*Sorry for the late post the site was having technical difficulties.;)*

...

Bianca tried to keep her panic in check as the doctors treated her, but her mind kept going back to the thought – I could have died, he tried to kill me… One person gave her the strength not to break down, Marissa. From the moment she took her hand on the way to the ambulance Bianca found the spark of hope and love that could help her endure this.

Frankie held up x-rays to the light.

"Well I have excellent news, Bianca. There is no obvious trauma to your neck."

"Thank god." muttered Marissa.

"But I do want to keep you in the neck support until David has had a chance to examine you. Just to be sure."

"Thank you." croaked Bianca, her throat still damaged by JR's attempt to strangle her.

"You really must rest your voice." said Frankie, "You've bruised your larynx and there is also the nasty split on your lip to consider."

Bianca sighed. It really did hurt when she spoke.

"Bianca, a police photographer has arrived" Frankie added. "You also need to be examined for the police report. Would you prefer a female doctor?"

Bianca grabbed his arm.

"I trust you." she whispered.

Frankie nodded and smiled at the compliment.

"Would you like Marissa to stay?"

Marissa was wide eyed; she still looked like she was in shock herself. She was stood a little to one side, to allow the doctors to work. Bianca wanted nothing more than to say yes. If it had been the Marissa of old, the one who knew every intimate recess of her heart, Bianca wouldn't have hesitated; but she wasn't her. In a way they were still strangers. This was just their first date and no matter what she said, Marissa wasn't ready to see her through this, not really.

As much as it grieved her Bianca knew her answer was no.

"Bianca, I want to stay." insisted Marissa.

"You don't need to, I'm in good hands." said Bianca, in a gravelly whisper. She took Marissa by the hand and planted a kiss on her knuckle, using the corner of her mouth that wasn't injured. "I think you need to make sure that AJ is okay… and my girls."

Marissa nodded; she was staring back at Bianca with wide watery eyes.

"I'm so sorry." She said, close to tears.

"Why are you sorry? You didn't hurt me." said Bianca hoarsely. "Tonight you gave me nothing but happiness. I would smile if it didn't hurt so much."

"You are so incredible." said Marissa with a sigh. "It's supposed to be my job to make you feel better."

Bianca kissed her knuckle again.

"You do that by just being here." she whispered.

"Then let me stay."

"I think it would be harder if you stay; hard for you and for me. But I really want you to come back when the doctors are done."

"Try and stop me!" said Marissa, a brave smile on her face.

Bianca would have smiled back but her face hurt too much.

…

As Marissa left, the police photographer entered. Bianca also noticed there was a police officer guarding the door. They obviously weren't taking any chances with JR still on the loose.

As the Police photographer took the first picture of her battered face, Bianca held out her hands to Frankie as he reached for the picks to check her nails.

"You really are an old hand at this." he said sadly.

"Yes." she whispered.

Twice before she had gone through an exam like this; the last time was barely a year ago. But she knew she had no choice. She was the evidence. Her cuts and bruises, the blood on her clothes; in her hair, were going to be what kept the people she loved safe. JR was never going to threaten or hurt anyone else ever again if she had anything to do with it.

"I can do this." she whispered to herself, as Frankie unfastened her hospital gown for the photographer to take a picture of the bruises on her shoulder.

…