Georgie ran out into the living room. She put on her shoes and made her way out of the house toward Amy and Ty's loft. Georgie knocked and called out. "Amy? Ty? Are you guys up?" She walked to the top of the stairs. "Amy? Ty?"

"Hey...Georgie, what's wrong?" Ty said, getting up.

"Georgie, what is it?" Amy asked, concerned. "Everything okay?"

"No! No, it's Lou. She's gone—she hasn't come home since last night and she's left her phone at home, so I can't even contact her," Georgie answered in a fury.

"What time?" Amy asked, getting upset.

"The texts said about nine pm."

Amy breathed out. That was right after they had their fight. "Texts—who was she texting?"

"Her boyfriend," Georgie answered.

"Her what!? She never told—"

"No, Amy listen. There's a reason. He's abusive— he's scary and controlling and he hurts her... Not just physically. Yesterday, I saw them talking at the house. He left when I came down, but Lou was frantic. I asked if he was hurting her, and she outright said no. I believed her then, thinking I just got the wrong idea, but I caught sight of a bruise, and it was obvious what had happened to her."

"He's...he's abusing her?" Amy stuttered in disbelief. No wonder Lou had been so agitated for the last couple of weeks….or had it been even longer? Amy couldn't remember.

"From the texts, it looks like she went to break up with him, but...she's obviously not back yet. He might not have let her, or….what do we do?"

"We need to call the hospital," Ty decided.

"What?!" Amy and Georgie both exclaimed at once.

Ty looked at them. "Look, she's been gone since last night. We have no idea where she is...anything could have happened. What else do we do?"

Georgie opened the phone app on her mother's phone, which she had brought with her from the house. Her fingers shook as she punched in the numbers and she put her mom's cell phone to her ear.

While the phone was ringing, her heart was beating like it had never before. The receptionist picked up on the third ring. Georgie began, "Hi, I'd like to know if Lou Fleming has been admitted here...I have reason to believe she may hurt."

"Who is this speaking?" A brisk voice said back.

"I'm her daughter, Georgie Fleming Morris."

"Alright hun, I'll check for you," said the voice on the other end, now softened.

Georgie waited and waited for what seemed like forever. The receptionist came back on the line. "Yes, she's been admitted here."

"She was!? What happened to her?" Georgie exclaimed, her voice panicked.

"She came in with some gashes on her abdomen and cuts and bruises all over her body. My colleagues believe it may have been a domestic violence case…"

Georgie tensed up. She breathed in sharply. "You're right, it is. Um, is she going to be alright?"

"Yes, she's stable now. Nothing to worry about at this stage."

"Can I come and see her?"

"Of course."

Georgie switched off the phone, her eyes brimmed with tears. "I was right. She's hurt, Amy! The nurse said she has gashes on her stomach and cuts and bruises and—"

"Okay, Georgie. It's okay. I'll go with you," Ty answered.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I need to get dressed and I'll be out in a minute. Amy, you should go back to the house and look after Katie," Ty said.

"Yeah, I will. I will." Amy nodded.

In less than ten minutes, Ty and Georgie were out the door. They climbed into Ty's truck and were on their way to Cross Bow Hospital.

Ty was concerned how Georgie would react when she saw her mother injured like that. It reminded him of his childhood, always being worried, always being angry. He shook his head slightly to rid himself of those memories. He wasn't prepared to see Lou like that. He always saw his sister-in-law as a strong woman...this was so different and he was uneasy and unsettled. He didn't want to re-live it all, but he owed it to his niece to come with her.

Ty looked over at Georgie. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Georgie said rigidly.

"Okay, well, just brace yourself. And know that your mom is way stronger than she will look. She won't just fall apart, okay?" Ty explained.

"Ty, I know. It's just...this is all my fault."

"Georgie, come on. You need to stop blaming yourself for everything—"

"No, Ty, listen. It is. If I hadn't tried convincing her to go and end things with him, she never would've gone last night. She would've stayed home and right now she'd be unscathed. If it weren't for me."

"No, Georgie, just stop. Okay? Blaming yourself won't do anything. But you know what? Now we need to promise ourselves that we'll take care of her, and to make her feel safe and loved."

"I know, and I promise."

They arrived in Lou's room. She was awake, but she didn't look like it. Ty saw her entire face was badly bruised, her arms the same. She didn't look like herself. Ty turned back to Georgie and told her to stay in the hall a minute while he spoke to Lou. He gently knocked on the door.

