Joanne knocked quietly on the door and heard a weak voice say, "Come in?"

The guard opened the door and stepped in. She had to stifle a gasp of both shock and anger as she saw Danielle. The young woman was lying in her hospital bed, an IV in her right arm, hooked up to several beeping and flashing monitors. She was also covered in bandages from head to foot. What the fuck had that bastard done to her? If it really was true he was dead, Joanne was just sorry she hadn't been there to see it. "Danielle," she said quietly but she didn't have to say anymore. Just at the sound of her voice, Joanne was almost brought to tears by the smile which seemed to light up Danielle's pale and injured face.

"Joanne?"

It was only then Joanne saw Myers sitting in the visitor's chair, chained by hands and ankles, but Joanne privately suspected knowing Rick, Jack and Dr Loomis as she did, that this was simply for show and to reassure the nurses and hospital staff that they were safe. But Michael wouldn't target them now, would he?

"Danielle," Joanne spoke again and this time she did feel tears start to fall. Her voice cracked. "Sweetheart I am so, so s…"

"No," Danielle said so firmly that Joanne stopped and looked at her in surprise. "Don't you dare, Joanne? How is it your fault you were knocked out with something, so Adam could snatch me! What? You drug resistant or something? Let's not forget, you're in this hospital because of him same as I am, we've both been affected by that evil son of a bitch! So don't give me any you're sorry shit, because I won't listen! You hear me? This was entirely Adam's and his goon's fault, not yours!"

Joanne gaped at Danielle, speechless. For someone who was as injured as Danielle looked, she'd certainly just put Joanne in her place good and proper.

"Um, ok," was all Joanne could say, her voice was shocked. "Who are you and what have you done with Danielle Hayward?"

Danielle smiled, but there was no humour in it. "I survived."

A few moments later, there was another knock on the door and a nurse entered. "Danielle," she said gently. "Dr Merrick has asked for a CT and MRI scan, just to check you have no head trauma. We'll take you down shortly, ok?"

Danielle groaned. "Fuck! I've never had either of those before, I don't have a clue what to expect! I…"

"Do you want me to explain?" The nurse immediately closed the door and sat down in the other chair, telling Danielle how both scans would work. How they were very noisy, but Danielle would be wearing ear defenders.

"If you want I'll be right with you," Joanne said immediately. Danielle looked genuinely apprehensive.

"Right, you won't be alone at all," the nurse agreed. "But Dr Merrick reiterated this really needs doing, just in case."

Danielle weakly nodded. "Ok."

"How are you feeling now?" The nurse asked. "Do you need any more pain medication?"

"Are you guys absolutely sure they didn't nick any of my arteries?"

"Yes sweetheart, positive. Why?"

"Because I keep feeling tingling sensations all over where the cuts are and they're…" she hesitated and Joanne could see she was trying not to swear. The nurse lightly touched her shoulder, clearly she too understood this. "Agony," Danielle finished through gritted teeth. "I really don't like the thought of lying in a hard machine on these cuts. Can't you knock me out or something?"

"We can't knock you out, but we can give you something to numb the pain."

"Great," Danielle said bitterly. "Something I've never been through in my life and I have to do it conscious and covered in cuts. Fucking Adam!"

"We'll be back in a few moments to take you down," the nurse said, standing. "Your friends there can be right beside you if you want, of course. They'll…" she hesitated. "Just have to remove any metal due to the magnetics. Give me just a few and I'll be right back."

Danielle could only nod and slump back against her pillows. Would Michael be allowed to be with her without his metal chains? "Fuck!" She said suddenly. "How's Charlotte?"

"Now don't you worry," it was Joanne's turn to sound stern. "There has been no change, her parents are still here with her. I spoke to them earlier and one thing they were adamant on was when you were found you were told to worry about yourself for once."

Danielle gave a weak smile. "Sounds like the kind of thing the Avery's would say. Even if their daughter is critically ill in a coma!"

"You're a daughter to them too," Joanne reminded her quietly.

…

Laurie Strode cursed as she headed down yet another corridor. Her 10 year old daughter Karen was in here with a rash and no one knew what'd caused it yet. Weren't these damn doctors going to tell her anything? Laurie hated being out in public, ever since that Halloween night in 1978, when she'd survived an encounter with Michael Myers. All she wanted was to get Karen home and look after her herself. But until she knew how and what the problem was, that was impossible. Laurie hated that.

