Sorry for taking so long to update. I'd just like to thank everyone who has reviewed all the previous chapters but especially ryanNmarissa4eva who has reviewed from the beginning. Hope you enjoy and please review!

Chapter 13: Deep Inside

Jimmy turned off the TV and stood up as Marissa walked in.

"Hey kiddo."

"Hey," Marissa answered still half asleep

"How you feeling?"

"As good as I probably look right now," she groaned.

"That bad?" Jimmy said sarcastically.

"Hey!"

She picked up a cushion from the couch and threw it at Jimmy. She walked to the kitchen and took out a box of cereal.

"Wait, you sit down," Jimmy said jumping up from the couch. "I'll get that for you."

"I'm fine Dad."

"I'll get you whatever you want." He squeezed in to the kitchen area. "a bowl, a spoon…"

"Dad…"

"Some milk, glass," he searched around the cupboard and brought out a glass and went to put it beside the bowl.

"Dad…"

"Oh, orange juice." Jimmy took a step and knocked the cereal box out of Marissa's hands, covering the floor in cocoa puffs.

"Oh…" Jimmy groaned.

"Dad listen to me." Marissa pulled on Jimmy's shoulder to get him to face her. "I'm fine. I spent a whole week in hospital with people running after me; I just want life to get back to normal."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just feel so helpless."

"You don't need to get me my breakfast to be helpful. Just having you here helps."

"How about I make up a picnic lunch and we can drive to a secluded beach, just you and me."

"That sounds perfect." Marissa kissed Jimmy's cheek and went over to the couch to switch the TV back on.

"Well, I'm just gonna' go out and stock up on some food. The last time I checked, all that we had was takeout menus. And well there was cereal but we both know what happened there. I'll be back in a bit. And don't clean up the cereal I'll do it when I get back. And remember I have my cell if anything…."

"Dad," Marissa said warningly.

"Right, sorry," he grabbed his wallet and left.

It wasn't that she didn't appreciate that he was trying to help. It was just….just…. she didn't know what it was all she knew was that she wanted to be treated normally again. She quickly picked up the TV remote to try and clear her mind. She flicked it on. It was one of those crime dramas and they were in a police station interviewing a guy. Definitely not what she wanted to watch. She flicked it again.

"And the winner of today's competition is Phil Trueman."

Trueman.

She quickly flicked again. As soon as she saw a scene of a hospital she immediately turned it off. She watched as the screen went blank. She felt like she was going crazy. All she wanted to do was forget what happened but all that seemed to be happening was that she was being reminded of it. She sat staring at the screen. All she could hear was the silence. She couldn't take it anymore.

She walked in to her room and sat down on her bed. She picked up a photo of her and Ryan. If only life was as simple as it looked in photos. Everyone always seemed so happy. No matter what was going on in someone's life a picture always caught something deep inside everyone. Happiness. At least it was very deep inside her. She picked up another picture. It was of her, Sandy and Kirsten at Chrismukkah. Suddenly she knew what she had to do. She threw on the first pair of jeans and top that she could find. She ran out the house, grabbing the car keys on the way out. Maybe there was a way to be just like the pictures.

The doorbell rang just as Kirsten reached the bottom of the stairs. She opened the door.

"Marissa."

"Hey."

"Come in."

"Thanks."

"I think Ryan's in the pool house."

"Actually I came to see Sandy."

"Oh, he's out surfing just now."

"Was is the word actually."

They both turned to see Sandy walking in through the door wearing his shorts and t-shirt.

"Marissa came by to talk to you."

Sandy smiled at Marissa.

"And how can I help you?"

"Umm, it's about what you said last night."

"Oh, I see." He ushered her through to the kitchen.

Sandy took a glass out the cupboard.

"You want a drink?"

"Oh, no thanks."

She watched Sandy pour himself some orange juice.

"I've made a decision."

He stopped pouring and looked up at her.

"I want to go in to the station. I have to go in." Sandy was about to speak but Marissa carried on. "I keep telling myself that I will be able to just forget about it all. But that's not going to happen and I think the only way I can start to move on is if I get it all out my system."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Sandy nodded.

"I'll go and make some calls. Just make yourself at home. I won't be long."

Marissa knocked on the pool house door. She waited a second before going in. She closed the door behind her and turned around to see Ryan walk through from the shower rubbing his wet hair with a towel. He got a surprise when he saw her standing there.

"Oh, hey."

"Hey."

He walked over and kissed her.

"What you doing here?"

"It's nice to see you too," she said sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"What did you mean it like then?"

"Ummm, uhh, well…I just meant…"

She grinned at him then pushed him on to the bed. When he landed he threw his wet towel at her, but she managed to move out of the way. She suddenly grabbed one of his pillows and started to hit him with it. She laughed as he tried to grab it out of her hands. He eventually got it off her and she lay down on the bed beside him. She rolled over to face him, and gazed in to his eyes a second before speaking.

"I didn't actually come to see you today."

"I knew it," he said with a smile. He stopped smiling when he noticed that she wasn't smiling back. He stroked her cheek with his finger.

"What's up?"

"I came by to see Sandy."

"About what he said to you last night?"

"He told you?"

"No but I can guess what it was about."

"They want me to give a complete statement."

He took her hand.

"I came by to tell Sandy that I want to do it now."

Ryan was slightly surprised that she had decided so quickly.

