Trigger Warning: Mention of rape.

As soon as Amy stowed away in the house, Ty went in search of his grandfather. He found Jack in the Quonset hut, measuring a post rail for the new gate they were set to put up in one of the pens.
"I think she was assaulted," Ty blurted, causing Jack's head to jerk up and the tape measure to snap back.
"What? Who?" Jack stood up straight, his task momentarily forgotten.
"Amy." Ty rushed, raising his brow. "I think she was assaulted. That's why she's so skittish and reluctant to talk about what happened." It made absolutely perfect sense and he now felt ridiculous and ashamed for his behavior toward her, making unfair accusations and dismissing her as selfish and rude.

"What brought you to this conclusion?" Jack asked, almost suspiciously. Ty could be smart when he applied himself but something had to have happened to have triggered such a severe conclusion.
Ty couldn't help but frown at both the tone and look Jack gave him. "Relax, I didn't push myself on her, I swear. We ran into each other in the barn and she flipped out when I tried to steady her. I've never seen anyone so freaked about bumping into someone before. And then…" Ty paused in his story, his demeanor changing as he recalled the sight of her rocking and shaking on the loft stairs, feeling badly all over again. "It was just such an innocent thing and she was completely shaken up, almost in tears." He shook his head, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow.

"Just take a minute to think about it, Jack," Ty urged, watching his grandfather's mind drift in consideration of the idea.
"Come to think of it, when we were at the clinic yesterday she got flustered filling out paperwork; left most of the family history blank." Between scanning bits of news articles in his paper, Jack was indeed peeking over Amy's lap at the clipboard she held, especially when the gliding of the pen ceased. He hated being a snoop, but was as curious about Amy's past as anyone would be. He wasn't one to ask a lot of prying personal questions when he didn't think any good would come of them. Any time he tried to go down that road Amy was quick to shrink away behind the wall she'd built for herself so he'd taken a less direct approach when the opportunity arose.

"The father's information?" Ty's head cocked. A calculated guess. "And last night when I was… questioning her," he said a little awkwardly, wanting to forget about it, "she said if I thought her being a whore was the worst case scenario then I didn't want to know the truth." As much as Ty didn't want to admit it now, he realized that if he would have pushed her anymore last night he'd have probably created the same situation he stumbled upon on the stairs. But even then he realized there was a line he shouldn't cross. Today had just been an accident, literally, but one that happened to crack open a great mystery weighing on them all.

"You said her father sounded desperate to get her out of the city," Ty continued, working through the facts out loud. "From everything she's said, she never wanted to come, yet here she is anyway because she saw it as her only option – her safest option, as she put it. She's eighteen…probably in university," Jack nodded when Ty looked to him for confirmation.
"So then she must have dropped out when she got pregnant, but if it was just that why move away so far and so quickly?" Ty said slowly, watching the realization dawn in Jack's face just as Ty's theory solidified itself in his own mind.
Jack ran his fingers over his trademark mustache. "Could be she just had a one night fling. You of all people should know how things go at university. Maybe she couldn't handle the humiliation or backlash." His argument wasn't a strong one, but he was trying to exhaust as many potential possibilities before settling on what he knew Ty was thinking.
Ty shook his head. "But that doesn't explain why she's so jumpy and can't handle being touched."
"Maybe she's just like that Mandel guy; the one with that fist bumps everyone because he can't handle the germs." Jack said merely for the sake of argument. "She was pretty hesitant to touch any of the horses."
"But she touches Lobo," Ty countered, "and besides, that doesn't explain the skittishness. You didn't see her before when we ran into each other. She looked… I don't know, like she went somewhere else." Ty couldn't explain it, but all he knew was that he was left with a very uneasy feeling after catching her on the stairs. "No, someone definitely did something to traumatize her and I think it was a man." He looked at Jack, waiting for him to exhaust his debate and just join Ty in his own conclusion about Amy. "Do you think maybe her father was abusive? You said he was a drinker."
Jack shook his head. "No. He could be violent at times when he was in too many but that's one thing he'd never do, especially not to his own daughter. Could have been the baby's father?"
"Maybe," Ty replied, finding the thought plausible. "Would explain why she doesn't want to talk about him. Could be that she doesn't know who he is, though, too," he added after a beat.
"Well now you aren't just talking about assault, Ty." Jack replied just as slowly, watching his grandson shake his head solemnly. "You're talking about rape."
The word crackled through the air like static, hovering ominously between them as they stared at each other for a long, long time. It sunk in then, the real probability that the girl they took in was a victim of such a heinous crime. Reality dawned on them. They had sexual predators come through their program; in fact, there were two currently involved. Only one was an actual convicted rapist but Amy had met him just the day before.

