A/N: Ok so I haven't updated in...er is it a year now? Maybe not that long. But still. I haven't exactly been inundated with requests to finish this (I haven't had ANY actually lol), but it has been playing on my mind for a while. So I'm trying to get it finished now I've got some time. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 8: Night and Day

(Fulton)

I don't quite know how, but I managed to get Linda back to my dorm room. Not even a close call from the hall patrol. Karma, it seems, is on my side for once. She's quiet and still in my arms as I lead her into my room and settle her on my bed. Her eyes are blank now, staring into space, her face unreadable and tear stained. I'm not really used to this kind of thing. What do you say to a girl when she's like this? What do you even say to a girl?

Think Fulton, think!

"Do you…want some water?" She looks up, her expression subtly registering recognition, a welcome change from the emptiness. She nods once, slowly. I sigh with relief and hurry to snatch a glass and fill it in the bathroom. As I wander back out I see she's shuffled herself further back, against the wall, her chin resting on her knees as she idly stares at a lock of hair she's twisting between her fingers. I hand her the glass and perch on the bed beside her.

"So…." My brain just dried up. I can feel it rattling like a pea in a can as I mentally pummel the interior of my skull. "Um…." Nice one Fulton. Just go the whole way and finish up with an "er" why don't you?

"Yeah," She mutters, a tiny smile on her lips, "I know what you mean." She glances up, a slight spark in her eyes. There's a hint of the Linda I remember. "Kinda...big huh?" I nod, glad that, despite my inert and careless mumblings, she's still on my wavelength. A rarity in itself. Not many people are ever on my station, so to speak. She sips some water slowly, staring at her feet. "I'm just so lost Fulton." She murmurs, fear in her voice and I see her hands shake slightly. It seems to kick me into some sort of action. I reach out and take the glass from her trembling hand and put an arm around her.

"It'll be ok. I know it doesn't seem like it, and that everything feels like it's totally out of control, but everything will turn out fine, trust me. I'm here to make sure it does." She twists in my arms until her small face is upturned, her eyes a clear grey-green.

"You can promise that kind of thing?" I nod and smile at her.

"'Course I can. It's me, Fulton Reed!" I puff up my chest and pull an Arnold Schwarzenegger face. She giggles and sighs into my neck.

"Thanks Fulton. I'm….glad you were there when you were. If that makes sense? It almost feels like everything's going to be…ok."

"It will. I'll take care of you." There's silence for a few moments. My brain hasn't stopped…now that it's finally in gear. What exactly am I going to do? What's going to happen to her? She's so young…and vulnerable. Charlie….ugh. I can't even start on that right now. But Linda…will she be able to stay at home? What about her parents? What about school?

A sob interrupts my pondering. And my shirt feels wet…now why…?

Glancing down I see Linda still enmeshed in my arms, so small and tiny, her face pressed into my chest, her shoulders trembling like leaves in a wind. I wrap my arms tighter round her, trying to squeeze into her all the care and love and safety that she needs right now. Strange, meaningless noises are whispering from my mouth, startling me. What has she made me do? I'm…I…can be comforting…hmm. I wonder what's upset her again? Shock wearing off? She's mumbling into my shirt…

"Hmm?"

"My parents!"

Same wavelength again? Twice in one lifetime for anyone else is rare, this is weird. "What about them?"

"They're going to murder me. I mean really!" She snuffles a bit and sits back some. Her nose as a little red, right on the tip.

And why did I notice that?

And why do I find it strangely….cute? She pulls her sleeve across her eyes and sniffs again.

"I'm doomed Fulton. They're going to kick me out." Her expression's miserable. "I've made such a mess of my life" She whispers forlornly. I feel totally useless. What on earth can I do or say that's going to make her feel any better at all?

"Hey, no, Linda it wasn't your fault!"

"It is! Oh Fulton it is! If I'd have just…if I'd…"

"If you'd what? Linda? What did Charlie do?" A horrible suspicion is forming in my mind. I try to look into her face, try to get her to answer my question. I have to know. Her eyes are shut tight and she's actually sobbing now. "Linda? You don't have to tell me but…I dunno maybe you'd feel better?"

"I don't know if I ever will Fulton. I just don't…ugh I'm so stupid!"

"You're not stupid Linda! Not at all…if Charlie's done something…"

"No…I could have stopped…could have…said…maybe…" Oh. That. Again.

"Linda…I think…you need to tell me what happened." She tenses and pulls away, shrinking against the wall again, looking for all the world like she'd love to just fade into it and become invisible.

"Nothing happened. Let's just drop it."

"I can't Linda. I think I know what happened to you. And if I'm right….it's happened before."

"Nothing happened to me. I was stupid, that's all. I made a mistake and now I deserve to pay for it."

"No, that's not right, and you know it. Deep down inside you, you know it."

"What…?"

"He…forced you didn't he? There was a fight? He turned out to be someone else…someone you never expected. Cruel, strong, bitter…twisted…" Silence. A long, heavy, aching silence. Finally:

"How…"

"You're not the only one Linda. He's hurt others. I've seen who he is. I know the truth. You, me and Dwayne. We know the truth. So whatever you say, I will believe you, because I'm not blind."

I've never seen gratitude like hers. Her expression's suddenly bordering on radiant through her tears, the relief that someone will believe her, the thought that maybe, just maybe, none of this is her fault after all…

"I never thought…I just…but how do you know all this? Did he tell you?"

Ah. I should've seen this coming. Do I tell her the truth? She deserves the truth. But she didn't really know Adam…and does that matter?

"Fulton?"

I sigh. "Linda…you remember my team mate Adam?" This is going to be a long night.

I blink drowsily as sunlight stabs unrelentingly at my eyelids. Pain. Intense pain my friend. What time is it I wonder? The clock shows 8 am, but it only feels like about five judging by the close relationship between my tongue and the roof of my mouth. I forcefully peel the two apart and groan quietly, rubbing my eyes vigorously to rid them of the multi-coloured fireworks display taking place. Last night begins to drift back to me in bits and pieces, events slotting themselves into place in my mind. First the cinema, then Dwayne…that needs sorting out as soon as possible…I glance over to his bed and see it's empty.

Great. Me and my uselessness all over again. He probably thinks I want to murder him or something. I sigh sadly. I wish I could be there for Dwayne in the way he wants but…it's just not possible. I can't…he's my friend. I don't want…oh crap. That's going to be one of the hardest conversations of my life, and I can't even articulate it properly in my head. Wonderful.

A small murmuring sound makes me twist my head slightly and look down. The rest of last night floods back. Linda, Charlie, the baby…

Linda's curled up against my chest, her eyes shut tight. She looks so…peaceful. Her lashes are throwing long feathered shadows across her cheeks in the morning sun, her lips are pursed like a little child's, rosy and soft. I can feel her hair across my neck, like velvet. There's a slight hint of vanilla scent in the air around us. The warmth from her is comforting, and it suddenly feels as though I've found something I'd lost. Like something was missing for a long time…and now it's not. I smile slightly and pull her closer. There's no need to wake her just yet.