She turned towards her daughter's room, when she saw 2 Smith's Grove guards standing against the wall close to another room's door. What the hell? Their name badges said Jack and Rick. That was strange, what on earth had happened to bring someone from Smith's Grove to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital? She felt a brief stirring in her stomach and felt the reassuring coldness of her gun in its belt holster. If it was indeed something to do with Michael, she would be ready for him. But that was insane, wasn't it? Why on earth would Michael Myers be here? Crazy. They had good medical facilities at Smith's Grove, Laurie knew that much from her extensive research of the place. There would be no reason at all for Michael Myers to be brought back here, much less to Haddonfield. None at all.

So why were the hairs on the back of her neck standing up? Trying to ignore the feeling that she was being watched, she headed towards Karen's room. Her daughter was all that mattered to her now, and Laurie was determined to get answers.

But when she saw Dr Loomis walking towards her, all Laurie's extremities right down to thoughts seemed to stop in their tracks. What the fuck was Samuel Loomis doing here? Michael's doctor? When he saw her, he too stopped as if in disbelief.

"Laurie," he spoke in just above a whisper. "What are you doing here? You need to be really careful."

"My daughter's sick," Laurie snapped. "Why do you think I'm here? To hook up with a sexy doctor? Don't you fucking dare tell me he's here Loomis! If so, why?"

Dr Loomis had already pressed a button and spoken quietly into his radio. Next moment, Rick and Jack whom Laurie had seen a few seconds ago entered the room whose door they'd been standing by. Laurie stared at them. "What the fuck Dr Loomis?"

"Laurie," Dr Loomis repeated. "Please, do what you need to do but leave this corridor if you can. It's a long story but trust me, Michael is NOT after you."

"Currently, you mean?" Laurie gave him a look of clear contempt. "Why? What the fuck is stopping him? Michael Myers has been after me since 1978! What the fuck has changed now, 20 years later?"

"Please," Dr Loomis said quietly. Laurie noticed he was not raising his voice. "Please, I need you to believe me! Is there anything I can help you with? I of course will, but you need to move away from this room."

"My fucking daughter's sick!" Laurie repeated, staring Dr Loomis straight in the eyes. "She's there, that room there! I'm not going anywhere until she's better." Laurie pointed to the door almost directly opposite Danielle's. Dr Loomis cursed. How had the staff been so damn careless? Surely everyone knew the Surname Strode, but clearly they hadn't realised it was Michael Myers with Danielle. Of course he wasn't masked, which made that understandable they hadn't recognised the killer. But Laurie Strode was Michael's #1 target, as she herself had just said. Dr Loomis knew he had to do something and fast. The question was, what?

…

Danielle had lapsed back into drug educed sleep, the beeping of her monitors perfectly steady. Joanne glanced quizzically at Jack and Rick, but both shook their heads. All Joanne's equipment was in her room having been removed when she'd been brought in unconscious, so she had no radio. Rick stepped forward and hugged her gently but tightly.

"We'll talk babe," he whispered. "As soon as we can. But I'm so glad to see you're ok! I love you," he kissed her cheek.

"Is she conscious?" Jack asked softly. Joanne shook her head. "The drugs have knocked her out again poor thing. I just hope it stays that way for her scans."

A nurse opened the door then and told them they'd be taking Danielle down in 10 minutes. Joanne nodded.

It was at that moment while the door was open that Michael Myers and Laurie Strode saw one another. Totally silently and without emotion, Michael got to his feet, pulling out his mask.

"Shit," Rick cursed. "Fuck!"

"Michael," Jack pleaded. "Please listen to me man. Please don't do this! Danielle needs you!" But he stopped. It was clear Michael wasn't hearing a word any of them were saying, his cold, intense black eyes fixed on his target since 1978. Rick was sure that chains or no chains, Michael would kill Laurie if he got the chance. The chains were after all way looser than they should be, purely for show. But now, Rick realised the stupidity of this mistake. They'd trusted Michael and in normal circumstances were sure they'd be able to. But now? Why the holy fuck was Laurie damn Strode here, now?

