hesitantly and Bill could tell she had further questions but he didn't want to talk anymore and he was glad when Nicky remained quiet seemingly understanding his struggle. He watched sympathetically as she paced round like a caged animal and he knew she too was struggling with the enormity of the situation.

"Would you like a coffee?"

Bill nodded to Nicky giving her the reprieve she obviously needed and he turned curiously when she hesitated at his side.

"Do you want to ask Piper?"

Bill shook his head "I haven't been in there yet... I'm not sure I can"

Bill felt a comforting squeeze on his arm and Nicky moved opening the door to the private room and Bill watched closely as Nicky made her way to Piper's side. She placed her arm gently onto Piper's shoulder so as not to startle her and Bill watched as Piper didn't even flinch. In the end Nicky pulled Piper into a one armed hug gave Alex's hand a squeeze and made her way back out into the corridor.

"I'll be back in a moment"

Nicky's voice was rough and Bill knew she was struggling to contain her own emotion and he gave her a slight smile and a nod. Bill sat down heavily on the chair under the window and let his head fall into his hands he felt awful guilt building inside him. Alex had been unwell with what they thought was a cold and he had dragged her around New York getting her half cut on whiskey. They had had a real laugh Alex looking thrilled to be out in the big city but now Bill knew it wouldn't have helped her body with the infection he now knew it had been quietly struggling to fight. The guilt was what was keeping him outside of the room if he felt guilty then Piper would be feeling anger especially with how nervous she had been to let Alex out and yet he had insisted citing the famous phrase 'She'll be fine'.

Being here now he felt no better his stomach and body twisted with nerves. His mobile phone rang loudly in his pocket and he fished it out quickly, immediately rejecting the call when he saw the name flashing up on the screen. Carol had tried calling three times but Bill knew it would not be out of worry or fear no it would be to yell and rage at him again for 'Running off in the early hours once again at the beck and call of his precious darling and the lesbian drug smuggler'. Bill didn't know how much longer he could stay trapped in his loveless marriage but for now he was gritting his teeth and trying to bear it especially while Alex was going through her illness. He didn't want to place any further stress on Piper not at the moment.

So distracted by his thoughts he hadn't noticed that Nurse Stevens had entered Alex's room but when the door closed this time it made him jump and he brought his head up quickly from his hands standing upright.

"Any progress?"

The professional in front of him looked exhausted and Bill knew she too was feeling this personally. Nurse Stevens looked back into the room and made sure the door was firmly closed before she spoke.

"The bacteria count has increased in Alex's blood and her blood pressure has dropped sharply. One of the senior doctors is on his way to do a full diagnosis and decide on a plan going forward"

Bill just nodded feeling sickness build in his stomach and make its way into his throat.

"It is my professional opinion that Alex is going into septic shock but I need the doctor to confirm my theory"

Bill felt his knees weaken and he let himself fall into the chair behind him.

"I have informed Piper of what's happening and that when the doctor comes she's going to have to wait out here but I'm not sure quite sure how much she's taking in information wise I think she's in a mild state of shock"

"I don't know what she'll do if anything happens to Alex"

Bills voice wavered with fear and the nurse squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. The door at the end of the corridor opened and Nurse Stevens moved from Bill's side.

"This is Doctor Jenkins now. I'll go and get Piper tell her you're here and she needs to sit with you while Alex is assessed"

"Dad?"

Piper's voice was practically a whisper and Bill tried to smile reassuringly as he looked at his daughter. Piper looked so lost and bewildered standing in the corridor with Alex's jacket loosely around her shoulders that Bill couldn't contain his overwhelming urge to protect and he wrapped Piper up tightly in his arms his chin coming to rest on the top of her head.

"Oh darling"

Piper had begun to sob her body shaking with the effort Bill felt at a loss he couldn't make it all better no matter how much he wished to.

"I need her to be ok Daddy"

"I know sweetheart, I know"

Bill rocked Piper back and forth keeping his gaze fixed through the window so that he could still see Alex now that she was on her own with just the professionals.

