Crys' POV

I feel as if I'm in that strange state between being awake and in a dream. Vaguely aware of the fact that I'm laying down on a firm surface, but I can't seem to force myself to open my eyes.

There are voices around me I can hear occasionally, their pained whispers break my heart but are too quiet for me to fully understand. They feel so familiar to me, but I just can't put a name or face to them despite how much I try to. I just want to look at them and reassure them everything will be alright, that whatever they're upset about will be okay.

But I can't seem to open my eyes, no matter how hard I try to fight against my own bodies will.

The voices stop after a few moments again, leaving the place in a still silence. I feel something touch my hand gently not long after, and all I want to do is look over at who ever is there. Their touch is so soothing on my skin, as it glides over in slow repeating patterns. I find myself concentrating on the movements and the feeling it brings, noticing the hold on me tightens occasionally.

Why can't I just open my eyes and see who it is by my side?

I want to be able to tell them that everything's alright, that they don't need to worry anymore. I can tell how upset people are at the moment just by the saddened voices that were in here earlier, and the almost desperate touch holding onto me right now.

Trying to pry my eyes open or move part of my body for who knows how long, I start to feel one of my eyes loosening its hold. Releasing what I thought was an internal groan, I finally have light enter my darkened vision.

The fog slowly starts to clear away from my blurred vision I had a moment ago, and I take the time to look around carefully. The room I'm in looks nice enough, though it is rather plain too. The walls are an off white with a large window along one of the walls.

It doesn't take me more than a moment to realize that my body is aching all over, causing me forget about everything else and look down to see what the cause of pain was from. Though I'm stunned at the sight of my barely visible self though.

The arm that felt like somethings was wrapped around it has a half cast on it. The skin I can see has blue and purple bruises covering it, normal skin color seeming to be the least seen. The last thing I take in is the bandage that feels like it's wrapped around my head, forcing curiosity to the front of my mind.

The moment I start to think about it, the memories of what happened to me flood my mind in a flash. The cruel words, the pain, the death...

Oh my gosh!

Michael is dead, and Harv is...

I quickly turn my sights onto the person still holding my hand, and the relief, joy, and pain I feel all at once over whelms my already limited mind. As much as I try to keep it all together, it just feel so impossible in this moment.

Watching as he gently places himself on the edge of my hospital bed, his warm hand lifting to slowly wipe the tears that escaped down my cheek. His own face is a mixture of pain and happiness, likely matching my own in this moment. The slight tremble of his lip showing me just how hard this was on him as well, and I find myself staring at him and taking everything in until he's leaning towards me.

Our lips connect in the most delicately soft kiss, the safety this small sensation gives me is unbelievably over whelming. My emotions feel like they're hitting an all time high as we pull apart, his face mimicking my own as silent tears flow down his handsome features, and we share a small smile of relief.

Getting pulled slowly into his arms, I could feel him tremble as he restrained just how tightly he held me against him. I was grateful when the pain continued to show itself, but I wanted more from him. His touch was comforting, but it was like I couldn't get enough of it.

"I love you so fucking much Crys." His hoarse voice whispers into my ear, his warm breathe fanning over my neck sending goosebumps over my skin.

Hearing the pain in his voice, and the relief that his hold shows me, I find myself holding onto him as tightly as I could. Fear that this is all a dream creeps into my mind. With his shirt in my hold, I remind myself that I'm free. He really is here with me.

The last of my strength breaks, releasing everything I've tried to keep held together inside. A choked sob escapes my lips as I pull him into another kiss. The need I can feel coursing through me is likely showing in my actions, but I don't care.

I need to feel him right now.

"I love you Harv, I didn't think I'd get to see you again. " I tell him quietly, painfully forcing my body to be as close to his as it can be. Resting my head on his shoulder, taking in his scent and the comfort that it offers.

His own arms wrapping around me, holding me close while still being as gentle as he can be. Losing him was my biggest fear through out all of this, and having him here with me is just bringing me this unbelievable ease and comfort.

