I can hear shouting and orders from all over, not Max though. I open my eyes, trying to look up and seen men running around, checking everywhere.

"Boss, Boss" A man stands in front of me looking at me, someone comes running over, he stands in front of the man, I recognise him, is it Troy?

"It's Alena" He moves, the figure coming into view, moving closer to me, a jacket being draped over my body.

"Marcus" I look at him, seeing if it is really him, unsure if I said his name out loud, I can't I must be dreaming?

"Don't move Alena, the ambulance will be here soon" 

His body moves down, his arms wrapping around me, picking me up, trying to keep me warm and off the ground, I can hear talking as my eyes close and my body gives in, and all I can see is blackness. 

Waking in the hospital, I look around and see Jackson outside, with Marcus they are talking, Jackson looks in the room seeing me awake he runs into the room grabbing my hand.

"Damn Alena, did you not learn your lesson the last time about trying to fight battles alone" 

He looks exhausted, I am confused, I can't think straight, I can't remember what happened or how I got here.

"Why's Marcus here?" I look at where he was standing.

"The police were useless, four weeks and they had no leads, they decided that you had left of your own accord and nothing could be done. I knew you wouldn't leave willingly and knew Max had something to do with it"

"The police said you obviously walked away from our marriage, but I didn't believe them. I got the team together, we spent another two weeks, searching, checking out places where we believed he could be. Everywhere turned up empty" 

He looks hurt, why? He didn't care before I left.

"We kept searching, then they were on a mission, and they believed there was a hidden supply of weapons where you were kept so they took a week off searching for you to plan to retrieve the weapons. Only arriving their someone found you, and shouted Marcus" I shake my head.

"How long have I been gone?" 

I was thinking it was around 4 weeks, it didn't seem long, but I had no sense of time.

"Three months Alena, and you won't be able to come home for a while, he had starved you to death, your heart stopped Marcus had to keep you alive till the ambulance arrived, how he managed it, I will never know, you have been in an induced coma for a month while your body recovered" 

I pass out not hearing the rest of his words. I wake up and wonder how I had been there for three months, I know I was so worn down I slept most of the time but three months! 

I looked around seeing Jackson there.

"Where are the girls?" I can't believe I missed so much of their life, they will have changed so much.

"I will get Georgina to bring them in. Her and Liam have been watching them most days while I try to sort everything out" 

He kisses my head.

"Why are you here?" 

My words shocking him, he looks at me confused, just as my eyes, close my body giving in from being so tired. 

Waking up, he is again sat next to the bed, how long have I been waking up and falling back to sleep?

"What about Max?" I look at him and his face fell.

"I am sorry Alena, he wasn't there. A couple of the team stayed behind to wait for him, but we are guessing he has seen them and never went back" 

I am scared, I feel like I need to stay away from Jackson. 

I am just too exhausted to stay awake for long enough to have a full conversation. The next week passed quickly, me falling in and out of consciousness as my body tried to recover from the beatings he gave me. 

I kept looking at my arms and legs, they are so thin you can see the bone. 

My body is like the ones on the adverts of children being starved to death. I had broken ribs, a lot of bruises and cuts, but luckily my arms and legs are not broken. 

I now realise how close I had come to death; how close the girls had come to losing their mum. I vaguely remember them being brought in to see me, they could sit alone without support. 

They are so much bigger than when I left. I start getting stronger, able to stay awake for longer and cuddle the girls without screaming in pain.

"You can come home today" Jackson smiles, walking in the room.

"I missed you Alena, don't try to fight our battles alone again" He kisses me smiling.

"I think I should go somewhere else, if I am at the house there will always be a risk to you and the girls" I have to admit it, Max is still out there, he didn't willingly give me up, so he will be back.

"Not a chance, I have added security to the house, the team is also going to be helping until Max is caught, if he even tries to get in the house he will be caught" 

This is stupid, they won't be needed if I stay away.

"You can't just have everyone stay at the house, they have their lives to live as well. What happens if this goes on for years?" 

I look at him thinking of Marcus, who I have got to know well after Jackson was meant to have died.

"We would all do the same for each other, without a second thought. I would trust them more than the police" He admits

"Okay," I agree, just wanting to get out of the hospital.

Getting home, there is extra security, alarms, cameras, shutters, everything. Maybe he went too far?

"Hi Marcus" I smile as Jackson helps me to the sofa.

"Alena, you look so much better than before" He smiles and winks I am confused as to why he winked. Jackson laughing shaking his head at Marcus.

"Alena, you remember he was the one who found you completely naked and covered you up right?" 

I think back and remember he was leaning over me, covering me, trying not to look, cuddling me to warm me because of how cold I was. 

I can't help but laugh and joke.

"Typical! The hottest one seen me naked at my worst" 

I joke feeling myself coming back again. Jackson pulls a face, and Marcus laughs.

"Yeah, I am the hottest thank you for confirming it Alena"

"Erm, Alena.... Husband standing right here" Jackson laughs, knowing I am joking, I smile at him.

"Obviously you're the hottest he's the hottest after you" I am laughing, and he pulls a face.

"I think the drugs they gave her for pain have kicked in, it doesn't count" Jackson laughs, looking at Marcus as I pass out on the sofa.