A/N: Hey guys! I'm doing this much the same as I did with the first four parts, these next four will all be up by the time the next episode airs! I've literally just finished writing each part after some struggling! I know a lot of you want me to ignore the show and do my own thing so I'm trying to strike a balance between the two! I initially wrote this to fix that episode, and to be honest, I don't think I'm smart enough to completely break loose from the show, I don't think I'd be able to write any of the mystery or the A business because frankly I have no truly decent theories I could convincingly write! SO, there's gonna be a mix of scenes from the show still, but I'm trying to throw in a few of my own! Hope this next chapter is okay! (Nobody kill me but I may or may not have accidentally cut Toby out in favour of Mona...)
"Are you freaking insane?!" Mona screeched at him down the phone. He'd decided to call and give Mona an update on what had been happening, he figured someone should keep her in the loop. He sighed.
"No. But Hanna said she needed to do this"
"Hanna needs a lot of things, but none of them are a visit to crazy town with Dr. Creepy" she seethed. Caleb glanced through the window of the Brew to check on Hanna. The three girls had decided to stop for some much needed caffeine. He could tell Hanna was nervous being in a place with that many people, but she was trying her best not to show it. Caleb suspected Hanna making Ali her priority had as much to do with what Hanna was going through as it did with her friendship with Alison. He watched as Emily peeled off and headed in the direction of a blonde haired girl. Interesting.
"Are you even listening to me?!" Mona raged.
"Yeah, look I gotta go, just do some digging of your own okay?" he cut off Mona's outraged cry as he ended the call. He glanced up at Hanna again, then smiling to himself, he started to type.
Hanna's phone beeped. She really hoped it wasn't Jordan or…worse. She pulled it out, unlocked the screen and read the text.
The coffee isn't the only hot thing in the brew ;)
She fought the smile that wanted to erupt across her face.
Wow, cheesy much? She typed one handed.
Just wanted to make you smile. Go on. I know you want to :)
She felt a hand on her arm and jumped, saw it was only Aria and tried to play it off.
"Are you okay?" Aria asked quietly.
"Please don't ask me that"
"Look, I don't wanna push-" Aria tried.
"And I appreciate that"
"We where all in the dollhouse, I know what you're going through" Hanna appreciated Aria trying to be there for her, really she did, but the dollhouse was nothing like what she'd been through. The dollhouse….that was all mental. This…this had been…
"It's not the same" she'd been handling the people fine, she was with her friends. But with Aria's one comment, she could feel the memories crowding in, she needed to get out, away from all these strangers.
"Um, can you just order me a latte, I'll be outside" Hanna retreated heading for Caleb, she'd meant it when she had said she always felt safe with him, and that was still true now. She'd been determined to come on this trip, to prove that she could, but the thought of being with her friends hadn't been enough. She'd needed Caleb and the sense of safety he gave her, to even make it out the door. She was proud she'd lasted that long in the Brew, but she knew that was down to the fact Caleb was watching her like a hawk through the window. She approached him at a swift pace, he must have seen her coming because he was moving to meet her. He stopped right in front of her, invading her personal space, and he gently took hold of her shoulders.
"What happened?"
"Nothing"
"Hanna" he said slowly. In that tone. The "tell me now or I'll bug you until you do" tone.
"Seriously, it's nothing, there was just…just so many people. It was hot in there" she knew it was a lame excuse, and she knew Caleb knew too. But she didn't want to appear weak. Useless. Broken. Caleb sighed, he knew pushing Hanna at this stage wasn't going to get him anywhere, he needed to give her time and wait until she was ready to talk.
"You sure you're okay right now?" Hanna nodded, and Caleb carefully pulled her in to a brief hug. He'd have liked for it to have lasted longer, but Hanna was pulling away before he was even ready to let go. But she still stayed closer to him than she needed to be. Caleb watched Aria order and collect the coffees and as she and Emily started to make their way out of the Brew, Caleb murmured to Hanna.
"You still want to do this? Not too late to back out, I'll say I have cramps or something" he tried to joke and was pleased when Hanna rolled her eyes at him and responded.
"You can't get cramps. You guys get your man-periods with all the dramatics and moodiness but none of the pain. It's not fair" Caleb laughed.
"Hey, I made chocolate runs at ridiculous times of the day and night, I suffered too!" Hanna snorted. It wasn't a full laugh, but he'd take it. "Hanna, about last night…"
"Look, Caleb, I was scared okay and-"
"Do not give me the same spiel you gave me before to explain away our kiss, because both you and I know it's bullshit" Hanna narrowed her eyes at him.
