"So, he's out there somewhere?" Evangeline said as she sat upon her bed now dressed in a robe, as John stood by the doorway.

"Yeah, but we're gonna find him and I have round the clock guards posted on you."

"Why?" Evangeline asked and then slowly stood from her bed as realization struck. "Oh God, you think he's going to come after me again." She said and John cast his eyes to the floor, unable to bear seeing the fear that had suddenly filled her eyes. "Of course he is, I mean he attacked me in the first place because I turned down his invitation to dinner, so now…" Her eyes shot up to meet John's "Now he's coming to kill me," At these words, John, who had been trying to keep a respectable distance, moved to where Evangeline stood trembling. He reached out and stroked her hair.

"Hey I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, I promised, remember?"

"But John you can't protect me 24/7." She said as the tears she was trying hard to hold in finally slid from her eyelids, and the sight of her in such a rare and fragile state broke John's heart.

"Well that's exactly what I plan to do, I'm not going anywhere, and I'm never gonna let anything happen to you. Not ever again," he said as he threw a slight smile and Evangeline sighed a bit and put on a brave smile.

"There's no way in hell I'm leaving you alone while that sicko is still out there." Layla protested. "You're lucky I haven't told mom…yet."

"Layla, please the last thing I need right now is worrying about you. Besides, I have my own protection. Granted it's probably not as scary as a big mouthed little sister, but it'll get the job done," Evangeline said as she reached inside her purse, which sat on the end table beside her, and pulled out a handgun.

"Oh my God, Evangeline, are you crazy?" Layla exclaimed as she stared wide-eyed at the gun in her sister's hand. "You bought a gun?"

"Yes, I got it a while back. I've even taken lessons, and I do know how to use it. So, yes Layla I bought a gun. It's no big deal."

"Really, does John know about it?"

"No, I actually had planned on surprising him about it before this all happened. If you tell him so help me it will be your dying words."

"Why not? I thought it was 'no big deal'," Layla mimicked.

"It's not but with all that's happened, John will make it one. He's the kind of guy who wants to always save the damsel in distress. Problem is I'm nobody's damsel."

"And why not Vange, why can't you be the damsel just this once? Please."

"Layla there's really nothing to worry about, thanks to John this place and my office is now like Fort Knox. Jimmy would be a fool to try anything. Don't worry It's handled, ok?"

"Hey John," Hugh greeted as he approached John. John, in turn, rolled his eyes a bit and sighed heavily. "Are there any new leads in the Jimmy Walker case?"

"If there were you'd already had them."

"Hey, what's with all the hostility, we're on the same side here, remember?"

"Yeah right,"

"Do you have a problem with me detective?"

"No, I just don't like you in my face. When I have something I'll let you know."

"Fair enough," Hugh agreed and they stood a few seconds in uncomfortable silence, as John went back to reading over the file in his hand as Hugh watched him. "So, how's Evangeline holding up?" At these words, John looked up and stared at Hugh.

"She's fine."

"Glad to hear it," Hugh said genuinely. "When I heard what had happened…"

"We're not having 'this' conversation," John cut him off.

"Sorry I was just concerned."

"Don't be, I'm taking care of her," John said and then stalked past Hugh and into his office, slamming the door behind him.

"Whoa, what's wrong with John?" Natalie asked as she walked in at the end of John and Hugh's conversation.

"That's like asking 'what's the meaning of life', who knows, but since I was asking about Evangeline when he lost it I'd say that's the reason. I make a comment about how nice her butt is to him once and ever since I've been on his shit list," Hugh said as he stared at John's closed door for a moment, he then shrugged, threw Natalie a smile and headed out.

Natalie sighed and then she smoothed down the skirt she was wearing, flipped her hair off her shoulder and then headed towards John's office. She knocked once as she entered. "John," He looked up from his coffee area where he stood making himself a cup. "Is everything ok? I saw that little scene with Hugh, is there something I can do to help?" At her words John sat his cup down and moved to Natalie, he gripped her arm and lead her to the open door. After maneuvering her past the threshold he finally spoke.

