This is the conversation between Sam and Mary. Everything seems to begin to get better, but of course that won't last long... R&R please!

Sam's suite/home

"Okay, so I got in the limo my client had sent to pick us up...me up. Of course I didn't want to get in alone, but the driver said I'd save him a lot of trouble if I'd just get in. So, I don't know why, but I got in. I guess I thought I'd just do a nice thing. And when I started to sense something was off I called my client. I was pretty pissed off and he told me to hang on. Then he hung up and a half a minute later, the driver got out of the car and drugged me. He probably took my cell phone, too. God, I can't believe he put me through this hell for a bit of money! I mean, what do you expect to happen with a woman you have to kidnap and bring to a forgotten place in the desert with a maniac and his guards? I mean, why?"

Mary hugged her friend.

"I don't know why, Sam. No one does. If there even was a reason it couldn't be one good enough to make you forget about it."

Sam and Mary were holding each other.

"What happened next, Sam?"

"I woke up and it was dark. I realised I wasn't wearing my own clothes. I wore a dress, and when I found the light switch I found myself standing in someone's bedroom, it was decorated really...romantically I would say. He probably thought that was going to bring me in the mood, you know, but I'm not quite the romantic type so it didn't."

"Anyone who knows you would think twice before putting you in a romantically decorated room," Mary smiled.

"Yeah, you're right, so I started banging on the door and then it was opened I tried to run away, but he was waiting down the stairs."

"Oh, gosh. What did you do?"

Sam chuckled through her tears.

"Well, I slapped him in the face and told him to get me a ride NOW. Of course I wasn't getting that. He said: if you have dinner with me you can go afterwards. I saw no other way out so I assured him there wasn't going to happen anything else than supper, and I had dinner with him. After that I walked to the front door, but it...it was locked and then...then he...he grabbed me and carried me upstairs to the room I woke up in."

Sam swallowed and continued in a soft voice instead of the one filled with anger and disbelief from the last sentences.

"He threw me on the bed and forced his tongue into my mouth," a look of disgust appeared on Sam's face, "but I bit it and tried to get away. I almost did, but he pulled me back and backhanded me in the face. He ripped the dress to shreds, and then the rest."

Sam looked at her hands in her lap. As she stuttered the next words, Mary's heart broke for her friend.

I can't believe I'm putting her through this, but I know it's going to make her feel better. Slightly relieved. And I'm here for her, I'm here.

"He was all over me," Sam's voice sounded shaky, "his eyes, his hands..."

Sam had to stop talking because the flashbacks were too overwhelming. Mary could see the pain on her face. After a while Sam started talking again.

"I kicked, I screamed, I hit. He raped me. And it hurt."

Sam looked at Mary.

"It really hurt. And now I don't think I'll ever be with a guy again. It hurts, not just physically you know."

"Yeah...yeah I know."

The two were silent for a moment. Then Sam wiped away her tears and said:

"Your turn, Mare. And hey, thanks for listening. Or, forcing me to tell you. I feel a little lighter now."

Mary cleared her throat.

"So...my father did it to me," she began.

"Jeez..."

"Yep. He ehm...he would come into my room at night, threaten to kill my favourite doll if I screamed, and he got me ready. First I er, had to hug him. I remember my arms were shaking already at that point. He would pull my nightdress over my head and run the tip of his finger over my bare shoulders, and then...I...I was twelve years old. Then he raped me." Mary felt as if she could explode. She was hot again, like she had a fever, and she trembled slightly.

"But didn't your mom try to protect you?" Sam asked.

"My mother was gone by then. That's when it started."

"That sucks." Sam couldn't think of anything else to say, but she could feel Mary's pain.

"Yeah."

Now it was Mary's turn to study her hands.

"God, it's humiliating just to talk about it. To say the words."

"To relive it. But it's good to have someone to relive it with, to know you're not alone."

The women looked up to each other and tears of relief trickled down their cheeks. They were holding each other tight the next moment.

"Mare?"

"Hm?"

"Would you mind staying over tonight?"

"Sure, if you want me to."

"Yes. Mare?"

"Yes?"

"Let's go brush our teeth. I've got a tooth brush for you and a large shirt, if you want."

"Thanks, Sam."

"No problem."

Sam and Mary stood up and went to Sam's bathroom. They laughed as they watched each other brush their teeth.

"I can't believe we're actually laughing about this," Mary said with her mouth still filled with the foam from the tooth paste.

"We're certainly on fire tonight," Sam chuckled before spitting out the foam in the sink.

They went into the bedroom again and Sam gave Mary a shirt to put on. Five minutes later, they were lying in Sam's bed.

"Wow Sam, I envy you. You've got the biggest bed I've ever seen in a single person's house."

"Yep, it's definitely comfortable."

"It is! Hey Sam, aren't you tired?"

"Sure. But frankly I'm scared to death of sleeping."

"I've had that for years."

Sam sharply turned her head towards Mary.

"Years?"

"Not a very comforting thing to say, I know. But I didn't have them every night. And it's easier to deal with if you've got someone living with you. I lived with Danny and his parents after Danny saved me from my dad. I would wake up, screaming, and Danny would be the first to run to me and lie with me until I felt safe."

"Danny is a great guy. I really don't understand why you still aren't married. Frankly no one does. You just belong together."

"We do love each other very much, that is true. But from friends to lovers to husband and wife- it's just a big change."

"Mary," Sam sounded like a school teacher. "Not being a romantic, like you- yes, like you, I really don't want to say this, but it's too obvious. You two, Mare, you have kindred spirits. Eventually you will either end up getting married or live unhappy lives."

"Hm. You might be right when you say that, Sam. I'll just think about it. And maybe when we're both ready, we will get married."

"Forget maybe. I bet you, Danny McCoy and Mary Connell are going to get married."

"Yeah you just don't know when, do you, miss psychic?"

Sam inhaled deeply.

"Soon...it's going to be soon..." she said in a low voice.

"You can be quite an idiot sometimes, Sam. You know that?"

"Yeah," Sam smiled with content.

"Okay idiot, let's sleep. And remember, I'm here."

Sam turned serious again.

"Thanks Mary. You are truly a good friend."

"Hm. You're too, Sammy." Mary had already closed her eyes.

"You've got guts calling me that," Sam replied, but she could see Mary was already sound asleep.

Sam sighed and stared at the ceiling. She then glanced at Mary and closed her eyes, too.

I'm very sorry to say this, but I might not update this story (or Moulin Rouge! Part deux) for three weeks because I'm going on holiday. But I do have good news: I will keep writing, and when I come back I will have at least two more chapters and I'll update this story first thing. I promise. Thanks for all the reviews! I love you all!