AN: WARNING! They talk about what happened when she was kidnapped. If you can't handle it, then you can pretty much skip this chapter, just know that Travis has arrived.

Reyna and I went to bed without much conversation, except her saying that I should really work on that story. Finish it up. Polish it up. Because she was going to force me to publish it.

Don't you just love friends?

I woke up before Connor could even come, and dressed quickly. Then I sat down with the story to write a bit while waiting for Connor.

He knocked softly.

I went out, "Hey. Beach?"

"Safer than the woods at this time, I think." He whispered back, taking my hand.

We walked to the beach in silence, then we got there and sat in the sand.

"So?" He asked softly.

I took a deep breath, "I am worried that I've rushed into a relationship with Malcolm."

"So am I." He said bluntly, "But that's minor."

I sighed, "I just…I feel like he respects me. I like that. And I like this friendship I'm building with Nico. I feel like we both benefit from it and that's saying something."

"You're doing pretty well with Reyna too."

I smiled, "She's awesome. Besides, she trusts me because Nico does. And I've become the couples counselor for Nico and Will. They need a relationship name."

"They're solangelo. There's also Percabeth, Jasper, Chririsse." Connor said it casually.

"Dear Lord, what?"

"Aphrodite cabin and Hermes cabin often share information. Those are the favorite camp ships. Oh, and most recently there's Malcassie. Wonder who that could be."

I felt the blush spread across my face, "Anyway, they've kind of been using me as a sounding board for some of their issues. It's been kind of…weird because this relationship with Malcolm is the first I've had."

"But you've had normal. You have more mortal world experience than both of them. They've had half-blood world. There isn't much of an emphasis on relationships in swordfighting."

"True. Anyway, we'll see how that pans out. I love this place. I can train, but I can also be…me."

Connor smiled, "Yeah, it's a little addicting. But after a while I start to feel idle. And guilty. I guess I need a busier schedule."

I leaned against him, "Maybe I just like it because I've been so stressed the past week."

"Probably. This is a place of healing. Which means that you're going to have to face your wounds." He said carefully, playing with my hair.

I sighed, "Please don't…"

"Cassie, I know you had a relieving meltdown—"

"Thanks for putting it like that."

"But that doesn't mean the grief is gone. The hurt." He looked at me seriously, "It's not right that you should have to act okay so soon after your mom's murder, Cass."

Murder was such a nasty word.

And it brought a lot of nasty memories.

Like Mom squeezing my hand, telling me it was okay to be scared, as we sat with guns pointing at us in the back of a vehicle.

Seeing my only friend, Jackson, with my kidnappers, getting paid a lot of money for what was apparently good information. Whether or not he had known they would kill my mother, or what they would try to do to me…

"Cassie?"

I curled up a bit, "Did they catch the poeple?"

Connor hesitated, "Most of them. And you provided really good descriptions of the others from what I understand. They're working hard on catching them."

"My fatal flaw…"

Connor's embrace tightened, "Cassie—"

"It's trusting too easily. And I keep doing it. Why do I keep doing it?" I shook my head, "Granted, it hasn't bitten me in the rear yet, but it's going to soon, I'm sure. I mean…even trusting Travis…I don't know why I did!"

Connor kissed my temple, "Because he saved you."

I shuddered as I remembered the moments before Travis…dropped in.

"It's just now hitting you what they did to you, isn't it?" He said gently.

I curled up more tightly, "I don't understand, I was fine…and now…"

He sighed, "Cassie, our minds have ways of coping. Sometimes they shut down. I don't know the extent of what happened, Cass. I don't. And I know you probably aren't going to tell anyone the full extent. Travis might know. I don't know that either." He stroked my hair in a way that was oddly soothing.

I didn't even want to try and think about it. He was right, I didnt want to tell anyone. I didn't want to relive those moments. Minutes?

Honestly…how long had it been between Mom dying…and Travis dropping from the ceiling to save me?

