Chris thought Cassy was going to need directions to Vin's apartment. She had only been there once with him. However, she explained to him as she drove that Vin had given her directions while they were on the phone. Within a half an hour of the phone call, Cassy navigated her SUV into an empty space in front of Vin's apartment building.

"Grab my bag." Cassy told Chris since it was on his side of the vehicle. Chris reached around his seat and grabbed Cassy's medical bag and together the two of them went up the elevator to Vin's fifth floor apartment.

His apartment building was rather new. It was a ten floor building with all the modern conveniences within the building which is why Vin had rented it. He could wash his clothes and work out at the same time and within feet of each other.

Cassy knocked once and announced herself before knocking again. The door opened a few moments later. Vin stood in the doorway wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. He didn't look upset that Chris had come with her.

"She didn't want to go to the hospital," Vin said, as he walked through the apartment. Cassy followed while Chris closed and locked the door. Chris followed Cassy into Vin's bedroom where a woman sat at the edge of the bed looking like the loser in a boxing match.

Cassy dropped down in front of the woman and gently touched her face. The woman hissed in pain and Cassy mumbled something to her. After surveying the seen damage, Cassy turned to both men.

"Give me some time with her. I'll be out when I'm done."

Vin nodded and together the two of them left the bedroom.

As soon as the door was closed and Chris knew he was pretty much out of earshot, he said, "What is going on, Vin?"

Vin had his hair tied back. He now let it loose and went to the refrigerator where he grabbed a bottle of juice and poured two glasses. "Her name is Ariel. I met her a week ago while I was running in the park. She told me she was married. We just talked, Chris, and last night we met at the bar I took JD too. I didn't know her husband was abusive."

Chris looked back at the door Cassy had closed. "Her husband did this to her. Vin, he must know that she was with you last night and that's why. . ."

"I know," Vin yelled. He glanced at the door and then said quieter. "I know. I have to get her out of this marriage, Chris, before he kills her."

"Then she can't stay here," Chris told him. "We can find a shelter for her to stay at."

"She won't go," Vin told him and explained how he had already talked to her about it.

"Okay, if she won't go to a shelter, the best place for her is my house. With seven people constantly in and out of the house, she'll have protection at all times."

"She wants to go home," Cassy said from the doorway. She closed Vin's bedroom door and walked into the living room where the guys were. "Ariel's taking a shower and then she wants to go home."

"We have to stop her!" Vin yelled.

"We can only do so much," Cassy told him. "He left her with some facial bruises, but most of the bruises and the cuts are hidden by clothing. There are no life threatening injuries, Vin, and she wants to go home."

"You can report him?" Vin asked.

"As a doctor I have a legal obligation and I will as soon as I leave here, but I don't know how much its going to help if she won't leave him."

"So, that's it?" Vin asked, throwing his hands up in the air. "We patch her up just to send her back to him again. What happens the next time, Cassy, and the time after that? Can you stand by and watch her husband kill her, Cassy?"

"That's enough!" Chris shouted. He put his hand on Cassy's shoulder as a sign of comfort for her. "Ariel's an adult, Vin. We can't make her decisions for her."

Vin went to the refrigerator, threw the juice into an open area, and slammed the door. He slammed his hand against the wall beside it. "I can stop her," It sounded as if he was talking to the wall, but he was speaking to Cassy and Chris. "If I can stop her from going home, are you willing to let her stay at the house?"

Chris nodded.

The door opened and Ariel came out in a pair of black slacks and a purple boatman necked top. Her red curly hair was in a messy bun with curly tendrils falling down around her face and neck. Chris thought she looked just like the mermaid in the Disney movie. If she hadn't been older than the movie, she could have been named after her. The bruise on her jaw was noticeable as was the small bruise at her collarbone that Chris was sure led to a bigger one. "I'll call a cab," She said. "Vin, can I use your phone?"

Vin put his hand on the phone, but didn't move it toward her. "Give the three of us twenty minutes to talk to you and then if you want to leave I'll call you a cab."

Ariel's eyes were swimming with tears. "Ah, Ariel," Vin went to her and gently held her to him. "I haven't known you very long, but I know that you can't like being knocked around. Cassy, Chris, and I have the ability to help you. Let us."

Ariel pulled away from him and wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands which were also bruised. "I have to get back to him. He'll be worried," Ariel grabbed her bag and walked out of the apartment.

Vin followed her out of his apartment and Chris turned to Cassy. "What do we do now?" He asked.

"As a doctor, I have to report any signs of physical or sexual abuse to authorities. Maybe that will do it, but I can't force her to leave her husband, Chris." Cassy grabbed her medical bag. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah. Do you mind if we stop by Buck's place on the way back?"

"Sure," Cassy said leaning into him as they walked down the hall to the elevators. "Just a leisurely Sunday afternoon."

Chris laughed and kissed the top of her head.