"I promise I'll never ask for anything again... I mean it all I want is Alex ... I don't need anything else"

Bill couldn't answer, he didn't know what to say, instead he just ran a comforting hand up and down Piper's back as she rambled into his ear trying anything to bring some sort of comfort to his distraught child.

"She's a fighter darling if anyone is going to beat this its Alex"

Piper shook her head back and forth repeatedly "I don't know how much more she can take Dad this whole bloody ordeal has taken so much out of her"

Bill swallowed the lump in his throat forcing his own tears away he needed to be strong for Piper.

"It was just a cold ... Alex promised me it was just a cold. I wouldn't have let her stay at home, I would have brought her straight here but I didn't know, I swear I didn't know"

Bill could understand Pipers shock and disbelief he too couldn't quite believe how quickly the infection had spread "I know darling, I know"

Bill stood and rocked Piper from side to side feeling her weight become dead in his arms he carried on watching the doctor keenly through the window. Twenty minutes later and a cough interrupted them and they both turned expectantly to the doctor who had appeared at their side.

"Piper is it?"

Piper scrubbed at her eyes with her fists and she turned to the doctor worry painted across her features.

"Yes that's me Alex's fiancee"

Bill reached out his hand to the doctor "Bill Chapman Piper's father"

The handshake was returned and the doctor gestured that they follow him back into the room. Once they were all situated by Alex's bedside the doctor turned to them his face serious.

"I can confirm that Nurse Stevens concerns were founded Alex is experiencing septic shock the bacteria is ravaging her system. We've administered the next lot of antibiotics and I have set up a new saline drip to increase the fluid in her veins to try and reduce the pressure on her heart by increasing her blood pressure. This is our main concern at the moment if her blood pressure does not rise Alex is at risk of suffering from a cardiac arrest due to the heart muscle being under increased strain"

Bill nodded numbly trying to take in all the information being given and he glanced at Piper who looked completely bewildered.

"If the saline isn't successful I will sign off the use of a vasopressor in Alex's case this will be adrenaline to narrow the blood vessels, again in the hope of increasing her blood pressure"

Bill noted that Piper had still not moved a muscle, her expression one of pure fear, and he pushed her gently back into the chair by the bed fearing that she would crumble to the floor.

"I'm guessing it's just a waiting game then"

The doctor nodded sympathetically in Bill's direction "It is I'm afraid the next 3 hours are extremely critical the drugs need to begin working as soon as possible the longer it takes the less likely Alex is to survive"

Bill watched as Piper visibly crumpled and he placed his arm tightly around her shoulder keeping her body upright.

"Thank you for your help" Bill's voice shook and the doctor nodded sympathetically then left the room swiftly.

Bill knelt down on the floor so that he could look into Pipers eyes clutching her hands tightly into his he schooled his features into one of determination.

"Don't, take that expression of your face, don't you dare give up on her"

Piper shook her head tears spilling down her cheeks "You heard what he said Dad"

"Yes I did but she's not dead yet so don't you go writing her off. I know you're scared but you need to remind her that you are still here and she needs to fight for you"

Bill let go of Pipers hand and took Alex's into his strong grip "So you hear that Vause get your arse in gear and fight because me and Piper are sat here waiting for you and these hospital chairs are bloody uncomfortable!"

Bill watched as Piper let out a small chuckle before a look of determination settled across her face.

"I love you Al I need you to keep fighting for me ok? I'm booking us on a holiday for next year so you have no choice but to get better otherwise I'll be stuck going with Nichols!"

Bill laughed and then he noticed Nicky looking through the window two coffees in her hand.

"Right you stay here and I'll be back in a little while"

Bill pressed a kiss to Piper's forehead as Piper put her head down onto the bed her hand tightly wrapping around Alex's and Bill knew that exhaustion was beginning to take hold. He turned to look at them both once again and he hoped and prayed that Piper would rest through the next few hours and that Alex would start to beat the bacteria that was determinedly trying wreak havoc.

