*Chris Sabin's POV*

I always hated waiting during surgeries. Anything could go wrong! I try to keep myself occupied by watching TV, but there was nothing on to watch. Damn my anxiety! The nurses came at nine-thirty to get Zoey prepped for her surgery. Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Alford came and took Zoey to the OR. Dr. Alford said that the surgery should take about an hour if she calculated correctly.

It was ten-forty five when she came in.

"Well, Mr. Sabin: we finished the surgery early. There was less damage than what the x-ray showed, so Miss Carter only has to rehabilitate for five months."
"That's great!"
"But we still want her to stay for at least two weeks. Just to make sure that the repair is fully healed. Then she can start her rehabilitation."
"Of course."
"Miss Carter is in recovery now. She'll be coming in in about twenty to thirty minutes. She will be a bit groggy and her speech will be slurred due to anesthesia. But the effect will fade."
"Understood. I'll be here."

Dr. Alford gave me a small head nod and left. At least Zoey knocked off a month of rehab. She'll be happy to hear that.

The sliding glass door opened. It was Brooke and Hulk.

"Sorry we didn't come last night." Brooke said as she sat down on the couch. "We figured that we let everyone else visit before we came."
"I understand." I replied.
"So how did the surgery go?" Hulk asked.
"The surgery finished earlier than they expected. There was less damage than the x-ray showed, so Zoey only has to rehabilitate for five months."
"How long was her original rehabilitation?"
"Six months."
"That's good that she knocked off a month, but she'll have a long way to go."

The door opened. It was Dr. Alford and the nurses wheeling Zoey in.

"Everything looks good." Dr. Alford said as the nurses left. "She's still under a bit of anesthesia, but it should fade within an hour. I'll be doing hourly checks to record Zoey's recovery."
"Yes ma'am." I replied.

Dr. Alford left, and I started the conversation.

"How are you doing, Brooke?"
"I'm still processing what happened last night. I can't believe that Bully stooped that low!"
"I guess Aces & Eights will do anything to get what they want."
"I know. But they attacked and injured a child of the TNA President."
"Don't worry. Zoey has a plan when she comes back."
"What's her plan?"
"I honestly don't know. Zoey kept mentioning 'She'."
"Maybe Zoey is planning a gimmick." Hulk chimed in.
"I think she is." I replied. "But what her gimmick is, I don't know."

I heard a moaning sound. I turned and looked at Zoey. She was starting to stir.

*Zoey's POV*

I felt myself waking up. I felt as if I was in a dead sleep. I guess that's what anesthesia does to you. I tried to sit up, but I didn't get very far.

"Don't even think about it, Zoey Carter."
I slowly looked over at Chris. "What did the doctor say?" I slurred.
"She said that the surgery finished earlier than expected. There was not as much damage as what the x-ray showed."
"That's good." I mumbled.
"Also, since there was not as much damage, you knocked off a month of rehab."
"Fan-freakin-tastic."
"But you still have to stay two weeks, at least."
"Figured that much." I turned and saw Brooke and Hulk. "Hey. Didn't see you there."
"Sorry we didn't come last night."
"That's alright. I had plenty of visitors."
"So how do you feel?"
"I'm gonna kick your husband's ass to hell."
"By all means, go ahead."
"Did Kurt inform you, Hulk?"
"Yea. He informed me as Impact was closing. The nerve of Aces & Eights to attack a defenseless woman! And then they threatened Davy and Tamara."
"Thank God that they didn't harm them. But I assure you, they WILL have hell to pay."
"I believe that, Brother."
"Hulk, she's a woman." Chris corrected.
"It's okay, Chris." I said. "Its Hulk. Just go with it."
"We better let you get some rest." Brooke said while getting up. "We wish you a speedy recovery, Zoey."
"Thank you for stopping by, even though I'm still a bit foggy."
"It's okay. Come on, Dad, let's leave the two love birds alone."
"Brooke!"
"Just kidding. Seriously, when are you two getting married?"
"Brooke!" Me, Chris, and Hulk exclaimed.
"What? They're cute together!"
"Girl just go." I said.
"Okay, okay. I'm going. Seriously though, get some rest."
"Yes mother."

