Shadows In Durango

Chapter 119

***** Vincent's POV*****

At first, I thought I was fully imagining it...

That my mind, desperate for any slight sign of life, was playing tricks on me...

But no- the faintest twitch of his fingers in mine was real!

My gasp caught up in my throat, and I held still, afraid to move, afraid to break whatever fragile connection had just been sparked.

"Daryl?!" My voice barely escaped as a whisper, my heart thudding loudly in my ears.

For a moment, there was nothing. The machines kept their steady rhythm, the silence closing in on me again. I gripped his hand tighter, willing him to give me another sign, anything to show me that he was still in there, fighting to come back. Then, just as I was about to lose hope, his eyelids fluttered. It was so small, so quick, that I almost missed it, but it was definitely there.

A flicker of life!

My heart sprung up into my throat next, and I stood up so fast that the chair tipped over behind me with a loud clatter.

"Daryl? Daryl, can you hear me? Whatever you're doing, keep doing it! It's working!" I leaned over the bed, my face inches from his, my hand still gripping his tightly.

"C'mon, man, give me something else..." I plead, not wanting the momentous moment to die out.

His brow furrowed ever so slightly, and I watched, holding my breath as his chest hitched, a faint groan escaping his lips next.

He's responding! He's finally waking up!

The machines around him beeped a little faster, reacting to his movements and sudden change in demeanour, and I felt a surge of hope crash through me like a tidal wave.

I reached for the call button beside the bed, smashing it with more force than necessary as I called for a nurse - pressing it again and again as if that would make them move faster outside.

Dropping it, I rush to the room door, opening it and seeing a half asleep Amelia looking up at me - suddenly startled.

"What's going on Vincent?!" Amelia stammers, leaning forward and dreading to hear any more bad news.

The rush of nurses come speeding down the hallway, as I motion for them all to hurry up...

"He's waking up!" I shouted, my voice shaking with a mix of relief and disbelief all at the same time. "He's waking up, come quick!"

Within moments, the room was a flurry of activity. Nurses rushed in, checking his vitals, adjusting the machines before a doctor arrived shortly after.

gave me a reassuring nod, though her expression remained

her tone professional but warm. "His

stepped back, allowing myself to catch a breath, letting them work, but my eyes

was trying so hard - fighting with everything he has left - just to come back to us, and for

to my side, lacing her arm around mine as she held on to me, breathless, her eyes wide

inject something up in to his arm through a long

face. "He's fighting hard, Amelia.

her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked down

nurses began to leave, seeming satisfied with his progress in the moment, as they offered us gentle smiles

him over the last hurdle... it could take minutes or even hours... but just press the button again and the nurses will be with him when he's awake and needs anything. When he wakes up, he will feel exhausted and will probably fall back over so don't be alarmed." The doctor turns to face us, peeling off his latex gloves as we both nod

and heads for the door with the last nurse going

silent room, but it no longer felt

the sound now -

were both glued to the

heard you, Vincent," she said softly. "You're the one who managed to pull him back." She tells me, as I glance down at

my throat tightening with emotion. "Nah he didn't need me. He did this himself. Daryl's always been stronger than me. I just..." I swallowed, struggling to find the words. "I

"He needed you here, Vincent.

her, but the guilt gnawed at me. Daryl was fighting for his

in shallow breaths, the beeping of the machines now a strange sort of comfort

was still

It wasn't over.

Not yet.

and me as we just

felt thick and tense, like we were holding our

every groan, sent my

talk him round again?" she said, her voice thick with exhaustion. She gave me a gentle pat on the arm. "You stay

trusting my voice as she quietly slipped out of the room, leaving

but I didn't move from my spot. I stayed by Daryl's side, watching him, silently urging him

hand, finding it to be still

instantly quickened. "C'mon, man," I whispered, leaning closer. "You

"That's it! Keep doing what you're doing!"

if I was stuck dreaming, he slowly, very painfully, cracked open his eyelids

enough for me. He was in there,

my emotions swirling as I felt in that moment like I

focus on me as he groaned this time,

them, but it was incoherent