You made me all so happy when I saw you were still interested in my stories, thank you very much! Those reviews literally made my day and even week!

As I said in another story I updated, I will only answer to reviewers who are asking questions, else it's really slowing down my updates, but I'm reading all of the reviews and appreciate them all, keep writing them =)

To Plethora Macadamia -- Been a few weeks, about a month. It's more clear in this chapter.

You Again?

Chapter 37 – Here we come

Alex was driving as fast as she could while Marissa was filling Ryan with everything she knew about Lily's situation. The girl had given her address to Marissa, but it seemed like Alex didn't need it, she remembered the place as if they always drove there.

"Someone's got an amazing memory under stress." Marissa noticed. Alex gave her a look.

"... tell me."

"Tell you what hun?" Alex asked innocently.

"You have that look when you're not sure if you should tell me something because you're scared I'll get mad... so just tell me."

"I don't know what you're..."

"Getting mad now!" Marissa interrupted. Alex stopped for a moment.

"...I've been visiting her twice a week, that's why I know the address so well."

"You've... what?" Marissa almost chocked.

"You were way too worried about her." Alex quickly defended herself, "So I was driving by every now and then to make sure she was okay..."

"But... but..." Marissa was confused. "Why not tell me? I could have come with you, bring her cookies, I don't know..."

"No" Alex answered. "She has no idea, she never saw me. I told you she has to ask for help herself." Marissa was about to speak again when Ryan interrupted her.

"She has a point Riss." He said, "I've seen Sandy take a lot of cases. If the victim is not ready to fight, it's a lost cause." The brunette looked at him, biting her bottom lip. They had a point, still...

"I was only making sure it wouldn't be too late." Alex whispered. She felt Marissa reach for her free hand and squeeze it.

"I keep loving you more each day." The silence that followed gave more power to the words that were last spoken.

XxX

"I think that's it..." Alex quickly parked the car, and they all froze.

"It's crazy how we sometimes rush ourselves somewhere, but when we're only a step away from the destination..."

"I know." Alex said. She took a deep breath, her left hand hanging on the door's handle, and pushed it open. She didn't get the time to step out of the car that a figure rushed from behind and tried to attack her. The girl quickly stepped up and immobilized her aggressor against her Jeep.

"Ouch" A young girl's voice squirmed.

"Alex let go." Marissa got out of the car and ordered. Confused, her girlfriend loosened her hold and whoever she was holding captive pulled away and turned to face her. She had big sunglasses covering half her face and was wearing a black sweater with the hood on. Her hands were hidden in her long sleeves; the sweater was obviously not hers, it looked tree sizes bigger, and her jeans were ripped at several places.

Before Alex realised her mistake, Marissa was already standing next to her and gently removed the sunglasses, uncovering Lily's bubbly eyes that, no matter all the suffering the girl had faced, looked stunning. At that moment, however, she mostly looked terrified, her eyes going in all directions at once.

"He's out." She said quickly. "I thought he sent a friend to watch me... he probably will, we should go."

"Wait." Ryan got out. "We have to take pictures of the house, get proofs that you were sequestered and, I'm sorry to ask, a picture of you too." Lily seemed nervous, but as Marissa squeezed her shoulders, she seemed to gain composure.

"Okay." She said, "Let's do this."

XxX

The farther they got from her father's house, the more Lily got comfortable. They had stopped at as gas station for a few snacks, and the blonde's hands were wrapped around her hot chocolate as she tried to describe as accurately as possible the brutalities her father did to her while Marissa was recording everything.

"It's enough for tonight." She said after a moment, "Drink you hot chocolate and take a nap, I'll make you a warm soup once we get home."

"No." Lily shook her head, "It's alright, I want to let it out." Sighing, Marissa pressed on record again and the girl kept answering Ryan's questions.

Soon, they got home and, as promised, Marissa hurried to prepare a nice and warm soup while Alex helped the girl clean up her bruises and get clean clothes.

"It's not that bad." She told the young girl, "Most of your bruises should be gone by the end of the week. They're pretty superficial." Lily gave her a look.

"Except for your burns." Alex admitted.

"It's okay." Lily forced a smile. "You don't have to lie to me, I know it's going to take time... but this is the first step, right?" Alex dropped cold water on the girl's head, making her shiver.

"Right." She smiled. "See? Your hair is golden again. First step."

XxX

"... wow, Alex, who is that girl you traded Lily for?" Marissa said is a fake accusing tone. The teenager that was standing next to her girlfriend looked nothing like the girl they picked up a few hours ago. Her blonde hair were clean and freshly straightened, her bruises were all cleaned up, and Alex's denim shorts and tight t-shirt suited her a lot better than her father's old stinky clothes. More than anything though, it was Lily's smile and relaxed stare that made all the difference.

"Take a seat." Marissa pulled a chair, "soup is warm."

"Don't look for the chicken chunks and you won't be disappointed." Alex whispered. Marissa rolled her eyes and pushed her girlfriend.

"I hope you don't mind eating vegetarian?" She asked Lily.

"Not at all." Lily said, "You should see what he made me kill... I think I'll never eat meat again." Alex's face dropped.

"... you were supposed to be my friend!" She screamed accusingly.

XxX

Reviews are welcomed! TY!

-Ethereal-123