Chapter 36

Kristina laid in her hospital bed, eyes closed as she listened to Patrick Drake explain her injuries to her mother. As he mentioned the bruised ribs she grimaced and gently probed her stomach. She could still feel Kiefer's foot kicking her over and over. She still couldn't believe that he had attacked her. She'd known he had a temper. She'd seen it more than a couple times. But she'd never thought it would come to this.

"Kristina….sweetheart," Alexis said softly gently placing her hand on her head. She pulled back quickly when her daughter grimaced and opened her eyes. "I'm so sorry…I don't…I'm afraid to touch her!" Alexis turned to Patrick when she said the last part.

"Mom," Kristina whispered staring up at her mom.

"Who did this baby?" Alexis asked tears falling down her face. She couldn't believe that she was staring at her daughter and she could barely recognize through the cuts and bruises on her face. She was surrounded by beeping machines and though Patrick had assured her that Kristina would be okay and they would be taking her off of all of them soon, they still terrified her.

"Mom…" Kristina said unable to say his name. She didn't want to admit that she'd become the cliché. That she was a battered woman.

"Kristina…you have to tell me," Alexis said finally reaching out and taking her hand in hers.

"Alexis…" Mac said from the doorway.

"What…" Kristina's eyes flew between her mother and Mac, fear in her eyes. "Who called the police?"

"I did," Patrick said from the other side of the bed. "As a doctor, I have to report whenever a child is injured like this."

"No!" Kristina said loudly. "I'm fine."

"Kristina," Alexis said shocked. She watched as Kristina ripped her hand out of her mother's grasp. "You are not fine. You have to tell us who did this."

"No," Kristina said shaking her head back and forth frantically. "I can't-" She cried out and braced her hands against her stomach as one of the monitors started beeping.

"Out," Patrick said pointing towards the door as he pushed in front of Alexis. "Kristina you have to calm down."

"What is happening to her?" Alexis asked as Mac wrapped his hand around her arm. She pulled against him as he tried to guide her out of the room. "Patrick what is happening?"

"Kristina," Patrick said calmly. He could hear Alexis and Mac arguing as the police commissioner tried to pull her out of the room but he didn't look away from the teenage girl having a panic attack in her hospital bed.

Sam sat with Molly at one of the tables in the hospital cafeteria and stared at her little sister, concerned at her ongoing silence. Molly was never quiet. She was like Sam in that way. Give her an uncomfortable silence and she would find some way to fill it. Even if it was to tell you about some new scientific fact she'd learned at school.

"Do you think Kristina is really going to be okay?" Molly finally asked looking up at Sam, her expression filled with so much worry.

"I do," Sam said honestly but she reached over and took Molly's hand. "But it's not going to be easy for her. She's going to need us."

"She needed us today," Molly said glaring down at their joint hands.

"Molly-"

"Why did I have to stop at the bookstore? It's not like the book I wanted was going anywhere," Molly said frustrated. "If I hadn't convinced Viola we would have been home. Kristina would be fine."

"You can't blame yourself Molly," Sam said even though she was having the same trouble. She knew it was Kiefer, even without hearing Kristina say his name. She'd seen the look in his eyes…it was the same look she'd seen on her own abusers' faces.

"Listen to your sister Molly," Jason said pulling out a chair as he set their drinks on the table.

"But if I had been there-" Molly insisted.

"You may have been hurt too," Jason said hating the look of guilt on both their faces. This wasn't anybody's fault except for the person who had attacked Kristina.

"Who would want to hurt Kristina?" Molly asked her voice cracking. "Do you think it was a burglar? Does it have to do with Uncle Sonny?"

"I don't know," Sam said gently. "Kristina is the only one who can tell us who did this."

"I want to go back upstairs," Molly said pushing her chair back as she stood up quickly. "I want to see Kristina."

"We'll have to ask Patrick," Sam said copying her sister's actions. She placed her hand on Molly's back but froze as she turned to go. She watched as Sonny and Michael walked towards them.