Lou was lying on her back, facing the wall. When she heard the knock, she titled her head back. Her eyes went wide. "Ty, what are you doing here? How'd you know I—"

Ty answered. "Lou, it's okay. We called into the hospital, and turned out you were really here. Just a lucky guess."

Lou closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again. "I didn't want you seeing me like this. It's not fair."

Ty spoke, "So you weren't going to tell us? You were just going to hide away here while we went crazy trying to look for you?"

"Ty, who else knows?"

"Amy...she knows…" Ty said hesitantly, not sure whether or not he should tell Lou all the details of that morning. He paused a moment, and then said, "Lou, why didn't you call any of us? We could've been here in a second!"

"No, I couldn't, okay?"

"Lou, that's ridiculous. We're your family! Fine, if you didn't want to tell Georgie or Amy, you could've called me! I'd have been here in no time!" Ty explained.

"Ty, that is so sweet, but look at me. I mean, it's not fair to you." Lou said sadly.

"What's happened in my past, it's long over. My mom is in a good space now...and it wouldn't affect my ability to cope with your situation. But please, don't hide such things from your family. Georgie went ballistic when she found those messages on your phone, and when she found your room empty." Ty spoke reasonably.

"She knows!?" Lou tried sitting up, but with difficulty.

Ty moved forward to help her sit up. "Yeah, she does know. In fact, she's here right now." Ty turned slightly, and called out, "Georgie?"

Georgie came into view, and Lou's eyes focused on her tiny frame. "Georgie," she breathed out. "Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

"Mom, I'm here to see you."

"Ty, please take her home," Lou said immediately.

Georgie had been inching closer to Lou, but as soon as her mother said these words, she stopped in her tracks. She didn't know whether or not she should keep going or just stop right there. She hovered a moment.

"Yes, of course. We just came to make sure everything was...settled now. That you weren't in any immediate danger." Looking to Georgie, he continued, "Georgie, let's go."

"No," Georgie said stubbornly. "I'm not going."

"Georgie." Lou breathed out weakly. "Please go. I'll be home tomorrow. I promise."

"No! If Warren comes here looking for you...then what? What's going to happen then? He might hurt you again."

Lou wasn't going to win this. "Ty, please."

Ty nodded. "Okay, we'll be going. Come on, Georgie."

Georgie looked back at her mother a moment. She was about to say bye, but then decided against it. Lou was clearly shaken up and she might not reply in the way Georgie would want her to.

When they left the room, Lou could finally allow herself to cry. Warren made her feel worthless with the way he treated her, with the way he spoke to her sometimes, as if she were a mere toy that was at his disposal. Now, her brother-in-law, and her daughter had driven across town just to see if she was okay. They made her feel loved, they made her feel worth something….but she had hurried them away in the a vain attempt to keep them from seeing this side of her. They already knew what was going on with her, Georgie had probably filled Ty in. Everyone would soon find out, so really, there was so point in hiding. But the embarrassment she'd have to face...the stares and questioning looks she'd have to answer to….Lou wasn't sure if she could do it. Yes, this was her family, and she had nothing to hide from them, but she didn't want them seeing her differently. But then again, at this point, they had already seen through the facade, and Lou was too tired to keep it up.

Georgie and Ty drove home, and as soon as they arrived at the ranch, Georgie went in and ran up the stairs to her room. She was beside herself with grief and she was so afraid of what was happening. This had never happened before, and she didn't know how to deal with it, or how to react. She was worried for her mom; after seeing her in the hospital bed, weak and vulnerable, Georgie couldn't get rid of the feeling of insecurity, not knowing if her mom would be okay or not, not knowing when things would get better.

Georgie picked up her phone and dialled Peter. He picked up on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Dad? Dad…" Georgie cried out, unable to control her tears.

"Georgie!? Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Dad, I—it's mom…." Georgie stuttered.

"Sweetheart, calm down and talk to me. Is your mom okay?" Peter asked, the worry evident in his voice.

"No! She's not. She—she got hurt really badly! Someone she's seeing—they hurt her."

"What!? How bad is it, Georgie?"

"Dad, I'm not sure...but there's an injury on her forehead, some bruises…I...that's all I can think of right now."

Georgie heard Peter sigh heavily. "Is your mom awake right now?"

"Yes, she is. They say she's stable. Dad, please come home. Mom needs you. I need you."

"Sweetheart, I'll be there as soon as I can. I promise."

"Okay. Dad, I love you."

"I love you honey. Bye."

"Bye."