Author note: well guys, sorry for the wait..but I had 3 different endings to this and I couldn't figure out which ending to use...hope you like this one! luv ya guys!

Chapter 17: My fathers temper

Rays P.OV.

While they talked, I sat outside the purposely cracked door, trying to hear what they were talking about, and not hearing much except a few words here and there, and my name once. I glanced at my watch, trying to figure out how long they'd been in there. Over an hour at least. Pretty soon Nick ambled up.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh, hey. Shh I'm trying to hear that they're talking."

"What who's talking about?"

"What Madi and Abby are talking about. I thought maybe Abby could get something out of her, since she wasn't going to tell me anything." I said, not even trying to hide the hurt in my voice.

"Oh." He acknowledged, sliding down to sit next to me on the floor.

"How long has it been goin on?"

He looked away, and kind of squirmed.

"Look, I really would like to hear it from her, and even if she tells Abby anything, I know she'll make Abby promise not to tell me anything. Just tell me, and if you don't I'll go ask Les. I know she'd tell me."

He snapped his head around to face me. "Don't bring Leslie into this, you know you hurt her."

"Chill dude, things are cool between us. You know I would never hurt her, just as well as you know I never meant to hurt her in the first place. You knew how much I cared for her, and how much it hurt me when I had to leave."

"I know, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell you off. It's just…brotherly love, ya know?"

"Yeah I understand. Don't worry about it."

"Still, don't bring her into this, it kills her that there's nothing she can do to make this stop. That there's nothing she can do to help."

A ghost of a smile paused briefly on my lips, but died quickly.

"She always was like that. I remember how hard she cried that night when he sliced my back…" I shuddered, only remembering that night in quick flashes, and her scared face was one of those.

"Ugh, don't even bring that up! It was horrible." He said, turning slightly green just thinking of it.

"And to answer your question, about a year and a half."

I gasped, and all color drained my face. I dropped my head into my hands.

Turning on him, "Why didn't you call me! Why didn't you let me know, so I could come help! You had my number; you knew where to reach me. Why did it have to come to this for me to find out!" I asked, gesturing at the hospital room.

He looked surprised by my outburst. I needed to calm down. I had my fathers temper. I got up, taking long angry strides in the direction of the elevator. I knew my way around this hospital like the back of my hand. God knows I've been there enough.

"Ray. Ray! Ray, wait!" he called after me.

I didn't.

I walked aimlessly through the halls for a little while, before hearing the dinner carts and realizing what time it was. Abby'd be getting worried soon. I headed back upstairs, finding Abby just sitting outside the room; knees drawn to her chest, head leaned back against the wall, eyes closed. There were tearstains down her face.

"Oh God." I thought, not knowing what to expect.

I slid down so I was sitting next to her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She jumped and her eyes flew open.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?"

"It's okay." She said, giving me a shaky smile, "I'm fine, just tired. It's been a crazy day."

I nodded, even though I didn't believe her, she wasn't telling the whole truth, but I figured she'd tell me when she was ready.

well guys...go on..push the little purple button down there...you know you want to! ;)