"Hello, sleepyhead. You missed all the excitement." The nurse smiled down at her and patted her arm. "We cleaned out the cuts and scrapes on your legs and took some x-rays of your ankle." She held a tiny flashlight to Gabriella's eyes to examine her pupils.

"Is it broken?"

"You have a severe sprain. I imagine the doctor is going to tell you to stay off your foot for a while. We extracted quite a bit of cinder and small rocks from your leg but I don't think it will scar if that's a worry." She paused for a second then went on. "It's a good thing the Sheriff brought you in here so fast. That leg could have easily gotten infected. He's quite the hero."

"Is that right," Gabriella said adjusting herself so she could sit up and see what time it was.

"He's still here, he's been here for the past three hours wearing out the floor in the waiting room. He was not a happy camper when told him he couldn't stay in here with you. Dr. Evans thought she was going to have a fight on her hands."

"What?" None of this made sense.

"I called the receptionist to get him when I saw you were coming around."

Suddenly the door flew open and Troy rushed to the bed. Anxiety flickered across his face as he looked down at her.

"What are you doing here?" she said weakly.

"As you can see," the nurse began, "she's doing alright in a little pain, perhaps, but her ankle will be good as new in a few weeks." The nurse handed him a small bottle. "Here are some pills that will help with the pain. Make sure she takes one every four hours for the next couple of days. The doctor also recommends ice on her ankle. Just keep her off her feet for a couple of days. The doctor also wants her to wear special medical boot that will give her a little support and stability when she tries to walk. I'll finish your paperwork so you can leave." She then turned to Gabriella.

"You are probably going to want to sleep when you get home. But that's to be expected. The injection won't wear completely out for a couple of hours." With that, the nurse quickly left the room.

"Damn it Troy," Gabriella said looking up at him her words lacked the anger she intended. "Where is Eliot?"

"At school."

"How do you know for sure?"

"Because I talked to Kelsi ten minutes ago."

Gabriella moved to get up and then sank back down when it proved to be too much energy she just didn't have. "How am I going to work?"

"Safe to say you're not going to."

"I have too."

"You don't have too, you're just stubborn."

Gabriella glared at him as a grin overtook his features.

"I'm taking you home," he commanded.

Before she could object, he lifted her from the bed and carried her out into the hall. He ignored the curious onlookers in the emergency area and pushed through the double doors that led to the parking lot. He carefully placed Gabriella inside his truck as if she were a priceless vase he didn't want to break. He rushed back to get the paperwork and boot, then slipped back into the truck and started the engine.

"Let me take care of you Ella."

"I can take care of myself. Besides Kelsi is…"

"Kelsi is at school and Ryan is at work. You need someone to look after you."

Gabriella let out a sigh, she was too tired to protest. All she wanted to do was sleep.

Once they reached the house Troy scooped Gabriella in his arms and carried her inside. Troy took her all the way upstairs to her bedroom and lowered her onto the bed, lifting her injured foot and gently placing another pillow beneath it.

He went to the kitchen downstairs and returned with a bag filled with ice, a towel and two bottles of water from the refrigerator. He pulled the bottle of pain pills from his pocket and put it on her night stand.

Gabriella watched as he sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping a towel around the bag of ice before molding it around her ankle. His fingers lightly slid up her leg as he examined the ugly multicolored bruises that had formed. His touch sent a wave of unbearable heat through her.

"Troy, thank you for bringing me home." She cleared her throat, then said, "You really don't have to stay any longer. I can take care of myself."

"I'm not leaving. Deal with it." He moved next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms. He gently pressed her head against his hard chest.

All thoughts of his leaving left her as she lay against him. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his body, his steady heartbeat lulling her to sleep.

Her eyes slowly drifted opened and she was lying in bed alone covered with a blanket. It was the first time in a long time that she didn't wake up in a cold sweat from a nightmare. Her body felt well rested, at ease, relaxed and calm. Stretching out her body she felt a sharp pain shoot through her ankle bringing her back to reality.

