"But babygirl, what happened in the woods?"

Waverly whipped her head around so fast it caused Wynonna to jump a little. She watched as her little sister open her mouth but no words came out. Instead she closed her eyes tight, head shaking slightly. Before Wynonna or Nicole could respond she started to stand, eyes still shut.

"I'm going to shower," she finally said and ran out of the room.

Nicole went to go after her but Wynonna grabbed her arm. "Don't Red. I think I pushed too hard. Give her a minute."

She nodded her head but Nicole wanted nothing more than to be there for her wife. "She's never been quiet about anything that's happened to her before," Nicole said remembering every time something happened she immediately would let her wife know all the details, never holding back.

"She almost died Nicole. She was beaten and tortured by pure evil," Wynonna was abrupt but honest. "This is very different."

It was true. She knew it was true but it was all new territory. She had never not known what to say to Waverly. They always just got each other. When Waverly returned from the Garden she knew how to break Nicole out of her thoughts and it ultimately saved her from Margo and the Clantons. She just wanted to fix everything and couldn't. It was devasting.

Nicole sat back down, defeated. "We do need to know though. We need to get rid of Jolene and find out who the other person was. We do need to protect her."

"Haught I'm not leaving this godforsaken place until I know you guys are safe. That means Jolene is dead and in the ground. For real this time."

xxxxxx

It had been over an hour and they still heard the shower running. Wynonna suggested Nicole go up and check on Waverly now. She never took long showers, wanting to protect the environment and all, and this was much longer than she ever had before. As she climbed the stairs and looked towards the bathroom she noticed the amount of steam coming from under the door. As she opened it she felt like she was entering a sauna.

"Waves, you've been up her for a while. Are you alright?" Nicole said as she entered the bathroom. She peaked around the curtain and noticed Waverly on the floor of the tub, mostly clothed minus her shirt, and obviously crying. Nicole also observed that Waverly's skin was bright red. "Baby what happened?" She immediately shut off the water and climbed in behind her wife so she could hold her. It seemed as if she was having a panic attack, but she couldn't be sure because the air was so thick.

Waverly didn't respond and Nicole didn't ask any more questions, she just held and rocked her until she was able to find her voice.

"I don't know what happened. One minute I was on the couch and now I'm here," Waverly quietly explained.

Nicole stopped rocking her wife but still held on tight. That was over an hour ago. She wasn't sure what was going on with Waverly. Maybe she was feeling more traumatized then she let on in the hospital.

"It's okay baby. It's been a rough week, I'm sure it'll get better," Nicole finally found words that she hoped were enough.

Waverly was not so sure. She felt lost and unable to talk about it to the one person who could help her. Why couldn't she say what she was feeling? Why couldn't she put words to what was happening to her? Was she dreaming while awake? Which one was real?

"Maybe it's the pain medicine. The doctor did say it was strong," Nicole added, breaking Waverly from her downward spiral.

Waverly nodded. That made sense. "You're probably right."

Nicole stood up and got out of the tub. Waverly missed her warmth. Even though she had been in a scorching shower Nicole felt warmer. Safer. Hers. She felt a towel draped around her shoulders as Nicole returned quickly.

"Let's get you into some dry clothes. I'll change your bandages too." Nicole led her wife out of the bathroom and helped her change in the bedroom. It was the first time Waverly had been in their room all week and she could tell Nicole hadn't been around much. Dust was already settling on the dresser and her clothes were scattered about like she changed in a hurry. "Sorry it's a mess. I have barely been home since..." she trailed off.

Waverly just smiled. "Please stop saying you're sorry." She pulled Nicole's face to hers and placed a gentle kiss on her wife's cheek. "I love you Nicole."

"I love you too Waves."

xxxxxx

Nicole stayed with Waverly in bed until she had fallen asleep. She has asked her if she wanted to take her pain meds and Waverly had declined but upon struggling to get comfortable decided to take half of the dose. She rose from the bed and placed a kiss on her wife's forehead before heading back down to Wynonna, who had gone up to check on them after she had heard them leave the bathroom. Waverly had said she was tired and Wynonna let them be. Now, as Nicole descended the stairs, she saw her sister-in-law still sitting on the couch.

"Sorry I couldn't leave her alone," Nicole said as she sat next to Wynonna.

"I wouldn't want you to." They sat in silence for a few minutes before Wynonna asked, "What happened?"

"I found her in her clothes in sitting in the tub. She looked so lost and scared. She didn't remember how she got there." Nicole was still concerned about that part. She told Wynonna how she was hoping it was the pain medicine, but something in her gut was telling her it was more than that. "We need to know what Jolene did to her. We can't help her if we don't find out."

Wynonna agreed. "I just don't know how to get her to talk to us. I don't want to push her too much that she shuts us out."

"I'll tell you," Waverly said from the stairs, causing the two women to jump. Neither had heard her coming down.

"Holy Hell Waves, make more noise," Wynonna spoke as she placed a hand on her chest.

Nicole scooted over so Waverly could sit between them. "I'm sorry I left. I thought you had fallen asleep."

Waverly sat down and Nicole and Wynonna exchanged glances as they noticed the dry tear streaks on the younger woman's face. "I was. But I woke up. It's okay."

Waverly didn't offer up any other explanation. She had a nightmare, she thinks. But for some reason she can't even mention it. She remembers it clear as day. Yet it felt too realistic to be a nightmare.

That's because this is a fantasy. This is a dream. Your "nightmare" was reality. You need to face it.

She placed her hand on her heart as she felt the familiar pain. It was starting to linger longer as was the pain in her head every time she heard that voice.

"Hey," Nicole put her hand on Waverly's face, "what happened in the woods?"

Waverly took a deep breath, one that hurt. "I honestly don't remember much. When I woke up I was in the woods and tied to a tree. I remember being kicked and stabbed and then I heard your voice."

"Do you remember who the other person was?" Nicole asked as Wynonna looked on, afraid to say anything for fear of startling her sister.

"Other person?" Waverly questioned. "I don't know who either of them were."