Previously on An Ocean Apart:

Helena just sat firmly with her back towards the chair by Dana’s besides contemplating of how disasterous today have been for herself but more so Dana. She knew she had been in her uncomfortable clothes for most of day and wanted to change it would be good to get some fresh air and pick Dana up some fresh clothing, and check back with the hotel.

She caught a taxi back to the hotel and gathered a holdall bag with toiletries, underwear and clothing for Dana’s stay in the hospital, as well as preparing herself a few outfits for her stay. She couldn’t leave Dana alone as no family or friends were here with her. The hotel had told Helena that had not found Dana’s mobile phone so she constructed a search herself. She found the phone but it had not switched tariffs and network was unavailable not allowing her to display her contacts. She switched the sim card over and placed it into her own mobile, hoping to be able to display Dana’s contact list. But it could not configure Dana’s memory card as it was American and this was a British phone. She was downhearted but made a vow she would stay with Dana until she was okay.
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**London, England** – ** Princess Diana of Wales Hospital**

Helena had sat by Dana’s side for almost 4days now without not even an inkling into this woman’s well being. This wasn’t the best time for her own emotional state as the holidays neared. She felt herself drift into past memories of the joyous times and loving friends she left behind in L.A. But she herself knew that they were all to blame in this masquerade of the divide by the ocean, miles, and simple integrity.

Dana looked so peaceful as she lay there Helena’s eyes filled with tears of regret knowing that there were people she cut herself off from although her initial intentions were not to do so. Her biggest regret was not having the courage to say thank you to Alice, for being there with her through some of toughest moments of her life. One including her ordeal with Dylan, the woman who stole her heart and her inheritance.

Alice was there to help her through the lonely nights, get her back on her feet and surrounded her by love more importantly. Something no-one had ever took the time to do before, actually getting the chance to know her and see her when she wasn’t just Helena Peabody the business minded socialite. More so the woman who was soft, gentle and could break like glass in a heartbeat. Dylan wasn’t just another woman who was another notch on her bedpost; she was in love and fall pretty quickly for her. Something regrettable in many senses, but she knew the feelings she felt would stay with her forever as Dylan was her first love. Her marriage to Winnie Mann was not out of love, it was out of convience for both of them. Her children were the only good thing to come out of that shambles of a marriage and for that she would be forever grateful. With all that being said and done Alice had not judged her on those mistakes she once made and the judgement she took with Dylan. She was there no questions asked a true friend.

She sat there quietly as she saw Dana’s eyelids flicker responsively; she waited before she would find a doctor for further assessment. Dana’s eyes rolled vigorously as Helena sat choking on her breath.
Helena sat up and leaned in towards the dark haired beauty; she clasped her hand in her own and waited for more signs to follow.

Dana’s body twitched as she slowly crept out of her unconscious coma state. Her eyes opened fully as she drew in all her surroundings, including a very familiar woman who was staring down at her attentively.

“How are you feeling Miss Fairbanks?” Helena spoke letting her English accent lilt her wording.

“How do you know who I am? I mean you have never met me Helena. What am I doing here? What happened? Dana lay confused as she looked down at her body full of tubes, wiring and markings that had been made.

“I don’t really know you but I’m the one who found you like this. I’ve been worried about you; you gave me one hell of a scare. How do you know my name Miss Fairbanks? I found your name on your luggage, the paramedics did not know of your name or details. There was a mistake with our rooms, they double booked the room. I’m thankful that they did otherwise I’m not sure you would have been found”. Helena’s words causing her to feel an overwhelming of emotion bringing it to the surface. Her eyes trying their hardest to fight back her tears from falling.

“I recognise your face from a photo Alice has kept close to her heart since she left LA and came to New York. Alice Pieszecki is my partner; we live together in New York. I just can’t believe you’re here and you were the one to find me. The saying is definitely true ‘It’s a small world’. And please just call me Dana, and thank you for saving my life Helena. Could you fill in the blanks for me? The last thing I actually remember was me getting out of the shower.” Dana stared at the British bombshell like she had just stepped out of a fairytale dream. She was everything Al had spoken of and much more, she could now grasp the concept of why she had missed her beloved friend so much.

