The moon shone through the window of the room Cassy occupied. After speaking with the police, she fell asleep. Chris hadn't left her side, which meant Buck hadn't left his.
"I figured you'd be ticked off about what happened between me and Hallie Grace." Buck said, breaking the silence.
Chris had gone between flipping channels on the muted TV to watching Cassy sleep.
Chris looked from the news program to Buck. "I would have been if things had ended differently."
"I drink because it helps me forget the dark night, the flash of white light, and the blood on my hands. I drink because when I do I see Hallie Grace before the shooting."
Chris switched off the TV and turned around to face Buck. "Yeah, you're going to have to stop that before you die of alcohol poisoning. I know after what happened to Sarah and Adam you would never drink and drive, but you can kill yourself with the alcohol. I buried Sarah and Adam with you beside me; I buried Hallie Grace with you beside me; I don't want to be the one to put you in the ground."
A buzzing noise kept Buck from answering Chris. He took his phone out of his pocket and excused himself.
When he came back, Buck didn't sit down. "Josiah, Nathan, and JD are on their way to sit with Cassy. There have been some developments with Ariel. Vin and Ezra are taking her back to her place. Vin asked us to meet him there."
"She's going back to him!" Chris did his best yelling voice without actually raising his voice. Still, Cassy shifted. Chris turned to his attention back to her until she was asleep again. "She's scared he'll kill her," Chris deduced. "Fine, but we wait until the others get here. I don't want Cassy alone."
Josiah, Nathan and JD arrived twenty minutes later, having already been en route when Vin called them. They pulled in chairs from another room to sit while Cassy slept. Chris wrote her a short note explaining why they were there. He didn't want her waking up and not knowing where he was. He was already having a hard time leaving her.
Ariel sat in the darkened living room. She had tried switching channels on the TV, but couldn't find anything to hold her attention. Her nerves burned with fear of seeing Matthew again even though she knew she had no choice.
It was so quiet in the house; she could hear the sound of her own heart beating. Then, she heard the front door open.
"I'm in here," Ariel called out. She waited a few moments for him to get through the house and then he turned on the living room lamp.
Ariel could see Matt's shirt was unbuttoned, his tie hung loose over his shirt.
"I'm so glad you came home," It sounded as if he were crying. "I knew if you heard what happened to Doctor Whitlock, you would come back to me. I had to do it, Ariel. It was the only one I could get you back."
"You put her in the hospital, Matt, just like you put me there last night." Ariel stood now, on shaky legs. "She never did anything to you."
Matt's eyes were red rimmed. He came toward her and Ariel stood her ground despite wanting to vomit. "Yes, she did, honey. She took you away from me. I had to find out where you were. I had to get you back."
"You beat Cassy, just like you beat me."
Matt craned his neck and swallowed, "I only hit you because you disobeyed me. You had to be taught a lesson."
"I never disobeyed you!" Ariel screamed now. "I loved you. I did everything . . . everything you demanded I do and you still hit me! I don't love you anymore, Matt! I hate you!" Tears streamed down her eyes. "Do you hear me, Matt, I hate you!"
Matt's face grew red and his eyes bulged. "I told you," He screamed raising his hand. "Never to call me Matt again!"
He would have swung his fist at her, but Buck grabbed it mid-air. Then Vin was in between her and Matt. "You swing at me, Matt, I'll break your jaw."
The ceiling light came on flooding the room with bright, warm light. Ariel saw Chris standing next to the couch. His face was just as red as Matt's face was.
Chris hit a number on his phone and put it to his ear. "He admitted it. Masters is all yours."
Seconds later the room filled with police. Matt was taken from Buck and handcuffed.
"Ariel, honey, you have to tell them the truth." His eyes filled with tears. "Tell them I was just lying. Honey, tell them I never did anything to you. TELL THEM!" He screamed as they dragged them away.
Thankfully, Vin had turned around to face her so she could look at him and not at Matt's pleading, crying face. He was smiling at her too which made her smile back at him.
Chris touched her arm and she looked over at him. "Thank you," He said.
"I'm so sorry about Cassy. I didn't know he would hurt her."
Chris smiled at her and his eyes gleamed. "Cassy's going to be all right." He looked over at Vin. "I'm going to head back to the hospital. You can take her back to my place if you want. You have a key."
Vin nodded and Chris left with Buck right behind him. When Ariel heard the door close, she collapsed in Vin's arms. "I was so scared," She cried.
"You did it, red." He smoothed down her curly red hair. "You fought your demon and you won. He can never hurt you again. You did good, Ariel. Really good."
But Ariel continued to cry for all those years she didn't have the guts to stand up to Matt Masters.