We adjust ourselves on the firm bed so that Harv is laying down with me cuddled up into his side. Both of us just holding onto each other, not even uttering any words for so long that I found myself falling back to sleep. The feeling of his hand lightly drawing patterns on my arm is the last thing I feel before sleep takes me over.

****************

Waking up to the sound of the door banging open, I refuse to move an inch from Harv's side. The doctors can just come back later, I need this more than anything else right now.

"Did we really need the hospital to call and tell us she was awake?!" Jeremy's voice floods the room, annoyance clear in his voice.

"Would you shut up, she's sleeping." Harv hissed out, with a matching attitude.

"I can see that! Why didn't you call when she fir-"

"Because I didn't give him the chance to!" I huffed out to my whining brother, my voice slightly muffled by Harv's top.

The room fell silent, and I slowly rolled onto my back in what I imagine isn't a very graceful way. The pain still very present, but the relief that flood Jeremy's face makes it worth doing.

He practically ran to my side and delicately pulled me upright and into a hug, feeling the occasional drop of water on my shoulder showing me just how scared he really was throughout this. I hold him as tightly as I can, hating that he was so worried for me during all of this.

As he pulls back, I look over to see James just standing in the doorway still. His expression was blank, and if I didn't know him inside out I'd be worried about it. He wasn't even looking at me, just staring down at the floor.

"Can you give us a minute? Maybe tell the doctor I'm awake now." I asked Harv and Jeremy, keeping my eyes on my older brother.

They both could see his odd behavior and my concern, so they agreed without complaint. Harv gave me one more quick kiss, lingering a second longer as we savored it. Then the door closed silently behind them. Pulling myself into a more comfortable sitting position, I look over at my brother before speaking.

"James, come here." I ask him, almost like I was talking to a scared child. "Please." I plead, after he makes no attempts at moving. Moments later, his shoulders slump down and he slowly walks closer to the hospital bed. Stopping next to the bed, he remains standing there without meeting my eyes.

"Can you really not look at me?" I whisper, needing him to look at me even if I'm giving him a little bit of a guilt trip.

He stays silent for a minute, his eyes darting everywhere over my body before gradually reaching my eyes. Straight away I can see the sadness, the helplessness, and the pain he's feeling in them. It kills me that he is hurting so much, but this is why I wanted to be alone with him. When our parents died, he shut everyone out for a while, closing his emotions off so that he wouldn't feel them.

"I'm sorry James." I whisper so quietly, I'm unsure if he's heard me.

After he remains quiet and just starting at me, I look down at my lap and start to fiddle with my fingers. It took so long to get James back to his normal big brother self last time, I can't lose him like that right now though.

I need him right now, more than he'll know too.

The bed dips after another minute and I look up to see him still just staring at me. His hand glides slowly over my cast that covers my left arm, before he brought his arms up and around me as gently as he could.

His hold on me starts off light and barely there, but as soon as I hold him back ever so slightly his own hold on me grew firm to a painful tight point. I didn't mind though, I needed this from him and I know he did too. I can feel his shoulders as they begin shaking ever so slightly, and hear his trembling breathes as they shuddered down my shoulder but I just kept him close until he was okay.

He is by far the strongest person I know, but he loves with his whole heart. So when things happen to people he loves, like losing someone or thinking he was going to, he takes it so much harder.

"I love you so much, you annoying copy." I whisper to him.

He chuckles lightly before sniffling, breaking my heart even more. Loosening his hold on me, he pulls back and just looks over my face for a bit longer.

"I love you too, ya little third wheel." He whisper back, brushing some of my hair behind my ear.

"I'm sorry I got you all worried. I promise I'm okay now though." I tell him truthfully, with the exception of now slightly aching ribs.

"No. Don't be sorry, you have nothing to be sorry for." He tells me seriously, still playing with my hair between his fingers. "I was just so fucking scared, Crys. Losing mom and dad was hard, but we all had each other afterwards. If I lost you too, I think I'd crumble from the pain." He whispers as he grabs my hand in his larger one.

"I know, but James, I really am okay. Please don't get lost in your own mind about it, just help me with healing up." I try to reassure him, giving him a sad smile.

