Author's Note: As promised this is the end of this storyline, well, it'll be semi ongoing with Tammy's recovery but this chapter sets up the new situations, you'll see how. The italics are short range flashbacks

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 36: Looking Back To Move Forward

Julie woke up and stretched. She smiled and kicked her feet over the side of her bed. She looked in the mirror and sighed, her bruises had started to yellow but they were still there and the ones on her wrist were still black and blue.

"Julie," Elyse said popping her head in, "Oh good you're awake."

"Mm," She nodded, "Yeah. Are you heading out? I can watch Mikey."

"No, I was just checking on you," She smiled, "It looks better than it did yesterday." She nodded.

"I guess," Julie sighed.

"Still having the nightmares?" Elyse asked and hugged her stepdaughter, who shuddered.

"Only once last night," She shrugged, "Once I fell asleep again I was OK."

"Good," Elyse smiled. "You look happier."

"I think coming home was a good idea," Julie sighed. Elyse nodded and kissed her on the forehead.

Julie stood in front of the airport. Cal and Steve had already gone in. Jimmy was standing with his hands on her waist.

"I wish you wouldn't do this." He whispered. She kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too," She said, "I'll be back in a month, and I'll call you every day." He hugged her tightly. "Jimmy." She whispered.

"I'm coming after Christmas," He said, "OK?"

"OK," She nodded and kissed him.

"Come back all better," He whispered hugging her again. "I love you so much."

Steve watched them from inside the airport. Even at their closest Julie had never had that much trouble leaving him. So far she'd hugged him and pulled back at least three times.

"You OK, kid?" Cal said coming behind him.

"Hm?" Steve looked at him, "Oh, God yeah." He nodded. "I'm fine. Just happy to be heading home."

"You were good to come," Cal clapped him on the shoulder. "It meant a lot to her."

"Yeah," Steve mumbled. Julie walked in wiping her eyes. "You OK?" He smiled and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah," She nodded. "Let's just go home."

"Everyone's staring at me," Tammy whispered, Fulton put his arm around her. They walked down the hallway, it was her first day back at school. She still had the bandaged wrist and one black eye.

"Don't worry about it," He shook his head, "Come on, just you and me," He kissed her and she shuddered, "Just like I said."

"You're not in all my classes," She said, "What if I,"

"Just breath deeply," He whispered, "And I'll come find you, OK?"

"OK," She nodded.

Tammy sat on the couch watching TV. She was alone for the first time in nearly a week, and she was pretty sure she would be OK. Fulton had found he couldn't really miss anymore school, and she didn't want him failing out because he felt like she needed to be taken care of. She flipped through the channels and feeling a sudden loss of breath. She couldn't breath, she was gasping but no air was coming in.

"Tammy," Ana walked in, "How'd you do?" She walked over and saw her sitting on the couch clutching her chest. "Oh God." She walked over to the couch.

"Panic attack?" Tammy said. The doctor nodded. "But I was fine!"

"That's how it happens," He nodded, "Have you spoken to anyone since you were attacked last week Tammy?"

"Of course," She nodded, "I've spoken to a lot of people."

"A psychiatrist or counselor?" He asked. She looked down. "It's not unusual for something like this to happen after what happened to you, but you do have to work through it."

"I don't need a shrink," Tammy shook her head, "I have my parents, and my brother and my boyfriend."

"I can't make you," He shook his head, "But you should know that if you don't seek help this might keep happening."

"Dean!" Elena ran over to him. He smiled and kissed her. "Hi," She whispered breathlessly.

"Hi," He said, "Good morning."

"Good morning," She smiled, "It's been a week you know."

"Hm," He nodded, "Has it?"

"Yes, and that's seven days longer than we waited last time," She kissed him, "So do you want to come over tonight?" She smiled.

"Lena," He looked at her, "I really think that you and I have gotten into a little pattern."

"Sex before commitment," She nodded, "Yes, you explained that, last week. But we've committed, we're together and it's not like we haven't done this before."

"Elena," He kissed her. "We're waiting, OK? Until it feels right."

"It feels right now," She whispered, "I want you."

"You should get used to not getting everything you want," He smirked and kissed her gently, "See you later."

"You're mean," She pouted.

"Here we are," Olivia said, parked outside of Nick's house.

"This is right near where Lena lives," He looked around. Olivia nodded.

"So what are you going to do?" She asked. He swallowed. "I mean, you have a plan right?"

"No," He shook his head. "How do you have a car up here?"

"I have two cars," She sighed. He looked at her, "My father's over protective, he likes for me to have transportation."

"You really are one of these kids huh?" He whispered. She nodded. "This was a bad idea."

"Yeah," She whispered. He got out of the car, "Where are you going?"

"There's someone I need to talk to," He said, "You can head back." He walked down the street and knocked on a door.

"Dean?" Elena whispered answering it, "What are you doing here?" He stepped close and kissed her. "Really?"

"Yeah," He whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," She smiled, "Come upstairs." She guided him up the stairs into her room. She sat down on the bed after kissing him again, she leaned back on her elbows and crossed her legs. He smiled. "So," She whispered. "How much do you still love me Dean?"

"Enough to take it slow this time," He said. She looked at him and frowned, "Elena, last time, we had sex on our first date. You had sex with Brad before he was even your boyfriend,"

"Are you calling me a slut?" She said.

"No," He shook his head, "I did the same thing with Tanya, and with Janet. So I'm even sluttier then. I just think we should be a little more careful."

