“What time is it?”

“It’s just gone 7 in the morning baby; the doctors gave you some medicine to help you sleep after the surgery.”

Just then the same nurse, Connie, came in to check Dana over and make sure she was comfortable.

“Hey Dana, how do you feel? It’s perfectly to feel a little disorientated.”

“Em I’m ok I think thanks, my head feels a little foggy and I’m a bit tired.”

“That’s fine and perfectly normal. Are you in any pain?”

“No oww! Yeh a little when I try and move.”

“Ok I’ll sort that out for you, just try and relax and rest. I’d usually kick your visitors out but considering that this young lady has been here all night I’m sure you are the only one who could manage that” Connie smiled at Alice who smiled back.

“Yeh sure but I’ll kick her out myself soon.” Dana grinned at the writer who pouted then smiled.

“Ok buzz if you need anything and I’ll organise some pain relief. Dr Shapiro will be in to see you soon.” With that Connie left the three friends alone once more.

“Ok well Miss Fairbanks, I’ll go and do some work but only because you told me to! I’ll pop back later Dane.” Shane smiled and ruffled Dana’s hair gently.

“Hey!”

“What you gonna do? Chase me?” Shane winked at the tennis player and left.

Seconds later Dana met Alice’s eyes.

“Hey you”

“Hey yourself”

“It’s bad isn’t it?”

“Let’s wait for the Doctor to explain things.”

Dana took Alice’s hand and squeezed it gently, the movement itself causing her an amount of pain and discomfort.

“I love you Piezecki”

“I love you too Dane.”

“That’s why I don’t want some doctor I don’t really know telling me what they found. Please Alice, what did he say? I need to know now.”

Alice took a deep breath and explained to Dana that is was more advanced than expected and what they had had to remove.

Dana took it all in without a word or any real reaction.

“What’s next?”

“He mentioned a few cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and that they’d just monitor the success of the treatments closely.”

Dana closed her eyes before asking, “Stand up Al”

Alice stood and leaned in slightly so that Dana could see her face as she opened her eyes.

“I love you and this whole shitty cancer stuff has got us back to a place I never thought I’d be again. Ironically I’ve felt more alive this year than I have the last 6 months and I will not surrender this without one hell of a fight. I will not leave you again. I am gonna fight this with every ounce of energy I have to give ok? I want us to grow old together Alice, you the love of my life and my best friend”

With both of their emotions threatening to take over, Alice placed a finger on Dana’s lips.

“Sssh honey. I know and feel exactly the same.”

As the couple shared a gentle but passionate and long overdue kiss, the door to Dana’s hospital room clicked shut as Irwin Fairbanks decided to leave his beloved daughter and her beloved girlfriend to share their moment in private but not without a smile escaping from his mouth.