A/N: The sequel to The Angel Of Mercy has begun! I'm glad I've finally managed to finish the previous fic as I was stuck on ending for far too long. Anyway, to whoever reads this, I hope it doesn't disappoint. -AtrophysFinest.

HEARTBEAT

Life In Aidensfield

Chapter One: Awakening

POV: Police Constable John Stockwell

I could hear voices all around me. I opened my tired eyes and stared into a bright light. Blinking rapidly, I slowly managed to sit up on the hospital bed and got a bearing on my surroundings before I noticed a graceful hand on the side of the bed, slightly open.

I moved my eyes up along the arm and looked at the head of the person. I smiled at the person in front of me and felt my heart flip. I took hold of the hand and squeezed it gently.

The person awoke with a start and looked at me with tear-filled eyes. I gave her my strongest smile. "Hello, Maggie." Maggie Bolton, the love of my life immediately wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

I returned the kiss and pulled back, smirking, even though I was in pain. My Angel Of Mercy stared into my eyes, tears still running down her cheeks. "I didn't think you'd wake up so soon." I rested my head against Maggie's and smiled at her.

"I'm a fighter, one of the Ashfordly Boys." Maggie let out a soft, adorable chuckle which had left me puzzled. "Something amusing, Nurse Bolton?" The love of my life chuckled again and shook her head. "Oscar said the same thing about you."

I smirked again. "Sarge said that about me? I never thought he'd do that." Maggie nodded and pulled back, checking her watch. I noticed this and let out a fake whine. "Am I boring you?" Maggie shook her head frantically for a moment.

"No, not at all. Are you up for a visitor, or three?" I retained my smirk. "I thought it was two to a bed, Nurse. Hospital rules." The District Nurse mirrored my smirk and lifted her arms from around my neck before standing up and stretching. "I have to make some calls, shall I send in your first visitor?"

I nodded and took her hand in my own, kissing it. "Sure, bring them in. It's not my mother, is it?" Maggie grinned and shook her head before removing her hand from my own. "Nope, but the visitor is someone you're very close to. I won't say any more, but I'll call them in. I'll be back later, okay? Please, try and get some rest."

I grinned and saluted the nurse as I watched her leave the ward. A brief moment passed before a fellow officer walked in. Phil Bellamy. I grinned again and tried to get up from the uncomfortable bed. Phil immediately walked over and grabbed my shoulders before sitting down.

I sighed at him but smirked. "Mate, I refuse to be confined to this bed. I need to be up and doing things!" Phil shook his head and sighed. "Look, mate, you've got to stay in this bed till you're discharged. I know I don't need to go over the rules with you as you're seeing a nurse, but it's regulations."

"All right, Phil. You win. Can I at least stretch my legs? I'll go stir-crazy in here." My friend nodded and helped me to my feet, with a little difficulty on my part. Phil nodded and helped me to my feet. It was bloody cold in this hospital, and I felt it as soon as I left the warm but uncomfortable bed.

I shivered as soon as my feet touched the floor. "Lord, that's cold! Phil, where's my overcoat?" Phil sighed in my direction as we made our way into the corridor. "I honestly can't believe you asked me that, mate. It's been taken away for evidence. Sarge reckons you'll have to get a new overcoat from Merton's Tailoring."

I mentally slapped myself for being such an idiot. Phil must have noticed this as he clapped my shoulder as we continued walking. We didn't get far before we saw someone who's arrival I'd been dreading.

I glared at the person who walked towards me. "Phil, get her out of here. PLEASE." Phil knew everything that had gone on between Florence and I and immediately walked over to her. He spoke calmly to her and blocked her approach.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Stockwell, but I cannot let you through." Florence was frantic. "Please, PC Bellamy, he's my son! Let me see him!" Phil shook his head. "I'm sorry, but PC Stockwell doesn't want to see you. If he wanted to see you, you'd be allowed to pass. Come on, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

A defeated Florence turned on her heel and left the corridor and Phil watched her before turning around himself and walking back to me. I nodded my thanks at one of my closest friends and was about to carry on walking when I heard loud, heavy footsteps running towards me.

I saw my half-brother David in a panic. "JOHN!" He immediately hugged me, it was too much for me and I had to push him back gently. "Easy, David! I'm okay. Hello, Dad. How are you?" I looked past David's shoulder at my father, Claude Jeremiah Greengrass.

He looked relieved to see me on my feet. "You might be a nasty, suspicious-minded copper, but you're still my son! How are they treating you?" I sighed. "I haven't been awake long so I can't really make a comment. I'm assuming my mother just passed you?"

Claude nodded at me and reached into his jacket, pulling out a packet of Woodbines, my favourite cigarette brand and handed them to me along with a lighter. I smirked at him for the contraband. "You're lucky I'm not in uniform. Phil, you can overlook it this one time, can't you?"

Phil rolled his eyes and looked at the payphone on the opposing wall. "I didn't see anything, so it can't be reported. I won't tell Sarge if you won't." I smirked in Phil's direction. This life of crime would be the end of me. (I joke, of course. Once a copper, always a copper, and I'm not a bent one!).

David held a plastic bag in one hand and fished around inside it before pulling out a pair of slippers and handed them to me. I smiled at him and put an arm around his shoulder. When David didn't explain about them, Claude spoke to me. "They're Moccasins, they'll keep your feet warm in this cold place! David and I have things we need to be getting on with but we'll be back soon. Look after yourself, you hear me?"
I nodded at my father. "Yes, Mr. Greengrass. I'll hopefully be out of here soon! I owe you both at least two drinks!"

With a cheeky grin from my father and a smile from my brother, the pair left. I walked over to a chair and put the slippers on, sighing as my bare feet began to warm up. "Phil, can we go outside, I REALLY need to smoke."

Phil rolled his eyes again and laughed. "You never change, mate..."

End Of Chapter One