AN: Here it is! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! This chapter is mostly dialogue, just to forewarn. What do you expect from a girl who writes screenplays? I do not own 'The Outsiders' or anything associated with it.

Casey Novak paced in the waiting room of St. Christopher's for the second time in two weeks. For her, it was twice too many.

"Casey," Kathy broke in, grabbing the women's hand, "You're making me dizzy. She's going to be fine. Take a few deep breaths."

Elliot and Olivia rushed in.

"Is she conscious?" Elliot asked.

"We don't-" Kathy started.

"Yes." A doctor said, walking in, "You can see her soon."

"What was the cause?" Olivia asked.

"She had an anxiety attack, and she was also dehydrated and over-tired. She mentioned something about a flashback…"

"Poor kid," Elliot said sympathetically.

"Will she be alright?" Casey asked, dread filling her.

"Yes. You'll be able to take her home within the hour. Make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and gets some rest over the next few days. And…I don't want to be pushy, but…you might want to look into getting her some therapy."

"I will." Casey offered.

"Take care of her," the doctor offered, "I was on duty last time she was here. She's been through a lot."

"Casey…" Kathy offered, "we can take the kids if you want to be with Mary for a couple hours."

"Thanks, Kath," Casey said, relieved. "I'll pick them up from your house in a couple hours."

"Tell her I hope she's okay," Elizabeth offered, hoping that she hadn't done anything to make this happen to her best friend. "I can drop off her homework tomorrow if you want."

"I will, Elizabeth. Thanks."

Casey was reading People Magazine when Mary walked into the room.

"Mary, sweetheart!" Casey said, hurrying towards her daughter, gently embracing her, "Come on, let's go home."

While they were at a stoplight, Casey faced Mary.

"How did you get dehydrated, Mary? And overtired?"

Mary started shaking slightly, and Casey went to put a hand on her shoulder, but Mary just flinched and visibly braced herself.

"Mary," Casey said quietly, "It's okay. I'm not mad, and even if I was, I'm not going to hurt you. Just tell me why."

Casey's heart broke as she reassured the teenager that she wasn't going to hurt her. The light changed, and Casey floored the gas, wanting to get home as soon as possible. Children shouldn't even have to wonder if their parents or guardians will hurt them…she thought, disgusted all over again at everything that had happened to Mary.

"Honey, what happened?"

"I don't know…One second 'Liz and I were kidding around about Social Studies…and then the next all I could feel…all I could see…was my father…forcing me," Mary admitted, drawing a ragged breath, "It never hit me…that my father…oh my God…he raped me…he raped me.

"It's all my fault," She sobbed, "It's all my fault…"

Casey pulled into her parking space, and leaned across to her daughter, gently rocking her, praying to God that He would give her the strength to speak through her own tears.

"Mary, listen to me. This was in no way your fault. You didn't want him to do it. You said no. That alone makes it his fault, and he is going to pay for it."

Casey couldn't remember ever feeling this powerless. Mary was suffering from a type of grief she'd never known in her life. She'd felt pain, yes, enough to make her cry herself to sleep some nights during her childhood. But there had always been someone there to help her through those times. Mary had no one. Until I phoned Olivia…Casey realized. But even with Mary being surrounded by people who loved her, Casey knew Mary was hurting to an extent that she couldn't even imagine.

Mary didn't want to fully imagine her pain, either. All this time, she'd been an outsider, looking in on what had happened to her. Only now was she really going to have to start dealing with the full extent of the pain.

It was a long road she had to walk. But she'd survive. Matthew and Rebecca would survive. They'd come too far to fall.

Elliot sat with Elizabeth on the swing in front of the house. Watching his daughter's face, he knew something was up.

"What's on your mind, 'Liz?"

Elizabeth sighed. It had to come out sooner or later.

"Mary," She admitted, "What if I brought on her anxiety attack? She must hate me!"

"Elizabeth Maria Stabler, listen to me. The people responsible for this are Mary's parents. I haven't got into the details with you, and I never intend to, but they're the only ones to blame. Don't for a minute blame yourself. She knows you care, and she cares about you. I talk to Casey, and she was telling me just last night how happy Mary is that you guys are friends." Elliot said, love for his daughter shining in his every word.

"I'm glad we're friends, too. I hate what happened to her!" Elizabeth said, rage at even what little she knew breaking through.

"Good. If you didn't, I'd be a little worried." Elliot joked, putting an arm around his daughter.

"I'm scared that she'll need help sometime when I'm with her and I won't know what to do." Elizabeth said, finally voicing her fear.

