The Assistant || Ashton Irwin

2.2

Three days past and very little of my time was spent outside the ICU or it's waiting room. I would take short naps in it's leather recliners of the waiting room. My hair had been in a permanent bun. Bathroom breaks were quick and I avoided looking in the mirror as I knew my skin was dry and pasty. The bags under my eyes were obvious and I no longer cared enough to hide them. All my thoughts and energy went towards Ashton.

Very little had changed with his condition. He was still on a ventilator but it was gradually been weened off it. He had yet to regain consciousness for more than a few minutes at a time, each time I was never there. It killed me inside every time I learned he had woken up and it was only a nurse or doctor there.

I now sat in an uncomfortable chair beside his bed, his hand in mine. His fingers still cold against my skin. I absentmindedly rubbed my thumb across the back of his hand like he had done so many times for me to comfort me. The only noise was the beeping of his heart monitor and the ventilator moving air into his lungs. I leaned forward resting my head in my hand, staring at Ashton. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and before I knew it I was out.

"Ali, Ali love" a voice called, "Ali sweetheart wake up"

My eyes fluttered open and I sat up, flustered. I found Anne looking at me with a kind smile on her face.

"Come on sweetie, they want to take the vent out" she whispered softly. I nodded my head. I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before I left him alone again. Anne wrapped an arm around me shoulder and rubbed it in a soothing manner. I felt numb, Anne's usual comforting presence had no effect on me at all today. Before I knew it the tears were slipping down my face.

"Oh Ali" Anne whispered wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I leaned into her embrace.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, drying my eyes.

"Don't be darling. He's going to be fine, I know all this is tough, but they're taking the vent out, that has to be good. They wouldn't do that unless he was ready" she said and I nodded.

"I know, I just...I don't know, I'm just scared the whole damn time and I'm trying to be strong but it's so hard" I whispered, "And Megan is home loved up and a baby on the way and it just has me thinking that maybe if I came back just a month or even two weeks earlier he wouldn't be here"

"Don't think like that Ali, yes this was horrible but it was an accident. And yes things didn't work out the way they should have with you two, but things have a way of working out. You're here now aren't you?" Anne said and I nodded.

"Good, and when you two are happy and Ashton is healthy and up and at it again you two can give me my first grandchild" she said with a wink and I couldn't help but laugh and hug her tightly.

We sat in silence for a while until a nurse walked in nodding to signal it was ok to go back in. I stood up and Anne let me go by myself, and I was thankful for some time alone with him.

I took my seat again at Ashton's bedside. His ventilation tube was now gone from his mouth and in it's place was an oxygen mask that covered his mouth and nose. He still had wires and tubes from every place connected to him, one was to drain fluid from his lung. I took his hand, his touch was still cold against mine, I squeezed his hand gently and rested my other hand on top of his.

"Hey babe" I whispered after a few moments of silence. "I'm really missing the sound of your voice right now"

I took in a shaky breath before I continued.

"Oh Ash, I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry" I said holding back a sob.

"Please wake up and say something. Wake up and we can sort everything out Ash, we'll have a niece or nephew soon and they'll need their uncle Ash to teach them the drums. I need you Ash. I miss you so much, I miss your smile, your laugh, the way you'd come home and just hug me tight. The feeling of your arms around me, rubbing my back, how you'd whisper sweet nothings in my ear when I'm upset. I don't care anymore Ashton, where ever you want to go I'll follow you, no more arguments I promise. Please Ashton give me something here, I'm so close to giving up"

There was no stopping my sobbing now. My shoulders shook and my lungs ached for air that I just couldn't catch. I begged and pleaded for him to wake up, just so I could look into his hazel irises so I knew everything would be alright. I noticed a slight rise in his heart rate on the monitor.

"Ash?" I asked.

I looked again and his heart rate was rising steadily. I squeezed his hand.

"Ash, babe, open your eyes" I whispered.

His eyes fluttered and twitched until they opened fully, blinking a few times to settle against the harsh hospital lighting. His grip tightened around my hand and I ran a hand through his hair. His gaze settled on my face, a look of confusion but then happiness spread across his face.

"Hey you" I whispered smiling.

"Ali" he said, his voice barely above a whisper, a side effect from the ventilation tube.

"Hey, shh save your voice" I said.

"I'm sorry" he said.

"Shh, don't worry ok. I'm here and it's all alright. Just get some rest" I told him, as his eyes began to close. His nurse appeared at the doorway, who's name was Sally. She gave me a smile and I stepped out of the room so she could run her checks.

A few minutes later Sally stuck her head around the door and called me back in.

"Well I think someone's glad your finally awake Mr. Irwin. I wouldn't let this girl go" Sally said and I smiled taking a seat beside Ashton.

He shook his head, "I don't plan to" he whispered, his voice slightly stronger but not by much. Sally smiled and left us alone.

"You know what happened?" I asked and he nodded and croaked out the word car.

"Yeah a car accident. I know you were on your way to get me, great minds think a like huh?" I said and he nodded, holding my hand tightly.

"Don't worry, I won't be going far, either to the bathroom or for food, but I'll be right back" I said kissing his hand, he smiled at me and fixed his oxygen mask on his face.

"Your mum is here too. Do you want to see her?" I asked and he nodded.

"Okay" I said simply. He closed his eyes and then opened them again.

"What about the kids?" He whispered.

"They're around but haven't been in. I wasn't stopping them Ash but in here is scary for them. I thought it would be best until you were stronger, but if you want them in tell me" I said.

He shook his head, "No, not yet"

I nodded and we sat in silence again. I rubbed my thumb over the back of his hand and he began to drift off again. Anne entered the room and sat on the other side of him. He woke again and I left them alone to have a few moments in peace.

I went back to the waiting room and Luke was sitting in a chair.

"So he's awake?" He asked and I nodded, tears cascading down my cheeks. He stood up and pulled me into a bear hug.

"Happy tears?" He asked kissing my temple.

"Happy tears" I nodded.

I had my Ash back, that's all that mattered to me at this point in time.

.....

So Ashton's awake ! Yay ! But we'll be coming to the end soon ... So thank you all for reading and keep voting and commenting, there's another chapter and an epilogue to go! :) and soon I'll be starting Forgive Me, the prologue is up now if you wanna check it out! Thanks guys :) peace out ! Xoxo