Riley's POV

I helped Jason out of the truck and into the ware house. He sat down on the couch and I instantly noticed that his shirt was bloody.

"Jason you're bleeding" he looked down at his shoulder and sighed

"damn it. I must have moved too much. Did you happen to grab any medical supplies?"

I shook my head no and then turned to Johnson.

"go into my room and grab a couple of the white t shirts on the bottom"

he left and I turned back to Jason

"can you lift your arm?"

he tried and winced in pain. I bent down grabbed his shirt at the seam.

With one jerk I ripped the shirt up the side and pulled it off of him without moving his shoulder. I smirked down at his shocked expression and winked.

I could almost see all of the blood drain from his head and into his loins.

I laughed and bent down, carefully removing the soaked gauze from his shoulder. Johnson returned moments later with the shirts.

He had the strangest look on his face, like he had just found out a horrid secret. I shot him a confused glance before ripping up the shirts and turning to wrap them around Jason's wounded shoulder.

I tied them lightly so as to put just the right amount of pressure on his wound without causing him any pain or discomfort. After I was done I turned to go get him another shirt but he grabbed my arm

"riley wait… we need to talk"

Oh god this is what I had been dreading. Even more than actually breaking him out of the hospital.

He looked over at Johnson who nodded and walked out of the warehouse leaving us completely alone.

I waited in silence, my heart beating faster than a hummingbirds wings. When Jason didn't speak I decided to break the silence.

"how is your arm" I looked over at him, searching his eyes for any sign of what was to come. He looked away

"its fine. Nothing I cant handle." I just nodded and looked down at my hands in my lap. What he said next was exactly what I was expecting. But nothing I could ever prepare myself for.

He turned and looked at me, his dizzying brown eyes boring right into my green ones and uttered one word that no one ever wanted to hear.

"why"

I knew exactly what he meant but I didn't know how to answer. So I stalled.

"what do you mean why?" I gave him my best smiled and pretended to be utterly lost on the subject.

He didn't buy it.

He grabbed my shoulder with his good arm and stared right into my eyes.

"riley you know exactly what I mean. stop playing games and answer the damn question"

I sighed and let my little charade dissolve

"you know why" I averted his eyes and turned my face to hide my blush. My voice was a light whisper laced with embarrassment.

Jason reached over and took my hand in his

"riley just tell me cause frankly im confused as hell. I mean why in gods name would you save the person who kidnapped you?"

"because"

Jason lifted my chin with his index finger, forcing me to look at him.

"because why riley?"

To hell with it. Here goes nothing.

"because I love you Jason. I love you"

He release my chin and looked at me emotionless.

I gulped and bit back tears. "say something please"

He looked down at the floor "riley you don't love me"

I stared at him shocked.

I expected him to yell, laugh, do something, do anything other than what he did. But he just sat there.

"excuse me! Who the hell are you to tell me what I do and do not feel. Just because you're Jason McCann doesn't mean you know everything! In fact you know nothing at all how dare you say that to me!"

He looked up at me, his eyes fighting to escape my gaze. I could see he was trying to be angry

"riley you don't love me okay! Ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? Its where the captive falls in love with their kidnapper. that's all this is riley"

I jumped off the couch. Now I was pissed

"oh Jason you are so smart… NOT! I don't care who the fuck you are this IS NOT some silly mental thing! I LOVE YOU! Whether you like it or not"

With that I turned on my heel and stalked to the bedroom making sure to slam the door as hard as I could.

The door frame shook but I ignored it. I walked over to the bed sinking down on the floor when I couldn't bear it any longer.

The tears that flowed from my eyes and onto the ugly stained brown carpet were not from anger. Or sadness.

They were from pain. Pure and strong. The pain I felt now was nothing compared to anything I had ever felt before.

It was slow agonizing pain that I would never wish on anyone or anything no matter how much I hated them.

I spent the rest of the night in the floor crying.

Jason didn't come into the bedroom. Some time abound two thirty I heard Johnson return.

Not a word was spoke from anyone. The only thing that punctuated the silence where my pained broken sobs.

I thought nothing more of the hospital break, or the strange look on Johnson's face when he handed me the shirts.

I thought of nothing other than Jason.

But later I would wish I had given more thought to other things.

It just might have saved me.

Jason's POV

I laid awake the entire night listening to riley's broken sobs.

It killed me knowing I had caused them but I was doing what was best… for her.

I had to make sure I hurt her. Hurt her hard and fast. Make her hate me so I would never have to hurt her ever again.

But the truth rang loud and clear in my mind the entire night.

I loved her too…