JACK'S POV
24 HOURS LATER
4PM

She was still not waking up. I was getting very anxious at ever hour she doesn't wake up in.
"Oh god please let her wake up..." I thought to myself.

I sat in the chair next to hers looking at her then heard the door open, it was Conor. "Hey mate... why don't you go back home, take a shower and have some rest??"

I agree with the shower part. I haven't since it happened, but I just ignored him. "I'll be with her until you come back I promise and if she wakes up you will be the first to know..." he assured me.

"Do you promise me??" I said. " Yes. Now go back home", he said putting his hand on my shoulder. "I'll be back in an hour" , I said before leaving the hospital room.

I arrived back home in a few minutes then head to the bathroom to take a shower. I then wrapped myself in a towel and went to my room to put on some fresh clothes and style my hair. Before leaving I decided to head over to the spare room were Claire kept her belongings.

I found a couple of her birthday bags and her suitcase on the floor so I grabbed the Pandora gift that had my note in it and remembered that she hasn't read it yet, so I decided o take it with me for her.

5.30PM

I went back to the hospital then head immediately to Claire's room and I found Conor sitting on the chair next to hers as he promised. "I'll leave you with her..." he said before getting up and leaving the room.

"Hey love...", I said as I sat next to her with her hands on mine. "I found the note that I've written you.. you never had the chance to read it so here I am going to read it for you..", I said trying to smile.

(Sorry if it's cheesy :P)

I cleared my throat then started reading:

Happy 21st birthday love!
Hope you have the best birthday ever since I've got a lot of surprises lined up for you today and you'll never guess! I've never been happy to be with someone in my life, you make me feel loved and I'm glad that I was the one opening the door for you as it gave me the chance to admire your beautiful green eyes. I miss those little walks that we used to have so hopefully we'll have more of that in the future and yes! I do see a future with you. We'll go on holidays and have so much fun together, maybe go to V Fest next month if you'd like to...

I stop to wipe the tears that were forming in my eyes and the ones that were already down my cheeks while holding her hand and rubbing it softly.

"I'm sorry.. it's all my fault that you are here in the first place.. I fought with him which led to this. I'm so sorry, I love you and I just can't bear to see you like this.. in here...

CLAIRE'S POV

I sigh as I hear Jack's voice. I try to open my eyes but still feeling the pain in my stomach."What happened?" I thought opening my eyes.

I found myself laying on a hospital bed with tubes all over me while Jack sat in the chair next to me reading whilst having tears running down his cheeks. I then tried to squeeze his hand notifying him that I was wake then he looked at me surprisingly.

"OMG! CLAIRE! YOU'RE AWAKE! NURSE!!! CONOR COME QUICK!!!!", he shouted. "Babe are you alright??!" he said while kissing my cheeks.

"Heyy", I said smiling at him. "Omg Claire you freaked me out.. ", he said before Conor came in rushing through the door. "WHAT?? ARE YOU....", he then paused looking at me. "Claire you're awake! Oh my god are you alright?? You scared us all", he said.

"Hey Conor, I'm alright.. still in pain but I think I'll be okay. Wait.. what happened? The last thing I actually remember was seeing Matt in my apartment", I said. Conor and Jack looked at each other before Jack sat with me and took my hand. "Claire... Matt wanted to shoot me but you took a bullet for me. Do you remember?", he said.

"I.. I..", struggling to speak he then continued. "Love, why would you do that? You know if something ever happened to you I wouldn't forgive myself, I can't see you like this, this way.. why?" he asked as he began to tear up.

"It's okay", I said putting my hands on his cheek rubbing it. "If something happened to you I wouldn't forgive myself either.. I love you and you mean so much to me", I said smiling then heard the door open and in came the nurse with the doctor. They checked up on my and made sure that I was absolutely fine before they left.

Jack and Conor stayed with me till mum and dad come over with my friends. Rosie, Joe, Mikey, Oli, Zoe and Alfie and a bunch of other people came in to see me as soon as they heard that I've awaken, It felt so comforting to see them here with me, they all gave me hugs but tried to be careful because my wound was still healing. I was so grateful to see them with me and have such people in my lives who really who loved me.

8 DAYS LATER

JACK'S POV

Today was the day that Claire finally got to leave the hospital. She was so excited and couldn't wait to leave since she was getting bored and also since she hated being in hospitals for too long. I packed her things including the note that I read the other day but she didn't seem to know that but hopefully she'll notice it when opening her bag.

"Are you ready love?" I said after helping her put her shoes on. "Yeah let me just grab my phone", she replied.

Me, Conor and Joe arranged a small welcoming party at my apartment for her since she decided to stay with me for a couple of nights. So we both drove back to the apartment while Rosie, Conor, Joe and all the boys waited for her there.

When we arrived I parked and carried her bag upstairs while holding her hand and giving her a few kisses on the way. "Are you ready?" I said smirking, "For what?", she asked then I opened the door and she was greeted with a lot of hugs from the guys. She didn't expect such a thing but all that mattered was to make her happy and that's what happened.

A few hours later she decided to make a small video explaining what has happened to her for the last few days and asked me to help her with it so I did. She recorded and I edited and uploaded it for her before we both laid on my bed. I wrapped my hands around her neck whilst intertwining our fingers, "I'm glad that you're back here with me", I said while giving her a kiss. "Back where? In the bed?" she winked which made me laugh, then she got on top of me and started giving me little kisses down my neck.

"Love, we shouldn't do this now... your wound remember?" I said before I started kissing her back. "I'll be okay", she grinned.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Claire is awake and feeling better, Jack is glad that she's back. What do you think so far?? Comment telling me your opinion and I hope you enjoyed!! Really sad that the story will end soon.. but not as soon as you think it is (maybe a sequel?) Really appreciate the support I've been getting lately especially from my closest friends (you know who you are!) Please vote because it helps, and follow me to get any notifications when I post a new chapter! I hit 4K and I'm really happy about that! Thanks to whomever reads, comments and votes!

Love/Lena