Hey everyone. I know I said faster updates but life got in the way. Anyway thanks to those of you who reviewed they keep me writing. This one's a little short but I wanted to get one out. Happy Thanksgiving! Please read and review. Thanks!

Chapter Ten: More Battles

Claudia Joy sat holding Denise's hand as she slept. The doctor had come after Denise woke up and happily declared she was out of the woods so to say. Denise had smiled looking at Claudia Joy. The Doctor said all she needed now was rest. She heard Denise stir and looked over at her. She opened her eyes and looked around frantically.

"Hey, it's ok you're at the hospital. You're safe" Claudia Joy said soothingly smoothing away Denise's hair.

"Thank you"

"What for?"

"You saved my life. If you hadn't found me when you had… I was so tired and it hurt so much I'm so sorry."

"Shh Denise you have nothing to be sorry for. You're here and you're alive. Denise what were you doing in the woods. You were walking back to the road. I mean how did you even get out of the car? I'm so afraid I'm going to wake up and this is all going to have been a dream." Denise took Claudia Joy's hand and squeezed it in comfort.

"It's not a dream. I don't know how I got out of the car. I woke up on the pavement a little ways off from my car. I saw it was on fire and I just got scared. I knew I was dying and when I looked up I saw the sign. So I pulled my self to our spot. But when I got there I couldn't just lay down and die. I couldn't leave you, or Frank, or Jeremy. I had so much to live for. So I started back. But I was so tired that I know I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't found me. But you did. And its over." Claudia Joy looked like she wanted to say something but Michael interrupted them.

"Someone's here to see you" Frank walked through the door and gathered Denise in his arms tears silently running down his face. Denise held on with all her strength. Claudia Joy left with Michael to give them some privacy.

"Frank I want you to promise me something"

"Anything baby anything" he said not letting go.

"Our spot its still there I want to go with you again." Frank pulled away slightly so he could look at her. She knew he was wondering how she knew. "When I was thrown from the car I landed under the sign. I thought you were dead and I thought I was going to die so I forced myself to get to our spot. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. But once I was there I knew I couldn't leave yet. Jeremy, Claudia Joy and my friend's needed me. And then I realized I didn't even know if you were dead. So I forced myself to head back. I wasn't going to make it to the road Frank. I was so tired. I'm sorry I know I should have fought harder. You fought to get back to me" Tears slipped down her face and Frank wiped them away cupping her cheek.

"Baby none of this is you're fault. And I didn't have any live threatening injuries. I love you so much if anything had happened I don't know if I could go on. Baby I'm just so happy you're alive." He pulled her back into his embrace and held on.

Claudia Joy sat in the waiting room thinking about the past few days. In one word Hell. She heard heels clicking on the floor and looked up. She saw Pamela and Roxy hurrying towards her. She enveloped them both in her arms.

"She's ok. She's going to be fine."

Three days later and Denise was ready to leave the hospital. Frank was going to pick her up around noon. She was resting in her own clothes when she heard someone come into the room. She looked up and saw Jeremy standing in the doorway awkwardly. He hadn't been to visit her yet and Denise wondered what he was doing here now. And then it dawned on her as she looked at his guilt ridden face. He had left her alone. He had left her by herself and she had driven off and almost died. There was something else though and she couldn't figure it out until he spoke.

"Is dad here yet?" And there it was. Jeremy didn't want to face his father. Because he knew he would have to tell his father what he had done. How he had beaten his mother when his father was away.

"No, he's picking me up in a few minutes. It's not as bad as you think it is. He'll be angry but he will forgive you. I did." The familiar glint of anger flickered over Jeremy's face. Denise forced herself to remain calm. She would only confirm his suspicions if she got scared. So she swallowed it and concentrated on remaining calm, at least on the outside.

"He won't forgive me! Don't you get it? I hit you, I hit his wife. I'll be lucky if he doesn't kill me."

"Jeremy please just listen"

"NO!" Jeremy took a step towards her and she couldn't help but flinch. He continued to advance on her and she felt her hand slide towards the nurse call button. "You listen to me. I can't even yell without you getting scared. I see you reaching for the call button. You're scared of me and its not your fault you are. I did this to you. And dad is going to see this just how I do. So I'm sorry if I'm not ready to face him yet. But I'll be back. I promise you I'll be back." He left the room then and Denise relaxed slowly trying to get her breathing under control. She had never seen him like that before. Her almost death seemed to have pushed him over the edge completely. That, whatever had just left her room, was not her son. He had no feelings of remorse. And his promise to be back sounded more like a threat then a reassurance. She felt the tears run down her face as she realized she had so many more hurdles to overcome. Her battle was far from over.