"I sure do like it here when I'm with you Patty. I feel safe."

"Me too, Emmie. It does help when my parents are both policemen also." Patty answered as she pulled the covers over her and Emmie.

"They are both more than that and you know it. Like Walter. They save people."

"If Walter hadn't saved you, I'd have never met you and we would not be friends."

Emmie turned on her side and faced Patty and said, "Patty, you're my best and only friend I have."

"Emmie, you're mine too," Patty said as she put her arm around Emmie and kissed her right on the lips not giving any thought to it. They were both eight and at that age, everything was innocent.

Emmie smiled and closed her eyes as Patty held her. Patty closed her eyes as well and they both fell asleep together. Neither one had a clue that Calleigh had been watching and listening through the cracked door. Being the concerned mother she had become, Calleigh could not help but smile.

She turned around and was startled by Eric standing there smiling. "Are they sleep?"

"They are now. Patty has been an asset to Emmie. That poor girl went through a lot."

"It was good Walter was there. He was good for her also."

"I don't know if he realizes just how good he was to her, Eric."

"He does. Believe me, he does. He mentions her occasionally."

"I think I'll take them both to work with me tomorrow. Let them have a surprise."

"What you really mean is letting the big teddy bear have a surprise."

"Ahh, you know me too well Mr. Delko." Calleigh answered with a smile and took her husband's hand to lead him down the hall.

"I'm learning more everyday as well," Eric said as he followed.

"Eric, get up. The girls are not in the room!" Calleigh shrieked as she nudged her husband hard.

"They're probably in Austin's room."

"Not there either. Just checked."

"Then they are probably out on the beach by the boardwalk. You know Patty likes to do that in the mornings sometime."

"Nope. Don't you think I'm smart enough to check?"

"Whoa, Calleigh, I didn't mean..."

"I know. But Eric?"

"No buts Calleigh. We'll find them. I'm sure they are around here somewhere."

"They better be."

"I bet Austin knows. I'll go wake him," Eric said as he walked down the hall. He wanted to say 'Don't worry Calleigh,' but he knew how mothers were.

Calleigh was in Patty's room searching for any clues when Austin walked through the door and said, "Mom, I don't know anything. I thought Patty and Emmie were still in here."

"You didn't even hear anything?"

"No Mom, nothing." Austin said as Eric entered.

"Austin, I want you to stay here and call us if Patty and Emmie show back up."

"I want to help you look for them."

"You will be helping sweetie if you stay here and watch out."

"You're right Mom. I promise to call."

"Come on Calleigh. Let's go."

Suddenly, as Eric and Calleigh started out the door of Patty's room, screams of terror erupted through the back door.

"MOMMY! MOMMY!"

"Patty!"

"MOMMY!" Patty yelled again as she saw Calleigh and leaped into her arms.

"Patty, where's Emmie?"

"Gone. Some man took her."

"How? When? Why were you two outside?"

"It was Emmie. She got up and started walking. I kept asking her questions and she would never answer me. She just kept walking. It was like she was blank. Her eyes were open, but Emmie just kept staring forward. When she stopped, a man sped by and stopped and rushed out of the car. Before I could do anything he was lifting her up and jamming her into the trunk. I then come running home. I didn't know we had gotten as far as we did. I didn't think I would ever get back here."

"Sleepwalking." Eric said and immediately called Horatio.

"Sweetie, can you tell me anything about the man? Or the car?"

"Tall, like Walter but skinny. White with a beard. The car was gray. That's all I got mommy."

"That's okay Patty."

"Mommy, you're gonna find Emmie, right?"

"Of course, sweetie. Your daddy is on the phone with Horatio now."

"And Walter. He needs to help."

"He will. I promise. But first, we need to tell Loribell."

"She's gonna hate me now mommy."

"No she won't Patty. You were trying to stop and protect Emmie. She is not going to hate you."

"Yes she will. I let Emmie go without stopping her. If she had just listened to me." Patty then began to cry.

"Patty, look at me," Calleigh said as she held on to her daughter by the shoulders, "You didn't let Emmie go. She didn't know what she was doing. You followed like a friend should. You did the right thing. Now, we are going to dry those tears and we will find Emmie. I promise."

"Patty, mom's right. You didn't do anything wrong." Austin said and gave his sister a long hard hug.