He gives me a small nod along with a sad smile just as the door opens up. Jeremy and Harv walk back in with a lady in a white coat behind them, who I assume is my doctor. She has a warm, welcoming smile and a professional appearance.

"Hello Crys, I'm Dr Honey. How are you feeling?" He asks with a sweet smile.

James gets off the bed, as she approaches me. Harv already taking his place in the seat next to me, holding my good hand yet again.

"Hey, I'm alright I guess. My sides hurt a bit, I have a headache, and my arms in a cast though. So I guess not all that alright." I mutter at the end.

"That is all to be expected. Now if you think you're up to it, we can discuss your recovery and injuries?" She offered with a sad smile.

"I'd like that, actually."

"Okay. Your injuries are a fractured arm, hairline fractures on your ribs, a concussion, as well as multiple scrapes and bruises. Now due to a restraint you have markings on your ankle as well, but it and the scars will lessen over time with some medical creams and some care."

Images of my time in that condemned looking house, chained to the breaking bed come to mind and I feel myself holding Harvs hand tighter than before.

"We can discharge you today if you have people to watch over you, as your concussion is our main concern. I'll give you a prescription for pain relief, a repeat for this cream I mentioned earlier, and book a follow up appointment to get the cast removed and check over all the injuries. Would you three be able to keep an eye on her, look for certain signs that would show she should come back?" She asks the boys the last question at the end.

They all give her a firm nod, Harvs hand tightening even more on my grip. Warmth spreads through me at the people around me, and relief fills me at the thought of going home.

"Okay, well the boys said they have clothes for you to change into. So I'll leave you to get dressed and go get your discharge forms ready. Please know that I am only allowing you to leave today, on the condition of resting, the boys will be given a piece of paper to read over that has signs to look out for. If any of them happen, come straight back."

She waits until I nod in acknowledgement before bidding us farewell and leaving the room. Jeremy walks over with a bag in his hands, placing it on the bed for me before the twins both walk out with a small smile on their faces.

Harv sticks around, helping me to slowly swivel my body around and stand up. I can feel an ache over my entire body, and I don't really want to see more of my body at this point either. Harv begins to help me walk to the bathroom, before I pull him to a stop.

"Can you stay in front of the mirror or something?" I whisper, so lowly I'm not sure he heard me.

"Of course. Come on." He smiles down at me, walking us into the small bathroom.

As he said, he kept me from seeing the damage that likely covered my body. Turning my back to the mirror, and talking with me the entire time as he helped me slowly change into tracksuit pants and his Jurassic Park t-shirt. I saw glimpses of what was below my clothing, but whenever I thought about it he kept talking to me.

I know I'll have to look at myself soon enough, but I'd rather do it at home where I feel safe and protected. For now, I just want to go back home and watch Tarantino movies with the boys, while eating junk food.

As we walk out of the bathroom, the twins come back in with a wheelchair being pushed by James. Jeremy is holding paperwork, and a plastic wrapped sandwich. Both wearing happy grins on their faces as they walk over to us, James stopping in front of me.

"Doc said you have to leave in a wheelchair, and you'd find it easier with the distance between here and the car. You just have to sign paperwork first." James tells me, soon followed by Jeremy.

"And here's a ham and cheese sandwich, because you must be hungry as hell." He gives a small chuckle to me as I slowly turn and sit in the chair, being passed my food as soon as my backside hits the seat.

Harv makes sure everything is packed up before he passes the bag to Jeremy and starts to push me towards the door. The twins light grumbling can be heard as they trail behind us, no doubt at being made to feel like lackeys. We stop off at the reception desk on our way to the car, getting more information and signing a bunch of paperwork before continuing outside.

"Where is everyone by the way?" I ask, knowing it isn't like them to be kept at bay.

"We've updated them but also explained you really do need to rest, so they're going to come over tomorrow instead." James tells me, showing that he left no room for argument about it too.

After slowly climbing into the car, we finally arrived at our apartment. As soon as the door opens, I welcome the familiar smells and items that make this place home. The twins go straight to the kitchen, grabbing the take away menu collection and working out what they want the most.

