could you pretty please write a fanfic about Chantelle visiting Arthur before he dies? I loved the dream scene in I'll walk you home but I missed the proper Chigby interaction (I wanted a long hug and them talking about everything they've been up to!) thank you <3
Hi anon I’m so sorry this took so long! I totally forgot about this ask! I hope it is okay 💛
Arthur laid weakly, his head supported by two pillows and his eyes falling shut as the nurses walked past. He couldn’t move, for the pain was too much, but his brain seemed to work on overdrive, rolling over and over about the little time he had left and the little people he could see.
He missed his old friends, his family even. He missed working on the ward and focusing his attention into nameless faces he would never know. He hated being the patient because he felt trapped, so trapped, attached to wires and breathing machines. He was fed up, totally bored.
He missed a bright and bubbly face, someone that would always cheer him up. He was tired of seeing Morven cry over his shoulder trying to quote some optimistic person, or Dom sneaking in throughout the night, supposedly when he thought Arthur was alsleep, taking a seat and rambling on to his friend, his foe of coping he supposed.
Arthur missed the one person that always used to light his day up, the one he used to call his best friend, his first love.
He huffed loudly, sighing into the Darwin air. He was too weak to see her now, too weak to say goodbye to her. No he needed to say goodbye. He had to.
“Hey are you okay?” Arthur could see Dom waking up in the chair next to his bed after hearing him fidget in distress. He could see his friend trying to reach for his phone, and quickly shot up to help. “Hey Hey Hey, don’t move okay, I’ll get it.” He passed it to him, pulling the seat close so he could study his friend. “Do you need anything else?” He put his arm on Arthur’s shoulder, stroking it soothingly as he tried to take away his pain.
Digby took a shaky hand, trying to remove his oxygen mask. He pulled it weakly down his chin and took a laboured breath.
“C-Chantelle.” He whispered as well as he could, “C-Chantelle, I-I n-need to s-see her b-b-before I-”
“Okay, okay breathe Diggers.” Dom smiled sadly at his friend, carefully placing the mask back over his nose. “Just take some deep breaths for me okay?” He grabbed Arthur’s hand and stroked it gently, gripping his fingers. “I’ll get her Arthur, but you need to keep your strength up okay?”
He watched as Arthur gave him a a defeated nod, closing his eyes as the exhaustion took over. Dom gave him a peck on the forehead, before grabbing his coat from the visiting seat.
“Rest easy Diggers.” He whispered, before walking off to fulfil his wish.
The next time Arthur woke up he felt better, less pain radiating through his body. The increase of oxygen and more IV fluids were giving him a peaceful feeling and his eyes fluttered open with a hazy smile.
“Arthur you’re awake!” He was startled by a sweet high pitched wail, just about waking up the ward. He felt his hand clasped between fingers, and a soothing pair of crisp blue eyes looking over him. “Oh I’ve missed you so much!” He was quickly bombarded with a gentle but passionate hug, a sweet scent being the only thing he could smell, and comfort he had missed for so long.
“C-C-Chantelle.” He stuttered as she pulled away, his words muffled by the large breathing mask upon him.
“Shh don’t speak if it’s too much.” She smiled sadly, still gripping his hand as she took a seat again. “Dom told me you wanted to see me, I’d i had known sooner I would have been here straight away I would have-”
“It’s okay.” Arthur whispered, his eyes softening at the tear beginning to roll down her cheek. “D-don’t cry.” He sniffled.
“I’m so sorry it’s just not fair is it? Never did I think this could happen to you? To the man that I left those years ago and oh god I’m rambling.” She giggled through her tears, wiping them quickly With a smile plastered back on her face. “So tell me,” she said looking back into her best friends eyes. “What have I missed?”
Arthur smiled, pulling himself up so he could see better. He reached for his glasses but whimpered with pain, signalling the blonde to get them for him. She placed them on him perfectly, just as if she has never left. She gave him a kiss on the forehead, smiling down at him as he patted his bed for her to sit down.
“I g-got married.” He chuckled weakly, snuggling into her arm. “S-She’s amazing.” He breathed, excited to see the shock on her face. She squeezed him her jaw hanging with a grin.
“That’s amazing!” She gushed,her eyes wide with hope. That’s one lucky girl!“ She chuckled, seeing him nod with a fragile motion. She his her disappointment behind her smile, for she had always loved him, adored him really.
"I missed you Chantelle.” He whispered, breathing in her scent as he laid back against the cushions. “I-I couldn’t g-go w-without saying g-goodbye to y-you.” He felt himself well, and had closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears.
“You’re not going anywhere Arthur Digby!” She protested, a firm grip placing itself on his hand. “For me you’ll always be in these corridors or out in the peace garden where we used to hide from Malick!” She was holding back her emotion, smiling as he stroked his hair back. “You’ll be in all the places I’ve ever loved, you’ll be in my memories, even if your driving did give me a knock on the head hey?” She giggled emotionally, a tear finally cascading down her cheek. “You never did tell me what you were saying that day we crashed.” She sighed, seeing his face redden, changing from its deathly pale state.
“I-It d-doesn’t m-matter now.” He breathed, gulping nervously. “I t-think y-you k-know.” He smiled, nuzzling his head into the pillows.
“You’re tired Arthur, you should get some rest.” Chantelle changes the subject, her fingers no longer intertwined with his. It was all too upsetting for her, and she couldn’t let his last memory of her be a crying woman with mascara running down her cheeks. She needed to be strong.
Arthur didn’t want her to leave, he so desperately tried to stay awake, but his exhaustion felt too great.
“I-I’m so g-glad you c-came.” He whispered, taking her hand for a final time. “You m-made me into t-the person I-I a-am t-today. Your h-heart is s-so pure, s-so perfect. M-make sure someone g-good t-takes it s-someday.” He was running out of breath, hastily taking a deep inhale of the oxygen. Chantelle put her finger to his lips, her smile dropping for a second as she realised this would be the last time she saw Arthur Digby.
“You are the best friend and doctor I have ever met Arthur. And I will never forget that okay? You taught me that I was strong, and gave a little but of yourself just to my silly old soul, to make me happy. You make me so happy!” She took a deep breath, gulping her tears back. “You know I still carry a paper bag round with me.” She giggled, pulling it from her purse. “It’s in honour of you, and incase I meet another Arthur Digby one day.” She folded it up, placing it on his bedside table. “For now though, it’s yours, incase you ever need it hey?” She was chuckling at the old crumpled thing before placing her hands on Arthur’s torso.
“I-I l-love y-you al-always Channers.” Arthur whispered, feeling fuzzy as she placed a kiss on his forehead. “D-Don’t miss m-me too m-much.” He stuttered.
With that she flung her arms around him once again, burying her head into the crook of his neck so he could breathe in her scent. It was sweet, yet pure, kind of like her.
“Promise me!” She demanded, gripping his arm as she stood up. “Promise me you will haunt me as a ghost, annoy me more as I grow old. Promise me Arthur!”
“I promise.” He smiled, cuddling back up to her as she calmed down. “I love you Chantelle so much.”
“I love you too Connor.” She whispered.
If he only knew how much she had meant those words.