Rick and Jack moved into action, moving to either side of the killer. Despite having no protective equipment, Joanne was the one who moved to block the door.

'Go, Laurie!' Jack pleaded silently. 'Please! Go!'

As both male guards watched helplessly, Michael pushed Joanne aside as easily as if she were made of plastic. Joanne staggered and hit the wall, but even then she couldn't help noticing how Michael hadn't used anywhere near as much force as the old Michael Myers would have. It was as though he was saying to her 'I don't want to hurt you, but you will not stand in my way.' Jack and Rick took off after the killer and with only a second's hesitation, Joanne followed. She knew she had to.

…

Laurie turned from Karen's room, a nurse having just gone inside to check on her. She took one step forward and that was when she saw Michael Myers standing right behind her. Laurie reacted without thinking, pulling her gun from its holster and cocking the weapon towards the masked killer. In turn, Michael took a step towards the woman he'd wanted to kill since 1978.

"Please!" This time it was Dr Loomis who spoke. "Please Michael, I'm begging you. Laurie, go! Please, just go! Go to your daughter, she needs you! There is a long story to this and I do not wish to stand here and tell you! Apart from anything else, it's not my place to do so! Let's just say, Michael is here helping someone in this hospital. Please Michael, don't ruin everything you've done over the last few months now. Don't throw it all away for this one kill? Please?"

Laurie was staring at Dr Loomis as if he had indeed gone just as crazy as she'd thought he had. "What the fuck Loomis? Michael Myers doesn't help anyone. He creeps, he kills! End of story! What the hell are you talking about?"

Michael took another deliberate and purposeful step towards his intended victim. Laurie stared straight into his masked face and raised her gun.

"Think about it!" Rick hissed. "For God's sake think! You start firing here Laurie, in a hospital you'll start an all-out riot! There's… at least one critically ill person in here we know of and believe me, it won't help! Michael, please take off your mask. Someone sees Michael Myers? Also starting a riot! Please, I know you hate each other… just… please, not here? Outside if you absolutely must… but not here! Please!"

Michael reached up and grabbed Laurie by the shoulders. Rick had been right. Chained or not, Michael Myers was strong, inhuman. Rick had always suspected this, but now he was seeing it right in front of his eyes. Laurie's mouth opened in surprise as Michael started dragging her away from Danielle's room and towards an exit door out of the ward.

"Move!" Dr Loomis said to his guards as quietly as he could without shouting. They didn't need telling twice. Rick, Jack and even Joanne all sprinted after them.

Laurie stared as the 3 guards rushed out of the door and stopped in front of them. Why the hell had Michael Myers taken the time to drag her away from this particular ward before killing her? Why did he care where she died? As long as she did?

There were no cameras in this corridor, it was also pretty dark. Though she hated to admit it, Laurie could see the guards and Dr Loomis' point. Firing in a hospital would be a very bad idea indeed. Whoever Michael was "helping" here and everyone else would panic. But what if that was a made up story? What if they were lying to her? Laurie's hesitation was her mistake. Because next second, Michael had slammed her up against the brick wall and his hands were around her throat.

"MICHAEL!" One of the guards yelled and the 3 of them moved into action with a speed that even while struggling for breath, Laurie couldn't help but admire. They'd clearly been trained well. Both male guards grabbed Michael's arms and tried to pull his hands from her throat, while the female took Laurie's arm, trying to pull her backwards and away from Michael.

"Come on man," one of the men gasped for breath. "Please! This isn't helping Danielle! She needs you! Control the kill, Michael! You have to! What about Danielle, huh? She's injured, and about to have scans, the woman you love! You do this and you won't see her for a very long time! We turned a blind eye in Smith's Grove because we could and because you were protecting Danielle who'd been cruelly wronged, but we won't be able to do so here! Not a chance in hell!"

Laurie was still fighting for her life; Myers's hands were a death grip around her throat. But she had registered what the guard had said. Michael Myers had a woman he loved? What the fuck? Were these guys crazy too? Michael Myers didn't love; he didn't know how or even what it was! Laurie knew this! Michael Myers was an inhuman killing machine, that was all there was to it. Laurie knew that no matter who this woman was, not even she would be able to save her from Michael Myers. Laurie could feel her strength ebbing away, then her knees gave out from under her, only held up by Michael's grip on her neck. Unconsciousness swam at the edges of her vision and she had no choice but to give in to the approaching darkness and oblivion.

