Oh goody gravy, I'm super sorry I forgot to post yesterday! You have my permission to kick me...not hard though, okay? Anyway, thanks for your patience, and thanks to Deathsembrace137 for being my amazing beta! Love you my dirty bitch!

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail

CHAPTER 21: BELIEVE IN ME

LEVY'S POV

My team made our way silently to the place where we'd be setting up the first set of runes, each of us seemingly lost in thought. I understood the need to sink into yourself in such a way; I'd found myself doing a lot of that lately, ever since Lucy had been hurt. I just couldn't seem to come out of myself, other than when I worked with Freed on preparing the runes.

I didn't want to give anyone a chance to talk to me, because if I did, they'd bring Lucy's attack up again and push me to talk. Somehow I felt if I finally opened up, all my fears would come pouring out. Then everyone would know that I wasn't ready for such a huge job, that I could never handle something so big, so important.

I wasn't even sure if I could, but I knew I had to try. I had to give everything I could to make Lucy safe again, and this was something only I could help Freed do. I refused to fail my best friend by letting my doubts and fears stop me.

I'd, long ago, figured out that I wasn't the strongest mage; I didn't have the fiery spirit of Natsu, or the nearly limitless magic power of Erza, or the brute strength of Gajeel. It was pretty plain to see. Most of the time though, it didn't bother me. I'd accepted who I was, and I was okay with it.

That had all changed in the wake of Lucy's attack. Now, it didn't feel okay; it felt dangerous, frightening. Lucy wasn't a slouch when it came to her magic, and her spirits would fight for her till the end, so the fact that she had not only been defeated, but brutalized as well, made things so much more unbelievable and worrying.

It hit so close to home for me, not just because she was my best friend, but also because I realized it could have easily been me. It could have been me in that alley, tied up like an animal, tortured, screaming out for help. It could be me quaking in fear at the mere thought of someone doing to me what had been done to her.

The possibilities swam around in my head, taunting me with what ifs, and I felt a tear slip down my cheek unbidden. I was afraid, more afraid than I'd ever been before, afraid we had lost Lucy for good, afraid we'd never find the man who'd hurt her, afraid that I could be next. It was all too much.

"Oi, Shrimp," a deep voice called to me.

I turned my head, subtly trying to wipe away the traitorous tear before he could see it, and asked, "Yeah?" I hoped I had managed to remove all traces of my emotional slip, but looking at his stern face, I knew I'd not succeeded.

"Don't start that," Gajeel commanded gruffly, raising his eyes back to the road as he continued, "We're gonna catch that bastard."

Jet quickly agreed, throwing his arm around my shoulders, "Absolutely Levy. He's going to pay."

Droy nodded his head quickly, and I sighed at their concern, and attempted a smile for their benefits. Their faces fell marginally, their eyes betraying their true emotions, that they too worried about what would happen if we failed. I swallowed back the wave of tears that threatened to swamp me, and straightened my back. This was for Lucy, and everyone was doing all they could do. I could do nothing less.

Squaring my shoulders, I drew in a breath and announced, "Let's do this, guys. We can't let him win."

CANA'S POV

I sat at the bar, for once not even thinking about alcohol. My mind was consumed with Lucy, with that alley I'd seen. I had never seen something so horrible, and to think it had happened to one of my friends. I just couldn't accept the reality. I had heard how Gray and Erza had described her condition, how broken she was, but try as I might, it didn't feel real.

It all felt like some terrible nightmare, and I just needed to find a way to wake up and break the spell. If I could just wake up, it would all be a lie. Lucy would be fine, and everything would be as it should be, with all of us partying and living it up together. There wouldn't be this ache in my chest, and my friend would be safe here with her family. If only I could wake up.

Dropping my head into my hands, I cried, my tears slipping out silently, because there was no waking from this, no pretending this wasn't real. I couldn't live in a fantasy where we were all okay, because it wasn't true. Everything was wrong. Lucy was hurt, and no one seemed to know if she'd ever be alright again.

A sob broke free at the thought of my friend never finding her way back to us. She couldn't leave us like that. She was my friend, and I wanted her back. I couldn't help but think back to when she'd stood with me in the S-class trials. I had already decided to leave Fairy Tail if I couldn't gain S-class status, all because I felt like being S-class was the only way to prove I was good enough to be Giladarts' daughter.

Lucy had cut off any thoughts I had of abandoning my family, and made me realize that I didn't need anything else to offer my father but myself. She had been there for me through one of the hardest times of my life, not just caring for me and my situation, but also standing there beside me as I fought for what I wanted. She helped me find the strength to tell my father who I really was. She was the most amazing friend I'd ever had, and I didn't want to lose her.

I jolted as a hand came down on my shoulder, and I lifted my head at the sound of Gray's voice, "Cana, you okay?"

"Y-yeah," I assured, wiping the tears from my eyes as I offered a trembling smile. He gave me a knowing look, just like he had since we were kids, and I croaked, "No, I'm not."

The words barely left my mouth, and his arms were around me, holding me tightly as I cried. Even as kids, he'd always known what was going on my head, just by looking at me, and this time was no different. "It's going to be okay, Cana. She's going to be okay," he consoled. His deep voice was soft and comforting, and I took in his peace and let it wash over me, pushing my fear aside.

"Better?" he asked after a moment, not moving or pulling away. He just let me hold onto him, breathing him in until I was ready to stand on my own again.

I leaned back, looking up into his deep blue eyes and nodded briefly, a small smile coming to my face as I told him, "Thanks Gray."

