A/N: I know that this update has been a long time coming and I'm sorry. Thank you to everyone who's still reading. I promise I haven't given up on this story.

Chapter Eight

"If you want blood I could understand that," Sonny's words echoed in Zach's ears.

Zach did want blood, at that moment he could gladly have beaten the Dragon to death with his bare hands. Zach had failed to protect his wife and now he wanted revenge. An eye for an eye – it was an old concept but it was one he could connect to. The ones who had harmed Kendall should be harmed in return. He wanted the Dragon to bleed; he wanted to wring from his hide every drop of blood that Kendall had lost, to stand and watch as his life's blood soaked the ground. "Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, blood and revenge are hammering in my head," he muttered.

After a long moment he set down the file, still unread and turned to Sonny with a regretful sigh. "It doesn't matter what I want," he said finally. "What matters is the best way to keep Kendall safe. The Dragon has an extensive organization - we kill him and there's always the chance that someone will want revenge and be stupid enough to come looking for it. I'm not looking for a war – I'm looking to end one. You think that sending him to prison can do that, it'll have to be enough for me."

Back in Kendall's hospital room Erica Kane was sitting by her daughter's bedside and clutching her hand – the picture of motherly devotion while the doctor explained what Kendall could expect for the next few months. Bianca sat on Kendall's waiting patiently, and prepared to intercede if Erica's attentions turned out to be too stressful for the newly conscious Kendall.

Now that she was awake, Kendall's doctors were finally able to assess the extent of her injuries damage and her chances at recovery. All in all, the prognosis was good. The damage to Kendall's spine was extensive but not irreversible. There was every reason to expect that with hard work Kendall would regain full use of her legs. From the instant the work paralysis crossed the doctor's lips Kendall had gone numb. She'd nodded dully at appropriate intervals but she hadn't really registered anything that he was saying – she was too busy trying to understand everything that had happened – she had been shot, very nearly maimed.

"When you're ready we can recommend several wonderful physical therapists. It's probably best that you stay here in the hospital for a little while longer, but really you'll be home in no time. Though we will expect you back for regular progress checks, alright?" the doctor concluded at last smiling almost as much at Erica as at Kendall. "I'm just going to leave you all alone now to talk about how you want to proceed. I'll check in on you in a little while."

Meanwhile, Erica sat at attention; one could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she listened to the doctor's report. She barely managed restrain herself and wait for the doctor had left the room before she spoke, "Oh Kendall, darling this is wonderful news. I can see it now, we'll do it all on my show."

"It will be wonderful – a whole show, no a series of shows dedicated to your rehabilitation and physical therapy, you'll be dancing again in no time. This will be your New Beginning my darling and all of America will be watching and cheering for you."

Bianca stared at her mother in horror as she prattled on oblivious to the fear in Kendall's eyes. "Mother!" she interrupted at last. "I'm not sure that that is such a good idea."

Erica turned to Bianca with a surprised look on her face. "Bianca, I'm surprised at you," she chided her younger daughter. "It's a wonderful idea. The whole country will be inspired by your sister's valiant struggle to overcome this tragedy. It will give my viewers the chance to see how we Kane's can defeat any adversity."

"Mom," Bianca protested again, "Kendall's going to need to be totally focused on getting better. And she's going to need support from all of us, and she is going to need doctors following her progress, not cameras."

"Of course Kendall will have our support and she'll have the best doctors and the best therapists in the world, but she can have so much more than that darling. She can have the support of America." Erica's eyes were shining as she envisioned the nation coming together to support her daughter as Kendall got back on her feet.

Still lost in her own ruminations Kendall barely registered the argument going on literally right over her head. Surgery, she finally grasped that thought – he had said that they'd done surgery. They had fixed . . . something. Did that mean she was going to be able to walk?

The fact that Kendall wasn't pitching a fit at Erica's plans finally clued Bianca in to the fact that her sister had no idea what was going on. Squeezing Kendall's hand comfortingly, she looked over at Erica. "How about we leave this discussion for later, when Kendall is feeling up to participating?" she suggested. "For now, I think she needs some time to process this."

"Oh very well," Erica huffed privately resolving to get in touch with her producers immediately and start making plans. "In the meantime I should go talk to Jack. We're going to need to get a room ready for Kendall right away – the doctor did say she could come home soon." Erica stood up, brushing out the wrinkles in her skirt as she prepared to go spread the joyous news.

"I think he meant her home, Mom," Bianca argued following Erica into the hallway in a desperate bid to protect Kendall from their mother's overzealous planning.

"Her home?" Erica repeated scandalized. "You mean go back to that condo? And who do you suppose will be looking after her – that dreadful man?"

"Zach is her husband," Bianca reminded Erica gently. "And while she was in that coma he never left her side. Obviously he cares about her."

"Cares about her? Ha!" Erica countered triumphantly. "He couldn't leave fast enough once she woke up. If he cared about her he would have stayed here to talk to her doctors." She took Bianca's arm, pulling her back towards the waiting room and their family. "No, Bianca," she said, "we're the ones who care about Kendall and it will be up to us to take care of her. That's why she'll be moving in with me and Jack until she's completely healed."

Releasing Bianca's arm Erica entered the waiting room with her head held high and her face wreathed in smiles. As soon as Erica released her Bianca headed back to Kendall's room to see how she was doing.

"Binks?"

Bianca was greeted by her sister's worried expression when she entered the room. "I'm here, Kendall," she assured her.

"What's going on?" Kendall's voice took on a high, sharp tone as she asked the question, clearly on edge. "The doctor said something about surgery and paralysis and I don't . . ." she trailed.

"Oh Kendall," Bianca sighed as she sat down by the bed and started to explain.