Disclaimer: I do not own JA any of the characters, or anything to do with the show.

Chapter 10: A Torn Heart

Maxine waited patiently beside Amy's bed. She had sent Bruce home, knowing that there was nothing he could do. He had left, after some persuading. She prayed for the second time since Amy had entered the hospital.

'Please let her get over this, she has been hurt so many times by men in her life. She has made so many mistakes and she has suffered from them. But surely her suffering deserves to end? So please help her find happiness, she needs it! She didn't have a good start in life and it just hasn't got better! You answered my last prayer... answer this one... please'

She patted Amy's hand then walked out of the room in search of some coffee, because if she needed it she was sure as hell that Amy would need some when she woke.
Amy sat up, what a dream she thought, then she looked down and saw she was still in hospital but now with her wrists bandaged and strapped. Maxine walked in with some coffee.

"Hiya honey, we can take you home now that you are awake. But you now have extra drugs for your wrists."

"Great!" Amy said sarcastically.

"Bruce saved you again you know" Maxine looked intently at her daughters face to gage a reaction.

"Did he? I must thank him." She blinked back tears as she remembered what Bruce had said to her, and although she loved him very much, she now knew that she didn't love him any more than as a very good friend.

Maxine made no attempt to speak to Amy on the way home, but she kept glancing over at her to check that she was ok.

The welcome Amy got from Lauren brought tears to her eyes, and she hugged her tightly ignoring the pain that she felt in her wrists. Lauren didn't ask any questions about them being strapped and bandaged; she knew she wouldn't be told the truth so there was no point.

Later that evening, they were all sitting on the couch, as a family they had watched a film, till Maxine retired to bed and Lauren had fallen asleep with her head on Amy's lap. Amy began to doze when there was a knock on the door. Amy eased herself out from under Lauren and went to answer it.
David stood on Amy's step, asking himself if he was doing the right thing. Wondering if she would reject him. He wasn't sure what he was going to say or how she was going to react. He began to have second thoughts. But it was too late now, he held his breath as the door opened.
The first things he saw were her wrists, "Oh my god... Amy, what happened?" He pushed away the urge to throw his arms around her to keep her safe.

"Don't you mean Judge Gray?" Amy smiled as David blushed and looked away.

"Uh yeah..." Amy noticed his discomfort.

"It's a long story, one I am not going into with you. So what do you want me to sign?"

"Well..." he cleared his throat "I wanted to ask you if you would accompany me to dinner one night..." Amy looked at her feet.

"Look counsellor, my life is very complicated right now..."

"Call me David," She ignored his request

"I mean it was my wedding two days ago..."

"Which you backed out of!" Amy was shocked at his directness.

"Because of y... um, because I did... so... um... what?" David smiled as he realised what she had almost said. Amy panicked.

"You backed out of the wedding because of me?" Amy stepped back through the door and started to close it. "Amy..."

"Judge Gray to you! I can't speak right now, I have to... wash my hair." She closed the door and walked back into the living room where she woke Lauren and sent her to bed.

Amy sat down and cried. Why did David always have to arrive at the worst moment possible and always say the wrong thing, which come to think about it was actually the right thing to say. She dried her eyes and went to the window, she saw David still standing on the porch, he looked stunned and Amy couldn't help but smile.

'I really shouldn't let any more men into my life, they always hurt me, but David, he's, he... he seems so different from all the others! There is something about him, I mean because of him, well partly cuz of him I called of my wedding.'

Amy went and sat back on the couch thinking about the other person who had caused her to get cold feet.

David stood shocked at what had just happened. Yes she had rejected him, but she had also confessed that because of him she had called off her wedding, and that was before they knew each other! He smiled as he walked back to his car.
Amy heard David's car engine and she slowly reached for the phone.