Holtzmann and Alice spent the night cuddling in Alice's room.

"I'm really glad I met you." Alice smiled, she was starting to believe that she was better. That he had finally left her alone. She wanted to take a chance on this.

"You're telling me." Holtzmann teased, twirling her finger around a lock of Alice's hair.

"You said you've never done something like this?" Alice asked. Holtzmann got a bit of a faraway look.

"I mean. Nothing as nice as this... If I'm being transparent I have been with other women. But you know, the next morning they're just gone. There was a period of time after I got kicked out of the program and before I met Abby where I was pretty much in and out of relationships like that, crashing on the couches of people I hooked up with." The scientist sadly smiled and tucked the hair she had been playing with behind Alice's ear. "It's hard being different."

"Well, I like it." Alice smiled, loosening Holtzman's tie. Holtzmann felt suddenly really emotional, she tried to hide it and nuzzled her nose into Alice's neck breathing in her scent. Alice closed her eyes and began to doze off. Holtzmann also felt her eyes starting to droop. They both fell asleep in each others arms.


Holtzmann had a nightmare. In her dreams she was back in the apartment her previous 'girlfriend' had lived in.

"You can't go." The woman sobbed, blocking the door. Her name was Sara.

"Stop doing this." Holtzmann frowned. Clutching her duffle bag.

"I can be different. I can change." The scientist bit her lip. She felt the bruises on her arms, they were still sore from a few nights ago. She tried to push past her to leave. But Sara pushed her down and pinned her to the ground. She sat on her chest, holding her arms down with her knees. Holtzmann struggled and Sara smacked her hard, her glasses flew off her face. "I hate you." She screamed.

While Holtzmann struggled to get her arms free Sara smacked her again.

"Stop it!"

"You can't leave!" Sara was crying still, she had a look of anger and disgust as she held Holtzmann down. The scientist felt her nose start to bleed when she hit her again. She finally managed to get one arm out from under her and stopped her hand from coming down on her again. She kicked the woman off of her and grabbed her glasses. While Sara was holding her stomach and trying to get up Holtzmann ran for the door. She didn't stop running until she was on the train.

People kept giving her stares. Her glasses were cracked and her nose was still gushing blood, she was using one of her tee shirts to hold to her nose. Her eyes were full of tears and she felt like an animal at the zoo. She was glad that her other bruises were hiding under her long sleeved shirt and overalls.

As the train went to depart she saw Sara come down the stairs of the station and her heart nearly stopped.

"You freak!" The woman screamed hitting the window of the train car Holtzmann was in, but it was too late. The train took off before she could board.

Holtzmann closed her eyes and put her head back to stop the bleeding.


Holtzmann jolted awake in a cold sweat. She hated reliving that nightmare. Alice stirred when she sat up.

"Holtz?" She whispered, nuzzling into her chest.

"Sorry." She whispered, rubbing Alice's back. She bit her lip to hold back tears.

"What's wrong?" Alice cooed.

"Just a bad dream."

"Ok." Alice laid down pulled at her shirt until she also laid back down. She pulled Holtzmann close and kissed her forehead.

"I'm here Holtzmann." The scientist felt some of the tears fall down her cheeks as Alice held her.

"Thank you."