Her hand looks so small in mine; so fragile. The scrape below her knuckle ruined the picture. Looking up her arm I see a few more bruises...a few more scrapes. I can hardly bare to look past her arms because then I see her face. I see her poor, pathetic face.

He bit part of her ear off in the attack...so there is a bandage around her right ear. Her left eye is so swollen she can't open it, but that doesn't matter because she doesn't want to. Her eyes haven't opened for 2 days. I think she's lost all will to live. She has to hold on. If she doesn't I don't think I can handle the fall.

One of her legs is broken; her right one. He broke her left foot too. I don't know how he could have...

Her lip is swollen. It looks like it's almost twice it's normal size. I can't touch her other hand. It's broken in 3 places. Her arm too. I don't even want to think what the effects will be on...I can't think about that. Not now at least.

She was saving herself for marriage. Now she's...We were supposed to be married in two weeks. I don't think that will happen now. I don't want to know how she will treat me when she wakes up...if she does.

The doctors say it's too soon to say, but she might not be able to have children. She's going to die when she hears that. She wanted kids so bad. We were going to have 3: 2 girls and a boy. We had just bought the house we were going to live in. It was her dream house. Now her dreams are stuffed under her hospital bed, just about as bloody and swollen as she is..

And I'm about to start a long fall...

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

10:00 a.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

"I can't imagine what kind of person would do this." Brian said softly as he kneeled down at the side of her bed. "How could anyone even think about it?"

The man nodded his head as a tear slid down his cheek.

He looked up to see his 3 best friends: Brian, Nick, and AJ. They were all tired and angry. Nick had his head turned away as if he could not bear to see her in the condition she was in. AJ looked emotionless as he stared at her limp body. He was the strong one, never letting his feeling show through. He didn't know how anyone could do it. He looked back down at Andie and kissed her palm.

The doctors said that all they could do now was wait for her to wake up...They had found her in an ally; unconscious. The only way they could catch the man would be for her to wake up and tell them who had done it. Once they found out the man wouldn't need a trial or a sentencing...All he would need is 15 minutes alone with Kevin, then the matter would be settled, forever.

Kevin lifted his head and saw a nurse walk in. She smiled at him and fiddled with various tubes and bandages before leaving once again. He didn't understand how she could see any one in her condition and smile.

"Do you think she's going to wake up soon?" Nick asked meekly as he finally turned to look at her.

"I don't know. I hope so." AJ answered as he patted the younger man on the back.

"She was only 23." Kevin finally spoke. Brian lifted his head and looked at his friend. He looked tortured. He looked older. The usual smile was gone from his face. He looked like he was dead. He was sure that was how he felt too.

"Yeah." Was all he could say. No one knew what else to do.

******************* The next day

11:59 a.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

Her eyes opened today. They opened then closed for a minute then opened again. She looked up at the ceiling and I saw a tear fall down her cheek. When I said her name she looked at me. She looked right at me into my eyes then broke down. She snatched her hand away from me and buried her head into her pillow. Her head facing the other direction. She was too upset to see the others in the room. The doctors made us leave soon after that. Then the police came.

They have been in there for 30 minutes. The door hasn't opened. I haven't heard a noise. I looked over to AJ. He had his head buried in his hands. He looked like he might be crying. I put my hand on his back. He looked up; he wasn't. He nodded to me and looked back down at the floor, sighing loudly.

Nick was ringing his hands and staring nervously at the closed door. There were tiny beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. I put said his name and his head turned to me sharply.

"What?"

"You OK?" I asked.

He nodded his head and put on a phony smile. He turned back to the door and I heard him swallow hard. I felt a hand touch my back and turned. It was Brian he smiled. I nodded to him, he gave me another smile and patted my back before getting up and heading towards the candy machine.

I closed my eyes and sucked in a few breaths before I heard voices. I opened my eyes and saw that her door was opening. I bolted up and went to the officers.

"Did she tell you anything?" I saw Nick, AJ, and Brian appear at my side. Nick seemed to be shaking. AJ's eyes were wide. Brian was panting.

"She didn't tell us who it was. She says it was blurry. She doesn't remember." The officer said with a frown. Somewhere behind me I heard some one sigh. I wonder why any one would have sighed.

"Well thanks anyway. The semen samples will be of help though right?" Brian asked.

"Well, not exactly. This man knew what he was doing. I didn't find a trace of his DNA on her." The officer said regretfully. "We just don't have anything to go by. I am going to bring pictures of past felons and show them to her. If she has a reaction then we know we have our guy. We just have to hope that he did it before so we can find him.

"We can only hope that he did." I agreed.

"Or hope that he didn't." I turned to Nick and gave him a curious look as to ask what he was talking about. "I just didn't want it to have happened to another girl." He said putting his hands up.

I nodded to him and turned back to the officer. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, we'll let you know as soon as we find anything out." He said before tipping his hat and turning away from us. I looked into the room. She was asleep.

"She was tired after having to live it again. So we are going to let her rest. How about you all go get something to eat in the cafeteria." I heard a friendly voice say. I turned to my right to see the nurse from before. I thanked her and looked back at Andie one more time before the guys and I left for the cafeteria.

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

12:34 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

All during the meal they were quiet. No one spoke a word. They all just sat at the table eating. Sometimes looking up at each other, other times not. When they were done they all looked up and Brian was the first to speak.

"At least we have one thing to be thankful of. She's awake."

"Yeah I guess so." Kevin said nodding his head once again.

"Do you think she saw who it was?" AJ asked in a flat-tired voice.

"She might have."

"Who was the last person to see her before it...happened?" Brian asked trying to watch his wording.

"It was me." Nick said shifting in his chair. "She was at my house before...yeah."

"What was she doing there?" Kevin asked sounding confused.

"She was giving me the sweater that I had left at your apartment a few weeks ago. And to pick up a CD I said she could borrow."

"You were the last person?" Brian asked.

"Yeah."

"How do you know that?" AJ asked finally looking up from his hands. "The police said she didn't talk. No one but her knows what happened."

Kevin's eyes narrowed. "He makes a good point there Nick. How do you know?"

Nick shifted feeling the pressure on him rise. "I don't know if I was the very last person! I was just guessing!" He pushed his chair back and swallowed hard again.

"Yeah guessing. But you seemed pretty sure of yourself." Brian said standing up.

"Yeah you did Nicky. Why is that?" AJ said standing up also.

"God! What is wrong with you? I just said that she was. I didn't think she would have gone anywhere else after she left. She said she was going to go home!"

"Guys, back off. We have no right to jump on him. Sit down." Kevin said standing up himself. Brian and AJ looked at him then sat down slowly. "We have no reason to jump on each other." He sat down himself once they were all seated.

"Sorry Nick." Brian said into his hands.

"Yeah." AJ said towards the ceiling as he sighed loudly.

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

I walked into her room. She knew me immediately. Not because I was her friend. Not because she had seen me some where else before...Well not exactly. She didn't scream. She didn't cry. She just looked at me; her eyes wide. She stared at me with that adorable face she has...

I neared her bed and sat at the end. There was one thing I had to say. One thing I knew would shake her up enough so she wouldn't talk."

"Miss me?"

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

3:12 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

Kevin headed for the doors to go into the hospital. He cleared his throat and looked down at his palms. They were wet. He was nervous.

He sighed and hopped onto the curb before he decided to turn around. He saw AJ. He was on the hood of car breathing very heavily; looking very mad and deep in thought. He stayed that way for a few moments before he stood up and started pacing. As he paced Kevin noticed that he was talking to himself. He waved his arms as he did so. He looked like a lunatic.

"AJ!" He shouted causing the man to stop.

AJ looked up and saw Kevin on the curb. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. His face grew a crooked smile and he waved sheepishly. Kevin's brow wrinkled with confusion before he turned again and walked into the hospital. He needed to see Andie, it was important.

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

3:29 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

As Kevin neared Andie's room he saw Brian leaving it. Kevin sped up to catch him before he left his site.

"Brian!" He called so he stopped.

"Hey Kev." He said uneasily.

Stop assuming Richardson! "How is she doing?" He asked so his mind switched to a better subject.

"I don't know. She won't talk."

"To you?"

Brian shook his head. "To anyone."

"Oh." Kevin sighed looking at the door.

"Sorry. I was just in there for a few seconds though. I just wanted to stop bye. I have to go to work." He patted Kevin on the back and started for the door again.

"Brian!" Kevin called out after him.

Brian stopped and turned around, his eyes wide. "Yeah." He squeaked.

"Thanks." smiled and turned around again. In what seemed like 2 milliseconds he was gone.

Kevin walked slowly into her room. She was facing the window deep in thought. She didn't notice him come in. He stopped at the base of her bed and tapped her foot lightly. He smiled when she turned to him.

"Miss me?"

******************* The next day

2:12 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

The policeman was back. He walked into the room and felt the tension immediately. It was coming from all corners. He looked to his right and saw AJ. He was staring at the woman in the bed. As he did so he brushed his lips gently with his pointer finger. He seemed to have no emotion what-so-ever. He took note of this finding it odd before looking on to the next man; Nick.

He was shaking all over the poor thing. He too was staring at the woman. He looked sick. He took that down too. On to the next person.

Brian was at the side of the bed, in a chair. Holding her hand. She seemed non-responsive to that. Tears rolled down his all ready pale cheeks. Nothing strange there.

Kevin, the boyfriend, was also at the side of the bed and in a chair. He had her other hand, which he kissed lightly. He seemed to be saying something to himself. A prayer most likely. Nothing wrong with praying, but he noted it anyway. Anything would help in this case. Anyone could be a suspect...Who ever did it knew what he was doing.

"Excuse me." He said as he stepped fully into the room. Everyone had a response. That one response. They were jumpy.

AJ actually jumped out of his chair.

"It's OK fellas. It's me." He said walking closer to AJ and Nick. He turned to Kevin and Brian. "I just wanted to stop by and tell you more about the case."

"Oh, well come in then. I'm sorry. We're all a little out of it today." Kevin said as he walked towards the officer.

"Yes, I can see that. But really I understand why. After something like this everyone has a right to be out of it."

"So what is the news? Do you know anything?" Brian asked as he got up and stood next to Kevin.

"Unfortunately no. There is nothing. We won't be able to find this guy unless she talks and from what I understand that isn't happening."

Kevin nodded and turned back to his girlfriend lying on the bed. She was hearing everything, but not responding.

"Just because we are running on empty here I am going to have to ask you all a few questions. Maybe you saw something or heard something that would help us get a lead."

"We didn't do anything though." Nick said as he shifted uneasily.

"Yeah, why interrogate us if we aren't guilty." AJ agreed as he glanced over to the bed.

"I'm not going to be interrogating you. I just want to ask you some questions so that we can maybe get a clue of who it is through you. You might know this guy. He could be a friend, a co-worker, anybody. We have to cover every ground to catch him otherwise he will go free."

"And that can't happen." Brian said angrily.

"Yes. It can't. And it won't." The officer agreed slowly, his statement leaning towards Kevin.

"Thank you." Kevin said as he shook the officer's hand. "When do you want to talk to us?"

"Tonight. Come to the station around 6. It won't take long I promise."

"We'll be there." AJ said suddenly.

The officer turned around and thanked him. Mentally he was yet again taking note at how jumpy this man seemed. All questions would be answered that night and he felt that they would find the perpetrator in all the mess too.

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

5:15 p.m.- AJ's apartment

Calm yourself down man. They are just going to ask you a few questions nothing big, nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen to you. Just tell them what they want to hear and you can go home. No one will ever ask you anymore questions...They don't need to. No they don't.

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

5:17 p.m.- Nick's house

You are working yourself up for no reason. You might not have said anything before but they will understand why her jacket is here. You'll just explain it to them. No biggy. She forgot to take it with her...in 45-degree weather. Oh God! I'm screwed. I am so screwed!

