Marissa slowly woke up. Where was she? She heard the sound of monitors, felt a jolt of pain and realized that she was in the hospital. What happened? Was Bianca okay? Slowly, the memories came back. She remembered Bianca covered in blood but being okay. It was Marissa's blood. She saw Bianca crying and being pulled back by Kendall allowing Jake and Angie to come into view. Things went black after that. JR! It had to be him behind all of this. He could have killed Bianca! He could have killed any of their friends. It was her fault. Why didn't she see this coming? Why didn't she report him for violating the restraining order? What about AJ? Was he safe?

The heart monitor reported the change in her heartbeat. Jake heard it and walked over. He saw that Marissa was awake and smiled. "Welcome back. It's good to see to you again. You had everyone worried."

Marissa started to speak but Jake stopped her and answered the questions he knew would be coming. "Bianca is fine. AJ and the girls are fine. Zach arranged security for them. No one else was hurt. The police are looking for the shooter. I'll go get Bianca."

"Wait. I can't see her right now. I'd just like to see Krystal."

Jake stopped, confused, but nodded and went to get Krystal.

Angie saw Jake walking down the hall, and walked up to him. "Is she awake?"

Jake nodded. "Where's Bianca?"

"Kendall convinced her to get cleaned up. She's changing into something that's not such a reminder of what happened. I'll go get her."

"Angie, wait. She doesn't want to see Bianca."

"Who does she want to see?"

"Krystal."

"Well, Krystal is her mother so I suppose that is understandable."

"I guess, but I would've bet anything that Bianca would've been the first person she wanted to see. The two of them are crazy about each other. You can see the two of them are head over heels. I don't understand. Something's not quite right."

Angie thought for a second. "I'll tell you what. I'll get Krystal. Maybe she can shed some light on what's going on with her daughter."

"I'll stay out of sight until we get a read on this." Jake disappeared.

Angie quietly got Krystal's attention and waved her over.

"Did something happen? Is Marissa still alright?"

"She's fine and awake."

Krystal blew out a sigh of relief. "I'll go get Bianca."

Angie pulled Krystal gently down the hall away from the waiting room. "Krystal, she doesn't want to see Bianca yet. She only wants to see you. I have to admit that I'm a little surprised she doesn't want to see Bianca. From what I hear, the two are obviously in love. Do you have any idea of what may be going on? Stress of any kind could delay her recovery."

Krystal paused and thought. "Guilt. She feels responsible for what happened. That Bianca could've been hurt or killed. That anyone else could've been hurt. All because of what JR has done."

"JR! He did this?"

Krystal nodded. "Jessie told Tad that JR is the suspect. Marissa is blaming herself for his downward spiral. Her falling in love with Bianca, getting custody of AJ. I bet she feels responsible for everything that's happened."

"She is in no way responsible for what JR has done."

"I know that, and you know that. The rest of Pine Valley knows that, but my baby girl?" Krystal shook her head.

"Let me see her, and maybe I can talk some sense into her. Don't tell Bianca she's awake. She would be crushed if she knew Marissa didn't want to see her. It doesn't matter why. She would be upset, and I don't want that for her."

Angie nodded and led Krystal down the hall to see her daughter.

Krystal let out a small gasp when she first saw Marissa. She looked so small and pale. She took her hand and her daughter slowly opened her eyes.

"Hi, baby girl. It is so good to see you."

"Hi. Are Bianca, AJ and the girls okay? Jake said they were."

"They're fine. Zach and the police have protection in place. That place is locked up tighter than Ft. Knox. No one is getting within 100 yards of those kids. No one has said anything to them about what's happened. Bianca is doing better. She's worried sick like the rest of Pine Valley about you. I hear you don't want to see her. Why?"

Tears started to form in Marissa's eyes. "It's all my fault. She could've been killed. Miranda and Gabby could have lost their mother. It's all because of me. All because JR hates me. I can't and won't put her in danger like that again. The best thing for all of them is for me to stay away from her."

"Look at me, Marissa. This is not your fault."

"Yes, it is. I should have enforced the restraining order. Maybe if I did that, JR would be in jail, and she wouldn't be in danger."

"Honey, it's not your fault. You are not responsible for JR."

Marissa shook her head, unable to let go of the guilt. "I needed to know that everyone is okay. I'm going to get some rest, okay?"

"Alright. You get some sleep. I'll be here when you need me."

Krystal stayed a few minutes and watched Marissa fall back to sleep.

She thought about what her daughter had said. Marissa was willing to walk away from the love of her life to save Bianca. "I'll be damned if I let JR win." She thought for a few minutes and knew what she had to do.

She left and made her way back to the waiting room. Krystal saw that Jack had made it to the hospital and was comforting Bianca. She then saw the one person who she thought could help her. Erica. Krystal quietly walked over to a nurse and asked that she have Ms. Kane come down the hall, discreetly.

