To Protect Each Other ~ A Haleb Story

I Will Always Love You

"Why would she do this to herself?" Ashley questioned. Aria, Emily, Spencer and Alison were at school. Caleb asked them to focus on their studies. It had been two days since Hanna's surgury and she was expected to wake up yesterday.

Caleb lowered his voice so if Hanna could hear, she wouldn't hear this. "Her dad came round to check on her after she was kidnapped. He was all sweet and cuddly until he saw me in the kitchen. I guess he realised me and Hanna never broke up. He asked me to leave but I didn't really. I was waiting outside, listening and I heard him telling Hanna how disappointed he was in her and how perfect Kate was. I came back in, stuck up for Hanna and he gave me this." Caleb gestured towards his face. The bruising had gone down slightly but it was still visable.

"I was gonna ask about that." Ashley said.

"Oh and he accused Hanna of 'overreacting' about 'A'."

"So this is his fault?" Ashley was getting angry at her ex husband.

"Yeah. I don't think he deserves to know what's happened to her, though." Caleb said with confidence.

"Neither do I... But if I were him I'd want to know. I'll call him but I'll tell him he's definitely not welcome." Ashley got up from her seat. She stroked Hanna's hair and began to exit the room. Before she could, however, the same doctor that operated on Hanna entered.

"Mrs. Marin, Mr. Rivers. As you both will know, we expected Hanna to wake up by now after her operation..." He began.

"But she hasn't." Caleb finished. All he wanted was for Hanna to wake up so he could tell her how much he loved her and that everything was going to be okay. He wanted to hold her in his arms and keep her safe. Caleb knew Hanna hated hospitals, especially after she got ran over.

"Exactly." The doctor continued. "Which is why we've decided to take her off her medication which may be having an influence on her consciousness. It's up to you, Ashley when we do it though, but I'm my opinion, the sooner the better." Both the doctor and Caleb looked over at Ashley. Ashley could almost read Caleb's mind. He wanted her to ask if they could do it now.

"Can you do it now?" Ashley asked the doctor.

"Of course we can." The doctor smiled weakly.

"But what if she doesn't wake up?" Caleb asked. He didn't really want to hear the answer but if Hanna didn't wake up, he knew the first thing that he'd do was go and make Tom pay. Then he'd go and find Alison and do the same. And then he'd make Toby and Ezra help him find 'A' and finish it once and for all.

"It's highly unlikely that she won't." The doctor made his way over to Hanna. He took her IV line out of her arm and rolled the stand away.

●●

Two hours later...

Caleb was holding Hanna's hand. He wasn't really allowed to but he feared he wouldn't be able to again. He was drifting in and out of sleep and Ashley went home to shower and change.

"Hanna." He whispered. "You can wake up now baby. Nothing is gonna hurt you anymore, I promise. I will always love you, Han and I'm not mad or upset with you for what you tried to do. I'm gonna help you get better but you need to wake up first." He started crying.

"Think of all the memories we have. The time you jumped in my shower, when we went to the cliff side and lay down blankets and fell asleep. Our double dates with Spencer and Toby and when you got really mad at me and Toby for forgetting to order ice cream." He couldn't help but crack a small smile. "We could have so many more, Hanna."

Caleb noticed a small tear running down Hanna's cheek. He quickly wiped it away.

"I know you can hear me." He cried.

She suddenly began to cough and Caleb rolled her over to pat her on the back. She began to cry even more and so Caleb sat on the edge of her bed and held her tight.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"You've got nothing to apologise for, princess." He kissed her on the head and they stayed like that for hours to come.