Hello, everyone! Here I am again, as I promised, to give you the new and (hopefully) improved version of Shattered. It's pretty short, but it's something to get my previous readers and new, possible readers started. I hope you all enjoy!

(Psst, don't be afraid to review. I promise I won't bite ;) Seriously though, I would really appreciate some feedback and any kind of constructive criticism since I'm really excited about working on this again and need all the help I can possibly get!)

RR (Review Responses):

My Oasis: Thank you so much for your review on the final chapter/author's note of the previous Shattered story! You have no idea how much it encouraged me! I'm still super-shocked right now that someone would want to read my story in one, whole day! I'm really flattered and I hope you enjoy the remake so far!

Beawolf's Pen: Hey! Welcome back! Like with the previous response, I'm so happy that you still remembered this story! Well, I guess, that story, now. It means so much to me that there's still people out there that cares about this and cares about Daniel so much! :) He is an absolute joy to write and he is, honestly, one of my favorites to write of the OCs on this story. I hope you enjoy this remake and would love to hear from you again! (You too, My Oasis)

-SJ :3

"I promise, Jen. I didn't plan on staying this late, but I have no choice now." A man replied in a hushed, innocent tone that truly sounded as though he was begging the woman he was speaking with to believe him and his cause.

The woman, Jenni, sighed with a sympathetic grin. She was leaning against the kitchen counters, her shirt soaked in dish water and her legs, dressed in pajama bottoms, stretched out in front of her. She had been doing a late spring-cleaning around her home that day and the kitchen was the last task on her daily to-do list.

Before she answered the man on the other end of the cordless telephone, she looked over into the living room adjacent to the kitchen. She could hear the late night cartoons blaring in the background and an occasional giggle from the curly-headed, little boy that sat Indian style on the carpet, some feet away from the television. She arched a brow as she remembered telling him not to sit so close to it.

He watched his cartoon television show in his army pajamas. Although, his heavy, drooping eyelids only allowed him to see with narrow vision. She had allowed him to stay up a little later than she usually did to wait for his father to come home, but it seemed like she was going to have to put him to bed without his father's presence.

"Okay, I understand. Caleb isn't going to, though. I hate building his hopes up like this –and we're both to blame for that—only to crush them before he goes to bed. You have to explain to him this time why you weren't here." She finally answered in a hushed tone, hoping that her young son wouldn't hear their conversation as she pushed herself off the counter and started slowly walking towards the supply closet; the farthest room from the living room.

There was a similar sigh to her previous one that escaped his lips as he took a moment to think about what he was going to say in return. Jenni understood that her husband had to work when his superiors told him to, but their young son wouldn't. He was only four –on the verge of five—and couldn't comprehend a busy work schedule as his.

"I will, I'll tell him everything and apologize for not being there. I'm truly sorry for cancelling again. Like I said, it's complete chaos down here. The patients are literally attacking the nurses. With that, they need all the hands they can possibly get." He explained for a second time in hopes that she would let the urgency of the situation sink in.

"I know, just be careful, okay? Try not to work yourself to death again." Jenni advised with a grin as she remembered the nights when she literally had to drag and tuck him into bed after work.

There was a chuckle from the other end as the same memory ran through his mind. "I'll try. I'll give you that. I love you, you know that right?" He said with a soft, soothing tone. Jenni was sure that there was a crooked smile behind the lips that told her this.

She grinned and tucked a loose strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. "I love you, too, Jason. Don't work too hard and be careful." She advised again as the conversation slowed to an end.

Jason chuckled and they both said their good-byes. Now, it was time to break the news to her son.

Jenni sighed and put the phone back on the hook before she turned and made her way to the living room, plastering an inviting grin on her face.

"Alright, Bubba, I think it's time to go to bed." Jenni said as she came around the couch and squatted down beside him and absentmindedly played with his shaggy curls. She made a reminder to cut it before it was too late. Georgia summers weren't very merciful to those with long, thick hair, especially like Caleb's was.

Caleb's head snapped over to his mother, completely forgetting his current interest in the loud, bright commercial in front of him. "But Daddy ain't home yet, Mama." He reminded her with a hint of desperation.

Jenni's grin faded away. "I know, Bubba. Daddy has to work late again. There's-."

"Lots of sick people that need Daddy's help…I know." He finished with a depressed mumble.

Jenni frowned with him and pulled him over into an encasing hug. "You know he loves you, Bubba. That's why he works so hard. Besides, he'll be here all morning tomorrow; he promised you. He doesn't break his promises, remember?" Jenni tried to cheer him up as she rubbed his arm in a slow, soothing back-and-forth motion.

Caleb yawned wide as he thought over his mother's statement. "Okay…Mama, could you give him this when he comes home? Miss Sarah helped me make it for him." Caleb asked sleepily as he wrestled with his pocket as he tried to retrieve something hidden in there. He eventually managed to pull out a folded, yet crumpled piece of paper.

Jenni took it and began to unfold it until Caleb reached out frantically and snatched the precious gift back. "No, Mama! It's for Daddy only!" He practically shrieked with panic.

Jenni was taken aback for a moment then smiled as she watched him carefully fold it back and place it in his pocket for safe keeping.

"I'll just wait and give it to him when he comes home tomorrow since you're peekin'." Caleb grumbled under his breath as he stood up.

Jenni chuckled and pulled herself up. "Alright, little man, how 'bout you go get yourself ready for bed," she instructed as she watched him drag himself to the hallway, "And if you're not in it in thirty minutes I'm gonna tie you to it!"

After he was clear from her view, she chuckled admiringly at his devotion to his father. It honestly hurt her that he was so devoted to him even though they rarely saw each other on weekends. It was ironic how much it was like her daughter's and ex-husband's relationship.

Her daughter was twelve and spent the weekends with her father. This had been going on for about seven years now and Jenni was worried that it was going to affect her daughter, Emaley, later on. That was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want Emaley paying the price for her mistakes.

For now, she decided to worry about making sure that Caleb was actually brushing his teeth and not playing with the bath toys with the sink running again.