"Did you want to have a shower?" Harv gently asks, his eyes as kind as ever.

I've been told to keep my cast dry, but my other bandages can be removed for a shower and just reapplied if they are the larger ones. So a shower after being in that shit hole sounds good, but also a lot of work.

"Ummm, yeah. I guess I'd like to get cleaned up." I smile at him.

Walking together into the bathroom, Harv leans down and plugs the bathtub up and turns the water on without adding anything to it. Watching him with what must have been a puzzled look, he spun around slowly and chuckled at me.

"You probably won't be able to stand up for that long in the shower without being tired, and it'll be easier to keep the cast dry this way." He explains, making sense now that I think about it.

As the bath finishes filling, I slowly pull my pants down until I can wiggle them off. I hear the taps being turned off, but all I can think about is turning around and just seeing what I look like beneath my clothes sooner rather than later.

"I'm here, okay? I'm with you every step of the way." Harv whispers, cupping my cheek with his warm hands.

Nodding up at him, I try to take my top off with slight assistance from the man helping me keep it together. Once I'm in my bra and panties, I look back up at him with tears welling up in my eyes.

I know what I see won't be nice, I can see it in their eyes whenever someone looks at me. I wish I could just ignore it until I'm healed and back to normal, but I also know that's unrealistic of me to expect.

"Hey, you are still the beautiful woman I fell in love with. These things will heal and disappear, okay?" He whispers, before gently joining with me in a love filled kiss.

Nodding up at him, faking the confidence I wish i was feeling, I turn around slowly. Keeping my eyes on the floor at the beginning, seeing my own bare feet as a start.

As I slowly view myself, I feel sick at the sight but also relieved that some parts weren't as bad compared to the others. My ankle has a bruised and scratched up ring around it from my efforts tugging at the chain, but my legs have less bruising on them than I expected, which was a relief.

My thighs have a little bruising but not more than I expected them to have. My sight lifts to the mirror, where I couldn't take the view in slowly like I had wanted to. My stomach and ribs are littered with bruising, my arms aren't much different. The cast luckily only going to my elbow, so I still get most movement in my arms.

My face though, I don't know how anyone even recognized me when they first saw me. The black eye I was sporting along side the split lip looks gruesome. The bruising that was along my jawline and cheeks, and the small cut that's in the middle of a purple bruise on my forehead adding to the broken appearance.

My vision began to blur, and all I wanted to do was break down at the sight of what that monster has done to me. Feeling extremely self conscious of myself, I wrapped my arms around my middle. Though my movements are stopped by the warm hands of Harv before they reach their target.

"You are still the same stunning woman you have always been, okay? These..." He paused, gliding his hand gently down my side and over my bruises. "They will fade in no time, this will all heal and you can feel more like yourself as they do. I love you regardless of it all, Crys. And you are allowed to feel miserable about it all, but please don't block me out."

That was all it took to break my final wall and the tears to fall from my eyes without permission. I spun around in his arms and just released all my pent up hurt, pain, and sadness that came from this horrible situation. I'm not sure how long I quietly sobbed into his shirt before pulling away from him, and giving myself one final look over.

After he made sure I was alright a few times, he helped me with taking the last of my clothes off and into the bath tub. Washing my hair for me, while I gently scrubbed my body as best I could without hurting myself too much. It took a lot longer than I expected, but by the end of it I felt like a new person and was slightly lifted.

When I was finally dried and dressed, we went out to join the twins in the lounge room for dinner. They had gotten pizza while we were in the bathroom, along with a few of my favorite movies. It was honestly the best thing I could be welcomed with after everything that happened, something so normal and easy going.

It's too bad I feel asleep on Harv after I finished eating as much pizza as I could.

But I didn't care either, I was finally free of everything that had haunted me in life.

I had everything I ever wanted, right here in this small apartment.

--------------------------

I can't believe the read climb!

9.15k as of right now!

You are all absolutely amazing!

I'm thinking just one more chapter left, as a kind of epilogue. What do people think?

I might be adding bonus chapters to my books after I finish editing them, so you might see a tad more later down the track.