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

5:25 p.m.- Brian's apartment

You just keep your cool Brian. There is nothing to worry about. No one has to find out about us. It was a mistake. They will see it differently. No one has to know what happened. It will just be between her and me. Her and me. She won't tell anyone. Why would she tell anyone. Especially him. No it's OK. There is nothing to worry about.

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

5:31 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

This didn't have to happen. I told her so many times that she was wrong. This didn't have to happen. Now everything is messed up. Everything is ruined for us. She'll never accept me again. They never do after things like this happen. She can't love me anymore. Why did this have to happen! I told her not to-. I have to go to the station! I'm going to be late. Damn it!

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

5:49 p.m.- The Police Station

"You're early Mr. Carter." Lt. Pratt said as he seated himself across from Nick.

"I don't like to be late for things." Nick answered looking around the empty room. He noticed a mirror on one of the walls. "Why do they have to be here if you only wanted to ask a few questions?" He said pointing towards the mirror.

"It standard procedure. Just imagine they aren't there." He said in a soothing voice. "Do they bother you Nick? Can I call you Nick?" Nick shook his head. "Was that to calling you Nick or do they bother you?"

"Oh, um." Nick said looking away from the mirror. "They don't bother me. Yes you can call me Nick."

"I see let's get started. I hear you believe you were the last person to see Miss Nuccio. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

"Because she said that she was going to go home right after she left my house. She said she was tired and that she needed to get home."

"Why was she at your house Nick?"

"She had to return a sweater that I had left at her house weeks before."

"Why would she do that so late at night?"

"I don't know. She came in and she said she was bored of sitting at home and that she was sick of seeing it in her room." Nick said with a slight smile.

"It being the sweater?"

"Yes."

"How long was she there do you think."

"About an hour but I couldn't say."

"Could you give me a rough estimate at the time she came to your house and the time she left?"

"Um...She came around 9:45 so she must have left around 11:00. That seems right."

"Her body was found at 12:37 three blocks away from your house."

"Yes I am aware of that."

"She didn't have a jacket on Nick? Did she leave your house in a jacket?"

Nick shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. "I couldn't say."

"Why is that? Wouldn't you remember? It was 45 degrees outside when she left the apartment. It was snowing. You think you'd remember her leaving the house without it on."

"I suppose she had it on when she left." He said swallowing hard.

"You look nervous. Calm down you're doing good. You need some water?" He offered. Nick nodded. "Here you are."

Nick took the cup and drank the entire thing in one gulp. "Thank you."

"You're doing fine. So you say she had it on when she left?"

"Yes."

"Can you explain to me where her jacket could have gone?"

"No. I haven't a clue. Maybe the rapist took it after he was," he coughed "finished with her."

"Why would he have done that?"

Nick shrugged.

"He didn't take anything else of hers. He didn't take her wallet, her purse, or any other article of her clothing. Not even jewelry, why would he have been interested in her jacket?"

"I don't know."

"OK, thank you Nick. We are done here. You can go home, but please keep in touch we may need you again."

"Thank you." Nick said standing up from his chair. He gave a quick glance at the mirror and left the room.

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

6:27 p.m.- The station

Brian had been waiting just outside the room. He stood up when he heard the door open. Nick came out. He looked pale.

"Nick?" Brian asked as he pushed past him. Nick glanced up at him but said nothing.

"Mr. Littrell. I'm ready to see you."

Lt. Pratt sat down once again across from his interview. He smiled and thanked Brian for being there.

"Anything to help the case."

"Yes. For the case."

Brian nodded.

"Do you know the type of relationship shared between Nick and Andie?"

"Yes, they are friends. We are all friends. Andie is just a friend to all of us, we care deeply about her."

"Except Kevin?"

'What? Oh yes. Kevin..." Brian trailed off and stared at his hands.

"Who is Kevin to Miss Nuccio?"

"Her fiancé."

"How long have you known Miss Nuccio?"

"About as long as Kevin. I met her at a picnic."

"Miss Nuccio?"

"Yes."

"What is your relationship with her?"

"We are good friends."

"When was the last time you saw before the incident?"

"That night." Brian slipped. He hadn't meant to say that.

"Oh really? What time may I ask?"

"About 7 or 7:30."

"Where at?"

"My apartment."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"What time, roughly, did she come and what time did she go?"

"Roughly?"

"That's is correct."

"I would say 7:15-9:30."

"Really!? That is very interesting." Lt. Pratt said sitting up in his chair and giving a sideways glance at the mirror. "Nick said that Andie came to his apartment straight from home. He said that she had gotten bored with sitting around."

"Did she? Why would she have done that?"

"That is a good question Brian." He paused and looked down at his notes. "You and Andie are good friends?"

"I said that before yes."

"Why do you think she would have told Nick she had come from her house? Was she hiding something?"

"I don't think she would have needed to."

"Then why would she have lied?"

"I don't know."

"What did you and Andie do that night?"

Brian swallowed and started averting his eyes from Pratt. "Uh, we talked and watched some TV."

"Is that all?"

"That I can remember yes."

"What was the reason for her to come over to your apartment that night Mr. Littrell?"

"There was no reason she just felt like doing it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Does she do that often?"

"What?"

"Go over to your house."

"Yeah on occasion. My apartment is relaxing to her."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know how about you ask her?" Brian said, his voice slightly raising.

"We can't do that Brian. She's not talking."

Brian glared at the man across him, his jaw locked. "I think that's all the questions I need to be answered-" He paused. "Did Andie have her jacket on when she left your house?"

"Yes. She isn't an idiot. She yells at anyone who doesn't wear there coat in this weather. She's afraid of catching a cold."

"Thank you Brian. I'll keep in touch."

Brian nodded and left the room without looking back.

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

7:01 p.m.- The station

AJ and Kevin looked up as the door opened. Brian came out smiling. He waved to them and continued to walk down the hall. Kevin glanced at AJ and stood up.

"Actually Kevin I would like to talk to AJ before you. Is that OK?"

"Yes, that's fine." He said sitting back down as AJ entered the room.

AJ sat down and pulled out a package of cigarettes and took one out. He lit it with a match and stared at Lt. Pratt.

"How long have you known Miss Nuccio?"

"I don't know a few years."

"How did you meet her?"

"Through Kevin. I met her at a picnic."

"The picnic where Brian met Andie?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Do you know of their relationship?"

"Yeah, they're friends." AJ said shifting in his chair.

"Friends? That's not what he said."

"Oh yeah?" He said taking a drag from his cigarette. "What d********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************."

"No, I think that's the stuff you have been stepping in lately."

AJ let out an uncomfortable laugh. "What did he tell you?"

"I think you know."

"Yeah?'

"Yeah."

"What if I don't believe what you are saying? Brian wouldn't have said that."

"Why is that?"

"Because it's not true." AJ stood up. "I think you've wasted enough of my time."

"Sit down Mr. McLean!" Pratt shouted standing up. "I'll tell you when I am through with you! SIT!"

AJ sat down with a thud, a scowl on his face.

"What is your relationship with Miss Nuccio?"

"She's my friend I said that before."

"How close are you to her?"

"What do you mean? Are you asking if I sleep with her?"

"Yeah."

"I don't."

Pratt stared at AJ for a moment searching for a clue he might have slipped out. "When was the last time you saw Andie?"

AJ paused then exhaled. "The night it happened." His face hardened.

"What time?"

"11:15. Something like that."

"Where?" Pratt asked sitting up in his chair.

"She was walking away from Nick's house. She must have been on her way home."

"Did you see anyone following her?"

AJ's jaw locked. He looked down at the table. "I didn't see anyone following her."

"Did she say hi?"

"No."

"Why not? I thought you two were friends."

"She was running."

Pratt stopped and turned to the mirror, his eyes wide. He had just hit the jackpot.

"From whom?"

"I don't' think it was from anyone."

"What?"

"She was just running. She looked upset."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

AJ moved his eyes to the mirror, his jaw still locked. "No."

"Why not? You'd think when you see a woman running and crying you would stop her to see what was wrong."

"Yeah? Well not in this case."

"Why is that AJ?"

"I don't bud in to their business." Oh shit. Kevin I'm sorry.

"Who's business?"

"Theirs."

"Who is they, AJ?"

AJ rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. I am so sorry Kev. "Kevin and Andie's."

"Why is that?"

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think this has any relevance to this case. And why are you interrogating me anyway? You said you were going to ask a few questions about the case. Nothing to this extent. I don't think you have any legal right." He stood up. "And I've said enough."

"We'll get the papers sooner or later AJ."

"Well I'll take later, because I don't want to be the reason for his downfall."

"What does that mean AJ?" Pratt asked as AJ opened the door.

"Figure it out yourself."

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

7:45 p.m.- The station

Kevin stood up as he saw AJ exit the room. He looked mad. When his face met Kevin's it softened. He put his hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye.

"I'm sorry."

"What? AJ?" Kevin asked, but it was too late. He was already heading out the door. Kevin looked back to the room, Pratt was in the doorway.

"We just need to ask you a few questions."

Kevin hesitated to walk in the door. He looked at the door AJ was exiting. Then back at Pratt.

"I wouldn't even think about it Sir. If you run we'll have a warrant out for you in 15 minutes."

Kevin swallowed. "I wasn't going to leave."

"Good." Pratt said holding out his arm as Kevin walked in the door. "Take a seat."

Kevin swallowed again and looked at the mirror. There was no turning back now.

Pratt and Kevin had what seemed like a staring contest for at least 5 minutes. By the end of it Pratt had Kevin right where he wanted him.

"Did you know about the affair Andie was having with Brian?"

Kevin's eye flinched. "Who told you about that?"

"I think you know who." Pratt waited but got no response. "When did you find out about it? Was it the night of the attack?"

Kevin closed his eyes. "I didn't do it to her. I didn't hurt her."

"Who did?"

"I don't know."

"All signs seem to be pointing to you Mr. Richardson."

"Why is that?"

"Let me see. There are so many things I could start with. I think you found out about Andie and Brian when she was at his apartment. You had an argument and she left you and Brian to go to Nick's. While at Nick's house she told him what was going on, that's why she was there so late. You must have entered the house at about 10:40. There was another big argument and she got so upset she ran out of the house; without her jacket. You chased after her, something AJ didn't see; or did." He paused to let Kevin think about this. "Once you caught up to her you were so angry you pulled her into the ally and made her get what she deserved." He looked back at Kevin.

"That's not how it happened. I didn't hurt her. It wasn't me."

"Then how did it happen?" He asked leaning forward so his face was in Kevin's.

Kevin sighed and looked away from Pratt. "I did find out about them. I was mad, I admit that. When I found them at Brian's house in his bed-I just started yelling. I didn't know what to do. She ran out and I was too mad to stay with Brian so I left too. She went straight to Nick's because he's like her brother. She told him what happened. I found her out she was there and stormed in...She was my fiancé I was mad. I didn't want to-." Kevin put his head down and began to sob.

"You didn't want to what Mr. Richardson?"

"I didn't mean to hit her! I was seeing red I was so mad! It was my first reaction! She ran out of the house and that was the last time I saw her I swear!"

Pratt stared into his eyes. "I don't believe you."

Kevin broke down again. "I didn't do anything." He kept repeating that even as the officers came in to take him away.

******************* The next day

12:34 p.m.- Nick's house

Pratt neared the doorstep of Nick's house. He turned around and saw his 5 best men behind him. He nodded to them. "You know what to do." He knocked on the door.

Nick opened it, his face flushed white when he saw the men. "Ye-yes." He stuttered.

"We have a warrant Nick. I hate to do this to you, but we have no other choice."

"Why? I told you everything."

"I think you know you didn't." Pratt said as he pushed past him and into the house. "You're hiding something."

