Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Law and Order: CI. I do, however, own any original characters in this story. Please ask permission to use! Thank you!

Chapter One

She could hear the soft footfalls approach. She tried to gather her small, naked body closer into itself, but found that she could not will her limbs to move. It had been… days? She wasn't sure about anything anymore. But it had been some time since he'd last been in to her dungeon to violate her and spray her with cold water. She didn't care anymore. Her body was wasting away in itself, deprived of rest, food, and water. At first, she was scared that her appearance no longer appealed to him, and she'd be taken to the next level of hell that he had planned for her. She was covered in blood, bruises, and other vile things that she no longer cared for.

She heard the sharp intake of air, "Oh…" the voice whispered as the footfalls entered her private hell.

"What did you expect, Bobby?" a female voice answered, "He told us it had been almost a week since he'd last seen her. And you know that he doesn't leave them alive."

"I know, but," he began as he stepped almost to her feet, "I thought we would make it in time…"

'Are they talking about me?' she thought to herself, 'Do they think that I'm dead?'

Through her foggy eyes, she could make out a tall man kneeling beside of her, looking her up and down. He shone a flashlight at her feet, and slowly shone it up the length of her body.

"She has abrasions around her ankles, possibly from a binding. Her body is covered in bruises. She's been raped numerous times, it would seem."

The female voice acknowledged him in what she could tell was disgust. She tried to will herself to move, or speak to make them aware she was alive. But she found she could only allow her eyes to pool with the remaining amount of moisture she had in her body.

The man beside of her continued trailing the light over her chest and torso.

"Her hands have been bound at some point. Multiple bruising around her neck. Doesn't seem –"

Suddenly, the light froze on her face. She blinked her green eyes against the sudden brightness, allowing for her tears to spill.

"Oh my God! Eames!"

The light was suddenly dropped, and she felt something cover around her neck and lower body. She wasn't sure what it was, but the silky lining felt good against her chapped skin. Funny what she would treasure after all her violent past…

"What is it?" a click-clack of running shoes hurried over to join the man.

Finally, she found she could voice a thought… the only one that she had been screaming since she found herself in the small room.

"Help… me…" she whispered weakly.

Everything happened so fast after she confirmed to them that she was alive. People were yelling into what she could only assume were phones or talkies. The man that she had seen kneeling beside her was no longer there, and that frightened her for some reason. She wanted him back… he hadn't believed that she was a corpse.

"Is there a bus outside?" she heard frantically above her.

"Yes, but they can't get down the steps with the stretcher."

She felt hands grabbing around her back and knees, tugging her into an upright position. She moaned in protest. Was this a dream? Was it he again, back to force himself on her? If it was, she knew she didn't have the strength to force him off.

"It's alright." The male voice soothed as he picked her up and cuddled her into his broad chest, "I'm with the police, and I'm going to get you out of here."

A weary smile crossed her face as her eyes drooped dangerously close to blacking out, "My hero." She whispered.

The silky covering was wrapped tighter around her naked body as he stood. He began to walk quickly, if not run, out of this drab, dreary prison. Her legs swung back and forth, in motion with his enormous steps, almost as if she were a rag doll. She could tell that he was trying not to jostle her around as he ran the length of the corridor, and up a flight of steps. She could feel every bruise and would break into her as he began another flight of steps. She closed her eyes and drew in a sharp breath.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" the deep voice asked quietly as he stopped on a landing.

She dug her nails into his shirt, "Help.. me." It seemed as if her mind had gone stupid. It was the only sentence that she could utter that made any sense.

She felt him take in a deep breath as he resumed his ascent, "It's okay now. I'm going to help you."

She knew he was not the man that had hurt her before, but she couldn't help but try to wriggle away from the large hands that were splayed protectively around her shoulders and knees. The touch made her skin crawl.

"Shh… It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." He reassured as they reached the top of the steps, and he had managed to open a gray door.

"Help me." She sobbed into his chest, the tears now flowing across her swollen face.

"I know… I know." He whispered as he instinctively pulled her closer to him.

She could smell the fresh air cutting through the staleness as they approached another door. It was open and white with the sunshine pouring in. She shut her eyes against the light, and nuzzled her face into the strong chest.

The noise of outside was almost more than she could stand. The roar of police sirens and numerous radio communications threatened to split her head in two. She began to shake uncontrollably, and her stomach took a dangerous lurch. She moaned, trying to will the bile back down her throat.

"She's going into shock!" he boomed as she cried out.

Suddenly, she was taken from her warm cocoon, and onto a cold sheet. The silly top that she had been covered with was threatened to be pulled away by unseen hands, but she held to it firmly.

"Let her keep it. Take her, and I'll get it later."

A mask was placed over her nose and mouth, forcing cold dry air down her throat. As they began to wheel the stretcher over the bumpy terrain, she forced her eyes open to see her savior standing at her feet. His chocolate eyes were looking down at her in concern, and he ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. He was so tall that he towered over her small frame. She didn't realize it until she saw him walk calmly to her side and place her hand between his two warm hands in a friendly comfort.

She had been reaching out to him.

"Don't worry." He said as he smiled warmly, "I'll see you soon."

And with that, her hand was placed down by her side, and she was pulled away from him. The stretcher was pulled roughly into the back of the waiting ambulance. As the doors were slammed shut, she caught one final glimpse of him. He calmly placed his hands in his pockets and turned to go back into what had been her cell for God only knew how long.

Her eyes slipped closed as the EMT's worked over her, the scream of the ambulance announcing her tragedy for the entire city to hear. But all she could picture were the warm, cocoa eyes looking after her in concern. And the promise that she would see him again… Soon.