"Austin, I kissed Emmie." Patty said into his chest as he squeezed.

"And? So."

"On the lips before we fell asleep. Maybe she was running away because I did."

"Oh baby sister, Emmie was not running away because you kissed her. You're friends, she knew why."

Eric hung up the phone and said, "Horatio's waiting. Patty, you need to come with me. You have to tell Horatio whatever you can remember."

"And Walter. Walter has to be there daddy."

"He already is," Eric answered with a smile.

As Eric and Patty parked at the lab, Calleigh, at the same time, was pulling into Loribell's driveway. Loribell was standing on the front steps and smiled as Calleigh got out. However, that smile waned into a frown when she saw Calleigh was alone.

"I need to go with you, don't I Calleigh?"

"I'll tell you about it on the way."

While rushing to the lab, Calleigh informed Loribell all about what she knew. As soon as Calleigh parked her Hummer, Loribell sat there for a second and said, "I knew this day was coming. I knew that somehow, he'd find Emmie. I thought I had hid well enough."

"Loribell, listen to me. Don't blame yourself. This is not your fault."

"But Everett found us. Found Emmie. I'm never gonna forgive myself."

"And we are going to find him. And Emmie. That's a promise. Now, you ready?"

"I think so." Loribell said and opened the door. She stepped out and followed Calleigh into the lab.

Upon entering, Patty ran to her mother and Loribell kneeled down and took Patty's hands and said, "Patty, you did nothing wrong. Your mom told me you feel responsible and I'm here to tell you that you're not. Emmie sleepwalks sometimes. I should have told you that. You couldn't have stopped her no matter how hard you tried." Loribell then hugged Patty as she continued, "And Patty, I'm sure Emmie adored that kiss."

Patty turned red but managed a smile. The kiss did feel good to her as well and she did not regret doing so.

Eric came walking up and said to Calleigh, "Patty already told H. what she could. Walter is already looking at traffic cams in the area."

"Tell him to look for a 1998 gray Honda Accord. It will have a huge dent in the right front fender." Loribell stated.

Eric looked at his wife with a peculiar look and Calleigh answered, "The ex-husband's car."

"Ahh, one of those."

"Seems so."

"Hey Patty," Walter yelled from the door, "can you come here a minute. I got something I want you to see."

Patty began to run while saying, "Is it a 1998 gray Honda something or other?"

"Well it's a Honda. Wait, how did you know?"

"Miss Loribell there," Patty said and pointed.

Walter then looked in the direction Patty aimed her finger. Loribell looked straight at Walter and smiled.

"Can she come look also?"

"Absolutely."

"Miss Loribell, Walter said to come look too," Patty yelled.

Loribell joined them and said, "Nice to see you again, Walter."

Walter smiled and said, "My pleasure."

Eric smirked as he heard the interaction and said as quietly as he could so only Calleigh could hear him, "His pleasure alright. Playing it off like they haven't been seeing each other. Walter never has been good at keeping secrets."

"And I thought I was the only one who noticed."

"Please Calleigh, everyone here knows. They just know how to keep a secret."

Calleigh laughed as she watched Walter shut the door.

"Now Patty, I want you to watch this carefully and tell me if that is possibly the car you saw. Okay?"

"Yes sir."

Walter hit the button to play and before Patty could even say anything, Loribell blurted out, "That's Everett's car. That asshole. Excuse me Patty. I forgot."

"It's okay. I've heard worse. Yes, Walter, that's definitely the car. I remember that bunged up front."

"Yep. Everett. That was a perfectly good car until he got it in the divorce."

"That's Emmie's daddy Miss Loribell?"

Loribell shook her head in disgust. "Unfortunately, yes Patty, it is."

"Emmie never talks about her daddy."

"With good reason Patty."

"Why'd he have to take her like that? Couldn't he just come see her instead of stuffing her in a trunk?"

"Patty, it's complicated."

"What you really mean is that it's not for young ears."

"Patty, one day, you'll understand. Maybe Emmie will open up to you the reason why. Right now, stay in here with Walter and tell him whatever else you know. He needs to know more."

"I don't know how much more I'll be able to tell him."

"I'm sure Walter has more questions," Loribell said and looked at Walter with a certain look.

