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“We’re on our way. Stay with her. She’ll be terrified if she wakes up alone,” Declan told me.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I promised as I looked to Blake, a tear of utter relief running down my cheek.
BLAKE
I awoke a few more times after that first panicked incident. Even though I couldn’t move, or open my eyes, I had been able to hear sounds around me. Through the fuzz that seemed to have overtaken my pounding head, I always heard the sounds of my family around me, felt one of my guys clutching my hand or running a soothing touch over my forehead. Knowing they were there with me, wherever I was, was enough to calm me and allow sleep to pull me back to the peaceful abyss once again.
This time as consciousness came back to me, it was different. My limbs didn’t feel quite as weighed down, and the thick fog that seemed to have been wrapped around my brain was a little less.
I fought with everything I had to open my eyes, determined to actually wake up properly this time. More than anything I wanted to see a friendly face.
“Tom,” I heard Liam gasp as my eyes actually co-operated and started to open. It took a few blinks, but finally I was able to look up, and the sight that greeted me was more than I could have ever wished for.
“Hey, sleepy head,” Tom whispered. He and Liam were either side of me, both leant in so that their faces were right in my line of sight. “You’ll never know how relieved we are to see those beautiful eyes,” he told me, and I felt him take my hand in his.
“How are you feeling, love?” Liam asked. “Are you in any pain?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat and mouth felt like the Sahara. I tried to swallow, but it was a painful struggle.
“Tom, get her some water, and tell the others to get in here,” Liam commanded.
“Be right back, babe,” Tom said as he picked my hand up and placed a kiss on my knuckles, then he was gone.
“W…What h-happened?” I asked, forcing the croaked words out.
“You were hit by a car. You hit your head pretty badly,” Liam explained. I looked up into his dark blue eyes as I tried to recall what had happened, but the last thing I could remember was us all at the twin’s place, having a party for their birthday. After that, there was nothing. “Don’t worry about it now. You’re awake and you’re going to be just fine. That’s all that matters.” He leant in and placed a kiss on my forehead, and as he got closer I realised how exhausted he looked. He was pale and his stubble was almost a full beard. Dark rings circled his eyes, and if I wasn’t mistaken, his eyes were glassy with tears.
I moved my arm, desperate to put my hand on his cheek to soothe him, but my arm wouldn’t cooperate and I was only able to lift my hand a few inches from the mattress. Liam saw the movement and instantly took my hand in his.
“Everyone’s here, all the guys, Trent, and your Dad. They were sleeping down the hall in a waiting room. The staff here are all so fucking sick of us,” he laughed.
“How l-long?” I croaked.
“You’ve been here for two weeks. You were in a coma for ten days. We almost lost our fucking minds, Blake. We thought we were going to lose you.”
Two weeks? My mind started to whir as memories of the last time I had awoken after weeks of being in a coma hit me, mixed with the realisation I had lost two weeks of my life and terrified everyone I cared for.
Another head injury? It had to be if I was in a coma, and judging by the pounding of my head with every tiny movement I made. What did that mean? My brain was already damaged. Had I made it worse? Would all of the progress I had made since the last time I awoke, just like that, have been ripped away from me once again? It had been so hard to move my arm. What if I couldn’t walk again? What if I couldn’t relearn the skills I needed this time?
The beeps from the heart monitor beside the bed started to increase in speed as panic consumed me.
“Hey, it’s okay. Calm down, jellybean. I’m right here. We’re all here. You’re going to be just fine,” Liam tried to soothe me as he got to his feet and leaned in over me. He gently kissed my forehead as he clutched my hand even tighter. “We’re going to get through this, love,” he told me.
Just then the door to the room opened and Tom walked in with a bottle of water in his hand.
“What happened?” he asked as the small smile dropped from his face and he looked to Liam with concern.
“Blake just got a little worked up I think, but I’ve told her she’s going to be just fine,” Liam replied.
“Of course you are,” Tom agreed as he strode across the room to the side of the bed opposite his brother. “We’re all here with you, and we’re not going anywhere, little warrior.” Tom leaned in and kissed my forehead, just as Liam had moments before.
As he stood again, he unscrewed the cap from the water bottle and slipped a straw inside, then held it close enough for me to take a few small sips. The ice cold water felt soothing as it slid down.
“Thank you,” I told him, my voice hoarse and croaky.
“You have no idea how amazing it is to hear your voice. I’ve missed you so fucking much, Blake,” he said as he stood and used his free hand to swipe at his eyes.
I focused on making my hand move, jerkily lifting it up before Tom. Thankfully, he saw the movement and placed the water on the small table off to the side before grabbing my hand in his.
