A voice was calling her name. "Usagi... Usagi, wake up..." No, let me sleep a little bit longer. The voice became more persistent. She opened her eyes a crack and cringed as fireworks seemed to explode in front of her and her pupils became pinpricks. She could barely make out the form of her friend.
"Rei?" She managed to open her eyes a little bit more, but everything was still blurry. "Where am I?"
"Usagi!" Rei's voice was filled with relief. "You're at the hospital."
"The... hospital?" Her vision cleared a little bit more and she was able to better see her surroundings: the hospital bed she was lying on, the i.v. in her arm and the flimsy gown she was wearing, and the mottled bruises on the few patches of unbandaged skin. She began to remember the events that had led to her current predicament. "Oh God... is Chibiusa...?"
"Chibiusa's fine." Rei said, stroking her friend's hand. "Ami, Makoto and Minako are all babysitting her at the shrine."
"Do they know?" Usagi's voice trembled.
"No." Rei said. "I wasn't sure if you'd want me to tell them."
Rei could see the relief on Usagi's face.
"Usagi." Rei's tone was sober. "You can't let this keep happening. You have to press charges against him." They both knew who 'him' was.
"I don't think I can, Rei." Taking a deep breath, she said: "I still love him."
Rei shook her head. "Usagi, look at what he's done to you. Look at what he's done to Chibiusa!"
"I know! I know!" Usagi cried. "He used to be so different, Rei. I don't know what's happened to him. Maybe... maybe he could change back? Maybe he could be my Mamoru again."
"And you would forgive him, just like that?" Rei was shocked. "Do you know how close he came to killing you? The next time this happens, he probably will! And what about Chibiusa? How long before he starts abusing her?"
Usagi gave a keening wail, tears streaming down her face.
"Just promise me that you'll think about it." Rei said, her voice calmer. Usagi nodded, unable to speak. "And promise me you won't go right back to him."
Rei handed her a tissue and Usagi wiped her face and blew her nose. "Where will I go?"
"You can stay at the shrine with Yuichiro and me." Usagi started to protest and Rei quickly cut her off. "No buts, Usagi. You're our family, of course we want to take care of you. We love you."
"Thank you, Rei." Usagi murmured. "Thank you for everything..." Usagi drifted off to sleep, but before she did, she could hear Rei's faint reply of "You're welcome."