*I decided to give a independence day early chapter.*

CHAPTER 6

Ana told him, "If you ever read up on your own, you would discover that what she taught you was not really BDSM because trust and love do exist in the lifestyle. Many dominants submissive or dominatrix submissive relationships are very loving, some are even married. Elena taught you to channel your rage and frustration into sex as an unhealthy abusive outlet. She trained you to separate sex from love. You could have had a normal healthy relationship if she kept her sick pedophile hands to herself and let you mature enough to understand that an understanding girl would have been out there to explore a relationship with inevitably. You were in no way able to give consent being under age whether you wanted it or not. Her telling you that you're too damaged to love and that it was the only way is totally warped. You have been conditioned and groomed to be just like her and to completely believe her. She's the one who can't love or be loved, she wants you to believe that because she can control everything as long as you stay in that lifestyle no matter how fucked up it is. She controls who you fuck, what you do to the subs, your silence about it all so you can hide it all and how you are to channel your anger from the violence you have seen in your life. Don't you see she is your pimp. It is a very unhealthy road you're on, Christian. If you want to change and learn a vanilla relationship, I would help you, but I don't think your ready yet. If you went back to it and got back into it, I am gone for good." Christian was frowning and was about to argue but he realized that Flynn, his therapist, was saying the exact same things. Ana just couldn't imagine he took Elena's word verbatim and never verified anything she told him. It was mystifying.

Ana observed and stated, "I can see by the look on your face that you don't believe me or what I'm telling you yet. I bet you didn't even call for an in-house audit on her." He looked down and shook his head no.

She sighed, stood up and continued, "I'm calling a cab. You better wake up and realize that you will always remain isolated, alone and unloved until you stop believing what that fucked up pedophile taught you, I hope it isn't too late for you by then. She is possessive of you and will not give up so easily to anybody but herself. She deliberately attacked me because she doesn't want me anywhere near you and forced me to harm her by defending myself. Both times I was only sitting next to you. Then, for dancing with you, I got a locked bathroom visit. She probably thought I would let her touch me again and I shoved her backwards to exit catching her off guard. It's a shame really, because I do like you very much as a person and would love to show you how to have a normal relationship. Until you end that relationship with Elena, you and I can't get involved together. You need to talk to a therapist about all this before I can even begin to remotely think about getting involved with you. There are underlying issues that you need to work on first to know if you are ready to find out. I can't get involved with you if you don't take what I'm saying seriously. Take care of yourself Christian, I mean it." Ana walked to the elevator pushing the button and got her coat out of the closet.

Christian got angry and followed her. He yelled, "What do you mean I don't take you seriously?! I am trying to understand what your telling me! Don't give me ultimatums, Anastasia! Your walking out on me again! Will it be another three months before I see you again?!" He ended up saying it sarcastically.

Ana looked at him in the eyes and yelled back at the same octave, "I don't know! I'm just sick of it Christian! How can you not see the control she has over you! As intelligent as you are, you are a blind puppet and you will always be ruled over by her, if you don't change it. You let her pull the strings! Until you cut the strings I am not available to see you! For my own safety! Once a mistress always a mistress, eh Christian?!" Ana gave back to him the sarcasm.

He argued, "Don't be ridiculous! I am not her puppet and she's not my mistress! I tell her no plenty of times!"

Ana said loudly, "Not often enough! Your still in business with her! How do you think you mother and family feels about that after she tore my skin off and poured bourbon on my head in front of your whole family! Your still letting her rule your actions! Now, tonight she tried to run you off the road like a lunatic because I was in the car with you! It could have killed us both! How long does it have to go on before you wise up, til I'm dead?! It's bullshit Christian and somewhere inside you must know that?!" He was getting very frustrated, mad running his hands threw his hair and pulling on it.

She couldn't talk to him like this and piss him off so much. Nobody talks to him like this. It was putting pressure on him and he was out of control again and he didn't like it one damn bit. He grabbed her arms of her coat roughly and yanked her forward. He kissed her in a dominating rough fashion not letting her be in control, he had his one hand behind her head and he was biting her lips. Ana was caught off guard and was pushing away from him. She stomped on his foot to let her go. He was so strong. He stepped back in shock. She smacked him in the face.

She sceamed, "Don't you ever try to dominate me again! I can take you to the floor pinned next time you try that shit on me! I am military trained in self defense for goddamn reason!" She hit the button and the doors opened to the elevator. She stepped in it.

Christian said firmly, "Let Taylor drive you home." When she turned around and hit the button, Christian was standing there. He said pleading, "I'm sorry. Taylor can take you home, Anastasia."

She tilted her head saying, "I'll be just fine on my own. I just don't want to get hurt by you."

Christian said, alarmed, "I swear I'll never do anything to hurt you, Anastasia. I was being forceful but I couldn't hurt you."

He sighed giving up and replied, "Be careful, and call me as soon as you get home." He handed her his card to make sure she had it on her.

Ana sat in a chair by the concierge stand and called a cab. They said ten minutes. She got up and went out into the cold air out front and waited, inhaling the crisp air to settle her emotions. She felt sorry for Christian, but he was stuck in a situation and lifestyle that is lonely, abusive and not healthy. He needs a shrink to evaluate the situation before involving herself into the mix, but until then she will keep her distance. What about Elena? He needs to get away from her to stop staying in one place for years not moving forward in his life and not developing. It was like treading water and not swimming or moving anywhere. She sure did a number on his head. Ana stated out loud, "Gee gads, what a cluster fuck of troubles."

