Patrick re-entered, white and lifeless in his features.
�What�what did the doctor say?� He looked petrified. Siobhan raised her head to look at him.
�Oh Da! She may not live� it�s internal bleeding�she�s on life support!� They talked together with agitation, Des focussed on Sheelagh, his ears counting the bleeps of the machine keeping her alive. �Come on Shee�, he was talking to himself, to her. �You can do it, you�re not ready to die. Remember what you said� what you feel.�
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she�s not breathing?
Hello, I�m your mind giving you
Someone to talk to
He continued talking to her in his mind, holding her limp hand, praying, looking for the rise and fall of her chest. She couldn�t go now. Not now, not now that she�d said�that she loved him. He couldn�t let her go.
Sheelagh was in a world of darkness. She could see her hospital room from afar, hear her husband crying and tearing his hair, see Des holding her hand quietly. It was blurry, foggy, like a sea mist had come down on her. Looking away, she saw a thin, bright light far away. It was attractive, welcoming, beckoning. It wanted her to walk towards it! She somehow knew this, although no one had spoken. Motion in her room caused her eyes to tear from the light. The Nurse was bending over her, administering something. She should know what, that used to be her, but somehow Sheelagh�s knowledge had become very basal and primitive. The light was beckoning again, she was caught in it�s aura, moving towards it although she wanted more time to think, to contemplate.
Death before my eyes
Lying next to me I fear
She beckons me, shall I give in?
The nurse had rang for the doctor.
�I think we�re losing her, sir� She announced, as he pushed Des away from the other side of the bed.
Don�t give into the pain
Don�t try to hide
Though they�re screaming your name
Don�t close your eyes
Des� eyes were closed, his lips moving soundlessly. He couldn�t cope with this, with the thought that she might die before her life had begun. He stood at the foot of the bed with Siobhan.. Patrick was sobbing in a corner, unable to control his emotions. An eye opened.
�Wha� what happened?� The whisper was slight, but it was Sheelagh alright. Patrick crossed the room like lightning, stealing a hand from the nurse.
�Sheelagh, oh me darlin� You wouldn�t know how glad I am to see ye.� He gushed. Sheelagh�s eyes scanned the room again. Man in white coat, Doctor. The nurse she�d seen from above, Siobhan�her daughter. She moved her head a little more, and Des came into view. She looked directly into his eyes, caught him up with her. He smiled slightly, and turned to leave the room. Siobhan glanced at him quickly, as if to say �where are you going?�.
�I�m going to get us some more tea, I think you should have some time alone with Sheelagh.� Those blue eyes followed him as he left the room, followed by the doctor, who was sure of Sheelagh�s survival now.
Finding a phone box, Des called into the station. Requested Gina Gold�s office.
�Ma�am, I think she�s going to live. I think she�ll be ok. It�s been touch and go.� A sharp intake of breath.
�I�m putting you on 4 days leave Des. But when you get back I want answers. Tell Sheelagh I�ll be in to see her soon, and� that I�ll keep DS McAllister away from her!� Click. Trust the Inspector to keep her sense of humour, no matter the occasion.
He returned to the room, gave the tea to Siobhan at the door, and turned to the bench.
�I�ll be out here.�
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