First Aid

'The Bill' characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp.

Claire pulled up outside the church hall. Damn she thought as she saw several other cars there, all from Sun Hill. Why’d they all have to undergo their First Aid assessments now? Oh good, at least John’s here, she thought noticing his car. But he probably has a partner already.

Claire walked up the path to the hall entrance and paused before opening the door. She could hear the instructor had started, Oh well, I hope I’m not the only one who’s late. Grasping the handle Claire pulled open the door.

“Glad you could join us,” the instructor said tartly.

“Sorry, I was held up at court,” Claire replied defiantly.

“Well you can team up with John here,” and the instructor pointed to a prostrate Boulton lying at her feet.

Claire tried hard to suppress her smile. No one knew about their relationship, but doing first aid on John, well that had possibilities. “Sure,” she replied to the instructor and gave her a smile.

“Now,” continued to instructor, “I want you all to practice putting your partner in this position,” she stated indicating John who was lying on the floor. “Don’t forget all the steps leading up to it, just to make certain they are unconscious, whether they are breathing, etc.”

“You,” she said to John, “Can show her what we’re doing.” John nodded happily.

Claire and John moved over to a corner, out of the way. “She’s a dragon,” John told Claire, “Picks on any one who looks sideways, this isn’t going to be the doddle it usually is.” John paused, “She’s looking this way, can you lie down and pretend to be unconscious? I’ll explain what we have to do.” John purposely spoke a little louder so the dragon lady would hear him and he hoped, leave them alone.

Claire started to lie down but decided to tease John, “Wasn’t last night good?” she whispered to John as she lowered herself past his kneeling figure.

“Yeah,” replied John, a far away look appearing in his eyes as he recalled their love making, it had been very inventive, stimulating and rewarding. If he let himself think about it too much he knew he’d soon have a bulge in his track pants.

“What’s going on over there?” enquired the dragon, dragging John back to the present. “Are you wasting everyone’s time?”

“Just explaining it all,” John replied. He could see the stunned looks on everyone’s faces, Where had they found this battle axe he thought, every one looked on First Aid training as a necessary evil, not torture, how many will be back next week?

“OK,” John continued to Claire, “Just lie there and pretend to be unconscious, please,” he added.

Claire decided there was nothing to be gained by not doing as John had asked, but she wanted to tease John as no one could really see then in the corner, she lay in as provocative a position as possible, her legs bent at the knees, with her knees pointing outwards and one hand had all the fingers curled except one that was pointing straight to her clitoris.

John decided to try and press on, “OK, now you pretend you’ve just come upon a person lying on the road, or park or whatever. You don’t know what’s happened so you touch their shoulder, no shaking anymore, it’s now ‘Touch and Talk’. I ask a question like ‘Can you hear me?’ in one ear and then ‘What’s your name?’ in the other ear, just in case the person is deaf in one ear. If there is no response I’d then take your hands and say ‘Squeeze my hands if you can hear me’.” John picked up Claire’s hands while he did this and bent over close to her ear and whispered so that only she could hear him, “I love you so much. Can we be together again tonight?” John then leant back slightly and saw the grin spread over Claire’s face. He smiled back in return, lowering his head so no one else saw the smile lighting up his face, except Claire, who from her prone position was looking right into it.

“OK,” John continued, “I then check to see if you’re breathing, have a pulse or any deadly bleeds by lifting up your clothes, you don’t pat in case there’s a hidden needle. If you’ve established the person has a pulse and is breathing you roll them over onto their sides, by bending the knee, putting the arm out and then touching the shoulder and hip, roll them over.” John moved Claire’s body over as he did this, demonstrating as he went. “Any questions?”

Claire just lay there; she knew John was very good at first aid, as was just about everyone in the room. It was wrong the lady was treating them so badly. “None I can think of,” Claire said. “Can I practice on you now?”

John nodded and lay down, flat on his back, arms and legs spread out straight, with his eyes shut. Claire looked down at him and smiled, Oh I love him so much, she thought, looking at his face, so peaceful in repose. A slightly evil thought crossed her mind; I can make this a bit of fun.

