Tears spilled over Elizabeth's eyes as she watched Nikolas slowly begin to stir. She slowly slid down against the wall until she was sitting. Nikolas turned onto his stomach, holding his head, and looked at Elizabeth. All she could do was return the stare.

"What happened? Where did Tom go?"

It took a minute for Elizabeth to be able to speak. "You hit your head on the cement. Tom left just a minute ago."

Nikolas stared at her with wide eyes, almost afraid to ask her the question that was on his mind. Almost. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing. Not for lack of trying, though."

"I'm so sorry," Nikolas replied, startling Elizabeth. What on Earth did he have to be sorry for? As if he were reading her mind, Nikolas continued. "I should have been more helpful."

Elizabeth burst into tears. Nikolas slowly sat up and crawled over to her, so that he was sitting right in front of her. He took her hands and his and softly asked why she was crying.

"Everything!" she wailed. "It's everything. Us being here, with Tom. He took us away from Zander and Gia, and on the 3rd anniversary of Lucky's death!" Elizabeth took a few deep breaths in between her sobs before continuing. "Just now I thought Tom was going to. God, I can't even say it! And what's the worst part of it all? I'm a horrible friend to you."

Nikolas was completely taken aback by her last statement. "Why would you say that?"

"Because. When Tom was down here and you were unconscious I just wanted you to wake up so that you could save me. That was the only reason!"

Nikolas couldn't help but smile a little. "I highly doubt that, Elizabeth. Okay? I know you. Tom was here, and you thought he was going to hurt you again."

"You can't say it either can you?"

Nikolas took a deep breath. "No. Elizabeth, I can see why you wanted me to wake up to save you, okay? That doesn't make you a bad friend. It makes you sane."

"Are you okay now?" Elizabeth asked, true concern in her voice.

"Yes, I am fine." Nikolas let go of Elizabeth's hands and they both put their own hands in their laps. "I could sure use some food right about now, though. I would have ordered another steak last night if I had known this would happen."

Elizabeth smiled and then became serious again. "How do you think our friends and family are right about now?"

Nikolas shrugged. "Terribly. They are probably all going out of their minds right about now." Suddenly Nikolas' eyes bulged out. "I hope Laura is still in one piece. I don't think she can take losing another." Nikolas dropped his sentence as soon as he realized what he was about to say. Elizabeth said nothing in response, but he could tell what she was thinking. He had lost faith that they were going to make it out alive as well. She was disappointed.

Nikolas sighed heavily and dropped his gaze to the floor. Tom was no doubt angry with them both for what they had pulled. He was a time-bomb, ready to go off at any second, and no one would be able to help them when it did.

***********

Rafe slowly pushed the door opened to Lucy's home, with a trembling Allison besides him. She was shivering, his arms wrapped around her. He had never seen Allison like this before. She was afraid; her eyes were completely different. They were usually so bright... and now... they were cold. Her body bruised in many spaces, her dress torn. He gently walked her besides him, and he made his way to the couch, to set her down. He looked directly into her eyes, as she looked back at him, but her eyes seemed to be looking miles away.

"Allison," he whispered, soft- not wanting to frighten her.

Allison jumped, as she looked up at him.

"Allison, sweetie," He whispered again, "it's ok- your safe now.... were here... home at Lucy's..."

"A shower," Allison said suddenly, " I need a shower..." She shivered, "I need... to get this filth off of me." She quickly jumped up, off the couch.

"Allison!" Rafe called, he grabbed her, yet gently. He looked seriously at her, "I really don't think it's a good idea for you to take a shower... you need to be... examined..." Allison turned, her eyes wide with fright, "No! I can't be seen like this... I don't want.... anyone... I'm all torn... bruised up... I can't let anyone see me like this..." her eyes had anger written all over them suddenly, "Look at what he did to me, Rafe! God! That man did this to me! If you hadn't come..."

"And I won't let him do anything to you again, Allison," Rafe looked at her, "I'm going to make sure your ok, I promise you that! We need to have you examined, just to make sure you weren't hurt... I mean, i'm pretty sure he didn't make it all the way, but I just want to make sure, Allison- please, just... we need to have you checked out!"

"The thought of anyone looking at me like this," Allison shook her head, "Rafe... no... I just can't have that!"

"What, Allison?" Rafe was calm, "The thought of anyone looking at the most beautiful angel in the world? Right now, your still so beautiful to me. No one could ever destroy that!"

Allison cried out, as Rafe gently touched her hair, "Your so beautiful, so beautiful." he repeated. He looked into her eyes, as their fourheads touched.

Allison looked up at Rafe, tears in her eyes, "I'm just so glad your here." Rafe reached over, and gently brushed a tear away.

"I'm grateful I found you," Rafe whispered. He looked seriously at her, "Can you please do me a favor?"

"What?" Allison stared at Rafe.

"Would you *please* go with me to the hospital?" Rafe begged, "All I want is to make sure that you are alright. I'll make sure no one hurts you."

Allison swallowed, her eyes bright with tears, "I know you would do that. I know you'd make sure no one would hurt me. Which is why I'll have you take me their, because i know you'll protect me."

Rafe smiled, "I promise you I will." he gently kissed a bruise on her shoulder, "Will you come with me?" he asked, as he pulled away. She nodded. He quietly got up, and gently helped her up. She stumbled as she tried to stand up. He helped her up, and together they walked to the door.