"Hey," Sonny said shaking his head. He'd just left Carly after telling her everything that had happened with Michael that day. She was livid with Jax and had asked him to take Michael and Morgan to his house. She no longer trusted Jax with their boys. And Sonny had to agree. "What are you guys doing here?" Sonny asked looking between Sam and Jason. He grew still when he saw the dried tear tracks on Molly and Sam's faces. "What's wrong? Is it Alexis?"

"It's Kristina," Michael said his eyes darting between them. "She's hurt isn't she?"

"Kristina?" Sonny repeated confused. "Son-"

"It was Kiefer wasn't it?" Michael asked ignoring his father. He stared intently at Sam and saw the truth in her eyes. "He put her in the hospital."

"Why would Kiefer hurt Kristina?" Molly asked confused. "Kiefer loves Kristina."

"Sonny," Sam said clearing her throat to buy more time. "Kristina has been admitted."

"What happened to my daughter?" Sonny asked looking at Jason for answers.

"I found her uncle Sonny," Molly said tears falling down her face again. "Someone attacked her.'

"Where is she?" Sonny asked both his hand clenched tightly into fists.

"We were just about to head back upstairs," Sam said calmly. She wrapped her arm around a crying Molly again and led the way towards the elevator. She could see the anger on Sonny's face and hoped that Jason would be able to keep him calm. Kristina didn't need to have any angry outbursts right now.

The elevator ride was quiet and by the time they reached the correct floor everybody was desperate to get off and get some answers. Sam started running when she saw Mac holding a crying Alexis in her arms.

"What happened?" Sam asked her eyes darting towards the emergency room doors.

"I don't know," Alexis said turning from Mac to Sam. She wiped away her tears and shook her head. "I was trying to find out who did this and then Kristina…the machines went off-"

"Did she say who did it?" Sonny asked his voice deceptively mild. They all knew the anger lying underneath.

"No," Alexis said shaking her head. "She-"

"Had a panic attack," Patrick said walking through the doors. He looked at the small group gathered around and sighed. "She's going to be okay."

"But the machines," Alexis said confused.

"Her heart rate grew elevated when she started hyperventilating," Patrick explained. "The labored breathing aggravated her broken ribs. She needs to remain calm right now. Any questions may have to wait a few days."

"We need to know who did this," Alexis said running a shaky hand through her hair. She shared a look with Mac before turning to Patrick. "It can't wait a few days. This person could attack somebody else."

"Mom," Sam said quietly. She waited until she looked at her before taking her hand in hers. "Can I talk to her? Alone?"

"Sam…" Alexis said but stopped when she saw the look on her face. "You know who did this."

"I need to hear it from Kristina," Sam explained biting her lip.

"Sam if you know-" Alexis said but Sam interrupted her.

"I won't say anything until I talk to Kristina," Sam said holding up a hand. "She needs to say it mom but it might be easier talking to one person than a roomful."

"Then she can talk to me," Alexis said turning towards the door but Sam took her arm in a tight grip.

"She won't talk to you," Sam said shaking her head as Alexis turned to glare at her. "She won't. She doesn't want to disappoint you."

"She could never disappoint me," Alexis said hurt.

"That's not how she feels," Molly said speaking up. She grimaced when she saw the look on her mom's face. "Kristina always thinks she's disappointing you. I think Sam should talk to her first."

"Fine," Alexis said wrapping her arms around her stomach.

Sam nodded her head before walking towards the door. She could feel Jason following her and she stopped at the door. "She won't talk with you there."

"I'll stand right outside the door but I am not letting you out of my sight," Jason said before gesturing for her to keep going.

"Johnny won't try anything at the hospital," Sam said rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't put anything past him," Jason muttered before following her. He paused when he saw the curtain instead of a door and saw the look on Sam's face. "I won't let her know I'm out here," he whispered.

"You better not," Sam warned pointing a finger at him before parting the curtain. She froze for a second at the sight of her little sister. She'd never, in a million years, thought she'd see Kristina look like a battered woman. Kristina had always seemed to have it all together. She had a solid mother and a father that at least cared about her even when he couldn't be there. She got good grades and she knew exactly where she was headed in her life. But looking at her now, Sam had to wonder where that girl had gone.