Nick stood at the door and watched as the men invaded his house. His eyes wandered to the living room. His eyes widened! You idiot! Her jacket was draped across the top of the couch. It was just sitting there. He looked around and saw that no one was looking. He slowly made his way to the jacket and sat on it. One of the men walked by. They don't know what it looks like! He thought. Hang it up with your other coats! He tucked the jacket under his arm and went for the hanger behind the door. He turned around again to make sure no one was looking and put it under another coat. He sighed and turned around again. They wouldn't be in his house for very long. They wouldn't find the jacket either.

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

12:36 p.m.- AJ's apartment

"I didn't mean to tell him!" AJ shouted as Brian angrily paced the room.

"Well you did! They are going to suspect me now too!"

"I didn't mean to! They just sort of strung all of the pieces together...I don't know what Kevin said either...They have him now too."

"I know that AJ!" Brian said as he sat down angrily on AJ's couch. "They are going to ask us back you know. We're screwed!"

"Why are we screwed?" AJ asked trying to stay calm. "We aren't screwed. We...we're just..."

"Fucked?" Brian suggested.

AJ rolled his eyes. "We don't have anything to worry about if we didn't do anything wrong, and we didn't do anything wrong."

"No we didn't." Brian said staring out the window. "What we did was right."

AJ turned to Brian, Brian was staring out the window nodding his head. "What we did was right." AJ moved back on the couch a little, as Brian continued to repeat. "It was right."

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

2:37 p.m.- Nick's house

"I guess you don't have it Nick." Pratt said from the porch. "I'm sorry to bother you, but please don't think of this as the last time you see me. I know I'll want to again."

"Sure!" Nick said waving his hand with a smile on his face. "I'd be glad to help."

Oh, I'm safe. They are gone! I'm safe! I'm safe!

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

7:47 p.m.- Pratt's office

He sat surveying his notes over for the fifth time. Something wasn't right. Some one wasn't telling the truth. But which one? Or which ones? He had enough to put Kevin away...but the girl wasn't talking. Brian's story was missing something...but what?

AJ knew something, and that was yet to be known at this point also.

Nick...Nick was doing something. But what? He was too jumpy, like he had something to hide.

Someone wasn't telling the truth...but WHO?

He was running out of time...He needed to find out whom.

And quickly.

*******************The next day

11:03 a.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

She was lying in her bed. She had yet to speak. She barely moved. She had lost all will to live. How could he have done this to me? How could HE have done this to me. I thought he cared. I thought he was my friend...my....

To the nurses and doctors her eyes had become vacant. She wouldn't eat so they fed her through an IV. To her only two things mattered anymore. Two things were said in her head, nothing more, nothing less.

Why? God WHY?

I want to die! Let me die!

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

11:14 a.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

"She hasn't spoken a word?" He asked hopefully.

"No." The nurse answered shaking her head. "She hasn't gotten better. I'd only say she has gotten worse. We had a psychiatrist in there this morning but she made no response."

"Ok, thank you." He said as he walked into her room. Just by seeing her on the bed he knew she was worse. A few days ago when he had first seen her she had been bad off...But now, now she was pale and wasn't even moving. She just stared. "The ceiling must be holding great secrets because you've been staring at it like it does."

She didn't move, she wasn't startled. She just kept staring.

He sighed and pulled up a chair next to her bed. "I know you've been through a lot. Rapes are never easy and they are terrible things to deal with but I need your help."

No response.

"I know you know who it is. You are the only one who can put them in jail. They need to be put in jail. He could do it again."

No response.

Pratt put his head down. "I need you." He pleaded.

No response.

"OK. I'm going to leave my number here then. If you decide to talk you can reach me at any time. Day or night." He got up and put the card on the table next to her bed. He looked at her for a few minutes then turned and left.

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

It's not as if I could have helped her really...She was in trouble the second we all met her, she just was unaware of that. You don't mess around with Kevin. You don't mess around with Brian. When you do there are repercussions; serious repercussions. I could have done something I guess. I just didn't...Well I did do something...

Let's not have you think about that right now OK? That's too much...You just need your sleep. Some R&R, in the morning you'll be fine.

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

My hell is knowing you live. My death will be with you in my mind, in my head, and in my heart. You cut me down as I did you...You'll never understand why; I don't think I will either. We can't even try. Let's no dwell on the past sweetie. Let's just look forward to a life (death) of happiness (sorrow) in the arms of... (another)

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

1:23 p.m.- The station

Kevin could smell his cologne as he entered the low-lit room. "This isn't fair. I shouldn't be in here."

"But you are." Brian said sitting down across from Kevin.

"You should be in here rotting next to me."

"Oh, I don't know about that...Andie was such a great girl. Why did you do it Kev? Jealousy? Just pure rage? Hatred...that's almost the same thing as rage-"

"What are you talking about? I was mad at you, sure...But I wouldn't hurt Andie, not like that."

"Yeah, you use her as a punching bag instead." Brian said leaning forward; his eyes narrow slits.

Kevin glared back. "I didn't use her as a punching bag,"

"Oh really? Well I call hitting your girlfriend exactly that."

"It was an accident, I was really, really mad."

"You don't just accidentally hit some one...Especially more than once."

Kevin sat up straighter in his chair. "When did I hit her before...that night?" He stammered.

"You didn't-you didn't hit her? Do you not remember, cause I do. I really remember that. It's a rare occasion to see a woman crying on your doorstep; her nose bleeding non-stop sorta like my faucet..." he paused and looked down at his hands, "I didn't think it would ever stop." He looked up at Kevin; his eyes glaring into the wide circles across from him. "That wasn't the only thing that I noticed about her. She wouldn't tell me anything when I asked her about it, but...there was blood on her dress. In that certain spot you know. I asked her if she would like me to wash it and she sank into the couch and started yelling at me. I backed off...I don't think that's something you know how to do is it?"

"You have no right to come in here and blame me for things that didn't happen Brian. You busted yourself into my life, into my home and...I don't even want to think about it! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!" He shouted as he stood up.

"I have every right." He said plainly; his voice calm. "I loved her. I don't think that's something you know how to do."

Kevin turned around and started for the door. He knocked. "I'm done." He didn't look back to see Brian smiling, grinning from ear to ear.

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

1:59 p.m.- Nick's house

"I told you everything I know Pratt. Don't keep calling me unless you actually want to know something important." Nick said trying to stay calm.

"You don't think her life is important? If the man who did this to her is still out there her life could be in danger or he may just feel the need to do it to some one else...Ass-hole. So if you think that my questions aren't important I think you should rethink-"

"Pratt..."

"Just let me check in on you tomorrow. I'm not going to search your house or anything I just want to talk to you."

"You all ready talked to me. I told you everything I know!"

"Yeah and I just need to talk to you."

Nick sighed and closed his eyes. "Fine. I have things to do though so-"

"It won't take long Nick I promise."

"Don't call me Nick." He said before he hung up.

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

2:43 p.m.- Nick's house

Nick heard the car door slamming before he heard the knock on the door. When he opened it he saw Brian standing before him. "We need to talk." He said pushing Nick back into the house.

"What?" Nick said almost annoyed as the larger man pushed him onto the couch.

"You need to help me out here Nicky."

"Why should I help you?" He asked half glaring at Brian who was taking a seat on the couch opposite him.

"Do you have any other choice?" Brian glanced over to the coat racks behind Nick's door. Nick followed his eyes nervously. "It's not like I don't know about her coat..."

"I get your point Brian." He sighed and looked down at the floor. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"Nothing. I don't want you to do anything about her coat. That's not why I am here."

"Then why are you here? What do you want with me?"

"I want you to tell Pratt."

"About what?"

"Kevin. I want you to tell Pratt everything about Kevin."

"What about it Brian? What do you want me to say. He didn't do it."

"How are you so sure about that?"

Nick shifted and glanced towards the door. "Fine...but what do you want me to say?"

Brian smirked and leaned forward. He had them all right where he wanted them. He was going to pay for what he did.

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

5:35 p.m.- The station

Nick sat down just as Pratt entered the room. Brian sat smiling next to him.

"Thank you so much for coming, both of you." Pratt said as he sat down across from them. He leaned forward and stared at them for a few minutes. "What was it you had to tell me?" He asked finally.

Brian glanced over at Nick. Nick coughed and leaned towards Pratt. "I know what he did to her."

"Who is he?" Pratt asked trying to lean closer, Nick's voice was shrinking as he spoke.

"Kevin."

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

5:35 p.m.- AJ's apartment

He had been steering clear of everyone. He didn't want to see anyone. Be near anyone. He just wanted to be alone. He couldn't visit Andie, although he really wanted to.

His head hurt from the thinking. His eyes hurt from the lack of sleep. His body hurt in too many places for a reason he couldn't explain.

He wanted so bad to see Andie again it almost pained him. If he went he would have to see her lying in the hospital bed, bruised and hurting. He didn't like to see her hurt. He didn't like to see her in pain and she spent too much of her life writhing with it. He just wanted to see her smile again.

God damn it! Why did I have to do that! It's all my fault! I did everything! I could have stopped all this! Why didn't I just stop?

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

5:36 p.m.- The station

"Kevin? What about Kevin?"

Nick swallowed. "I know what kinds of things he did to her before...before it happened."

"What kinds of things are we talking about, son?" Pratt asked sensing the boy's fear.

"He hit her."

"Hit her?"

"Yeah." Nick nodded, putting his head down. He felt as if he was letting Kevin down. Most of all Andie. "He hit her..."

"Alot?"

"Not really a lot." Nick said scrunching his face. "Just a few times but, they weren't just a slap or anything they were pretty bad."

"How bad Nick? You are going to have to tell me. I need to know this. All of this." Pratt said in a softer voice than usual.

Nick let out a shudder to hold back the tears in his eyes. "The first time she came over to my house. She was in shock. Kevin isn't a hostile man. He doesn't even like to kill bugs. She just sat on my couch and cried. She didn't tell me how she got the scrapes or bruises until about 2 hours later. All I could do was hold her. It was one of the scariest things I have ever been through."

"Why the scariest?"

"Because of what he did to her. The things he did to her...I just didn't understand. I didn't understand why he would have done...the things."

"What things Nick? What did she say?"

"After she calmed down she looked up in my eyes and said, "He hit me. He hit me because..." then she paused and looked down at the floor. "I don't know why." When she looked back up it killed me. Then she started to tell what he did. It was awful."

Pratt felt like he had just gotten his man when something hit him. "Nick? Did she ever use his name?"

Brian closed his eyes and fell back into his chair.

Nick looked up. "No." His eyes were wide. "She didn't."

Pratt jumped out of his chair. "Damn it!"

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

5:47 p.m.- The North Side Christian's Hospital

Andie rolled onto her side. No one could help her. No one could save her. He was too good for them. He knew what to do to get around the police. He wasn't an idiot. She knew that all to well. He always knew what to do. He had never been caught before but she was sure that he would get by them.

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

5:52 p.m.- The Station's parking lot

Brian grabbed Nick's shirt as he closed the door to his car. "What do you mean she never said his name?"

"She didn't Brian! I can't lie to the police!" He shouted wide-eyed. Nice contradiction...He thought to himself as Brian let go of Nick's shirt.

"She didn't...Why didn't you tell me this before?" He asked leaning his arm out the window.

"Because it never crossed my mind before. She didn't say his name...Wow. I didn't even think to ask her who, I just always assumed it would have been Kevin."

"It was Kevin, Nicky. Who else could it have been?" Brian said glaring into Nick's eyes.

Nick stared out his window...The only people that would have affected her that much if they hurt her would be Kevin, AJ...and Oh my God! Nick turned to Brian and leaned towards his door. Brian was glaring out his window, staring at the station. It had never occurred to him that...wow Brian! Oh my God!

Brian turned towards Brian when he felt Nick's eyes on him. "What?" He asked angrily; his lip curling up making his face look gruesome.

