The Love of a Stranger

The Aftermath

I woke up in the hospital 2 hours later, completely unaware of what just happened. I saw a white figure standing the side of my bed holding a clip board. My vision slowly focused to see a sharply dressed doctor standing there. I mumbled to get his attention, my mouth and throat was really dry.

"Water" I begged. The doctor granted my wish and I downed the entire bottle within 2 seconds. I cleared my throat a couple of times and then sat up, fully conscious. I asked the doctor some questions and then he did the same to me.

"That was a brave and stupid thing to do, miss Anderson, but I have to congratulate you on your courage. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, I think, just adjusting. Oh my god, where's Dan is he okay? Has he awoken? Is he hurt?" The doctor placed his hand up to hush me.

"Mr Smith is alive and well, although he has suffered some minor burns but it's nothing too serious." He replied. I let out a sigh of relief, I didn't know what I'd do if I heard the that he didn't make it.

"What caused the fire?"

"The fire brigade are not entirely sure yet, but they know it was no accident."

Cathy, that selfish bitch.

"Where. Is. Cathy." I angrily said gritting my teeth together.

"Miss Robertson is also being looked after, but I believe that she got out all right and suffered no major injuries."

"She should've." I muttered under my breath. The doctor left me as I ate the snack that I was provided with, when the doctor came back in, I was able to leave, however Dan remained in the hospital for extra treatment. Before I left I went to go visit him.

I knocked on the door and walked in and he was there, lying in his bed, looking just as beautiful as before, alive. Tears filled up my eyes as I got closer and closer to him. He didn't look like he had any obvious burns.

"Hi." I whispered. He continued to breath, his eyes closed. He was unconscious, I listened to his heart-rate monitor beeping away.

"I know you probably can't hear me." I placed my hand on his. I never thought that I would one of those people that you always see on TV talking to their unconscious love.

"I'm so happy you're alive. Going into that fire to save you was probably the stupidest thing I had ever done, but it was completely worth it. I was so worried about you, at one point I started to give up on myself when I couldn't that door down, but seeing you sitting there helpless made me continue. I can't live without you Dan." I'd lost it, my t-shirt was getting wet from the amount of tears that dropped off my chin. I desperately looked at him hoping he would just reply or any indication of acknowledgement, but nothing...or so I thought. His hand squeezed mine. His heart-rate monitor started to beep faster than before. I smiled and wiped away the tears.

I stayed there holding onto Dans hand like the last thing I wanted to do was to let go. I rested my head on the side of his bed and I fell asleep only to be woken by a nurse.

"Miss Anderson? It's alright, you can go home and have some rest, we'll take good care of him and if anything happens we'll let you know immediately." She kindly said, so I took the advice and got a taxi home.

I slept peacefully through the night, although I was worried sick, but the nurse promised me that if anything happened she'd contact me. She did, maybe about 8 or 9 times. I didn't know whether it was going to be good news or bad news, so I prepared myself for the worst. It was early in the morning and I picked up my phone from the side of the bed and placed it on my ear.

"Miss Anderson?" She said.

"Yes it's me, how is Dan? Is he okay?"

"Fortunately so, he awoke earlier this morning, he was asking to see you, but I told him I sent you home because you were exhausted. He is being discharged later this afternoon but when he does, he needs to be extremely careful. The burns on his back are still haven't settled down."

"That's okay I'll look after him." I said. She explained all the things I needed to do to treat minor burns and I hung up. I was so happy, Dan was coming home where I can finally see him, conscious that is.

When the time came I opened the door expecting him to be a fragile thing, but nope, quite the opposite. He burst in dropping all of his things, picking me up and holding me tight. I was so glad to be back in his arms.

"I almost lost you." I mumbled from underneath his shoulder.

"You saved my life. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you."

"I guess that makes us equal then." I laughed/cried. He placed back down onto the ground again and stared into his eyes before kissing him.

"I heard you, in the hospital, I'm sorry I couldn't reply, I wanted to but I coul-" I cut him off.

"I know, you couldn't of but it doesn't matter. All I really care about now is that your okay. What actually happened, what started the fire?" His facial expression completely changed. Then that's when he started to explain.

It was an interview, like I was the police and Dan was the witness.

"So, tell me from the start."

"Well, I had just gotten off the phone to you and I decided to go and get a coffee like you suggested, so I headed down to Cathy's and ordered a coffee. She was acting really weird, then she started to flirt with me. I kept ignoring her until it got to the point where she got really angry and started to go into a fit. I heard things being smashed in the kitchen, shrieks being heard from other employees. All her employees ran out the door in panic until it was just me and her. I sat down where we last sat, then the last thing I remember was flash of light. I later woke when you came in to get me. My head was throbbing and I couldn't concentrate properly but you got me out, and I am so grateful for it."

"You would've done it if it was me. My brother Jack, he's Cathy's ex, he told me what she was like when he left her, she went on a mental rampage and started to set fire to things he had given her when they were going out. Now I have this strong feeling that she set my home on fire. I haven't confronted her yet, I don't know when I will..." I paused,

"I'm scared" I hesitantly said. Dan wrapped his arms around my body as tightly as he could

"I'm always going to be here for you Laura, don't you forget that."

A/n: Sorry I know it's like the 7th chapter and I've just done my first authors note but meh. Hope you're enjoying it, it's my first one so I'm still learning. I have up to chapter 14 planned so it's just a case of me uploading them. Thanks for the reads!