4 Days Later:

"We have to start thinking about our next steps."

Becky, Charlotte, and Sasha were currently in the second room while Bayley completed her third therapy session. She was still struggling through them, but she was at least a willing participant during them, which was better than it had been for the first two sessions.

"I know. Hunter is expecting us back at work in two days. We still have to figure out Bayley….and us. She is nowhere near ready to be left alone or go back to work," said Becky, running a hand through her wavy reddish orange hair.

"And we need to figure out Batista. That Bastard needs to die for everything he did to Bayley," said Sasha, glaring as she said his name.

Charlotte shook her head, sighing. "Is it bad that I just want to protect her from everything? That I just want to keep her in this hotel room forever until she's better?"

"She might never get better if we do that," muttered Sasha, falling backwards on the bed. "How are we even going to get her to leave the room? She hasn't left since...since she saw him out that day."

"I don't know, talk to the therapist? See if she has any ideas? We need to figure it out by tomorrow at the latest. We're supposed to be at Raw day after tomorrow...and technically, so is Bayley."

A knock on the door snapped them all out of their conversation, Charlotte standing up to answer it, smiling as the therapist walked in.

"Is everything okay? Is Bayley okay?" asked Charlotte, the therapist nodding.

"Yeah, Bayley is fine. She talked today and I think she's making a little bit of progress. I just wanted to check in with you guys and make sure that you guys were seeing progress with her as well when I'm not here."

"Oh...um...actually, it's a good thing you're here because we did want to talk to you about something…." said Becky, sighing. "We're supposed to be back at work on Monday...and so is Bayley, technically. It's been two weeks. We're not really sure how to...do that, right now, with her…"

The therapist nodded, contemplating the situation. "Yeah. I don't think that she's ready for that either. My suggestion would be to talk to her about it, tell her that it's happening, and see about her being able to take extended leave for now given what's going on. She is just starting to open about things, but right now it's very minimal and the progress she's making is very small. It's going to take time to reintroduce her to normal life. I'll keep working with her through skype like we talked about but it's just gonna take some time."

"And travel? She hasn't left this hotel room in two weeks…"

"She can. She will. Especially if you guys are with her. Just take small steps with her, okay? She can handle a lot more than you think. Make sure she knows what's happening ahead of time and try to prepare her the best you can. And I will too during our sessions.

The trio continued their conversation with the therapist, surprised that Bayley hadn't freaked out about being left alone in the room for so long. As soon as the therapist left, Sasha bolted to the other room; panic rising through her when she noticed Bayley was not in the room.

"What the- where the hell did she go?!"

Charlotte and Becky came running in, scanning the room. "Holy shit," muttered Becky, fear rising through her.

And then all three of them stopped dead in their tracks when they heard the shower running.

"Is she…..is she actually taking a shower? On her own?" asked Charlotte, a smile quickly appearing on her lips at the thought.

"Oh, thank God," muttered Sasha, falling onto the couch, sighing in relief. "Maybe her therapist was right. Maybe she is making progress…." said Becky, Sasha nodding at the thought.

"I hope so."

Sasha offered Bayley a gentle smile upon exiting the bathroom; both Becky and Charlotte having run out to go get some food for dinner; all three of them praying beyond belief that maybe Bayley would actually eat tonight.

Bayley's thick brown hair was still down, wearing one of Sasha's oversized Legit Boss T-shirt and a pair of loose sweatpants. Her eyes were still hesitant, shy even, but she still returned Sasha's smile.

"Hey, pretty girl. Come over here," said Sasha, opening her arms for Bayley, the older woman sighing before settling down in her friend's lap, Sasha wrapping her arms around Bayley.

"I love you so, so, much, sweet girl," whispered Sasha, placing a kiss to Bayley's covered shoulder. Bayley shrugged, ducking her head.

"It was just a shower, Sash," whispered Bayley, but even she knew what Sasha saw; progress. She had successfully made it through an entire shower on her own without once freaking out.

Progress.

And maybe, eventually, she hoped, other things would just happen like the shower did and things would start to go back to normal. Maybe.

"You know I think we need to talk, my love, about what we're gonna do next," said Sasha, gently stroking back Bayley's still wet hair.

Bayley nodded, leaning in to Sasha's touch. "I know," she stated simply, closing her eyes.

"Hello?"

Bayley looked up as Charlotte and Becky entered the room, carrying a couple bags of food. Sasha squeezed her a little tighter, placing a kiss to her hair. "You think you can try eating tonight?" whispered Sasha, Bayley glancing down at her fingers, knowing how proud Sasha had been that she had simply showered on her own, but knowing how much it hurt still to mix food with the anxiety that constantly sat in the pit of her stomach.

