As The World Turns

Chapter 38

Jodie was sat up, a pillow propped her back up as she just stared. She was staring at the door waiting for the doctor to come in and tell her he'd made a mistake. Tell her that he'd mixed her results or he'd read them wrong. Unfortunately, he didn't come back and Jodie was left to stare as the news sunk in.

She couldn't really remember much of what happened. The last thing she recalled with talking to Taylor as she was throwing up, the next moment she was waking up in the back of an ambulance. Then before she could so much as ask what was going on, Jodie'd found herself being scanned and having her blood taken, within seconds of arriving at the hospital.

It was only after that, she had been given the news that had only just sunk in, that she realised where she was. And so she was left to wait for the doctor's return, who had said he'd gone to break the news to her family. Her family, her mum and dad, something that hadn't crossed her mind till he'd spoken of them.

''Oh my Joey,'' Jodie was whipped away from her endless, circling thoughts, by the sound of her mother's voice. Grace Kingly, rushed over to Jodie's bedside placing her hands on top of her daughters.

''Mum I'm fine,'' she whispered, sounding as if she was trying to reassure herself that she was fine 'you're not though are you,' a tiny voice in the back of her head pointed out. Not wanting to give into that one negative thought, Jodie decided to bloke the voice out, focusing on her mother instead.

''Hmm, if you say so,'' her mother hummed, going to stroke her daughter's hair. It was strange how one seemingly simple thing, managed to calm Jodie'd nervous; well she was calmer than she had been moments before.

''I know you'll be ok Jo,'' her father sent her a sympathetic smile, as he came round the other side of her bed to lay a heavy hand on her shoulder, ''no matter what happens from here, I know you'll pull through because you are and I mean this the strongest out of all my children.''

''Hey,'' Bradly protested from the far end of the bed, he'd decided to rest one of his hands on the bar that stood at the end of the bed, while his other hand held onto Maddie's. Maddie was silent, she had her thumb in her mouth and Jodie knew that to be the sign that she was scared.

''Mads, you wanna come sit with me on the bed,'' the eight-year-old nodded, pulling away from Bradley's hand so she could climb up onto the bed and snuggle in next to Jodie.

''Are you going to be ok,'' Maddie whispered, in Jodie's ear.

''Of course, I will, I'm just a little poorly right now, but I'll be good as new in no time,'' she whispered back as Maddie borrowed her head in Jodie's neck

''Promise,'' Maddie, pulled away slightly to raise her right pinky finger. Jodie hesitated because hse couldn't in that moment promise Maddie that she really was going to be all right. She glanced between both her parents as if asking for their advice. Her mother just smiled down at her, while her father nodded.

''I promise,'' Jodie smiled as she linked pinkies with her younger sister. She was glad she'd promised Maddie because it immediately cheered her up and she was back to her normal chatty self.

''Right,'' her dad spoke up after around thirty minutes, ''I think we better get going and give Marshall and Taylor some time with Jodie,'' Maddie, made a noise in protest, but soon gave in; after giving Jodie a big hug and kiss that was.

''I'll come round tomorrow ok Joey,'' her mum spoke while giving her a final hug goodbye.

Jodie watched her family buddle out of her hospital room. She now found herself alone once again and she'd hadn't until then realised how quiet and lonely she was in that room all alone. In reality, it hadn't only been a couple of minutes, but it felt like a lifetime when Marshall and Taylor finally appeared in the doorway.

''How you doing Jo?'' Taylor was the first to speak as she came over to Jodie's bedside to give her a bone-crushing hug.

''Better now I've seen everybody important to me,'' she looked passed Taylor to give Marshall a warm smile, he returned it, even if his was a little weaker than her own.

''I'd like nothing more to stay with you, but I um...'' Jodie cut Taylor off before she couldn't finish her sentence.

''It's fine go, I've got Marshall,'' Jodie waved Taylor off, who just smiled, giving her friend one final hug before she left.

''So, how are you feeling?'' Marshall asked, pulling up the very same chair Jodie's mother was sat in moments ago.

''I feel fine, I mean I was confused at first and had a little headache, but other than that I feel fine,'' as she was explaining, Marshall's hand crept closer to her own, which lay next to her over the sheet of the bed. He nodded also as she went on about her initial feelings, listening and taking in every last word she spoke.

''Jo,'' he squeezed her hand to stop her as she had started to ramble on about something that wasn't remotely about what he'd asked.

''Yeah?'' Jodie responded, turning her head to look round at her.

''I just need you to know that, that whatever happens from here I will always be there for you and I will never ever let you give up because I love you Jodie Kingly and this morning you gave me the fright of my life. It was at that moment that I realised I have a genuine fear of losing you, which made me also realise that I don't know what I'd do without, you'' his hand was gripping her own tightly, but not too tightly that it caused her discomfort.

''Oh Marshall,'' she started to choke up as the tears started to spill down her cheeks, ''I don't know what I'd do without you either,'' as the tears continued to fall, not only down her face but Marshall too; they leaned in and shared a long passionate kiss, ''I will never ever leave you, ever,'' she whispered as they eventually pulled away from each other.