Walter reciprocated the look while saying to Patty, "I do have a few more questions. Why don't we sit Patty." Loribell wiped a tear and walked out right after.

Loribell looked at Calleigh the moment she shut the door. "I need to tell you everything. Privately."

"In here. Come on." Calleigh said and opened the door to her lab. Loribell entered and Calleigh locked it behind her.

"Calleigh, Patty is a bright girl. She has questions I just can't...won't... answer. I think she'd understand but she is still young yet. Besides, if Emmie wanted her to know, she should tell her. And god, Walter. I need to tell him. He really needs to know before our..."

"Relationship goes further?"

"You know."

"I had my suspicions."

"He won't be in trouble will he? You know, seeing the mother of a victim?"

"I'm not the one to say, but I would think not."

"Good. I really like him. And Emmie, well, she adores him. But that may change if Everett touches her again. You have to get Emmie out of the hands of that madman Calleigh."

"I promise with everything we have, he won't touch her ever again." Calleigh said and both her and Loribell watched Walter race out of the door. Patty stood just looking as he ran.

Emmie was now wide awake and curled up in the corner of the motel shower where she felt safe. For now. She knew it was a matter of time though. Wide-eyed in the fetal position as her pajamas became slightly damp from leftover shower droplets, past thoughts came back she thought she had let go of and she shivered. She was scared and helpless but knew what she had to do and hated every moment of it. Still, she had to comply if she was to get over this.

"Where the hell are you Em? You better answer me you little..."

Not wanting to answer, against her better judgement, Emmie called out, "In the shower. I'm coming."

"Why the hell are you in the shower? Get out here. Now!" Everett yelled.

"You wouldn't understand. You never do and never did." Emmie responded and got up.

Emmie's tiny frame filled the motel room finally, but she only stood in one spot and stared. She saw the food on the bedside table. She was hungry but was scared to move.

"You better come over here and eat Em."

"If I don't, you'll hurt me in what you call your special way won't you?"

"Em, just get over here and eat. See, I am." Everett said as he held up his fork with scrambled eggs on the end.

"You didn't answer me though." Emmie said as she walked to the bed where her food waited on the table.

"Em, will you believe me if I said no and that I just want to be with you. Want you to be with me."

"No. Because you haven't changed. I knew that when I woke up in the pitch black of that trunk." Emmie said as she dug into the breakfast potatoes first. "You didn't have to put me in the trunk."

"It was best. I know you believe I haven't changed, but I have. What happened is in the past."

"You threw me into your trunk while I was sleep in front of my friend. My new friend. I haven't had a friend since you did what you did to me. I've been too scared. She helped me. Now you want me to trust you? You lost my trust a long time ago."

"Emmie, I know you don't mean that."

"I do mean that. I don't trust or love you anymore. You know that but just can't feel it," Emmie said and pushed her food away and stood. She walked around the side of the bed and turned her back. Then she started to unbutton her pajama top.

She threw the top into the chair she faced and started to pull down her pajama bottoms when Everett immediately yelled, "Emmie! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Giving a look over her shoulder, Emmie answered, "Getting naked for you like I used to do. You always punished me that special way when I did something bad. And I just did something bad."

"Damn it Em. Put the top back on."

"But you can't do it with my..."

"Em, please, just put it back on. Now."

"Okay, but I don't understand why." Emmie said as she pulled her pajama top back on.

"Then hopefully you will understand this," Everett replied and took Emmie's hand and pulled her to the motel room door and opened it. Then he pushed her outside.

"Wha... what are you doing?"

"Em, I was wrong then and I am wrong now. You need to go."

"But... but... I don't even know where I am."

"You'll find a way. You're a very smart girl. Smarter than me." Everett said and shut the door.

Emmie stood outside of it for a good minute before turning to look around. When she did, Walter came out from around the corner and she ran straight to him.

"Walter!" Emmie screamed and hugged him tightly as she continued, "I knew you'd find me somehow."

"Of course I would. Now, Emmie, you see my Hummer over there," Walter said and pointed, "Well, I want you to run as fast as you can to it and get inside and lock the door. Can you do that?"

"I can. It'll feel like home. I go now." Emmie said and took off like she was in the Olympics.

"Good girl." Walter muttered quietly as he watched her run.