"You wanna help, then stay out of it, and I mean that Natalie," With that said he closed the door.

"This isn't necessary Charlie, I just stopped by for some files now I'm heading straight home."

"Sorry Evangeline, McBain asked me to do him this favor, and you know I'm an ex-cop and we look out for our own," Evangeline could only smile as she nodded her head. As the elevator reached the garage and the doors opened they found the garage flooded in darkness.

"Whoa, someone didn't pay the light bill," Evangeline joked.

"If that were the case the entire building would be dark," Charlie stated as he suspiciously eyed the darkness.

"Could be a fuse," Evangeline added wanting to relieve the fear and anxiety that was building up within her.

"Problem with that is the entire garage including this elevator run on 12 different grids," He said as he pulled his gun, which unnerved Evangeline more than the darkened garage. "We'll just go back up to the lobby and I'll call you a cab, you can come back later for your car when I've got someone down here to fix this," Charlie said as he reached out one hand to push the up button, while firmly holding the gun in the other hand.

She stared at the man rushing towards her as if she didn't know who it was. "John," She called out with a confused look on her face as he reached her.

"Hey, you ok?" He asked as he reached out and cupped her face in his hands while he leaned down a bit to look into her eyes.

"Yes I'm fine, what are you doing here?" Evangeline asked as she looked over at Charlie, who in turn looked away sheepishly.

"Don't blame Charlie he was doing me the favor," John said. "I thought you might slip out of your apartment and come here, so I asked Charlie to be on the lookout for you. You know, it's easier to protect you if you stay in, Evangeline."

"I got too antsy, pacing the floors. I was going out of my mind John. I thought if I came and got some work to do it would help. So, I snuck out. I'm sorry, it was very stupid, I know," Evangeline explained and apologized all in the same breath. " But, this is probably just a blown light bulb or something," Evangeline said.

"125 lights actually, and they all blew at the same time?" Charlie threw in.

"You have people down there now?" John asked Charlie.

"Yeah, they're trying to fix it and find out where it started."

"You let me know the second they find something," John said and Charlie threw him a nod. "You ready to go?" John directed to Evangeline who simply nodded. "Good, then I'll take you home."

"Wait what about my car?"

"We can come back for it later when it's safe."

"Safe? John, do you really think Jimmy is behind all of this?"

"Yeah, I do," John said as he led Evangeline out. "Thanks, Charlie," He threw back to the older bulky white man still seated behind the security desk.

"Believe me when I tell you Jimmy Walker doesn't have the brain power to come up with something so grand," Evangeline said with a slight chuckle, which John matched with one of his own. Neither noticed the man mopping the lobby, who glared and sneered at them as they passed.

"You snotty bitch, I'm gonna fix you. I'm gonna fix you good."

"Ok, what's this called again?" John asked as he sat on the floor across from Evangeline, with a table full of the food they had gotten from the new diner in town called 'The Creole Café'.

"That's Jambalaya," Evangeline answered as she spooned some in her mouth.

"And this?" John asked as he made a face at the spoonful of unidentifiable substance.

"Gumbo," Evangeline said as she rolled her eyes at John. "Boy you do not deal well with any kind of change, do you. Stop thinking so much and just eat it and enjoy."

"Ok but what…" Before John could finish a glob of the substance he had just been asking about struck him in the face.

"Coleslaw," Evangeline answered as she smiled around the spoon in her mouth.

"You think that's funny?" John asked and Evangeline, who sat giggling, nodded her head. After a moment's pause both dipped their hands into their coleslaw and started flinging it at each other. The food fight lasted several moments and ended with John and Evangeline wrestling on the floor. John got the upper hand on Evangeline who had been straddling him, by rolling them over. With him now on top, he began tickling her. "You know the magic words," John said.

