The shower had helped a little. Erin peeked in on her daughter, she was fast asleep. A smile grew across her face. Quietly she closed the door and slipped into her bedroom.

Erin found the lamp by the bed and clicked it on. She turned down the bed and slid under the comforter, hugging it. Tears began to flow down her cheeks once more as the horror replayed in her mind. Alone.

After a few hours later she had finally drifted off to sleep. The corridor was dark, she felt him push her hard against the wall. He heard a small whimper. A smile spread across his face as he brought the cold knife along her cheek as he brought it to her throat. "Play time." He hissed.

Erin struggled against his hold.

"Just you and me." He whispered into her ear. As he pulled her out of the hall. Music softly playing. "Such a wonderful piece. Don't you think?" He taunted. He took the knife and traced it across her cheek.

Erin mind raced as she tried to form a plan. Anything. Where was dad? Her brother? She was all alone.

He brought the knife to her cheek, "You can scream if you want." He laughed. He slid the knife down her cheek, blood ran down her throat. Erin screamed.

"Erin," the soft voice cut through the nightmare. "Sweetie wake up, you're having a nightmare."

Her eyes flickered open. Tears running down her face.

"Shh... it's okay you were just having a nightmare." Frank laid his chin on top of her head. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She sniffed.

Before he could answer, "Mom," she called.

"Nicki, I'm sorry didn't mean to wake you. Any of you." She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Why don't we go down and make your mom some chamomile tea."

^*^*^BB^*^*^

"Why is mom upset?" Nicki asked her great-grandfather.

Henry filled the kettle, "well earlier tonight a very bad man tried to hurt your mom."

"But he didn't. Did he?"

"No, your grandfather stopped him."

^*^*^BB^*^*^

"You are not okay." Frank started.

"I will deal with it. "She told him.

"It's okay to be frightened; it's okay to be scared. I saw you and it broke my heart. My only daughter in the grasp of a madman. I never felt so helpless. Even though I'm the Police Commissioner at that moment I was a father."

"I replay it. Try and see if I could have done something different, I replay it and you're not there, I'm alone."

"Thank God I was there, that Danny made the choice to call me after he couldn't get a hold of you. That I was able to make it in time."

"Erin I know it's not going to be easy, that this is something that won't go away overnight. But you have all of us behind you."

"I know."

"Mom we made you some tea." Nicki bought it in to her. And hugged her "I'm glad you are okay. Love you."

"Love you to sweetie." She gave her daughter a smile. "Why don't you go back to bed. And I'll see you in the morning." Erin took the tea cup, her hand shaking. She took a deep breath and calmed her nerves.

Nicki gave her mother one last hug. "Night." She headed back to her room.

"You told her Pop?"

"She asked, didn't go into detail just told her that a bad man tried to hurt her mom. Told her you stopped him."

Erin and Frank nodded. "Are you going to be okay?" Frank asked.

"Eventually." She admitted.

"Try and get some sleep." Her grandpa told her.

^*^*^BB^*^*^

"Dad," he called.

"In the kitchen." He replied. He watched as his youngest son came into the kitchen. "Coffee ready."

"Great. I brought Erin some clothes over. How is she?"

"Last night was rough, she had a couple of nightmares. Eventually she fell back to sleep."

"Do you think she would like to go lunch?"

"Jamie I think that would be fine. It's going to take some time but I think she'll be okay. And I heard she just got the Rachett case."

"And I am going to bury him." She interrupted.

"Hey sis," Jamie gave her a big hug. "Lunch, on me."

"No hotdog stands," She protested.

Jamie put his hands up 'I surrender' position. "Alright, alright. Pick you up at 1?"

"Sounds good." She offered him up a smile of thanks.

"Alright, see ya." Jamie waved goodbye.

Erin turned to her father, "thanks."

"For what?"

"For bring there, I honestly don't think I could get through this without you, or the rest of the family."

Frank brought his only daughter into a hug. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I know. I'll have to thank Jamie for bringing me an outfit for work."

"So you are going into work?" More of a question than a statement.

"I can't hide from it. If I can walk down that hallway and into my office than I will be alright."

Frank smiled at her.

"Alright dad I'm heading out. Thanks for taking Nicki to school too."

"My pleasure. Have a good day."

^*^*^BB^*^*^

Erin nervously chews on her lower lip. She watches as the numbers light up one by one until her floor. Taking a deep breathe she steps out and onto her floor.

Slowly she walks to her office. Her heart races, panic begins to set in. 'You can do this' her mind told her. Her hands are clammy and wet from tightly holding her briefcase.

"Ma'am," her assistant greets.

"Good morning." She gives her best smile. "Everything ready?"

"Yes Ma'am. And Erin, I'm glad you are okay."

"Thanks."

She walked into her office and closed the door. Tears slid down her cheek. Okay, what exactly is the definition of being okay?

Erin drowned herself in her work, trying to get back to her old self. Trying to be okay. As she went over case files, made notes there was a knock. Erin jumped. Before she would have never jumped.

"Yes, come in," She called.

"Ma'am, the Police Commissioner is getting ready to talk to the press."

"Thank you." She turned the TV on and listened as he spoke to the press."

And there it was, that question. How is your daughter?"

"She is back at her desk."

She turned it off. That sums it up. At her desk. Erin was barely at her desk.

"I'm going out." She announced.

"But what about your schedule?"

Erin kept walking. She had to go. Anywhere but here...

^*^*^BB^*^*^

Okay so next chapter Erin gets help and finds some closure.