Claire touched John on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, “I love you very much,” then louder for benefit of the dragon, “Blink your eyes if you can hear me.” She then moved over the other side of John making sure her nipple touched his lips as she moved. “Can you tell me your name?” continued Claire. Next Claire picked up John’s hands, managing to lean very close to John’s body as she reached over, even though they only just touched excitement coursed through her body. Maybe they could bunk off after this. Putting that thought grudgingly to the back of her mind she instructed “Squeeze my hands if you can hear me.” The dragon lady was hovering nearby so Claire knew she had to be good for the next few minutes. She busily and properly checked John for a pulse, breathing and any deadly bleeds; obviously satisfied the dragon lady moved away to turn her attention to another.

Now’s my chance, thought Claire, and as she maneuvered John’s body, she made sure she touched his penis and was a close as possible to it at all times.

The dragon was on her way back, Claire looked totally innocent, a look she had perfected over the years to hide her playful nature underneath. Giving one of her best innocent looks Claire slid one hand between John’s legs to rest on the back of his balls. Without appearing to move she was applying a gentle rubbing motion to his sac. “Very good,” the dragon lady told Claire, “I don’t know if it was your teacher or not, but I can take no credit for your doing that well.” She then turned to the others, “Well our time is up for this week. I’d really like to have you for longer than an hour each week for the next twelve weeks. Next week we’ll have a practical assessment on what you’ve done this week, I’ll bring some helpers along, then we’ll use the Resusie-Annie dolls to make sure your resuscitation skills are up to scratch. Also if you could all be at least five minutes early I would appreciate it.” She paused to give John and Claire a filthy look, but they took it in their stride without even flinching, John was still lying down and Claire’s hand continued stroking the back of his sac. Fortunately for John his bent leg was hiding his slowly growing erection. Even Claire was oblivious too it while she looked at the woman, who continued, “Now as you two were the last to arrive, even though you’ve done very well, you can have the job of putting the seats back in rows, everyone else may leave now.” She then turned to John and Claire, “If they’re not back properly I’ll hear about it and so will your superior officers.” With that she packed her bag and left. There were general rumblings from all the Sun Hill officers as they slowly left, leaving just John and Claire.

Claire rose “C’mon John, the sooner we do it the sooner we can go,” and she headed off to the rows of seats starting to drag one across the floor. Realizing John wasn’t helping she turned around about to give him a blast, when she saw his problem.

John had managed to sit up, but in his groin Claire noticed a considerable swelling. “Look what you’ve done to me,” John managed to get out. Claire smiled at the result of her handy work.

“Oh John, what am I going to do with you? Can you think about something else for a few minutes?”

“I’m trying to. Like how annoyed Deakin will be if I’m late. I think it’s working,” and John struggled to his feet, going over to help Claire. It only took them a few minutes and the rows of seats were back where they thought they should be.

Even though John had shrunk so he could move with out too much discomfort, he was still larger than normal. Claire walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him very close; she could feel his erection stirring back to life.

“Oh Claire, love, have a heart,” pleaded John. “You know I’ve got to meet with Deakin soon.”

“Mmm,” Claire whispered between kisses, “but we’ve got a bit of time haven’t we? I could drive you back to mine and then you could shower afterwards and I’ll drop you back here for the car.”

“Tempting,” replied John, “though, look,” and John pointed to his swollen area again.

John was just about to add something when they heard two voices outside the door, “I hope the group before us has left the hall the right way, I’m sick of tidying up before our meeting as well as afterwards.”

Claire looked at John’s groin; there was no way he’d be able to get past anyone without it being noticed. Even Blind Freddy would see it.

“Quick,” instructed Claire, grabbing John’s hand and pulling him into a small empty room off the main hall, it was obviously someone’s office and luckily had an outside door so they wouldn’t be trapped. Once they were in the room, Claire quickly and quietly shut the door behind them.

“That was close,” she continued and started giggling at their narrow escape.

“Claire, it was lucky, that’s all.”

“Oh don’t be such a grump.”

“Easy for you to say, you don’t have this,” and he pulled down his track pants to illustrate just erect he was, his penis forming a large lump in his jocks.

“Oh John, I’m sorry,” gasped Claire, and stepped toward John, taking one of his hands and slipping it inside the waistband of her track pants, “but you’re not the only one in need,” and John could feel the damp patch on her undies.

He pushed her g string to one side, knowing exactly which one it was, as their activities of last night had continued before work this morning and they’d both seen each other getting dressed and become distracted. He could feel Claire’s clit; already quite enlarged, and pushed a finger into her opening, feeling it grabbed immediately. He knew that they both needed relief, and doubted either of them was in a fit state to drive.