"B-beep... Beep... Beeep.. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep."

Piper's eyes flew open as her dream addled brain registered that she must have fallen asleep and what had awoken her was the sound of a loud droning machine and terror gripped her very soul.

Piper's body jerked upright as she realised the noise was the machine monitoring Alex's heart beat, panicking she slammed her shaking palm into the alarm button and shrieked at the top of her voice desperation taking hold.

"No..! No...Alex please don't do this!"

The machine seemed to become louder the noise echoing in the small room and Piper felt the room spin as her worst fear became a reality. Clutching Alex's hand in her own desperate for the contact her eyes settled on the nearest machine. Piper's stomach lurched as the flat line image burnt into her brain and she shook her head trying to rid the image from her eyes.

Even as Nurse Stevens burst into the room the doctor hot on her heels Piper shook Alex's hand hard and fisted the bedcovers in her tight grip. Her eyes searched Alex's face she merely looked like she was still sleeping and Piper wanted her to open her eyes and laugh, tell her this was all some sort of twisted joke. The doctor tried to move her but it was like her feet were rooted to the ground her body not willing to move from the bedside.

"Don't leave me Alex please ... I love you, I love you so fucking much"

"Nurse take her out of here now!"

The doctors voice commanded authority but Piper couldn't listen, couldn't stop the instinct to fight to stay with Alex.

"No please I need her... I need her to know I'm here! ... No!"

Piper could feel the nurse's grip on her arms become tighter and the room became a blur as she was hauled bodily from Alex's bedside. In the corridor Bill was shouting at the nurse trying to push his way through the door to grab hold of Piper's fighting body as Nicky stood completely shell shocked behind him.

Wrapped tightly in her father's arms Piper pressed herself against the glass window her heart stopped and her blood ran cold as the doctor lowered the bed so that Alex was lying flat. He checked over her then quickly brought his hands down to Alex's chest while Nurse Stevens stood on the right injecting a clear liquid into Alex's right arm.

"Adrenaline administered commence CPR"

Their voices were shrill and Piper's brain struggled in its panicked state and she frantically tried to keep up with what they were saying.

"Still no pulse"

"Ok beginning compression's. One ... Two ... Three"

The doctor paused in his compression's and glanced towards the heart monitor he shook his head and then placed his hands back on Alex's chest.

"Keep that oxygen coming... One ... Two ... Three"

There was no change the machine still showing that dreaded horizontal line and Piper watched as Doctor Jenkins grabbed the defibrillator from the crash cart that had been wheeled into the room.

"No response... defibrillator engaged... shocking 360... charging... clear."

Alex's chest lurched upwards and Piper strained forwards still hearing nothing but the flat line ring in her ears. Her hands began clawing at the glass of their own accord in a desperate attempt to get closer to the one person she loved the most in the world. Watching the doctor begin to charge the machine again Piper felt the hope begin to ooze away from her. Alex was going to die Piper's true love, her fiancee, her everything was going to die.

"No, no, no it was a cold this can't be fuckin' happening, not Vause, not now"

Nicky's disbelieving mumbling was echoing in the corridor mixing with her own distraught whimpering and Piper could feel her dads arms around her shaking with his own fear. The minutes where ticking by and Piper could already feel a void beginning to build deep within her her chest, her heart beginning to break.

"Stand back... Once more please. Shocking 360.. charging.. clear"

The sickening jolt occurred once more and again Alex's chest lurched upwards before crashing back down onto the bed the noise continuing to ring mockingly in the room and out into the corridor. Piper's vision became blurry and her legs shook as the Doctor shook his head slightly to Nurse Stevens, who looked equally devastated, and he slowly placed the defibrillator back onto the trolley.

"I'm so sorry Nurse. Time of death..."