Ana turned around and a man in all black and a ski mask grabbed Ana powerfully by the throat knocking her backwards landing on top of her on the concrete. He smashed her head into the concrete. Ana was knocked out instantly and had no time to defend herself.

The cab driver found her laying sprawled out unconscious on the sidewalk bleeding from her skull and a man running away down the sidewalk and cut around the corner of the building. He called 911.

The EMTs examined her, took vitals, made sure she was stable and strapped Ana to the gurney and covered her in a couple blankets. The EMTs found her purse on her. At the hospital the cops would know who she was then. They took her to Seattle Grace Hospital.

Grace was on duty that night and saw Ana come in on a gurney. She went into professional mode suppressing her emotions and Ana had to go immediately into xray being she was stable and the bleeding was under control.

Grace found out that she was picked up outside of Christian's highrise. She called Christian then her husband and Ana's emergency contact, her CEO Martin Daniels.

Christian and Taylor rushed into the ER and he told the nurse that they were there for Anastasia Steele. Grace already went through Ana's purse and gave them her insurance and identification. Both men were in the waiting room by the time Carrick got there. Christian was a wreck worrying about her. His mother found them and told them she had a cracked skull, two inch laceration of the scalp, a bruised larynx and throat.

—--

Three days later, Ana was rising up out of the dark murky depths of unconsciousness. The pain started throbbing in her head and throat. It was unrelenting. She moaned.

She felt someone take her hand and she squeezed it to let them know she was here. She heard, "Come on Anastasia, open your beautiful eyes."

Ana squinted her eyes open and it was too bright and closed them again. Her throat was dry and she rasped, "Too bright." She heard scraping like the closing of blinds and someone holding her hand again.

She heard, "Ok, try it now, Anastasia." Ana squinted and it was painful but better. It felt like she had sand in her eyes scraping her lids and eyeballs. It took a moment for her eyes to get used to it, but she could at least see forms until they got clearer. She said, "What happened?"

Christian said, "You were assaulted out in front of my highrise. They took you down to the concrete and you hit your head and they tried to strangle you. The guard on duty found you when the cab driver saw you laid out on the pavement. He saw a guy all in black running from the scene."

She whispered, "My throat hurts." Christian pressed the nurses button.

A nurse rushed into the room and said smiling, "Hello, is she awake now?"

Christian said, "Yes, she says her throat hurts."

The nurse said, "I'll get the doctor to see if we can get her ice chips or water." The nurse left. Christian caressed her cheek with his thumb.

Christian said, "I missed you. I'm so sorry, the way you left. It's all my fault."

Ana said, "Not your fault." The doctor came in with the nurse.

The doctor said, "How are you feeling, Miss Steele?"

Ana whispered wearily, "Throat hurts. Thirsty."

The doctor said, "Nurse, get her a cup of ice chips, please." The nurse left and the doctor was checking her vitals. The nurse returned and gave Ana a few ice chips.

Ana said, "How long have I been here?" Her throat felt a little better.

The doctor said, "Three days. You're a lucky young lady. You had staples put in the back of your head to hold the skin on your scalp together, but we got lucky the actual skull only cracked and the brain swelling wasn't as bad as it could have been. You have a concussion. Your throat has extensive bruising with swelling of the larynx, but it will get easier to swallow in the next few days. You should be on a soft diet of soups and puddings and mash potato consistency until your throat heals over the next few days. Water, juice and ice chips for now until you want something more. I'm going to leave you now to rest. lf you need something for pain, call the nurse." The doctor left.

The nurse asked, "Do you want iced apple, cranberry, or grape juice?"

Ana said, "Apple, big cup?"

The nurse smiled and said, "Ok, I'll be right back?" Christian moved back over and leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

He smiled and said, "I'm glad your

woke up. I was so very worried."

Ana said, "Christian, why are you here?"

Christian reached out and caressed her face and lips. He said, "I can't seem to leave you alone. I want to learn to trust you. You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I want to try for more with you. I talked to my therapist yesterday and I'm going back tomorrow like you want me to do." Ana reached out and touched his face, caressing his cheek with her thumb.

He closed his eyes and nodded saying, "Only with you."

Ana said. "Ok, but what about Elena? I somehow think this could have been related to retaliation."

Christian asked, "I have Taylor look into it. When you get out, will you come home with me? You can't be alone because someone needs to take care of you?"

She thought about it for a moment and said, "Not if Elena can come up there and get at me."

Christian said, "I'll make sure she stays away and can't get into the penthouse. Would you then?"

Ana whispered, "But I need my stuff at my house? Did you call Martin and Karen Daniels?" She coughed and winced. She was trying to clear her throat.

Christian said, "My mother called and talked to Martin. They know and said to just take all the time you need because you were ahead of yourself projects anyway. They told her to send you their love because they couldn't stay up here. They wanted me to contact them when you woke up, my mom and dad too. I was wondering if you want me to contact your mother because she is the only relative I could find."

Ana's eyes got big and her voice cracked when she said, "No, never contact her. I haven't talked to her since I was five years old and she walked out on my stepfather, Ray." *cough* "She took me away from daddy and ran off with a man with more money. *cough cough* He hurt and hit me and my dad had to come get me." *cough, cough* "I had to sneak to the phone to call him to come save me. I'm glad he taught me my numbers and reading by then." *cough, cough* "So, never call her. She's a tramp on six husbands last I knew."

Christian was surprised and said, "The background check showed she had eight husbands."

Ana was in throat pain. She whispered, "Geez, a different man every two to three years. Incredibly ridiculous. Throat hurts." Ana rolled her eyes, shook her head, coughed and winced.