Jack eventually sighed, setting down his tape measure and looking out beyond the yard. "That's a hell of a serious assumption to make. If you're wrong…"
"I really don't think I am, Jack. It's the only thing that makes any real sense." Jack didn't see the look in Amy's eyes. Now Ty was wishing he hadn't, inwardly cringing at his predatory behaviors. He really hadn't meant harm to her – that wasn't in his nature, contrary to what she probably now believed. He just knew from firsthand experience how keeping secrets could destroy so much when they were inevitably going to be revealed anyway. It would save a lot of time, pain, and fighting just to get things out in the open to be addressed so everyone could move on with their lives. But if he drew the correct conclusion, revealing Amy's truth could potentially do some real irreversible damage.
"Even so, I don't think we should confront her about it. Just… let it be and see if it comes out on its own. Which means," he spoke sternly to Ty, trying not to point an accusing finger his way, "no more interrogations from you. You've spooked her enough."
Ty raise his hands in surrender. "No. No, as much as it still bothers me that she's here, I can't ignore what I saw today. I'll leave her alone. I promise. This time I swear it," he added seeing Jack's brow raised rather unconvinced.
"Alright, fine. Where'd she go off to then? I still need her to get acquainted with the hen house."
"Up to the house I think. Probably barricaded herself in her room again."
Jack shot him a look, making Ty step back.
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I'm going up to check on the calves." Ty hiked back to the barn to grab Harley, thinking that distance from Amy was probably better in the literal sense. He couldn't deny he still wasn't pleased with her taking up residence in their house, now even more convinced that Heartland was not the right place for her, but he would keep his word and quit antagonizing her nonetheless now that he was mostly satisfied with their breakthrough. There were still a few things he wanted to know but if they were truly dealing with that he thought, would find it in himself to leave well enough alone for a while.

In the house, Amy slammed her bedroom door shut and leaned against it. In the confines of her temporary bedroom she found some bit of sanctuary. It may not truly be hers but it became familiar enough that she sought comfort in the deep green walls. It had a warmth about it that reminded her of home. Or at least what a home should feel like. It was maternal. Closing her eyes she embraced the calm, allowing it to soothe her aching soul. She took a moment, and a few deep breaths, before pulling herself together enough to wander back through the empty expanse of house to retrieve the cordless phone from the kitchen. After a quick glance outside to see the yard empty save for a few roaming chickens, Amy went into the living room to curl on the couch and play her final Hail Mary.

The phone rang and rang and rang for so long Amy was about to hang up in defeat. She just pulled the phone from her ear when she heard someone say "Hello?"on the other end.

"Lou?" Amy asked quickly replacing the phone.

"Amy? Where are you calling from? I don't recognize the number." Her older sister's voice was loud, undoubtedly trying to talk over whatever noise was in the background. Amy pressed the volume down.

"Where are you? It's so loud." She was hedging, trying to find the right words as quickly as possible to explain her situation to Lou without sounding like she just fell from grace.

"It's New York, babe. This is the default setting. Hang on." The sounds of honking and cars zipping by faded as Lou moved to someplace quieter. "That's better. So what's up?"

Amy shifted on the couch, trying to decide if getting more comfortable would make this conversation any easier. "I just miss you, Lou. I miss talking to you."

"Oh, Amy. I miss you, too. You know you can call me any time and talk. I'm still full of sisterly advice on the other side of the continent." There was a smile in her voice which made a small one flash across Amy's face.