"It's the truth"
"Yeah…in an alternate dimension. Not in this one" Caleb slowly slinked closer to her, until he was looking down in to her eyes and she was inches away from him. "You broke up with Jordan, and last night-"
"Last night was a moment of weakness okay. Stop making it sound like it was more than just…just a…extended hug. And that reminds me, you can't go around listening in to my conversations. If someone was in there with me I'd just freaking scream okay, not have a chat with them about….about….whatever" Caleb smirked. Hanna glared.
"It's okay Han, I know you need time and I'm willing to be patient…I'd do anything for you…" He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Princess" Hanna flushed.
"Caleb I told you-" She was cut off by Aria and Emily returning and Caleb couldn't resist giving her a look of triumph. He'd totally won this round. He knew Hanna would freak after last night, Jordan may be safely out of harms way but he wasn't, and Caleb knew she would do her best to keep him at arms length in an attempt to keep him safe, conveniently forgetting he was already involved. Hanna really should know better by now. But Caleb meant it. He'd wait, he'd be there for her, and eventually, things would be back to the way they should have been. But for now….patience. As the girls turned and headed off to Welby, Caleb fell in to step next to Hanna, she glared and he was fairly certain she muttered something about him being a prison guard. He smiled, he loved this side of Hanna, and he loved that she was making an appearance, even after everything.
Caleb had been next to Hanna the entire time they where at Welby, he'd seen her quick look of panic when the other doctor called for Rollins to be brought to Alison's room but he couldn't tell if it was panic for their plan or at the possibility that the she was about to come face to face with her potential kidnapper. He'd stood protectively beside her when Rollins entered the room and he really hadn't liked the look Rollins had given the girls, he'd wanted to reach for Hanna's hand but he had a feeling she'd bat him away. The entire time they where in the room he'd felt like something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on what, and then Dr. Creepy, to steal Mona's name for him, had given the girls that look. If Caleb really thought about it….the looked he'd seen in Rollins' eyes? Triumph. The girls plus Caleb, had re-treated back to Hanna's apartment to wait for Spencer, and it hadn't been long until she'd arrived and been filled in on what she'd missed. Turns out she had some news of her own, predictably, Jason was blissfully ignorant of the whole Alison situation. You'd think the guy would get off his ass and come and help his sister out. Caleb shook his head.
"He must have known we where at the hospital and sedated Alison so she couldn't talk.
"That would explain the vibe I got, I felt like something was off…she wasn't right." Caleb joined the conversation, and they all looked at each other grimly.
"Has Toby looked in to Elliott and Mary?" Emily asked Spencer. Caleb looked over at Spencer in expectation. Uh oh.
"Uh, no, I didn't…I didn't ask him to" Caleb mentally counted down from five, but the outburst came from Hanna rather than Emily. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why not?!" Hanna was unusually concerned for her friend, Hanna would be all about helping her friend anyway but there was something about the way Hanna was acting…the urgency. It was nearly on par with Emily.
"Because he just got engaged! Look, I don't think we should be involving him in this anymore" And things just went from bad to worse. Caleb thought as he took in Emily's facial expression.
"Coffee…anyone?" the girls ignored him. None of them even looked at him so he sat back and tried not to make any sudden movements.
"Okay, that's not your call to make Spencer. Toby's the only person that can help us, I mean Ali's life is in danger and it's our fault" Caleb tried not to feel offended, after all, it wasn't like he couldn't hack websites to get any information they needed. Or Mona. He thought grudgingly. She hadn't come back with any updates, and she was usually a lot faster.
"No, no it's her fault. She is the one who killed Charlotte. I mean, do we all realise that the only reason we're stuck in this small town is because of Charlotte's death? That we've been on a hamster wheel, risking our lives day after day trying to figure out who it was, when all along, it was her!" Caleb found himself nodding along, until he spotted Hanna giving him the Look. He held up his hands. It was kinda true though, he had to admit. He couldn't blame her for having had enough. Although maybe part of it was to do with what had happened between them.
"Right, we don't know that for sure" Caleb glanced over to Hanna who was lost in thought, and he wasn't even sure if she was listening to the whole conversation.
"Wether or not she did it…." Hanna stopped as she struggled to find the words, or fight the memories….or both. Caleb got up from his seat and entered the front lines of this debate, coming to stand behind Hanna with his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "She doesn't deserve to be tortured" Aria turned to look at Hanna and then him when it became clear she hadn't entirely come back to the room and was staring at the table, he thought he saw tears welling in her eyes but she looked away from everyone and when she looked back she was dry eyed. He exchanged glances with the girls. Emily made to move closer to Hanna but Caleb shook his head. She debated something.
"When does Jason get back? He can get Ali out of Welby"
"He's out of the country, I don't know, he can't come back for a few days" Caleb snorted, and Spencer turned on him, but before the two could argue, Hanna spoke up decisively.
