Disclaimer: I do not own CR.

I hope you like this chapter! :) Sorry ahead of time for the foul language. And again, Ada, I hope you like this too! :)

"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." –Winnie the Pooh

Six years had passed, and Caitlyn had just turned thirteen. Still the quiet bookworm she always was, Caitlyn never had many friends aside from Shane, Jason and Nate. They always made up for her quietness, and she didn't mind. They were like her brothers. Her loud, overly rambunctious, and gross brothers. But she loved them, and they loved her. In a family way, of course.

Nate, however, had been acting pretty weird lately. He always acted overly macho around girls, especially Caitlyn, but she always figured it was just because of puberty.

Shane, on the other hand, had become much more of a ladies' man lately. He had always been very popular, but he began having dates and girlfriends. His most recent one was a hilarious girl named Allison Munroe or something. Caitlyn liked her well enough, but she was often very loud and her voice jarring.

And Jason was, well, just Jason. His fifteenth birthday was coming up soon (his mother had started him in school a year late because she didn't want him to be younger than everyone else), and he was excited about that.

The guys had also formed a band, which they were pretty good out. Caitlyn had never known all three of them could play the guitar so well. It was her favorite pastime, to sit in Shane's garage and read while they played their songs. Shane's voice was always so soothing and solid while Nate's was raspy and soulful. They both had wonderful voices, even if they would crack at times. Jason would merely sit back and strum along, stating his voice wasn't suited for singing. Though, he was known to break out into a rocking solo every now and then.

Caitlyn's mom never minded that her best friends were guys, though she always did try to encourage her to have female friends. Her mom, however, did tend to give The Talk to her fairly often, saying that Caitlyn was a beautiful young woman who was coming of age. The scandalized daughter would, however, tune her out on more than one occasion. Deep down, Caitlyn knew her mother trusted her, but she always worried because she didn't want Caitlyn to end up like her: having to raise a child at nineteen with a deadbeat husband and trying to have a career at the same time. Her mom was never violent, despite how much alcohol she drank. Sarah Gellar was always a loving woman, kind and encouraging to her daughter. Caitlyn, however, knew to never disturb her mother during one of her binges, knowing it could end disastrously.

Shane knew of Sarah's alcoholism and always encouraged Caitlyn to be careful. He always kept the door open for her when her mother was in a bad mood or was throwing up too much. He knew Caitlyn had gotten tired of all those years of holding back her mom's hair from the toilet, no matter how much she loved her. Shane always feared for his friend, knowing that she was going to get beaten one day. He had a knot in the bottom of his stomach as he walked Caitlyn home from his garage that day, but he shook it off, thinking it was something he ate.

"Bye, Shane," Caitlyn said quietly but brightly as they reached the driveway of her home. "Thanks for walking me home again."

Shane gave a grin. "I didn't want my best friend to be kidnapped, after all. I need to be here to protect you." He said it in a teasing grin, but Caitlyn knew he meant it.

Caitlyn gave a tinkling laugh, a slightly twinkle in her stormy gray eyes. "I'm a big girl, Daddy. I can walk home by myself," she admonished lightheartedly, giving him a playful punch in the arm. It was moments like this she treasured, when she was truly happy and at ease. Only Shane could make her feel that way.

"I'd die if anything happened to my baby girl," he joked, giving Caitlyn a one-armed hug. "See you tomorrow, Cait." He let go of her and waved as she walked up the driveway into the house. As he walked home, that knot in his stomach still hadn't gone away, but again, he passed it off as something he ate. But he was wrong. So very wrong.

Caitlyn, as she was walking into her house couldn't help but feel something was off as well. Where was her mother? One of her boyfriends wasn't even here, either. She checked the clock on the wall as she took off her shoes and found out why it felt so empty. It was only six, and her mom didn't get home until at least seven.

It was because it was dark out, Caitlyn decided. That was why it seemed so late. She knew her mom worked hard at her job to give Caitlyn a roof over her head, so she decided to start dinner. Spaghetti with sausage was always her mom's favorite, so she decided on that. Looking through the cupboards, she found enough ingredients for just two servings of pasta. I've gotta go shopping later, Caitlyn thought as she began boiling the pasta.

The cooking went quickly as she was an exceptional chef, and everything was done and ready to be served by fifteen to seven. Smiling happily at her achievement, she took the food and placed plastic wrap over the containers until her mom got home. After she was done, Caitlyn retired to the couch to read a book.

Mom should be back soon, Caitlyn thought, idly flipping the page of her book. She should be home in a few minutes.

But minutes turned into hours, and soon it was well past nine. Caitlyn had long since finished her homework and was surfing the channels on their TV. It was half past by the time her mom trudged through the door, soaking wet from the downpour outside.

"Mom," Caitlyn exclaimed, jumping up from her spot on the couch, "are you alright?" She rushed upstairs to grab a towel and spare clothes before taking her mother's sopping coat and purse. She waited patiently as her mother toweled her hair off and changed from her soaked clothes.

"Thanks, Caity," Sarah grunted as she handed over her wet outfit to Caitlyn. Her daughter dashed to the bathroom to hang them up to dry and wash later and ran back to help her to the couch.

"Mom, why are you so late?" Caitlyn asked worriedly, feeling her mother's face for any sign of a fever.

"I'm fine, just cold."

Caitlyn grabbed the thick blanket neatly folded in the basket to the side of the couch and handed it to her mom. Sarah accepted it gratefully and wrapped it around her thin frame, clinging to it as though it was her lifeline.

