A/N: changed Kristina's daughter's name to Hannah & her husband's name to Heath.

Chapter Two

Kristina took a deep breath as she walked down the stairs of her Connecticut home to sit the duffle bag on her shoulder at the front door. It has been weeks since her visit to Port Charles. Although it was short, Kristina couldn't get what conspired during that visit out of her mind. All her free time was spent working on ways to help Johnny. Things weren't moving as fast as Kristina wanted but she isn't ready to give up. With Spinelli's help, she located Dianne who is vacationing in Europe. Kristina recently paid a$5,000 fee to get Dianne back in the states. Her plane would be arriving in Port Charles in a couple of days where she will meet up with Kristina to strategize.

As she walked up the stairs, Kristina stopped at an open door to see May, the nanny playing on the floor with baby Hannah in her bedroom. When their jobs got hectic, Heath suggested hiring May as a part time nanny. Then it turned into a live in nanny who's sole job is to keep Hannah away from Kristina and follow Heath's orders. Kristina has always been a good mother and unlike her father, she's never harmed her child. Kristina always did what Heath wanted. He wanted a child; she gave him that; he wanted to name their daughter Hannah; she agreed; he wanted to hire a nanny; she agreed; he wanted her to limit her contact with Johnny and she did that. Nothing she ever did pleased her politician husband. She walked towards her bedroom to continue packing.

"Well. Well. What have we here," Heath Hawthorne asks from behind Kristina who was leaned over the bed placing clothes in a suitcase. Kristina ignored him. It was silent as she zipped the suitcase. "A little too old for childish games aren't we darling?" He suggested rolling up his sleeves. Kristina turns towards him. Her husband was leaned against the doorframe with a beer in his hand.

"Isn't that what we do best Heath? Play games?" Kristina answered putting her suitcase on the ground. "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep being treated like some irresponsible child that you must keep in line and do all the thinking for." She said looking into Heath's blue eyes. Kristina sniffed back the tears on the break of coming. "I can think for myself but you clearly don't trust my judgement. I can't live the rest of my life like that," Kristina declared rolling her suitcase towards the door.

"Not so fast," Heath said slamming the door. "There's a few things we need to clear up," Heath suggested stepping in front of her. "The bank notified me today. $15,000 is missing from my account and 5,000 of that was sent to attorney Diane Miller." Heath said stepping closer to his wife. "I hope you weren't naive enough to think I wouldn't know. See that is what makes me superior to you," Heath suggested pointing to himself and then her. "I can't be fooled because I'm always a step ahead of you darling. Though I must commend your attempt to achieve the upper hand. I know about your visit to Pentonville a few weeks ago and here's what I have to say. THINK FAST," He yelled throwing his glass beer bottle in Kristina's direction. Kristina cupped her head with her hands and dunked. She waited to hear the bottle hit the wall behind her before standing up to see Nathan laughing.

"You're sick," Kristina said barely over a whisper. "I've known men like you all my life. You claim to love your child but you continue to hurt her by using her to play mind-games.

You justify the need to control and abuse the women in your life by insisting its love," Kristina paused to grab the suitcase handle rolling it towards the door stopping at the edge of the stairs to see Heath behind her. "That's not love Heath because rather it's with words or with fists, you don't hit somebody you love and you don't hit somebody who loves you," She said pulling the wedding ring off her finger.

When Kristina was placing the ring in Heath's hand, Johnny popped into her mind. She felt like a version of her 17-year old self. The naive little girl who stayed in an abusive relationship claiming it was out of love. She blinked several times at that thought unaware she was crying. Kristina smiled slightly placing the ring Heath's hand. When Kristina tried walking away, Heath grabbed her arm pulling her towards him knocking the suitcase on the floor. Kristina struggled a few times but managed to yank away only to trip on her suitcase and fall backwards down the stairs.

"Hi my name is Sam Morgan. My sister was just admitted into the hospital. Kristina Davis-Hawthorne." Sam said to the nurse at the front desk of hospital with a 6-year old Danny by her side tugging fiercely on her hand. "Danny mommy is trying to talk right now. What is it sweetie?" She asked looking down at her son who was nearly her height.

"Mommy isn't that Uncle Heath in that room right there?" Danny asked pointing to a nearby room before turning back to his mother. Sam squinted her eyes in that direction.