"Why'd you come over?" She asked.

"That's not important," He whispered and sat down with her. She kissed him. "It is important, that I love you."

"You were going after Nick weren't you?" It dawned on her. He nodded. "But you came here instead?"

"I hope that's OK," He whispered.

"It's perfect," She smiled, "But stay?"

"Elena," He shook his head, "We just talked about this."

"No," She sighed, "Just, stay."

"Cat!" Mikey said as Julie sat down at the kitchen table, he threw a Cheerio at her head. He giggled when it hit. "Cat go meow!"

"Yeah," Julie looked at him and grabbed a Cheerio and popped in her mouth, "Cat go meow, very good."

"Julie no meow," He said scrunching his face, "Julie no cat!"

"He's getting too smart," Julie laughed when Elyse walked in. "He knows that the Cat goes meow, and since I don't meow, he's very confused."

"I guess that would be confusing," Elyse laughed. She stood quietly for a minute, "Your mother's coming tonight."

"That's nice of her," Julie said and stood up to get herself a cup of coffee.

"Honey," Elyse sighed, "She's trying to help."

"They're just going to fight again," Julie shrugged, "And trust me, that doesn't help."

"I know honey," Elyse looked at her. "She thinks the lawsuit is a good idea though."

"I know she does," Julie nodded, "But I don't! I can't put Tammy through that."

"Hi," Jaime said as Cal answered the door. He looked at her. "I'm here."

"It's about time," He murmured.

"Cal, I did my best," She said, "I got here as soon as I could. I wasn't even in the country. Where's Julie?"

"She's not up yet," He shrugged. "She will be in a little while." Jaime nodded. "Is Josh here?"

"No," Jaime shook her head, "He's coming for Christmas."

"Hm," Cal nodded.

"So, when is the trial?" Jaime asked.

"No trial," Cal shook his head, Jaime looked at him confused. "The DA didn't think there was enough for it to be worth taking on some of the richest families in Minneapolis."

"So there's going to be a civil suit?" She nodded.

"We've discussed it," He shrugged, "Julie's not sure she wants it."

"Dad?" Julie came downstairs. "Mom!" She ran over.

"Oh baby," Jaime hugged her. "Oh thank God you're OK! I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"It's OK," She smiled, "I'm just glad you're here. I'm going to go make breakfast."

"OK honey," Cal nodded. Julie bounced into the kitchen.

"You told me she wasn't hurt!" Jaime hissed going into the living room.

"She has a few bruises," Cal nodded, "But she's mostly just upset. Which is why we're not doing the civil suit. She just wants to put it behind her."

"Well, I'm calling my lawyers anyway," Jaime took out her cell phone.

"If she changes her mind," Cal said, "We have a lawyer."

"Cal you're a high school hockey coach and mid level salesman," Jaime said. He looked at her.

"Gordon Bombay said he would represent,"

"Her hockey coach?" Jaime said, "No! She's my daughter too, Cal."

"Yes, I've heard that a few times in the past few years," He nodded, "But not so much in the eight before that!"

"Guys," Julie walked into the living room sheepishly, they looked at her, "Do you want pancakes or French toast?"

"French toast would be great baby," Jaime smiled.

"I heard you fighting," She swallowed, "Mom, I don't want to sue them. It's stupid and wouldn't do anything except make me and Tammy have to stand up in front of a bunch of strangers and talk about what happened to us."

"What's going on?" Charlie asked, Connie shrugged and looked at him. "You seem upset, I though you'd be happy, Tammy's back today."

"But she's not Tammy," Connie shook her head, "She doesn't talk and, she hasn't made me change my accessories," Charlie laughed, "It's just not the same." He kissed her. "And I miss Julie."

"We all miss Julie," He mumbled.

"Yeah," She shoved him gently, "But I miss my friend, you miss shutouts for three periods. The room's really lonely without them."

"I could keep you company," He whispered and kissed her again.

"Charlie," She sighed and walked away.

"Connie," He went after her, "Come on I was kidding."

"Mm hm," She nodded, "I'll see you later."

"Sure," He nodded and sighed.

"That may have been the worst game we've played in two years," Charlie sighed as he and Connie walked into the mostly empty triple.

"I don't know," She shrugged and plopped on the bed, "Goldberg did pretty well considering."

"He let five goals by," He raised his eyebrows. She shrugged. He sat down next to her and kissed her.

"And we scored six," She reminded him, "Two of them by yours truly."

"Yes you were very good tonight." They kissed. "Mm," He smiled. "I'll let you change. I'll be back in a few OK?"

"No," She shook her head and kissed him again pulling him back with her.

"I thought we were going to the movies," He whispered.

"Do you really want to go see Shakespeare In Love?" She asked, her eyebrows up. He laughed. "Or, we could go see something really bad and just make out."

"Really?" He said.

"Yeah, Guy and I used to do that all the time," She shrugged, "Or, we can just make out here."

"Make out?" He said, "That implies more than kissing."

"Maybe," She giggled, "If you're nice." They kissed again. "Mm, Charlie." She pulled closer as he moved down her neck, and guided one hand up her side under her shirt, she felt him pull at the back of her bra, "Mm, stop."

"It's OK," He whispered and kept going.

"No," She shook her head, "It's not." She pulled away.

"Fine," He said and stood up. "We'll just go to the movies."

"Fine," She said petulantly as he walked out.


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