Nick started the car. "Nothing Brian, nothing." His hands fumbled with the gearshifts before he was able to move from the parking lot.

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

6:36 p.m.- AJ's car

15 minutes earlier he had lost his mind. He hadn't been able to contain his grief any longer. He had jumped in his car and started for the hospital 10 minutes ago. He was now at the corner of Ranger Lane and Cultar Blv. waiting for the light to change. His fingers tapped the steering wheel impatiently. He felt as if he was going to burst if he didn't get to her soon. He had to see her. He had to talk to her. He had to be with her even if it could only be for a few minutes.

The light changed. AJ put his foot down on the gas heavily. He didn't care if a cop saw him, he was going to see Andie. His love for her was unlike Brian and Kevin's. He loved her not only as a woman but also as a sister; as a friend.

He had started to love her years ago. When he first laid eyes on her his heart had begun to shake. His body shivered. She was an amazing creature. Four months after the picnic he was treating her like a sister. She was so close to his heart that with out her near him he ached. Seeing her in pain was so hard for him that he just had come to ignore it. Her pain was not there in his eyes. If she cried in his presence he hugged her, but did not listen to her cries. He had learned to do this a year ago, because if he listened, if he heard, he would fall apart chunk by chunk until there was nothing left of him but a pile of cold flesh.

He saw the hospital in the distance. I was getting nearer and nearer, but it seemed to him like he would never get there. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead as he tried to concentrate on the road and not think of her.

He closed his eyes for a second and he was in the parking lot of the hospital. He jumped out of the car, not caring if he had locked it or not. He swung the doors open and practically ran to the information desk.

"Andie-Andie Nuccio!" He spat out.

The woman at the desk told him to calm down as she typed in her name and got the information he needed. The woman told him the room but AJ cut her off.

"I don't need her room number! I need clearance!" He almost shouted.

"There is no need to yell sir, we will get you there in no time." She started writing on a piece of paper. "Here you are sir, but please don't run in here."

AJ quickly thanked the woman and hurried down the hall to the elevators. He saw one opening and jumped for it. Once inside he pushed the button to her floor about 20 times then sunk back against the wall and stared at the doors, wishing they would hurry up and open on her floor.

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

6:43 p.m.- The station

Pratt entered the small room where he was allowed to question Kevin slowly. Kevin looked paler, he looked thinner...

"You don't look too good Kev." He said sitting down.

Kevin looked up with a scowl. "You try being in jail for something you didn't do..." After he was done speaking he looked back down at his hand which were resting on the table.

"Yeah well...I need to ask you some more questions."

"What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?"

"You were proven guilty in a way. You happen to be our prime suspect."

"Why is that?"

Pratt sighed. "Kevin, do we really need to go through that again?" Kevin sighed and shook his head. "Good." He leaned back in his chair and stared at his face for a few minutes. Kevin stared back. "How many times did you hit Andie?"

Kevin growled and put his head down on the table. "Why do you guys all think I did?"

"Because you said you did."

"I said once! Once! I tried not to but I was so mad at her! What would you do if you found out you fiancé was sleeping with your best friend!" Kevin shouted, his head off the table.

Pratt shrugged. "I guess you got me there."

"Yeah, damn right I do." Kevin said nodding his head.

"So you never hit her before that?"

"Never. I love Andie!"

"Nick says that she has been beat pretty bad in the past...What about that?"

Kevin put his head down. "It wasn't me."

"Then who Kevin? How can you explain it?"

"I am out of town a lot on business. No one told me about that until a week ago. I didn't know about it."

"Who told you?"

"AJ. AJ told me the night I found Brian and her..." Kevin coughed to cover for the sob that had risen in his throat.

"Brian says that you hit her."

"How could I have? I was out of town. You can look at my records, I have airline receipts!"

Pratt put his head down and sighed heavily. "Sorry Kevin."

Kevin put his head up, his eyes wide. "What?"

"You aren't our guy." He got up and knocked on the door for the guard to open it. "I'll sign the papers and get you out of here."

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

6:40 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

AJ walked slower as he neared her door. He had a flashback to the first time he saw her in the bed, swollen and bruised.

****Flashback****

She was limp...Not moving one part of her body. I felt like crying but couldn't. I couldn't let them see. She had dulled me so long ago that nothing would make it come out...Not even her bruised, beaten, bloody body. I just looked away. I couldn't stand to see her like that. Not after what....happened. There was only fear, pain and anger. That's all I felt. When she didn't look at me, I almost died. When she wouldn't talk to me when I went in by myself and she didn't say anything to me I think a part of me did.

****end****

He walked into her room slowly. Her head seemed to move a little, but not all the way. He tried not to make noise as he sat down in the chair next to bed. He waited until her felt he was going to burst and lifted his hand to her head. She flinched as his hand caressed her hair softly.

His eyes roamed down to her broken wrist. "Andie?" He asked softly. She seemed to flinch again at his voice. "Please turn around and let me look at you."

She didn't move.

"Please Andie, it's been so long. I need to see your face. You know I care." He put his hand on her arm now and scooted his chair closer to the bed.

She didn't move.

"You know I didn't mean to..." He choked back a tear..."I wanted to help you. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it-" He cut himself off.

She didn't move.

"Andie! Turn around!" He said through clenched teeth.

She jumped at the tone in his voice, but didn't turn around.

"Why won't you just forgive me!" He almost yelled. He yanked her arm to make her turn around, but she held tight to the sheet. "Damn it Andie!" He yelled as he stood up. He turned to the window and crossed his arms.

"I was just trying to help." He mumbled.

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

7:21 p.m.- Nick's house

Nick paced his living room. His hands ran through his hair every once and a while. He choked out a sob every few minutes. This was all going wrong. Everything was going wrong. The plan had been simple. Now it was falling apart.

He hadn't answered his calls all day. The phone just seemed to ring every second. Nick had finally pulled the cord out of the wall around 7:00. He couldn't think with it ringing all the time. The one thing he needed was piece and quiet, and he hadn't been getting that...so he had just pulled the cord. He only wished that it would be so easy with Andie. If he could just...

"DAMN IT!" He yelled at himself for thinking of something like that. He plopped himself down on the couch and put his head in his hands. He was so frustrated with himself that he didn't know what to do. Nothing he was thinking, no plan made sense; nothing worked. All he could do was sit around and do NOTHING. He hated that. Nick was never the kind of person to just sit around when something was going wrong; he fixed the problem.

This time it wouldn't be that easy...and he knew that...and that was the thing that was killing him.

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

7:32 p.m.- The North Side Christian's Hospital

The nurse had just walked in and said it was almost time for him to leave. He hadn't gotten anywhere with Andie. He hadn't even gotten her to look in his direction. She had barely moved. Now he was desperate.

"Andie," he pleaded as he lifted her good hand in his. "you can't do this to yourself. You have so much to live for. You have...you have..." He felt Andie begin to shake. "Andie please. Don't cry; don't cry." He put his free hand on her head and caressed it gently.

This made her just shake harder. "Andie..." AJ pleaded. Then for the first time in 5 days Andie turned and spoke.

"How can you tell me not to cry when I really don't have anything to live for?" Her eyes were burning red with the tears and lack of sleep.

AJ had jumped back at her sudden movement. He didn't know what to say...or do.

"See you can't even speak to me...I have nothing to live for...I haven't for a long time." Her blue eyes burned into his tearing his heart to pieces.

Andie rolled back over and buried her head into her pillow to cry again. "Go AJ! leave me alone!"

His tongue loosened on him and he was able to speak. "Andie please let me-"

"Do you want me to call security! Leave me alone!" The hatred in her voice made him flinch. He wouldn't let the tears flow; he promised himself this one thing. Instead of breaking down he lifted his chin up and without another word to her he left.

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

9:56 p.m.- Andie's Hospital Room, North Side Christian's Hospital

With the window open she could hear the noise from the city. It was almost enough to drive her insane.

Now with AJ visiting she was sure that she would go insane. She had let her guard down and spoken to him She shouldn't have done that. He was a freak, he would take that the wrong way. He would take her speaking to him as an opportunity. She didn't need that. She needed to escape...

And just her luck...there was only one way to escape...to be free...and that was taking the easy way out...

********************The next day

10:05 a.m.- Pratt's office

"So we have a break then?" He said, the grin still gracing his lips. The man on the other end of the phone spoke some more; only giving him more reason to smile. "OK, I'll be right over there then. Give me 15 minutes." He said as he hung up the phone and grabbed his coat to run out of the station.

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

10:19 a.m.- The Hospital

"Well, well, well. Look's like a nice family reunion here doesn't it?" Brian said with a sneer as he entered the hallway to Andie's room.

Kevin looked up with a glare. Nick stayed in his seat, but waved his arm swiftly so Kevin didn't see. AJ stood by her door across the hall from everyone.

"Won't let you in aye?" Brian asked as he sat down next to where AJ was standing. He laughed as Kevin looked away and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you're real mature Kev. Real mature."

"Yeah actually I am. I don't need to deal with your shit right now Brian! When this is over I am going to see you in jail."

"Yeah maybe...but I'll be the one visiting."

"Looks like you boys are pretty sure of yourselves." They both looked up to see Pratt standing in front of them. Kevin stood up. Brian stayed sitting.

The door to the hospital room opened and a woman walked out; she wasn't a nurse. "You must be Pratt." She said sticking her hand out for him. She was short, 5'1" or maybe 5'2". She looked to be in her mid 40's to early 50's, but her smile made her seem much younger. Her eyes were bright and friendly. When she shot a glance Brian's way he couldn't help but smile with her. She was plump, almost in an odd way making her jolly. She looked like a big stuffed animal, your first reaction to reach out and play with her...

Pratt nodded and took her hand. "You must be Shrinks."

"Yes, and please no jokes." She said with a smile.

"So what is your analysis?"

Shrinks straightened up and opened her notebook. "She is in a lot of pain, emotionally. She isn't really telling me anything useful about the actual act or who did it...but she is definitely telling me what she is going through. I think she is trying to cover or save, perhaps, her attacker. I am getting the feeling that it is some one close to her."

As Shrinks said the last sentence the men around her seemed to shift. Some one coughed.

"Thank you Shrinks. If I may I'd like to go in and speak with her."

"Of course, but please be careful with how much you pressure her. She is in a weak state of mind and I don't want to see her break anymore than she all ready has."

Pratt nodded and walked past Shrinks. "I won't be long, you all just stay right here." He said as he opened the door and stepped in.

AJ swallowed so hard that Brian heard. He looked up and stared at the man's face, then turned to Kevin and glared. Kevin ignored his glare and stared at the floor. Nick seemed to tense up as the door closed. At least no one was passing out...

"Andie?" Pratt said softly as he neared her bed. She turned around and looked him in the eye. Her stare was cold. Pratt looked away for a minute not wanting to have to see her blank eyes. "I don't know if you remember me." He took a seat in the chair next to her bed. "I'm the man who came in here-"

"I know who you are." She said quickly as she glanced in the direction of the nightstand. "You left your card." Her voice was surprisingly soft. Pratt followed her glance and saw the untouched card he had left. "I suppose you want me to answer your questions. It's no surprise to me that you haven't caught him." She said turning her head to the ceiling.

"We can end that now, all you have to do is say his name." He said pulling out his pen and paper.

"Really? You think it's that easy?" She asked turning her head to him again.

"Of course." He said with a warm smile. "That's all we need."

Andie turned her head away again. "Yeah it's that easy. You don't know this case very well if you think it's that easy."

"Well, it is Andie." He said putting his hand on her arm. "All I need is the name."

"No." She said shrugging his hand off of her.

"No what?"

"You are dealing with some sick freaks here Pratt and if you think it's that easy you are an idiot."

