" Hi sweetheart, everything ok?"

" Yeah mom. Well, kinda."

Her mother placed a hand her back, " Do you want to talk about it or wait til in the morning?"

" I dont care. I'm just so tired. And confused. I don't know what to do anymore."

" Sweetie, did she try to commit ?"

Kindra suddenly burst into tears, " Oh mom, I just wish I would have been there for her. She wouldn't have taken those pills if I had talked to her."

" Now Kindra, don't you go blaming this all on yourself. You did the right thing. If it weren't for you she'd probably be dead right now. You did the right thing sweetie."

" I know mom. I just wish that this day hadn't come."

" It will get better sweetie. I promise."

" I'm gonna go to bed," Kindra wiped the tears from her face, " Maybe this is just a bad dream and I need to wake up."

" Don't kid yourself. Go to bed. In the morning you can see all your family and they will make everything better. You'll see."

" Thanks mom."

" Night sweetie."

" Goodnight."

Kindra went upstairs to her room and climbed under the covers. She felt safe under her covers. Like nothing could ever happen to her. Nothing bad. All the good could only happen in her dreams.

Or so she thought......

" Well, you slept in so I figured I'd make lunch. The rest of the fam is in the living room if you want to say hello."

" Alright, but I think I'm gonna go back up to the hospital and check up on Steph. You guys make yourselves at home."

Kindra turned from the kitchen door and walked around the corner where her brother, sister-in-law and their children, and her dad were sitting on the sofa unwrapping the last of the Christmas gifts.

" Hey there Kin!" Her brother jumped up from his spot on the sofa and went to hug his little sister.

" Hey James." They embraced in a hug and Kindra knew she didn't ever want to leave his arms.

He had always been there to talk to. They had been very close for many years. After Kindra had gone away to college and James had gotten married, they had slowly drifted apart but sent letters occasionally.

" It's so good so see you Kin."

" You too James. Listen, I'm gonna go to the hospital and check up on Steph."

" Can I come? We could catch up on some stuff."

" Be my guest. Who's car you want to take?"

" We could take mine, so I can drive." James grinned and grabbed his keys out of his pocket. He turned to his wife, " Jen, I'll be back in a bit, I'm gonna go with Kindra to the hospital. We're gonna catch up. I'll be back later."

Kindra smiled as she watched James lean down to kiss Jennifer then both of his kids. A boy and a. girl, twins, both 3 and a half and very healthy.

James held the front door open and let Kindra step out into the cool December air.

"So what's this about Stephanie being in the hospital?"

" Well, yesterday morning she told me that she was pregnant. I guess as a Christmas present. I exploded and I'm not sure if I was cussing her out or blaming her getting pregnant on someone else, but I called her a ."

James cringed, " Ouch Kin, that's a little harsh. What was her reaction?"

" Well, at first she was fine. She got up and started helping me pick stuff up. Then as I saw her start to cry I tried to take a glass from her and then she just exploded."

James opened the door to his car. Before getting in he crossed his arms and leaned over the roof, " What do you mean by, "exploded"?"

" Well, she started throwing things. When I tried to take the glass from her she just jerked it away and threw it. It shattered all over the floor, after it hit the wall."

" Hmm, have you noticed anything really, how do I say this, unusual?"

" I found a bruise on her back. Just below her shoulder. She said she had fallen down the stairs. But the doctor told me that surely it was a lie because during her surgury, he found more of them."

" What else did he say?"

" He said that she hadn't fallen down the stairs. That he thought maybe she had been beaten. And what ticked me off, was that he said that he had two suspects."

" Which were who?"

" Her boyfriend, and me."

" Good god, Kindra. How did you get away from that?"

" He told me that they would come by to inspect the place. That if they found anything they would arrest me. If not that they would probably have a trial."

" Well Kin, they could find anything that you could have used. All that has to be done is have a confession from the suspect."

" But she wouldn't even tell ME about it. What makes you think she's going to tell some men dressed in black uniforms about it? She doesn't even KNOW them!"

" I know, but maybe if she knows that she is somewhere that she is protected, then she will tell."

" Anybody can get into the hospital James. Let's go."

Kindra slid into the car and waited patiently as James remained leaning over the roof of the car. After a few seconds had gone by he slid into the car next to her.

" We'll take care of this Kindra. And if they find something, we'll get you a lawyer."

Tears filled Kindra's eyes, " I don't want to go against my best friend James. Why is all this happening?"

" Kin, don't worry, everything will be fine." James slowly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead gently, " You're gonna be ok sis."

" Let's go, James. I miss her."

Stephanie's eyes opened slowly, " Hey Kindra. Hello James."

" Hey there Steph. How you been?" James asked leaning over to kiss her cheek.

Stephanie giggled and looked up at him, " How do I look?"

" Better than ever." James smiled.

" Liar."

" You feelin better Steph?" Kindra butted in.

" A little. I'm still really sore. But at least I'm not throwing up anymore. I'm glad I lost the baby."

Kindra frowned and thought she might cry, " Oh god sweetie, why would you say that?"

" Because, if I had kept it, it would have reminded me of the person who did this to me."

" That's another thing Steph."

James pulled Kindra to the side stopping the conversation before it went any further, " Kin, maybe this isn't such a good time to tell her. Look at her, the poor . Maybe you should wait until she can at least sit up."

" But James, all this could be out of hand by then. I have no choice."

" Listen to me, if you tell her now, you could upset her. And possibly make her do something all over again. She could probably have some kind of attack. And she'd just be in here longer. I'm not asking you, Kin. I'm telling you. Don't do this now. Wait." James looked away from Kindra and back over to the bed, " Goodbye Stephanie. I'll be back later to check on the two of you, " He looked back at Kindra, " Unless of course you're leaving with me."

Kindra looked at Stephanie through teary eyes, " Steph? You want me to stay?"

Stephanie smiled, " Go Kindra, you two have alot to talk about."

Kindra walked out in front of James.

" Hey Kindra?"

Kindra stopped and turned back to her, " Yeah, Steph?"

" I um, wanted to thank you."

" For what?"

Stephanie looked at James who was standing in the doorway, " James, would you excuse us?"

" Sure Steph. Kin, I'll be waiting in the car."

" Alright. What is it Steph?"

" I wanted to thank you for saving my life. I couldn't have made it through this without you."

" Yes, Stephanie. You would have. You're too strong to let anything worse happen."

" I wasn't strong enough to tell you what happened that day."

Kindra sat down confused, " What are you talking about?"

" Do you remember that day I came home crying? And I told you that my boyfriend had broken up with me? And that I had lost my job?"

" Yes, I remember. We talked about it for more than an hour."

" Kindra," Stephanie reached out to grab Kindra's hand, " Kindra, my boss fired me because I wouldn't sleep with him. Then when I went back to get my things....he beat me....then d me."

As if a blaze of fire had shot through her body, Kindra jumped up and ran out of the hospital. She ran past James' car and out of sight.

James spotted her and went to park his car again. As he ran through the double doors he could see doctors and nurses running into Stephanie's room.

He ran to the window of her room. The door was open and he could see her having what looked like a seizure. He could hear her yelling through her coughing fits, Kindra's name.

Chapter 4