That was when she remembered who had been there right before she drifted off to sleep. The sound of footsteps coming up the hallway steps caught her attention and she listened for the voices recognizing one as Eliot's.

How long has she been asleep? Lifting a hand to her hair she realized she wasn't wearing her dirty sweatshirt. She was now wearing a spaghetti strap top and her hair had been taken down. Had she done that? Shifting her fingers through it she panicked a little, her hair had been brushed out. Pushing back the covers she looked down at her shorts where her yoga pants had once been. What the hell?

"Hi mom."

"Hey baby," Gabriella quickly covered herself and reached out a hand to her son who carefully avoiding her ankle got onto the bed and climbed up to her and wrapped his arms around her for a hug.

"Mr. Bolton helped me with my homework," Eliot said eagerly.

"How are you feeling?" Troy said nonchalantly, lifting the blanket at the end of the bed as he spoke.

"What are you doing?" Gabriella tugged the blanket down in alarm as she motioned towards her son.

"Just checking on your foot," he said tugging the blanket off and exposing her limb again. "It's pretty discolored and swollen. Be prepared for a shock."

She peered down at her foot. It was at least twice its size and had turned multiple shades of purple during the day.

"Wow that looks cool!" Eliot hovered over her ankle looking at it, "Does it hurt mom?"

"Only when I move," she said with a tight smile as she braced herself on her hands a little.

"It looks just like those spots under your eye that you use to get when-"

"Eliot." Gabriella said firmly, "Why don't you go play with Jake so I can talk to Mr. Bolton about something important."

"Is everything okay?" Eliot looked at Troy then at Gabriella with confusion.

"Yeah," Troy said placing a hand on Eliot shoulder, "You're mom just needs my help right now."

"Help with what?"

"With my ankle honey," Gabriella said quietly biting back a few tears.

"Is he a doctor?"

"No but I am someone who can help," Troy smiled at him reassuringly, "Everything's going to be just fine."

Gabriella watched as Eliot got off the bed and made his way out of the room. Once they were by themselves she wiped her eyes. "Troy what happened to my clothes?" her face blushed vibrant shades of pink.

"I put them over there after I took them off you this morning, I couldn't let you sleep in those torn and dirty clothes." He lips pulled up into a wicked smirk. "Don't worry. I didn't look. Because if I had, I would have told you that you still have the most amazing breast I've ever seen after all these years." He couldn't go on. It was too damn funny. He laughed as her eyes widened.

"I can't believe you-"

"You're so damn beautiful," he murmured without thinking.

She swayed as if his words had delivered a physical blow.

"Don't say that," she said, shaking her head for emphasis. "I'm so furious with you. I just don't want to hear it."

Her eyes flashed, and yeah, there was fury there but he also saw desire. The same hunger that held him in a tight grip. "I get it. You're mad. But mad tells me you still care. If you didn't, that anger would have been gone a long time ago."

She bit down on her bottom lip but she didn't deny it. That was enough for him. Troy couldn't stand it anymore. He been away from her too long, had wanted her too much. Shifting closer to her he pulled her in close and kissed her.

For a split second, he thought she'd pull away, but that moment passed in a heartbeat and then she was leaning into him, kissing him back as if this kiss meant life itself. His tongue tangled with hers and hot shafts of pleasure shot through him, dazzling his brain, enflaming his body.

Her hands on his back felt like live wires, searing his skin right though the fabric of his shirt. Lifting one hand he pushed his fingers through her soft, silky hair and relished the slick feel of those curls sliding across his skin.

He would have kissed her all night, would have given up food, water and even air to breathe if he could keep his mouth fused to hers. But all too soon that kiss ended and she was pulling away, moving out of his arms and looking up at him through wide shocked eyes.

"I can't believe you did that," she whispered.

"I didn't do it alone," he reminded her.

Shaking her head, she said, "That was just instinct."

"Well, let's hear it for instincts then."

She laughed but there was no humor in the sound. Lifting on hand to her mouth, she whispered, "We can't do this."

