This is the shortest chapter to date. Still trying to feel my way around writing chapters that are either too long or too short, so forgive me while I fumble. At any rate, this is John and Vera's final showdown. I don't plan to have them meet again, so it's Aloha on the steel guitar for Mrs. V. Bates as far as this fic is concerned. (We all know she returns later in DA with a vengeance). Look for Robert to be coming back into the picture soon, as well as some other characters that you were briefly introduced to in Chapter 2, John's brothers in arms.

Per the usual disclaimer, the characters of John and Vera do not belong to me.

Thank you again for all the lovely reviews and comments. They mean so much to me as a fledgling writer and help me to stay true to the story.

John entered Vera's bedroom quietly. He had heard her stirring while having his conversation with Nurse Farrow. Her comments and warnings were still ringing in his ears. "Vera is despondent…holds you responsible…Can't this wait?"

Despite the nurse's admonishments he bravely pushed forward into his wife's room.

"Vera?" John's voice caught on the last syllable. "Vera…I've brought you some food."

No response was heard from his wife. John pressed on. "The doctor said it's important you eat something… start with some liquids at first…something light and nutritious to help strengthen you and quicken your recovery."

She was sitting up, with her arms wrapped around her stomach. He could see that she was rocking slightly, forwards and back. Her head was down staring at her lap. She murmured something in response to John, but it sounded like unintelligible mumblings to him.

"Vera… I've brought you something to eat," John repeated.

"Leave me alone" This time he clearly heard his wife.

"I've brought you a tray." John stood at her bedside. "Please eat something now… before I go. I've an errand to run and don't know when I'll be back…"

"Good," Vera snapped back at her husband. "Go… leave… Now…I never want to see you again."

John inched closer to her… "You don't mean that Vera. Look I've brought you a tray, some water, juice and vegetable broth that I made myself. I'd like to see you eat something before I leave."

"If I have some, then you'll leave?" She stopped her rocking and raised her eyes up to look into his. He couldn't help but notice how big her pupils were. Her eyes darting back and forth between John and the tray he was holding in his hands.

He sighed. "Yes, I promise, I'll leave. Nurse Farrow is here and she'll watch over you until I return." John was sorely tempted to add "if I return," but chose to exercise some discretion regarding where he was going and what he was about to do.

"Alright, bring it here," she snapped. John gently sat on the side of the bed, turned and placed the tray upon her lap. He took the large soup spoon in his hand and dipped it into the steaming bowl of broth. Cupping his hand beneath the bowl of the spoon, he slowly brought it to his wife's lips.

"What do you think you're doing?" Vera batted his hand away knocking the spoon across the room. "I don't need your feckin' help eating soup. You've helped me enough for a lifetime." And with that Vera grabbed the tray with both hands and flipped its contents onto John's lap, flinging the tray across the room as her final act of defiance.

John sat, stunned at Vera's outburst. He was just trying to help, to show her that despite it all hestill cared…that he sought her forgiveness and would do anything to attain the closeness that they once had, or at least he thought they had. But it was apparent that Vera wanted no part of it. Reconciliation was not in her vocabulary.

He stood up and started to pick up the scattered kitchenware and utensils. John couldn't help but notice that the little vase that held the lilacs had shattered and lay broken upon the floor.

"Leave it be!" his wife screeched. "Just don't touch anything, leave and don't return. I want you out of my life now and forever."

John slowly backed his way out of his wife's room, pausing at the doorway to murmur his parting words to his wife. "Goodbye Vera. I wish you well. I hope someday you'll be able to forgive me. I truly am sorry."

She looked at John through cold, hateful eyes. A sharp, devilish laugh emerged from her mouth. "Ha! Sorry? You think you know what it means to be sorry? As if…."

He felt a chill run down his spine as Vera uttered her final words to him.

"I'll teach you the meaning of the word 'sorry' John Bates, even if it kills me."

John left the room, Vera's threat burning a fiery trail deep into his heart.