There was one thought that ran through Rafe's mind as they walked out together. He would kill the bastard who did this to her.

***********

"Boy was that strange being back at Kelly's," Emily commented on their walk home. "No one we knew was even there, but even so." They had gone to Kelly's to pick up food for everyone.

Lucky nodded. "It's strange just being back home, period. After 3 years of thinking I'd never make it back here." his voice trailed off.

Emily looked at him, and noticed the sadness in his eyes. She smiled, brightly, "Hey. We are going to find her. You two will reunite and have that future you always dreamed about. You will get married, have your kids, and just be nothing but happy." she tried to reassure him.

"You have no idea how much I want that," Lucky sighed, "But who knows if she'll pick me? What about Zander? From what I hear, they are pretty happy together right now. She's moved on, and she is happy with someone else right now."

Emily looked away at that moment.

Lucky immediately noticed his mistake, "Oh God, Em. This must be tough on you to. I shouldn't be thinking about myself... it's got to be so strange having to come back here, and seeing your best friend with your old boyfriend."

Emily closed her eyes, then opened them, "I've known about it for awhile now... i've tried to get used to it. I have accepted it. I'm happy that Zander is happy." she stopped short, and paused for a moment, "But at the same time, I miss him like crazy. His love was like nothing I had ever experienced before... we were so happy, Lucky. We were. And just seeing him again makes me really miss him." she then looked guiltily at Lucky, "But that's nothing compared to you and Liz. You two... you were like the greatest love I had ever seen. And me missing him after breaking up with him is nothing like what you had to go through... her thinking you are dead, and then coming back here while..." she felt a tear escape her. She quickly picked up her hand to brush the tear away. She suddenly looked up in surprise.

It was then that they realized where they were. They had been walking for awhile, aimlessly for awhile.

Lucky swallowed hard, as he looked around. He suddenly went back to that night, the night that had been one of the worst nights of Elizabeth's life. He remembered finding her in the bushes... all bruised, her dress torn, her holding her shoe in her hand... but what was worse, the look in her eyes... it had taken her so long to get well, to feel free from the rape. And now, she was back with him. He felt sick inside at the thought.

Emily stared at the fountain, then back up at Lucky, "Where it happened," she whispered. "God.Liz must be so terrified."

"I swear, if he touches her.I will kill him this time," Lucky swore angrily.

Emily shivered at the thought, "She will survive this." Emily went, trying to be confident, "She's a fighter. She didn't let him win the first time- and she won't let him win this time. "Remember that."

"I know..." Lucky sighed, "I have faith she will survive this. It just kills me that she is with him at this moment... she's been through so much, she doesn't need to go through this again."

Emily nodded sadly, but she suddenly smiled, "Just think of it this way- she WILL get out of their. She WILL survive. And when she gets out- she will be in for the surprise of her life. She will be the happiest ever."

That had to make Lucky smile.

"There's that smile I love," Emily grinned, "Now come on- let's get this food home, it's getting cold and we have a lot of people to feed. Besides, maybe their will be some news for us when we get there." Emily tried to stay positive.

Lucky nodded. "Your right, let's go."

*********

Tom paced angrily. He knew he shouldn't be staying in the open, where he could be easily spotted, but it was late and there was no one around. And he needed a game plan before he went back to the cabin. His earlier attempt with Elizabeth had failed miserably, and the attempt with the young blonde in the park had gone just as bad, if not worse. That was it. He was going to kill those stupid kids, right now. Get it over with. Be done with it. Then, he could truly be free. At last. True freedom. He was so close he could almost taste it. He couldn't remember the last time he had freedom. Even after escaping from jail, he didn't feel it entirely. He knew the only way he be completely and entirely free was to get revenge on those brats, and that was exactly what he was doing. After tonight, however, he realized that his plans for them had to be moved up. With every moment that passed he craved the independence that was just out of his grasp. He craved it with every ounce of his being. And tonight, he was going to get it. He was going to reach out and touch it, and no one would take it from him ever again.

Tom grinned with satisfaction and started to head back when he heard voices. Suddenly panicked, Tom hid in some bushes quietly so as not to be noticed. He looked out and saw two people walking by. His heart stopped as he recognized them. Lucky Spencer and Emily Quartermaine. No way. That Spencer kid was dead. he had died three years ago. Everyone knew that. He remembered reading about it in the paper in that awful prison. He had been glad, too. A part of his revenge was complete. And he'd also heard of the accident that had left Emily paralyzed. But there they both were: walking and talking, perfectly healthy. And he knew by their conversation that his eyes were not playing any tricks. It was definitely Lucky and Emily he was looking at.

Tom pondered things for a few minutes. Sure, he could go back to the cabin, finish off Nikolas and Elizabeth, and leave Lucky and Emily to live in that pain for the rest of their lives. But that wouldn't be enough. No. Most people find a way to deal with their pain, and move on. Even if they never truly got over it, they would move on and find a way to have happy lives. He just could not have that. He wanted all four of them to pay. It was his justice, his revenge. It had to be completed or it wasn't worth doing anything at all. A new plan formulated in his head and he licked his lips wickedly. This was going to be good.