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Ayden was asleep for five days. Five long, terse days.

I’d seen him, but I hadn’t really seen him. Sophie had napped on and off and I’d managed to get time up in the ICU, thanks to Lucca. The doctors had pulled him from the induced coma the day before yet still he slept. All I could do was will him to get better, I really wanted him to wake up.

I glanced at my sister, who was sitting up in her bed staring at the television. With the volume muted, she wasn’t watching it, or taking it in, she was lost inside her own head and I didn’t know how to pull her back. Sophie hadn’t said a word since she’d been brought in, hadn’t even asked about Ayden, or Jake for that matter. Lucca had been in many times, but she didn’t look in his direction once. Despite her ignorance he continued to visit.

Her sleep was broken and didn’t last long; fitful and sweaty bouts I cringed over every time she closed her eyes. Sophie had to be exhausted, I was. She was eating little bits here and there, but I suspected that was down to her trying to keep her baby sustained and healthy rather than herself. I’d never seen her like this before and it was utterly heart-breaking, coupled with the fact I didn’t know how to help - I was exasperated.

The awful events of that day changed us all. It had to. How could it not? There were things in life you simply didn’t come back from and I feared this was Sophie’s. Her baby had been left without a father and she had been brutalised in the most inhumane way, no wonder she wasn’t talking to anyone.

“You gonna speak to me today, Soph?” I asked her.

Her head darted around to meet my gaze, sorrow etched across her gaunt features. She tried to smile but it didn’t quite fall right on her chapped lips, yet it fell heavy on my chipped heart. Tears pooled in her eyes and it was all the invitation I needed. Shuffling over to the bed, I climbed up next to her, mindful of her shoulder that was wrapped in a blue sling. I tucked my arm around her middle and pulled her into my chest.

“I’m scared, Shaun.”

I squeezed my eyes shut in relief at hearing her speak, no matter how broken her words sounded, how hoarse her voice was. I still didn’t know what to say to her, so I stayed quiet, watching as she rubbed her hand across her barely there bump. “Ayden awake yet?”

“No Sophie, not yet, babe,” I sighed. He would though, he’d wake up and take the world by the balls and make every last motherfucker pay for what happened that night. I’d be standing right with him. No one was getting away with what they had done, come hell or high water, they were going to pay.

“Boomer was asking for you.”

I’d called and filled him in with a bare bones version of events, leaving a hell of a lot out, Ryder had encouraged it even though he’d just started his rehab. Said he needed to be kept in the loop, not feel like he was being excluded or punished for getting better. He was as much a part of mine and Sophie’s family, he had a right to know the basics at least. I’d promised him I’d let Sophie know he was asking for her.

“Where is he?” She looked around the room as if he might appear from somewhere.

“He’s getting clean.”

Sophie’s glorious smile made an appearance, the first real emotion I’d seen from her in such a long time. I smiled right along with her, glad talking of Boomer managed to cheer her a little.

“I’m happy about that,” she said simply. “I’m not ready to talk about this, Shaun.” Her words were laced with sincere apology, and I understood. I thought she was waiting for Ayden anyway, maybe they could lean on each other and try to heal together. It made sense really, so I wasn’t mad, no - I was hopeful.

A knock on the room door diverted my attention to the man poking his head around the frame.

“Can I come in?” Lucca asked.

Sophie sat up straighter, pulling the coverlet further up her chest, almost to her neck. “Of course.” The way Lucca strode into the room gave away he had news, good news. He stood confidently at the side of the bed and grinned at Sophie. With a simple nod of the head he waved his hand in the air.

“He’s awake.”