It is a cold dark night in the middle of December, the man walks pulling his jacket together to try and stay warm. His eye is swollen shut, his arm could be broken (he's not certain anymore what hurts and what doesn't), and he has no I.D. on him. That was stolen the last time the gang had beat him up. The police were no help. Technically he was supposed to be in Australia. He had been smuggled in a cargo box and spent six weeks at sea. He knew he had to get back to the States to have a chance. He couldn't believe he was going to drag her into it but he knew had no choice. He finally reaches the house and rings the doorbell. Before someone answers he passes out.

Maddie Rooney had spent the last eight months trying to get over the fact that Diggie and her were no longer together. At first it had been really hard. She had devoted almost all her time to sports and it had ruined her friendships and grades. Then she finally accepted it. It had taken a long time and she had shed many tears but Liv had been there the whole time. She finally understood why she had a twin. She finally felt at peace with the situation and wished Diggie well. At least she wanted to wish Diggie well. He hadn't answered his phone in several months and his online status had disappeared as well. She hoped he was having fun and that maybe they could talk when he got back. She was practicing her shooting when she heard someone walk up to the front door and the doorbell ring.

"I got it!" Liv yelled at everyone.

Maddie hears the door open and Liv scream. As she rushes to the front she hears her dad calling 911. The next thing she sees is Diggie face down in the doorway. She goes to him and rolls him over. His face is swollen and his nose looks like it's in the wrong direction. His hoodie is filthy and it looks like he hadn't shaved in months.

"What happened?" Maddie whispers.

At the hospital they quickly give Diggie fluids and it is several hours before a doctor comes out to see the Rooney family. As the doctor walks out they all stand up.

"How is he?" Maddie's dad asks.

"He was severely dehydrated and had multiple fractures. There were almost too many bruises to count and his nose was almost to broken to fix. Whatever happened to him happened consistently and with no regard to his health. I'm surprised he is still alive." With that the doctor leaves and the family goes in to see Diggie. As they go in they see that he is hooked up to an IV, his arm is in a cast, and he has a bandage over his nose. He is still unconscious with no sign of waking up any time soon. Maddie walks to his side.

"What happened Diggie?" she says with tears in her eyes. "Who did this to you?"

"Were his parents notified?" Liv asks.

Their dad shakes his head, "They couldn't be found. It's like they just disappeared."

Maddie looks up, "Maybe it had something to do with why he just showed up out of the blue. He hasn't answered any of my texts in months and he hasn't been online in months either."

"It's not like Diggie to just drop off the face of the earth," their mom says.

"I want to know what happened," Maddie says sitting down next to him.

"We all do. We all do," Pete says holding his wife's hand.

Running. The sound of gunshots in the air and screams. He trips over a stump and falls flat on his face. As the air refills his lungs he gets right back up and keeps running. If he had known that girl was going to cause the trouble he had been in, he would've avoided her at all costs. He hears footsteps behind him and sees dirt fly up in front of him. He knows the person behind him has the advantage so he ducks behind a rock and waits. He hears the man walk past him and he sneaks up behind. He jumps on his back and tries to force him into the rocks but the man fights back. Soon the two are trading blows back and forth when the man lays a right hand into his nose. Blood starts pouring and the man uses that to his advantage laying Diggie unconscious.

December 3rd,2015

"Ma'am, you need to get some rest," the nurse says to Maddie as Maddie yawns.

"I'm not tired," Maddie tries to say but the nurse give her The Look.

"Maybe some sleep will do me well," Maddie says standing up.

The nurse nods and Maddie leaves the room. She calls Liv to pick her up and sits outside.

Liv picks her up twenty minutes later and Maddie lays down exhausted on the couch. She tries to sleep but can't help her wondering mind. For one, why was Diggie so badly injured? Why hadn't he tried to escape whoever was holding him? Two, why was she so drawn to him again? He broke up with her. She should have every right to hold that against him yet she was so drawn to him. Finally she falls asleep but it's a restless sleep.

As Maddie falls asleep Diggie wakes up. He slowly blinks the light into his eyes and feels an IV tug in his arm. He struggles for a second before realizing he's back in Wisconsin. He hears the beeping of the machines and turns his head. The United States flag waves through his window and he blinks back a few tears. He slowly remembers the events of the night before and panics calling the nurse.

"Look who's finally awake?" a nurse says walking in with a clipboard.

With a raspy voice Diggie answers, "Please get me the police as soon as possible."

"Sir, you need to rest," the nurse says looking around.

"Police. Please." Diggie answers before laying his head back down on his pillow.

Maddie wakes up with a jolt when she hears someone knock on the door. She wipes the sleep from her eyes and opens it. She sees a crowd of men all dressed in black guarding the perimeter.

"What can I help you with?" Maddie says slowly.

"You and your family are now under the custody of the United States Witness Protection ma'am."