"Freaks? Are you telling me there is more than one person?" Pratt asked inching closer to her.

"More than one? HA!" She cried. "Come back later sir. I don't have the energy to deal with you." She said turning away from him.

"What are you saying Miss Nuccio? Are you not going to press charges? I don't understand-"

"I said go Mr. Pratt. Come back later!" She shouted with a cold hint of anger in her voice.

"I'm going." Pratt said walking to the door. "Miss Nuccio if your man is still out there...think about the danger you are in."

"Thank you Pratt. Bye." She said a little softer than the last time.

He sighed and opened the door leading into the hallway. Andie shuddered as he closed the door.

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

10:30 a.m.- Outside Andie's hospital room, North Side Christian's Hospital

"I don't know why she wont talk, but she wont." Pratt said with a hint of regret in his voice.

Kevin stood up. "She didn't tell you anything?"

"No."

"She told me a little about what happened that night." Miss Shrinks spoke up from beside the soda machine.

All heads turned in her direction.

"She did?" AJ asked as she stepped closer to the group.

Shrinks nodded.

"Can I have a word with you then?" Pratt asked as he put his arm around her and led her to the elevator. "You guys stay here. We'll be in the cafeteria." Pratt shouted over his shoulder as they entered the opening shaft.

"Great. Let's just sit here then." Brian said as he sat back down on the bench.

Kevin turned to him and glared. "Yes, let's."

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

10:40 a.m.- The hospital cafeteria

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" She asked as she sat down at their table in the corner of the room. Pratt shook his head and sat down across from her. She opened the lid to her coffee and shook her head. "OK, your loss. Hospital coffee is the best." She said sarcastically.

Pratt smiled. "I know, I know."

"OK, I can see you want to get started. There isn't a real easy way to start so I'll just go step by step." She opened up her briefcase and pulled out a note pad. "I take notes." She said with a smile as she shuffled threw the pages to find the notes she had just taken. "Of course I take the notes, then I can't find them." Her brow wrinkled and her tongue slipped between her lips as she leafed back threw her notebook. "Here they are!" She shouted triumphantly. Pratt turned his head, a little embarrassed. People hadn't turned their heads...yet.

"OK, let's see. She says that around 7 o'clock she left her house for Brian's. It took her a while to get through this part of the story, but she didn't seem to want to tell me why. I get the impression she hasn't told a lot of people the things she confided in me...She says that Brian and her are, were, to put it bluntly lovers. Apparently Kevin found them in a compromising position and got mad, he just exploded. Andie says she left soon after to escape the yelling. She doesn't know what happened after that, with Kevin and Brian that is. From there she went straight to Nick's house. She says she was crying so hard that she can't remember half of what happened before Kevin came to the door. Nick had tried to keep him out but he had pushed past him. Andie had a crying break for a minute or so before telling me he hit her."

"Yeah, Kevin told us that." Pratt said nodding his head.

"Yeah. She ran out again after that happened and Kevin stayed behind...I suppose that he felt bad, she told me he had never done anything like that before. She says from there she ran into AJ...but then she just stopped."

"AJ?" Pratt asked leaning forward to look at her notes. "He says he saw her but didn't talk to her."

"Oh no, no. He talked to her. I have it right here." She pointed to her notes. "Victim says she ran into suspect, Alexander McLean then just seemed to stop her story. It's like after that point she can't go on. She doesn't want to talk about it and I get the impression she doesn't want to think about it either."

"Hmm. Why would he have lied?"

"I don't know. Honestly the only reason I can think of is that he is hiding something. That would make sense. She doesn't want to talk about him anyway."

"Yes." Pratt said more to himself than to her. "I am going to call the station and issue a warrant to search his house. I have a feeling I might be able to find something of hers there." He stood up and started to pull his cell out of the side pocket of his coat.

"OK. What should I do?"

Pratt opened his phone and looked down at her. "Go upstairs and keep them occupied. I don't care what you do, just make sure they don't leave." He turned away from her and started talking wildly into the phone. She took this as her cue to leave and picked up her coffee, then headed for the elevators.

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

11:07 a.m.- Outside of Andie's hospital room...

"They have been down there forever!" Nick said as he paced the hallway. His head lifted to see the elevators, no one was coming out.

"It hasn't been forever Nicky, just a few minutes." Kevin said, still seated. His eyes glued to the door in front of him.

"I don't call a half hour a few minutes, Einstein!" Brian said from his seat next to AJ, who was still standing.

"Hey shut up will ya?" AJ half shouted. "What if Andie hears you?"

"So what if she does?" Brian asked looking up at AJ.

"She doesn't need this..." He said in a low whisper.

"You don't need to whisper AJ, I don't think she could hear you through the wall even if she wanted to." Nick said still pacing like an expectant father up and down the hall.

The elevator doors opened. All heads turned towards them. It was the therapist woman, Shrinks. Kevin stood up along with Brian. They both glanced over at each other and glared.

"So what happened? Do you know anything?" AJ asked as he stepped away from the wall. They were all surrounding her now; it made her uncomfortable.

"No, not really...Pratt is doing something, he wouldn't tell me what so I-I just came back to wait for...him." She said with a smile as she tried to get through the wall of men who were towering over her. Brian stepped aside and let her by.

"You didn't figure anything out?" He asked, following her every move.

"Not really. I think that Pratt should be the one to tell you all the details, I am not cut out for that type of thing."

Kevin sat back down where he had been before. "OK...Did he say when he would be back?"

Shrinks shook her head.

"Well I don't want to wait for him. I don't have the time for this." AJ said, starting to move down the hallway.

"NO!" Shrinks shouted grabbing his arm. He looked back at her. His expression saying, 'What is the matter with you, you freak.'. "I mean no. Please just stay here. He promised he wont be long."

They all felt like something was wrong. She wasn't telling them something. The uneasiness sunk in but all they could do was sit and wait.

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

11:35 a.m.- Outside of Andie's hospital room...

Pratt shut his cell phone and walked through the open elevator doors. The happy campers were all still sitting outside her room. He smiled and boomed a hello. They all rose to their feet, once again they were jumpy. Shrinks jumped up a little slower than the rest. She smiled at him when she saw who it was.

"Hello Pratt."

"Hey Shrinks." He said with a short salute in her direction. "I have some good news and some bad news."

"Don't even think about asking us what we want first...Cause that's just old." Shrinks said trying to lighten the mood.

Brian looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Just say what you have to say Pratt we've wasted hours here all ready."

"OK...Good news. We have a lead." He smiled as he watched Kevin's eyes light up and almost everyone else's sink.

"What's the bad news?" Nick asked ringing his hands.

"I think it involves one of us..." Brian said with a half smirk.

"Wow, you're good." Pratt said sarcastically. Brian turned his back to the group. He was getting annoyed with this man and he didn't think that he could take him for much longer. "AJ." He said turning to the young man. "We have a warrant to search your house."

"What?" He shouted looking over to Kevin. His expression said it all. "On what grounds?"

"We have reason to believe you are hiding something at your apartment. It's no biggy. We'll just go there and-"

"Did she say that?" He asked pointing to her closed door. "Did she tell you I was hiding something?" He started for it, but Pratt grabbed his arm.

"No, she didn't say that." His eyes poured into the younger man's. "Come on, I want to get this over with." He said as he pulled AJ in his direction.

He looked over at Kevin again. "Come on man, you know this is bull." Kevin didn't blink.

"Can I come?" His sudden reaction shocked his friend.

Pratt looked at them both and smiled. "Yeah, sure."

"I'll follow in my car."

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

12:09 p.m.- AJ's apartment

"Thanks for meeting me out here on such short notice guys." Pratt said as he got out of his squad car. AJ was soon to follow, his head hanging. He wasn't sure what to think. He didn't know what to do.

"No prob. Pratt. It was my pleasure. I've been following this case." A balding fat man came into his view. He looked about 50.

"How can he have been following it?" Kevin asked as he walked up from behind them.

"It was on the news kid? Don't you watch? They cover it every night. Nothing like this ever happens in this town." He said as he threw his gum into some nearby bushes.

Kevin shook his head.

"Where are the others?" Pratt asked as they neared to entrance to the building.

"Inside. I had them go ahead. They didn't want to wait for you to come." The man looked AJ up and down. The scowl on his face only added to his gruffness.

The door to his building was open.

"JOHNSON!" Some one yelled from upstairs. The fat man started to run up the stairs. Or at least try to...he seemed to run out of breath on the 7th step.

And he's a cop. AJ thought sarcastically. He rolled his eyes as Pratt pushed him further up on the stairs.

Kevin heard muffled voices and a few thumps coming from the direction of AJ's apartment. He thought he heard some one say 'Oh my god', but he wasn't sure. His eyes followed the shadows scurrying around on the walls. All of the sudden the shadows stopped moving. They were all looking at something...Kevin stepped into the room behind Pratt and AJ. He knew what he was about to see wasn't going to be good. Pratt seemed to go limp for a minute. His hand dropped away from AJ's arm. AJ's head was down.

"Pratt? What is it?" Kevin asked, his voice shaking. He couldn't see because the two men were in his way.

"Kevin I don't want you to see this. Not until-"

"What is it?" Kevin interrupted. He wanted to step forward but his legs were like jelly.

"Please, Kevin..." He begged.

"No. I have to know Pratt." Kevin said stepping forward. AJ backed away.

"Kevin, come on." Pratt said, trying to keep calm. Kevin fought but still couldn't see what was behind Pratt.

The fat man put his arm on Pratt's. "Let him see it Joe. He has a right to know."

"Know what? I just want to know what is going on!" He shouted. His eyes were getting red and full of tears.

Pratt loosened his arm and nodded his head. "OK, OK. But take AJ out to the squad car, quickly."

Kevin watched as they took AJ out of the room. When he was out of site he swallowed, hard. Pratt moved out of his way. In reaction to this Kevin closed his eyes, but kept on moving forward. He stopped moving when some one touched his arm. He opened his eyes...

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

12:43 p.m.- AJ's apartment

"Thank God that boy is downstairs." Johnson said to Pratt as his men took pictures of the wall in front of Kevin. Kevin's head was in his hand's, he was in shock. "That boy is unbelievable...How long do you think he has been doing this?"

"I don't know." Pratt said as he stared at the wall. "That doesn't really matter...What a freak." He added with a mumble.

Kevin couldn't look up. He was breathing heavy and trying to make sense of what he was seeing. None of it made sense. Why? Why AJ? Why would you do this? Why? Oh my God...

He lifted his head again and looked at the wall.

The wall...

Andie...Andie all over the wall. Covered. Her face clashed with the peeling off white-used-to-be-white walls. The chipped paint against her smiling face was almost pathetic. He must have followed her every where. She was walking in the park. Stepping out of the laundry mat. Getting into her car. Parking her car. Reading a book.

In the center of all the pictures, just above the biggest picture of her and just under a red scuffmark, was a chunk of something...Something, which he knew about...Something, which he dreaded...

It was the chunk of her ear he had bitten off, pinned to the wall with a thumbtack...

Her ear.

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

1:05 p.m.- The North Side Christian's Hospital

Kevin was walking though he barely realized where he was or where he was going. Pratt wasn't there anymore. Now it was Johnson. Pratt was with AJ...AJ.

"Here we are Mr. Richardson. You can go in now."

He was in front of Andie's room. Nick was there. Brian was there. They weren't allowed in. Only Kevin. He opened the door on his own. He hadn't been crying but now that he saw her...the tears came again.

He neared her bed and held out his hand for her. She was looking at him. Her eyes were tearing over as well. She knew all that he knew now. They both knew.

Kevin knelt down at her bed. "I'm so sorry." He cried. "I didn't know. I could have."

She put her hand on his head as he sobbed next to her. "How did you find out?" She asked choking on her pain.