Brooke and Hulk left, and me and Chris busted out laughing.

"What makes her think that we're getting married?" I questioned.
"Don't know." Chris answered. "She is right about one think: we are cute together."
"Yes we are."

The door slid open. It was Sting and Kurt.

"Hey Zoey." Kurt said as they walked in. "Heard you just got out of surgery. How you feeling?"
" A bit foggy," I replied, "but it will pass."
"So I heard that you knocked off a month of rehab." Sting said.
"Yep. But I still have to stay for at least two weeks."
"Maybe you won't have to since you knocked off a month."
"I hope so. I want to start my rehabilitation as soon as possible."
"Don't push yourself kid." Kurt said. "Just take it one day at a time."
"I'll try not to."

Sting and Kurt stayed for at least thirty minutes. We talked about what has happened since I was attacked, and we even talked about some gossip. Strange, Sting and Kurt were never ones for gossip. After they left, I started to feel sleepy. Must be the anesthesia wearing off.

.

I must have been out of while. When I woke up, I felt refreshed and rested. Chris was sitting in the chair beside the bed with his feet propped on the bed. He was reading some gaming magazine.

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty."
"Ugh. How long was I out?"
"About two hours. Your mom stopped by."
"While I was asleep?! Why didn't you wake me up?"
"She didn't want me to. She just wanted to check on you."
"Did she bring Davy and Tamara?"
"No. She said they were with Serge at the Impact Zone. She didn't want to bring them, considering what they've been through."
"I kind of wanted to see them and tell them that I was going to be okay."
"Maybe you can call them before the show starts. Or maybe Dixie will bring them later on tonight."
"I'll call them later. Did anyone else stop by?"
"No. They all want me to keep them updated."
"Sounds like a big job. Think you can handle it?"
"If I can handle you, Zoey Carter, I can handle anything."
"Think you can handle me for five months?"
"That's different."

We laughed. I hated the fact that I had a long road ahead of me. But since I would be living with Chris and he was going to help me rehabilitate, maybe this road won't be so hard.

.

*Two Weeks Later*

"Sissy, why do you have to go?" Davy asked while Chris and Dad were loading my bags.
"So I can get better. And when I come back, I'll kick Aces & Eights's butts for threatening my family."
"But you'll get hurt again!" Tamara exclaimed.
"No I won't. I'm going to train everyday. I'll be stronger than Aces & Eights. Do you trust me?"
"Yes." Davy and Tamara said.
"Do you trust me to protect you and Mom and Dad?"
"Yes."
"Remember that trust. Because when I come back, I'm not going to fight Aces & Eights as Zoey Carter, I'll be someone else."
"Who are you going to be?" Davy asked.
"I can't tell you." I replied. "She's going to be scary, and a bit insane."
"Like Joker Sting!?"
"Almost. But she's going to be a little crazier."
"Zoey," Chris interrupted, "your bags are loaded. I'm ready when you are."

I hugged Davy and Tamara, and got kisses from Mom and Dad. I hugged Dad, and went to hug Mom.

"Whenever you come back," Mom whispered in my ear, "Make. Them. Pay."
"Understood." I whispered.
"Davy, Tamara. You take care of Mom and Dad, and try not to argue all the time."
"Yes sissy."

Chris and I got in the rental car, and drove to the airport. We figured that I couldn't take a car ride, so we decided to fly. Plus it would be quicker to fly from Orlando to Detroit. Turns out, Sting was right about me staying in the hospital. I only stayed for a week and a half. The repair healed quicker since there not as much damage than originally predicted. I took a deep breath and looked out the window. This was the start of a long road of rehabilitation. Like Kurt said, I'll take it one day at a time.