Amanda, Casey, and George arrived to the hospital very quickly and were led to a curtained-off area of the ER to find Hanakatoba Kano sitting up on a bed and wearing a cloth hospital gown. Her skin was marked up with various bruises and scrapes, but she was also hooked up to a few different monitors, and some of her wounds were already wrapped up in gauze bandages.

As for Hanakatoba's legs, except for a scraped knee, her left leg was fine, but the right one was propped up on a pillow, and in Amanda's opinion, its very swollen and bright red state in the ankle area suggested that it was actually broken instead of sprained. Hanakatoba also looked like she'd been crying and only just stopped, but when she saw Casey, she offered her the smallest of smiles.

"I'm so glad to see you, Case—my parents have been contacted, but they're on their way over from Chelsea, and yours are coming from Woodlawn, so they might be awhile."

"Hana, I'm so happy that you called me, and I'm so sorry for what happened to you and Zay."

"Thank you." The young woman was definitely upset, but she didn't express it the way most people did because she processed and felt emotion a little differently. "Who are your friends?"

Casey indicated her companions in turn. "These are two of mine and Rafael's colleagues, Doctor George Huang and Detective Amanda Rollins."

Hanakatoba was polite enough, considering what she'd just been through, but she was wary of George.

"I don't mean to be rude, but are you here to talk to me or Azalea?"

"Azalea, but you're welcome to have a chat with me whenever you like, if you feel the need."

Hanakatoba found comfort in that mostly because she had been raised by immigrant parents from Japan and she was the first person in her family to be born in the states. As much as she loved her parents and as much as they meant well, they believed in things like not spilling your woes to any kind of doctor. Doctor Huang was trustworthy, and Hanakatoba liked that, plus he was a friend of Casey's.

Amanda stepped forward with her pen and notepad at the ready. "Do you prefer Hana or Hanakatoba?"

"Well, 'round about everyone calls me Hana, so you can, too."

"Okay, Hana. Can you take us through what happened?"

And so Hanakatoba told the Amanda and the others about how she and Azalea had been walking through the park together because it was their first day off together in awhile, when all of a sudden, a crazy-looking man popped out of the bushes on the side of the trail and began ranting and raving about how they'd gotten too close to 'his part of the park.' Azalea was held at knifepoint while Hanakatoba was forced to run away without looking back. She didn't want to leave her fiancée behind, she also didn't want to upset the stranger further, so she turned tail and ran.

Unfortunately, she tripped on a tree root and tumbled all the way down a hill on the side of the path. When she came to a stop, she was on the bank of the water, bleeding and broken.

Amanda spoke first when the story was done, holding out an iPad mini to her with a picture on the screen. "Is this him?"

The picture was a mugshot of her father.

Hanakatoba didn't need looking at it twice. "Yeah, that's him. He had a southern accent just like yours; are you his daughter?"

"Yes."

The young woman sighed, wishing that that could have at least surprised her. "I hope you catch him soon. Have I helped?"

"In a great way, and you survived today. That's what matters most."

Casey spoke up suddenly. "Hanakatoba, I'm only going to ask once, but why isn't Violet here?"

"She's been with your parents at the shop almost all day now. You know how much she loves it there."

George politely queried, "Who is Violet?"

"The light of mine and Azalea's lives, but she was born during one of Azalea's previous relationships. She's four now."

"Do you have legal guardianship over her at all?"

"I actually do, and I'm going to formally adopt her when Azalea and I tie the knot. Lettie starts kindergarten in the fall." Hanakatoba confirmed, proud of that last fact. "She looks just like Azalea, and Azalea looks just like Casey; you'll probably see her if you stick around long enough."

The thought of her daughter seeing her and Azalea both so hurt brought a fresh round of tears to Hanakatoba's eyes, but just when she thought she was going to lose it, a doctor arrived to tell her that she was going to be transferred to a private room to see her family, and also to wait for the swelling in her leg to go down. She begged Casey to come with her, and Casey didn't have the willpower to say no, so tagged along.