"Bayley, baby, please don't make me have to force you to eat something tonight, love. Please? Please, try?" begged Sasha, Bayley chewing on her bottom lip, tears forming in her eyes…

"Hey, Bay? We brought some sushi and miso soup….your favorite…." offered Becky, setting the food out on the coffee table.

Bayley glanced at Sasha, struggling with the anxiety rolling deep throughout her entire stomach as she stared at the food on the table. Just a couple bites. Just try to take a couple bites.

She could hear it, that voice inside of her, telling her, screaming at her, telling her to stop being crazy and just eat the food herself. It doesn't matter, Either you eat or Sasha shoves it down your throat….it doesn't matter. You're going to have to eat it either way.

"Baylz?"

It wasn't until she felt Charlotte's hand touching her cheek that Bayley realized she was crying. Tears streaming freely down her cheek. Just shy of sobbing.

"Oh, honey. Oh, sweetheart. Come here, baby. Come here, love," whispered Sasha, pulling Bayley back to her, holding her tightly against her, rocking her gently.

"I can't. I can't, Sasha. I can't eat. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" cried Bayley, choking on her sobs as she cried.

"Baby, it's been 36 hours since we've made you eat anything...you have to, love," whispered Sasha, wanting to cry herself. She hated forcing Bayley to do anything. And right now it was breaking her heart even more because she had showered by herself. She had showered by herself and yet, here she was, still refusing to eat….and Sasha had no idea why.

Charlotte grimaced at the idea, wondering if shoving food down Bayley's throat was making her better or worse. Tonight she worried that it would make it worse. Tonight Bayley had had a breakthrough with that shower. Would she even recognize that if they did this to her tonight?

"Come on Bay, you gotta eat, love. You gotta eat honey. I'm sorry," whispered Sasha, Bayley letting out an ear piercing scream as Sasha shifted in her arms, Charlotte handing her a piece of Sushi.

"Come on baby, just a piece, come on," said Sasha, Bayley struggling in her friend's grip, thrashing her body around, as Sasha shoved the sushi towards her mouth, Charlotte helping to pry Bayley's mouth open as Sasha forced it in.

Bayley sobbed, choking on the fish and rice as Sasha placed her hand over her mouth, not allowing her to spit it out.

"Chew and swallow, Bay. Chew and swallow," whispered Sasha, Charlotte handing her another piece of sushi.

"At least four pieces, baby. It's been too long," muttered Sasha, placing a kiss to her distraught friend's hair.

Bayley continued to sob, choking through her tears and on the food as Sasha and Charlotte continued to force her to eat, Bayley gagging on the fish and the anxiety that was now coursing through her entire body.

"Stop. Please, stop," cried Bayley as she chewed the second piece. "Please. I showered. I took a shower! Please, stop doing this to me!" cried Bayley, moaning in agony, the pain in her stomach almost too much to bear….

Charlotte closed her eyes, wanting so badly to just be done with it. She was too upset about it tonight. There was too much pain in her eyes over it tonight….Charlotte couldn't handle it.

"Okay, darling. Okay, no more," whispered Charlotte, Sasha sighing. Though it didn't matter. She was feeling the same way. Bayley had made progress with that shower. And she and Charlotte probably just ruined it with forcing her to eat tonight.

As soon as Sasha released her grip, Bayley ran over to the bed, collapsing onto it as she buried her face into the pillow, sobbing unrelentlessly, continuously gagging now. And all three girls worried that she would actually make herself sick tonight.

Becky went over to her, silently sitting down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to rub her friend's back.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry," she whispered, patting her gently in hopes of getting her to stop gagging so much.

Bayley tried to speak, but couldn't. Instead she continued to cry harder and harder, Becky now lying down next to her, continuing to rub her back, concern rolling through her as she realized that the depth of the crying was not slowing down.

"Try and breathe, Bayley. Slow down just a little, honey, okay? Nice deep breaths," continued Becky, keeping her voice soft and gentle, rubbing her hand all over Bayley's back.

Bayley moaned as she started coming back down, clutching at her stomach as she rolled onto her side, whimpering as she tried to get closer to Becky. Becky gently helped her pull herself closer, Bayley clutching at her pants.

"What is it, Bay? What's wrong?" whispered Becky, gently stroking her friend's hair. "Is your stomach hurting, baby?" she asked, Bayley nodding weakly.

And Becky thought she might just murder Charlotte and Sasha for not listening when Bayley told them that in the first place. Damn fools.

Sasha watched the scene unfold, quietly walking into the other room and shutting the door. She allowed herself to fall to the ground quietly, burying her face in her hands as she cried.

It was always her causing Bayley pain. It was always her hurting her. Just like it had been her who left her that night.