My eyes fluttered open and I was surprised at the brightness, having to blink a few times for my eyes to adjust. I was immediately aware of the pain that consumed me, particularly in my left leg and on my temple. I pushed myself up slowly, being careful to not to move too fast in case I knocked my leg or got a head rush.

Oh, just brilliant. I was in a hospital, meaning that what I thought was a terrible nightmare had actually happened.

Voices buzzed around me but I couldn't focus on them enough to realise who's they were or what they were saying. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes once again so I could focus on the voices. They slowly started to form sentences in my head and I sighed with relief.

“Jasmine, sweetheart?”

“Ugh...yes?” I groaned, my voice hoarse and my throat scratchy. I turned slowly to my left where the voice was coming from and suddenly, panic flooded through me.

I screamed. I couldn't help it, I t felt wrong for him to be here. Very wrong, yet there was also a part of me that felt okay with his presence. Better than okay, actually. Pretty good.

“Jasmine! What're you doing, shush!” Marc whispered loudly, almost aggressively.

“Get away from me. Get out, now!” I tried to sound forceful and authoritative but that didn't happen, instead I sounded weak and fragile. Damn it! I leaned back against the headboard of the bed and watched as he shook his head, a small frown on his face.

“Jasmine, please. You need to hear me out, listen to my side of things.”

I shook my head violently even though I did want to hear what he had to say. This was my stubborn, defensive side coming out. Well, he deserved it! I was reaching over to the nurses button at the side of my bed, ready to call a nurse to kick him the hell out of my room when I saw something. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a small flash of gold. I turned my head to face him fully and leaned back on my bed, just staring at the necklace that had fallen from underneath the collar of his shirt. My mums locket. It was as if fate was telling me to at least listen to him. Ah, hell.

“Fine, whatever.” I muttered, noticing the small smirk that appeared on his lips. Asshole. However, it quickly turned serious when he noticed I was still scowling, my hand still resting on the 'Call Nurse' button.

“Seriously, please believe me when I say that I am on your side. I was in the gang to start with, I admit that, but-”

“Oh, how fucking gracious of you to admit that to me, well done. Would you like a gold medal, a bouquet of flowers maybe?” I snapped at him, sarcasm thick in my tone. He just shook his head and carried on.

“BUT, I realised soon enough that this shit was getting too deep for me. It was all way, way out of my league and then...and then I met Anna.”

I breathed in sharply at the mention of my Mothers name. He smiled reassuringly at me.

“I spent a lot of time with your Mother. She was a sweetheart, a lot like you in many ways. But beside the point, she made me see that this stuff was wrong. None of the cliché talks or anything but, I saw...i-i saw-”

“You saw the way John treated her.” I finished off for him in a small voice. I knew how that felt, I saw it, too. The hitting, forceful drug taking, verbal abuse...it was far from conventional. I moved my hand from the nurses button and rested it on top of his, attempting a gentle squeeze for comfort but my fingers barely even flexed. That just reminded me that I was still in a hospital room, still injured from being attacked by my crazy ex Step-Father.

He nodded solemnly, smiling slightly when I put my hand on his. He turned over his hand and grasped mine gently, being careful not to hurt me. Both our eyes had glazed over at the conversation we were having but it needed to be done, we needed to speak about this.

“Yeah, I saw what the gang life was doing to her. All my life I had wanted a family and seeing the way John treated you guys, I knew that I wouldn't be able to do it while in the gang. And then, then i-i saw-”

He broke down. He actually buried his face in the hand that wasn't holding mine and cried. Real tears, not 'oh-i-just-listened-to-a-sad-song' tears, heartfelt sobs. I knew what he was going to say but I refused to think about it, refused to even accept to believe he was going to say it until he actually did. Through my own blurry eyes, I managed to find his head with my hand and rub the back of his neck gently. I had no idea why I did this, it just felt right. I felt like I wanted - no, needed – to comfort him.

After a few moments, he sighed and sat upright once again. In his desperation to hide his face from me, he had slumped down slightly. He took my hand from his neck and, once again, held it gently. This time caressing my palm, it soothed me.

Taking a deep breath, he continued.

“I saw THAT happen!” He was nearly shouting now so I rubbed my thumb on his palm in an attempt to calm him slightly. Not sure why I did, though, because I was falling apart myself.

“I saw them, HIM, kill her. I was there when he made the arrangements for someone to kill her on his behalf and I was there, in the house, when it happened. I wanted so badly to come get you and Damien, I could hear you crying upstairs. I was half way there, I was coming to get you! I promise! But they saw me going upstairs, practically dragged me out and made me leave you. I knew it would blow my cover if I didn't listen, so I did. I'm so sorry, I can't get it through to you how sorry I am!”

He was talking fast, tears still falling from his beautiful blue eyes. I couldn't speak, I just cried while I waited patiently for him to recompose himself and carry on.

“So, I quit. I couldn't take the shit! I told the police everything but they couldn't do anything at all. They had a lack of evidence and, well, they were scared of what the gang could do. I left and I thought it was for good, I turned my life around and joined CID in the UK. Basically, the Police. But after my training, my first job was to go undercover...and because they knew my history, they knew I would be easily able to work on this case. Because I was passionate about it. When I saw your name on that file, when I saw your picture...your beautiful picture staring up at me, the double of your mother, I knew I had to accept the job. I was to pose as an English teacher and protect you, look after you.”

“So I was just a job, then?” I said sadly before I could stop myself. Fuck sake, always landing myself in it.

He shook his head quickly.

“At first, ye-in fact, no. You were never just a job at all. Once I saw your name and your photo on that case file, I knew this was not going to be just a job. Trouble is, I wasn't expecting to get this involved, either. I don't want to protect you just because it's my job, Jasmine, I want to do it anyway. I want to enjoy your smile always, not just because I helped you in your Lit Exam. I want to sit and eat pizza in front of the TV with you but because you chose to, not because you ended up at my house without a choice.”

Not going to lie, he looked like he was shocked at himself for saying it. Much like myself, saying things without really thinking about it. Sometimes its best, though...truth comes out when words aren't thought through.

I somehow managed to smile through my tears and scooted over the bed. Maybe I was still delerious from all the drugs the doctors had been pumping in me while I was sleeping, I don't know. But he got the hint and slowly, he sat beside me and draped his arm around my shoulder. I was aching all over but I didn't care, I just felt right. I felt comfortable inside. Cliché.

I smiled at him and nodded.

“I...I want that, too.” was all I said as I looked down in embarrassment.

Suddenly, I felt a single finger under my chin turning me to face him. I slowly followed his lead, leaning towards him.

“Jasmine, dear! You're awake!” I heard a voice shout, causing me to jerk my head away and Marc to jump up off of the bed quickly. I turned to the door with a grimace on my face, noticing Marc's bewildered look out of the corner of my eye.

Why did she have to walk in at that moment?

/* I'm really proud of this chapter! Haha. Hope you like it! :)

Were you surprised or did you kind of guess the ending? :P Let me know in the comments! :)

Also, yes i will be working on a sequel. It's going to be based in School, Jasmine and Marc's relationship and where it goes, high school drama...it won't be as serious as this but there will be a dramatic plot :) All based in school though, mainly. It's going to turn into a proper student/teacher thing and i hope i will be able to make it different to most on here. :)

Tweet me anything you have to say or any questions! @idgafChar.

Peace, Love and Hair Dye./*