"I saw it. I saw his apartment." Andie nodded, her head ruffling his hair. "I'm sorry I never saw it before. I'm so sorry."

"Shh. Kev, you couldn't have known. You were never home." Kevin nodded.

"And I should have been..."

"No, it's OK. Without you home, everything would have happened...like...it did." She said letting her hand fall back to the bed. Kevin moved away from her and onto the chair next to him.

"Yeah...would it have?"

Andie closed her eyes. "Please Kevin...can we not do this."

"Why didn't you tell me he hit you?"

The phrase caught her off guard. She opened them and turned back to Kevin. "What?"

"I've known for a week Andie. Why didn't you ever tell me?" His head was down and covered by his hands, but she knew he was crying. Andie lifted her legs and swung them over the side of the bed. She put them down on the floor and knelt down at his feet.

"Kev...I-I couldn't."

"Why not? I love you! I could have done something..." He paused to take a deep breath. "Is that why you...you slept with him? Did he make you?"

Andie sunk down to the floor and put her head down as Kevin's rose. She shook her head. "Not at first."

"Why?" He asked with pained eyes.

She shook her head again. "Kevin..." A tear fell from her eye and hit the tiled floor below. "I didn't mean for it to happen the first time."

"What about the next time." Kevin asked staring down at her head.

Andie bit her lip and turned away from Kevin. With her back to him he could see that she was crying. She was shaking with the silent sobs rising in her chest. He dropped down to the floor and put his arms around her. His body began to shake with his as the realization sank in. They started rocking and crying together; like they were one. He wasn't going to let it happen again.

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

1:39 p.m.- Outside of Andie's hospital room...

"What are they doing in there?" Brian asked as he got up out of his chair. His eyes still on the closed door. "Why are they taking so long?"

Johnson stood up and put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Maybe it's just been a long time since they could be alone." Brian turned to look at the man who was touching him. "So maybe it's a good idea to leave them alone." Brian smiled a little and sat back down on the bench.

Down the hall the elevator door's opened. Nick looked up; it was Pratt. He stood up and welcomed the man with a scared look and a quivering voice. "What happened to AJ?"

Pratt put his hand on the blond boy's shoulder. "I think we all know what happened to AJ." Nick turned back to Brian who was staring wide-eyed at the man. Nick started shaking his head with disbelief as Johnson mumbled, "Sick freak."

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

2:07 p.m.- Andie's room at the hospital.

Andie was back on her bed. Kevin let go of her hand and kissed her forehead. She had her eyes closed, she hadn't opened them for 30 minutes, but the tears were still falling out of the corners.

He opened the door. The knob squeaked as he did so. He told himself not to look up; if he did he would see Brian and he didn't was to so anything he would regret. He saw Pratt through the corner of his eye and went directly to him.

"Kevin, why aren't you looking up son?" Pratt asked as he put a hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"I need to talk to you over here; alone." Kevin said as he led the older man to a corner away from the others.

"What is it Kevin?" Pratt asked as they stopped. Kevin looked up and into his eyes.

"We have another problem."

Pratt looked over his shoulder. "Yeah." He said turning back to Kevin.

"It's Brian."

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

2:13 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

Brian sat staring at the two men across the room. He could see Pratt's expression but was unable to see Kevin's. Pratt looked over to Brian. He straightened up and kept watching. Pratt hadn't looked away...and Kevin was turning around. Johnson saw this too...even Nicky, everyone had been watching; wondering...Pratt was walking towards him, hand cuffs in hand.

Brian looked up at Nick who was staring at the handcuffs. Both men's eyes the size of coconuts. "Brian, I don't want to do this..."

Brian stood up and interrupted him. "Yeah you do." He had a coolness about him in the way he stuck out his hands for Pratt to put the hand cuffs on him. "Go ahead...I didn't do anything wrong. You just wait, Andie will back me up."

"Yeah, we'll just have to see about that." Pratt said as he twisted Brian's arm and put the cuffs on his wrists.

Kevin didn't look up as Brian passed him, staring...Nick was frozen, everyone was getting caught. It was too unreal to be happening. And for the love of god who was next?

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

4:38 p.m.- Andie's hospital room...

"Aren't you going to help me Andie? I have them in custody...I just need you to tell me what happened. Please, then we can all go home and live the rest of our lives." Pratt pleaded as he held the tape recorder up to her mouth.

"Do you really think that is going to happen? After what I've been through you really think I am just going to go home and forget about it?" She said looking up at the ceiling.

"That's not what he meant baby." Kevin said squeezing her hand.

"I know what he meant."

"Please Andie, ignore what I just said. I know it won't happen like that exactly...but, you won't be able to live a life at all if you don't help me put them in jail." He pleaded, looking from Kevin to Andie.

Andie closed her eyes and shuddered out a sigh.

"Come on Andie..." Kevin pleaded along with Pratt. He lifted his hand up to her head and moved the hair out of her face. "Tell us what happened.

Minutes ticked by...it was up to her now. If she didn't tell now, it was never and the men standing above her knew that.

Kevin looked up at the clock; it had only been 5 minutes...but she still wasn't talking.

Pratt cleared his throat and glanced nervously at Kevin, his finger still on the record button.

10 minutes...and she was breathing harder.

"Maybe we should try tomorrow. I don't want to make her-" Pratt started.

"Who do you want me to start with?" She said suddenly, her eyes still closed.

Pratt sat back down and pushed record. "Just start with whatever is easier."

"That doesn't help me at all..." She said growing impatient.

"Well start with Brian then." Pratt said in a soothing voice. "Start from the beginning."

She let out another sigh before beginning a long...hard...story.

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

4:56 p.m.- Andie's hospital room...

"It didn't start out bad...me and Kevin I mean. He is a great guy, but he's never home. I get really lonely when he goes away. Sometimes he's gone for weeks at a time, and that's hard on me. I miss having some one in the house." She paused to swallow. "I asked Brian over once. One time." She said sticking her finger up. "It's not like I knew what was going to happen. I was just scared and lonely. It's weird being in a house by yourself; all alone. Especially when it's a big house. I'm talking big, this place, it huge...and I was sad. He knew that when I said hello on the phone. He asked if I wanted some company and I didn't see anything wrong with it so...I agreed and said yes. So he came over. I didn't know what was happening until we were half way into it...I was just so upset...Do I really need to give all the details?" She asked turning to Pratt, her eyes wide.

He said no and shook his head. "Just keep going...tell me what happened next."

"After it happened I knew I didn't want it to happen again, I felt so bad for doing it. You have to understand that I didn't know what I was doing. So he got up and left. I didn't call him. I didn't even answer his calls, I couldn't, you see. I didn't want him to think that-that it could happen again." She said closing her eyes again. "But he came back. He came to my door and before I could tell him to leave he was all over me. He was kissing me and...I tried to make him stop but he wouldn't. He finally broke away and I told him to stop. I told him I didn't want to, but it was like he didn't hear me. He just grinned and kissed me again. It was like it was a game. And his eyes were so full of…it was like I was seeing a different person. Some one who had always existed really, I just had never seen A week later he-he sort of had be trapped."

"How is that?"

"Well...he-it was like if I tried to talk to him, which was something I didn't want to do, he would ignore me. This is all at first. One night I told him that it had to stop. I didn't want to continue on, that I didn't love him. Then I told him he had to leave. I shouted it you know. Right into his face and I knew, he knew I meant it. It stood there for a while and stared at me...then he...he," Andie choked a little and heaved in some air. "He hit me so hard I fell back onto the couch. He lifted his leg and kneed me in the stomach. He just started kicking and punching me, over and over again. I didn't think he'd ever stop...Then he...he..." She turned away from Kevin, towards Pratt, and buried her head into her pillow.

Kevin wasn't looking at her either, he couldn't. Pratt put his hand on the girl's shoulder and patted it. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to. I can come back." His voice was soft.

Andie lifted her head. "No. No I can go on." She sniffed and wiped the tears off her face. She reached her hand out for Kevin. He barely saw it through his tears but grabbed it anyway.

"Was this the night you went to Nick?"

Andie nodded. "Yes. I never told anyone who did it. He just supposed it was Kevin, but Kevin would never do that to me. I couldn't say anything to any body. I didn't want to-for them to know I guess. I was scared to in a lot of ways anyway, I don't think I would have even if I wanted to...which I did." She said with a shrug.

"So he did all these things to you more than once?"

"Oh yeah. He hit me...and..." She bit her lip, not daring to say the word in that was all ready wringing in her ears. "It was awful and more than once. It was so bad sometimes I thought he was going to kill me or ri-. "But it never got as bad as..." She didn't finish, she couldn't allow herself to speak his name.

"AJ?" Pratt asked in the silence.

Andie nodded and bit her lip. "I think he knew about Brian and he got mad or jealous, maybe both. He tried to make a pass at me once, you see…but I turned him down."

"When was this?" Kevin asked turning his head up.

Andie looked at him. "A few months ago, when Brian was really doing his stuff. I stopped struggling after a little while, it was too stressful as it was."

"How had this been going on?" Pratt asked gripping the recorder.

"A year. Just about a year." She answered with a sniffle.

Pratt let her think for a few minutes; recover as best she could before asking more. "So what did you do about AJ? What happened with him?"

"I didn't do anything about AJ...I don't know what happened to him either. To me he seemed like a good guy. I cried to him a few times about...Brian. Not after he asked me out or anything. I don't know if he knew it was Brian or not, he just knew some one was hitting me. He was always so nice to me."

"So what he did in the ally...it caught you off guard." Pratt asked, trying to get around using the words none of them wanted to hear.

"Yes. I guess I could have stopped it though, it was partially my fault." She said getting choked up again.

"No, it wasn't your fault." Kevin said shaking his head.

"Why do you think it was partially your fault?" Pratt needed these things on tape, no matter how hard it was to answer them, or ask…

"I was yelling at him. I called him names..."

"Why did you do that?" Pratt asked, confused.

"I was upset."

"Can we start that night from the beginning maybe?" He asked shifting in his chair.

"Yeah...it might be easier I guess." She swallowed and sat up straighter. "Should I start from when I left my house?"

"Sure and why did you leave your house?"

"Brian called me and he wanted me to come over. I didn't say no, because I was tired of putting up the fight, as I told you before. I told Kevin that I was going to the-"

"Mall." Kevin interrupted, looking into her face.

She looked down at her hands as he said this...Kevin looked away again. "So I went to his house and-"

"AJ called me to tell me where she was." Kevin interrupted.

Both Pratt and Andie turned to him. "What?"

"AJ called me and told me where she was and why she was there. That's how I found them...together." He added, still not looking at both of them. His voice was mumbled.

"And that's when you started yelling." Kevin nodded.

"It was a first reaction to her cheating on me...It's a normal response."

"It is." Andie agreed putting her head down again.

"Then Andie ran out to Nick's."

"Yes." They both said simultaneously.

"And what happened at Nick's?"

"I told him everything. All that was going on...I cried and cried. Nick is a very nice guy. He's never done anything to make me feel weird around him, or you know...So I trusted him and told him everything. Then Kevin came again. I swear it looked like he was going to explode. His expression scared me because," Andie sighed "He looked like Brian."

Kevin shifted in his chair and tried to turn his head away farther than it was, but it wouldn't go any farther. His tears were all he wanted to hide, along with the shame showing through in his eyes.

"Then he started yelling again and I snapped out of it and yelled back. I told him he didn't understand. When he asked why, I told him-"

"That you couldn't tell me." Andie nodded.

"Yeah. Then...you hit me." She met with his eyes with a burst of pain as she spoke the word. She saw in his eyes that he was more than ashamed. "He felt so much like Brian I just ran out."

"Then you ran into AJ."

Andie nodded her head. "After a few minutes yes. He stopped me on the street and asked me what was wrong."

"Wait I don't mean to interrupt you but can you tell what happened to your jacket?"