"It's not the same over the phone." Amy's fingers toyed with the tasseled edges of a throw blanket that slipped from the back of the couch into her lap when she sat. "When can I come visit?" The last time Amy saw her sister was when she came back for their mother's funeral which was quite a few years ago now. At the time Lou mentioned having Amy out to New York for a visit, meaning over the holidays and such, but they had yet to make that happen. It was time to collect.

"Oh, well…" Lou sounded blindsided by the question and Amy creased her brow as she listened to a rustling on the other end. "Mmm… I have a big case coming in on a couple weeks and then Cabo in July…" She rambled on to herself as Amy imagined her scrolling through her organizer looking for some place to "pencil in" her own sister. Typical. "Okay, what about August?"

Amy's heart sank as she did the math. "Well, I was-"

"Oh, shoot," Lou cut her off, "I forgot I have that conference in Miami. September?"

"What about now?"

"Now?"

"Yeah. You said your case was in a couple of weeks. What if I came now? Tomorrow." Hope was a powerful thing.

"Tomorrow…" Lou was mumbling again, Amy's hope growing weaker by the second. She knew the answer before her sister uttered it. "It's a little short notice, Amy. I have meetings…"

"You know what, nevermind." Amy didn't mean to sound so irritated but her Hail Mary was about to be fumbled.

"Well, I just…"Lou started.

"It's fine. You're busy. I get it."

"Why the sudden desire to come to New York? You never seemed all that interested when I mentioned it before."

Amy swallowed. She used to be able to tell Lou anything. They shared secrets as sisters did and Lou was always her great book of wisdom. But now Amy balked at confessing her most life-changing secret to the one person she used to trust above all else. They'd been apart for so long, Amy had gotten used to just keeping things to herself and figuring them out on her own.

"I just need a break," was her eventual response.

"How's dad?" Lou asked sympathetically, assuming the usual. Any time Amy called in the past it was because their father was on another bender or got himself in another scrape with the law. He'd been lucky in that department as of late, but Amy wasn't sure for how much longer. At this point, she could care less.

"I don't know. He and I aren't exactly talking right now." Amy replied, closing her eyes and taking a breath. "He stuck me on a bus and sent me to Alberta."

"Alberta? What the hell for?"

"That's…kind of the reason we're not talking right now."

"Where are you?" Lou finally realized that was why her caller ID showed a strange number when Amy called.

"Some ranch called Heartland. I don't even know how he knew about this place. It's way out here. But it's kind of why I'm calling you. I was… hoping I could come out and stay for a while." Amy hesitated with her request, afraid of her sister pushing her for more information. She had every right to seek answers, but Amy was hoping she'd be in New York before she had to lay everything out on the table. She wanted the security of a safe environment and familiar face before she bore her soul.

"Lou? Hello?" Her sister was unbearably quiet.

Lou took in a breath on the other line after an uncomfortable moment. "He sent you to Heartland? What did you do?"

Amy was startled. "How do you know about this place?"

Lou ignored her. "What did you do, Amy?"
Growing frustrated, Amy nearly yelled into the phone. "How do you know about this place?!"

Lou sighed, realizing she wasn't going to get an answer unless she offered Amy one first. "Before you were born, dad spent some time in jail for dealing. He always talked about getting into some program where he could spend a few days a week getting out in the countryside and working with wild mustangs. He said if it weren't for Heartland he probably never would have made it out alive."

Amy was gripping the phone like a lifeline. So Jack knew her father after all. He'd been one of the inmates working the ranch years ago. Did that mean he knew Jack's daughter Lily too? She'd have been alive back then. Ty maybe just a baby, or not even born yet. Amy's head spun with this new information.

"Amy? Hello? Answer me." Lou demanded, snapping Amy out of her thoughts.

"Why wouldn't he tell me that?" She asked, more to herself. She didn't understand why Tim would think it was better for her to assume she was being sent to stay with complete strangers than for him to admit he'd been incarcerated on this ranch. Amy knew her father had been arrested a few times, but never knew about his prison sentence. He'd spent plenty of nights in the drunk tank and even a few days at the local jail when their mother was fed up and decided to punish him by taking her time to bail him out. Besides, it wasn't like he was a model citizen for most of the time Amy knew him. Prison didn't surprise her in the slightest; but the fact that he ended up at Heartland of all places did.

