I sit on the cold, hard table tucked away in some corner of the hospital and try to fight the memories forcing their way to the surface of my mind. But the harder I fight, the harder they fight back. I cringe and remember his hand over my mouth, his legs pinning mine down. Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted when I hear a voice outside the door and recognize it as Christian's, moments after he's standing in front of me staring intently.

"What the hell happened?" he asks as he makes his way over to me and pulls me into an unexpected hug. "Were you in an accident?"

"No" I respond. I decide I need to tell him the truth. I blurt it out, as quick as I can like I'm ripping off a bandage.

"I was attacked."

"What?" he asks shocked as he takes a step back. "How?"

"I went for a walk-" I begin to explain.

"Outside? Alone?" he asks as some of his anger seems to begin to be aimed at me.

"I just wanted to clear my head" I explain defending myself.

"Damn it Anna, I would have sent someone to walk with you. Hell, I have a fucking plane; I could have taken you anywhere!"

"I didn't know this was going to happen!" I yell pissed that he seems to be blaming me, but then I notice the tears in his eyes and start to wonder if that is in fact what is happening.

"I would have protected you" he says. "I would have never let this happen to you, I wish you would have let me protect you…"

"I didn't know this was going to happen" I repeat angirly.

There is a moment of silence between us, but it ends as I feel him peel back the very top of my hospital gown.

"What is that?" he asks pointing to the unsightly mark that has formed on the top of my right breast.

"Nothing" I respond as I readjust the gown and look away. I can't look at him right now; I can't see the pain on his face. I can't let him see the pain on mine.

"That's a burn isn't it Ana?" he asks heatedly as he gently guides my face with his hand, forcing me to look at him.

"Yes" I admit sheepishly.

"He burned you!?" he asks, the fury visibly spreading through his body.

"Yes" I respond quickly, swallowing hard, trying to choke back the urge to cry.

"With what?" he asks as he clenches his jaw.

I try to phrase it in the least upsetting way, I try to say it quick, hoping the words won't resonate, hoping it won't give him memories. "He had a cigarette…"

"Fuck!" he screams as he knocks over the table next to my bed.

"Christian-"I start, trying to calm him down.

"Tell me who did this?" he demands angrily, staring at me, his beautiful grey eyes filled with fury and anguish.

"It was a stranger, I don't know who it was. He just came up behind me out of nowhere-"

"I need more than that" he demands as he tries to catch his breath. "What was he wearing? What did he look like? What street were you on when it…. when it happened?"

"Why do you want to know?" I ask.

"Damn it Ana, why do you think? I'm going to make sure he pays for this!"

"How?"

"I'm going to find him, no matter how long it takes. No matter how many people I have to hire to help me- I'm going to find him. I'm not going to let someone hurt you like this and live."

"Don't talk like that" I beg as fear over what he might do ripples through me.

"Why not?" he asks staring at me intensely.

"It scares me. You might go to prison and I- I can't lose you" I admit and I can't hold back my sobs any longer. I let the first one go, and then I am no longer in control. I start to feel myself become completely undone. Before I know what is happening he has me in his arms, pressed close against his chest. He's stroking my hair and rocking me, and I have never felt so close to him, or to anyone else in my entire life.

"Shh" he comforts me gently. "I'm sorry" he says with a dull, numbness in his voice. "I never wanted you to know what this feels like. I never wanted you to have to know..."

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