Matt was furious by the empty apartment he found when he searched John's house. It wasn't that easy for him to get a search warrant to search the area in the first place that fast, but he did it. He had to lie a lot and blackmail one particular person who would make it easy for him to obtain one and it pissed him off that all that hard work didn't pay off at all. But then again, it kind of did. He would still only see it as a measly even if this little plan of his did work out.

He found his way outside of John's apartment building the next night along with a few things that would help him with his next plan since the first one kind of failed. He had his ways and knew that the other man had the night shift once again. He walked into the building trying to look like he actually lived there, greeting everyone that he passed by. He received a couple of suspicious looks probably because no one saw him around there before. And then when he got to the floor John lived on, he waited until he felt like the coast was clear and he wouldn't get caught picking the lock and entering the apartment.

Once he was able to pick the lock and went inside of John's home, he made sure to lock the door so no one would walk in on what he was about to do. That's when he took the different tiny cameras he had in a bag and started to set them in a place where no one would be able to spot it but it would be able to show what was going on in the particular room. He set up two cameras in each room just in case it didn't catch a particular angle. He also set up the little microphones he purchased as well so he could not only see what went on in John's apartment, but he could also hear any conversations that took place. He still wasn't fully convinced that John had nothing to do with Lita's disappearance. Just because Lita wasn't hiding out in his place didn't mean that John didn't know what was going on. He was almost convinced yesterday when he found nothing in the apartment, but then he thought how stupid and naive it would be if he didn't take any other type of action.

That's why, when he was allegedly searching for some marijuana, he tried to figure out the perfect placings where he could set up the cameras and microphones that way it didn't take him a long time to do that night and he could get out of the building before he got caught.

It took him about half an hour before he was satisfied with the position of the cameras and microphones in the different rooms. All he had to do now was get home and find out whether or not every thing worked properly.

But first, he went to Dawn and Edge's house so he could set up some cameras there as well. It would be harder for him to sneak his way into a house in the middle of the night when the duo was still there. It would also be difficult to get inside their house in broad daylight even when they weren't there because it was a possibility that one of the neighbors could see him. But he took his chance and snuck inside the house. He was careful not to make any noise that would wake up the couple, or well Edge since Dawn was with Lita, but he didn't know that. He was only able to set up cameras and microphones on the first floor of the house and thought maybe that was enough.

It took him another half hour until he finally went back to his own house. He went downstairs to his lair to see if the cameras and microphones were working properly. He wouldn't be able to hear anyone right now, so the microphone part would have to wait until the morning. But he was able to see the rooms so that was a success. Now he just had to wait to see if he would be able to hear anything. He thought that if he was able to hear any of the trio's conversations then it would be much better than being able to see them because it could give him clues as to where Lita was if she wasn't in either of their homes. He was sure they talked to one another about her whereabouts and condition if they even knew where she was in the first place which he was basically one hundred percent sure they did.


It was the second night Dawn was with Lita and the two women were pretty much okay by themselves. They were lucky that Matt was nowhere near close to finding Lita. Dawn tried to do whatever she could to get her friends mind off of her situation. She tried to get Lita to help her with ideas for the house she was decorating even though she knew what she was going to do, she just wanted to somehow distract the other woman. It worked in the daytime, not so much during the night.

Dawn randomly woke up in the middle of the night and heard the faint sound of crying. "Li?" The brunette began to say when she saw the redhead sitting up with her head against her knees. "What's wrong?" She moved over to the other bed and sat down next to Lita. "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know," came her quiet reply. "I'm so sick and tired of this." She finally looked up at Dawn who could tell that she had been crying to a while now. She wiped her tears and tried to stop crying before she continued. "I've been hiding out for over a week now. I want my life back. Well, what it was before I got myself into this whole mess. I don't want this anymore. I don't want to hide from that asshole. I don't want to give him the any more satisfaction than he already has that I'm afraid of him. I don't want to give him the satisfaction that I'm weak and he's strong. I don't want for him to see this as a win. I just want to go back home." She shook her head as she thought about how that wasn't possible. "I don't even have a home. I'm not going back there. I don't even kno-"

"You do," Dawn interrupted before she could get any further. "With me and Edge. But after we-"

"No," Lita shook her head, interrupting her friend. "I'm already disturbing your lives as it is right now, I don't want to keep doing that."

"You're not disturbing our lives-"

"Yes I am." Lita interrupted her once again. "Don't lie. You're here with me while your husband is at home. I'm keeping you two away from one another. I know you have been working from here, but I'm still keeping you from your job. Plus I heard you on the phone with Edge this morning." Dawn had a bad feeling she knew what this was about, and it was confirmed when Lita continued. "That bastard came to your house and barged himself in."