"Well that's too long. We have to get her out now" Caleb was taken aback at her tone. Sure she'd been determined to act as if things where normal, that nothing was wrong. But this was different. A different kind of determination.
"How?" Emily said, exasperated. Hanna had no answer, and he could see Hanna becoming overwhelmed by…..fear, and maybe a little helplessness for Alison. Not two of the things he ever wanted her to feel again.
"You said you saw him open a locked trunk in his bedroom right?" Aria nodded, "Well maybe there's something in there that he doesn't want anyone to see" Caleb groaned.
"Maybe whatever it is can help us figure out what he's doing"
"Oh no. NO this is not a good idea" Caleb started to protest.
"I still have a key to Ali's house" Emily ignored him. "Great" Spencer murmured and Emily went to get her key.
"You cannot be serious? He's…he's…..he's freaking creepy okay. He's clearly up to something and if he's the one who kidnapped Hanna…he's dangerous. No-one is going in to that house, God knows what he has in there"
"Exactly Caleb, everything we need to prove what he's doing could be in there" Spencer argued.
"We can't leave her in there, she's…..she's….defenceless in there. She can't fight back, she can't protect herself, she can't…can't do anything. She's just trapped in there, unable to get out, being….being…" Hanna trailed off breathing heavily.
"I don't think we're talking about Alison anymore" Aria murmured. Spencer nodded.
"Han?" Caleb said carefully. Hanna closed her eyes and focused on breathing. Spencer looked at Caleb, a question in her eyes, and he just nodded.
"Hanna, it's okay. We'll get Ali out" Spencer said reassuringly.
"There is not going to be a we" Caleb snapped. Soothingly rubbing Hanna's back. He knew she was back when she shrugged him off. Emily came back over with the key.
"Here, I have to get back to work"
"Okay, we'll let you know what we find" Aria said, pocketing the key. Hanna turned to Aria, and Caleb could see her steeling herself for something.
"I ca-"
"No" Aria, Caleb and Spencer said in unison.
"You don't have to do that Han, besides I saw where the trunk was and the key, I'll go" Aria said, making sure Hanna didn't feel like she was being relegated because she couldn't handle it. Looks like I'm not the only who doesn't want Hanna anywhere near his…Alison's house. Alone. When he could come back any minute….
He could see Hanna about to argue. He sighed.
"We'll take you and keep a lookout" he said before Hanna could get a word out. At least I'll be there this time to protect Hanna. He considered calling Mona with an update…but he didn't feel like getting shouted at for the second time that day. He already knew this was a crazily stupid plan.
Caleb refused to feel awkward. He was standing by the car with Hanna and Spencer. Spencer understandably wasn't feeling too friendly towards him. Hanna had clammed up and Caleb was just standing there contemplating how much of a jackass he'd been to cause all of this in the first place. He knew he'd never be able to make it up to Hanna, he'd realised that when he realised a part of him had wanted to hurt her..had known she'd never be okay with he and Spencer dating. But he'd done it anyway. But he was going to try, starting by taking damn good care of Hanna. He was on alert for Rollins, but he figured he may as well use the time to try and fix things with Spencer. Make things less…awkward. If that was even possible.
"Spence-"
"No. Don't say a word. I'm riding out the awkwardness, speaking will make it worse. I will smack you if you try and be all….Caleb"
"Be all Caleb?" He raised an eyebrow.
"With all the apologising and the intense guilt. We really don't need to go over everything again" Caleb noticed Hanna watching the exchange.
"Well…..tension broken I guess?" Caleb chuckled. Spencer looked like she was fighting it but she ended up smiling anyway. Spencer also noticed Hanna watching the exchange. She whispered to him.
"So, you and Hanna?"
"You really want to go there?"
"She's my friend and she…needs you right now" Caleb smiled.
"You know Hanna….stubborn" they both finished at the same time, "She's….she's dealing with a lot and she wants to keep everyone safe"
"Including you?"
"Yeah, including me, so she's trying to keep me away"
"I'm sure it won't last for long, she needs you Caleb, she knows that" Caleb nodded.
"I'm just trying to take care of her. To make up for everything and to get her to…to trust me again"
"Trust you?"
"I told her I wouldn't let her down and…I did. I failed to keep her safe"
"That wasn't your fault and she knows that" Spencer was quick to object. Caleb just shrugged.
"I'm just trying to…win her back I guess. I'm being patient"
"How's that working out for ya?"
"I can handle it" he laughed. "I just…I want her to be okay you know? Eventually she'll….she'll come back to me, but right now she can't" Caleb sad sadly. Before Spencer could reply, Hanna interrupted.
"Rollins" she said, and Caleb heard the crunch of tires as a car started to come in to view. Hanna started to walk towards the car. Caleb failed to grab her and instead kept pace with her.