"Uncle!" Evangeline squealed. "Uncle, Uncle!" She said winded as John stopped tickling. Both remained in their position, Evangeline on her back with John hovering over her, both still chuckling. Without thinking John dipped his head and kissed Evangeline's lips, she, in turn, opened her mouth welcomingly to him as she reached up and grasped the back of his head. Taking this as an invitation John hungrily devoured Evangeline's mouth and allowed his hands to roam over her body, and then under her shirt. Evangeline instantly stilled as her mind suddenly flashed with images of Jimmy. In a panic, she began to struggle beneath John, who was so lost in his own passion he hadn't realized at first. "Get off," She mumbled and John instantly stopped his advances. "Get off of me!" She yelled and John hurriedly moved off, freeing Evangeline who jumped up and bolted to her bedroom, and she locked the door behind her. John was at a loss as to what he should do. He stood and moved to the bedroom door.

"Evangeline," He called out to her and when he heard crying on the other side of the door his heart nearly stopped. He closed his eyes and banged his forehead against the door and then turned and placed his back against it, and then slowly slid down the door to the floor. "Hon, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," After several moments that felt like an eternity to John, he heard the click of the lock. He moved his weight from against the door and rested it on the doorframe. He waited patiently and after a few more seconds the door creaked open just a bit and Evangeline's hand slid through the crack and along the carpeted floor. Without saying a word John slid his hand over to meet hers, grasping it into his own, and that was the way they remained for the next hour.

She looked around the room as she nervously wrung her hands together. She had been there for nearly fifteen minutes, yet hadn't spoken a word.

"Evangeline, you don't have to be so nervous, we can talk about whatever you like, or we could simply sit here and not talk at all," The gentle voice of the 50-something black female psychiatrist spoke out and pulled Evangeline from her thoughts. It had been nearly two weeks since her attack, and although Evangeline had thought she would just be able to forget what had happened and move on it had been too difficult. Having Jimmy out there somewhere had made it all the worse, and so she had started attending a rape crisis group. She immediately felt she didn't belong in the group, but she accepted the offer of private sessions from Dr. Chase who had hosted the group.

"Sorry Dr. Chase, I don't mean to waste your time here. I thought this would help me more than the group session."

"No need to apologize, you've got nothing to apologize for. This is about helping you; it's all about you, no one else, and my group sessions aren't for everyone."

"I just felt like I didn't belong there, hearing all those women, their experiences. Mine was nothing like theirs…"

"You were forced to part-take in a sexual act against your will, just like all of them were," Evangeline simply nodded her head, even though inside she still felt that her experience wasn't 'that bad' in comparison to what some of the women in the rape group had endured. "I don't mind a one on one session if it's more comfortable for you."

"Thank you."

"So, you mentioned in the group that you have a boyfriend, a cop if I recall," Evangeline nodded as a smile played on her lips.

"Yes, John. God," She sighed deeply as she thought of him. "He's been so amazing, so caring. I couldn't have made it this far without him. I just wish…" She paused unable to find the right words.

"Wish you were as close as you once were," Dr. Chase finished the sentence and Evangeline stared at her in surprised amazement. "It's not uncommon Evangeline. It will take time for you to heal not just physically, but mentally as well. And I think the group is a testament that the psychological scars last far longer than the physical one. I've been treating some of those women for years, but they've managed to stop thinking of themselves as a rape victim, to become a rape survivor, and you will too."

"And what about…sex? I mean the drive is still there. I want John as much as I ever have, but when we start…when we get 'that' close, I don't know…I freeze up. I'm terrified of him. I treat him like he's the bad guy like he's hurting me. I don't want him to see that kind of fear in my eyes, directed at him. I love him and I want to touch him and I want to be touched by him, but when I try I see Jimmy's face," Evangeline closed her eyes as she spoke 'his' name, hurriedly pushing down the images that started to emerge.

"You have to give it time Evangeline. You were attacked just a few weeks ago, and your attacker escaped police custody, that's got to be reeking havoc on your nerves. In time nature will take its course, so to speak, and you and John will be able to become lovers again."

