****I DON'T OWN THESE CHARACTERS****

Maria turned the water on in the shower. She stepped into the shower letting the hot water pour over her face and body. It stung it was so hot, but in a way it felt good to feel. Everything felt like a blur, she couldn't help but fear that Angelo would push the shower curtain aside and drag her back to the basement. She slipped down onto the shower floor and held her knees close to her body. Once upon a time Angelo had been her best friend. He had talked her through her dad walking out, he had been by her side when her mom started drinking. He protected her from the bullies at school, but then he became the bully. He was the person drinking, and then he walked out. Her ribs ached. Her face burned as a reminder of all he had done to her. She shuddered to think what would have happened if Danny hadn't shown up in time. His intention had been very evident that he was done with waiting for her to love him again. Then she saw the dark purple bruises on her arm were starting to turn green. Why….why ...WHY! She felt hot tears slipping down her cheeks. Why did she let him kiss her? Why did she kiss him back? Why did she have to be the one to pull the trigger? Why did she have to be the one to fall in love with a man who she didn't truly know? She felt as if her whole body was covered with dirt and grime. She grabbed a sponge and soap and started scrubbing herself inch by inch until her skin was red and raw. Still she felt like she could feel his sick touch. She wanted to forget everything. The way he touched her, the way he had loved her, the way she used to love him.

A knock came at the bathroom door.

"Yeah" She answered shakily.

"Are you okay?" Danny's voice echoed through the door. "It's been an hour."

"Yeah I'm fine." Maria lied, shocked so much time had passed."I'll be out soon." Maria suddenly became aware that the hot water had run out a long time ago and she was numb with the cold water that had been falling on her longer than she had known. She stood up and turned the water off, wrapped a towel around her body and went to her room. She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. She looked in the mirror. She was shocked by how different she looked. A dark black bruise had developed under her eye, three dark lines had formed on her cheek from where he where he had slapped her. She lay on her bed and buried herself under the blankets. She closed her eyes hoping to sleep, but she couldn't keep her eyes closed. The thought that Angelo might be standing in front of her terrified her. She opened her eyes, he wasn't there - he was dead- she had shot him. Unfortunately, a part of her said it couldn't be that easy, he had to still be haunting her.

Danny prepared supper for Sean and Jack. He had heard the shower running for the past hour. He made his way up the stairs and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Are you okay?" He questioned. "It's been an hour."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Was her response. He could tell by her voice that she had been crying. "I'll be out soon."

He didn't want to push her at all, so he left.

He was trying to process his own emotions. He had almost lost her..but he hadn't. She was safe, but a part of him was scared he would lose her. He looked at Sean who sat at the counter doing his homework. Jack was sitting on the sofa texting, Danny assumed it was Emily. He needed to be alone he needed to process everything that had happened. He wasn't sure he would ever forget how angry he was when he saw Maria pinned under Angelo on the bed. He slipped away up to his room. He ran his hand through his short hair. Kate's words were also bugging him. Did it look like he and Maria were dating? He then realized he wanted to have a chance with Maria. He was falling for her and he wasn't sure he wanted to. She was his partner for God's sake he couldn't date her. She knew how to calm him down, in a way Linda used to, but in her own special way. Linda...would she be okay with him moving on. Would Dad be okay with another son dating their partner? Would he and Maria be forced to break their partnership the same way Jamie and Eddie was? What the hell was he going to do now? Should he tell her how he feels? "No, she was just almost abducted, abused and almost raped by her ex. She isn't ready for that." The more reasonable side of him declared. He had to agree. Right now Maria was too fragile. Danny rested his head in his hands. Off in the distance he heard a strangled sob. He rose from the bed and made his way down the hall to Maria's room. He knocked gently. No answer came. He carefully opened the door. Maria lay curled up on the bed buried under blankets shaking with sobs. He walked slowly to the bed.

"Hey" He said softly sitting on the bed. She jumped at his voice."Hey it's just me." He soothed. Her sobs quieted and she turned in the bed to face him.

"Is he really dead?" She whispered.

"He was DOA." Danny stated.

"Are you sure?" Maria asked. He saw the pleading in her eyes. She was so scared.

"He's gone." Danny promised taking her hand with his good hand. Maria loved how her small hand felt in his large hand.

"Do you want to talk?" Danny urged.

Maria shook her head and then flinched when a shooting pain from her head made her squeeze her eyes together.

"I just want to forget everything." Maria muttered through the pain.

"That's okay for now." Danny squeezed her hand. She looked down at their hands eyes widened when she saw the brace on his hand.

"What did you do to your hand?" She demanded.

"I punched something." Danny confessed.

Maria sighed at how often Danny hurt himself by punching things.

"Do you feel like eating?" Danny asked.

"Not really." Maria answered sniffing.

"When was the last time you ate?" Danny pried.

Maria looked at their clasped hands.

"I think yesterday was the last time he gave me food." Maria answered feeling her eyes fill up with tears again.

Danny squeezed her hand as his blood began to boil again.

"You should eat." He said trying to be calm, concerned that his anger might scare her.

"I don't want to…" Maria sighed.

"Please?" Danny entreated

"What if I just go down stairs?" Maria compromised. The mere idea of food made her feel sick.

"Sounds like a plan." Danny agreed helping her sit up being careful not to hurt her.

I hope you guys liked that chapter!

Love you guys

Eliza