"We were meant to do this," he countered, his voice low, deep and filled with the same need he could see was nearly strangling her.

"If that were true," she said, "you wouldn't have left me waiting all those years ago."

"Yeah." He pushed one hand through his hair and blew out a breath, "I should've showed up. Should have talked to you before you left."

"I agree."

"Ella you were leaving, there was nothing I could do to stop it. I didn't want to hurt you."

"And how'd that work out for you?" Gabriella said crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't do this. I have a son. I have a husband and as soon as you tell me I can, I going to sell my father's house and put Highland Meadows very far behind me."

"Ella?" Troy turned so he was facing the wall and not her. "Why are you so content with running?"

"Because it's all I have."

"No it's not," Troy frowned. "You could file for divorce."

"No, I can't because you don't know my husband. You don't understand. If he finds me he's going to kill me. It's the only way that he can get the money. He's not going to let me go. There are only two ways out of this marriage Troy. I let him kill me or I keep running."

Troy turned to face her, his body going ridged as he stared at her in disbelief. "What money?"

"His grandmother passed a little over two months ago and she stipulated in the will that I was to inherit the estate and her accounts. She told me she was sorry for the way he treated me and that I was the only one she knew who could take care of her estate. She didn't trust Michael with the money, she knew he'd gamble it away."

"So what?" Troy said a little confused. "Why does it matter?"

"It matters to him." Gabriella looked down at her hands, "According to Michael his grandmother's affairs should stay in the family. It doesn't look right for her to do what she did. In fact, she even stipulated in the will that if he were to tamper with the account he'd lose his trust fund."

"These all sound like good things Ella."

"Troy, if something happens to me Elliot would get everything and until he's of age its Michael who would be in charge of the estate." Gabriella let out a low breath, "I didn't just leave Michael because he hit me one too many times. I left him because he tried to kill me."

There was silence from both of them as they watched each other intently. Gabriella moved to get out of bed and Troy jerked forward to stop her, "Just stop." Gabriella said holding out a hand to stop him. She learned a long time ago how to manage absolute agony… how to smile through it, even. Compared to some of the horrors she'd experienced, this was nothing.

But Troy didn't know that.

"Where are you going?"

It was Troy's first time seeing her injured, but it certainly wasn't the first time she'd been hurt. Gabriella stumbled a little on the first step but by the second step she had her Barings. "See?" she said triumphantly once she standing up straight. "I'm just a little banged up, that's all."

Wordlessly Troy watched her his lips set in a frown. His jaw was clenched and a scowl distorted his handsome features. He didn't say a word. In fact he looked away from her and at the floor.

Gabriella began the laborious ask of dragging her beat up body towards the washroom. The movement brought back memories she had preferred to keep buried. She hadn't expected that she'd find herself in this position yet again, even if the circumstances were markedly different.

Halfway there she was lifted and felt her body press against the solid feel of Troy's, "No, you don't have to help me."

"Shut up," he said coming into the bathroom and setting her down on the tub ledge. Troy bent down in front of her taking her injured foot and putting it in the boot. "You might not want the help but you're going to take it," he said adjusting the straps accordingly. "You have a seven year old son you depends on you. Who needs you because his father's failed him. Who is going to need someone to teach him right from wrong. You're going to take the help because you need to get better so you can take care of your son."

Troy finished strapping the boot and stood up his eyes watching her carefully, "Now tell me everything this time. Why did you get involved with this man?"

When she didn't answer he came down to her eye line and placed a hand on her cheek gently. "Let me help you."

"I don't know why some people are so cruel," she sighed looking away from him, "I remember back when I thought my husband was a good guy. My friends certainly thought so. They pushed me to be with him and for a while, everything seemed great."

Troy didn't say anything he just listened intently. Hanging on every word.