"Well I think you're right Danny. Come on let's go see Uncle Heath," She suggested with a smile on her face looking down at the child while squeezing his hand.

"Umm miss wait," The nurse yelled. Sam turned around to face her. "We have a

playroom just across the hall." She said walking from behind the desk. "I can take him to play while you visit your sister." The brunette suggested. Sam looked at her in hesitation before turning to Danny. He was giving her the puppy dog pout while clasping his hands together poking his bottom lip out.

Sam stepped into the hospital room. Her brother-in-law had his back turned away from her staring at Kristina laying in the bed. Kristina's face was covered in cuts, bruises, and bandages. She was asleep in the bed with her wrist to elbow wrapped up. A blanket covered the rest of her body. Sam stopped to stand next to Heath. She placed a hand on his back.

"Molly said you sounded off on the phone," Sam suggested after a few minutes of standing next to Heath. He turned to face her slowly. "She said you didn't want to divulge details." Sam paused to walked to Kristina's bedside. "Now I see why." Sam said stroking the strands of hair cascading around Kristina's face. "I know this must be hard for you Heath but I need answers. I need to know why my sister is lying unconscious in a hospital bed." Sam demanded standing to walk towards Heath arms folded.

"Your needs are of no concern to me but if you must know. Kristina tripped on a suitcase and fell down the stairs," Heath answered rubbing his neck . "Don't look at me like I've done something wrong Samantha." He suggested in a harsh tone. Sam was use to his hostility towards her but he was more snarky than usual. Even Molly picked up on it over the phone and Heath was usually rather nice towards her.

"Well should I have a reason to believe you've done something wrong," Sam asked folding her arms. "You know what Heath? I don't believe my sister just fell down the stairs. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you pushed her." Sam said raising her eyebrow titling her head to the side as she leaned against the wall. "I'm sure your jerk cousin told you that Kristina was abused before. She's been through enough Heath. Sure you can be a heartless jackass but you of all people should know Kristina is the last person who deserves this. Hannah's mother doesn't deserve this." Sam declared barely over a whisper looking at Kristina.

"Enough with the heavy dramatics. It doesn't suit you well and enough with the whispering. She's heavily sedated. She can't hear you anyways," Heath suggested raising his hand and gesturing to Kristina. "And for the record, what we think we deserve doesn't mean a damn thing in life. A true survivor does whatever is necessary and sometimes taking out the trash is necessary," He said grinning. "I was kidding. I am disappointed in your lack of faith in me Samantha. Surely you should know I'm not the abusive kind," Heath suggested wiping a hand through his hair. Then Molly opened the door. "Molly it's great to see you just not under these circumstances." He exclaimed with a smile lightening his tone.

"Likewise. I just talked to mom. Her and Uncle Sonny are on their way. Michael, Lulu and Dante will be here tomorrow." Molly announced walking past Heath and Sam to sit in the chair by Kristina's bedside. "You hear that Krissy. We're all here for you so just focus on getting better okay." She suggested holding Kristina's hand between hers trying not to cry. Molly lowered her head gazing at Kristina's hand realizing that her wedding ring was gone. Sam placed her hands on Molly's shoulders. "It will all be taken care of." Molly whispered. Heath and Sam shared a questionable look ."So Heath what did the doctors say?" Molly asked standing to face Heath.

"She'll survive," Nathan blurted out. "A few cuts, bruises, and broken bones never hurt anybody right darling?" He suggested looking at Kristina.

Johnny walked at a steady pace in between the guards who were escorting him from his cell. Apparently he had a visitor today. After over a year with no visitors except for the one time Sonny came threatening him to stop contacting Kristina, it felt good to finally have them again. Though Johnny had to admit he enjoyed Sonny's visit because Johnny could still get under his skin with remarks about Kristina. He grinned slightly at the thought of Kristina and his little slip up comment about her eyes during her last visit. When the door opened to visitation room, the grin on Johnny's face faded.

"You might want to sit down because what I'm about to tell you is going to rock your world," Maxie Jones suggested looking towards him.

Author's Note: No Kristina & Johnny scene in this chapter but have a little faith they're coming. Thanks for your support & stay tuned for more.