Kristina laid there with her eyes closed as Sam made a note of every visible bruise and scratch. She could hear the steady beeping of Kristina's heart and see that from a doctor's standpoint, Kristina would probably be okay. But Sam knew that emotionally, Kristina was going to be a mess.

"Kristina," Sam said cautiously. She didn't want to wake her up if she was sleeping. She smiled tearfully when her sister's eyes flew open and hurried towards the bed. "I'm so sorry."

"Sam," Kristina said wincing when she turned her head to face her sister.

"Don't move," Sam said quickly, gently taking her hand. "Have they given you anything for the pain?"

"Patrick said he was starting me on a drip," Kristina said softly. "You know…for my ribs."

"Yeah," Sam said nodding her head. She raised her hand and touched her own stomach. "I've been there."

"Is mom mad?" Kristina asked pitifully.

"No!" Sam said loudly. "Mom is not mad Kristina…she's just scared."

"I heard…I heard that Molly found me," Kristina said closing her eyes. "I wish it had been anyone else. She shouldn't have seen this." She gestured towards her battered body.

"Molly's tough Kristina," Sam said truthfully. "She's scared too but she's probably already planning your recovery for at home." She winced when Kristina tried to laugh and she grabbed her stomach in pain. "Sorry, I'll try not to make you laugh."

"Is Mac still out there?" Kristina asked uneasily.

"Yes," Sam replied. "He can't leave without a statement Krissy."

"I don't want to talk to him," Kristina said growing agitated again.

"I know," Sam said calmly. She waited until Kristina was looking into her eyes before continuing. "You'll feel better if you talk about it Krissy."

"No I won't," Krissy insisted.

"He can't get away with it Krissy," Sam said in her no nonsense voice. She saw the fear flash through her sister's eyes and decided then and there that Kiefer Bauer was going to get her boot in his ass if the police didn't get to him first. "You can't let him get away with this."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kristina said averting her eyes so she was looking at the curtain.

"I didn't say anything," Sam said softly looking down at their hands still clasped together. "I've been through more than one abusive relationship Kristina. I let men hit me, berate me and treat me like I'm nothing; like I'm less than nothing. I always thought I asked for it. That I was doing something wrong. But it wasn't my fault…and it isn't yours either."

"But I make him so angry," Kristina whispered tears pooling in her eyes.

"It's not you," Sam insisted.

"But he's fine one minute and the next he's so mad," Kristina explained.

"It's not you Kristina," Sam repeated. "There is nothing in the world that you could do that makes it okay for someone to hit you. Nothing. You know that."

"I love him." Even as she said it, Kristina knew that she wasn't sure what she felt for Kiefer anymore. She thought she loved him but now she was just afraid of him.

"Then you need to get him help," Sam said honestly. "If you love…him…so much Kristina. Turn him in to the police so he can get the help he needs. Because he'll do it again. If not to you, he'll do it to someone else."

"If I tell he'll hate me," Kristina said looking up at the ceiling. "I don't want him to hate me."

"It's better he hate you now Kristina than do this again," Sam pointed out. "Please Krissy, do not let him get away with it. Do not let Kiefer do this again." She could see the truth in Kristina's eyes that she had hit the nail on the head. That Kiefer had put her in the hospital. She watched as Kristina closed her eyes and took a few breaths before opening her eyes, a new determined look on her face.

"Okay," Kristina said, "will you stay here…while I talk to Mac?"

"Of course," Sam said squeezing her hand before she let go. She took a couple deep breaths before walking through the curtain, making sure to keep her eyes on the door towards the waiting room. She wasn't ready to look at Jason. She knew he knew about her past most of it anyway. He'd even saved her from an ex at one point. But they'd never gone into the real story. She was a little afraid to see the look on Jason's face after hearing her talk so openly with her sister. She didn't want to see pity, she wasn't that person anymore. She wanted him to see her as the strong confident woman she had become, not the victim of her past.

