Apologies for the double posting/alerts. I noticed something was missing after I uploaded this chapter the first time.

Here we go, Tom thought as he half-heartedly shook the psychologist's hand.

Dr. Hirsch pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. "How are you doing today?" he asked.

"I'm okay…thanks," Tom responded flatly, looking down at his hands.

The doctor studied him for a moment before saying, "Well, first off, let me say that I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances. I know you've been through an awful experience. But I'm confident that we can find some ways to help you heal from it." Getting no response, Dr. Hirsch continued, "I've been in close touch with Dr. Marcus, and I've spoken with your mother as well. You know she's pretty worried about you."

At the mention of his mother, Tom looked up but did not say anything.

"They've been anxious for me to see you," Dr. Hirsch said, "but I didn't want to force it until you were ready." He paused, then went on as Hanson remained silent. "You've been here for four days now. What made you decide you were ready to talk to me?"

Tom looked down again and mumbled, "They won't let me leave until I do."

"So, why didn't you ask for me earlier? I mean, I know you're not able to leave yet, but…it would have sped up the process."

Tom shrugged slightly, staring at his hands while he scratched at one of his old IV sites that had scabbed over and was itching. Then he looked at the doctor. "I don't know what to do," he said simply, fighting back tears.

Dr. Hirsch observed the young man in front of him. Dr. Marcus had informed him of Hanson's ordeal…at least what little he knew beyond the injuries that the officer had suffered. The psychologist noted the bruises that marred Tom's face, neck, and arms as well as the ligature marks on his wrists. It was obvious that he had endured a horrific attack, but Hirsch knew that the worst of it went unseen. The physical injuries would heal in time, but the psychological damage would prove more difficult to repair. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean…I just…" Hanson let out an exasperated sigh as one tear rolled down his face. "When I get out of here. I can't go home where…where they got me. I'm afraid to be alone. I can't go back to work and have everyone staring at me and knowing what happened. I just…I can't do anything…normal…again."

"Listen to me, Tom. This is normal. How you're feeling right now is normal. And I'm going to help you so that you can handle the things that are going to come up…places and people and situations. You're right…things have changed, and it's going to be hard. I won't lie and say that it's not. But people do survive things like this and are able to live good lives afterward."

Tom was shaking his head. "I don't think I can," he said quietly. "That's why…that's why I didn't want to see you. I knew after that…they'd make me go home."

The doctor sighed sympathetically. "We're not going to send you home until you're ready, Tom, believe me. And we're not going to send you off to fend for yourself. We're going to help you through this. You have a lot of people who care about you and who want to see you get better."

"I know." Tom nodded, sniffing back tears, his head bowed.

"The fact that you're here in the first place," Dr. Hirsch said as he leaned forward again, "shows me how strong you are. You've hung on and made it this far. No matter what happens from here on out…you're a survivor, Tom."

Tom looked up at the man, wanting desperately to believe him. This man was a stranger to him, but he was offering hope, and right now he was the only option Tom could see.

"Can you…can you make the dreams go away?"

"Penhall!" Captain Fuller's voice boomed throughout the chapel as he headed out of his office toward the exit.

Doug looked up from the papers he was reading and saw the captain go by in a blur. "What's up?" he asked as he stood up from the desk.

Fuller stopped by the front door and turned around to face the officer. "Come on. We got him."

There was no need for any further explanation. Doug grabbed his weapon and strapped it on, following the captain out of the chapel.

Once in the car and on their way, Fuller filled Doug in on what was happening. Detective Michaels' officers had finally located Lee Eckert in one of the apartment buildings in Langston. They had set up surveillance and were now sure that Eckert was currently in the apartment.

"Cap'n, what the fuck? His name is on the lease?" Doug asked. "That doesn't make any sense!"

"I know, Doug," the captain replied. "I don't know what kind of game this guy is playing or if he's just plain crazy. But we're gonna find out."

They pulled up to the curb behind two other unmarked police vehicles. Michaels and his men were waiting for them to arrive before they went in after Eckert.

"What have you got, Mark?" Fuller asked as he got out of the car.

"He's in the Lockwood Apartments…block and a half up…number 324….been in there all morning. You guys ready?"

"Hell yeah!" Doug answered, already striding up the street.

"Doug! Hang on!" Michaels called out.

Doug stopped in his tracks and looked back.

"My guys and I are going in first. I'm letting you two come along as a favor, okay? But don't get in the way. Stay in the back until we have the situation under control. Got it?"

Doug shifted his gaze between his captain and the detective but did not answer.

"Got it?" Michaels repeated.

Doug fixed the detective with an angry stare but knew from the look on his face that he was not going to win this one. "Got it," he said evenly, then stepped aside and motioned for the other officers to lead the way. Michaels passed by as well, never breaking eye contact with Penhall.

Fuller caught up to Doug and grabbed him by the arm. "God damn it, Doug! Settle down! We need to do this right!"

"But, Cap'n they…"

"Save it! If you're gonna blow this, Penhall, then I'm leaving you here. I'm not letting you run up there and do something stupid to compromise this case!" Fuller looked his officer in the eye. "Is that clear?" he asked sternly.

"Perfectly," Doug shot back.

"All right then." Fuller let go of Doug's arm. "Let's do this."

The two men quickly caught up to the others as they were entering the apartment building. Michaels led the way up a dark, dank stairwell to the third floor. The group made their way down the empty hallway, weapons drawn, until they reached a door with the number 324 on it. Doug and Fuller stood back as Michaels banged on the door and yelled, "Police!" He then turned and nodded at his officers, one of whom threw his shoulder against the door.

