Thank you all!

Chapter 13

Anna had been back home for nearly two hours now and Mary found that she couldn't just sit down. She was full of nervous and anxious energy. Every time she attempted to sit, her mind would think of something else and she would pop back up. Despite Anna asking Mary to just sit with her, Mary would still head off to do something else, promising that she would be back in a moment.

Mary held Anna's discharge papers within her hands, reading over them for what seemed like the millionth time. There were instructions for caring for Anna's ribs and the medicine that she needed to take. There was also a list of therapists the doctor suggested for Anna to go to. Mary knew someone had come in to speak to Anna a few times while she was in the hospital, but that her friend would still need more than that. Anna had been through serious trauma and she was still struggling to recall everything from her time away. Mary thought that might be best, like her mind was forgetting those things for a very good reason.

Popping her head back into the living room, she saw that Anna was sitting back on the couch, her eyes never leaving Zachary who was playing on the floor. Matthew was scrolling on the phone in the corner, being nearby unless Zachary needed assistance. For now, Anna would be unable to lift her son or get down on the floor with him. Mary understood that Anna wanted to be near Zachary, but they would need to make sure that she didn't overdo it.

After several weeks in the hospital, Anna was nearly physically healed. Her ribs, though, would still take a few more weeks. As long as Anna did as she was told, her ribs would heal. Mary knew it would be tougher for her friend being back here with Zachary, not being able to lift him or do as much for him, but Mary knew Anna would take it easy so that she could be doing those things with her son again.

The doorbell rang and Mary turned toward the front door. She wondered who could be coming by at this time in the afternoon. But when she opened it, she saw John Bates on the other side. He held a large box in one hand and a small gift in the other. Mary's lips curled up slightly and she opened up the door and motioned for him to step inside.

"Well, good afternoon, Bates. For what do we owe this pleasure?" Mary knew that Anna didn't need a relationship right now, but it didn't mean that she couldn't have a new friend. And Bates seemed like a good new friend to have. He had come by nearly every day to check on her in the hospital and had helped secure more information to keep Alex locked behind bars for a very long time. In Mary's book, he was quite the winner.

"I thought I'd bring by some cinnamon rolls," John answered, but his eyes glanced around. Mary let out a small chuckle and she pointed to the living room.

"She's right in there with Zachary and Matthew. Here," she offered, taking the box of cinnamon rolls. "I'll put these in the kitchen. Go on."

She watched as John walked into the living room and then stepped into the kitchen, setting the rolls down. Opening the box carefully, she noticed they looked homemade and they made her mouth water. Perhaps she should grab some plates and serve them now. Any excuse to try them.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Right as John turned the corner to enter the living room, he stopped in the passage way. His eyes landed on Anna. She seemed more comfortable than she had been in the hospital, at home. Her eyes were on her son, who was handing her a small cup that she pretended to take a sip of and then hand it back to him. John smiled. Then he cleared his throat. Anna's eyes moved to his and she sat up slightly.

"Please don't," John quickly told her. From the corner of his eye, he saw Matthew standing and walking over toward him, reaching his hand out for a hand shake.

"Nice to see you, Mr. Bates," Matthew kindly said. John took his hand and shook it, before dropping his hand back to his side.

"Please, call me John," he told the man. He had only met Matthew a time or two over the past several weeks, but he seemed like a nice enough man. John knew that he and Mary had taken great care of Anna's son while she was in the hospital, not to mention how the both of them had fought for the boy while Anna was missing.

"John, right. Come on, sit down."

With a small nod, John went to take a seat at the opposite end of the couch where Anna was sitting. There was the slightest of smiles dancing on her lips, but she also looked exhausted. He hoped she wasn't overdoing it.

"Angle!" Zachary then said, noticing that John was there. "Mummy, angle?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. Zachary stepped over to John and placed his hands on John's knee.

Letting out a small laugh, John just shook his head. Then he turned back to Anna.

"I brought him a little gift. May I give it to him?" John shifted the small gift in his hands. Anna nodded.

"Yes, that's very kind," she finally spoke for the first time. She was sitting up slightly with a pillow on her lap and her arms crossed around the pillow.

"Here you go," John offered to the small boy. He had seen this out and about when he was shopping for the supplies to make the rolls. He hoped the boy would like it.

"Here," Anna called for the little boy to bring the bag over to her. "Mummy will help you open it."

Zachary moved over to his mother and she helped him take the paper out of the small bag. He glanced inside and his eyes lit up.

"Ingo!" Zachary exclaimed. "Ingo!" His hands went into the bag and he pulled the small stuffed dog out of the bag. Anna glanced at it curiously.

"I believe it's from the show Zachary likes, Bluey," John went on to explain.

"Oh it is!" Matthew chimed in. "It's Bingo."

Zachary cuddled it up against him and smiled brightly, which made Anna's face brighten.

"What a thoughtful gift," Anna sincerely told him. "I haven't watched Bluey, yet, but I know Zachary hasn't let his stuffy go. Now, he has two to drag around."

"I do hope…." But John was cut off by Mary joining them back in the living room. She was carrying a tray in her hands with the cinnamon rolls on top of the tray.

"Bates brought us some cinnamon rolls. Where did you get these from? They smell heavenly," Mary asked, as she handed Anna a small plate with one of the rolls.

"Oh, I made them. Anna had said she was craving some sweets when she was in the hospital and so I thought I'd make these. It was my mother's recipe. She and I made them all the time when I was growing up."