He smiled back down at me, and offered, "I'm going to go see Lucy. You want to come?"

"Yes!" I answered quickly, before slowing down and asking timidly, "Do you think she'll be okay with me being there? I don't want to make her uncomfortable."

Gray took in a deep breath, and thought for a moment, then acknowledged, "She has trouble being around a lot of people at one time, but her biggest thing is she doesn't like being touched. As long as you move slowly and don't try to approach her without her telling you to, she'll be fine."

I swallowed hard at his words. I couldn't imagine a Lucy that hated to be touched. She'd had so little of it from her father, that she had become one of the most touchy-feely people I knew. When she had joined the guild, she finally had the freedom to express how she felt, and she did, frequently. She had blossomed here. "She always gives me a hug when she sees me," I whispered, as my eyes filled again, and I corrected myself, "She used to."

The ice mage settled his hands on my shoulders and shook me once to get my attention, before reminding me firmly, "She'll get there. Things are just hard for her right now. You have to give her time, okay?"

Taking a shuddering breath, I nodded and agreed, "You're right. Let's go see her."

ROGUE'S POV

I awoke for a second time that day and looking at the clock, found it to be much later than I'd originally thought. I hadn't realized how tired I was, but thinking over the last few days, it made sense. I'd been running on fumes the last day. Between Lucy waking up through the night with bad dreams and my worry for her, I hadn't been getting much sleep.

Looking down, I saw that Lucy was still asleep, her mouth open slightly as her steady, even breaths puffed out over my chest. It was an unusual thing to see her so relaxed, simply at ease, and I took the opportunity to really see her. She was honestly beautiful. Her tiny nose, full lips that I could imagine in a wide smile, slightly flushed skin, and though they were closed at the moment, big brown eyes that held the depths of her soul.

It was easy to see she was striking, and with her winning personality, she must have been something else. I suppose that's what made this so tragic. From what I had gathered, she had been a truly wonderful person, a woman both open and friendly, capable of great forgiveness. She hadn't deserved what she'd gotten, and I hated that such an amazing being had been reduced to this.

She deserved to be living out her life without fear, standing with her friends. Lucy shouldn't have to live and breathe the worst moment in her life over and over again. Though that was just what had happened with... No, I refuse to go there again. No more visiting that place. Lucy was not her.

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes again, trying to will the tortuous memories away. I had long ago accepted that I'd never be free of them, never be able to forget, but sometimes, I could push them down deep inside, at least for a little while. It never worked for long, but I suppose I could be grateful for the brief reprieve.

"Rogue, are you okay?" a small voice asked, and I sighed again and opened my eyes to see Lucy watching me with concerned eyes.

I couldn't help the slight smile that graced my face at her question. She had been through so much lately, and here she was worrying about me. It was quite a change for me. I wasn't used to anyone worrying over me like that, especially when their life was a mess like hers currently was.

"I'm fine," I answered quietly, feeling a wealth of relief that my mind was clearing. I felt like thanking Lucy for distracting me, but she wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about. Looking into her eyes, I was glad to see no trace of her earlier fear. At least one of us was doing alright at the moment.

Her brow wrinkled as she reached out a tentative hand to my face and said, "You looked so sad." Her fingers brushed against my cheek for just a second, before her hand began to waver, and as if she'd just realized what she was doing, jerked her hand back with a soft, "Sorry."

"It's okay," I soothed, taking her hand in mine as I slowly brought it back up to my face. Her eyes went wide, her face paling in panic. I knew she was scared, but I also knew that she wouldn't have tried to touch me if some part of her hadn't really wanted to. She just needed to be reminded that all touch wasn't bad. "Lucy, look at me. Nothing's going to happen. Remember, you're safe," I instructed gently, easing her into it.

Her eyes met mine at my command, and though there was fear, there was also a hint of curiosity, and that was the part I wanted to encourage. She needed to find a way back to the woman she had been, and though I knew she'd never be exactly the same as before, I knew she was strong enough to find the best parts of herself again. I just had to help her take a little step at a time.

I nodded to her, holding her hand up next to my face, as I waited for her to decide if she was ready. She took a deep breath, and returned my nod with one of her own, and I placed her hand on my face, her palm flat against my cheek. The air left her in a whoosh, but she didn't move. She stayed there until I moved my hand back to my side, and then I stayed as still as I could, letting her know that she was in control.

She bit her lip nervously as her thumb slowly began to move over my skin. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, and I could see that she was shaking, so I said, "You don't have to do any more, Lucy. You did great."

"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, as she pulled back again and covered her face.

"Hey," I called to her, sitting up to tug her hands down. I lifted her head enough to look her in the eyes, and my heart ached at the tears that slid down her cheeks. "Lucy, don't cry. You're doing just fine," I said quickly. I hated to see her cry.

She looked so broken, so defeated by her crippling fear, and her lip trembled as she murmured, "I'm never going to be okay, am I?"

I wanted to deny it vigorously, shout at her to believe in herself, anything to wipe that desolate look from her eyes. "Don't say that. You're going to get there. It just takes time," I argued, feeling an inexplicable need blink quickly as my emotions threatened to overwhelm me. She couldn't give up like this, give in to the darkness. I wouldn't let her.

"I don't think I can believe that," she sighed, turning her head away, as another tear spilled over and trickled down her face.

She didn't trust in herself anymore. That much was plain to see. So I would give her something else to trust in, until she could find a way to have faith in herself again. I reached out with both hands and cupped her face, turning her back towards me. I brushed her tears away softly, and told her, "Then, believe in me."

A/N: Gah, I love writing scenes like that!