Author's note: Just a short update, so you can all take a breath. Blown away by the response to the last chapter. I really did try to get them back to Seattle without much drama. But the story wouldn't let me. Thank you, for reading.

Chapter Twenty-three

There's a roaring in Ana's ears, as if she's standing too close to the wild ocean. And the world is fading to black. Finally coming back to herself, she becomes aware that someone is shaking her…hard. Her teeth are practically rattling in her skull when she notices that it's Taylor, and he's saying, "Do you hear me? I won't let him! I swear to you, Ana, I won't let him shut you out. On my daughter's life, I swear it."

Ana nods once to show that she's heard him, but then shakes her head as she says, "It's no use, Jason, he really would fire you this time."

Taylor stops shaking her, but keeps both hands on her shoulders as he says, "Do you think I give a fuck? I'm a wealthy man, Ana, and could get work anywhere in the world. Gail and I have already discussed this; no way we're staying with Christian if he fucks things up with you. No amount of money is worth that."

Guessing that he's referring to the few weeks after she left Christian, Ana asks, "Was he really that bad?"

With a harsh grin, Taylor releases Ana and helps her stand as he says, "Worse. I'm being kind because I'm loyal."

Finally finding something to smile about, though it's a grim parody of her normal, dazzling expression of joy, Ana says, "Loyal like plotting to disobey your boss' direct order?"

Sporting a now feral grin, Taylor says, "You're my boss, too, Mrs. Grey."

Noting the formal address, Ana asks, "We done being friends now?"

"No, ma'am." The crowd is now huge, so Taylor says, "How about we get the fuck out of here, so we can go bully Christian?"

Ready to reward his kindness with everything she owns, Ana says, "Yes, please."

Wondering how the hell she's going to stay awake all night, and pondering the choices she's made in her life that have brought her to this place, Rachel Prescott is sitting on a hard, plastic chair outside Christian's hospital room when she sees Taylor and Ana at the far end of the corridor. Rising to her feet, she mentally prepares for the inevitable confrontation, and then watches, curious, as Ana stops Taylor with a hand on his arm before whispering something to him. Prescott breathes a sigh of relief when the man she's come to think of as a true friend glances in her direction and then walks away, every line of his body expressing indignation. As she watches him go, she offers a vain prayer that some miracle will allow her to follow him.

Ana has obviously showered and changed her clothes, and appears remarkably composed under the circumstances. As she approaches, Prescott says, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm not to let to anyone in."

Impossibly serene, Ana smiles and says, "I figured as much when I couldn't even find out his room number. I didn't realize until this evening that, other than a marriage license back in Seattle, I currently have absolutely nothing to prove that I'm his wife; something to put at the top of the list when we return home. Has he expressly commanded that you forbid me entrance?"

Taken aback by the young woman's calm demeanor, Prescott stammers, "Uh, yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."

Her voice kind, Ana says, "It's all right, Rachel. None of this is your fault. But the question becomes; how far are you willing to go?"

Mystified, Prescott warily asks, "Ma'am?"

Her voice rising, though still without any trace of disquiet, Ana says, "Bruising, scratches, dislocated shoulder perhaps? What about a concussion? Do you think you'll be able to avoid breaking any bones?"

Beginning to understand, Prescott actually feels ill when she replies, "Ma'am, please don't."

Rolling up her sleeves, Ana loudly says, "Fine. Have it your way. I'll count to ten, and then I'm coming at you. Oh, I should warn you; I was raised by a Marine, and he taught me to fight dirty, when necessary."

Ana actually makes it to seven, with Prescott pleading the entire time, before Christian's voice, from inside the room, exclaims, "Fuck!" Ana is beaming her victory when he continues, "Let her in."

With an audible sigh of relief, Prescott opens the door and steps aside as she says, "Thank you."

Ana touches the woman's arm in gratitude as she enters the private room. Not sure what she was expecting, she's struck by how well Christian looks. If it weren't for the fact that his eyes are bandaged, he might only have a bad case of sunburn. Without a word, Ana kicks off her shoes and lifts the sheet to climb in next to him. Only then does she notice the faint, pink dots on his upper chest, copies of the fading marks on her body. But it's not enough to stop her when she's this close to her goal, and she gently pushes at Christian's hip until he scoots over so she can nestle against him.

Finally where she wants to be, Ana rests a hand on Christian's chest and silently weeps her relief. He cautiously enfolds her in his arms, soon holding her tight against him. When her tears eventually recede, leaving only her shuddering breaths as evidence of what she's endured over the past several hours, Christian says, "I'm sorry."

Willing her body to relax, Ana sighs and says, "I know."

"I still don't know if I'll keep my sight. The fuckers say that they'll have to wait until…"

Forestalling his explanation with her fingers on his lips, Ana says, "Tomorrow. Tell me tomorrow, darling. It's late and I'm very tired. For now, just hold me, okay?"

So Christian does exactly that. Ana is still wide awake when he says, "Where the fuck is Taylor? He's supposed to be with you."

Smiling a little at the thought, Ana explains, "Calling your family, so you won't be able to pull this stunt again. Once we found the room, I sent him away to arrange the flights. He wasn't happy about leaving me to face Rachel alone."

Snorting a laugh, Christian says, "Clearly, he wasn't needed."

"No. I knew she couldn't hurt me. Even if she could, I knew you wouldn't let her."

"And if I'd been asleep and hadn't heard you pick a fight with your bodyguard?"

Smiling, Ana says, "Christian Grey, it's the middle of the night. Why on earth would you be asleep?"

"Point well made, as ever, Mrs. Grey." They're quiet for a while, and Christian's voice is bleak when he then says, "I can't take care of you if I'm blind."

"Of course you can. We'd probably need to rearrange the furniture, and hire a few more minions. But nothing much else would change. Though I think you'd have to get rid of that whip."

Christian manages a real laugh and then clumsily kisses Ana's forehead before saying, "Fair enough. You're not scared?"

"Terrified. But not nearly as much as when I realized you were going to keep me from you. You've already broken your wedding vows; you promised to share everything."

"Yeah, but not this shit. Baby, I can't…I don't think that I can let myself become a burden to you. I'm sorry."

Pressing her palm against his skin, feeling his heart beating faster at the thought of maybe being dependent on her for the rest of his life, Ana says, "I can't live without you, Christian. Oh, sure, my lungs would still draw breath and my heart would keep pumping blood around my body, but it wouldn't really be living." Tapping his chest for emphasis, she continues, "And you don't get to fucking decide how much burden I can carry, okay? You keep on telling me I'm strong, and then you push me away just when I have a chance to prove it."

"So I'm stuck with you then?"

Recognizing surrender in his tone, Ana finally relaxes and says, "Only for the rest of our lives."

"Okay."

Still wary, Ana asks, "Okay, you'll let me stay with you, even if you're blind?"

With a sigh, Christian says, "Well, it doesn't seem like I have much choice. But, yes, you can stay." Squirming a little, he continues, "In fact, can you help me take a piss? I hate that fucking bottle and there's no way they're sticking a tube up my cock so I can pee in bed like an invalid."

Biting down on her lip to stifle her laughter, Ana climbs out of the bed as she says, "I can do that."

Where credit's due: nuwriter; for the idea of a heart beating and lungs breathing etc. Thank you.