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Chapter Text

Shelagh's POV:

Christmas was over and New years eve was just around the corner so I was rushing around trying to get everything sorted at the clinic after appointments had finished for the day, once everything was sorted I locked up and cycled home. The streets were busy with Children playing and mothers going about their daily chores, as I rounded the corner onto the main street a child ran out in front of me and went into the curb and fell off hitting my head slightly on the bollard.  A kind lady came over and helped me up and asked me if I needed an ambulance but since the surgery was only down the street I insisted I would walk so I decided to decline her kind offer. 

As I walked down the street towards the surgery my eyes started to sting and I realised that I must have some gravel in them, I walked into the building and up the stairs to the surgery. I walked into the reception just as Trixie was coming out of the maternity ward she stopped and looked at me as she said 'Oh Mrs Turner what's happened to you' I gave her a short smile and replied 'I was cycling home when I came off my bike, my eyes are stinging but apart from that I'm okay', Trixie lead me up the stairs to Patrick's room she knocked on the door and entered when told. 

Patrick's POV:

It had been a busy few days at the surgery and today was no different and I couldn't wait to get home to Shelagh and the children. I was day dreaming when there was a knock at the door, I cleared my throat and said 'Come in' Nurse Franklin walked in and said 'Sorry to disturb you Dr but I found your wife in reception, she's had a slight accident'. 

Hearing that Shelagh was hurt made me feel very worried I quickly stood up as she walked in, I felt relieved that she wasn't seriously hurt. Shelagh sat down in the comfy chair and proceeded to tell me what had happened whilst I gathered the supplies I needed to treat her eyes. 

Shelagh sat very still whilst I bathed and removed the tiny pieces of gravel from her eyes before taking some warm gauze to bathe her eyes, once I took the gauze away and said 'Okay Blink, and again'. She blinked effortlessly and I gazed lovingly at her trying to work out how I had ended up with someone so beautiful, Shelagh smiled at me and said 'Patrick surely it must all be out now'. 

A tiny laugh escaped my lips as I replied 'Probably I just like looking into your eyes, and I don't get to do it very often. Now my darling have you decided about the dinner dance on new years eve?' 

Shelagh's POV:

The dinner dance was being held in the Parish hall to celebrate New years eve and even though I knew all of our friends would be there my biggest fear was letting Patrick down but how could I tell him that, I looked up at Patrick and said 'Patrick I've got nothing to wear and besides who would we leave the children with'. 

Patrick sat down at his desk and gave me the loveliest smile I'd ever seen before saying 'Shelagh I will buy you something to wear, and as for the children we can take them with us so that's settled', I felt so bad keeping secrets from Patrick so as I looked down at my hands I said 'That's not the only reason Patrick, I'm worried that I'll embarrass you I mean look at me I'm hardly perfect'. Patrick stood up and walked round to me pulling me carefully and gently out of the chair as he softly said 'Don't ever say that again, to me Shelagh you are perfect, you are beautiful, you are lovely and most importantly you are my wife and you are the wife I dreamed of. And I would love to take you out on New years eve'.

My heart felt so full hearing what Patrick had just said so before I kissed him on the lips I said 'Okay I will go out with you on New years eve'.

(The next day)

Today was the start of a new week and next Friday was the day of the New years eve dinner dance, today was very rare day off so I decided to go out and buy a new dress for the dance. Whilst I was waiting for the bus Trixie and Jenny approached me I smiled and said 'Good morning ladies' Jenny smiled back as she said 'Good morning Shelagh, where are heading to today', as I placed my scarf into my bag I said 'I'm on the hunt for a dress to wear to the new years eve dinner dance, but I have no idea what will suit me'. 

Trixie stubbed her cigarette out and said 'Well we'll help you if you'd like Shelagh' I was very grateful for their help because I wanted to get the right dress. After a short bus ride we arrived at the market street and the girls showed me to their favourite dress shop, there were so many beautiful dresses in the shop and I had no idea what to choose Trixie pulled a beautiful red satin dress off the rail and said 'Shelagh I think this dress would be perfect for you, why don't you go and try it on'. 

I took the dress and went into the changing room, once I'd changed into the dress I turned to look at my reflection in the mirror and I barely recognised myself, I turned back around and opened the curtain and Jenny and Trixie were both smiling Jenny turned me to face the mirror on the wall and said 'So what do you think Shelagh' I felt amazing in this dress and I knew Patrick would love it. 

Trixie's POV:

Once we'd all purchased a new dress for the new years eve dinner dance we decided to get fish and chips and sit on the pier in the sunshine, I could tell that something was bothering Shelagh but I couldn't put my finger on it. Once we'd all finished eating I wiped my hands and said 'Is everything okay Shelagh you've been very quiet today', Shelagh looked at myself and Jenny as she sighed deeply before quietly saying 'I'm worried about this dance, I don't want to embarrass Patrick' Jenny and me looked at each-other and I said 'Why would you embarrass him your a wonderful dancer, and Patrick loves you for you it's so obvious a blind person could see it'. 

Shelagh gave us a slight smile before saying 'We haven't even been properly intimate with each-other, I mean we've kissed but I get anxious about him seeing me with no clothes on. You see I have some scars on my back', Jenny softly said 'What happened'. Shelagh took another deep breath and said 'My father got very angry after my mother died and he used to take his anger out on me by whipping me with his leather belt. The buckle sliced through my back'.

On instinct I hugged Shelagh as I said 'That wouldn't changed the way he feels about you Shelagh, he thinks your the most beautiful woman on this planet. But I really think you should tell him about the scars'. 

