Hey there, Tina said softly to the body lying motionless on the bed. Hope youre ok today, having nice dreams and everything. She sat down in the chair next to Shanes bed and reached out to lightly stroke her cheek.

Ive got some bad news for you, Im afraid. I start my new job on Monday, so I wont be able to visit you as much during the day. But, weve worked out a little rota thing, so you wont be too lonely. Alice will come in the morning before she has to go to work, Dana will come around lunch time after her training, I will be here mid afternoon after work, and Bette will come in the evening when shes finished.

Tina dug into her bag to find the piece of laminated card Alice had given her this morning. See, Alice even did a table for us, so we know who is here with you at any time. Shes even colour coded it, but that caused a big argument between her and Bette, because Alice coloured in her slot pink, but Bette wanted blue. You would have found it really funny, if youd been there. Bettes face was a picture when she found out she was the pink.

Tina smiled at the memory, then her face grew serious. Things are kindaweird between me and Bette at the moment. The other week we had sexok, we had ***** more than once, but we came to our senses, realised that it wasnt solving anything. In fact, it was making things worse. She always looked sohurtwhen I left afterwards, and half of me hated myself for causing her that much pain, and the other half was pleased that she was hurting. It was horrible, Shane. I hated that I enjoyed causing her pain.

Tina shuddered as she remembered Bettes expression when shed left her the second time. Anyway, she continued, trying to take her mind off it. So, we decided to stop, and these last two weeks weve been trying to work on our problems. We were going to go to therapy, but we have to wake until you are out of hospital before we can, forfinancial reasons. So, instead were trying to get through it ourselves. Ill tell you though, its hard work. Its very tiring, and

Tina broke off as the door opened, and in walked a very tired looking Bette. Hey, she said weakly, slumping down into the chair on the other side of the bed.

What are you doing here? Tina asked, thrown slightly off kilter by Bettes presence.

I knew youd be here, Bette replied, leaning forward to look at Shanes pale face. Good morning, Shane.

But, why arent you at work?

Ah, its pointless me being there today, I cant concentrate on anything. I Bette looked down as she fiddled with her watch. I needed to see you, she said quietly. I had some bad dreams last night, but seeing you is making me feel better already.

Tina sighed. Bette

I know, I know. Justforget I said anything. Bette stood up, giving Tina a sad look before turning back to Shane. Hey, Shane, Im going now. I know it was only a quick visit, but Ill be back this evening. I think I oughtaget back to work. Hang in there.

She left the room but didnt go far, leaning against the corridor wall as she tried to compose herself. Last night Tina had said that she wanted them to be friends, just friends. And to say it was killing her was an understatement. She couldnt handle just friends, it was too hard. She couldnt be just friends with someone she was in love with so much.

But, Tina wanted it that way, so shed try her hardest. This was her chance to prove to Tina that she had changed, and that she would do anything to get Tina back. So, she took a few deep breaths and walked back into Shanes room, ready to start again as friends.

*****

~Can you hold, please?~ the woman on the other end of the phone asked, then put her on hold before Alice had even had the chance to answer. Twiddling her pencil nervously, Alice waited for Cherie to get out of her sauna, or wherever the ***** she was, and come to the phone.

Ten minutes later, the annoying classical music finally stopped, and an impatient sounding Cherie came on the line.

~What?~

Hi, Cherie, its Alice, Alice said, putting on a cheery voice even though she was far from happy, because she knew it annoyed Cherie. I was just ringing to check youd paid your half of Shanes medical bill for this week. You know, make sure you didnt forget or anything.

~Look, I said Id pay it, so will you stop ringing me! If Steve finds out Im a ***** dead woman.~

Should have thought of that before you screwed over my friend, Alice told her in a sweet, saccharine voice, before slamming the phone down in a fit of hatred. God, I could kill that woman, she yelled to no one in particular, and clenched her fists so hard her pencil snapped in two.

