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“She’s okay,” he says, holding a hand up. “It wasn’t as bad this time. Looks like she’s coming out the other side.”

My body deflates in relief. “Can-”

“She’s sleeping,” he interrupts, knowing what I was about to ask.

We all stand there, staring at nothing while our minds are all whirling with thoughts. I didn’t doubt that Daley cared about her. He had to, to be helping her like this.

“How someone can hurt a little thing like that is beyond me,” he grits out, clenching his jaw and shaking his head. “Found her dad yet?” he directs to Charlie.

“Ty and the team are on it. They’ll find him soon.”

He nods his head at him, clearly there are thoughts occupying him and turns to face me. “I’ll be back later. I need to...”

“Okay,” I say, holding my hand out to him. “Thanks for this.”

Shrugging, he shakes my hand. “I might be a hard ass and an asshole at times but seeing someone go through everything that she’s been through?” He shakes his head. “I have to help.”

We watch as he walks away and then we both turn, walking back to Ava’s room and sitting, waiting for her to wake back up.

“It’s fine, you’re safe now,” I hear in the distance.

Shaking my head, I start to come around, the bright light in the room almost blinding me.

“That’s it, slowly, take your time.”

I go closer to the soothing voice, the baritone so familiar and comforting. Safe... it’s safe.

My head is heavy and it takes all my effort just to lift it up, I clench my hands into fists, the tingling sensations slowly disappearing.

Breathing in the sterile smell that only a hospital has, I start to realize where I am. It feels like I’ve been in this place forever and all I want is to go home. I open my eyes and they land on Daley where he’s holding my face gently in the palms of his hands.

“Daley?” I ask, my voice nothing but a hoarse whisper.

“Yeah.” He smiles. “You good?”

“I... I think so,” I say, letting him help me sit up. “Was it bad?”

He looks away, probably to the window where I know they’re watching. Elena and Corey haven’t left the hospital since I was brought in and although I really appreciate it, I hate them seeing me like this.

I don’t want them to have to witness these episodes.

“Nah, you’re getting better.”

I get stuck in my memories and at first, I was in and out more times than I could count but now, it’s not as often.

They all muddle together and one minute I’m sat talking to Corey and then the next I’m back in that room being whipped, then into the alley as I shoot the gun but they keep twisting and he always comes back, never dying.

This last one, he turned the gun on me and shot me in the chest. The pain I felt was so real.

Daley’s the only one who can bring me out of it or, at least, coach me through them. It’s always his voice that brings me back.

Turning my head to the window, my eyes clash with Corey’s and I can see the worry in them. He looks so tired and I immediately feel guilty because I’ve done that to him.

I want to open up to him, tell him everything that is going on in my head. I want to tell him what happened that night but each time I open my mouth to tell him nothing comes out.

It’s like the words are there but my voice won’t allow me to say them.

I fear him knowing everything. Last time, I didn’t have anything to lose because I didn’t have anything to begin with but this time, I have everything to lose and if I tell him what he did to me, the whole story, I know he won’t want me. He won’t see me as me anymore, he’ll see me as a victim and I don’t want to be that.