"What are you doing? I said keep lookout, not engage creepy doctor guy"
"I have to know if it was him…I have to" she said quietly.
"Hanna…." but they where already at his car. Caleb moved closer to her and stared Rollins down as he exited his car. Spencer coming up on Hanna's other side after, presumably, texting Aria a warning. Rollins exited the car, and approached them, hands in pockets. Completely at ease. He sneered at Caleb and Caleb resisted the urge to punch him when his gaze passed over Hanna.
"Your friends made quite a spectacle of themselves today" he addressed Spencer.
"I just think it's so amazing how much better Alison's gotten over night" Spencer said, stressing the last part. Making clear her skepticism.
"I'm doing all I can for her" Caleb wasn't buying it.
"Are you" Caleb repressed a groan, Don't draw his attention Hanna, "Because Ali called us…and she's convinced someone at Welby's trying to hurt her" Caleb shuffled even closer, daring Rollins to try something. Although he was proud of Hanna for facing her possible kidnapper and standing her ground.
"Part of her illness is paranoia. She thinks everyone is out to harm her" Caleb snorted, and felt Hanna dig him in the ribs, he looked at her placatingly. He couldn't help it. The guy had some serious balls.
"It's not paranoia if it's real"
"I want you guys to stop visiting Alison, you're disturbing her" And you're disturbing me. Caleb thought.
"And what about what she wants?" Rollins turned fully to face Hanna, and Caleb bristled. Rollins entire demeanour had changed, and Caleb did not like the full force of that stare being directed at Hanna. He saw Spencer out of the corner of his eye moving closer to Hanna too.
"If you keep pushing, I promise….it'll be detrimental to her health" That was a definite threat. They all knew it. The bastard was almost smiling as he stared them down. Rollins gaze turned back to Hanna and Caleb saw something in his eyes that made him want to rage and beat the guy to within an inch of his life. He looked at Hanna…with a familiarity that he hadn't before. Before Hanna had been kidnapped. Caleb looked in to his eyes and he knew Rollins was the one. He balled his fists, but before he could fly at the guy, he could feel Hanna next to him. She was shaking. She was trying to hide it from Rollins, but Caleb was close enough to tell. Hanna had also made eye contact with Rollins and he was giving her a look….a look that had obviously made her come to the same realisation as him. She knew and she was terrified of this guy. Like she hadn't been before. Caleb threw his feelings to the side, and grabbed Hanna's hand, locking their fingers together. They stared him down together until he turned and went in to the house. As soon as he was out of sight, Hanna started to lose control. Her shaking became more obvious, her breaths where coming hard and fast. He wrapped his arm around her waist and quickly started to lead her towards the car, trying his best to soothe her, but she wasn't with him, she was back in the barn. He hadn't realised Spencer was still with them until they reached the car and she unlocked the doors. Caleb threw open the back door, and sat down on the seat, pulling Hanna down on to his lap she was murmuring "please stop" over and over. As he brought his arms around her to cradle her to his chest, she started to struggle against him, her murmuring getting louder and louder.
"Han, it's me" she kept struggling. He tightened his arms around her to try to keep her from hurting herself or him. "Hanna" he tried again.
"Caleb" she started to cry as she repeated his name.
"I'm here, Han" but she just carried on and he realised she couldn't see or hear him right then. She was trapped in her own mind. He couldn't help but wonder…if she was reliving something from her kidnapping…did that mean she'd been crying for him? Crying for him to come and rescue her…but he never did. He looked up helplessly at the front seat where Spencer had sat down, and met her gaze. He hadn't seen Spencer this worried in a long time.
"What do I do?" Caleb panicked. Spencer thought for a minute.
"Keep talking to her, tell her a story or something. If you keep talking she might…." Spencer trailed off as he immediately turned and whispered in Hanna's ear. Telling her all about how they'd first met, their first night together. She slowly calmed down.
"Hanna?" Spencer asked gently.
"Spence?" Hanna realised she was sitting on Caleb and scooted off him, and as close to the other door as possible.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Spencer questioned. Caleb glared at her, and she held her hands up.
"Nothing. I'm fine" Hanna said, as if it was automatic. She wrapped her arms around herself and stared out the window. "Shouldn't Aria be back by now?"
Spencer gave her a long look. Caleb spotted the small girl coming towards the car.
"There she is" Caleb pointed out to Hanna, and Hanna relaxed a little bit. Hanna was in the seat next to him, but the distance felt more than that, and it killed Caleb to sit there, not touching her. Not holding her. But he sensed that she really didn't want human contact right then, not with anyone, especially him.
"Hey guys, I-" Aria looked at the three in the car. "What happened?" she asked. No-one answered. "Okaaaay then."
Caleb looked at Hanna, huddled against the door, he would have to tell Mona about this. It wasn't going to be pleasant.