"I spent the whole week in hospital going over everything that happened in my head. I can't keep it there anymore. I just need to do it, I need my life to go back to normal, I just…I just…"

"Hey, hey. It's alright." He could tell that she just wanted to bury her head in him and cry her heart out. "I'm here for you. To help in any ay I can. You're not alone."

She gave him a small smile, casting her mind back to what Sandy said the night before. Ryan leaned in and kissed her passionately. They kept kissing until there was a knock on the door and Sandy appeared.

"Oh, sorry."

They both sat up.

"Marissa could I have a word."

She looked at Ryan who kissed her cheek. She followed Sandy out glancing back at Ryan who gave her a reassuring smile.

"I spoke to Inspector Trueman. He says we can go by today. That is if you're still up to it."

The last thing he wanted was for her to go before she was ready. She took a deep breath.

"I'm ready."

Kirsten came out holding the phone.

"It's your dad. Asking if you are here." She looked at Marissa who blushed slightly. She knew she should have left a note but she ran out so quickly it didn't even cross her mind. She took the phone off Kirsten.

"Hey."

"Why did you leave! I was going out of my mind!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."

"I know, I know." He felt bad for shouting at her. "I'm not angry, I was just so worried."

"I'm sorry. I just needed to see Sandy."

"Sandy? What for?"

"I'm going to the police station."

Silence.

"Dad?"

"Stay there kiddo, I'm coming over."

"No, it's fine. You don't have to."

"I wanna' be there when you're done. Ok?"

"Ok."

"I'll be over soon."

The line went blank.

"Is everything alright?" Kirsten asked her, concerned.

"Oh." Marissa had forgotten that Sandy and Kirsten were there. "My dad's coming over. He wants to go to the station with us."

"Do you think you should tell your mum?" Kirsten asked her.

Marissa hadn't even thought about her mum. She knew she should tell her but she also knew that she would completely over react over the whole situation. She couldn't deal with that right now.

"I'll tell you what, how about I phone your mum when you're gone and tell her to come over here and you can speak to her when you get back."

"Ye, thanks."

"What's going on out here?"

Seth walked over to them.

"Nothing."

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" he said unconvinced.

"Hey, Seth, I know how much you love to help me make fruit smoothies."

"I'm guessing that's code for leave now."

Kirsten smiled and patted his shoulder and turned him back to the house.

"Your dad really cares about you." Sandy said to Marissa once Kirsten and Seth had left.

She looked at him

"Ye I know."

"You go back to Ryan. I'll give you a shout when your dad gets here."

"Ok, thanks."

Marissa went to push open the door of the pool house when it opened.

"Wo," Marissa tripped and stumbled through the door.

"Good timing," Ryan grinned at her. Marissa threw him a glare.

"What did your dad want?"

"Well I kind of didn't tell him that I was coming over here."

Ryan's expression turned serious

"You know it's different now. You can't just disappear without telling someone. Not after what happened."

"I know, I know. I just wish it wasn't different," her tone saddened.

"You can't change what happened but you can change what will."

Ryan stepped past Marissa out of the pool house. He turned back and held his hand out. Marissa looked at him. He was right. She couldn't let what happened ruin her life. She smiled and took hold of his hand.

"Now Seth don't forget…"

Seth pressed the button on the blender and strawberry and banana smoothie sprayed up all over him.

"….the lid."

Seth stuck his tongue out and licked a bit off his cheek.

"Mmmm, I'd say a tad more banana is needed."

Kirsten shook her head at him in disbelief, trying to remember the time she must have dropped him on his head as a baby.

"Hey I think you missed a spot."

Seth glared at Ryan who had just walked in with Marissa.

"Actually, Ryan, for your information I was planning on leaving it there. Very convenient if I ever want a quick snack."

"Seth! Don't be so revolting!" Kirsten said throwing him a towel.

"Mother, I don't think you have quite grabbed the concept of the leaving it there part of my genius plan."

"Clean it off now."

Before Seth could complain anymore the doorbell rang.

"That's probably Jimmy." Kirsten left to answer the door.

"Seriously man, you missed a spot," Ryan said as Seth finished wiping himself with the towel.

"Where?"

"Right there," Ryan replied as he hit Seth across the head. Kirsten cleared her throat and Seth and Ryan stopped mucking around.

"Hey kiddo," Jimmy pulled Marissa into a hug.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I'm just glad you're ok."

Sandy walked in.

"Hey Jimmy."

"Sandy."

"We should probably go."

"We can go in my car," Jimmy said.

"Great." Sandy kissed Kirsten on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Sandy and Jimmy headed to the front door. Jimmy turned around when he realised that Marissa wasn't following.

"Kiddo? You coming?"

"Oh, um, ye."

Ryan put his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, you'll be fine." He kissed her cheek and took a step back. She took a deep breath and joined her dad. He put his arm around her shoulder and they walked out the door together. Sandy followed and shut the door behind him.

"You ok?" Kirsten asked Ryan, who was staring at the closed door.

"Ye, ye. I mean she'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about. Right?"

After what happened the last time Kirsten wasn't sure if there was nothing to worry about. She had seen the look of pain and fear in Marissa's eyes. She just hoped that Sandy wouldn't have to see it too.

"Right?"

"Right." Kirsten forced a smile. She couldn't tell him how worried she was. He would probably go after her to the station. If anything ever happened to Marissa Ryan was always there to save her. Except for one time.

Not much happened in this chapter either but I promise that the next couple will be more interesting.