For the very first time, Danielle and Michael removed all their clothes and lay together in her bed as opposed to on it. Michael pulled the covers over them and pulled Danielle tightly close to him. She smiled at him sleepily. Her head still ached a little, but on the whole she felt complete. A lot more had been accomplished this night than her happiness. Derek Chancer had been brought to justice, Adam was probably terrified, and all was well.

"Michael," Dr Loomis had said just before they'd gone to bed. "Danielle, can you stand very briefly for me?"

Danielle did so immediately and Michael pulled her close. "I'm sure this won't be a problem for you, Dr Loomis said and was smiling. "Can you kiss, please?" Danielle was surprised, but leant towards her lover and their lips met once more. There was the click of a camera. "Thank you," Dr Loomis said.

It was only a little later as Joanne bad them good night that Danielle understood. Dr Loomis had sent that picture of their kiss to Adam. Danielle yawned and snuggled sleepily against Michael. Adam would almost definitely be afraid now. Yes, things could not be better for Danielle Hayward tonight if she'd planned it. "I love you Michael Myers," she said quietly, just before her eyes closed in sleep.

…

2 days later.

Danielle completed her 5th circuit of the exercise yard running track, gasping for breath. Joanne by contrast, wasn't even sweating.

"Whew," Danielle gasped eventually. "I am so damn out of shape! You by contrast are fit as a fiddle! I know you have to be for this job, but you put me to shame!"

Joanne laughed and guided her back through the security barrier and towards Michael's yellow warning line. The few patients who said hi to her whenever they saw her out here had done so again, Danielle was touched by this.

"The guy who really freaks me out is the one who thinks he's covered in insects," Danielle whispered to her guard. "Keeps picking them off and saying "too many" constantly. I wonder what on earth caused that." Danielle knew Joanne of course couldn't tell her anything, but she couldn't help but ask the question aloud. Knowing this, she spoke again, changing the subject.

"I still remember the first time I crossed Michael's line with my cane totally accidentally. I never thought back then that I'd be able to cross it willingly and Michael even wants me to."

Joanne squeezed her arm and guided her towards it. "You're stepping over it now," she murmured. The line was purely painted in the concrete and could not be felt under foot. Danielle smiled.

A couple of seconds later, she felt Michael's hand close around hers, pulling her to him. Danielle made slight contact with his concrete block. Michael moved her back so she didn't hit it hard enough to hurt, before pulling her slightly away from it.

Danielle could hear the clinking of his chains as he did so. Joanne made to step back, but Michael must've looked at her because she stopped.

"Michael," Danielle said softly. "Would you mind? I've always wanted to know what the chains feel like."

Of course the killer said nothing but neither did he move, which Danielle took as consent. She realised then why he couldn't hold her; he was wearing handcuffs. One chain extended from his waist, attaching him to the block. Further heavy metal around his waist led down to his ankles, which were also cuffed.

"Isn't that uncomfortable?" Danielle asked him quietly. Michael lovingly squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry Danielle," Joanne said. "He's got enough flexibility to move. This concrete block is huge and he can move to just about up to his warning line. Michael, did you want something from me?" She could've sworn the killer shook his head and smiled. Did he just want her to stay?

Michael lowered his head so Danielle's hands came in to contact with his ears. She couldn't help but laugh, but also for some reason felt the slight sting of tears. Was it just because he couldn't hold her? She blinked rapidly trying not to let them show. She couldn't.

"Oh Danielle," Joanne said and Danielle knew her guard had seen them despite her best efforts to hide them. "It's ok, he'll be able to hold you soon."

That was when Danielle felt the killer's warm hand against her cheek for only the second time since she'd known him. The cold metal of the cuffs touched the side of her neck and she couldn't help but flinch, feeling like one does when an ice cube is put down their back.

"Ah! Cold," she laughed. Joanne chuckled and Danielle was sure Michael deliberately did it again. "Oi! Don't be mean!" Danielle could tell herself she was imagining it, but she was certain Michael had also softly chuckled. She rested her head against his chest. Michael lowered his head again so she touched his ears and Danielle couldn't resist raising hers and giving him a quick kiss to the lips. She knew Michael wouldn't be overly affectionate in public, but neither did he stop her. As she pulled back and laid her head back on Michael's chest, she heard Dr Loomis's soft voice. "Go on, Joanne."

Danielle heard the soft clinking of keys, then chains. Next moment, Michael's left arm had closed tightly around her, pulling her close. Dr Loomis had allowed Joanne to release one of the handcuffs. Danielle couldn't help wondering if any of the other patients were looking at them and if so what they were thinking if anything, or if they were even sane and aware enough to have noticed. The ones that said hi to her were of course, but some others…

The last 2 days had been the happiest of Danielle's life. Of that she was certain. Michael had held her close every night as they lay in her bed. As Derek Chancer was gone, Danielle didn't put the screen up anymore. She had no need of it now, no one was reporting on her to Adam. She was safe.

