I know its been awhile sorry my life has been crazy!! Thank you for all who reviewed and have stayed faithful to reading my story. Thank you also to Elimberg for betaing it. I'm about finished with the next chapter it will be done and sent to be beta by no later then tommorow and be out soon!! The next chapter leaves you with a nice cliff hanger. Thanks for reading. Please Review!!

Now on with the story!!

Audrey was lying in Mac and Stella's bed next to Stella watching reruns of Friends. It had been two weeks since the attack, and they still had no leads. They were thinking that it was a random attack, that he picked their door by chance. Mac was working around the clock to find the man that had hurt Audrey, and Stella helped but also stayed with Audrey because she had refused to stay alone, and Mac wouldn't have it any other way. She just wanted to stay home and do nothing because she wasn't the same happy person she was before the attack; she never really talked to anyone and just lay around watching TV. School was going to start in a couple weeks so tomorrow she was going to see a psychologist to help her get through some things. Physically she was heeling fine: she had a scar from the cut on her head, the bruises were fading, becoming a nasty yellow, and her wrist was still in a cast. Mentally was another story because it would take awhile for her to heal and become the old Audrey again.

Stella looked over to find that Audrey had fallen asleep and was relieved since she didn't sleep much after being off the pain medication. She would wake up at least once a night screaming from nightmares, and after that she would barley stay asleep. Stella looked at the bedroom door to see Mac standing there watching them. She quietly got up and walked over to him and gave him a kiss, then softly pushed him out the door to the living room couch were they took a seat.

"How is she?" Mac asked, glancing towards the door.

"Same; she just fell asleep. Maybe she will get more than an hour of sleep," she put her hand on Mac's cheek, "Did you find anything new?" she asked.

"No," he simply said.

He looked away, leaving Stella's hand on his cheek, but she gently pushed his face to look at her.

"Mac, don't do this to yourself; you're working really hard to get him, and we will."

"Stella, I can't let this guy get away with what he did to my daughter; he needs to pay for what he did to her."

Stella dropped her hand and pulled Mac into a hug. "We will. We have to for Audrey's sake," Stella told him.

Mac pulled away and was about to speak but heard Audrey whimper from their bedroom. He stood up and walked to his room with Stella following. When he reached the room, he saw Audrey tossing and turning. Before he could reach the bed, Audrey started to yell.

"Daddy, Daddy, help me!" She bolted up, and Mac ran to the bed and pulled Audrey into his arms as she clung to him sobbing into his chest. Stella sat on the other side and softly rubbed her back.

"Audrey, it's okay. I'm here. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you again," Mac told his daughter.

Audrey pulled away and looked up at Mac. It broke his heart to see her tears and the fear in her eyes. "Dad, why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this?" A few tears slipped down her face.

"Oh, Audrey, honey, you didn't do anything to make this happen to you. Don't you ever think that again." Mac wiped the tears off her face.

"Daddy, I just want it to go away," Mac pulled her into his arms again as she cried. He looked over at Stella, who had tears in her eyes, and they sat there just like that until Audrey fell asleep. Mac picked her up and carried her to her bedroom, and he laid her down and covered her up. He watched her for a few seconds, then leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He left the light the night stand on and the door open, knowing if Audrey woke she would want it that way. He then went into his and Stella's room and found Stella lying on her side of the bed crying. Mac kicked off his shoes and got into bed, pulling Stella into his arms. She rolled over, putting her head on his chest, and wrapped her arms around him. They comforted each other with no words and fell asleep in each other's arms.

CSY NY

When Mac woke up the next morning, it was eight am, and he had the day off; he looked down to find that he and Stella were in the same position that they fell asleep in. He then noticed that there was no sound in the apartment, and Audrey hadn't woken up again in the night. It worried him because every night she would wake up and end up in bed with them. He quickly but quietly got up, not wanting to wake Stella, and hurried to Audrey's room. When he reached the door he breathed a sigh of relief; Audrey was sound asleep in her bed, hugging her pillow. Mac walked over and took a seat next to her bed and watched her sleep. He would never get over that night because he should have been there to protect her. He felt like he was being watched so looked over at the door to see Stella standing there. She smiled at him, and he smiled back before she walked away. He looked back at his sleeping daughter and watched her for a few more moments before he went to the kitchen where he could hear Stella starting breakfast. He walked up behind her and put his arms around her.

"Hey, did you sleep well?" Mac asked her.

She turns around in his arms to face him and give him a kiss. "Yes, did you?"

"Yes, because I had you in my arms, and my daughter slept through the night," he said and let Stella go so she could start the eggs. He went and took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Yes, and that means progress that she stayed in her bed all night," Stella said.

"Yeah it does. I'm going to go take a shower," he said as he got up and gave her a quick kiss, heading towards the shower.

"Hurry so we can eat," she called out to him.

After Mac's shower and Stella was finished cooking, they both sat down and began to eat. They had decided to let Audrey sleep because she needed her rest, but Audrey came into the kitchen anyways and smiled at them, sitting down. Mac gave Stella a curious look towards which she returned.

Audrey was digging into her food and paying not to attention to them. She was acting like her old self, and Mac had to know what changed since last night.

"Good morning, Audrey. Did you sleep well?" Mac asked her.

She stopped eating and looked over at him "Good morning, dad and Stella. And yes I slept great." She went back to eating.

"Audrey, you slept through the night. What changed?" Mac put his hand on his daughter's to stop her from eating and to look at him. Stella just watched, worried that maybe she lost her mind.

Audrey looked up at Stella, then her father. "I had a good dream last night," she told him.

Mac smiled, "That's great. What was it about?"

Audrey hesitated, "I don't want to upset you."

Mac moved closer, and Stella excused herself to give them privacy, but Audrey stopped her. "Stella, you can stay."

"No, it's okay. You and your dad need a moment; you can tell me later," she said as she left.

"Dad, is Stella mad at me?"

"No, she just wants to make this easy on you."

"Oh, okay," she looked down and then back up to him smiling, "It was wonderful, dad."

"I'm glad to see you smiling. You can tell me, and you won't upset me. Whatever makes you happy again makes me happy," he told her.

Audrey looked at her dad and decided to just tell him. "Mom came to me in my dreams and told me she's watching over me, and that I need to move on live my life for my and your sake, even Stella. She told me everything was going to be okay." Mac sat back; he was thankful that she dreamed that about her mother, but it surprised him.

Audrey laughed, "Dad, are you alright?" Audrey asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm glad you're laughing and that your mom helped you." He leaned over and pulled her into a hug.

"Me too dad. It may take me a while to be completely over it, but I'm tired of it taking over my life," she stood up. "I'm going to get ready for my appointment. And by the way, I can't wait to get this cast off," she went to her room, leaving Mac laughing in the kitchen.

Stella stepped into the kitchen, "I overheard. It's great that Audrey's doing better," she walked over and sat on Mac's lap and put her arms around his neck.

Mac wrapped his arms around her waist, "I know it's a great thing, and thank Claire for taking care of her. She is going to be the old Audrey soon."

"Yes, and the psychologist will help a lot too." Stella pointed out.

"Yes, it will, and the only thing left to do is make the man pay who did this to her." Mac said, his eyes darkening.

"Mac, we will get him," Stella rested her forehead on his.

"I hope so, Stella. I love you. Thanks for everything," he told her.

"I love you too." They leaned in and kissed each other.

Audrey was in her bathroom, looking in the mirror for the first time in days. Instead of crying this time or feeling bad, she smiled because she knew that she had her mother looking out for her. She was going to get through this with her dad, Stella, and her mother's help.