Helena struggled to find her words to explain the situation and to initially think of the connection herself and Dana shared with one another. Her best friend was their connection and she herself thought it was such a small world in many respects.

“I’m not too sure what happened Dana, but I think you must have bumped your head and knocked yourself unconscious. They wouldn’t tell me anything because i’m not immediate family. I did try to find any connections to you life back at home, the hotel tried to find information on your booking also. I even tried to change your sim card over into my phone because it had not changed tariff yet. But the sim card would not configure with my phone because it’s an American sim card. I can’t believe it you’re with Alice; I just can’t catch my breath. Do you want me to get in touch with her so she knows what’s happened to you? To let her know that you’re alright, she must be worried sick that you haven’t been in touch with her”. Helena let her caring side be known and let down her usual front of being strong.

“Shit…sorry. No I don’t want Al to worry I know that she will want to fly to London and see me. And right now is not the best time she has been having a lot of problems at work and I don’t want to take her away from that. Thank you for finding me Helena I’m glad it was you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.” Dana thought about Alice at home at her ends wit she would have to find a way to communicate to her that she was okay and that she had just been extremely busy.

“I know what she is like, but trust me she would want to know regardless of how chaotic work might be. Can I ask how long have you and Alice been an item? You should let her know you are alright, Dana”.
Helena was concerned, and knew how she would felt if she wasn’t in the picture and something had happened to her children.

“I just don’t want her to fly all this way when i’m fine it was just a bump to my head. You know how she can get. We’ve been together for 2years now; we met when she interviewed me for her magazine Hello. She’s the editor up there but somehow she interviewed me, and since that day we have pretty much been inseparable. She still loves you, and the other people she left behind in many ways I can see she still regrets leaving. And especially cutting off all ties with you Helena, she’s been burying her head in the sand lately. I think she wants to return to LA to see you.” Dana voice was raspy as she spoke her words she couldn’t believe how freely she let her words fall of her relationship with this woman she didn’t know. But knew her girlfriend loved Helena dearly and she had known Alice before she had.

“I’m speechless Dana; I’ve missed her so much over these past years. I left LA soon after she did and returned to England. I had been contemplating moving to New York to be closer to my children. But I wanted Alice to have the experience she so desperately craved, and I knew she needed to make a new circle of friends. I would only hold her back from that. Is she happy, are you happy together? Helena emotions were intoxicating and Dana was feeling the advances of this in her own wave of emotions at the turn of events.

Dana thought for a while before she replied. “I think she’s moderately happy I just think something’s missing from her life. But she tells me everything is fine, I know that she’s lying. She misses her old life, but I know that she loves me its just hard at times. We’re okay we didn’t leave our relationship on good terms but I think we will be okay. I’m just looking forward to returning home for Christmas. I need to get to this seminar to reel up support for advertisement for my next tournament”

“I’ve got to find the doctor for you. Make sure everything’s okay and that you’re well enough to leave. I sharnt be long.” With that Helena had gone to the reception area to ask for a doctor to come and assess Dana’s health. Her worrisome state of mind had relapsed and she thought of the probability that she would find a deep connection to her best friend she had not seen in 3 years.

A doctor had emerged and scurried his way towards Dana’s cubicle, Helena let herself take in all of the events and paced her walking. She slowly trailed the washed out hospital floor, thinking about all the connections Alice once spoke to her about Our Chart. The fact that people are linked together through one another and that although sometimes you might not know it, you’re connected to this person through someone else in matter of steps. And it only took one person for her to be linked back to her best friend.

I wonder how my children are doing? It’s been a while since we last spoke. The last time she spoke with them Jang- Ying was having boy trouble. She laughed to herself as she knew that the hardest years were yet to come. I wonder if Wilson has found his inner-self yet; whether it was a girl or boy who he fall in love with would be lucky to have him. He was such a delicate soul and reminded her of herself and her gentle features she hid so well. But wanted her boy to be able to express himself better than she had in previous situations.