"If I don't run him off beforehand."

"Naaa, I have a sinking suspicion that you wouldn't be with him if he were that kind of man, the kind that would run away. He's been with you since it happened, right?"

"Every step of the way," Evangeline confirmed. "He's been so wonderful and supportive."

"Then just give it time, it'll happen."

A soft knock made him instantly look up from the file he had been reading, and a smile quickly filled his face when he saw who was standing in his doorway.

"Hey," She spoke out a smile on her face. "I'm not disturbing you am I?"

"Hey yourself," He replied as he stood and made his way around his desk, tossing the file atop as he passed. "And you could never disturb me, come on in," John said as he looked around her out into the bullpen area. Evangeline smiled as she already knew what he was looking for.

"Don't worry, the two cops you have posted on me have been with me all day while I've been out. They're out there," She stated as she entered his office, closing the door behind her, she then turned to lock it, causing him to look at her curiously.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as she turned to him and shook her head, before turning back to the blinds on the door, closing them. He leaned against his desk and remained silent as she walked about the room closing the blinds and securing the other door leading of his office. She finally moved to him, settling in between his open legs. Before he could question her actions she moved her mouth over his and pulled him into a deep kiss. It had been weeks since he had been 'this' close to her and for a second his brain shut down and his body took over and he gripped her closer, it was the split second that he felt her go a stiff in his arms that brought him back, and he abruptly ended the kiss and shoved her back a bit. "What's going on Evangeline?" He asked a bit out of breath.

"Nothing, I just wanted to kiss you, it's been awhile since we've done this," She said as she moved back to him. She lifted her arms and placed them around his neck, and then entangled her fingers in his hair, yanking his head back a bit as she leaned down and suckled his neck. His eyes involuntarily rolled into the back of his head as again he briefly allowed his body to take over.

"Evangeline," He spoke softly as he gripped her forearms and moved her back at arm's reach. "Stop, tell me what's going on?"

"I told you nothing is going on, John, I just thought we could…It's been a long time since we've made love. I just thought you'd want to…" She said this as she stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself self-consciously.

"Hey," He moved to her, reaching out he cupped her face in his hands and lifted her face until her eyes met his. "I'm not going to lie and say that I don't want to make love you, that I don't miss being close to you, but I understand that it will take some time. I'll wait, Evangeline, for as long as it takes I'm not going anywhere. So please don't ever think you have to put my needs before your own. When the time is right when you're ready we'll make love then, ok?" He said softly and while looking up at him with watery eyes filled with adoration she nodded her head, and then enveloped him into a tight embrace, which he happily returned. The moment ended with a knock on John's door.

"Lieutenant?" A voice called from the other side of the locked door, and after throwing out a regretful glace John moved from Evangeline's arm to unlock and open the door.

"Yeah,"

"Sorry Lieutenant but the Commish said I was to give you the lead on the call that just came in, it looks like a 261 and 187, over at the Everett Doctor's offices," This caused Evangeline to gasp out and John instantly locked eyes with her.

"I just left there, had a late session with a doctor I've been seeing there, Dr. Chase."

"Dr. Meredith Chase?" The officer still standing in the doorway asked.

"Yes, how did you…"

"She's our victim." The officer announced and then handed the file to John. "They're waiting for you at the scene." John nodded as he kept his eyes locked to Evangeline.

"Hey Larry," John called to the officer who had just turned to leave. "Ms. Williamson will be waiting here for me, keep an eye on her. I mean don't let her out of your sight, got it?"

"Sure," the officer agreed with a nod.

"John," Evangeline began to protest but John held up his hand and silenced her.

"I'm not going to argue with you about it right now Evangeline, just please stay here until I get back then we'll go home ok." The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes caused Evangeline to cave.

"Ok, but John…you think Jimmy did this, don't you?" She asked and then held her breath as she awaited his reply.

"Yeah, I do."

Police Codes:
*261= Rape
*187= Homicide