That left Amanda and George to find Azalea's exam room, but that happened quickly.

It caused some serious déja vù for Amanda, reminding her of when she'd encountered Maggie Blue and Frannie Mae after Bedelia's attack. Azalea Novak was refusing to cooperate with the nurses who had been assigned to do the rape kit, and while she wasn't being violent, she was making a show of cowering in a corner; she needed to collect herself and catch her breath, but was having a hard time communicating that—she was autistic, and while she could speak, there were times when she shut down because she was feeling overwhelmed. This was one of those times. She was also feeling agitated by the itchy material of her hospital gown.

Amanda found herself marveling over how it was possible that Azalea was even making herself so small because if her long, lanky legs were anything to go by, then she was probably above average height for a woman, just like her sister was. Azalea's arms and legs had bruises all over them, and Amanda knew from her own experience that those external injuries were the least of her worries.

She spoke gently as she approached the injured woman. "Azalea, my name is Amanda, and I'm a detective. I also happen to know your sister and even work with her."

Azalea looked up at that. "Really?"

"Mhm. She's with Hana right now, and they're waiting for your parents, hers, and Violet."

Azalea shook her head furiously. "Lettie can't see me until I'm in regular clothes. Nope, nope, nope."

"Okay, Azalea. I'll make sure that she won't see you until you're ready."

This time, Azalea gave a nod of appreciation and understanding, but she was also thinking hard about what to say next. Remembering what Casey had said about her sister being different and having already noticed the younger woman's minor but slower speech pattern, Amanda waited patiently.

"Will you stay with me?" Azalea finally asked. "Please?"

"For as long as you want."

"But please don't touch me. Not yet."

"Alright, I won't."

Satisfied, Azalea got to her feet and dusted herself off. She was at her full height now, and if Amanda had to hazard a guess, Azalea was probably just under six feet tall. Nevertheless, for one so tall and and injured, Azalea crossed the room in a graceful manner and maneuvered herself onto the bed, even beckoning Amanda over.

"I thank you. I… huh…"

"What's up?"

Azalea surveyed her. "You're his daughter, aren't you? Please tell me the truth—people pity me or sugarcoat things because I'm different, and I don't like that. "

That's two for two, Amanda thought, recalling how Hanakatoba had already guessed. "Yes, I am, and I'll understand if you want someone besides me."

"But I don't."

"Why?"

"Because you have kind eyes, detective, and," Azalea nodded towards Amanda's big middle. "You're a mommy, too."

Amanda touched a hand to her middle just in time to feel Grace and Zion jumping around, and unable to stop herself, she smiled because the feeling was one that she would never get tired of.

"Is it a boy or is it a girl?"

"One of each, and they're extra jumpy right now, but I don't mind."

Azalea actually smiled. "Violet has been asking us for a brother…"

She let out a sleep-filled yawn.

"Hey, now." Amanda said quickly. "Stay awake!"

Azalea blinked hard and shook her head. "The nurses have to come back?"

"Mhm. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I have to be, I guess, but detective?"

"Yes?"

"I wouldn't mind if you held my hand now."

Amanda did a mental fist-pump when she heard that because it meant that she had gained Azalea's trust. She hadn't been expecting that at all.

"I'll be happy to hold your hand."

By the time Azalea's exam was over and she was dressed in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, she was more awake and game with having a chat with Amanda and George about her version of events.

With encouragement from them, Azalea was able to tell them what had happened to her, all the way down to where Odis Lee had raped her—it was a clearing near the water, but still hidden from passerby because it was behind the dense foliage and a little ways away from the path. Azalea even identified the same picture Hanakatoba had, but the real breakthrough came when she told Amanda that while the attack had been happening, she'd been able to see the very top of The Plaza Hotel across the street, looming high over the trees of Central Park.

After Amanda and George saw to it that that Azalea was reunited with her family, Amanda called Fin to give him an update since he and his team hadn't left the park yet.

When she hung up, she found herself wishing, hoping, and praying that her father would be caught soon.