He was so excited when they pulled up to the cabin; it was all that his young mind had imagined and more. He'd never been outside of his small neighborhood and his family vacations had consisted of pitching a tent in their small backyard and sleeping under the stars and sounds of occasional gunfire.

He quickly jumped from the front seat of the car barely waiting for it to come to a complete stop and ran to the front door before turning to wait for the older man to catch up. The man who'd taken the place of his father pulled the keys from his pocket and walked toward him; their smiles both stretched wide across their faces. He couldn't wait to tell his friends about the weekend in Wisconsin at a cabin in the woods.

Then he felt hands roaming his body he didn't like the rough adult hands against his skin. He tried to escape but the man's body blocked his retreat from the corner of the small bedroom that they would share together. He felt his small body being lifted from the ground and carried toward the bed as the man's hand pressed against his bottom rubbing and pulling his pants down around his ankles. Fear, confusion and shame held him still in the man's grasp. Suddenly he wanted to go home and he vowed he'd never whisper a word about this weekend...ever!

The sound of a key turning in the door jerked him from his deep slumber. He tried desperately to fight against the loud rapid pounding in his chest; inhaling and exhaling to appear calm when his mother walked through the door not wanting to alarm her more than he already had. The box he had taken from James was on the table in front of him; if she saw it there would be questions so he moved it behind the couch out of view.

Fran stepped through the door with her arms filled with bags. He moved across the room to grab them from her as she closed the door with her foot.

"Ma, more food? I saw the cabinets and the refrigerator what else could you possibly need?"

"Shush! I just wanted to make sure I had everything for your coming home dinner tonight."

"Please tell me you're not inviting people over tonight! I don't…"

"Baby Boy, I know I said that I told your sisters to give you a few days but I think you need your family right now."

"I just need to be alone right now, Ma."

He followed her into the kitchen and began helping her put away the food; mysteriously, she was able to find room for the extra things and when they finished she began preparing lunch for the two of them.

"The last thing you need right now is to be alone. You need your family around you, loving on you and trust me, you'll thank me later."

He shook his head surrendering to a fight he would not be able to win. So, with a big exhale he took a seat at the small kitchen table and watched as she prepared his favorite chicken salad.

"I went to see James."

She stopped her work and looked into his eyes. There was so much there none of which she could read her son had become a master of hiding his feelings and his troubles from her.

"How did it go?"

"He's hurting, Ma, really hurting."

"Yeah well, he did try to commit suicide, Baby."

"Funny thing is, I think he regrets that. I think it was a wake up call for him."

"I hope you're right."

"So, how are you holding up?"

"Carl Buford sent James a box." He said ignoring her question.

"What? How can that be? Carl is dead!"

"It was sent from an address outside of prison."

"Oh my god! What kind of sick person would do such a thing? What was in it?"

"It was filled with stuff about James; news articles, jerseys and t-shirts from the community center and his high school; stuff like that—things that only meant something to James."

"Is that what sent him over the edge?"

"Yeah. I swear if I find out who did this…"

"Derek! Leave it to the authorities! James needs you to be there for him, not behind bars."

"Ma, this is my fault! If hadn't kept my mouth shut…"

"Derek we've been over this! This isn't your fault!"

"Ma, it is my fault!"

"Then do something to make up for it!"

"What? How do I do that?"

"You get help…for yourself then you get help for James. You can't help him if all you feel is guilt when you see him!"

Fran placed a plate in front of her son and then placed a plate across from him and sat down. She saw the tears begging for freedom in his eyes but he refused them. He didn't cry he despised the notion of crying and she knew the tears would have quite a fight on their hands; a fight most likely they would lose.

She was right he'd never admit it but she was right. He'd cleverly made his way through the bureau's mandatory evaluations and therapy sessions with ease. Nothing had changed; the nightmares and shame were still present alive and well in his head and heart. He needed help or else he'd be the next one on the ledge or with a knife to his wrist willing and ready to end his life.

Chloe had watched the older woman enter the house. It was the same woman who'd picked him up from the airport hours ago. With all the grocery bags that she'd carried inside, Chloe wondered if there was a party planned for later. She felt a slight twinge of hurt; she should be there by his side being introduced to his friends and family. It was hard but she knew she had to be patient. Soon enough they would all know her and love her just like he loved her. She could see the two of them sitting at the table in what must have been the kitchen. He seemed so sad as the woman spoke and it was at that moment that Chloe Irvin knew that he needed her in his life. She could make him happy; she'd take care of him and make him smile again.

She needed to talk to him, now. Just to hear his voice and just for a minute to let him know that she was thinking about him. She wouldn't demand to see him or even let him know she was in town. She just needed to hear his voice in her ear. So, without another moment of hesitation she dug her phone from her purse and dialed his number.

Derek welcomed the interruption but was confused by the ringing of his phone. He wasn't expecting to hear from anyone. With a slight smile he stood to excuse himself from the table.

Fran knew exactly who it was; the only person who could change his disposition in a blink and so she smiled and nodded as he got up and left the room.

Chloe smiled as she watched him stand and move out of sight. Her heart rate sped up as she waited for her call to be answered.

"Baby Girl."

"Hey, I hope I'm not disturbing…"

"No, no, um, of course not."

"I was afraid you might be angry with me since I haven't heard from you."

"Angry with you? Never."

They continued to talk and he could feel the muscles in his body relax at the sound of her voice; after all, she was his best friend and she knew him better than anyone else. Why wouldn't she know exactly when to call?

Chloe cursed as her call was answered by an automated message. Voicemail; he hadn't even bothered to record his own message. Her blood began to boil as she ended her call without leaving a message. She had work to do more than she realized. It was time to go home to get ready for his return. Once he returned to Virginia she would make sure that they would be a couple permanently and whoever tried to get in the way of her plans would pay with their lives!