The door burst open and the officers rushed in, ready for a confrontation. But all they encountered was Lee Eckert sitting in an easy chair and sipping a beer in front of the television. He did not appear to even notice the three men surrounding him with guns aimed at his head. The officers all shouted at once, "On the floor! Get on the floor!" but Eckert did not move. One officer approached Eckert and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him out of the chair and then forcing him face down onto the floor. The other quickly joined his partner and together they secured handcuffs on the ex-con.

The two officers pulled Eckert to his feet where he was face to face with Detective Michaels. "Lee Eckert, you're under arrest for aggravated assault, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault…and that's just for starters."

Eckert did not appear phased by the activity or the detective's words. He snickered, "Oh yeah? Just who did I 'assault'?"

The officers had entered the apartment and apprehended Eckert so quickly that Fuller and Doug had not yet had a chance to respond. But hearing Eckert's question spurred Doug into action. He was across the room in a flash, grabbing Eckert by the shirtfront and slamming him face forward against a nearby wall. "You know exactly who, you motherfucking son of a bitch!" Doug snarled into his ear. "My partner…Tom Hanson."

"Doug!" shouted Fuller, but his officer did not seem to hear him.

The side of Eckert's face was pressed against the wall, but he turned his eyes toward Doug. "Oh yeahhhh…I remember you! What are you so worked up about? The two of you got something going?"

Doug pulled the man back and slammed him against the wall again. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Doug!" the captain yelled again.

"Man, I'm sorry," said Eckert with a smirk. "I never would have fucked him if I'd known he was your bitch."

At that Doug drew his gun and put it to Eckert's head. "You think that's funny, you sick son of a bitch?! Huh?!"

"Officer Penhall!" bellowed Michaels from directly behind Doug. "Put your weapon down! Now!"

Doug turned to look at the detective. Michaels glared at him, his face red with anger. Doug glared back, his own face just as red and just as angry. Slowly, he put his gun back into his holster. He then pulled Eckert away from the wall and shoved him toward the waiting officers, one of whom then escorted the laughing ex-con out of the apartment. The other officer took his position outside the door to keep the scene secure until the CSIs could arrive to search the apartment.

The tension in the room was thick. Each of the three men left there was fuming, but none of them spoke. The crackle of Michaels' radio broke the silence. "Prisoner secured, sir. We're on our way." Michaels acknowledged the call and then flipped the radio off. He looked at Fuller, then at Penhall, and left the room without another word.

Doug and Fuller continued to seethe in silence for a few moments after the detective left, neither one looking at the other. Finally, the captain spoke, sounding calmer than he looked. "Doug…"

"I don't want to hear it," Penhall responded through clenched teeth.

"Doug, listen to me."

"I don't care what you have to say. That piece of shit had it coming and more."

Fuller stunned the officer when he replied, "I agree."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But…if that's how it's going to be…if you're going to fly off the handle every time he provokes you…and he will provoke you…you're going to damage the case. You can't let him make you blow this."

Doug sighed and crossed his arms, fixing the captain with a hard stare.

"You have to do this right, Doug," Fuller continued. "For Hanson. He can't do it. You're going to have to do it for him. Don't blow it." He then turned and went out the door, leaving Doug alone in the room.

Doug met Dr. Marcus as the doctor was coming out of Tom's room. "Hi, Doug. Good to see you again," he said as he passed by.

Entering the room, Doug saw that Tom was awake and sitting up in bed. He looked more alert than he had since arriving at the hospital, but just as despondent. "Hey, man…how's it going?"

Tom looked at him and smiled a little. "Okay," he said quietly.

"Saw the doctor on my way in. Everything okay?"

Tom looked down. "Yeah…I guess. He just…had some test results."

Doug looked puzzled. "What kind of tests?"

"STDs," Tom replied, his eyes cast downward as he fidgeted with the sheet.

Doug's stomach dropped. Jesus. He hadn't even thought about the possibility of that. "Aw man," he said. "Shit. I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Tom uttered without looking up.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Tom shrugged. "I guess."

"So what did he say?" Doug asked.

"So far everything looks okay. Some of it…he can't really be sure yet…it's too soon." He sighed and bit his lip, determined not to cry again in front of his friend. But he couldn't stop his hands from shaking as he continued, "I have to keep getting tested…every few months…for HIV…to know for sure."

Doug sat silent, not sure what to say. It was all he could do to keep from heading down to the police station and killing Eckert with his bare hands. "I'm sorry," he said again.

"Yeah…thanks…I know." Tom looked up. "It'll be okay," he said, smiling a little again. "I…uh…I talked to that psychologist this morning."

"Oh yeah?" Doug exclaimed, brightening. "Good for you! How did it go?"

"It was all right. He's a nice guy. I think…I don't know. Maybe he can help a little. He said he can."

Doug smiled. It was good to see his friend encouraged about something and feeling hopeful. "That's great, man. I'm really glad." He had intended to give Tom the news about Eckert's arrest, but he wasn't sure how he would take it, and so he decided to wait and let Tom enjoy this moment of optimism while it lasted.

The two of them made some more small talk before Tom settled down in the bed to rest and quickly fell asleep. Soon after, his mother arrived, and Doug left Tom under her watchful eye as he left the hospital and headed for the police station.

I hope this chapter will hold you over for a little bit, but don't worry. I promise I'm not one of those writers who leaves a story unfinished. :-) It won't be that long until a new one is up. Thanks again to everyone who is reading...the ones who have been here for a while as well as the ones just discovering the story. Please leave a review if you're so inclined. I love hearing what you think and if you're enjoying it. :-)