Lou huffed. "Please, just tell me what happened."

Amy closed her eyes, trying to formulate the words. They lodged deep in her throat and refused to budge, drawing out the silence to an uncomfortable measure. "I'd really rather not talk about it over the phone," she answered eventually, her eyes lowering to her lap. She could feel Lou's frustration from the other side of the country.

"Amy, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. If you're in legal trouble, or criminal-"

"If I were do you think I'd be calling you so openly? I'm not here because I committed a crime." Although that's awfully what it felt like. "It's nothing like that, I promise. I just needed a place to stay for a while but… well you know about this place. They can't accommodate me for long. Which was why I was hoping… I could come out to stay with you."

"Accommodate you how? It's a rehabilitation ranch. I don't even understand why you are there if you're not in trouble."

Amy swallowed. "Please. Just let me come out and I will explain everything, I promise."

"You'll tell me now or I will hang up this phone," Lou's authoritative maternal voice kicked in, making Amy suck in a breath. She wouldn't really do that. Their father had but Amy didn't really believe her sister would. Still…

Her fingers gripped a handful of blanket. "I'm pregnant, Lou."

There was a beat and then, "Jesus, Amy…"

"Dad… thought I needed more help than he could give me. I'm not sure he was entirely sober when he decided Heartland was the place for me," she paused, waiting for a response.

"What about the father?"

Amy's gut twisted. She should have known that question was coming since she obviously didn't get pregnant all by herself. "He's… gone." She hoped. "Please, Lou. I will get a job. Help pay bills. Anything you want."

A sigh. "Amy… I'm not sure it's a good idea."

Tension burned behind Amy's eyes as her heart once again sank deep into her gut. "You can't possibly think this is a good situation for me?" What the hell was wrong with her family? They all had a skewed definition of safety and security. So much for the unwavering support system.

"Flying across the country in your condition can't be a good idea either. Talk to Dad. I'm sure you guys can work something out until you can get on your feet. I'll send you some money if you need it."

"I don't want your money, Lou. Dad already washed his hands of me. That's why I'm here. I need you. Please. You're my sister." Amy's hope was floundering. She was drowning in rejection, fighting to hold herself together.

"And I love you. So does Dad. Call him. Try again."

"So is this what family is now? Brushing the tough situations under the rug? You and him are more alike than you'd dare to admit." Anger seeped between the cracks of despair. She wanted so badly to slam down the phone, but this was her last remaining tether to hope. Except it was fraying at an alarming rate.

"I'm sorry, sis. I will help however I can. I have to go. I'm late for work."

"Then let me come stay with you!" Amy was almost yelling again, her voice pitched with desperation. It was just like Lou to choose work over family. She did it before when she left their dying mother to go to New York and pursue her stupid business degree.

"You can call me anytime. I'll send money out when I can. Take care, Amy." The tether snapped.

"Lou! Wait! Don't hang up! Please. Lou." She was yelling at a dial tone. Quickly, she pressed redial. The phone went to voicemail. So much for 'call me anytime.' "Please, call me back. Lou. Please." She left a feeble message, then dropped her hand into her lap, tears breaking loose and dropping onto her hand.

Another dose of reality seeped in as she sat utterly alone on the sofa, feeling sick and hopeless. There was no one left. It really was just her and the baby now. The two of them against the world. A world Amy had no desire to be in but was ultimately left with no choice.

A bubble of rage burst and she flung the phone across the room. It smashed into the grate of the fireplace, the back snapped off and batteries sprung out littering the floor. It helped for a millisecond before a sob shook her and she dropped her head into her hands. It was time to admit defeat and confront her fate that was standing in the doorway of the living room.

A/N: Miss me?! I can't promise any new quick and consistent updates, but I've been having spurts of muse for this story over the last… forever. Never long enough to get it done and ready for posting in a timely manner, but enough to keep pecking away at it. To those who are still following this story, thank you for your continued support even when I am killing you with these excessive waits between chapters. And to the newbies who are just finding this story... take your time reading, it may be a while for your next fix. ;) Love you all and thank you for the continued reviews and praise. I'm glad you are all still rooting for this one.