Erica walked down the hall and saw Krystal. While she still couldn't stand the sight of her, she walked over to Krystal to see what she wanted. "You wanted to see me? Is there a change in Marissa's condition?"

"Yes, Erica. I need to talk to you. I need to ask you a favor."

"A favor? You want a favor from me? That's not going to happen!"

"Wait, Erica! It's for our girls."

"What do you mean?"

"Marissa doesn't want to see Bianca. She is blaming herself for what's happened. She thinks that Bianca would be better off, safer, without her in her life. She's willing to walk away from the life they have started to keep your daughter safe. You know how they feel about each other. It would break both of their hearts not to mention the kids' hearts. JR would be getting exactly what he wanted if this happens."

Erica thought about this. She had never seen Bianca as happy as she was with Marissa in her entire life. The pain in her daughter's eyes while she waited to hear how Marissa was doing would be a memory that would be seared into her for life. She remembered everything that the redhead had done for Bianca. The divorce, the custody battle, her disappearance, what had happened with Ricky Torres. She may hate her parents with every fiber of her being, but she had to admit that Marissa was as different from them as night and day. She was someone worthy of the daughter of Erica Kane. "Well, we can't let that happen now, can we? What would you like me to do?"

"Could you talk to Marissa? Maybe you can get through to her. Make her see that none of this is her fault. That Bianca and her belong together."

"I'll try, but I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for them."

"I know. Thank you."

Erica headed down the hall to Marissa's room.

/

Marissa slowly opened her eyes and focused on the person sitting next to her bed. "Erica? Did something happen with Bianca? The kids?"

"They're fine. How are you? Are you in much pain?"

"Some. Why are you here?"

"I've been told you don't want to see my daughter. That you think she'll be better off without you in her life."

"She would be. She could've been killed, and it would've been my fault. I can't let that happen."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm here to talk some sense into you. No one blames you for anything that has happened today. No one. Not Bianca. Not Kendall. Not me. If either Kendall or I did, I wouldn't be here, and you wouldn't get within 100 yards of my daughter."

"But JR did this because of me. I should have known. I should have seen this coming."

"You are not responsible for JR or anything that he does. He is the only one that can control his own actions. I've crossed paths with the Chandlers many times before. This is something that no one could have seen happening."

"But"

"Do you love my daughter?"

"Of course I do. I would do anything for her. Anything to keep her safe."

"You know her heart has been broken too many times to count in the past."

"I know. I would give anything to take those painful memories from her."

"Then how is it you can hurt her like this? Break her heart. Shatter it. Because that is exactly what you will be doing if you walk away from her. I can't have that. I won't have that. Do you understand me?"

Marissa nodded numbly. She had heard about the wrath of Erica Kane but hadn't witnessed it. Now, she was getting a small peek at what it was like firsthand.

"Good. I'll go get Bianca."

"Erica"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear." Erica smiled and walked out, heading straight for Jake. "Jake, would you please get Bianca and tell her that Marissa is awake and would like to see her?"

Jake smiled and headed towards the waiting room.

"Bianca, you can see Marissa now. She's awake and would like to see you."

With those words, Bianca jumped out of her chair and raced down the hall to her girlfriend's room.

/

Bianca paused outside of the door to gather herself. She took a deep breath and entered. There was no way she could have prepared herself for what she saw. It was almost too much for her to bear.

Marissa turned her head when she heard Bianca enter the room. A smile crossed her face when their eyes met. "Hey."

"Hey, yourself," was all Bianca could manage as she made her way to Marissa's side. She placed a gentle kiss on her girlfriend's lips and pulled back to look into her eyes. "Are you in much pain?"

"Some, but the drugs are pretty good and take the edge off. Seeing you, helps more than anything else though."

Bianca let out a sigh of relief and the biggest smile spread across her face. "You had me worried to death."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?"

"For everything that's …"

"Stop right there. Listen to me. None of this is your fault. Do you understand?"

Marissa looked into Bianca's eyes and saw the love that was there. How could I have ever thought I could walk away from her. She nodded.

"AJ and the girls are safe. The police are looking for JR. They are posting a guard outside your room. I will be your guard inside. Don't even say what you're thinking! We're a package deal, remember? Kendall and Zach are looking after the kids. I'm staying right here until you are released, and we can go home. Together." Bianca placed another kiss on her lips. She found the chair next to the bed, and sat down, taking Marissa's hand in her's.

Marissa started to drift off.

"Marissa?"

"Hmmm?"

"I should have told you this a long time ago. I love you."

Marissa smiled and sighed. "I know. I've known for a long time. It's good to hear it though. I love you too." Bianca kissed her again softly. Marissa smiled and drifted off, knowing that Bianca was right by her side.