John wrapped his arms around Claire and whispered, “I think we better lock the doors, we need some time here.” They left each other and each went to a door and turned the lock. Hurriedly returning to each other’s arms and waiting lips.

“We’ll have to be very quiet, if we can hear them, then they can hear us,” Claire whispered to John as the listened to the burble of voices from the next room.

Their lips locked together again and their hands were roaming over each other’s backs and bottoms, if any one had seen them the passion in the embrace would’ve been obvious, as would the love for each other that shone in their eyes.

Claire’s arms then left John’s back and pushed his jocks down just enough to free his very large and erect shaft, she took it gently in her hands, rubbing one finger along it’s base to the tip. A quiet moan came from John, but as their lips were still locked together it went into Claire’s mouth.

Following Claire’s lead, John pushed her clothes down and reluctantly breaking contact with her lips, swiveled her around so her back was now facing him, he moved her hair to one side and nuzzled her neck.

Claire knew how they were going to relieve their pent up arousal and bent over, bracing her arms on the wall, John used one hand to hold her hips and the other to guide himself into Claire.

As soon as he entered Claire they could both feel John’s shaft pulsating. Claire was so aroused that she had a small orgasm as soon as she felt John enter her. He felt so good in there. Taking it slowly to try to make the moment last a little while, John slowly stroked in and out twice but the feeling coming from Claire’s muscles was proving too stimulating and he sped up rapidly, holding Claire with both his hands on her hips. He began to thrust deeply and quickly in and out, knowing he was about to come inside her as his shaft had progressed from pulsating to throbbing and he could feel the tingly sensation that often preceded his ejaculation.

“Yes, oh, yes,” begged Claire huskily, her orgasm starting, John gave up trying to prolong the delight he was feeling and let himself erupt inside Claire, filling her with him, as her juices mixed with her lover’s and drenched John’s still spurting shaft.

Panting heavily they stood where they were, as their breathing slowed to a more normal level. John was rubbing his hands over Claire’s back while they were slowly recovering, both enjoying the feeling of post orgasmic bliss enveloping them.

“John,” breath, “want to,” breath, “come back to mine?” breath “It’s closer,” breath, “than yours,” breath, “and you’ve got clothes there if you need them,” several quick deep breaths.

“You know,” slight pause, “I’ve got to meet up with Deakin, he’ll go ape if I’m late,” panted John, and then he thought about Claire and realized what he would do. “OK, let’s go to yours, I’ll work out what I say to Deakin when I get there,” and his face lit up with one of his John Boulton special smiles, where his whole face glowed with the smile.

Claire stood up, turned around and saw John’s smile, as always it made her heart melt to see it. She pulled up her clothes and stepped over to kiss John deeply on the lips, then broke off and said, “Well let’s go, we don’t have time to waste.”

John hitched up his clothes and together they snuck out the side entrance and walked to their cars, arm in arm, without seeing a soul. They stopped, kissed again, and then got into their respective cars for the short drive to Claire’s.

They arrived at Claire’s about the same time, and kissed again, this time managing to walk and kiss at the same time, almost holding each other up at times, they were so attuned to each other, that unusually for two talented officers, they noticed nothing else.

Finally they made it inside the flat, and still attempting to continue kissing they frantically tried to undress, both each other and themselves – the action if anyone had been looking would’ve been fairly comical. However they finally succeeded, their passion not diminished.

John briefly ceased kissing Claire to mumble, “Where do you want it?” and then recommenced kissing her, but ongeonger on the lips, he had started kissing around her neck.

“Inside me, of course,” replied Claire with a giggle.

“No, I meant which room.”

“Yeah, I know,” relied Claire giggling. “Oh John, I love you,” she continued stepping backwards as she walked one step ahead of John. John could see where she was headed and smiled to himself, being careful not to let her see his amusement.

Claire took one step back too many and hit the arm of the couch, falling backwards over it and landed with her back on the seat of the couch and her bottom still on the arm. John stepped towards her as she lay there, surprised but unharmed.

Not a bad position John thought to himself as he stepped up and stood between Claire’s slightly spread legs. Before doing anything he looked down at the woman he knew he now loved more than possibly even life itself. Imprinting her once more in his memory.

Starting at her slightly wavy blond hair, now spread out all over around her head, her blue eyes, the lips he loved to kiss, the breasts – slightly falling to the sides but so nice to suck, the belly – flat and so kissable. Then down a bit to the hair that proved Claire really was a blonde, and to her clit, that he could see was quite aroused at the moment, her labia, which were spread and her vaginal juicesstenstening over their surfaces, and her legs, which were in good shape.