"Mom," Caitlyn prompted curtly after her mother was snug and warm, "why were you so late?"

Sarah glared hatefully up at Caitlyn, who was taken aback by the harsh glare. "I was fired, okay?" she spat. She wrung the blanket clutched between her hands until her knuckles turned white. "That stupid asshole fired me without even giving me a reason."

But that still doesn't explain why she was so late, Caitlyn thought worriedly. Then it hit her. Her mother was out drinking. And by the looks of it, Sarah had gone through at least three bottles of hard liquor.

"M-mom, we'll get through this… Don't worry," reassured Caitlyn, giving her mother a comforting squeeze.

Sarah angrily pushed Caitlyn away, making her daughter fall to the ground. Angry and solemn gray eyes stared into Caitlyn's identical, hurt ones.

"It will never work!" Sarah shrieked, getting up and throwing the blanket off of her. "I've just been fired, and it was the only thing keeping us from the streets! Stop being all sunshine and daisies, Caitlyn Marie Gellar! The world isn't fucking like that! When will you open your eyes?!"

Tears formed in Caitlyn's eyes, and her heart stung from her mother's hurtful words. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and cry.

"You had better fucking get used to all of this shit life throws at us," her mom continued. Sarah's usually warm, gray eyes steeled as she aimed a harsh glare at Caitlyn. "You have to be confident and assertive because you need to push your way through, and you're never going to get anywhere if you're a spineless little wimp!" It was obvious those last words were talking about Caitlyn, and they hurt more than when she broke her leg the year before.

Sarah grabbed Caitlyn's collar and forced her to stand up. "Grow a backbone, you little bitch, because you'll need one in the real world. If you don't, you'll end up like me with no husband and a little brat to hold you down," hissed Sarah. "There's always a chance, though. We all know you'll end up fucking that Shane boy eventually."

Caitlyn started crying right then and there. What was wrong with her mom? How much had she drunk? She had never insulted her like this before. It hurt horribly to see her like this, but part of Caitlyn was furious at her mother for talking to her like she was.

"Don't insult me," said Caitlyn lowly, "because you haven't done much at all." It was time to become assertive and grow a backbone just like her mother was instructing her. "I've practically raised myself. Who's the one who tucks you in at night? Who's the one who cooks dinner? Who's the one who cleans?!"

"DON'T YELL AT ME, YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!" Sarah yelled, her nostrils flaring as she breathed heavily. "Who pays for all the clothes on your back? Who brings home the food we eat? Who paid for the house we live in? I did! So don't you dare say I don't do anything!"

"What's the point of a house if you're never home?" Caitlyn objected, wanting to prove a point to her mother. "It's like I live alone!"

"Did you ever think there's a reason why I'm never home?" Sarah sneered maliciously, a mad glint in her eyes. Her hands twitched uncontrollably, as though there was a mini-seizure occurring in only her hands.

Caitlyn's eyes widened and tears flowed down her cheeks as she began sobbing. That was like pouring a gallon of salt on her already wounded heart.

"Don't sob!" Sarah shrieked, and she grabbed Caitlyn's wrist roughly. "Don't be a weak little bitch!" And suddenly, with one of her shaking hands, Sarah slapped Caitlyn before shoving her roughly down at the coffee table, breaking it.

Caitlyn's entire body ached, and she was sure she had open wounds on her back as well as her arms. Still bawling, she got up slowly and walked over to the door. She silently slipped on her shoes. Caitlyn opened the door and gave one last pain-filled look at her mother before bolting out of the door, into the rain.

Giving a choked sob, she ran through the darkness through a familiar path, seeking refuge with Shane and his parents. They were the only people she loved as much as her mother, and soon, her thoughts drifted to Sarah.

Sarah had never acted like this, no matter how much she drank. Caitlyn considered it was because of her getting fired from her job, but her mother's actions were bordering psychotic. The rain stung her cuts, reminding her of what Sarah had done. Touching her cheek gently, she found it still smarted. Just how much alcohol had Sarah consumed?

But Caitlyn didn't know one crucial fact.

Sarah hadn't been drinking.

Shane walked to the door when it was well past ten. Who could be there at this time? Of course, it wasn't like he was asleep. He was watching NCIS, and it was just getting good, so he was annoyed at whoever interrupted his program. Opening the door, it revealed a soaked, bruised, and sobbing Caitlyn. His warm brown eyes hardened, and he ushered his friend inside the door. Holding her at arm's length, he demanded, "Caitlyn, what the hell happened to you?"

Caitlyn wiped a few tears and drops of water from her face and winced slightly as her hand pressed against her still sore cheek. "M-mom happened," she whispered weakly, sniffling. "She got fired and… and she started yelling at me and…" Caitlyn let out a racking sob. "She slapped me and pushed me onto the coffee table…"

Shane immediately went to look at Caitlyn's back. He gasped at the scrapes covering it. "What did you do, break it?!"

"Um. Yeah," Caitlyn mumbled, sniffling again.

Cupping Caitlyn's good cheek, Shane wiped away her tears with his thumb and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I'll never let her hurt you again, Caitlyn. I'll never let anyone hurt you."

Caitlyn immediately burst into tears, touched by Shane's words. She dove into his arms and hugged him, sobs racking her lithe frame. "Thank you, Shane…"

Shane wrapped his arms protectively around her, careful to mind the cuts on her back. "No one will touch you. Not while I'm around."

And so a vow was made.

Dun dun dun! Le gasp! What is wrong with Caity's mom? Why is she such a bitch?? :) You'll find out soon enough.

Feedback is appreciated!