My mind flashed through the things they did manage to do to me, and I honestly wasn't sure. Everything was a blur.

"Connor…I'm not sure what they did to me…" I bit my lip, "It's all…blurry."

He rubbed my arms, "It's okay."

I chewed on my lip, "It's not. How am I supposed to be in trials against them if I can't even remember what all they did to me?"

He took a deep breath, "Travis is visiting today. Should actually be here for breakfast. Wanted to see you. Well, me, but you too."

I couldn't even bring myself to elbow him for that, "Very funny."

"Decided what you're going to do at the end of summer?"

I sighed, "Not even a little. Part of me says to go to the school, the other is screaming that I don't want to be alone, another is saying that my new friends will be at camp." Well, most of them.

"Who's at camp?" Travis dropped next to us.

I grinned, "Travis!" I threw myself into his waiting arms and hugged him tightly.

"There's my little sis!" He laughed, "And look at that smile. That's good to see."

"I'm happy to see you! It feels like it's been forever." I buried my face in his shoulder.

He rubbed my back, "It does feel like that. I've heard you've done a lot in those few weeks."

I nodded, "Too much."

Connor cleared his throat, "We were just checking in."

Travis nodded, "I see. What topic were we on?"

I hugged him more tightly, suddenly thinking of our narrow escape, then way he carried me away so fast, holding me tightly to him, then stopping only briefly to give me his sweatshirt. Then he pulled me back to him and picked me up, murmuring words to try and calm me.

Travis' hold became protective, "That?"

Connor must have told him, "She brought it up, I would never push something like that. You know that."

Travis made a low sound in his throat.

"I barely remember." I murmured.

"You were in shock. That tends to blur the memory." Travis said rationally, a little growly.

"I need to remember. To testify." I pulled away, "I need to testify."

Travis looked back at me with such sorrow, "You don't."

"Yes, I do. For my mom."

He pulled me back into a protective embrace. "Connor…"

"I'll let you two talk." He kissed my cheek, then walked away.

Travis sat me in front of him, "Are you sure you want to…?"

"Please, travis. I need to do this for my mom. I know it's going to cause me pain…but…"

He nodded slowly, "We're here for you."

I nodded, "I remember them threatening me, and hitting me. Swearing at me and telling me that they were going to…"

He waited.

I took a deep breath, "Rape me."

He nodded slowly, holding my hands gently.

I stared at our hands, "I know they tore at my clothes. But…after that it's all blurry."

He let out a shaky breath, "They didn't get to…that."

I squeezed his hands, still trying to piece it all back together.

"Cassie Lynn, don't worry about it too much. They already have your written testimony. I have a copy of it back in my dorm. Safe." He squeezed my hands. "Some things shouldn't be dwelt upon."

I nodded, "Cassie Lynn. You had to hit me with that one."

He nodded, "Yeah, I did. Sorry, I know you're not accustomed to people using your middle name."

"I'm not used to people knowing my middle name." I responded, smiling.

He chuckled and braided some of my hair, "Well, it sounds good. Cassie Lynn."

"I'll allow you to use it, but anyone else starts calling me that and there's going to be bloodshed." I played with my ring.

He looked out over the lake, "Look at that, Cassie. Practically an ocean, just as dangerous, but still more placid. There's land on the other side. It's deep, but there's a bottom. It ends. I'll take that over the unknown quantities of the ocean any day."

"No tsunamis." I said gratefully.

He nodded, "Definitely a positive thing."

"Trying to prove a point?"

"Yeah, there are some things that can be known. And that makes them seem safer, we're more comfortable with them. We know they're treacherous waters, but still we can venture out on them. You're on the a lake right now, thinking of venturing out onto the ocean. But your boat isn't ready for it. You'll know when it is. And I'll help you reach the waters." He put his hands on my shoulders.

I looked back at him, "Okay, I trust you."

He nodded firmly, "I've got you, sis. Family."

I hugged him. "Family."

He held me gently, "Always."