Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 45

"Mrs Harrison? Alice?"

Alice felt herself being gently shaken. She opened her eyes. A nurse was smiling at her. Alice looked at Alex. He was still fast asleep.

"Why don't you go back to your own room Mrs Harrison? You need to rest. Alex is fine. He'll sleep now until tomorrow."

Alice smiled wearily. "But I..." she stopped and looked back at Alex. His colour was returning like she had been told it would. She saw a second blood transfusion bag now in place. She nodded. "That sounds a good idea. And I am very tired... except I don't know how to get back to where the room is."

The nurse nodded. "We can get someone to take you back. That's not a problem."

It only took a few minutes to return to her room. The doctor she had seen earlier that day was still on duty. She seemed pleased to see her.

"How's Alex?"

"He's doing well." she said, "But sleeping now. I thought I should get some rest too."

The doctor walked back to her room with her. She helped her slip into a pair of pyjamas then got into bed. Once settled, she was left alone.

Alice lay in bed, her mind drifted over the events of the last few days, especially the way Alex had been hurt. Suddenly she was overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions. Fear, panic, anger, deep sadness filled her. She began to shake uncontrolably. In desperation she pressed her call button. The doctor came to her aid. As soon as she saw how distraught Alice was, she simply hugged her and waited for her to calm down.

"What's wrong with me?" Alice whispered, her teeth chattering as she continued to shake.

"You're reacting to the adrenaline and extreme stress you've been through in the last twenty four hours. It will pass."

Slowly the shaking stopped and Alice felt her body beginning to relax again. She felt exhausted and ached in every bone in her body. Finally, after being given a mild sedative, she drifted off to sleep.

"If you like to follow me then I will take you to the correct room."

He walked behind the doctor, tiptoeing into the room where he found Alice sound asleep.

"As I mentioned earlier, your wife has been given a mild sedative. It is designed to help her sleep but will not keep her asleep. She should wake quite naturally in the morning."

After thanking the doctor, George sat by the bed. He looked at his wife's face, taking in the bruises and cut lip. He longed to hold her, to tell her they'd get through this together. The doctor had explained to him exactly what had happened to Alice whilst being held by Donovan. He was afraid. Very afraid. Donovan had made Alice so terrified of imtimacy once before. He didn't want that to happen again. He didn't want Donovan to come between them once more. He took hold her her hand, very much as Alice had done by Alex's bedside. He kissed it softly then simply held it and waited.

Sometime later, he became aware of her stirring. Alice began muttering in her sleep, growing restless. She began to whimper, her dreams clearly frightening her. George debated what to do. Should he wake her or let the dream end?

"ALEX NO!" Alice sat bolt upright, crying.

George immediately went to her. "Shhhh," he soothed as she sobbed on him, "I'm here baby. Your George is here. You're safe and Alex is safe. I've just been to see him. It's just a dream Alice baby, just a dream."

She sat upright, awake properly now and looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.

"George?" She looked stunned, "Is it really you? You're here?"
"It's me baby. I'm here." He gave her a soft smile. "Right where I should be."

She scrambled over the bed and clung to him. "Thank God you're here!" She sobbed, "I thought I'd never see you again!" She sobbed with relief. George wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. Slowly she calmed down and just leaned against him.

"Feeling better?"

She sniffed but looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you my love."

He kissed her softly, careful not to hurt her sore lip. He felt her shiver. "You're cold." George whispered. "Let's get you back into bed."

"NO!" She looked scared, "I need to be next to you! I feel safe with you!" She shivered again, her teeth beginning to chatter.

George gently moved her from his arms. "Bed." He told her firmly, "Lie down aand rest. You know what the doctor has said."

"Lie down with me."

"What?"

"Please George," Alice blinked back tears, "I want you to hold me. Lie down with me. Help me to feel safe again George my love. PLEASE!"

He helped her into bed then, after removing his jacket and shoes, he climbed in to the bed beside her. Thn, after covering them both up, he wrapped his arms around her.

"You're safe now baby." he told her, "No one can touch you or hurt you now."

He felt her begin to relax as he held her then, as her breathing slowed, he knew she was asleep. Himself exhausted, he closed his eyes and slept too.

George awoke first. The doctor shook him gently. "We've had a call from the ward. Alex had taken a turn for the worst. They think you should go to him."

In panic, he gently awoke Alice. "We need to go to Alex. NOW!" he told her.

"But...but..?"

"Alice," said the doctor softly, "There's a problem with Alex. You need to go to him."

In a matter of minutes, the two of them were on Alex's ward.

"What's wrong?" George asked the nurse who met them on the door, "He was doing so well last night."

"If you would both like to take a seat," she said softly, "The doctor will be with you very soon."

They sat in the same place where Alice had sat the previous evening. Then she had been so full of hope but now, she was terrified. Finally the doctor appeared.

"Mr and Mrs Harrison?" he enquired, "Hello, I'm Mr Hassan. I'm the surgeon who operated on Alex last night."

"What's wrong?" Alice asked anxiously, "We've been told there's a problem?"

"Alex was doing well until an hour or so ago." The doctor explained softly, "However, it appears that Alex still has some internal bleeding. The wound has filled with blood again and Alex has suffered a dangerous drop in blood pressure."

"So what does that mean?"

"Mr Harrison, it means that Alex needs further surgery. However, the damage to the tendons and muscles around his shoulder have now been so badly damaged that there is a possibility that we may have to amputate his arm from the shoulder."

"NO! Alice began to shout and cry, "You can't do this! You can't do this to Alex! He's fiteen years old for God's sake! NO No No!!!"

"Please, Mrs Harrison, if we don't then there's a chance Alex will bleed to death. Is that what you want?"

"But..."

George pulled Alice into a hug and held her. "Just do whatever it is you need to do to save Alex," said George gently, "Please. Just save our son!"

"Thank you." The doctor smiled and then left them alone.

"Why did you do that?" Alice rounded on him, angry. "He's my son! I decide what's happening to him not you!" As soon as the words had left her mouth she gasped. "I shouldn't have said that. Oh George I'm so so sorry! Forgive me!"

George fought back the hurt he was feeling. He knew Alice was distressed, depressed even. He kissed her softly. "The doctor said it was a 'might be' not a definate. Alice darling. Alex will be fine sweetheart, I'm sure of it!"

They sat down to wait for further news about  Alex in silence.