A/N: Hey guys! I am so sorry about this long wait; I saw your sweet messages asking me to upload and I've been struggling with writer's block, but I figured I should give it a shot for you guys. You've all been so supportive and I feel so lucky that I'm writing something you guys are enjoying. So please review as much as you can and I will be back with more soon. Enjoy xo

Georgie was sitting on a chair beside Lou's bed, playing a game on her phone. Lou observed her. She seemed different from her normal self. She was obviously shaken up by seeing Lou like this...she looked like she was playing the game, but not completely concentrating on it.

Only a few hours ago was Lou lying in the OR, unsure of whether or not she'd make it home to her kids. Lou remembered closing her eyes for the last time, terrified she wouldn't wake up again. But she'd made it, thank goodness, and her daughters still had their mother. God, I love them so much it hurts.

Now, here she was, sitting a mere few feet away from her eldest. Yes, her head was killing her, and her other injuries limited her movement, but she was glad to be in the same room as Georgie. Looking at Georgie, and being reminded of Katie as well, Lou felt the sudden need to protect them both, from anything and everything. But right now, she was afraid if that was even in her control or not. Wanting to forget about this worry, for even a moment, she tried starting up some conversation with Georgie. "How was school today?" Lou asked her daughter.

"It was okay. Same old," Georgie replied quickly, seemingly immersed in her game.

They quieted for a moment, and then Georgie suddenly turned the game off, and put her phone away. "I...uh, brought you a change of clothes and some other things you might need for tonight. Oh, and your phone. You left it at home last night," Georgie said as she reached into her jacket pocket. She brought it out and handed it over to Lou.

"Oh...thanks sweetie." Lou looked at her daughter. "Did you…" Lou trailed off, worried Georgie had seen something else… Lou quickly turned on the 'Find my iPhone' app, and clicked on Warren's icon. His last known location was from last night. It read somewhere just North-West of Hudson. He must've turned off his GPS when he got on the road...Lou figured he was headed to Jasper. He must be at Eastwood.

"There was a message notification, and it was from him, and so I checked the messages, or else I wouldn't have mom, I promise."

"Sweetie, it's fine, okay?"

Georgie nodded. "Yeah, so then I scrolled up and saw you'd texted because you wanted to talk...and…" Georgie sighed. "Lou, you promised me you'd do it somewhere there were a lot of people. What—what happened to that?"

Lou knew this was the one thing she'd ask. She sighed, switching her phone off. "Sweetheart, I just saw you so upset and unhinged by everything, by the bruises...by having that encounter with him...and then after dinner, Amy and I had this huge fight and I was in a really bad space, and I did not want to wait until the next day, or—I'd go crazy. In the rush, I completely forgot about what you said. It was only when I got into the elevator in his building that I remembered, and then I didn't have my phone on me—" Lou held it up, "So I couldn't even cancel."

"I guess that makes sense," Georgie said thoughtfully.

Lou observed Georgie. She looked like she was about to say something else, but thought better of it. "What is it, honey?"

Georgie shook her head. "It's nothing. I shouldn't ask."

"Come on, now you have to. What is it?"

"Fine. When I came down yesterday, and you were standing there with Warren...I noticed you looked really scared. And I know he's a monster, but it all looked so momentary, like something had just happened. So...what did he do? Because mom, you looked terrified."

Lou shook her head. "Georgie…"

"Okay, okay, it's fine. You don't have to say," Georgie said hurriedly, worried she'd upset Lou. Maybe he had said something that Lou would rather forget altogether.

"I just don't want to burden you…" Lou said as she subconsciously brought her hand to just above her collarbone, where he had brought his hands and choked her.

Georgie realized exactly what that meant, and immediately she spoke. "Are you serious?" She let out an incredulous breath. "Because wow, okay...so—so he had the courage to stand in our home and attack my mother while I was under the same roof...? How dare that vile, disgusting little—"

"Georgie," Lou warned.

Georgie was tense now. "Mom, you need to tell the police where he is right now!"

"What? Georgie, how would I—"

"Lou, don't do that. I'm sure you know."

"Sweetie, listen to me carefully. If I tell the police where he is, he will know exactly who tipped them off. And he will be back here—"

"He'll be in jail, actually. And you will be safe! There's no need to be scared!" Georgie tried to convince Lou.

"Fine. He goes to jail, and then a year or two years go by, and he gets back out. Then what?"

"Mom, he's going to be charged heavily, okay? Jail time will set him straight. And obviously, once he's out, he won't be allowed anywhere near you," Georgie reasoned.

"Georgie, stop."

"Why?"

"I can't say anything. It's the only way to keep you and your sister safe."

"Mom, look at you!" The volume of Georgie's voice was rising. "If that guy hadn't come in, if he hadn't called for help, you would've been dead! Mom, you could've died, leaving us all behind because you were too afraid to speak up, to ask for help! There are people here who are willing to help, whose job it is to help and protect you, and you're pushing all that away!? Mom, I swear to you, he can't touch you once the police are on our side. Please!"

Lou was silent.

"And now you won't even say anything," Georgie breathed out, releasing her frustrations. "Do—do you think that you being attacked is keeping Katie and I safe? Or you being stabbed and rushed into the ER at all hours of the night is keeping us safe? The only way your daughters will ever be safe is if you are safe! Mom, we need you to be strong, okay...? I have never seen you like this, so defeated, so passive…" Georgie said, her voice quieting. "Lou, whenever Katie and I get hurt, you rush to us, forgetting anything and everything you were just dealing with. You defend us at every chance you get, making sure that no one wrongs us. You protect us so fiercely, and I need you to do the same for yourself now."

"Sweetie…" Lou said tiredly, "There's so much that you don't know about him, so much that I don't know...I can't risk anyone's safety."

Georgie had no idea where Lou's fear and anxiety was coming from. She had to make Lou see from her perspective. She walked over and sat at Lou's bedside. Taking Lou's hand in hers, she spoke, "Mom, I'm sure there are so many good reasons to stay quiet, to just hide away. But without any leads, the police are going to forget about this case, and Warren is going to get away with this. And yes, I get that you don't want him getting angry and coming after us, but we will be in much more danger if he's not even in police custody. Mom, don't let him scare you like this. You need to let the police handle him, and we need to act fast, or else he really will get away. And you can't just let him get away," Georgie finished.

Lou looked at Georgie, amazed at how mature and grown up she'd become this past year. Watching her like this made Lou's heart glow with pride. Smiling, she said, "When did you get to be so grown up?"

Georgie laughed suddenly. It felt good to laugh after this long ordeal she'd just been through. After all she had just said about being strong, not letting their fears get to them, and not letting Warren get away with it, Lou had just said the most mom-thing ever, completely missing out on what she'd meant to convey. "Mom, you're missing the point!"

Lou laughed gently. "No, no I get it. I do, sweetheart, I really do, but I'm afraid...what if it all goes terribly wrong?"

"I'm scared too. But it will be so much worse if we don't do anything about it at all."

Lou thought a moment. She sighed, giving in. "Okay, okay, you're right. I will tell the police. I promise."

"Oh my god, you have no idea how relieved I am," Georgie said, a smile on her face.

Lou put a loving hand to Georgie's cheek. "Oh, honey, you and me both."