Claire looked up at John, her love for him also evident in her eyes. She took in his ginger hair, hazel eyes, the lips she enjoyed – hiding the tongue she loved to duel with. His well muscled but lightly haired chest, tapering to his hips and his at present very large, erect shaft, that Claire desperately wanted inside her, and his legs, shaped by miles and miles of running. Not to forget his hands that could caress her so gently, but she’d seen them dish out violence - it was such a contrast, as was the whole man.

The brief reverie over, John picked up Claire’s legs and raised them to his shoulders, matching the height of his shaft to where Claire wanted it. “Comfy?” asked John, his consideration for Claire evident.

“Yeah, hang on,” replied Claire, reaching above her head to grab a cushion and putting it in place under her head. “Ready now.”

John needed no encouragement and slid into to the waiting entrance. Immediately feeling Claire orgasm slightly around his shaft, it was all he could do to hang on and ride it out, he was once more aching for the relief she could provide his giant member. It was so stimulating to see Claire’s labia around the edge of his large erection, watching them move as he slid in and out. Taking one hand away from her legs John bent over to rub Claire’s clitoral nub, but it proved too awkward so he tried to ensure he rubbed against it as he propelled himself in and out.

While Claire thrust her pelvis up and down, John was driving his shaft in and out, very rapidly, almost as if he had no control, his subconscious directing his actions.

Claire had no trouble matching John’s rhythm as she could feel a major orgasm building rapidly inside her, she knew John was also very close, when she was unable to contain herself any longer and let her orgasm flow through her body just as she felt John’s eruption inside her. It seemed as if he were a volcano, spurting forth several times, it felt so good, then as the orgasm abated Claire lay back in blissful comfort as she looked at John, a light sheen of sweat coating his body.

“Claire,” began John rather tentatively, “do you think it would be a good idea if we just had one flat and shared it, rather than maintaining two. I mean we never seem to spend a night alone unless the other is working.”

A smile spread across Claire’s face at John’s effort, it was something she’d thought about though. “John, think about it this afternoon, I promise I will, and we’ll talk about it tonight.”

“Yeah, OK. You know I love you.”

“Mmm, I know and I love you too. Why don’t you go and get in the shower, I’ll have one after you, ‘cos you better leave first.”

By now John had shrunk and slipped out so he padded off to the bathroom. Claire lay back where she was on the couch, thinking about her life and John. Knowing deep down that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with John. It was so good to know he felt the same way. On hearing the water turn off Claire got up and went to the now empty shower and quickly washed while John dressed.

On coming out of the bathroom, make up done and wearing a robe Claire found John trying to find his tie. “It’ll turn up don’t worry, wear one of the other ones you’ve got here.”

“Yeah, guess I’ll have to,” replied John resignedly. He headed into the bedroom, and then cried gleefully, “There it is.”

Sometimes he was such a big kid Claire smiled to herself, then she wandered over to John and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Have fun with Deakin, see you back here afterwards, yeah?”

“Yeah,” replied John happily, “and we’ll sort out which flat we’ll live in.” He was smiling all over his face, he was so happy, he and Claire were going to share a flat of that he was certain. He kissed Claire passionately on the lips, and then said, “Sorry, love, I better go.”

“’S OK, I do understand. Till tonight.”

With that John left, unknown to him there was a lipstick smudge on his left cheek, near the ear where Claire had kissed him. Once in the car he put in his phone earpiece and called.

“Deakin,”

“Hi Guv, it’s John, sorry I’m a bit late, you want me to pick you up?”

“A bit late! That’s an understatement John. Yeah, at the nick. How far away are you?”

“Five minutes, tops.”

“OK, I’ll be waiting out the front, then we can go and check out this informant, see if the information is sound.”

John arrived exactly five minutes after calling and found Deakin waiting for him.

“OK,” said Chris when he was in and had his seat belt done up, “I’ve arranged to meet them on the old waste ground behind the foundry. Let’s go.”

Over most of the past year Chris like many others had noticed a mellowing in John, everyone was assuming it was a lover in his life, but no one knew who the mystery person was. Personally Chris was glad that John was finding some peace; it was making him much easier to manage from a work point of view, and he deserved to be loved.