"No," Dawn countered. "We let him check because-"

"Because he wouldn't leave you alone until he thought for sure I wasn't in your house. See, he's already invading in your house. And then..." she sighed shaking her head at the other thing she heard, "And then he went to John's house and tried to get in there but he wouldn't let him and then the whole drug thing. I'm surprised he didn't plant some marijuana in his house himself and try to frame him with it. None of you deserve that."

"You weren't supposed to know." Dawn wasn't even going to deny any of the information. "Look, none of us are forced to help you, we want to so please just stop feeling guilty. There's nothing to feel guilty about."

Lita looked away from Dawn before she spoke up again. She didn't want to see the other woman's reaction, but she just didn't feel like she could keep this to herself. "Sometimes I just can't help but think how much easier it would be if I was actually successful when-"

"Stop. Don't even finish that statement."

Lita looked back up at Dawn who was giving her a sympathetic look which was usual but she hated it so much. "It's the truth. I just... I don't want to do this anymore. I want to go home. Well, find a home. I don't need baby sitters. But then when I actually think about it, I feel like it's a good thing that you three are helping me because if you weren't then I..." She couldn't help it and her eyes started to well up again when she thought of what she was about to say and the horrible memories. "I would probably try killing myself again."

Dawn herself was trying not to show any weakness around her friend because she was their for support and she wouldn't allow herself to be weak when Lita needed for her to be strong for her. "Did you tell Dr. Williams today during your session?" Dawn said referring to the counseling session Lita had with the doctor. He suggested Skype sessions instead of face to face sessions because of her situation. He wasn't privy to all of the information before Lita left the hospital, but she spilled to him during the first session last week thinking he would be more helpful. He would rather her report Matt, but he couldn't force her to do something she didn't want and they had that whole client-therapist confidentiality.

"Yes, I talked to him and he thinks it's a good idea that I have a great support system with you three. He also wants to up the dose on the anti-depressants because they don't seem to be doing their job right now."

Dawn stayed silent for a moment because she didn't know what she could say to help her friend. "Just don't keep how you're feeling away from Dr. Williams. He's here to help you, remember that. And if you ever want to talk to me about anything, then you better not hesitate."

Lita nodded. "I know. I hate all of this. I hate myself for putting myself in this situation. I just want this all to be over with. I know I need to be patient, but what if it never ends. When is it going to end? When I'm dead? When he's dead? Can I kill him? No, I don't want to go to prison even though it feels like I'm there even now. And I'm not moving away from Atlanta. I'm not going to run away from him even more than I already am."

"But maybe that would be a good option."

Lita shook her head. "No. I'm not leaving. It's still my home. It has been for years. I'm not leaving."

"Okay. Whatever you want." It was quiet between the two before Dawn spoke up again. "Alright, try going to sleep."

"I can't. I'm nervous. Jeff is coming tomorrow. I think it's a bad idea telling him because I just think he's going to end up killing Matt. Or at least try and fail and will end up getting himself killed."

"He's not going to do anything in haste if he knows how dangerous it can be."

Lita rolled her eyes. "We are talking about the same Jeff, correct? He never thinks about the consequences of his actions. He won't care."

"But he listens to you... most of the times... some times. I know he'll listen to you now because it's safer."

"Again, when have you known him to care about what's safe and what isn't?"

"Okay, maybe he does whatever he wants and doesn't think about the consequences when it's just himself he's thinking about. But now he'll be thinking about you and looking out for your parents and he does care for you all."

Lita nodded. "I guess you're right."

"Duh."

Lita ignored her. "Alright,good night. You should probably get some sleep."

"So should you," Dawn said getting up from the bed after giving Lita a quick hug and smile. "Good night. I love you."

Lita returned that smile. "I love you too." With that said, Dawn went back to her own bed and the two fell asleep. Or at least they tried to. The brunette was too worried about the redhead who was too scared of having any nightmares and would rather stay awake.


Jeff arrived at the motel the next afternoon and was surprised by where Lita was waiting for him at some shady motel. He was confused as to why she even told him before she gave him the address not to tell anyone at all where he was going. He was wondering what all the secrecy was about. Looked like he was about to get his answer soon.

"Okay," Jeff said breaking the moment of silence between himself and Dawn and Lita. Neither of the women had said something to him other than greet him when he first showed up. "What's going on? Why am I meeting you at some shady motel?"

