Alice was unconscious again and hooked up to an IV full of antibiotics, she had an infection. It had run rife through her weakened body and the fact that she had pushed herself so hard hadn’t helped. The doctors were trying to keep the infection at bay and hoped that they had reached it in time before it got to her heart, unfortunately only time could tell.

Dana hadn’t left the corridor for a minute and when the doctors had left an unconscious Alice she walked up to the nurse’s station, thankful to see that it wasn’t Lara on shift.

“Hey sweets, what can I do for you?” Carole was the kind of nurse that everybody wanted. She was 55 and had devoted her life to making sure that her patients were as comfortable and looked after as possible, as far as she was concerned, everybody needed a bit of tlc.

“How she doing?”

“Who’s that darling?”

“Alice.”

“She’s sleeping, poor little mite. Needs a lot of rest that one, been working herself hard, too hard if you ask me. But she told me that she had to get out of this place soon. See there was someone special waiting around and she didn’t think they’d wait forever.”

“Really, she said that?”

“Yep.”

“It wasn’t her boyfriend was it?”

“What, that waste of space? Not a chance. This was someone new and I think you know who I’m talking about. She really lit up when she talked to me about you. That girl got it bad.”

Dana smiled a little at this, and then she remembered how she had messed things up earlier on.

“How do you find out about these things?”

“I pay attention sweetheart, and she told me.”

Dana leaned against the desk and stared at Alice’s room. Carole put her hand on Dana’s shoulder jarring her from her thoughts; she smiled at the confused brunette.

“Why don’t you go in for a bit, just sit with her.”

They walked into the room and Dana instantly went to Alice’s side taking in her appearance. She looked so pale and clammy from the fever, her arms had various drips coming out of them and her breath was laboured. It was such a change from the vibrant, determined young woman who had kissed Dana with so much passion earlier on. Dana would have even preferred an angry Alice, just to hear her shout at her for her actions at Fuel the other night. She just wanted Alice to be awake and safe from this infection that had taken over her already fragile body.

Carole watched Dana from the doorway; she saw the tender way in which Dana brushed a stray piece of wild her out of Alice’s face.

“She’s out of it now and it’s not likely she’ll come round tonight, but if she does, I’m sure she’d want to see you.”

“I’m not so sure. I kind of upset her earlier.”

“That doesn’t matter now. She’s got a hell of a fight on at the moment with this infection. She just needs you to be with her at the moment. I’m sure she knows that you’re here. That’s all that matters right now, whatever happened, you’ll be able to work it out when she’s back amongst us.”

“When do you think that is?”

“I couldn’t tell you hon, whatever she has is a bitch, its hit her hard and fast.”

“I would’ve waited forever.”

“I know that.”

With that Dana was alone with Alice. She pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed, keeping Alice’s hand in hers.

“You sleep sweetheart. Rest and fight this thing off, I’ll be here when you wake up I promise. Just come back to me.”

Dana lent over and kissed Alice softly on her forehead after a moment she moved to her lips and gently kissed her again.

“I’ll wait forever.”