Linc opened his eyes to see his room full of people. His throat hurt, a pain shot through his skull and gripped his whole body. He tried to move but found that his right leg was frozen in place and his arms protested. "What..?" he rasped. "The hell... where... where am... I..?"

Doctor Feld leaned over him holding a torch. "Don't talk just yet. I'm going to check you over then we'll give you some pain medication and water."

With that a bright beam caused Linc to slam his lids shut. "What the..!"

"Sorry. I need you to open your eyes and keep them opened."

Linc did as he was asked with a struggle.

"Great," the doctor said. "Your eye response is good." He looked away saying, "Nurse." Then with syringe in hand the doctor inserted it into the cannula that was taped to the back of Linc's hand. "This is just pain killer so won't make you groggy." When he was finished he went on to explain to Linc what had happened.

"So... I've been out for a week?"

"Yes." Doctor Feld chuckled and glanced over at the people lining the walls of the room. "I'll let you catch up on those lost days with your family. They've been here twenty-four seven and are now being mistaken for furniture." He chuckled and added, "We'll never get rid of them if we don't let them talk to you."

"Wait." Linc held out his hand. "My leg. Am... am I gonna be able to walk?"

"You will." Hayden nodded. "But you'll have a lot of work to do. Physio and exercise." He gripped Linc's hand and patted the back of it. "From what I understand you've been through it before so you'll be able to do it again."

"Yeah." Linc blew out his breath. "Thanks, Doc."

As the doctor and nursing staff left, the room erupted into a babble of noise as each person spoke at once.

"Oh, Linc!"

"It's so good to see you awake."

"How's your head?"

"I'm so sorry!"

"Does your leg hurt?"

"We've been so worried."

"We love you!"

Linc held up his hands and laughed but quickly cut it short as a pain flared in his head.

"Are you okay?"

"What's the matter?"

"Nurse!"

"No. No." Linc waved his hand to stop them from calling the matron. "I'm okay. Just... just one at a time, hey?"

"Shit."

"Sorry, mate."

"Do you want us to leave?"

"Far... out." Linc grinned. "Stop will yous, or I'm gonna ask the doc to put me back to sleep."

Everyone laughed, knowing their Linc might be a little battered and worse for wear, but hearing him joke set aside their fears. He was the same old Linc he'd always been.

"How about we all go and get a coffee and let Linc and Becky catch up first," Rob said, looking at where Becky was standing to one side. She hadn't said a word but had stood gazing at Linc, wiping tears from her cheeks. When she lifted her eyes to look over at Rob, his heart skipped a beat. Though it had been a week they hadn't spoken to each other, just generic hellos and good-byes because they'd always been surrounded by others. Rob wished he could get her alone but what was going on here and now, was more important than his wishes. It'd wait. After all they hadn't spoken in three years so a few days more wouldn't hurt. He smiled at her, wishing he could hold her in his arms again like he had that first day in the hospital corridor. Her face changed to a scowl as she quickly looked away.

A defeated sigh slipped through his lips. Rob figured it was going to take more than polite hellos and a smile to win her over. 

"Yes. That's a great idea," Sheila agreed. She gave Becky a hug and kissed Linc on the forehead. "We'll be back soon, and then we might take it in turns. Five minutes each today, so we don't tire you out."

"Sounds good, Mum. Thanks." Linc smiled up at her and waved as the troop filed out of the room. When they were gone he focused on his sister. "Oi. You better stop crying and come give me a hug."

Becky burst into tears. She rushed to him, gave him a squeeze and laid her head on his chest.

Patting her on the back, Linc said, "If you don't stop crying I'm going to push the emergency button and tell them I don't know who you are."

Chuckling, Becky lifted her head, wiped her eyes and said, "You little shit. If you ever do that to me again I'm going to kick your arse."

"Ah..." Linc grinned. "There's the Becky I know." Tears trickled down his face as he beamed at her and said, "I love you too, Becky."

She kissed his cheek, and then pulled up a chair saying, "Do you remember what happened?"

"Well... not really. But I have a vague memory that maybe I was talking about my dick."

Becky burst into laughter. "You are a dick."

"Yeah. I think I might be." Linc smiled, and then took her hand. "So... you and Rob? Here. Together. In the same room. At the same time. Looks like I've worked some magic while I was out of it, huh?"

"Shut up and go back to sleep," Becky said with a laugh.  Her thoughts flicked to Rob. There was no way she was going to let him win her over with that bloody smile of his. Her heart pounded in her chest every time he did it and she shouldn't have let him hold her in the corridor on that first day because now the moment haunted her sleep.

Linc peered at her with his eyes wide. "Becks? I'm serious. Any moments you want to tell me about? Like is there a chance things might get back to where they're supposed to be or are you both being stubborn."

"Stubborn. No." Becky guffawed. "Chances? Buckley's and none, I'd say."

"We'll see," said Linc as Rob stepped into the room carrying a cup of coffee made just the way she liked it.

'Buckley's Chance' – Australian Idiom – meaning 'very small chance'.

In Australia when we think there is a small chance of a success at something we say "Buckley's Chance" or "Buckley's and none." Examples are as above where Linc asks Becky if there is a chance of her and Rob getting back together. Becky says 'Buckley's and none.' Linc could have said, "So what are the chances of you getting back together?" Becky then would have answered, "Buckley's Chance." Meaning there is very little chance.

So the story I grew up with about this saying is – A convict named William Buckley escaped from a Victorian convict penal colony in the early 1800's. It was thought to be very unlikely that he would survive in the harsh Australian environment. Hence the 'Buckley's Chance' – meaning very little chance, but to everyone's astonishment Buckley did survive because Indigenous Australians took him in and taught him to live off the land. Buckley lived free for thirty odd years. For me, even though I use this saying, I would think it should mean that there was a very big chance because Buckley did survive but... that's not how we do things here hahaha.

There are a few other explanations for how this saying started. One is about another man named Buckley suing the government over a land title in which he had very little chance of winning.

Then there is a third story of a man named Buckley who didn't want the Australian bank using his money to pay other depositors. Hence the bank had "Buckley's Chance" of getting his money. Google says this is the most likely story but imma stick with the one I grew up with. So much more exciting.