An/ Hi! not much to say :/ Just hope that you keep reading and continue to enjoy. If you do let me know!

- AN end -

Harrison Chase stepped off the elevator, Franco on his heels. He made his way to the floor he had been told to go to, making his way towards Nikolas and Elizabeth.

The pair were sitting on chairs next to each other, Liz embracing him as he laid his head on her shoulder in a friendly manner. Both looked exhausted, and while he hated to badger them, it was a part of his job.

As she wen't to walk to them Franco held out his hand in front of him to stop him.

"Look, just be easy on them." Franco pleaded.

Chase gave a nod and continued what he came to do.

"Elizabeth, Nikolas," He greeted awkwardly. There was nothing in the detective handbook that made questioning people in pain any easier. "I kinda need to ask you guys a few questions.

Nikolas instantly groaned in exhasperation, turning his face into Elizabeth's shoulder away from the detective. He was in no mood for this. This was the last thing he needed. It's not that he didn't wanna help, he really did. His help could get Valentin put away. But he wanted to do that, after Ava was okay, and then they could both do it.

Elizabeth stared down at him and knew she should step in for him. "Why don't you ask me first." She said offering up herself to give Nikolas some time.

"Okay," Chase said gesturing for her to follow him to another area to privatley take her statement.

She gently got up, making sure to not hurt or disturb Nikolas too much. She flattened her dress against her legs and bump, slightly pulled up from sitting and followed chase. On her way to him she offered Franco a small smile and mouthed "It'll be fine."

He nodded in return. It didn't matter if he believed it or not, she was being sweet as Elizabeth always was. That made him feel better, seeing her care and try to make him feel better. And Nik, too.

Franco took the seat next to the one Liz was in, her previous seat left empty between Nikolas and Franco. Awkward. It just always was. Both questioned each other too much, not caring for the other. Right now that of course didn't matter, but the awkwardness lingered as always.

Franco was the first one to speak up after more than a minete. "No news?"

Nikolas looked at Franco for the first time since he showed up at the hospital.

"No." He offered pathetically. "Nothing, and I don't know why."

Franco wasn't sure what to say after that. He didn't know why either, and he couldn't find out any faster than him. Sure he worked at the hospital but he was in art therapy, he had no string to pull around here. He'd pull them for himself of course, not just for Nik, if he could. He wouldn't understand things anyway, Liz being the medical savvy one of the couple.

Should he talk? It's not like Nik was talking to him. Not that he blamed him, though.

Maybe he didn't wanna talk. He didn't know what Nikolas needed, but he did know he wasn't the person who could give him it.

Suddenly Elizabeth walks back, Detective Chase behind her.

Franco could hear Nikolas take a deep breathe, recognizing this meant it was his turn to give his account as a witness. His turn to relive it all before it's even fully sunk in. Before he felt confident enough to not get too upset with the retelling. Maybe not being upset was a stretch, this would upset anyone forever, the situation hectic and brutal. But he thinks maybe one day, when Ava is okay, he could tell someone without feeling that ache in his heart that he felt when he saw her there.

Chase didn't have to say anything, Nikolas finding the will to stand up on his own and follow the man to what he presumed was the same place he took Liz.

"So, can you run me through what happened?"

"She was stabbed!" he wants to scream but doesn't. He knew they cared about all the little details but to him that's all that mattered. She was hurt, bleeding to death. What's more important than that detail, or getting her the help she needs.

Instead he does what he knows they want to hear. Hoping if he's quick he won't get too emotional and he can go back to where he needs to be so he can be there for Ava when they tell him he can go to her.

"Ava had left the party after fighting with Jax, wen't I assume straight to her room."

"So she had a fight with Jax?" Chase pushes into that detail further.

"Yeah, so what?" Nik exclaims, knowing it was so menial in comparison to what happened later.

"Just continue," Chase said as he wrote something on his pad. Nikolas noticed he circled whatever it was for some reason.

"Then the lights wen't out and- and I heard it. Her screaming. It was awful, It sounded-well looking back on it it sounded like she was screaming for her life. It makes a lot of sense now,"

Chase looked at Nik for him to continue but he didn't. He was in his headspace, thinking back on it all.

He could shutter at the sound of the scream playing back in his head. He won't ever forget the scream. Won't forget any of this. But the scream would probably play in his nightmares forever.

He didn't know then but that scream was full of fear because she was being attacked. He can't help but wonder about things. How scared was she? The thought of her thinking she was gonna die is too much for him to comprehend.

He should have been there. Stopped this. God, he couldn't even protect his wife in his own home. He almost wants to also push the blame of Valentin onto himself too but he knows that he hated her almost as much as him anyways. Although he suddenly remembers the only reason they know each other was him. Add another reason to hate himself to his long list.

"Nikolas!" Chase calls out.

"Sorry," Nikolas says getting out of his mind and brushing away a tear he didn't even notice fall. He's not sorry, not to him at least. "I saw Valentin in her room, then I noticed her there too, laying on the floor by him. I ran to her and Liz helped tend to the stab."

"So you didn't see Valentin stab her?" Chase clarified.

"No, by the house is huge. From the time of the scream to getting to her was plenty long for him to stab her."

"Did you see the knife?" Chase asks.

Nik ponders for a second, but before he can come up with an answer the door is thrown open.

"Nikolas, the doctor wants you!" She tells him, motioning with her hand for him to come with her. "It's about Ava!"