"I wouldn't get too close I'm all sweaty," Danielle said now and grinned. "I just ran 5 times around that running track, you probably saw me."

The exercise yard had a partitioned running track separated from the rest of the patients by a barrier. Armed guards watched anyone in there, to make sure they were indeed running and nothing else. But Joanne had told her Dr Loomis had told the armed guards they weren't needed for this run and Danielle had almost cried with affection and gratitude for him. The thought of being watched by men with guns, real ones, was intimidating to say the least.

"I only managed 5 damn laps," Danielle said now. "Joanne probably could've done 10! I'm so damn unfit! Hardly surprising I know, but still!"

Joanne chuckled softly. "I don't know about 10. Also don't be so hard on yourself. You haven't had much chance of exercise for the last few months, you have to start somewhere!"

"I know," Danielle said. "I just miss it, that's all. I used to go to the gym at college all the time. Well, before Adam. They gave me an induction and also put Braille signs up and modified it to make it easier and safer for me to use. They were amazing. Exercising was like my freedom. Mind you," she smiled sadly. "I suppose you could say I did get plenty of exercise with Adam, because I was always running around doing what he wanted."

"Don't talk about him," Joanne said. "He doesn't matter anymore." Michael squeezed Danielle against him, she knew it was his silent agreement to what Joanne had just said.

"Sorry, you're right."

"Of course it'll take time, but this is your new life now Danielle. Like Rick said last night. So enjoy it."

…

Death-Row.

Derek Chancer lay in his tiny cell, trying to keep control of his emotions. He couldn't deny it anymore, fear was beginning to set in. Now he was actually here, 70 long steps from the electric chair, it all felt so terrifyingly real. His Lawyer, Aiden Thompson had visited him earlier that day, which he'd only done a few times while Derek had been in SG.

"I can't lie to you Derek," he'd said without preamble. "It's not looking good for you. I'm still working as hard as I can to appeal this, but…" he paused as if awkward. "I don't like your chances."

Derek glared at him. "That a fucking pun on my name?" He snarled through the security grill. He hated Death-Row already and had only been there just over a day. True to Dr Loomis's word, the van had turned up at 07:00. Derek had sat in a secure cage for the 3 hour drive handcuffed and ankle chained, 3 armed guards in front of him one sitting just outside the cage. Derek was surprised they hadn't turned the fucking siren on. They looked at him like a piece of rotten meat they couldn't wait to get away from. Mind, why was he surprised?

"No," Thompson said. "It was the only way I could explain our position. Your surname is just… unfortunate."

Derek glared at the be-suited Lawyer again and wished like hell he could get his hands on him. Perhaps he'd even kill him. The son of a bitch was making fun of him. He could say he wasn't all he liked, but Derek was sure he hated him just like everyone else. The Death-Row guards had also treated him like something disgusting. Also just as Dr Loomis had said, his death sentence had been all over the news the very next day. Derek himself had seen it.

He despised Thompson in his undoubtedly expensive suit and tie, probably tailored to boot. What did he care? He wasn't close to being strapped in to the electric chair and having fifty thousand vaults put through his body in a deliberately lethal dose. Once this case was over he'd probably go home to his girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, (Chancer felt disgust at the last,) and forget about him entirely. Unless of course it was to further his career. I represented the woman killer Derek Chancer and if I'm honest got the verdict he deserved.

That said, if Thompson won the case and kept Derek out of the chair, it might do even more for his job prospects. He didn't care about Derek; Derek knew that already. He was only talking to him because he had to as his client.

"Then keep fucking trying," Derek said, trying to get comfortable, which was difficult considering he was chained to the hilt. "I'm not letting this fucking state have me, Mr. Thompson!"

"I am doing the very best I can," the Lawyer said smoothly. "But I would be lying to you if I said there was much hope left. They now have recorded evidence of some of the things you've said in Smith's Grove, plus written accounts from doctors Dr Loomis and Dr Stark among others. You still want to kill and rape women. This fact makes it very difficult for me to have much ammunition to successfully appeal your death sentence with."

"Fine! Then just get me life imprisonment!" Derek said. "I just don't want to fucking die in that chair!"

Thompson scribbled something on his legal pad. Lawyers were the only visitors there was no time limit with. Everyone else got 2 hours a day. Not that Derek had anyone who'd want to visit him of course. That suited him just fine. He cared for no one and if he did have to die, he wanted to do it alone and on his terms.

