Wow, I am so very sorry that it took me over a year to update. There are no excuses. I am ashamed.

I wrote the next few chapters over a year ago, I just didn't post them yet. I'll upload one chapter everyday. I hope no one has lost interest in this story! And, by the way, this is going to be a VERY long story.

The sentences in italic are Buffy's thoughts.


Ryeshia comforted Buffy until she was forced by Mrs. Edison to leave for the second group today. Mrs. Edison allowed Buffy to stay in her room until she was ready to join her group.

Buffy finally calmed down after 20 minutes of letting out loud, uncontrollable sobs. She was lying on her stomach and her right hand was clenched around the corner her pillow. After lying still for 2 minutes, she decided to join the group. She lifted herself up with her elbows and sat in the center of her temporary twin sized bed. Buffy wiped away the tears on her cheeks before climbing off of the bed.

A million thoughts raced through Buffy's mind as she exited her room; most of them revolving around her father. Why does he have to be such a jerk? Why can't he accept me for the way I am? Does he even love me anymore? Does he only care about the family reputation?

Her situation wasn't easy and it didn't help that her own father made her feel worthless. All he did was add to her pain.

"Miss Summers, will you please join me over here for a moment?" Buffy heard Dr. Lee call out to her from a table across the room.

She honestly did not feel like discussing what happened in the visitation room. All she wanted to do was make it through the day without any discussions about her problems and her dad.

Buffy made her way towards Dr. Lee and stopped walking once she approached the table.

"Take a seat." Dr. Lee requested in an undemanding, friendly way.

Buffy pulled out a blue chair across from Dr. Lee and sat down.

Dr. Lee opened a manila folder and took out a piece of paper. He looked directly into her eyes and started speaking. "As you know, you were scheduled to remain in this hospital for at least two more days, however, I had a conference with your parents and I came to the conclusion that this may not be the best place for you." Dr. Lee paused and waited for Buffy's reaction.

Buffy gave him a confused look then finally asked, "What do you mean? Am I going somewhere else?"

Dr. Lee shook his head. "Your mom told me about your recent move to Sunnydale and her separation from your step father."

Buffy gulped and her heartbeat slightly increased. What exactly did my mom say about Ted? Did she tell him what happened? If not, is he going to ask me questions about why my mom left him?

Dr. Lee continued speaking. "After analyzing the situation, I concluded that you are having a difficult time adjusting to California and your new lifestyle. You don't appear to be suicidal and I am assuming the self-mutilation started no more than two weeks ago. However, since you have started cutting yourself and you do show symptoms of depression, it is mandatory that you start going to therapy twice a week."

Buffy nodded her head, even though she was still confused.

Dr. Lee picked up the piece of paper of him and placed it in front of Buffy. Buffy looked over the paper while Dr. Lee spoke.

"You will be released today. We are placing you in our outpatient program for five days, starting tomorrow and ending Friday. Instead of going to school for the week, you will be come to this hospital from 8am to 3pm."

Buffy looked up at Dr. Lee and made direct eye contact.

"Basically all you have to do is go to therapy for a few hours. Don't worry; you won't have to sit and talk for hours. You'll be with a group the entire time and you'll do therapeutic activities. All the information about our outpatient program is on that piece of paper. If you have any questions, let me know." Dr. Lee stopped talking and waited for Buffy to say something.

"I understand everything now."

Dr. Lee smiled at her and stood up from his seat. "Great. It was nice meeting you, Buffy. I wish you a great week and I hope you feel better soon."

"I'm not going to see you again?" Buffy asked as Dr. Lee gathered all of his belongings into his arms.

"I might check up on you a couple times during the week."

Buffy nodded her head and Dr. Lee extended his hand out to her. Buffy shook his hand and then stood up.

"Oh, wait. You said something about going to a therapist twice a week?"

"Yes. You will see a therapist outside of the hospital, after you finish the outpatient program. You and your mom can choose any therapist you want, after you found one, your mom will give us her or his name and we will contact the therapist to let her/him know everything."

Buffy gave him a weak smile, "Oh, okay."

"I'll let you out of here." Dr. Lee walked away from the table and signaled for Buffy to follow him. "Your parents are waiting."