"My, jacket? I forgot it at Nick's. I was so upset I just ran out without thinking about picking it up or putting it on. Of course I remembered when I got outside, but I didn't want to go back, I couldn't. I just wanted to get away from him, everyone really. So I ran."

"And ran into AJ. Then what happened?"

"He tried to get me to tell him what was wrong, but I wouldn't tell him. He had his hands on my shoulders so I couldn't get him off me. He told me he could probably help me but I said that he couldn't. I told him he was a stupid ass hole that he wouldn't understand if I spelled it out for him. I could see him getting angrier and angrier but I didn't' care. I just kept yelling at him until finally he just pushed me into the ally. He screamed at me then kicked me farther and farther back until I hit the end of ally. I mean until I hit the fence at the end of the ally. From there he got on top of me and he was pushing me down, all the while yelling at me, screaming in my ear. Then he did it. He forced my legs open with his knee and with one hand zipped down his pants. Then he pulled down mine...I don't want to-I cant." Andie stopped, she was sobbing. Pratt stopped the recorder as Kevin gathered her in his arms.

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

7:03 p.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

"Thank you for doing this. We both appreciate it." Kevin said shaking Pratt's hand.

"I know. I'll give you a call tomorrow and tell you what's going to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a trial."

"What? For who?" Kevin asked, letting go of his hand.

"AJ might get a trial, depending on whether or not he confesses...Brian is going to get one, he's denying it all." Pratt said trying to keep Kevin's attention.

"I don't understand. Why? Can't we just put him in jail. She identified both of them as-"

"That's not how this country works. I wish it was sometimes, but it's not. Innocent until proven guilty; that's how it's got to be."

Kevin put his head down and closed his eyes. "Go home Kevin. Get some rest. Andie is coming home tomorrow and she needs you to be strong for her."

Kevin nodded and walked to the elevator with Pratt. Before he stepped in he lifted his head. "Thank you."

He nodded and pushed him into the elevator. "Good night Kevin.

********************The next day

9:43 a.m.- North Side Christian's Hospital

"Are you ready to go? Do you have everything?" He asked leaning down so he could see her face.

"I didn't come with anything." She said closing her eyes.

"OK. Then I guess you do." He grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and started to push her out.

"Andie!" Nick shouted as he ran down the hall towards them. "Oh my god! I haven't been able to see you forever!" He bent down and hugged her briefly. "I am so glad you are going home." He looked confused when he noticed that she wasn't smiling. He looked up at Kevin.

"We just want to go home." Nick nodded and moved out of the way so they could go by.

"I'll meet you at home then, OK?"

Andie looked up at Kevin, her eyes pleading. "I think we should wait a few days Nicky...let Andie settle in."

"Oh, OK...I'll call then." He said stopping in the middle of the hall. He waved as they turned a corner and disappeared from site.

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

12:27 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's kitchen

"How is your soup?" Kevin asked as he leaned against the counter. Andie was at the table.

"It's good." She said slowly spooning some into her mouth. Her voice was barely audible as she spoke.

"You don't seem to be eating much of it...Are you OK."

She shrugged.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She moved her spoon in a circle in her soup, not answering his question.

"I am here for you Andie. Just tell me what's on your mind and I'll listen." He said walking over to her slowly. He had learned not to startle her with sudden movements.

Andie looked away and put her spoon down as Kevin bent down to her level. He sighed and looked down to the floor. "OK. Fine." He stood up. "I'll be in the living room." He opened the door into the living room and left her at the table. He sat down on the couch and stared at the TV screen before he broke down and sobbed...alone...while Andie sat drowning in her own prison.

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

1:12 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

"Hello?" Kevin answered the phone with a sniff.

"Kevin?" It was Pratt

"Yeah, it's me." He wiped his eye and straightened himself up.

"We have some news...and I'm not sure you are going to like it."

"What?"

"Brian and AJ get a trial."

"Why AJ? Why AJ? What about his apartment."

"It's not good enough. He may have been stalking her, but he might not have raped her."

"Who says? Andie identified him as the one who...did it." Kevin said choking on his words.

"The law says, Kevin. Just because she said he did it doesn't mean he did in the laws eyes."

"But he did!" Kevin shouted in frustration.

"I know that Kevin..." He sighed. "I know it's hard to understand, but it's the way it is. These days it's the victims who go on trial...Andie will have to go on the stand and testify, you know that don't you?" Pratt asked.

"I do, but I don't like it. I've seen enough of movies to know that." Kevin said rubbing his head with his hand.

"Yeah. It's not fair, but it's got to happen. If we want to put them in jail she is going to have to." Pratt said matter of faculty.

Kevin nodded. "Yeah I know."

"OK. I'll call you when I hear more...Make sure she knows all this, Kevin. I don't want her to not be prepared for it."

Kevin nodded again. "I will. Thank you Pratt."

"Yeah. Bye Kev."

"Bye."

********************2 days later

12:56 a.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

She had been crying for 30 minutes...He couldn't do anything. He had tried to hold her, but she shook him away. He tried again, this time whispering that it was OK. She pushed him away again.

Kevin sighed and rolled onto his back. I can't do this. He got out of the bed and took his pillow with him. He was going to sleep in the living room. If she wouldn't let him help her what was the use in hearing her sob next to him? Not any good for him...He was on the couch in 2 minutes. Maybe it was a record...World's slowest.

Even without her he couldn't let himself sleep. Just the thought of knowing she was crying made him hear it in his mind.

So many secrets.

So many sins.

Too much pain.

Too much suffering.

Too many tears.

Tears that did not need to be shed.

Just tears

Tears of a pain that was undefined...on both sides of the bed.

Just a pain

Just a bunch of useless tears.

********************1 week later

12:00 p.m.- The courthouse

His lawyer looked cheap. That was always a good sign, but in this case it would take an EXTREMELY bad lawyer to save Andie.

They didn't really have a case. It was just her word against his, and he wasn't talking. There was no physical evidence at all and that was all they really could use. The one good thing was that he would get some time for stalking her. That would give them some time...but not long enough.

"He doesn't have a thing." Andie's lawyer whispered in her ear with a grin. She knew that was bullshit. Thanks anyway...I appreciate it, I think.

The judge was coming in. Before she knew it she was being called to the stand. She got up, and tried not to look him in the eye, but it was hard. She flinched when she saw his expression.

Now that all that was over everything else seemed to be a blur.

"Miss Nuccio?" Some one was saying.

She looked up at the judge. "Yes."

"Answer the question please."

"Oh, I'm sorry. What was it again?" Great way to start off you trial...

"Is the man who attacked you in this room?"

"Ye-yes." She stuttered. At least she could sleep at night knowing half of it wasn't a lie.

"Could you point him out for me?" Her lawyer's voice was soothing, yet brought her no comfort.

Andie lifted her finger. Kevin watched her face carefully. She didn't look at him. Her finger was shaking. She could barely lift it to make it known who she was pointing to.

"You are pointing to Alexander McLean, are you not." Andie nodded her head. "Andie you have to say it please."

"Yes that is him." She said near the breaking point. She couldn't take it. She couldn't do it, not to him...Not to AJ.

"Could you run over what happened that night for me Andie."

Andie put her head down.

Nick is out there.

Kevin is out there.

"Ma'am. Are you going to be able to do this?" Andie nodded her head as she took a deep breath and looked up. Her lips were pursed together, but they were shaking.

"I-I ran out of the house and-." She let out a sob.

"Andie, you don't have to do this." The judge said softly.

"I can do this." She said with more sobs following. "I can-I can..." She let herself look at him and broke down.

Kevin couldn't watch it. She wanted her off the stand. God take her off. Get her off!

"Mr. Hooner, take her off the stand."

The bailiff took her arm and helped her down.

"Mr. Turner. Do you have the tape ready?" The judge asked, her voice booming once again.

"Yes, ma'am I do." He said lifting up a tape player.

"This will qualify as Miss Nuccio's testimony." She said nodding her head forward for him to continue.

Why didn't you just do that in the first place idiot! Nick thought with a roll of his eyes. His patience with everyone was growing slim, especially with her.

He pushed play and her voice began to echo through out the courtroom.

********************1 hour later

"That was rough." AJ's lawyer whispered into his ear.

"That's really helpful." AJ said with a grimace.

He rolled his eyes. "Sorry if I like to state the truth.

"She has no evidence! I didn't do it." He whispered harshly.

"That may be our only winning quotient..." He leaned forward. "And you don't need to pretend with me AJ. If you want me to help you in this case you have to be honest with me."

"I am being honest!" AJ shouted.

His lawyer rolled his eyes. "OK, but if we lose because you didn't tell me what really happened then it's all your-"

"I didn't do it Max, so shut up and do your job." He said wanting to grab his shirt, but refrained.

"Fine. OK. Then what do you want me to do?"

AJ leaned back in his chair and stared at the man. "You're my lawyer?"

********************Across the room

"That did us a huge favor. This guy is going down!" Turner said with a grin.

"Yeah. Going down." Andie said with a glum face. "That's supposed to make me happy right? Then tell me why I feel so bad."

Turner gave her a confused look. "You aren't happy?" He backed up and looked at her. "Am I doing something wrong?"

"No, you are doing everything he wanted you to do." She said looking back at Kevin and Nick.

"What did you say?"

"Everything I wanted you to do." She said turning away from them.

Turner leaned forward. "Andie are you telling me everything? Cause I need to know if you aren't."

"I told you everything to the best of my capabilities." She said staring down at her hands.

"You do want to do this do you?"

"Yes."

"OK. Your the client."

"Yeah I am." She said in his direction.

He nodded, while looking away. "Then why did you just say that you were doing everything he wanted you to do'?"

********************The next day

9:13 a.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

She just lay there like a doll on the bed. She had been awake for an hour, just laying there. He had been watching...he had been awake too. No words were exchanged. He had grown tired of trying. If she was going to speak it would be on her terms. Shrinks had said that, and that's the stuff he lived by. It was all he could do. She did speak every once and a while; about what she wanted to eat or if she was tired. She never said anything of any importance. She never spoke about what really mattered; all he cared about.

Her feelings.

If she didn't roll over soon he would scream he knew it. He couldn't move. He couldn't let her know he was awake. It was her call. And he knew she was awake.

9:34. It was 9:34 and still no response. How long could she just lay there? How long could she just sit there and think? They had to get up soon though. They had to be in court by 11:00...

Should I just get up and start getting ready?

Maybe I should wait.

If I wait we could be late.

This is so difficult...but of course I don't have a manual to help me understand her...What she's going through.

Ring! Ring!

Thank god for the phone! He picked it up. "Hello." She started to move on the other side of the bed. He felt her wait lift off as she stood up. Her eyes were on him, she could feel it; he didn't turn around to see. "Yeah, we know Nicky." A few more seconds for him to speak. "Thank you. I'll tell her....All right, see you there...Yeah OK....Bye." He hung up stood up.

"That was Nick?" He turned around. He hadn't realized that she had been behind him.

He nodded. "Yeah. He told me to tell you to stay strong."

She half smiled and nodded her head; then put it down. Slowly, so slowly, she turned towards the bathroom door. He thought she wasn't going to move before he asked. "Are you going to take the first shower? Or should I?" At the sound of his voice she jumped for the door. Kevin watched the door as it slammed shut and finally went to the closet to get his clothes.

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

1:09 p.m.- The court house

It had just been 2 hours and it all ready had seemed like they had been talking all day. The lawyers dragged on and on about things that didn't matter. She knew that sooner or later she was going to scream if she didn't say what she had to; what was right. She glanced over her shoulder for the fifth time in the last half-hour and saw them. They were in the same positions. Nick was still looking at her. Kevin was still looking at the lawyers.

She turned to her lawyer who was now seated. She leaned towards him. "I have to speak to the judge."

"What?"