Horatio then stood on the sidewalk in front of Walter. Both of them drew their Glocks at the same time. Horatio gave the signal for Walter to move in and Walter nodded. Horatio backed him up as Walter made his move to the motel door.

"Everett Cawdell, police, open the door now!" Walter exclaimed as he knocked.

At first there was nothing. "I'm not going to ask you again Everett. Open the door or I will knock it down."

Then Walter heard the rustling behind it and saw the doorknob turn. Everett opened the door and immediately put his hands in the air. Walter holstered his Glock and grabbed Everett's hands then his cuffs and said, "Everett Cawdell, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Emmie Hutchins."

"She's a Cawdell. My daughter. You get that? No one will ever take that away from me."

"I believe, Everett... I just did." Horatio said as Walter held him.

Walter passed Everett off to a deputy awaiting and immediately hustled to his Hummer. Emmie saw him coming and jumped out and ran as fast as she could to him. Emmie jumped and Walter caught her in one swoop.

"You saved me again Walter."

"Nah, Emmie, Patty did. If it had not been for her, we would not have been so informed."

"Next to you Walter, Patty is my best friend. There are things I need to tell her. Can we go see her?"

"On our way now." Walter said as he put Emmie down. They were both in the seats and Walter started the Hummer and put it in drive.

There was silence for about a minute then Emmie smiled and looked at Walter and said, "Walter, I love you."

Walter turned red and said as he smiled, "I love you, too, Emmie."

Patty, standing between Calleigh and Loribell, waited as she watched Walter drive into the parking lot and choose a spot. Emmie cracked the passenger side door and Patty bolted immediately.

"Patty!" Emmie excitingly exclaimed as she ran to meet her. A surprised Patty found Emmie's lips planted instantly on hers and then they wrapped their arms around each other. Patty felt warm inside, for she now knew that first kiss was no fluke.

Loribell looked at Calleigh and said, "See, I told Patty Emmie adored that kiss."

"Yeah, Patty worries too much sometimes."

Emmie and Patty held hands as they approached their mothers. Emmie asked, "Momma, if Miss Calleigh says it's alright, can I go home with Patty again? I think I need to tell her some stuff."

Loribell was a little struck at the word "momma" as it was always "mommy" but she did not say anything. She saw that as a sign of maturation.

"What do you say other mother?" Loribell asked Calleigh.

"I think that is a great idea," Calleigh said with a smile.

"Besides, it will give me time to speak with Walter." Loribell whispered to Calleigh. Calleigh smiled.

"Come on girls. Let's go."

Patty sat beside Emmie in the backseat and looked at her mother in the rearview mirror and thought before she opened her mouth. Finally she decided to try the word Emmie used to start off her sentence. "Momma, when we get home, can you somehow keep Austin occupied so Emmie and me can talk?"

Calleigh liked the sound of her new moniker and said, "Sweetie, I don't think you'll need to worry, but I'll tell him to leave you both be."

"Good. Thank you Momma." Patty like the way that word sounded. She felt a little more grown up.

Austin opened the door as soon as his mother drove in the yard. He ran while Patty and Emmie popped out locked in hands. He put his arms around both of them. Emmie backed away slightly as she looked at Patty nervously. Patty caught her doing so and whispered in Emmies's ear, "Emmie, it's okay. You know Austin won't hurt a fly."

Emmie smiled and moved back in so Austin could hold them both. Then he kissed his sister on the forehead and looked at Emmie and she smiled and nodded. Softly, Austin kissed her forehead as well.

"Thank you Austin. You're sweet." Patty said as she pulled Emmie toward the door.

Calleigh walked up and put her arm around her son and he looked up at her and said, "I'll leave them alone Mom. I promise."

"I knew you would."

"Mom, does patty know about Emmie? About her being abused by her father?"

With a very concerned look, Calleigh asked, "Austin, how did you know?"

"She pulled away from me when I hugged them. Patty had to sooth her. That shows Emmie is reserved."

"Well honey, she's learning. She's been through more than we both know."

"It's good that she has Patty. But mom, you do realize that Emmie and Patty may be..."

"Yes, Austin, I do and you know what? That's perfectly fine." Calleigh said and hugged Austin tighter. He just looked up at her and smiled his approval as well.