chapter 22

Gary's POV

I back away a little. Why the fuck did i do that?! "Erm...i..er..i Rob.. s...sorry... i" My words start to blubber out.
"Erm... i better get off Gaz... it's late." Robbie picks up his coat from the waiting area.
Great he's pissed off now. I didn't mean to i was just happy. "Rob wait..." As i walk after Robbie a doctor calls us over.
"Gents. Mr Owen's awake and he's asking for you Gary." The doctor smiles at us.
Oh god... did i hear that right?! My eyes start to fill with tears. "Send my love to Markie Gaz... will come over and see you both soon... look after each other." We both go to hug, but instead Robbie holds his hand in front of me were we exchange a friendly hand shake instead.
"Thanks for everything Rob... i really do appreciate it all..." I feel a little embarrassed about kissing him. He's one of my best friends it was wrong of me to do that i don't blame him for being annoyed.
"No problem mate... let me know how it all goes...good luck." He smiles then leaves. Softly i sigh. After all this Rob's done then i stupidly ruin it.
"Gary? Are you coming?" The doctor asks still looking at me outside of Mark's door. Quickly i shake my head from the thoughts of Robbie i can't tell Mark what i did... well not now anyway. I head to Mark's room. "Calm down Mr Owen... Gary's coming." A nurse holds Mark's arm.
I take a deep breathe before entering the room. Mark is laying in the bed repeating my name his eyes half closed holding on the oxygen mask which is half on his mouth. "G...Gary...i...i need my Gary..."
"M...Mark?" Nervously i look at him. Tears burn in my eyes. Still in shock from this whole incident.
Mark opens his sleepy eyes the best he could. "G...Gaz? Gary???" He tries to sit up. "Owww...."
"Mr Owen you need to keep rested your stitches are still fresh we don't want them opening up." The young nurse lays him back down.
"I... need Gary... I need him..." Mark closes his eyes whilst moaning from the pain in his stomach.
"Babe i'm here...i'm not going no where..." Gently i take his hand in mine and plant a little kiss on top.

Mark looks at me squinting his eyes at me like he can't hardly see. "Gaz?"
"Yes... i'm here Mark..." I sit beside him still holding his hand gently stroking my thumb against it.
A soft smile appears on his face. "Mmmm...Gary....." His eyes get heavy and his head falls into his pillow.
"Huh? Mark??" Panic hits me. Shit!
"Gary... shush it's ok... he's taken some painkillers... they made him tired and now he's asleep... he's ok..." Dr Carter smiles lifting up Mark's sheet to check his stitches. "Oh...s...sorry..." I swallow hard still stroking Mark's hand. It's killing me seeing him like this.
"You best get some rest too it's been a long night. Things will be better by the morning."
I look at Mark who's fast asleep whilst nodding my head agreeing of getting some sleep of my own.

It only feels like i've been asleep for 10 minutes, but a loud scream wakes me up. My eyes instantly open to be greeted by Mark sat up in bed with blood stained sheets. "G...Ga...Gary..." He looks at me his eyes roll like he's about to pass out.
I freeze from shock looking at the amount of blood. "Fuc...fucking hell! HELP! CAN SOMEONE HELP!!" I shout as loud as i possibly can.
"Ga.....Gary.......H...Help...m....me..." Mark tries to keep his eyes focused.
Quickly i pull back his covers to see where the bloods coming from. His stitches have come undone causing him to bleed. A few doctors come running into the room. "What happened??" One asks me whilst the other two take Mark away.
"I...I...I don't... i was... asleep...Mark...was...s..screamed...i..." My breathing starts to increase i feel sick... i'm going to faint. Please let him be ok!! "Where is he??? I need to know if he's going to be ok!"
"We can't let you go in there Mr Barlow." The doctor holds me back stopping me from going into the same room as Mark.
"Please! You've got to let me see him! I'm begging you! I can't loose him i just can't!" Tears stream down my face. It feels like it's the second... no third time of loosing Mark.
"Sorry sir." He calls security over to try and control me. No chance i'm not going to let Mark slip away from me like this. I kick the doctor in the shin causing him to release his grip on me. Quickly i run into the new room which Mark's been taken into.
"MARK! MARK I'M HERE BABY!" I run over to his bed. He's asleep. The oxygen tube hanging out his mouth whilst a doctor pumps his chest. They all turn to look at me. A buzzing in the background sounds high pitch. No. Please don't tell me.
"We're sorry Mr Barlow... we did everything we could." A nurse places her hand on my shoulder whilst another turns off the high pitch monitor which Mark's wired to.
"N..No... You're lying... this isn't happening... Mark... Mark wake up please..." Softly i stroke his cheek. No response he just lays there. "Mark.. baby... please... please stop sleeping... i love you... Mark... please..." I tap his cheek a little harder. He's not breathing.
"Gary... we're sorry.... he's gone... gone to a better place..."
My eyes widen no this is all a joke. He's going to wake up i know it! "Mark! Please wake up! P...please wake... up. pl....plea....ple........" I break down on his bare chest.
"Gaz? Gary are you ok?" Wait... he's alive!! I knew it!!!
"Mark??? Mark you're alive!!!" I lift my head, but Mark's eyes still remain closed and still he's not breathing. I've gone mad? Gone completely mad!
"Gary? Gary are you ok? It's Mark?" Mark's mouth doesn't move. Huh? I rub my eyes.
"No... no...what's happening??"
I feel a hand on my arm and someone take a grip to my hand. "Open your eyes Gary!" The voice repeats.
Doing as the voice tells me i open my eyes. "MARK??!"
"Gary? I'm here? What's wrong?" I look over to a bed beside me to find Mark holding my hand and shaking my arm.
What the hell is going on?! I'm back in Mark's hospital room again. "B...Bl...blood? You... You... You're alive???! OH MARK!!" I wrap my arms around him tightly hugging him crying into his neck.
"Ouch...Gaz? What's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?" Mark hugs me stroking my back a little.
I nod softly. Loosening my grip on him a little, so i don't hurt him. That was the worst nightmare i've ever had.