*****

Dana was on top of the world, and feeling guilty for it. It wasnt right that she feel so happy when Shane was lying unconscious in a hospital bed. But, last night Alice had come back to her house, and theyd made love for the first time. It had felt so good and so right that shed had a huge grin plastered on her face all day.

Unfortunately, it wasnt helping her training today. Her mind kept wandering off to the memories of last night, and her opponent was thrashing her. But, Dana didnt care, she was on top of the world.

The sound of her cell phone brought her out of her trance just in time to duck the tennis ball that was about to make contact with her head. Offering a sheepish grin to her partner, she jogged over to her kit bag and pulled out her phone. Alice had said shed call, and she wasnt going to miss it for the world.

Without looking at the caller ID, she flipped open the phone. Hey, gorgeous, she purred.

~Dane? Its Tina.~

Danas eyes grew wide as she choked on her sports drink. Oh, God, Im sorry! II thought it wasAlice. She cringed as her face turned red in embarrassment.

~Dana, you have to get down to the hospital.~

What? Why? Is Shane ok? Dana quickly over came her embarrassment, suddenly panicked at the thought that something had happened to Shane.

~Please, Dane, just get here as soon as you can.~

Im on my way.

*****

Alice burst into the room, her heart racing faster than it had ever done before. On the frantic journey to the hospital her mind had run wild, each explanation she came up with for Tinas call worse than the previous. She wasnt sure exactly what she was expecting, but it certainly wasnt to see Tina in Bettes arms, like theyd never been apart.

Whats going on? she asked, her eyes darting between the pair, and the still form of her friend looking exactly as she did when shed left the hospital the night before.

Bette blinked several times, and opened her mouth as if to speak, but she quickly snapped it shut again, a look of deep pain on her face.

Whats going on? she repeated louder, and suddenly Tina burst out crying, pulling Bette impossibly closer.

Dana walked in just then, and seeing Tina sobbing in Bettes arms, she let her kit bag fall to the floor. Whats going on? she asked in a frightened voice.

Someone cleared their throat behind her, and Alice and Dana whirled round to see a nervous doctor who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Maybe I can explain? he offered, gesturing to the chairs.

Feeling weak in the knees, Alice and Dana fell into the chairs, grasping each others hand without even thinking about it. Go on, Alice said apprehensively.

We just got the results from the CAT scan we did yesterday, and Im afraid its not good news. Shane has suffered a bleed in her brain, in an area called the medulla oblongata, which is here. He pointed to the place where the back of his head met his neck. This controls almost all the bodies unconscious functions, including breathing. Unfortunately, the damage is too severe, and Shane will never be able to breathe again.

The room was silent except for the sounds of the machines Shane was connected to as Alice and Dana tried to absorb what the doctor was telling them.

But, shes breathing now, Dana said after a while, pointing to the rhythmic rise and fall of her friends chest.

The ventilator is breathing for her, the doctor explained. Thats what we needed to talk to you about. Shane will never wake up, that is definite. We need your permission to turn off the life support machines.

Alice felt as if all the air had been forced out of her lungs. Still reeling from the doctors words, she looked between her friends, pleading desperately with her eyes for them to tell her it had all been a mistake. But they didnt.

Well? she croaked after a few minutes. At the almost imperceptible nods of the others, Alice turned to the doctor. Do I need to sign anything? she asked weakly, and the doctor handed her a clipboard and a pen. Not wanting to read the form, she signed it with shaking hands and gave it back to the doctor.

A few minutes later, the only noise in the room was the sound of the heart monitor flat-lining.




I KNOW I SAID I DIDNT WANT HER TO DIE, BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL AFFECT THE GANG IN A WAY THAT WILL BE INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING TO WRITE ABOUT. QUESTION IS, WILL THEY COME TOGETHER OR FALL APART?

IN THE ABSENCE OF JADEDROGUE, ITS OVER TO YOU, KATEY!