"No" the words fell from her lips as desperation burnt within her veins and before Bill could even begin to try and stop her Piper fought free from his shaking hold and pushed her way back into the room coming to a stop at the foot of Alex's bed.

"Piper"

Nurse Stevens voice was soft as she came towards her tears brimming in her own eyes but Piper shook her head and gestured to Alex firmly as her desperation turned to anger. Piper pushed past the doctor so she was standing with her fist clenched her face inches from Alex's own pale and unmoving.

"Do you hear me Alex? You need to stop being fucking bone idle and fight back. I need you don't you dare leave me on my own!"

"Miss Chapman I'm truly sorry but I don't thin-"

Piper spun around to face the stoic doctor the anger clear on her face and he faltered in his flimsy attempt to placate her. Turning her attention back to Alex Piper placed her lips to Alex's ear and spoke her voice shook with emotion but the words were clear.

"If this is it Al I will walk out of this hospital and into the path of the next moving car and I'll join you wherever it is you are going because I refuse to live without you. So stop being a selfish arse and fight for me, don't you fucking leave me again because this time I'm not having it!"

"Once more Doctor?"

The Doctor sighed deeply and turned to Nurse Stevens irritation across his features, his tone severe.

"Ok once more. Shocking 360... charging... clear!"

Alex's chest lurched upwards in front of her as if in slow motion and Piper's whole body tingled with nerves and anticipation as her eyes clenched shut of their own accord. Piper felt as though an age had passed until suddenly her ears registered the sound of the constant drone cease and the rhythmic bleeping filled the room once more. Piper's eyes whipped open desperate for clarification of what her ears where frantically trying to tell her over wrought brain.

"Bleep ... bleep ... bleep ... bleep"

Tears of relief streamed down Pipers face and she turned to look through the window to her dad who was standing with an almost comical look of shock across his face his arms still raised outwards where she had fought from his hold. The Doctor let out a bark of laughter and shook his head in disbelief.

"Looks like someone pulled their act together the shouting seemed to work Piper"

Piper felt her whole body slump with exhaustion, her legs shaking violently threatening to crumble and Nurse Stevens quickly ushered her into the chair an action that she gratefully accepted.

"Blood pressure has risen slightly which is positive. Keep an eye on it nurse and let me know if there is any change"

The doctor nodded to each of them in turn and left swiftly adjusting his jacket and Piper could hardly comprehend how unfazed he seemed when everyone else was so strung out. It angered her even though she knew it shouldn't, fundamentally she knew he must see this everyday.

"Are you ok Piper?"

Piper nodded to the nurse the situation temporarily overwhelming her and she let out a shaky half laugh half sob before resting her head onto Alex's forearm her fingers automatically seeking out Alex's.

"I will be, are you?"

The nurse dried the tears from her face and averted her eyes "Yes thank you Piper I feel I should apologise that was very unprofessional of me"

"You're only human"

Piper felt physically drained but she did not dare close her eyes.

"It's technically time for me to go home but I'm going to stay for another couple of hours if that's ok with you Piper?"

Piper nodded immensely grateful she trusted Nurse Stevens more than anybody else in this hospital she knew it was selfish but she didn't want her to leave.

"Is it likely to happen again?" Piper's voice wavered and she kept her gaze averted keeping her eyes firmly on Alex's pale face.

"Her blood pressure has increased which is very positive Piper. I don't think Alex likes being shouted at"

Piper smiled weakly and then the room went quiet her brain and body feeling completely overwrought. Once Nurse Stevens had finished checking all of Alex's vitals Piper sensed her gaze and she turned to her curiously.

"Did you mean what you said"

Piper's face set in determination understanding exactly what Nurse Stevens was questioning and she squeezed Alex's hand tightly conviction thrumming through her veins.

"I am never letting Alex leave me behind again so yes I meant every single word"

A.N I almost, almost did the unforgivable there ... Angst is my favourite genre, I thrive on it, however even I admit this chapter is pretty heavy going so I hope you have all come through alright maybe just with a soggy tissue or two :)