"But then little by little, his true color came out. I think that's how I got drawn in… at first he was charismatic and charming, saying and doing all the right things. He reminded me so much of the last time I was happy and I just wanted to be happy again so badly." Bringing a hand up to her temple she let out a sigh and looked back at Troy. "It wasn't until after Eliot. When the name calling started, and then the hitting… and it was gradual. It wasn't as though he bent my finger back so far it broke on Day One."

Gabriella shook her head as she narrowed her eyes with blunt hatred, "No. He waited to do that and that was because I over cooked his eggs."

"I'm sorry."

Gabriella looked down at her leg, "What on earth are you apologizing for? It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry I was the last time you were happy and I'm sorry I was an asshole for not saying goodbye."

Silently she nodded, "I thought once I left him, that would be the end it. But I have flashbacks… nightmares… I guess I'm not strong enough to get past it."

"Not strong enough?" Troy repeated incredulously. "Ella what happened the night you left Michael."

Gabriella let another breath as she reached up and pushed her hair back from her face, "I was lying in bed, I had left the hall light on for Eliot and Michael was downstairs. He hadn't come to bed yet." She paused for a moment as she picked at her index finger. "I laid there for a while waiting for him to come up. Wondering what kind of mood he'd be in. If I'd have to entertain him or not. He was a lot more angrier after Nana's will."

When she stopped this time Troy noticed her wipe away a barely visible tear. Shifting from his position across from her he came up on to the tub so he was sitting beside her and gently almost hesitantly he placed a hand on her back and rubbed gently.

"I was forcing myself to stay awake because Michael doesn't like going to bed alone. I was about to get up for a glass of water when I hear him come in. I could tell he was drunk so I laid very still. He was mumbling about something. Something about the estate. He got into bed, he climbed on top of me, I watched him the whole time. It was like there was nothing there. That's when he said it."

"I don't need you anymore."

"W-what?"

Gabriella felt her body still from the inside out as she looked up at her husband, his eyes red rimmed with sleep deprivation and whiskey. His hands came up to her face the grimy feeling of his hands on her skin as he pressed them onto her cheeks. It wasn't the touch of man in love. Of a man seeking forgiveness. She knew this was going to hurt. She knew by the touch that he was going to make it painful.

"You thought you were so smart getting her on your side," his voice was harsh as he straddled her body keeping her trapped underneath him.

"Michael," she said pleadingly.

The sound of the slap across her face surprised her more than the actual sting. Her entire face was now facing the wall and she looked at the nightstand. At the lamp, an empty glass, a discarded book she stopped reading a long time ago.

Before she knew what was happening his hands were around her neck. Tight, warm, forceful, his grip shaking. "I found a way around all of you little stipulations," he grunted as he watched her gasping for breath.

"Michael, Please-" her voice was rasp as she struggled to free her arms only successful to get her left arm free. "Don't."

"I just need my son," Michael grinned as he began shaking her a little harder, "I would become manger of his estate until he's of age, I don't need you at all."

Gabriella felt panic coursing through her, things were beginning to fade out, and her hand was reaching. She knocked the glass over, the book went next. Then her fingers wrapped around the lamp. The bolt of adrenaline shot through her and she lifted the lamp crashing it down on Michael head as hard as she could.

His body went limp. His hands loosen and Gabriella panicked as she pushed herself off the bed and out from under him pushing his unconscious body to the other side of the bed. Falling to the floor she panted heavily as the air rushed into her lungs. Her body on fire her lungs pumping hard against her ribcage. This was it. Her chance. If she was going to live she was going to have to move.

Gabriella raced quickly towards her purse then to her jeans neatly folded on the chair. Shoving her feet into her running shoes she ran out the door towards Eliot's room where she quickly packed a bag and then woke him. It took a total of four minutes to get out of the house. Seconds to drive out of the driveway and what felt like miles before her or Eliot stopped sobbing.

"It's alright," Troy's voice said quietly as she buried her face into his shirt. She wasn't aware that she'd turned into him, nor was she aware that she even started crying, she didn't even know when she'd come to be in his lap. But there they were in Kelsi's guest bathroom his arms wrapped around her as she sat in his lap her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat.