Thanks to greenfrog and spidergirl91 for the reviews. It may not be who you wanted it to be behind the door but if you keep reading I guarantee that you will not have to wait long to see Ryan. Please review!!


Chapter 6: Broken Inside

Kirsten froze, her mouth falling open, suddenly unable to form any words. She took in Marissa's bloody lip, the bruise forming under her eye and the cut on her head, blood dripping under it down the side of her face.

"Oh my god!" was all she managed to come up with. "Come in, come in," Kirsten said as she ushered Marissa into the house.

"I'm sorry to just turn up but with Seth and Summer in New York, my mom in England and Ryan in San Francisco I …I…" Marissa felt the tears and tried to will them away, but failed as they slowly dripped from her eyes.

"Oh sweetie, you know our door's always open," Kirsten wrapped her arm around Marissa and led her further into the house.

"Honey who's at the door?" Sandy called out. He looked up when Kirsten walked in, the chips in his hand falling back into the bowl in front of him. He immediately leapt up from the couch and turned the tv off. Kirsten helped Marissa on to the couch. Marissa shifted Elly, cradling the sleeping girl in her arms. Kirsten sat beside her and looked up at Sandy who was standing there speechless for the first time in his life.

"Sandy can you go get some ice and water and a cloth," Kirsten asked him calmly yet urgently. "Sandy?"

He snapped out of his state of shock.

"Oh uh yeah," he hurried away and Kirsten turned back to Marissa.

"Here let me take Elly," Kirsten put her arms out to the little girl. Marissa shrunk away and held Elly close. Kristen felt the breath catch in the back of her throat as fear covered Marissa's face.

"It's ok sweetie, it's ok. I'm just going to lie her beside you."

Marissa reluctantly let Kirsten take her out of her arms, and place her on the couch beside her.

"Watch her shoulder."

Kirsten looked at Marissa before turning back to Elly and carefully pulling her t-shirt over, dreading what she was going to see. Kirsten swallowed deeply and closed her eyes at the bruise on Elly's shoulder. Marissa soothingly stroked Elly's soft, blonde hair.

"Did he do this?" Marissa glanced at Kirsten, a feeling of fear sweeping over her at the mention of him. Marissa's expression as a tear rolled down her cheek told Kirsten all she needed to know. Marissa looked back to her little girl. Her world.

Sandy rushed back in carrying a basin of water, ice and a cloth. He placed the basin in front of Kirsten and handed her the cloth. She soaked the cloth in the water and lifted it up to Marissa's face.

"I'm sorry if this stings," Kirsten said before gently wiping away the blood on Marissa's face. Marissa took a sharp intake of breath as the cloth touched her cut. "We should take you to the hospital, that cut looks deep."

"No, no it's fine. I don't need the hospital, I'm fine."

Sandy handed Kirsten some ice wrapped up in a cloth. She took it from him and handed it to Marissa. She noticed when Marissa flinched.

"What's wrong? Have you hurt you wrist?"

"No it's fine," she lied and tried to lift the ice up to her face but winced in pain and brought it back down.

"Let me see." Kirsten pulled her sleeve up revealing a bruise on Marissa's wrist where Kylle had grabbed her.

"Please let me take you to the hospital. That looks like a bad sprain."

"No please, I don't want to go to the hospital," Marissa pleaded. She knew that if she went to the hospital they'd want to know what had happened and she wasn't ready for that.

"Just leave it for now," Sandy said to Kirsten quietly. She nodded and stood up.

"I'm just going to get a plaster for that cut and some bandages," she said to Sandy. Sandy watched Marissa stroking Elly's hair. This was a completely different person to the teenage girl he had known. She had changed. She hadn't just grown up, she had evolved into someone knew. Someone stronger. But he could tell that the broken teenager was still inside and would never really be gone. He couldn't help but let a small smile escape his lips at how much Marissa clearly loved Elly. He guessed that Elly was the reason for the change. Having a baby so young forced her to stop being a teenager and start being an adult. Instead of depending on other people, people are suddenly depending on her. He looked up when Kirsten walked back in and sat back down beside Marissa.

"I'm just going to put this plaster on the cut on your head ok?" she asked gently, keeping Marissa calm. Marissa nodded her head. Sandy could tell that Marissa wanted to cry out in pain but she wasn't that person anymore. "Now if you give me your wrist I'll put this bandage on."

Marissa carefully lifted her wrist for Kirsten.

"Sandy could you go and set up the guest bedroom?"

"Yeah sure."

"Do you have any stuff with you?" she asked Marissa as she wound the bandage around her wrist.

"Uh there's a bag in the car."

"I'll go get it," Sandy said.

"We won't be here long I just…."

"Hey, hey," Kirsten cut her off. "Not another word. You're staying here for as long as you have to."

Kirsten carefully tucked the bandage in and gently placed her hand on Marissa's knee.

"You're safe now, ok?" She looked into Marissa's glistening eyes. "We're not going to let anything happen to you or Elly. I promise."

Marissa nodded her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Now is there anything you want or need?"

"Could I get something to drink?"

"Of course, I'll go get you a glass of water."

When Kirsten left Marissa carefully lifted Elly onto her lap. She smoothed her hair off her face and kissed her forehead.

"It's ok baby, mommy's here," she whispered.

"She's beautiful."

Marissa looked up when Kirsten walked back in. Kirsten handed her the glass and sat back down.

"You know she looks a lot like you when you were her age. That makes me feel so old," she said with a small laugh. She noticed Marissa's lips form into a small smile. "You know I remember taking you and Seth to the zoo when you were about 4," Kirsten smiled at the memory. "We spent hours there, both of you insisting that we see every animal. But then you cried when we went to see the gorillas because one of them banged on the glass in front of you."

"I remember that," Marissa said with a smile. "I was terrified."

"Yeah you wouldn't let go of my hand for the rest of the day. Hey maybe we can take Elly to the zoo sometime."

"Just as long as we stay away from the gorillas."

"I think we can manage that."

They smiled at each other but Marissa's smile soon faded.

"You know from the first second that I held Elly in my arms all I've wanted to do since is to give her the best life. Looks like I've screwed that up though."

"You haven't screwed up Marissa," Kirsten leaned forward putting her hand on Marissa's arm.

"Look at me! My life's a mess!"

"Just tell me one thing. Do you love her?"

Marissa looked up at Kirsten.

"More than anything in the world."

"What more could she need."

"It's not that simple," Marissa said wishing it was.

"I know, I know but it's a good place to start. Don't give up Marissa you've both got too much to live for."

They both looked over when Sandy walked in.

"The room's ready."

"You should go get some sleep," Kirsten said gently.

"Thanks. For everything," Marissa said as she stood up holding Elly awkwardly.

"You want some help?" Kirsten offered noticing Marissa struggle.

"No it's ok. I'll see you in the morning."

"You know where we are if you need anything."

Marissa nodded to them in appreciation and headed upstairs.

Sandy and Kirsten both watched her leave, both wondering what was going to happen next.

Elly started to stir as they entered the room so Marissa carefully laid her on the double bed. She took off Elly's shoes and wrapped her under the covers, kissing her head.

"Goodnight sweetheart," she whispered quietly. She unzipped the bag and started to pull out random items of clothing. She slowly gave up and stumbled back against the wall. She slid down and crumbled on the floor. She leaned her forehead on her head as her breathing became jagged.

Sandy sat on the bed and started unbuttoning his shirt as Kirsten took off her jewellery.

"What're we going to do Sandy?" she asked with a sigh.

"I don't know. We're going to have to try and get her to go to the police some time, but right now…I don't know."

"I just can't believe he has been hitting her. How long do you think it's been going on for? I don't think it has just been this once. She's hardly a person anymore, she's so terrified. But then the few emails she has sent us have all been about how great her life is, so it doesn't make sense."

"Maybe too great."

"You think she's been lying in all her emails?" she asked in surprise.

"Well she doesn't look great to me."

"But we've been getting those emails for months," Kirsten sunk onto the bed beside Sandy as the reality of the situation sunk in. "Why didn't she say something?"

"I've seen quite a few cases of domestic abuse during my time at the PD's office and very few were reported after a single attack. She'll have been in denial, fooling herself that he's done nothing wrong, that she did something wrong to deserve it, that really he is a great guy."

"So all this time she's been hiding, terrified. I just can't imagine what she has been through, and having to look after Elly too. I just…I mean Kylle always seemed so nice."

"I think it goes back to the death of his parents. I got the impression that they were very close. It seems that after they died he lost his way…"

"And took it out on Marissa," Kirsten finished with a sigh. "I'm just going to check if there's anything else she needs."

"Ok. And remember Kirsten there's nothing you could have done for her."

"But there's a lot I can do for her now."

Kirsten gently knocked on the door.

"Marissa?" she leaned her ear against it. She heard the sound of muffled sobs so gently pushed it open.

"Oh Marissa!" she rushed over to the shaking figure on the floor. She knelt down beside her and pulled her close to her. Marissa allowed Kirsten to comfort her, holding on tightly.

"It's ok. Let it all out," Kirsten said gently, rubbing her hand soothingly in circles on Marissa's back. Unable to keep it in any longer, Marissa's muffled sobs soon turned into hysterical cries.

"Sshh, it's going to be ok, it's going to be ok," though truthfully Kirsten didn't think it would be ok for a long time.

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