LMPYITP: The Random Passages

And if You ever Break Down, I'll Cut You Up Again

Author's Note:

Please don't read this until after you've read chapters 168 and 169 of Version 1. Thanks! And thanks again for reading!

...

She felt warmer now. I'd like to think I had summat to do with it. There was just enough room in the bed for me to crawl in beside her so I did.

I shut the door beforehand, shutting out all that bollocks in the hallway as well. It was too fucking loud. Too fucking annoying. And I just wanted her to have peace.

She still hadn't woken up. She had all these tubes hooked up to her in her arm, her hand, and even one of them oxygen masks to help her breathe. They didn't trust her breathing on her own which is why she had those little tubes stuck in her nose.

I tried cuddling with her as best I could but it was hard. I hadn't gotten under the blankets in case I needed to jump up for something. Fucking spring into action.

She wouldn't cuddle back which was also hard to deal with. Sometimes I thought I felt her squeeze my hand but I think it was just wishful thinking. She liked to cuddle. Fucking loved it really...even when I got a bit too clingy.

"Okay Liam." She said one night as she pushed me away from her. "Back off just a bit."

"No no!" I argued as I put my arm back across her chest. "I've given ya enough room to breathe."

"No you haven't! You're worse than Charlie."

"I am not! I'm nothin' like that little mutt. I don't go 'round stickin' my cold, wet nose where it doesn't fuckin'...ugh!" I shuddered at the memory as I squeezed her tighter.

She giggled.

"We should get a dog." I continued as she began running her fingers through my hair on the side of me head. "What ya reckon?"

Nicole got to keep the dogs. Part of the divorce agreement. And the cat who ended up passing away. Lived a long life, her.

I missed having pets running about and I reckoned Jules did too. She'd spent her whole life around animals. Farm animals. Horses and that. The whole lot.

Any time we went to hers, the dogs were always there to greet us. Well, attack us really. Come after us protecting their gaff. Until they realized who we were. They took to me pretty quickly though which Blue said was a good thing. If they didn't like me I was well fucked.

"I don't know." She finally replied. "Having to take care of you is about like having to take care of a pet."

"You what?!" She'd started to scratch above my ear good and proper and I was really fucking enjoying it...until she had to say something to bring me back to listening to her.

"You heard me." She smirked a little.

I rolled my eyes. "So if you don't want a dog, what do you want then?" I asked.

"I told you." She replied. "I have you. What more could I want?"

I looked over at her laying there. There was no smile on her face now. Just the flat line formed by her closed lips.

"Tell me ya still feel the same way." I said softly as I stroked the back of her hand with my thumb.

And then came a quick squeeze.