Chapter 35

Mark's POV

Edging inside the room, Gary looks at me through his foggy vision. "M...M...ar...k..." His voice hums, echoing around my ears. For a few seconds i stand still, just glancing from Gary to Chloe, noticing the tears run down Chloe's face as her hand remains in contact with Gary's. Taking a deep breath i force out a fake smile.
"O...Oh... Gaz... mate, we've been terribly worried about you... Chloe's been going out of her mind." Walking over towards his bed, i place both of my palms over the tops of Chloe's shoulders, feeling her tensed muscles. Rolling his eyes over towards Chloe's, he breathes a heavy sigh, as his fingers trail along her knuckles.
"...I...I'm...s...sorry...baby..." Wincing as he speaks, he still looks slightly dazed.
"Sssh... Gary...please...please don't apologise... none of this is your fault... i'm just relieved you're here now... i don't...i don't know what i would of done without you..." Cupping her face, she continues with the water works.
"Chloe, hunny... you need to have some rest yourself... you haven't slept properly since Gary's disappearance... how about you go back to your room for a sleep? It's not just for your sake, but the baby's also."

All of a sudden Gary's eyes snap open. "B...B...baby? What baby?" He asks with confusion soon filling his face.
"Erh... your baby? You and Chloe are having a baby...remember?"
Squinting his eyes, Gary shakes his head with annoyance. "Excuse me?" Chloe tilts her head backwards, locking her gaze onto mine, whilst her eyes fill with worry and slight fear.
"I...I told you...b...before...it...happened..."
"No you didn't?!" Surprisingly Gary finds the energy to snap in reply. "I think I'd remember something like that."
"Gaz... just calm down, mate." Brushing my finger tips down Chloe's arms, i try and relax her from Gary's reaction.
"Don't tell me to calm down! Is...is it mine? Or..." Focusing his eyes onto mine, he stares at my hands touching Chloe's bare arms.
Shrugging her arms, knocking my hands out of contact with her flesh, she shakily wipes away her tears. "O...of course it's yours! You've had a knock to the head... that's all... the doctors said your memory will be back shortly, but in the mean time we just need to try and rest you up, OK?"

Gary scrunches up his face in response to Chloe's comment. "And look after me like I'm some sort of mental old person? I don't need help, i just need my home and my work." Sitting up in his bed, a pain from his stomach prevents his moments. "Good grief!" He hisses holding onto the covers.
"Gary! Sit down!" Easing Gary back into the bed, my patience soon starts to run out. "What you need is your family around you and shouting your mouth off isn't going to get you anywhere is it? Just get some rest and we'll see you tomorrow."
"Mate." Gary sarcastically laughs. "Not after what you've done to me, you're no 'mate' to me. Life wrecker."
"Jesus Christ, Gary. We've sorted this out ages ago. You really have had a knock on the head haven't you? Is work and old history all you care about? Do you understand the amount of stress and pain you've caused Chloe and your child?!"
"You really think i can forget something like that? Just leave us alone. If i see you place one finger onto my girlfriend again, you'll regret it. Who do you think you are? I bet you loved it without me, didn't you? I go and you step in. Typical. Just...just fucking do one, yeah?" His eyes burn with anger. Looking down at Chloe, who's face is tear stained still, a smile spreads across my face.
"A finger, eh? More like a snog." I think to myself, sensing by the look on Chloe's face, she can tell exactly what i'm thinking, with the words resting on the tip of my tongue, i hold them back with my teeth. Believe me it'll be more than a snog next time.

"I...I...i think... you better go Mark..." Quietly a small voice speaks, which is hardly audible to my ears which seem to be deafened by my thoughts.
"Excuse me? You're asking me to go? He's the one out of lin-"
"You heard her." Gary interrupts, whilst a smug looking grin spreads across his face. If only he wasn't in this bed, i'd teach that smart ass mug of his a lesson. Looking down into Chloe's eyes, she immediately bows her head avoiding any further eye contact with me. After a few seconds i decide to do as she wishes, nodding my head i swiftly make my way over towards the door again.
"Alright... i'll go... but that doesn't change things... just remember that." Leaving on that note, the door loudly slams behind me.

Gary's POV

My head starts to spin almost as if i've necked a bottle of vodka. "Mhmm..." Smacking my lips together, my eyes remain firmly closed. Flickering my eyes open, i stare up at the night's starry sky. I'm back on the island? But it can't be?! Panic rushes through my body, as i hurry to my feet, soon being stopped by the pain.
"Gary... stay calm..." A pair of hands wrap around my under arms, instantly calming me down and soothing the pain. "I'm here now... ssshhh..." Steadily a hand rakes through my hair, massaging my aching temples. Resting my head backwards into the crook of the figures neck, i inhale a deep breath. "You came back..."

Tilting my head over my shoulder, i'm greeted by a bright shining smile, enough to warm my entire frozen body. "I promised you...didn't i?" Tiarna continues running her hands along my bare flesh, her fingertips beating any sort of treatment i need for my wounds and aches.
"There's one more thing i need you to do for me... if you can do that?" Her warm breath brushes against my over grown stubble cheeks.
"Anything..." Our lips now inches away from one another, whilst my eyes gently press together. Waiting for the feel of our lips to collide.
"Wake up... you've got to wake up for me Gary..." Her words echo around my heavy feeling head, it almost feels like I've got a lead weight on my shoulders.
"H...huh?" Confused by her words, my eyes instantly widen once I've reopened them, getting lost by my new view. I'm in a boat?! The water splashes against the partly broken wooden boat I'm standing in. "T...T...Tiarna...?" Looking around the abandoned island, its soon becomes lifeless. Where is she? We were just together?!

Suddenly something catches my eyes. A injured figure rushes to the edge of the island. "H...H...Help..." Weakly a female's voice calls in the distance.
"Tiarna?! Tiarna is that you?!" Searching around the boat for a stick or ore, it soon becomes clear that i must of left them on the island. "Stay there! I'm coming back for you!" Dipping both of my hands into the water, i start to move them in a doggy paddle motion.
"Pl...pl..please...help me..." She continues to beg, as three or four darkened figures begin to approach her, dragging her along the sand. It's almost like the boats stuck, as it continues to move further away from the island.
"Leave her alone!! Get off her!" Yelling at the top of my lungs, i feel the tight grip of hands pull onto my hands. "Tiarna! Tiarna speak to me!" Fright enters my emotions hearing nothing but the sound of the calm sea, hitting against the sides of the boat. "Please! Talk to me! Tiarna!"
"Gary? Gary wake up?" Something pushes against my chest like a pair of hands.
"No...no..." Its like someone's removed the moon and stars from the sky, drawing a pitch black curtain over my eyes. Moving my head side to side frequently in panic, there's a sudden sharp pain in the pit of stomach, which cause my eyes to open automatically. "TIARNA HELP ME!" Light reappears and the island has gone out of sight. I'm back in the hospital.
"G...G...Gary?" A heavy breathing female holds onto my arm, looking as shocked as I'm feeling. The pain seems to have gotten worse, almost unbearable. Pulling back the thin covers, it reveals a blood stained bed. "Oh...g...god..." I mutter, noticing that my stitches have come undone.