“You had an infection. It just took over and you passed out. We were really worried. I was really worried.”

“You didn’t leave me did you?”

“I said before, I’m not going anywhere.”

Alice eased herself into a sitting position; she was stiff from not moving for a while. When she was unconscious she kept on hearing a soft murmur, she knew she wasn’t alone and she knew that it was Dana who was with her. This had helped Alice fight, she didn’t know how; she just knew that it did. Still, even though Dana was her own personal knight in shinning armour, she still remembered what had happened before she had passed out.

“Dana, can we talk?”

“What about?”

“I think you know.”

Dana sighed.

“Okay I was having a really good dream but I’m…”

“Dana, stop.”

“What?”

“That’s not what I’m on about. Anyway I know, you were moaning my name.”

“So what do you want to talk about?”

“Before the infection set up camp, Jackson was here.”

“He was.”

“You brought him here.”

“Kind of.”

“Come on Dane, don’t be an idiot. I wana know why.”

“I just. I’m sorry.”

Dana looked into Alice’s eyes and saw that even though she believed that Dana was truly sorry, she also wanted answers and wouldn’t except anything less. Dana took a deep breath and started, Alice deserved the truth.

“I didn’t think it would turn out the way it did. I didn’t think, full stop. I just saw you sitting here alone for so long and I wanted to do something for you.”

“I wasn’t alone. You were here.”

“I know. I just felt bad that you didn’t see anybody that wasn’t from the hospital.”

“That was my choice Dana. There are certain people in my life that I didn’t want anywhere near me. Jackson was one of them. There are reasons Dana, reasons that you didn’t bother to understand.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Because I didn’t want anybody to know. What you did was sweet when I think about it, but it was also really stupid. You should have respected my choices.”

“I really am sorry. Please believe me, I never wanted to hurt or upset you. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”