Mary looked impressed.

"A private investigator and a baker," Mary said, nodding in approval.

"It looks amazing," Anna then told John, smiling. "Thank you."

"Well, don't thank me, yet. Try a bite."

As Mary passed the cinnamon rolls around to everyone else, John said no thank you. He had eaten plenty of the icing while making them and his stomach was still full. He worried that if he ate any more sugar that he might get sick. But he kept his eyes on Anna while she tried hers, hoping she liked it.

"Oh my god," Mary's voice drew his eyes away from Anna. "These are amazing."

"They are," Anna's quieter voice added and he glanced back at her. "Thank you, again."

"I'm glad you like them."

John could feel Mary's eyes going between him and Anna.

"Right," she then said. "Matthew, why don't we go and eat these in the kitchen with Zachary?" John watched as Mary smiled, but looked to Matthew to hurry on up. The three left the room then and John was grateful to have some time alone with Anna.

He scooted slightly closer to her and watched as she nibbled down the cinnamon roll in her hand. She seemed to enjoy it, but he hoped she wasn't just being kind. Anna used a napkin to wipe her hand and then sat the plate down by the sofa and let out a pleased sigh.

"That was amazing," Anna said to him. "You really made those?"

"I did," he answered.

"What else can you bake?" The curiosity in Anna's voice made John's heart flutter slightly. He couldn't explain the way he was drawn toward Anna. It was almost like they had known each other in a past life, which was a silly thought, of course, but one he couldn't shake.

"Almost any type of sweet, but the cinnamon rolls are my best work, mainly because of how often I made them with my mother. This was the first time I had baked in a long while. I don't spend much time in the kitchen. With my job, I'm often grabbing food on the go."

"Do you make them with your mother still?"

"No," John quietly answered. "She passed last year. It's why I moved here. After living in her home, I had to leave. I still have her home. I haven't been able to sell it yet or go through her stuff."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…." Anna's voice faded. John felt awful for making her feel badly for asking a question.

"No, no…you didn't say anything wrong. I….." Now he was struggling with what to say, a small laugh left his lips. "I'm not very good at this: talking about my mother that is. It's still new. But I really am, alright. My mother lived a good, long life. She wasn't afraid of death. I know she's at peace now."

"My parents died a few years back. It's never easy," Anna replied. Her eyes moved to the window and she sighed. "I know now that Alex used that against me. He tried…." Her lower lip began to tremble and John brought himself closer to Anna, sliding his hand within hers. He gave it a gentle squeeze, which brought her eyes back to meet his. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "You've come here and are being so kind and then I…."

"Don't apologize," he was quick to say. "You look very tired. Perhaps, you should go and rest for a little while?"

"I am tired," Anna answered. "You'd think with all the time I spent in the hospital that I wouldn't be tired, but I am."

"It'll take time to get your strength back, but you will." At that, Anna smiled.

"You're right. I will. Thank you, John, truly."

"Please don't thank me, just get back your strength, alright? I'll come back by in a few days to check on you."

"Yes, please do. And maybe some more cinnamon rolls?" John's body grew warm at her request and he couldn't help but smile.

"Absolutely."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

That night, Anna awoke from a nightmare. By the time her eyes had opened, the dream had faded away. All she could remember was being frightened. Slowly sitting up, she grimaced. Her ribs ached. It felt like the pain would never truly go away. She grabbed for the bottle of pain medicine by her bed, took two, and then placed it back on the table. Her eyes closed briefly and she inhaled.

"Anna?" Mary's quiet voice made Anna nearly jump out of her skin. She gingerly turned to find her friend standing in the doorway, almost looking like a ghost. Mary had been on edge all day and she looked as though she hadn't slept a wink. Her dark hair was framed around her face and her eyes were nearly bloodshot.

"Is everything alright?" Anna asked her. "Is Zachary….?"

"No," Mary quickly answered, walking further into the bedroom. Her hand was clutched tightly around her robe and she gave Anna a shaky smile. "He's fine. I was just checking on him and…well, and you," she admitted.

"I'm alright," Anna promised her friend. Mary's eyes fell to her hands for a moment and she then brought them back up to Anna and forced a smile on her lips.

"Of course, you are," Mary tried to brightly say. "You're so very strong. And now you're home, with us. And we're so very glad."

"I am too," Anna replied. "And I have you to thank for that, Mary. You didn't give up on me or Zachary. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead right now and Zachary would be with Alex. You saved us, Mary."

Mary's lips began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears.

"Oh Mary," Anna murmured. A soft sob left her friend's lips.

"I was so scared, Anna. So frightened," Mary finally admitted to Anna. "I'm trying to be strong, but I almost lost you. I thought….." Mary's face crumbled and she dropped her head into her hands. Anna just reached out and placed her hand on Mary's shoulder, giving it a loving rub.

"I'm alright now," Anna assured her.

"I'm sorry," Mary whispered. She pulled herself up and wiped away the tears from the back of her hand. "You're the one who went through hell and I'm making this all about me. That's not…"

"No, you're not, Mary. You've been my rock." Anna sat forward to be closer to Mary and carefully brought her arms around Mary's neck. "I love you, Mary, so much."

A low sob left Mary's lips and Anna could feel Mary's arms coming around her back, but being careful not to hurt Anna.

"I love you too, Anna. I'm so glad you're back here and with us."

"Me too."

TBC...