"I have to tell her the truth."

"What?" He repeated, his eyes wider than saucers.

"AJ isn't the one." After a few minutes of staring at her he stood up.

"Pardon me ma'am. We need to speak to you."

The judge turned to face him, her eyes almost rolling in her head. "Yes?"

"I would like to speak to you in private with my client. It's very important."

"So important we have to stop this entire court room?"

"It's so important it will stop this case and close it." She heard Nick behind her. She could feel his eyes on her. AJ's lawyer was asked if he objected. He said he was interested. She told them to meet her in her quarters in 5 minutes. "We'll be there in 3." Turner said before sitting back down. "I hope you know that you have caused a big problem for yourself."

"I know I have." She said trying not to turn back to see Nick and Kevin. She didn't have to. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked in a harsh, hushed voice. Her eyes never touched his face as she stood up and followed Turner out of the room.

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

1:22 p.m.- Judge Landery's office

"What is this all about Miss Nuccio?"

She looked up at her lawyer who urged her to speak. "AJ isn't the one."

The judges eyes seemed to pop out of her head. "What did you say?"

"He didn-"

"Are you telling me that you filed a complaint and made everyone spend all their time on this case and it's not even true?"

Andie shook her head. "Yes."

"Then who? Who did this to you? And why did you not tell us? Why did you frame an innocent man?"

"I didn't frame an innocent man."

"Then what do you call what you have been doing for the last week?"

"He made me."

"Who? AJ?" She asked puzzled.

"No..." She paused and gulped. "Nick."

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

1:39 p.m.- The court room

The guard had just walked in. He seemed to be scanning the room. Kevin looked over at Nick. He had been squirming for 15 minutes. "Nick? What do you think is going on?"

"I-" His voice came out high and squeaky. He cleared his throat. "I don't know."

The door where Andie disappeared opened. She walked out; followed by a few police officers and her lawyer. She scanned the room for a second; at one point directly looking at AJ then she stopped on him. Nick sat up straighter as she lifted her finger and pointed directly at him.

Kevin followed her finger and looked at Nick. "Nick. Why is Andie pointing at you?"

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

2:04 p.m.- The station

Kevin's arm was around her tightly. All she could do was stare at Nick. They were watching him through the mirrored window. He was confessing. He was almost going to confess. She could hear it all. "I-I-I-" He stammered nervously.

"Come on Nick. Just tell us. We know you did it. She told us you did it."

"I was with Kevin."

"He left."

"I-I-"

"Nick. You will help us a whole lot and spare us time if you just say it."

"Did you or did you not rape Andie Nuccio on November 19th."

"I-I-I-"

Andie stood up and pounded on the glass. "Just fucking tell them you ass-hole! Be a man and tell them what you did to me!" One of the officers had his arms around her and was pulling her back as Nick's head went down on the table. "Tell them! Tell them!" She screamed as they dragged her out of the room. Kevin was standing and watching her leave. His head was slightly turned to the window as Kevin heard Nick half whisper.

"I did it."

********************6 days later

1:54 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

"I don't care what happens to them Kevin. I don't want to be there." She said from the couch, her angelic face staring up at him. It was the first time she had looked him in the eye for weeks.

"OK. You don't have to go. We'll just stay here and Mr. Turner will call us when it is over." He said down next to her and put his arm around her. This also hadn't happened for a while either.

"You don't have to stay here. I know you don't want to."

"What would make you say that? I want to be with you. I always wanted to be with you."

"I don't know..." She said with a sigh.

Kevin sighed and dropped his head. After a moment he started, "You do realize you will have to make a statement at Brian's hearing."

"Yeah. I do."

"Are you OK with that?" He asked, his head still down, his arm still slung around her shoulders.

She shook her head. "No."

"I think you have to do this one...We've got no one else."

"I've got you don't I?"

"I-I didn't know about it." His grip grew slacker against her body.

The room grew quiet. Minutes ticked by...

He's trying Andie. Let him be.

She needs her space. She needs time...How long is that? Days? Weeks? Months.....Years...?

"Hey I think Gone With The Wind is on." He suggested reaching for the remote.

"I don't feel like-"

"Come on it's your favorite movie...Look." He pointed to the screen as Scarlett's silhouette appeared.

"As God is my witness. As God is my witness..." Andie looked up at Kevin.

"OK, but can we have some ice cream too?"

He nodded and kissed her on the head as he got up. As his lips touched her skin she shivered. He stopped and looked down at her. His eyes were begging for forgiveness. Her's were telling him he was scared...but. "Chocolate." She said her voiced quivering

He nodded and hurried to the kitchen door.

Sinking to the floor, his body touched the black and white tiled floor.

Sinking to the floor, he was losing hope.

Sinking to the floor, he was losing it all.

Sinking to the floor, he was losing his judgment.

********************The next day

2:45 p.m.- a hilltop

The shock was like deep knives stabbing him in the stomach. The awkwardness he felt around her was like falling endlessly into a black void.

Nick did it. Nick raped my fiancé...After years of me treating him as a brother. He was my best friend. My best friend. I trusted him with my soul! I don't understand. I don't get it...All these years...All these months...wasted.

My best friends. All of them...Brian...AJ...Nicky...God, he's just a child!

He can't be a child…How could a child push a grown woman into an ally and with all the hate in his filthy body tear her to pieces? Rip her apart like an animal?

He had never sensed it, any of it. It was as if he had discovered a new world and every one around him in it had changed. It was like he had been gone for years in another country or on another planet. No one was the same.

No one.

His world was crashing down before him. The walls had just been cardboard and were blowing away in the wind leaving him in the middle of the vast field of pain and regret; alone. The cold, sharpness of the gusts blew against his skin and chapped it painfully…

Standing on the hilltop, in the snow, he could see the entire city. As he stood...pondering...thinking...the white snow fell upon his head and coat. He hardly blinked as a fluff of white powder hit his eyelash. His breath shot out heavily from his mouth as he sighed. He could see Nick's house, AJ's apartment, Brian's home…His…home. The thoughts in his head jumbled and straggled his mind almost to the point where he wanted to pass out.

Guilty...guilty...guilty...all guilty. Judges. Courts. They are all guilty. Now my poor, sweet Andie has a life sentence and they get 20 years apiece. Oh! My heart hurts! He screamed as he dropped to his knees, his breath heaving outward in one lone puff. It was too easy to be weak...especially when she needed him.

The snow began to cling to his damp cheeks as the sobs and cries slashed his throat and tongue. Time for Andie was growing thin. His patience for her was narrowing. It was taking all of his strength to love her and keep her when she did not seem to care anymore.

AJ...Brian...Guilty...Nicky...Andie...

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

9:43 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

"Where have you been?" She asked sitting up from the bed. Her hair was disheveled. Her clothes rumpled.

"I went for a walk." He said as he took the scarf from around his neck.

"For six hours?"

"Yes for four hours." He said dropping his coat on the closet floor. Give her time. Help her heal. "How are you? Feeling better?" He shouted into the room as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"A little." She said softly, her eyes down, away from the closet door. The light from the bulb shone through the slits on the door and lit the darkened room.

"Good." He said gruffly, his throat had caught itself on a nail.

"Where do you go when you leave me on your walks?"

"I don't leave you." He said as he slipped out of his pants.

"You didn't answer me."

"I go to the park." He dug through his clothes for his pajamas.

"The park?" She asked rolling onto her side. "The park." She sighed. "Why don't you tell me the truth?"

Kevin's hands stopped searching and he appeared in the door, his silhouette casting a shadow on her bed. She turned over to face him seeing his outline as the light blinded her. She shielded her face for a minute with her hand then looked back, her eyes squinting. His outline looked familiar to her, yet frightened her. It sent chills up her spine. She gasped and rolled onto her stomach, her head burying in the pillow.

"Andie?" He asked walking to the bed. He sat down, and put his hand on her side. Her body flinched away from his touch. He backed away. "What is it?"

"Get away from me. Get away from me." She cried as she started to crawl away from him. "No. No."

"Andie, what are you doing? It's me, Kevin." He begged creeping towards her.

"No. No. No." She fell to the floor with a thud and scrambled to the wall.

He stayed on the bed, afraid of what would happen if he followed. "It's me." He choked out.

All she heard was his voice. His voice calling her name. Whispering in her ear. She clutched her head with her hands, covering her ears. She screamed. It was an ear splitting scream. Kevin ran to her. He threw his arms around her as she began to beat him. He put his hand over her mouth as she screamed again.

"It's me. It's me. Kevin. I'm Kevin! Not Nick! Not AJ! Not Brian! KEVIN!" He cried rocking her in his arms. His hand slowly moved away from her mouth as she collapsed in his arms and into his bare chest.

********************The next day

12:34 p.m.- Kevin and Andie's house

I lie here. I lie here and all I can see is his face. I see him in the eyes of every person I see. In the face of every man who walks bye. He never let's me be, he follows me every where. He is in every crowd. At every store. Driving every car. I can't look at Kevin anymore. It's so hard to see him knowing he knows. Knowing who knows.

I see the pity in their eyes. I see them, hear them, saying, showing they know my pain. They don't. No one understands my pain. What I have to go through everyday of my fucking life. It's not like they had it happen to them. It's not like they are going through this.

Kevin says he understands. He says he is here for me. Is that why he can't even look me in the eye? Is that why he seems to leave whenever I start to cry? He isn't here. No one is.

I don't have anyone. My parents are dead. Kevin isn't here. I have no friends. I don't even have a pet. Nothing.

I don't understand why he didn't just kill me. Why didn't he just finish me off? After all the hitting and kicking and…Then AJ, why did he have to come from the shadows of the ally? Why did he have to let me know where he had been, what he had done while he watched…Watched Nick hurt me. Why after all that did he lean down and pick up my severed ear. God! Why did he have to kiss me! Why did he just walk away in a daze still holding MY ear! Why! Why didn't he leave me alone like any normal human being!?

Why did they have to get help? Couldn't they have just left me? How did they know I didn't want to die? 'Cause I do. I don't want to live. Why would anyone want to live through this? This is far worse than anything death could bring. God I have to live! Live when I know no one cares or understands...I don't want it! I never asked for it and I don't want it!

She stood up.

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

"There is no easy way to deal with a death. Especially when it is the death of a good person. A person who deserved the best. Deserved a wonderful life. It must have been so hard for her. She wanted to live. Before all this happened she wanted a house; kids.

She wanted to go to Europe. We were going to after we got married. Ha, I still have the tickets. I couldn't get up the nerve to throw them away...

I was looking through Andie's things the other day and I found an old letter she had sent to me when I was away on a trip. She wrote that she wanted nothing more in the world than to be with a good man. She wrote that she knew that day and at that second that it was me. I called her after I got the letter...that's when she proposed. I don't understand really what she meant by good man. I don't see myself as that. I just loved her, that's all. I thought that was enough.

I still don't know what she must have gone through before she slit her wrists. What she must have thought; what she felt. I can't even imagine, or begin to imagine what she must have been thinking. Her whole life had changed so drastically. I think she felt it would never get better. I think she felt she could do nothing. That's where she was wrong. I think it was one of the only times she was wrong. She could have done something. She could have saved herself. But she didn't do the one thing that could have saved herself. She didn't talk. She didn't tell anyone anything. If she had opened up the things; images, thoughts, feelings, whatever, they wouldn't have pounded her brain. They wouldn't have crushed her the way they did.

Andie was one of the strongest people I know...but she wasn't strong enough to do that. I wish she had been...Not a day goes bye that I don't pray she was still with me. Losing her was like losing a piece of me. A piece of my heart, my soul.

The day I went to see her in the hospital and I found out what had happened to her, I had begun a long fall. To this day I don't think I have landed. I'm not sure if I ever will. She had taken me high in her life...so high...I don't know how it will be possible to ever reach solid ground again."