Like everyone there had been lots of guesses, but no one had managed to get any information out of John as to who this person was. As they sat there stuck in traffic, Chris glanced over at his DS, who over the years he’d come to understand better than many others, wondering about today’s choice of music when he noticed a lipstick smear on John’s cheek. A clue!

Not wanting to stare at John and alert him to the mark Chris turned his attention back to the road. Unlike many others Chris was convinced that the person in John’s life was in the job – who else could understand his frustration and the odd hours; not to mention the driven nature of this man. Unlike the joke by Claire, Chris was certain John was involved with a woman. After all he’d seen him around Viv Hunt.

So who was it? Chris ran through the contenders in his mind. Kerry; no, they’d never have any peace the two battling the whole time. The thought of them together made him smile. Also the lipstick was the wrong colour for her. Uniform was out, though Chris had to admit John did get on well with some of them, but it was only at times, Cass was possibly the only one but that seemed to be more a Liverpool thing.
Liz, no, another that John had clashed with too much, Suzie was a remote possibility, but somehow Chris doubted it. Could John have gone back to Viv Hunt? There were too many choices, that was the problem. Oh well, thought Chris I am a detective.

“So John how was first aid?” enquired Chris.

“Waste of time. The instructor is a real battle-axe. She wouldn’t be able to teach an Eskimo how to fish! And she made Claire and me stay back to clean up.”

Chris noticed a softening around John’s jaw line when he mentioned Claire’s name and a faint smile pass over his face. Could it be Claire? Chris had to admit they did work very well together. The lipstick was definitely the right colour for her. He’d discounted Claire; maybe her joking was a front. The time frame was about right too. This was going to require some thought and observation.

“Oh well,” continued Chris, “I s’pose someone had to do it. Why’d she pick you two?”

“I was a bit late and Claire was really late, she was held up at court.”

They were nearly at the rendezvous; Chris noticed a subtle change come over John, his body language projecting a harder image. Very interesting, he thought.

As they pulled up they could see the snout waiting for them. “How flipping obvious is he?” John asked rhetorically.

Just then another car also pulled up, Chris tapped John on the arm, “Company.”

Four well-built men leapt from the car and ran towards the snout; he took off like a rabbit at a greyhound track. John leapt out of the car following them, being followed by Chris, who even in his younger, fitter days wouldn’t have been as fast as John.

They disappeared around a corner; Chris noticed that John was gaining on them. When Chris rounded the corner they were now even further ahead and he only had a brief glimpse before they disappeared again.

By now Chris was starting to wish he ran more often as he was starting to puff and had really slowed down. He finally rounded the building where he’d last seen them running only to see five bodies running off together, it seemed that the snout had joined them. But where was John?

Looking around Chris spied a doorway, only partly open; he cautiously walked up to the doorway, pulled out his asp and pushed the door open. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t the sight that greeted him. He dropped the asp and ran to the body in front of him. John. He quickly felt for a pulse, it was there but very faint.

Chris knew John needed medical help and fast. Keeping a hand on John to make sure he was still breathing Chris pulled out his mobile.

“Damn, no signal,” Chris said out loud. “John, I’ll just have to go out to get enough signal to call the ambulance, you hang in there.” He felt a bit stupid talking to an unconscious person, but maybe John could still hear.

Finding he had to move about 100 yards away to get enough signal was starting to panic Chris slightly, but he was finally able to call the ambulance and then Jack Meadows. He raced back to John, disappointed to find his pulse weaker. “C’mon John, you’ve got to make it, you’ve got good things happening in your life now. Hang in there.”

After what seemed an eternity Chris could hear the siren approaching, he’d given excellent instructions, then he heard it pull up outside the door, followed a few seconds later by a second car.

The ambulance men entered first, followed by Jack Meadows. “Oh my God!” exclaimed Jack at the sight of John, blood all over him, and, Chris by now also having some of John’s blood on him.

“What happened?” asked the ambulance men.

“Didn’t see it, sorry.”

“Are you OK?” one of them asked Chris indicating the blood.

“Yeah, it’s not mine.”

“Chris, tell me about it,” instructed Meadows, dragging Chris away from John’s body.

Chris explained to Jack, and then added, “I haven’t called it in yet, and by the time I could get a signal I couldn’t even see them. I didn’t even get a good look at them, except they were all IC1, tall and well built, moved well, but not exceptionally fast. Navy tops, jeans, train bas baseball caps. Is the car still out the front?”

“Yeah, there was a car there, red BMW 318i.”

