A/N: SORRY. I am totally the writer I can't stand: disappearing for months and months at a time. I could give a million excuses, but if I'm being honest, the biggest reason I haven't been updating is I just haven't been motivated with what's been going on with PLL. Which isn't fair, because with Paige's poor treatment on the show, you all need good Paily more than ever. I apologize again and I thank you all for sticking with me even when I didn't give you reason to. You're the best!

Paige opened her eyes, momentarily filled with joy to find herself next to Emily before the memories of the night before came flooding back. Sydney was dead. Murdered. Emily had seen it happen. She had even been chased by the killer himself. Paige had so many questions, but she didn't dare ask them. Emily was supposed to go back to the police station that day, and she figured they would interrogate her enough.

She gently stroked Emily's cheek, glad that she had finally gotten some sleep. She was afraid of waking her up if she moved, so she stayed lying next to her, overcome with fear. Emily had witnessed a murder. Even worse, the killer knew it. That's why he had come after her. She shuddered to think what could have happened if someone hadn't heard the confrontation Sydney had been having and called the police.

But now that was another thing to worry about. The killer was still out there, and she was terrified he was going to come after Emily. He would have every reason to, and since he didn't get to finish her off last night…..

She closed her eyes, trying to control the feeling of panic rising in her. She wouldn't let him hurt Emily. Toby was a good cop; he and the people he worked with could figure this out. They had to. Emily's life depended on it.

She jumped as her cell phone vibrated on the table. She quickly grabbed it so it wouldn't wake Emily, opening it to see a message from Toby.

Don't forget to bring her by for questioning.

Paige rolled her eyes, typing out a response. He had told her just about ten times last night to bring her by.

I know. Do you know anything yet?

We'll talk about it when you come in later.

She sighed again, closing her eyes. She didn't understand. Sydney seemed like such a sweet woman, and Paige couldn't see how anyone would want to hurt her.

Unless there had been something more going on. Now that she thought about it, she had had a very strange run in with Sydney just days before her murder. Emily had mentioned she was acting strange, too. She had kept asking about the head of the research program at the hospital. Why? Had she known something bad about someone that got her killed? It had to be something like that. It just didn't make sense otherwise.

"Paige?"

She opened her eyes, smiling gently as she saw Emily looking back at her.

"Hi, Em. How are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly well rested."

"The power of drugs," she replied, and she was relieved when Emily laughed. "Seriously, though…. Are you okay?"

"I'm not sure," she admitted. Paige wrapped her arms around her. "I mean…. I saw someone die. She was my friend."

"I know," Paige whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry, Em."

"He's going to come after me again."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do. I saw it. Maybe I didn't see him, but he doesn't know that. All he knows is I was there and I started running. He was going to kill me then, and since he couldn't…. it's only a matter of time before-."

"Stop," Paige cut in. "I won't let that happen."

Emily just sighed in response, her eyes welling with tears. Paige hated seeing her hurt, and even more, she hated the fact that she had to feel so afraid.

"We'll talk to Toby," she told her gently. "He works with some of the best detectives. They'll figure this out, and they'll help us keep you safe."

"I guess. I wanna take a bath. Come with me?"


Two hours later they were headed to the police station. Toby was waiting for them, and he led them to a back room, offering them both coffee that seemed to have grounds floating in it.

"I'm very sorry to ask you here, Emily," he started. "But it's very important you tell us what happened. This is Detective Wilden. He's going to be on this case. He is a very skilled homicide detective, and he will be sure the killer does not come after you again."

"Nice to meet you," Wilden told them, shaking each of their hands. "So, Emily, I was told that you witnessed Sydney Driscoll's murder. Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Paige wondered if Emily was tired of telling this story. She squeezed her hand the whole time, silently reminding her that she was there. She couldn't even imagine what Emily was going through. Watching her suffer was hard enough, but Emily had actually seen it all happen.

She couldn't believe how quickly and strongly she had fallen for her. It really was hard to believe that it had only been a month since they had met. The connection they had was unlike anything she had ever felt. She couldn't lose her.

Emily was quiet leaving the police station. Paige didn't want to pressure her into talking, since she had done more than enough of it inside. Why did someone so sweet have to suffer so much? As Paige got into the driver's seat, she wished more than anything that she could take Emily's pain and give it to herself.

"So…. are you hungry?" she asked, just trying to make sure Emily was okay. She looked like she was off in a different world.

"Uh…. not really."

"You've barely eaten since…. Well, sometime yesterday. Can we at least go back to your house and I can make you something?"

"I thought you said you could mess up a sandwich," Emily replied, smiling as she looked at her. Paige chuckled, relieved to see her smile.

"Well, I'll try really hard to get it right."

"Yeah. That's fine."

When they got back to Emily's house, Hanna was there. Paige wasn't happy to see her, because she knew she was going to ask the same questions Emily had just answered over and over again. She knew the last thing her girlfriend wanted was to go home and talk about last night's misfortunes some more.

"Emily!" Hanna exclaimed the second they were in the door, flinging herself at her roommate. "I'm so sorry I couldn't get here sooner. Did you get my texts?"

"Yeah," Emily replied, sounding tired. "It's okay. But I really don't want to talk about it right now. I don't want to explain again."

"No, of course. I'm just so sorry," she told her, not letting her go. "That's so awful. And poor Sydney. I…. I'm glad you're okay."

"Thank you," Emily replied, quickly wiping at her eyes. Hanna finally stepped back, smiling at Paige.

"Thank you. For taking care of her."

"You don't have to thank me."

"Em, what can I get for you? Do you want me to go to the liquor store?"

"Actually, I would love that," Emily told her, and Paige chuckled, nodding in understanding.

"That is a good idea," she agreed.

"Anything in particular?"

"Surprise me. But get something strong," she called as Hanna hurried out of the door. She sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah. I need to get smashed."