The Art of Defending Yourself

by Irish Stone

Roxie teaches Denise the fine arts of defending herself against her son and against the world. Denise and Jeremy learn to reform their close bond - as BOTH of them heal from the anger, and the attacks. Claudia Joy comes to realize that although she protects Denise her way; there are other ways to protect her friend. The tribe bond more firmly through these tough times.

1. Boxing Lesson 1

TITLE: The Art of Defending Yourself

SUMMARY: Roxie teaches Denise the fine arts of defending herself against her son; and against the world.

CATEGORY: Family / Friendship/ Hurt/Comfort / Angst / Spiritual / Drama

RATING: T

CHAPTER ONE RATING: K+

CHAPTER ONE

BOXING LESSON ONE

Denise hit Roxie's up ward hands with the thick pads tentatively. She couldn't believe that she allowed Roxie to talk her into learning how to box. She would never hit Jeremy, ever. No matter how bad things got with him. But ever since Roxie had walked into her home with Jeremy attacking her, she was hell bent on teaching Denise on how to defend herself.

"Harder!" Roxie roughly said. "Hit me harder damnit. Don't be afraid to give me all you have, woman." She glared into Denise's uneasy eyes. "I'm tough, I can take it." She softens her voice. "Now hit me harder. Now!" Her voice hardens once more.

Denise sighed and took another punch at Roxie, but she knew that she had failed and she knew that Roxie was growing even more exasperated with her. She couldn't blame her. But she couldn't help it, Denise hated violence and she never dreamed that she herself would come to point that she herself would use violence as an answer to her problems.

"The next time you throw a wussy punch like that, woman, than I'll flatten you on the mat. Now hit me with all your strength damn it." Roxie grunted as she held her arms up firmly for the older woman to smack. She just prayed that Denise would have the confidence in herself to finally defend herself.

Denise couldn't help it, but she threw another wussy punch at Roxie. She just couldn't allow herself to let herself go, even through she had all this anger pent up inside her. Yes anger at Jeremy for abusing her, but angry at herself for taking it and not telling Frank. She felt her self loaf rise in her and she swung at Roxie and than she swung again and again. She didn't know how long she swung at the other woman, whom had turned into her son but she swung and swung until she felt her feet give away and she landed on the mat breathing more intensely than she ever had in her entire life.

Roxie ripped the pads from her hands and dropped them as she knelt down in front of the older woman. She placed her right hand on Denise's shaking shoulders. She waited to see how Denise would react.

Denise closed her eyes as she fought to get her breath back under control. She couldn't believe how exhilaration it felt to finally let lose and allow her body to rid itself of all the pent-up anger and frustrations that she had been carrying around since... well since she was small enough to learn that she had to hold her anger and pain inside. What she was feeling right now in this moment was so freeing.

Freeing yes but very frightening. Denise didn't know how to move beyond this point. She wanted Frank by her side, he would know how to help and comfort her. If she couldn't have her soul mate than she wanted Claudia Joy, the one woman whom had been her best friend since the first moment they met at one of her luncheons years ago when Frank had been transferred to the base.

But she was very aware that she was in one of the gyms alone, husband and best friend less, with a very hunky African American solider to the right of her lifting weights and a brass woman whom she had just met a few weeks ago. A woman that she herself never thought she would have anything in common with and a woman whom she thought would have passed out of her life without a second thought.

But that all changed when the young woman had come to her for assistance to help another young woman deliver her babies. That day changed Denise's life forever and she was forever grateful for it.

Denise felt her breath slow and her senses came back to her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked in the concern open brown eyes of Roxie, but she saw pride shining in them also. "Another round?" She asked with a small smile.

"Anytime." Roxie said relieved that Denise wanted to continue to box and defend herself. She placed a hand on Denise's shaking shoulder. "But not today, missy, hit the showers. And stretch a few times today."

"But I don't want to stop. I want to continue. I need to continue." Denise said as she looked into Roxie's eyes.

"Sorry." Roxie said with a slight grin. "You will thank me tomower, that I stopped you when I did." She stood to her feet and held out her hand for the older woman to take.

Denise slowly lifted her hand and took Roxie's offered one, she allowed the younger woman to help her from the ground. She didn't want to stop. She wanted to continue going, but she very well knew it was just the endorphins talking. She very well knew that Roxie made perfect sense, stretch a few times after a hard work out that she just had and take a nice hot steamy shower to help loosen her tight muscles. When she was a nurse; she had advised the soldiers with tight muscles just that practice. She sighed deeply through her nose. "Ok, I'll follow your advice, Roxie …." She smiled suddenly. "But I demanded another boxing round in the next few days." With that she walked besides her new good friend towards the female showers.

END CHAPTER ONE