"Just be there for her, Elizabeth. Mary really needs a friend right now, and it needs to be someone who has compassion, and is willing to be there for her. Which is why you're the perfect person to be friends with her."

"Thanks, daddy." Elizabeth said, hugging him, then standing up. "I'm going to go finish my homework."

Elizabeth smiled, hope filling her eyes. She could be there for her fried. She would be there to offer support, to be a shoulder to cry on. She'd be there for the joy and the tears. After all, what were friends for?

After going through almost the exact conversation on the flip-side with Mary as Elliot had just had with Elizabeth, Casey looked down at Mary's now-sleeping frame. She gently pulled the covers up to the girl's chin and kissed her on the forehead.

"Sleep well, sweetheart." Casey whispered, walking out of the room and flipping out the light.

She walked into the living room and picked up the phone, dialing the now-familiar number of the Stabler residence.

"Stabler."

"Hey, Ell, it's Casey."

"Casey! How's Mary?"

"Physically? She just needs to rest for a couple days and drink a lot of fluids. Emotionally…I don't know, Ell. She needs more help than I can give her."

"Call Dr. Olivet," Elliot offered, "We both know about my opinion of shrinks…and even I found her helpful."

"That's good advice. How are Matthew and Rebecca?"

"You mean do I think they need therapy, too?"

"Yes," Casey admitted, afraid for her children.

"Rebecca, no. She seems fine. But Matthew…probably less then Mary, but yes."

Casey sighed. She knew this one had been coming.

"Thanks Ell. I guess I should make a few calls."

"Hey, Casey? You do know that we're here for you guys, right? All of us."

"I know, Elliot," Casey said, tears welling up in her eyes and her voice tightening at the sincerity in his voice, "I know."

On Friday at three thirty-five, Elizabeth and Mary walked through Casey's apartment door, laughing and talking, Mary smiling a genuine, true smile for the first time since Monday.

"Hey, Casey! Hey, mom!" Elizabeth greeted. "We'll be in Mary's room doing homework."

"Yeah," Mary said, "And don't worry, mom. This time I'll actually be doing homework, not having an anxiety attack."

Casey laughed.

"Call us if you need anything," Kathy said.

The two girls walked into Mary's room, their conversation never missing a beat.

"You do realize that she just called you mom, right?" Kathy said.

"I guess she did, didn't she?" Casey said, "It just feels natural, Kathy. She is my daughter. Maybe not biologically, but in every other sense that girl is my daughter. I will fight for her until my last breath."

Kathy watched the fierceness in Casey's eyes, then laughed. Sticking out her hand, she said what needed to be said.

"Welcome to motherhood."

In Mary's room, Mary and Elizabeth were taking a break from their 'The Outsiders' discussion questions, and were instead discussing their lives.

"So, when's the trial?" Elizabeth asked.

"It's starting on Monday," Mary said, "And believe me, I'm scared shitless."

"Mary!" Elizabeth said, in mock shock, "You're not a robot! You actually curse once in a million years!"

"Yes, I do. And it took me this long, thanks to them." Mary said, rage flashing in her eyes.

"I hate them for what they did to you," Elizabeth said, "You know that I'm here for you, right?"

"I know," Mary said, "Thanks, 'Liz."

"Don't mention it. So, when's your first appointment with Olivet?" Elizabeth asked.

Mary groaned. Dr. Olivet. Therapy. What good was it going to do her? She hated it. She always had.

"You know, when it comes to therapy, you're just like my dad." Elizabeth said.

"I take that as a compliment. My first appointment is on Wednesday. I guess I'll get through it."

Mary looked around at her surroundings. A month ago at this time, she was living in fear, in dark, dismal surroundings, trying to keep her brother and sister safe. Now, she was sitting in a brightly-lit room, her mother outside, her best friend beside her. And yet she was still living in fear of all the what-ifs.

Suddenly, rage replaced her fear. She would change things for herself; for her brother and sister. No matter how much therapy it took, she would move on.

"No," Mary said, "I will get through it. I won't let my parents rule over me anymore."

Elizabeth felt a huge rush of pride for her friend. She would it through it, indeed, and emerge stronger than ever.

"Hey, Mare," She said, "I'm really glad we're friends."

"Me, too, Liz. Me, too."

Well, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. Hallelujah! A couple of my reviewers apparently thought I was done at chapter five? Believe me, this story is far from over! Please keep reviewing, and if you guys have any suggestions, I'm certainly open to them! Until next chapter, adios!