Terribly sorry for my extremely long absence. But I've got muse for some Lannie stories, since they're almost non-existent on the show. We want Lannie foreverrr. ):

Annie was terrified. She was afraid of Jason and what he might do to her. For one, she realised that she did not know him as much as she thought she did. Annie had never seen Jason in such fury. Perhaps, to other girls, it would have been ... sweet, having their boyfriend beat the lights out of another guy who forced them a kiss. But Annie felt sick. Her stomach knotted at the sight of Jason's angry face and Liam curled up on the ground, not moving.

"That ought to teach this bastard," Jason spitted. He gazed up towards Annie now, his expression unchanged. "If he touches you again, I'll make sure he won't live to see another day." Before Annie could offer any protest, she found herself being dragged by the arm, headed back towards the country club perhaps.

"We can't just leave him here!" Annie cried out a moment later, when she realised the situation she was in. She was still conflicted though; what could Annie do? If she helped Liam out, who knew just how wrathful Jason could get. What if he tried to harm Annie next? But if she did listen to Jason, then what about Liam? It would be heartless of her to leave him on the beach, bleeding and unconscious. Annie wriggled her arm free from Jason's strong grip. She had to put up quite a struggle, but she managed it somehow.

"We can't leave him here!" Annie repeated herself, this time her voice louder and more indignant. Jason's face grew redder, but softened slightly after a second. He reached out towards Annie's phone he knew was in her jeans pocket. Annie did not know what was going on.

"Dixon, right? Your friend Liam's unconscious," Annie heard Jason say curtly. He turned his attention back to his girlfriend - who almost looked like such a terrible mess - and pulled her away from Liam once again.

Annie could feel her heart racing. It could almost fall out of her ribs, judging by how hard it was beating. The walk along the corridor leading up to Liam's hospital room felt like a walk of shame. She felt as though she should have prepared herself better; but whatever speech Annie had prepared for Liam would dissolve in her mind within seconds. She could not string two coherent thoughts together. All that she understood at the moment was that all this was her fault.

Hesitantly, Annie's hand reached out to the door handle upon reaching Liam's room. She took a deep breath - and it barely calmed her down - before quietly opening the door. Much to her relief, she saw that Liam was asleep. Annie closed the door behind her and paused. She recalled a similar scenario that happened last year - when Liam got beat up by two guys and Annie had taken care of him. And of course, that incident had quickly blossomed into a rather serious relationship.

She walked up to Liam quietly. Last year, the doctor had told Liam to watch himself. If he injured himself again, it would cause a lot more damage. Maybe even cost him his life. Was Liam going to be fine? With all of her heart, Annie hoped that there was nothing seriously wrong with him. Annie slowly held her left hand out, and lightly traced his bandaged forehead with her fingers. She felt empty, seeing him weak and hurt this way. Her fingers slowly slid down the side of Liam's face, her face slightly contorted as she touched the light bruises.

Liam suddenly stirred from his slumber, and Annie quickly retracted her arm. She took a step back, as Liam took a fraction of a second to recognise the girl standing by him. He winced as he struggled to sit up. For a long while, silence passed between them. Neither knew what to say.

"How are you?" Annie finally asked, breaking the deafening silence.

"I've definitely been better. I can probably go home in 2 days," he replied, touching his aching ribs, which were still numb from his movements a little more than a minute ago. "The doctor said I was quite lucky. Told me that this could've been really bad after the previous time, but I'm fine," he added, after a quiet moment passed between them again.

Annie had never been at a loss for words. She literally couldn't think of anything to say to him. All her guilt, sorrow, frustration, shame - how was she to express all these in words?

"How was your job?" she finally asked. Her voice was so small, Annie was unsure if Liam had heard her. Annie figured that she should start with some small talk, instead of diving straight into the situation Liam was in. He shook his head and replied, "Turns out I didn't quite like it after all. It's a lot tougher than I imagined. It was a miserable 2 months."

Liam fixed his eyes on Annie. He wanted to know, really badly, how she had been the last few months.

"Are you happy, Annie?" he asked, just as quietly as she had. "In Pittsburgh?"

"I cried when I reached Pittsburgh," she said finally, fighting back her tears. "I cried for so many nights. I needed you, but you hurt me so bad."

Liam sat up straighter upon hearing Annie's words. Guilt washed over him instantly and the only thing on his mind was the hurt expression Annie wore, thinking it was all his fault. Liam reached his hand out to her face, wiping off the tears with his thumb. "I'm so sorry, Annie. I was so stupid," he replied, his voice a little choked. Annie had never heard him that sincerely apologetic before, but her sentences were not finished yet.

Pulling herself away, Annie added, as though she had not heard Liam's apology, "But then Jason came along and he made me feel genuinely happy." Anyone would know that this was not an easy thing for Annie to say. She was hurt and confused, to say the least - but as always, she chose to do what she felt was right. It would be unfair to Jason if she said she loved Liam. No, that would not be the right thing to do. Jason was her boyfriend and Annie would not want to make unjust impulse decisions.

"I just came here today to apologise," she quietly said. "On Jason's behalf. He didn't mean to take it this far." Before anymore words could be exchanged between them, Annie headed for the door to leave. Leave Liam behind once again and head back to Pittsburgh the next day.

"Annie," Liam called out, just before she opened the door. "I will find you."