Okay, this is a short chapter but I had to get this in . . . I don't know if CNN existed in this time period or not but let's just pretend it did. Kay?

Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT. Except my characters and my storyline . . . those are mine.

Healing

"How are you feeling Miss May?" Dr. Tillard asked as he walked into the hospital room.

"Fine. When Do I go home?"

"Not for another three days."

Jo groaned, "C'mon! I'm fine!" she declared to the doctor.

"Miss May, you were shot in the abdomen. You almost bled out. You're still gathering your strength." Dr. Tillard said firmly. "Three more days and you can go."

Amber, who was with Jo at the time, spoke up. "C'mon Jo, you can wait a few more days."

Jo pouted, "Easy for you to say Am, you're not the one stuck in a hospital bed."

"No, but I didn't make the news either."

"What?"

"You're on CNN." Amber explained, "Everyone's talking about 'the girl who came back after ten years'"

"Why?"

"Um, hello? You've been 'dead' for ten years and now you're 'back'. People are going to want to know what happened." Amber said in a matter-of-fact tone. "They're talking about a news conference. They want you to talk to them."

"Who does?"

"The media,"

"No,"

"Why?"

"I don't need to be exposed like that." Jo said resolutely.

"But it's good publicity!" Amber argued.

"Amber, don't push me."

"But--. . ."

"Amber," Jo warned, "Don't."

The red-head sighed, "Talk to your mom about it." She suggested dejectedly, "You won't listen to me."

"It's not that I won't listen, chica." Jo reassured, "I just don't want to be exposed like that."

"But you'd be letting your story be known." Amber pointed out. "How many people can say they survived being murdered twice?"

"I didn't survive. I got lucky, that's all." Jo snapped irritably, "I'm not the only one who's ever survived a murder."

"But you're the only one who's been missing for ten years." Amber shot back, "How many people have your story, Jo? No one; because you strive to be different. Why don't you want to share that?"

Jo thought about what Amber said, "I'll think about it." She said finally.

"Please do chica." Amber said, "You've got so much to give. Give to the fullest."

Jo nodded. She'd think about it.

RENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

"Mark! You fucker!" Roger tore the empty needle from the blonde's grasp. "What the fuck, Mark?! What the fuck?!" Mark wasn't listening. The drug was far more important than listening to Roger right now. "Damn it Mark, listen to me!" Roger grabbed Mark by the collar and dragged him to the shower. An unhappy cry erupted from the filmmaker when Roger turned on the cold water and dumped him in.

"Fuck Rog!" He struggled to get out of the shower but Roger pushed him back.

"No Mark! You're supposed to be getting clean! This is not getting clean! Damn it Mark! Look at yourself!" Roger dragged a sopping wet Mark to the mirror. "Y'know what I see Mark? A junkie," Mark's eyes got wide. "A junkie who can't get enough smack that even his best friend and the love of his life can't get through to him."

"No . . ."

"Yes. Face it Mark: you're a junkie; a fucking junkie." Roger pushed Mark on the ground and stared at the pathetic form in front of him.

"I'm sorry Rog . . ." Mark whimpered helplessly. "I just . . . I need it . . ."

Roger knelt down beside Mark. "I know Mark. But you need to get clean more than you need the heroin."

"It hurts . . . so much . . ."

"I know," All anger gone, Roger held Mark on the bathroom floor. "I know,"

Yay!! Another chapter down! Don't forget: Review and I shall update faster!! Thanks!