A/N: This takes place obviously before Johnny was born. I just tried to imagine the kind of environment he was born into (poor baby!)
In a cold sweat, Hanna woke up and found herself in a hospital room. It wasn't her first time there. She'd been a couple of times before but it was never this bad. She shut her eyes, trying to block out the image in her head of her husband striking her over and over. She couldn't remember how it started but the look in his eyes hurt her more than the baseball bat and frozen chicken he'd pounding her with. He always got like that when he was drunk. She'd learnt to get out of his way when he got like that but she didn't think he'd do anything this time, especially because…
The door of her room opened and a nurse walked in. Hanna wasn't sure whether to make up a story like she always did or tell the truth. Falling down the stairs, tripping over shoes; lying was becoming second nature.
"Its ok Mrs Cade" the nurse said, sensing her uneasiness, "I just want to see how you're doing and ask you a few questions"
"Ok" Hanna said nervously. That was exactly what she was afraid of.
The nurse sat next to Hanna on the bed and put her hand on Hanna's arm.
"I have bad news. There's no easy way to tell you this but you've had a miscarriage"
"Oh no!" Hanna sobbed. She knew it all along, she felt the change in her body but she wanted desperately to believe otherwise.
"I'm so sorry" the nurse said softly, "Now Mrs Cade, I want you to tell me what happened"
Her kind words and sympathetic looks were enough for Hanna to spill it all but before she had time to, there was a knock at the door.
"That must be my husband" Hanna said bitterly to herself
The nurse walked over and opened the door. John stepped in and ran to Hanna's side
"I'll leave you alone then" the nurse said and walked out.
John took hold of Hanna's bandaged hand and kissed it but she pulled it away. He'd really done it this time. Hanna looked like she'd been run down by a stampede of elephants.
"Oh baby, you gotta believe me. I didn't mean to I swear"
"The baby's gone, John. It's all your fault!" she said holding the tears back.
Tears fell down his face "I know, I know" he said, "you were bleeding so bad. I didn't know what to do".
"I promise…" he said kissing her swollen eye, "I wont ever do it again… please believe me…"
He kissed her bruised lip, "I'll never hurt you again. I love you, baby"
In that moment, she saw so much sorrow as well as love in his eyes that she believed him. She shut her eyes tightly and buried her face in his chest. She tried hard to discard the memories of the night before when the man she loved had turned on until she lost all consciousness and her baby...
"I love you too" she said at last. For as long as that moment lasted, she thought everything would be alright.