Elizabeth wandered through her house and wanted to scream at the silence that greeted her. Her house was never this quiet. She always had the boys talking or one of their television programs running. But tonight there was total silence. She'd already done all the laundry in the house and straightened up both their rooms.

There was a part of her that wanted to call Nicholas. She had so much pent up energy and anger over everything that had happened that day but knew that wasn't the answer. Nicholas was one of her problems. She needed to stay away from him. She needed to show Lucky that she was done with Nicholas and that she was committed to making them work.

She didn't believe for one second that Lucky wasn't in love with her anymore. He couldn't fall out of love that fast. He was just hurt and angry. She didn't begrudge him that. She'd screwed up. She'd been afraid to trust that they would work this time and had turned to Nicholas. But she wasn't afraid anymore. She was ready to be with him.

He would remember the love they shared.

She just had to prove to him that he could trust her again. And that he couldn't trust Sam. Sam hated Elizabeth. She had hated her since she'd found out about the night Elizabeth had shared with Jason. Sam knew, just like Elizabeth knew, that Jason had finally succumbed to the feelings he'd had for her for years. It had just never been the right time.

Then they'd had their chance. Elizabeth had even been sure that Jason would leave his ridiculous job for her and her boys. They'd be the family she'd always known they could be. The family Sam could never give him. They'd been so close but the danger had gotten to be too much. Jake had been kidnapped. She couldn't allow that to happen. Not even to be with Jason. Her kids mattered too much.

So Jason had to turn back to Sam. The only woman who could 'handle' his life. She caused a lot of the drama in Jason's life but he couldn't see it. She still prayed that he would open his eyes and see that Sam wasn't the one for him. That he deserved better than that whore of a con woman.

Elizabeth was just about to sit down on her couch when her doorbell peeled. She rushed towards the door, a smile on her face, expecting to see Lucky with her boys but stopped in surprise when she saw Johnny Zaccharra through the window.

"May I help you?" Elizabeth said confused.

"Yes," Johnny said pushing the door open farther so he could walk through. "And I can be of some help to you."

"Why would I need your help?" Elizabeth asked holding the door open.

"Does the name Sam mean anything to you?" Johnny asked smirking when he saw the anger flash through her eyes. "I thought so. She does put her nose where it doesn't belong doesn't she?"

"Okay," Elizabeth said shaking her head at him. "I don't know what you want or what you think I need from you but I think you should go."

"I want to…talk…to Sam," Johnny said shrugging his shoulders still smirking. "And I thought you might want to help me with that."

"Just go talk to her," Elizabeth said annoyed with him. "You can probably find her at Jason's penthouse."

"Yeah see, that's the problem," Johnny said shaking his head. "Jason has her so heavily protected that I can't get near her."

"That's not my problem," Elizabeth said rolling her eyes. "Would you please go?"

"Okay," Johnny said amiably. He made his way towards the door but added, "Sam already got Lucky away from you; are you going to let her take Nicholas too?"

"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth asked closing the door before he could leave.

"Didn't Nicholas tell you?" Johnny asked surprised. "He stopped by Jason's penthouse tonight."

Elizabeth thought about the phone calls from Nicholas she had been ignoring since she'd hung up on him before. She didn't want to hear him tell her that she needed to calm down or that maybe it was for the best. But why had he gone to Sam? He knew that Sam was out to get her.

"I would have thought he'd tell you," Johnny said reaching for the doorknob. He hid a smile when Elizabeth slapped his hand away.

"What did Sam say to him?" Elizabeth asked glaring at him.

"I couldn't hear them," Johnny said honestly. "But Nicholas left with them."

"Dammit!" Elizabeth yelled stomping her feet. She was so sick of Sam interfering in her life. First Jason, then Lucky and finally Nicholas? What were next, her kids? Elizabeth was done with Sam. She was through. "What do you need?"

Johnny smiled and led Elizabeth over to her couch. Sometimes people were too easy.