“Sounds like the same one, maybe they left prints.”

“Yeah, it could be something.”

“We’re ready now,” one of the ambo’s interrupted.

“Where are you going?” enquired Jack.

“St Hugh’s, we’ll radio ahead, he’s not good. One of yours?”

“Yeah,” sadness in Jack’s voice. “Chris you go with them, I’ll get someone over to check out the car, and get yours back. Give me your keys and I’ll get you some clean clothes if you like?”

Chris nodded and handed over his keys. What he really wanted was to stand under a hot shower and try to wash away his guilt. If only he’d been fitter.

“This wasn’t your fault. If you’d been with John the two of you could’ve been beaten, and no one would’ve found you for days.”

“Yeah, but at least the odds would’ve been better.”

“Not enough to make too much difference by the look of John. Now get in.” Jack left too much unspoken. He knew Chris would blame himself.

“Please John, be OK, you’re tough.” Jack offered as a silent prayer after they shut the ambulance doors.

Chris sat in the ambulance; head in his hands and listened to them work on John and the radio messages. Although he didn’t understand half of it, he knew it was very serious. He made a pact with himself and John via thoughts, “I’ll get them John, you just get better.”

By the time they reached St Hugh’s Chris had regained much of his composure. He followed them in; oblivious to the stares he got for his bloodstained clothes, tagging along with the trolley and John. The medical team with John entered a room; shutting the door on Chris. He stood outside trying to see in, but there were too many people around John to make out much of what was happening. The number of people involved and the immediacy of treatment being further indications of the seriousness of John’s condition

Shortly after Jack arrived, “Any news?” he asked Chris as he handed over a bag of clothes, “Hope these are OK, I wanted to get here as soon as I could, so I just grabbed a few things that were out.”

Chris nodded his reply, “I don’t think it’s good,” he added indicating the treatment room.

“Why don’t you go and get changed? I’ll stay here in case there’s any news.”

Chris headed off, chatting to an attractive nurse for directions on the way. He never changes, thought Jack.

Just as Chris came back, looking much better in his clean clothes, a doctor came out, a grave look on his face. “You’re here with the patient in there?”

The two detectives nodded, and Jack answered, “We work together, Sun Hill CID. How is he?”

“Perhaps you can come with me?” and he led them to an office off the hall. “Please sit down,” he said and indicated the chairs, while he sat on the edge of the desk.

“Your colleague has been seriously injured, though somehow there are no broken bones, there is massive bruising all over his body, numerous cuts of varying degree of seriousness, but the biggest problem is internal bleeding. We’re taking him to theatre immediately, to see what we can do, but if you know where his relatives are, I’d get them here fast.”

“That bad?” asked Chr
T
The doctor nodded, “Sorry, if I were a betting man, there’s no way I’d put money on him. There’s nothing you can do for him now, I can call you when he’s out of theatre.”

“How long is that likely to be?” asked Jack.

“Can’t say, depends what they find, how long it takes to fix and how well he survives it all.”

Jack and Chris stood, “Thanks doctor for your honesty,” said Jack and shook his hand. “I’ll go and make some phone calls.”

“Do you want a lift Chris?”

“No, I’ll just go home and shower, then there’s someone I have to see. I’ll call you after that.”

Later a showered Chris was standing on Claire’s doorstep. He’d been standing there for several minutes, deciding if he was doing the right thing. He could be about to cause himself major embarrassment or he could be helping two people in love. Finally he put out his hand and rang the bell.

The door opened almost immediately, Claire’s face went through several emotions Chris could identify and he thought she probably felt more than showed on her face. First there was disappointment, then curiosity, and then fear.

“Claire, can I please come in?”

Claire moved to one side and let Chris enter.

“What I’m about to suggest could be so far off beam it’s not funny. If I’m wrong please forgive me and don’t tell anyone about this?”

Claire nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“We all suspect John has some one in his life. I think it’s you.” Chris wanted to watch Claire’s face for a reaction, but she turned away from Chris as soon as he mentioned John’s name. Chris hoped this was an admission that he was on the right track, but maybe she was trying to cover her laugh.

“If it is you,” Chris continued, “you need to know that John’s in St Hugh’s fighting for his life.”

Claire turned around and Chris knew he was right. Her eyes were filled with tears that had started spilling down her face.

“Can I see him? What happened?” Claire whispered.

