I looked confused as well. But then the nurse stepped forward and began to help Danielle disrobe.

I winced in emotional pain as I saw her body revealed before me. Her breasts were still firm and beautiful, her tummy flat from extensive exercise and crunches, her legs lithe and long. But everywhere she was marred by the occasional purple and green splotches. Danielle had to double-squeeze my hand to get my attention and remind me not to hold her so hard, as my muscles were tensing in anger at what had been done to her.

We only let go of each other's hands once, to pull her sleeve off. And then Danielle's fingers were intertwined in mine a moment Later.

“This will only take a few minutes," the doctor said.

We nodded and then I dispassionately watched Danielle go through her examination, not feeling the slightest bit of arousal to mar the steely resolve for vengeance creeping into my mind.

Amber drove back to the hospital to pick us up. And by the time we got

Danielle home, I was all hopped up and ready to go vigilante on somebody's ass.

The only problem? I had absolutely NOWHERE to start.

At first, I begged Danielle to tell me everything she knew about what the guy looked like and where on the street he'd attacked her. Smart girl that she is and recognizing my recklessness, Danielle stonewalled and wouldn't tell me a thing. I didn't have the heart to push her.

It seemed like ages ago that Danielle first pulled me out on a spontaneous driving “date”. But that was just yesterday, a Saturday.

I'd been shopping for vacuums with Kevin and we'd even run into Cherys.

I brought up the name just once to Danielle.

“We should tell Cherys what happened."

“No. Not yet."

“Why not? She deserves to know," I rationalized.

“Why? She broke up with me."

"still..." I began as gently as possible, but I couldn't articulate what I wanted to say.

Danielle sighed with a freshly pained look on her face.

“Look. If somebody tells her then she'll want to come over here and talk to me.

I'm not ready for that yet."

I dropped the matter and focused on helping Danielle to her room. Amber had brought a change of clothes for Danielle, but she still felt dirty after her ordeal and the hospital stay.

“I need a hot bath..." she declared.

Amber smiled, “That DOES sound really good." My girlfriend immediately left to go start filling the tub.

Meanwhile, Danielle sat down on her bed and began stripping her clothes off to get ready for her bath.

“I, uh," I stammered. "I'll just go now."