Buffy made a sudden halt after he said parents. Did he say parents? Does that mean my dad is still here as well? I don't want to face him. Please, don't let him be here.

Dr. Lee glanced behind, "You coming or would you rather stay here?"

Buffy snapped out of it and caught up with Dr. Lee. "No, no. I'm coming." She stayed silent for about 30 seconds then decided to ask him, "Um, is my dad here too?"

"I believe so. He may have left already but I think he stuck around." Dr. Lee opened the door and let Buffy walk through first.

The first thing she saw was Hank leaning against a wall with his arms folded over his chest. Buffy gave a frustrated sigh and walked over to him.

"Where is my mom?"

Hank looked over at Buffy. "She went to pick up Dawn. She wants meet us at the house."

Unfortunately for Buffy, the wrong parent left.

They left the hospital in silence after Hank spoke to Dr. Lee for a few minutes. Hank walked Buffy over to his rented car and she slid into the passenger front seat without a word. Hank wanted to say something to Buffy but he didn't know how to start. He wasn't sure how to speak to her without hurting her. He was never good with words when it came to comforting an upset woman. Hank started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

After 10 minutes of silence Hank finally made up his mind and decided to speak to his daughter.

"Buffy, I…" Buffy was startled by her father's voice because he spoke so suddenly. "I want to apologize for my behavior earlier. You can't possibly imagine how bad I feel for upsetting you. I regret everything I said." Hank was visibly shaking and obviously nervous but he continued speaking anyway.

"You're my daughter, Buffy. I love you. I want you to know that." Hank took his eyes off the road and looked toward his daughter. "You do know that, don't you, Buffy?"

Buffy nodded her head and Hank put his attention back on the road.

"You have to understand, this isn't easy for me. Seeing you in that place, I mean. It's difficult for a father to see his child locked away is some hospital. You're my daughter. Mine. You're my little girl." Buffy watched her father in amazement. Is he really saying this? "I feel somewhat responsible for this mess. Maybe if I had paid more attention to you, and your sister. Maybe if I had been a good husband, and father, none of this would have happened. Your mom, she's an amazing woman, Buffy. Just amazing. I loved her, just so you know, I loved your mother. I want you to know that. I know I didn't show but I did, I loved her. I screwed things up with her, Buff. She walked out on me." Buffy wasn't sure but she thought she saw her fathers eyes fill with tears.

"Buffy, I won't make the same mistake with you. I can't let you walk out on me. I won't stand by and watch someone I love walk away again. I can't lose you." A single tear slid down Hanks cheek. Buffy knew she wasn't imagining it now.

"Dad…" Buffy spoke softly. "I…I'm…" Hank pulled the car over to the side of the road. He turned the car off and listened to the sound of speeding cars pass by.

Buffy didn't speak. She just watched her dad. Hank Summers has always been known as a 'mans man'. He was brave, strong and certainly not emotional. In 16 years, Buffy has never seen Hank show any emotion other than anger and disappointment. Watching this grown man cry was like seeing pigs fly. Unbelievable and shocking.

Hank turned toward Buffy. "I just don't get it, Buffy. I don't understand why you're doing this to yourself. Why are you hurting yourself? You're also hurting your mom, your sister…and me. I don't…I don't know what I would do if I lost you…if I woke up one day, and heard you were…gone. It scares me because one day you could cut a little too deep, a little too much. It almost killed me to hear about what you did to yourself. Your mom…she called me at work. I knew from the sound of her voice, I knew that something was wrong. She said you were in the hospital…and I…" Another tear dropped from Hanks eye. Buffy started crying as well.

"I'm sorry dad." Hank pulled his daughter into a tight embrace.

"Promise me. Promise me it's over. Please, don't do this again, Buffy."

Buffy didn't say a word. Hank and Buffy sat in silence, still holding onto each other.

After a couple minutes, Hank pulled away.

Hank whipped the tears from Buffys' cheek. "Let's get you home." Buffy nodded in agreement.

"And don't tell your mother you saw me cry."

Buffy laughed, "It'll be our little secret."

Hank started the car back up and headed towards the place Buffy now called home.