Now, back in his cell, Derek reflected his cell at Smith's Grove had been almost luxurious by comparison. He also knew his execution must be at least some time away, as he wasn't yet in one of those suicide watch cells. Fuckers! They just didn't want him to kill himself. They wanted the prise! Death-Row was growing relatively quiet by now as it was getting late. Not that it was ever totally silent. Flushing toilets, the soft whirr of fans in the tiny cells, TV's and radio's, of which Derek had neither.

The other inmates had hardly spoken to him, treating him with mingled hostility and distrust. Derek guessed it was always the same for new men coming in to Death-Row. Or perhaps they just didn't let themselves get emotionally close, knowing they were all very probably going to die soon barring a miracle reprieve, and didn't want the pain it caused when a friend was executed.

The man next door to him was also a vicious killer and rapist, Derek recognised his face from the news. He was now over 60 and had viciously raped and killed 3 women in the course of one night. He'd met them at a night club, bought them drinks which he'd spiked with the "date rape" drug, before raping and killing them by decapitation with an axe which he'd had at his house, which was where he'd taken them.

Derek remembered how the judge had called it a "remorseless, meditated and merciless massacre, for no reason." How he'd called the man "pure evil and very dangerous." The jury by all accounts had only been out for 45 minutes before they returned a guilty verdict and the death sentence was given.

How long ago had that been? He hadn't been executed yet and Derek was sure he'd only been a boy when it'd happened. He'd only remembered the case because he felt the same way about women. He never dreamed that years later he'd be right next door to the guy on fucking Death-Row of course!

The guy had cold, almost calculated black eyes, short and spikey blond hair. Derek had seen his face as he was led out of his cell earlier. Apart from seeing his Lawyer or anyone else who'd visit, they were only allowed out of their cells for an hour's exercise a day. Even meals were served in their cells.

Derek tried to conceal it, but he was feeling a little regret at some of his actions at Smith's Grove. At least there he wasn't about to die, they had a dining room he ate in, which was considerably more than he had now. Not to mention the money he'd lost… Adam Dawson's plan had failed. He couldn't help wondering what the prick was going to do now. He knew Danielle and Myers were together, would he still continue to pursue her? He was a stupid fucking idiot if so, but then Derek considered him one anyway.

…

Adam lay in his bed, totally unable to sleep. For the first time in his life, sex was not on his mind. He hadn't ordered a whore for the last 2 nights. Everything that'd happened recently spun round and around in his head. Leach terminating his contract, Danielle and Myers were a couple, Chancer was going to the chair. His plan had failed. He'd been so sure his letter idea would work. Why the fuck hadn't it? It'd made perfect sense! Michael Myers was a killer, not fucking boyfriend material! Why hadn't he believed what Adam had written? How had Danielle managed to persuade him she hadn't said any of it?

Whether Myers believed Charlotte had actually written it or not was irrelevant to Adam. It hadn't been Charlotte he'd been trying to get at, but Danielle. However as that plan had failed, Charlotte was now his prime target. If a chance came for him to get to Danielle he'd grab it, but for now, Charlotte was his best shot at success.

He thought back to see her with her boyfriend and brother. The very fact she'd dared to find another man when she belonged to him made Adam hot with anger. He knew it was her boss, the man who'd dared to call her "babe" in that text message. A grin spread across his face as he remembered punishing Charlotte for that text by fucking her 3 times that night, after she'd sent the one on his orders stopping that fucker calling his property "babe."

Not that it'd done much good," Adam thought bitterly. "She was now in some kind of secure refuge. This fucking Domestic Violence thing was a laugh! Why were women so well protected from doing what they were made to do? Obey men? Didn't even the bible say something about obeying and honouring their husbands? So why wasn't it happening? Well, Charlotte Avery would honour and obey him when he found her again, or she'd pay for it with her life.

She too had had her number changed by those Domestic Violence people, but like Danielle, he still had her apple ID. Seemed like neither of his bitches were willing to change it. More fool them. However, Adam's problem with this was every time he made a new email to contact them, they blocked it. He couldn't keep making new addresses, he knew the cops were watching everything he did including his internet activity. He knew he was on thin ice, close to being arrested again. He couldn't let that happen now. He had a woman to teach who was boss and punish for daring to defy him this way.

But how? This was the question he was asking himself now. How could he get to Avery? Her boyfriend wasn't a silent, masked killer, but she was still, like Danielle, locked behind secure gates. He had to figure out how he was going to get to her.

His last message to Danielle, you are still mine she hadn't responded to. There was no proof she'd even read it. How fucking dare she? But Adam forced himself to stop thinking about that. Whether he liked it or not, there was nothing he could do about Danielle. Leach, his father, they'd been right. She was too hot, he had to leave her well alone, unless a miracle of a chance presented itself. It was Charlotte he had to concentrate on, so that was exactly what he would do.