“I’m going to apologise. I’m sorry I think we pushed you a bit far today but as soon as I mentioned it I knew there would be no way to stop you from doing it and for that I am sorry.”

“Don’t be” Alice replied instantly.

“That’s the best time I’ve had with Dana in so long. We were both happy and the reaction on her face the second she saw me is worth feeling like this for another week, honestly”

The doctor just smiled.

“I was going to leave you in peace now Alice but would you mind if I did some reflex tests on you now?”

“Sure doc, I don’t feel them anyway.”

Dr Morgan went to the end of the bed and pulled up the sheets. He took his pen out of his top pocket and ran the end of it along the sole of Alice’s non-plastered foot.

“Hey” Alice yelped in surprise

“You can feel this?”

“Yeh!”

The doctor smiled once more, returned the sheets to the way they were and returned to Alice’s line of vision.

“Your broken leg hurts Alice because the swelling in your spine has reduced and as I had hoped, the receptors and nerves were simply blocked by the swelling, not damaged. Now that the pain signals are being received in your brain, you feel pain. In this case, pain is a good sign”

Alice smiled, not quite able to take it all in. “Still hurts though”

“Don’t worry I’ll sort that out and with time, patience and a bit of motivation you should hopefully make very near to a full recovery.”

Alice didn’t know what to say, for the first time in a long time Alice Piezecki was speechless, instead she just cried a few tears of joy.

Dr Morgan took her hand again. “You’re welcome Alice. Now get some rest”

Downstairs Dana’s mood had deteriorated since Alice’s departure, she was tired and cold and sore and snappy.

“Dana come on, at least take another blanket.”

“It’s the middle of summer in LA. I’m 32 Mom; I am not going to sit here with more than one blanket on when you are practically sweating in the heat!”

“Ok firstly Dana that’s not the more polite thing you have ever said to me and secondly.” Sharon hesitated and took Dana’s hand in hers.

“Darling you aren’t well and there is absolutely no shame in wrapping up a bit more because the treatment is making you feel cold.”

“I know perfectly well I’m ill! I’m wasting away here; you think I can’t see that.”

“Dana I know you are angry and frustrated and it breaks my heart to see you like this but if you are one thing, you are a fighter. You are young and strong and you can beat this thing but you need to find it within yourself to fight. Put your anger and the energy you are using up for that into your fight. Channel all of your emotions into one goal.”

Dana sighed, defeated “Where did my life go?” she whispered

“It’s here Dana, you have a beautiful woman upstairs that loves you and who you love back. She is fighting for you dear; you need to fight for her.”

Dana smiled, she had never heard Sharon speak so openly about her relationship with Alice and it caught her off guard.

She looked her mother in the eye and as tears glistened in her eyes she simply said “Thanks Mom”

When Dana was finally released she was exhausted. They went upstairs to see Alice who was fast asleep when they arrived. Dana grabbed a pen and paper from Alice’s table and scribbled a quick but thoughtful note;

Hey sleepy, the sight of you surprising me today will live with me forever and get me through each night without you beside me however long that is. I love you and see you soon. Sleep well babe, D XX

Dana placed it on Alice’s pillow and left to make her way home. She was exhausted but happy and ready to fight.