…

Emma Avery looked sadly at her daughter, still unmoving and unconscious in her hospital bed and hooked up to several flashing and beeping machines. Colin who was sitting beside her lovingly took her hand.

"Mom?"

Emma smiled sadly at her son, then reached over and put her arm around him. "Sorry darling, this whole thing is just…" she took a shuddering breath. "I'm so glad they've found Danielle, but what will Adam try next? That's what scares me beyond anything else."

Colin shot his mother a look. "Mom, from what I heard Michael Myers was with the party who rescued Danielle. Are you seriously telling me you believe Adam is still alive?"

Emma looked at him for a second, clearly not understanding. Then her mouth fell open. "I… I guess I didn't think of that," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

Colin and Dave had eventually told Emma that Danielle had been kidnapped by Adam and that rescue was underway, but they hadn't given her all the details until they knew Danielle was safe in this very same hospital. Now, Emma looked steadily back at her son.

"You really think that's true?" She put a hand to her mouth. "That Adam is dead I mean?"

"If Michael Myers entered his house, got Danielle out and left Adam Dawson alive, I'll be very surprised indeed," Colin said simply. "So yes, I think its true mom."

Emma made no response this time. In unison, mother and son turned back to look down at their daughter and sister unconscious in her hospital bed.

"Come on sis," Colin murmured. "If I'm right, Adam Dawson will and can never hurt you again. Please, just wake up? We need you; we love you! You're safe now."

"That's if she doesn't have irreparable brain damage from this," Emma said, blinking back tears. "Mom," Colin said gently but firmly. "We don't know what will happen yet, we can't start worrying before it's even happened. We have to trust the doctors and even they aren't sure yet. She might make a full recovery."

Emma knew her son was right, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She sighed, but slowly nodded to him. "I want to talk with Danielle as soon as I can," she said after a few moments of silence.

Colin nodded. "Of course you do mom, we all do. She's being checked over in surgery at the moment, just in case that bastard hurt her internally."

"I know," Emma nodded, just as Dave walked back in to the room. "How's Danielle?" Colin and Emma said together.

Looking at his father, Colin was struck by the thought his old man had aged 20 years in the space of 24 hours. He looked exhausted, almost grey. But then he reasoned, they probably didn't look all that hot they right then.

"I don't know any more than you do," Dave slumped in to the chair beside Colin's. "They won't let anyone into where she is accepting very few."

"Do you know if…" Emma began, catching her husband's eyes. Dave shook his head. He knew what his wife was asking. Was Michael Myers with her?

"I don't know hon," Dave said heavily. "We can't get in to her ward just now. Last Dr Merrick told me they're taking her down for scans very soon."

"Fuck!" Colin slammed his hand against Charlotte's wheeled table, making the contents rattle. "How I fucking wish I could've seen it if indeed Myers has killed that little fucker! That fucking misogynist would deserve whatever he got! But damn it I wish I'd seen it!"

"I don't think you're alone there son," Dave squeezed his son's shoulder. "I think we all would. Not least Charlotte."

Dave turned back to Emma, who was looking sadly at their unconscious daughter. "Are you going to talk to Danielle about what we discussed?"

"Yes," Emma said, her voice hoarse with crying for both her daughter and the woman who she considered one. "As soon as I can."

"I think she'll listen to you mom," Colin took his mother's hand again. "She loves you like a mother. You've done way more for her than her so-called mother ever did!"

Emma smiled sadly at her son. "Thank you darling, that is sadly true."

"You know," Colin said quietly, as if to himself. "If things had been different, I could've seen myself possibly with Danielle. I've liked her all my life, but now?" He laughed humourlessly. "I am sure as fuck not arguing with Michael Myers! If he makes her happy, fair play to the guy! I won't be standing in his way! But I swear to God if he ever hurts Danielle, I won't hesitate to take revenge."

"Well let's just hope he doesn't," Dave said very quietly, also looking at Charlotte's unconscious form. "Charlotte's already come close to death at the hands of a so-called boyfriend; we don't want you to follow her."

Colin looked away, unable or unwilling to answer.