Dawn and Lita glanced at one another before the latter spoke up. "Um, okay, try not to freak out. Let me tell you everything and then you can react. But still, try not to freak out."

"Can't promise you that but okay."

She nervously raked her fingers through her hair before she was about to speak up, but before Jeff beat her before she could. "What is that?" He asked pointing to the scars on her wrist. She usually wore long sleeves so she wouldn't be reminded of the stupid thing she tried to do not long ago, but her previous actions caused for her wrists to be exposed and Jeff didn't miss scars.

She quickly pulled the sleeves down so they were covered again before she answered him. "Nothing."

He got up from where he was sitting and walked over to his sister. He took one of her wrists and uncovered it. "This is not nothing. What is this?"

She snatched her wrist away from him. "Nothing," she repeated herself once again.

He knew she wasn't going to give him an answer so he looked over at Dawn and asked her where the scars on Lita's wrist came from. "What happened? She's not going to tell me, you might as well."

Dawn looked at Lita and then at Jeff and repeated her actions a couple of times before she spoke up. "She'll tell you, just be patient."

Jeff simply nodded, not saying anything else just waiting patiently like Dawn told him.

"It's scars from a moment of weakness. I tried to... I tried to commit... I tried to kill myself." Lita finally replied after a while, not being able to look up at either of the other two occupants in the room.

Jeff was shocked and stunned by the confession. He didn't know what to say. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, for him, he didn't have to because Lita continued and told him everything that happened the past few weeks as well as what led up to it. To say he was angry and pissed off would be an understatement.

"I'm going to find that piece of shit and kill him!" He got up from where he was sitting and was headed to the door but was stopped when Lita got up as well and stood in front of him, blocking his path.

"No you will not. I will not let you. I know what he's capable of. He'll end up hurting you. I will not allow you to get hurt because of my poor decisions."

"I don't care," he said as he walked past her, but for her to only stop him yet again. She grabbed him by his arm which made him stop in place and turn around to face her.

"Please," she plead. "Please do not do this. I didn't even want to tell you. I only told you so you can be careful and look after yourself and mom and dad."

"Well I'll kill him and we won't have to worry about that."

"Shut up! Just stop it! I already told you how dangerous he can be! You will do no such thing! Just... please..." she trailed off and he voice became quiet. "I will never be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you because of me. Just be careful and look after yourself and mom and dad. Don't do anything stupid."

"Fine," he reluctantly gave him. "Just be careful yourself too. Do not, under no circumstances, do not go back to him."

"I won't. And don't tell mom and dad anything. Please. I don't want them to worry for no reason."

He looked bewildered. "'No reason'? You're kidding right?"

"Jeff-"

"Okay okay fine. Don't worry, I won't tell them a thing. I'll just lie and tell-"

She glared at him. "Stop."

"Okay. Sorry. I just want you to be okay."

"I know. And I am." Jeff had to bite his tongue from saying anything. "Or I will be. Dawn and Edge are helping me. So is John."

"Who's that?" Jeff interrupted before Lita could continue.

"A friend. Anyways, they're helping me. They're the ones who actually encouraged me to get away from that asshole. They're the ones who are staying with me here when they don't even have to."

"So you all are staying in this little room?" Jeff asked.

This time it was Dawn who answered. She decided to give Lita a break. "No. It's just me right now. It was John last week. And Edge is joining us tomorrow."

"Who is this John?" Jeff began to ask looking at his sister. "Why do you trust him enough to be alone with him after what..."" He stopped himself from saying more.

"Like I told you, he's a friend," Lita replied.

"A friend you never talked about before."

Lita sighed. "Look, he's Edge's friend okay. I knew him from before but never really talked to him that much other than a little before and after Dawn and Edge's wedding. As for why I trust him is none of your business. But I have my reasons."

"She does," Dawn spoke up. "Don't worry. He's not going to hurt her."

"And why are you two sure of this?"

"Because we are Jeffrey," Lita said before Dawn could. "Just let it go."

"Fine, then I'm staying here until Edge shows up tomorrow. Just in case." Just in case that psycho finds you and shows up here. These two shouldn't even be alone by themselves.

Lita simply nodded in agreement. She wasn't going to stop him. She was just happy she was able to stop him from going after Matt and making what she thought was a huge mistake. She just hoped he wouldn't do that later when he left and she wasn't with him to stop him. She was impatiently waiting for the day when all of this would be over for good. Whenever that would be.


Thanks for reading. Thanks for the reviews. Hope you liked the chapter.