As the operation commenced, Ryan fell straight asleep. Martin went back into the waiting room to be with the others; this operation reminded him too much of his parents.
Martin sat between Cloda and Zoe. The room was a grey colour, and the seats were metal and hard.
"Did he speak to you?" Asked Zoë.
Martin nodded. "He's had an awful life."
Lucy and Ollie looked over at him, "what's he been through?" Asked Ollie.
Martin didn't know what to say, so he told the truth. "He was tortured by his parents... and other people."
"Tortured?" Asked Jemma, concerned.
"He doesn't want me to say how." Replied Martin. Taking out his phone where he saw seven missed calls from Mrs Watson.
"Shit.." he muttered, picking up his phone and reading the angry texts she had sent him, "shit shit shit!"
He stood up and called her back immediately, stepping over to the corner of the room.
"Martin what's going on?" Answered Bronagh immediately. He'd never heard her in such a menacing tone.
"Bronagh I'm so sorry-"
"It's been two days since you called! Two days! You told me you'd ring me back! Where are you?! What are you doing?!" She yelled.
"In hospital.." he replied.
"Martin. God Martin what happened?" Asked Bronagh, her voice lowering and slowing.
"Ryan took a fit.. he's got a brain tumour. His parents have been contacted.. sorry I was just staying with him."
"What's going on now?" Asked Bronagh.
"He's getting surgery." He told her, "I don't know how long it'll take or how long he'll be here."
"I- I thought it was epilepsy that he had." Said Bronagh.
"W-we thought that too.." Martin took a step outside the door away from the rest of them. "This morning Ryan woke up and he was stone cold. There was no pulse and he was basically grey."
"Oh my god.."
"I- I thought I lost him, Bronagh.. I'm sorry.. I've let you down and as soon as this resolves itself I'll drive them back to England. If you want me to resign I totally understand and I will."
Bronagh hesitated before replying, "Martin. You haven't let me down. You've just had a really unlucky trip. But the kids love you, you're an amazing and intelligent man and teacher and I can't take that away from you."
Martin waited for her to continue, sitting down on a seat.
"How's Zoe?" Asked Bronagh, changing the subject.
"She's alright." Replied Martin,
"Shaken?"
"Everyone's shaken."
"Who found him first?"
"Ollie."
"Is he okay?"
"N-no I don't think he is.. but we're getting there." Said Martin, truthfully.
"What about you?" Asked Bronagh.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine." He told her.
"You sound really shaky, you need to take a break." She told him.
"I can't yet." He replied.
"I... I don't know how to help you, Martin." She sighed.
"It's alright."
"Give my best to all of them."
"I will." He said, putting down his phone and quickly walking outside into the cool fresh air.
With reluctance, he looked around and took out a cigarette, cuffing his hand over the end as he lit it and walked out into the car park, watching the puffs of smoke disperse into the atmosphere until he heard a voice from behind him.
"Smoking's not good for you."
Martin stood silently, not turning around. He held the cigarette between his fingers before gently letting it go.
"What is it.." he breathed, still not turning around, he covered his mouth. He recognised the voice but couldn't put his finger on exactly who it was.
The person didn't respond. So Martin turned around to look at them,
"I said wha-"
In front of him he saw Martha.
She looked up at him with huge big blue eyes. Her light brown hair blew gently in the wind, she had one tooth missing and her lips moved into the shape of a smile.
Martin's jaw dropped slightly. He took a step backwards, his eyes wide.
"Martha.." he whispered, nausea whirling throughout him.
"Martin? Martin what are you doing?!" Called Zoe from the entrance of the hospital.
When Martin looked back to Martha she was gone.
He shivered, leaning up against the van, his eyes watering.
"Martin wh-what's going on? What are you doing?"
Martin looked around, trying to find Martha, yet knowing himself that she wasn't real.
"Martin!" She called, taking his hands before slapping his face.
Martin suddenly focused on Zoe's panicked face.
Everything around him seemed to be blurred except for Zoe's face.
"Can you see me?" Asked Zoë.
Martin nodded, reaching out and touching her cheek as she placed her forehead against his and Martin pursed his lips with hers, feeling her hands on the back of his neck as he lost himself again.
All he could think about was Martha, she felt so real.. he couldn't believe how stupid he was, envisioning his dead daughter. He knew he had to accept her death, but somehow he couldn't.
Before he even registered it, the kiss was over and Zoe was looking into his eyes.
"Martin; you're gonna go in there and you're gonna be with Ryan. He's woken up in surgery, it's not going well, you've got to keep yourself together." She told him.
"Not going well?" He questioned, his heart sinking again.
Zoe looked down, "just stay with him."
"I can't stick this any longer." He told her,
"But you have to. You can't leave him waiting, Martin!"
Martin took a deep breath, "right." He sighed. Walking back into the hospital, seeing Ryan on the bed surrounded by Ollie, Lucy, Cloda and Jemma.
"M-mister McCafferson.." murmured Ryan.
"Hi Ryan." He said. There was blood around his head, the surgeons were surrounding him.
Suddenly an image of his mother appeared in Ryan's place.
"Ryan I want you to name the colours of the rainbow in order, can you do that?" Asked Lucy, reading questions from a sheet of paper she had been given to by a doctor.
"Red.. orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet." He said, his eyes fixed on Lucy.
"Okay Ryan, can you tell me your full name." Asked Lucy, holding his shivering hand.
"Ryan... Ryan Franciszek Kowalczyk." He said, his eyes closing over. Lucy looked over to the others.
"Ryan? It's Ryan Francis Thompson.." said Lucy, looking over to Martin for guidance, but he was completely lost too.
"Lucy.." whispered Ryan, reaching his hands out.
Lucy took them, her eyes watering.
"I'm here." She told him.
"Ollie?" Ryan added, looking around.
"Got your back, mate." Said Ollie, putting one hand on his arm.
"Cloda?"
Cloda put her hand on his shoulder, as did Jemma.
"Love you guys." He sighed,
"Love you too." Whispered Ollie, a tear dripping down his cheek. "Always will."
Ryan gave a slight smile before his eyes gradually closed shut.