When Bianca opened her eyes, it took her a moment to remember where she was and why she there. Panic rushed up unexpectedly when she caught a glimpse of a figure in black by her bed.

"It's okay Bianca, it's David. I'm just here to give you the once over."

Bianca relaxed again when she recognised his voice.

Now her one good eye could focus, the other was still sore and swollen, she could make out David's troubled face and could see Frankie standing behind him, an x-ray clutched in his hand.

"I'm awake." whispered Bianca, her voice still sounded hoarse.

"Try not to talk." said David, a concerned smile on his face. "Now Doctor Hubbard and I have examined your X-ray, I am confident there is no damage to your vertebra so now I want to remove this collar and examine your neck."

Bianca wanted to say okay, but it came out just as a cough.

Gently David unfastened the Velcro and slid the neck brace out under her neck. He then began probing with his finger, from the base of her skull to her shoulders, over and over, looking for any hint of damage or imperfection.

"Excellent." He said after a moment. "There is considerable bruising, so your neck will be uncomfortable for a few weeks, but I can't find anything that will affect your recovery."

Frankie let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Now I'd like to examine the rest of my miracle patient." said David, with a more confident smile.

Now her neck was free of the brace, Bianca was able to nod; that she was alright for him to continue.

David took her right hand and Bianca placed her palm on his, now familiar with this kind of exam.

"Now push against me."

Bianca pushed and David raised an eyebrow, surprised at her strength.

"Someone's been working out!"

He then did the same with her left arm. He seemed just as impressed.

"Now the legs."

He did a similar strength test on her right leg and then paused.

"What happened here?" He was now looking at the bandages still binding her left knee and ankle.

"She overdid it with her brace." explained Frankie. "It's been two weeks now, so it's probably alright to leave the dressings off. I'm just not too happy about putting her back in that brace knowing it can do all this damage." Frankie gave Bianca a grin. "Especially as someone with her own ideas about rest and recovery seemed to manage alright without it."

David unwrapped the bandages and looked at the healing scabs on Bianca's leg.

"Was it a Wilson's Brace." asked David.

"They are the best supposedly."

Bianca peered down to see David feeling his way along her leg.

"There is good muscle tone still." said David, he looked up to address her. "Personally, if you can manage without it, I would recommend foregoing a metal brace and trying a specialist knee and ankle support."

"No brace." Bianca croaked.

David gave her a grin.

"No brace."

Frankie gave her a grin too.

"It seems you have been given the all clear." He said, glancing to David to make sure that was true. David nodded.

"I'll go and let your family know." continued Frankie "I'm sure they are desperate to see you. I know Marissa and Kendall have waited all night."

As Frankie left David turned back to Bianca.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you." he said sadly.

"I've survived worse." whispered Bianca.

David stroked her un-bruised cheek.

"But you shouldn't have to."

"If it hadn't been me, JR could have hurt Marissa or AJ or my girls." rasped Bianca. "I wouldn't have been able to handle it if it been them… I can handle this."

David sighed.

"That is a very noble thing to say, but the very next person to hurt you." said David, caressing her cheek once more. "I swear I will to personally bury them."

…