"You just let him take her!" Vin's voice resounded through the walls of the living room. That was the greeting Chris got after he told Vin what had transpired the previous night.

Vin had come into the house just as Cassy was leaving to go back to her place. Buck's vehicle was still outside which meant he was still at Ariel's house.

"I didn't leave her alone, Vin. Buck took my truck and followed them from the hospital back to their house. I talked to him last night before I went to bed and he was going to stay awhile. Evidently, he's still there." Chris took a seat in his recliner. "Vin, Ariel has to make the first move."

Just then Vin's cell phone rang. He glanced down it at and a worried expression came over his face. "It's Ariel's number," Vin said as he answered it.

It was a one way conversation that Chris understood all too clear. Matt had left for work and Ariel was ready to leave him. She just needed help.

"Look out your window, Ariel, there should be a black truck across the street." He paused. "The man inside is named Buck." Vin snapped his finger's at Chris and Chris grabbed his cell phone from the coffee table and hit Buck's number.

Buck picked up on the second ring. "Yeah, Chris. Masters left for work about ten minutes ago and everything's quiet."

"Listen, Buck, Ariel is ready to leave Matt, but she wants our help. Vin's on the phone with her right now. She knows you're out there. She's going to come to you, Buck. Bring her here."

Chris heard the creak of the truck door from over the phone and then, "I'm ready for her. See ya in a bit."

Vin was just hanging up when Chris got off the cell phone. "Buck's bringing her here so we're looking at a good twenty-thirty minutes." He saw the relief in Vin's face and nodded. "This is good, Vin. She's ready to be helped."

"I'm going to leave Cassy a message and let her know what's happening. We need a counselor for Ariel and Cassy can help with that."

As soon as Buck saw Ariel come out her front door, he was out of the truck and across the street. He stopped just a few feet from her as not to scare her, especially when he was met with green eyes wide with fear.

"My name is Buck, ma'am. I'm a friend of Vin's. He told you over the phone that I would be here to take you to him."

Ariel nodded and a stray curl escaped her ponytail. She slid it behind her ear and grabbed her small suitcase. Buck had a hold of it before she could and lifted it into the air. With his other hand, he took her elbow gently. "Let's get you somewhere safe, Ariel."

Buck set her bag in the back of the truck and helped her get into the passenger side. When some of her clothes gave as she was getting into the truck, he saw the new bruises and some faded ones. It made him sick to his stomach to think of a man hurting a woman. Once Ariel was inside, he closed the door and went around to the driver's side.

"I'm taking you to my best friend's house. Vin's there and then we'll figure out things from there," Buck told her as he started up the truck and pulled out of parking space he had inhabited since the night before.

Vin was pacing on the porch when he saw Chris' truck come down the driveway. Buck pulled the truck next to Vin's jeep and grabbed Ariel's bag. Vin helped Ariel down from the truck.

"I'm sorry about last night," Vin whispered as he walked her up the front porch steps and into the house.

"It wasn't your fault," Ariel said.

"Good morning, Ariel." Chris offered her his hand. "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Chris Larabee and you've met Buck Wilmington. There are four others coming to help. They'll be here soon and we can formally introduce you to them. The seven of us will keep an eye on you until you decide how you want to proceed with Masters. Cassy will be here in a few hours," Chris cleared his throat when he saw Ariel hang her head. "You're safe here, Ariel. I have a room set up for you down the hall and it has its own bathroom. Feel free to live in it until Cassy gets back if you'd like. If you'd like to walk around, stretch your legs or get some air, let one of us know and we'll keep an eye on you while your outside. We'll make you as safe as humanly possible while you're here, Ariel."

"I'd like to go to the guest room now, if that's all right?" Ariel asked in a whisper.

Chris stepped aside and pointed to the room. "Holler if you need anything."