A/N: Sara- birthday 6/28/1978, grade 10 (sophomore)

Temperance - birthday 6/9/1976, grade 12 (senior)

Allison - birthday 7/4/1979, grade 9 (freshman)

Olivia- birthday 7/15/1977, grade 10 (sophomore)

Story currently set in the beginning- 9/1992

Sara, Allison and Temperance have skipped a grade. I had to manipulate it a bit to get all four of them in high school. Okay just some dates that are kinda important to understanding the story a little latter on. I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I had major writers block and then I had a huge project for school. I'll try and be faster next time. Hopefully I'll have time to write another chapter this weekend but no promises

Disclaimer: I write fan fiction not fiction. If I owned anything would I be posting on Daddy, don't hurt her. Don't hurt her! Don't hurt her! No!" Allison cried out in her sleep. "Leave her alone. Leave Abi alone. Don't hit her. Don't hit her!" Allison was tossing and turning.

"Sara…Sara! Wake up!" Temperance gently shook her best friend. "Allison's having a nightmare. It's really bad." Sara, who was a very deep sleeper, shot straight up.

"We've got to wake her up." Sara commanded. "Allison…" She said quietly as she gently shook the sleeping girl. "Allison, wake up. It's only a nightmare. Shh… Shh… You're safe here with us. Tempe and I will keep you safe." The little girl stopped screaming and collapsed into Sara's arms.

"He keeps on hitting her, even after she's dead. I yell at him not to." Allison's body is wracked with sobs. All she sees in Abi's limp body being hit, over and over again.

"It's okay to be scared. But he can't get you here. I promise." Temperance reassures.

"I know. I know but…" Allison stammered, embarrassed.

"Don't be embarrassed." Sara said gently "After the fire, I had horrible nightmares about being in a burning building. I would start screaming in the middle of the night. I would wake up the house mother. She would lock me in a tiny room, with no windows. It was so scary." The story meant to calm Ally frightened her mad.

"Don't worry; we're here to make sure nothing's going to happen to you." Temperance promised. Ally quickly fell back asleep.

"What the hell were you thinking? Telling her about the box like that?" Temperance said angrily.

"I'm so sorry… I just… It just… I don't know, Tempe." Sara said apologetically. "It just came out. I didn't mean to scare her. I just needed to say something. I didn't know what to say." Sara crawled back into her bunk and fell asleep. Temperance couldn't sleep. She just stared at the bottom of Allison's bunk. Temperance hadn't really slept in weeks. All she could think about was the knife glinting in the florescent light. It had only been a few months. She had a normal life eight months ago. Now her life was falling apart. Now she had no family and had nearly been killed. It was dawn before sleep over came Temp.

It was the first day of school. The three girls walked into the building, arms linked. All three were young for their grades. Being abnormally intelligent along with being foster kids caused them to be very nervous about fitting in. They headed toward the office to get their schedules. While comparing schedules, they discovered they didn't even have the same lunch period together. With nervous smiles and hugs, they went their separate ways to various different classes. Class was boring for them and every minute they waited for the bell to ring. The day seemed to drag on and on. Finally the final bell rang. They huddled together while they waited for the bus. Most of the girls from the home went to the high school for troubled kids across town. Jamie, Rachel, and Marcia were the other three at Lincoln High. Jamie and Rachel were juniors; identical twins that were put in the system just a few years ago. They weren't mean but they sure as hell weren't open to new friends. As far as they were concerned, they didn't need anyone else. Marcia was a freshman. She was a little snob. Her parents were rich before they were locked up for espionage. Sometimes Sara just wanted to give her a good beating. But the urge was always nullified by the fear of being sent to prison.

When the bus got to Lincoln High, it was packed full of the other girls. Everyone gave them rude sneers and pointed and laughed. They were 'normal' which made them different. Even if foster care they didn't fit in. The short bus ride home seemed like an eternity. All they wanted to do was go to their room and collapse.

Temp and Ally were starving so they headed to the kitchen but all Sara wanted to do was take a nap, escape from it all. Sara tossed her backpack up onto the top bunk to only to hear a grunt.

"Hey! Watch it, bitch." The girl snarled. A tall lanky teenager was lying on the top bunk above Sara's. She was pissed that someone could be so inconsiderate.

"What the hell are you doing in my room?" Sara replied, equally pissed.

"Guess you didn't hear. I'm your new roomie." The girl said rudely.

"Got a name?"

"You first."

"Fuck you." As this was said, Tempe walked in.

"What's the problem?" Temperance asked with a steely voice.

"The damn bitch won't tell me her fucking name." Sara replied icily.

"Why the hell does it matter?" Olivia spat.

"Look we're roomies until someone gets arrested or turns eighteen. We best get to know each other." Temperance said calmly. "I'm Temperance Brennan. This here is Sara Sidle. Allison Cameron is downstairs. I'm a senior, Sara's a sophomore and Ally's a freshman. Now it's your turn."

"I'm Olivia Benson, I'm a sophomore. I'm only here until my mom can get out of jail. It's not long term for me."

Sara laughed. No mom's ever came back. Sara knew that. She'd know that for a long time. Family wasn't something you could count on.

The next few days were tense but it was expected with all the changes in the girls' lives. Sara and Olivia had all the same classes. The two wouldn't even sit near each other in the cafeteria. Things were bound to explode. The stress of school, life and everything else was getting to them.