Author's Note: I don't own any of the characters that belong to ABC or James Patterson. Please read and review. I am also looking for help. I am a freshman in college. So any pointers or any ideas can be emailed to me at One

Hurt

Cindy Thomas winced as she dragged herself off of the floor. Her boyfriend Travis had come home drunk again and beaten her for not having dinner on the table when he had come in the door. She walked slowly to the bathroom holding her ribs to assess the damage. This wasn't the first time he had done this. He came home frequently and either hit her or passed out wherever he happened to land. He never hit her face so there would be no unwanted questions. He wasn't always like this. It didn't start until he had lost his job when his company had done a huge layoff 6 months ago. Now he was a UPS truck driver, a job he hated. After work every day he'd go to the bar and come home either passing out or take his drunken anger on her. Around her friends however he was the perfect boyfriend attentive and loving. He also had never hit her in the face in order to prevent any unwanted questions.

"Ouch," Cindy winced out noticing the big bruise on her side. Luckily none of her ribs seemed to be broken. Cindy looked down at her watch and swore. She had to meet Lindsey, Jill, and Claire at Papa Joe's in 20 minutes for dinner. She refreshed her make-up and made her way quietly out the door as to not wake-up Travis where he had passed out on the couch.

"Hi Cindy," said Jill when Cindy walked up to their regular table and slid in next to Claire.

"Hi everyone," responded Cindy wincing a little when she hit the table trying not to gasp out loud.

"You ok?" asked Lindsay noticing the slight wince.

"Yea just me being clutzy, ran into a table," Cindy answered thinking fast.

"How's the boyfriend?" asked Jill.

"Fine," answered Cindy as Claire handed her a menu to peruse.

"Can you order me a cheeseburger and fries? I have to run to the restroom," Cindy asked Claire.

"Sure honey," answer Claire. Claire had taken a real liking to Cindy right away and treated her like a long lost daughter. Cindy made her way slowly to the bathroom.

"Order me the same you guys, I'm just going to go check on her," said Lindsey getting up to follow Cindy. Lindsey had a feeling something wasn't right Cindy wasn't being her normal bubbly bouncy self. When Lindsey walked into the bathroom Cindy was standing at the sink with her shirt up and on her side was a huge bruise.

"Cindy!" Lindsey gasped loudly. Cindy turned around with a look of horror on her face and a few tears in her eyes. "What happened?" she asked walking towards Cindy to more closely examine the bruise on her side.

"Nothing," said Cindy quickly covering the bruise back up with her shirt.

"You know you aren't a very good liar," responded Lindsay looking at Cindy suspiciously. Lindsay thought about all the possibilities where Cindy wouldn't exactly be forthcoming with what happened. She looked up in shock at Cindy. "Did he hit you?" growled Lindsay her eyes flashing with anger at the possibility that someone had hit this trusting and loving individual. Cindy looked down not looking Lindsay in the eyes. "Cindy, please talk to me I won't let him hurt you I promise," Lindsay said gently. Cindy instantly crumpled into Lindsay's arms crying. Lindsay surprised, held the sobbing red headed reporter. "Shhhh…it's ok," said Lindsay trying her best to calm Cindy. She wasn't good at this type of thing Claire and even Jill were much better.

Cindy finally pulled away from Lindsay wiping the last of her tears away. "Sorry," she whispered looking down in embarrassment at her break down especially in front of Lindsay.

"Its ok, how long has he been hitting you?" asked Lindsay firmly.

"6 months," Cindy mumbled.

"Cindy! Why didn't you come and talk to one of us?" We would have helped you," said Lindsay. "Come on let's go back to the table before Claire and Jill send out a search party," Lindsay said leading Cindy out of the bathroom and back to the table.

"What's wrong?" Claire immediately asked noticing the tear tracks on Cindy's face.

"Go ahead show them," Lindsay said leaving her hand on Cindy's back. Cindy lifts up her and shows the bruise on her side to Jill and Claire both gasp in surprise.

"What happened?" asked Jill.

"Travis uh…he hit me tonight when he was….uh drunk," Cindy stammered out. Both Jill and Claire looked surprised.

"Come here sweetie let me see it make sure nothing is broken," said Claire beckoning Cindy to slide in next to her. "This might hurt a little I just want to make sure your ribs aren't broken," Claire said gently pushing softly where Cindy's bruise was.

"How long?" asked Jill sternly which shocked Cindy, her and Jill had always gotten along pretty well but they weren't super close and Jill sounded ready to kill him just as much as Lindsay seemed to want to.

"About six months," Cindy mumbled gasping a little when Claire pushed on her rib a little too hard.

"Six months?!?!" yelped out Jill. "Why didn't you come and talk to one of us?" she asked.

"He threatened to kill you guys if I ever tried to leave him or told anyone what he did to me," Cindy responded holding back tears. "I could never let that happen no matter," said Cindy wiping away her tears.

"Awe sweetie we would have found a way to protect you. We are your friends and that is what we are here for," Claire said pushing Cindy's hair out of her face.

"You'll stay with me tonight," Lindsay said firmly making it clear there was to be no arguments about this.

"But…," Cindy started to protest.

"No buts Cindy we can't take the chance he'll hurt you again," said Lindsay interrupting Cindy.

"I need clothes," Cindy said giving up arguing with the headstrong inspector.

"Ok but I am going with you," Lindsay responded.

Cindy smiled adoringly up at the inspector and nodded her head. She didn't know when it happened or why it happened but she was falling for the stunning inspector. It just wasn't a physical attraction she loved the protectiveness she had of her friends, her sense of humor, her caring heart even though she tried to hide her feelings for the fear of getting hurt, even her stubbornness and sarcasm. Problem is, as far as she can tell Lindsay is straight and probably would never be interested in her anyway.

"Will you two be ok or do you want me to come also?" Jill asked concerned for their red headed friend. She didn't miss the look Cindy gave Lindsay and knew what it meant. It was hard not to like the inspector. She will even admit to liking Lindsay at one point but that was before she fell head over heels for Luke. Then she made the huge mistake of cheating on him with that jerk Hanson. Now she was living on Claire's couch.

"Yea do you want us to go with you?" Claire asked also noticing the look. It concerned her a little bit her always being the motherly one of the group. Lindsay had the capability of hurting the fiery red head not intentionally of course.

"Nah, you guys can head home I'll watch over her," Lindsay said looking over at Cindy. Claire and Jill just nodded their heads wondering if by chance Lindsay could feel the same way about Cindy that Cindy seemed to feel about her.

To Be Continued?