“I’ll tell you in the car, just grab what you want and I’ll drive you there. Jack Meadows has gone to the station to try to contact his relatives, do you know where they are if he hasn’t got phone numbers for them?”

Claire nodded a reply, “His brother and parents.”

Chris put his arm around Claire and led her out to the car. He was glad he’d sorted out John’s mystery woman, but was so disappointed it had to be under these circumstances.

Chris and Claire arrived at St Hugh’s, Chris knowing where to go guided Claire. They had just sat down to wait when Jack Meadows arrived.

“Claire what are you doing here?”

Chris took Jack aside and quickly explained. He saw the recognition and shock on Jack’s face. He nodded to confirm it was correct.

Shortly the doctor from before arrived, they all stood as he approached, “Well much to my surprise he’s survived the surgery. He must be a fighter, very determined.”

“Yeah,” sniffed Claire, “he is.” Chris and Jack just nodded in agreement. “Can I see him? Please,” enquired Claire.

“Soon, let’s go and have a coffee and I’ll explain what’s happened.” This time he took Claire by the arm and guided her to the same office they were in before, sitting her gently in a chair.

However this time the doctor went to a cupboard that opened up to be a mini kitchen. He quickly organized coffee for them all, then once more perched on the desk, but this time gave Claire his full attention.

“OK, the surgeon is very happy with the way the operation went, he was amazed at how well John coped with it. When you see him, be prepared for bandages, massive bruising, drips and monitors, the works. This doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods, just that the first steps on the path have been taken. The next 48 hours are really important, if he makes it through, well, let’s just wait and see eh?”

“Can I see John?” pleaded Claire.

“Sure. Was my coffee that bad? You’ve not touched it.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry, come on, let’s go.” The doctor slipped off the desk and opened the door; together they went to the ward John was in. “We’re keeping him here in ICU for now, the nurses here are absolutely fantastic, better even than our normal ones.”

They entered the ward and an audible gasp was heard from Claire. It all looked so much worse than she’d imagined. I’ve got to be strong for John, Claire thought to herself as she walked across to John’s bedside, pulling the chair to the edge of the bed. Sitting down she gently took hold of John’s hand and bent over and kissed it, whispering, “I love you John, I need you in my life, you can’t go.” She sat there holding John’s hand and talking quietly to him, stroking his arm from time to time all the while the tears continued to flow from her eyes. Chris doubted she had remembered they were there.

Jack, Chris and the doctor left, “So, were you honest back there?” asked Jack as the three men walked along the corridor.

“Yes, I’m amazed at how well he’s come out of surgery, he’s definitely a fighter, great will to survive. Is he like that at work?”

“Yeah, you could say that,” replied Jack.

“What are the odds now, would you put money on him?” asked Chris feeling this was going to be the chance to get the most honest opinion.

“Yeah, I would, maybe not the house, but yeah I think he’ll make it. But what I said before is still true; the next 48 hours are vital. I believe that coma patients are often aware of their surroundings, so Claire being there for John could be vital.”

“Thanks once more for your honesty,” Jack told the doctor.

Chris nodded his thanks and added, “I’ll drop in tomorrow morning to see how he is.”


The next morning, true to his word Chris arrived to check on John, and stopped and looked as Claire had fallen asleep, her head on John’s bed, but there was less equipment around John and instead of Claire holding his hand, his hand was resting on Claire, who’d had a blanket draped around her.

“Amazing isn’t it?”

Chris turned to see who’d spoken and found it was a very tired doctor, the one from last night.

“Have you worked all night?”

“Yeah, it was very busy, no sleep for juniors like me.”

“What happened?”

“Guess it was around 2am, my concept of time is a little blurry, but it’ll be in the notes, John started to regain consciousness. He’s breathing on his own, so less machines, doing really well. He couldn’t remember what happened, but that’s no surprise, but he was so glad Claire was there. We’ll move him to a general ward later today. What happened with his parents and brother coming?”

“His parents aren’t well enough to travel and I’ll call his brother, his wife is about to have a baby any day, I’ll let him know the news, but I think he was keeping in touch with the hospital, so he may know.”

Chris was smiling all over his face; he was so relieved that John appeared to have come out of the bashing all right. He knew he’d be back later to check and make sure John’s recovery continued.

Jack arrived at the end of the discussion and together they left to return to Sun Hill and to pass on the news that though full recovery may take time, John should be OK and that Claire was at his side. The mystery woman revealed. They were certain that would cause some consternation.