Shelagh's POV:

As I sat on the bus home I thought about what Trixie and Jenny had said to me and deep down I knew they were right I had to tell Patrick about my scars, as I walked into the house I saw Timothy sitting at the table doing his homework whilst Patrick was sitting on the couch reading to Angela. Patrick got up and walked over to me one arm going around my waist pulling me closer towards him as his lips found mine and when we parted he said 'Welcome home my love, have you had a good day', I hung my bag and coat up as I said 'I did indeed yes, plus I found a dress for the dinner dance so I think you'll like it' Patrick smiled like a Cheshire cat as he said 'I have no doubt that I will love you in your new dress my dearest one'.

As night crept in I'd just finished putting Angela to bed and I was so nervous about telling Patrick about my scars, I walked into our bedroom my nightgown flowing with each step. Patrick looked up from his book and said 'Is she asleep my love' I nodded as I got into bed beside my handsome husband, I turned to look at him and said 'Patrick there's something I need to tell you' Patrick put his book down on the bedside table before turning to me giving me his full attention he said 'Is everything alright Shelagh'. 

I calmly said 'I feel bad that we've never been fully intimate I assure you it's nothing to do with attraction, the truth is I have some scars on my back from something that happened in my past. My Father became very angry after his mother died and he would very often take his anger out on me, but he didn't use his fists he used his belt the leather just caused welts but the buckle sliced through my skin', Patrick took my hands and said 'Oh my darling I am so sorry that you had to go through that, I promise you that I would never hurt you ever. And I would never look at your body differently because of some scars'. 

I felt so much better after telling Patrick about my scars and I felt confident enough to let Patrick see me without any clothes on, I stood up walking round to the foot of the bed where I stopped and slowly pushed the straps of my nightgown off my shoulders and then letting it fall to the floor where it pooled around my feet. Feeling insecure I wrapped my arms around my body hiding certain parts, but Patrick got out of bed and walked over to me he stood in front of me and peeled my arms away from my body he looked into my eyes and said 'You are so incredibly beautiful, and I am going to show you how much I love you'. 

Patrick swept me off my feet and carried me over to the bed where he carefully laid me down on the bed...... And you know how the rest goes. 

Chapter Text

Shelagh's POV:

The dinner dance was a week and a half away and I was so excited about seeing Patrick's reaction to my dress, Plus Trixie had been helping me decide how I should wear my hair on the night of event. 

After a busy day at the surgery I went round to Nonatus house so that Trixie could try out the hairstyle I'd chosen. I sat in the chair as Trixie carefully curled my hair once she'd finished she passed me the mirror and I looked at my reflection and said 'I can't believe this is me, I barely recognise myself'.

Trixie smiled at me and softly said 'Shelagh you look wonderful, Dr Turner is a very lucky man'.

It was early evening by the time I left Nonatus house, I cycled the usual way home and I'd just reached the main street when I felt someone knock me from my bike and my head collided sharply with the concrete. I looked to my left and saw the person who had knocked me over make off with my bike leaving me lying in the road with a bleeding head, pain in my back and in my stomach. 

Cynthia's POV:

It had been a long tiring day and myself and Jenny were on our way back to Nonatus house after having just delivered a set of twins at Lisbon Buildings. The streets were still full of life and the re-assuring presence of Policemen patrolling made us feel slightly safer, as we came towards the main street I spotted something lying on the side of the road I stopped and got off my bike before walking very slowly and cautiously towards whatever it was. 

When I got closer I recognised the familiar dark brown hair and said 'Jenny go and phone an ambulance it's Shelagh and she's barely conscious' I took my coat off as Jenny ran to the phone box which was just round the corner, I placed my coat over Shelagh as she quietly said 'Nurse Miller'. I took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze and replied 'It's okay Shelagh me and Jenny are here, do you remember what happened' Jenny came running back as Shelagh said 'A man knocked me from my bike he kicked me a couple of times as-well before making off with my bike. I should get home Patrick will be worrying'. 

I placed a comforting hand on Shelagh's left shoulder as I kindly said 'You need to go to hospital Shelagh you've got a nasty head wound', Shelagh suddenly started to feel very unwell her blood pressure was dropping slightly and she was drifting in and out of Consciousness. Eventually the ambulance arrived and took Shelagh off to hospital I decided to go with her until Patrick could get to the hospital. 

Patrick's POV:

I was starting to worry Shelagh still wasn't home and it was raining and getting darker by the minute, Timothy was fast asleep on the sofa under his duvet. I was just about to sit down when the phone rang I rushed over and answered it hoping to hear Shelagh's voice but instead I heard Nurse Lee's voice say 'Dr Turner it's Jenny I'm afraid I have some difficult news to tell you, Shelagh was attacked this evening she's been taken to the royal London. Cynthia is with her but I know she need's you there'. 

I nodded even though Nurse Lee couldn't see me as I said 'Thank you Nurse Lee. I need someone to look after Timothy though I don't think he should come to the hospital tonight', Nurse Lee replied 'Of course Doctor, Sister Julienne has said that Timothy can stay here for the night until you know more'.

After coming off the telephone I woke Timothy up and told him I had go to the hospital and he would need to spend the night at Nonatus house, so after dropping him off their I made my way to the hospital and ran up to the intensive care ward. I ran into the ward and over to my wife's bed where she lay looking as perfect as ever, the sister came over and said 'You must be Doctor Turner, we were told you were on your way' I sat down beside Shelagh and took her right hand in mine placing a gentle kiss on her wedding ring before saying 'She's going to be okay isn't she'. 

The sister nodded slightly and said 'Of course we just have to have to take it one day at a time, she will come out of the coma' in a short burst of anger I said 'I know all that, I know all the facts but just now they're no help to me at all'.