"Why did you leave?" Pablo asked. Kris shrugged her shoulders.

"I only came back to get Wildfire, and I figured that I was wasting my time trying to find a home in Raintree again." Pablo nodded. A few hours later, they arrived at Raintree to find Jean and Matt waiting for them.

"We're back," Pablo called into the vast house, slowly leading Kris in. Before she was two steps in, Matt was by her side, slowly leading her along. Pablo went into the kitchen, and Matt began leading her upstairs towards her room.

"Have a nice ride?" he asked, trying to make conversation. She nodded, focusing all of her attention on the ache she felt while walking. "Do you want me to carry you?" She shook her head automatically, knowing that any unnecessary contact would lead to an incident. A few minutes later, she was settled in her room, the door partially closed, sitting on the edge of her bed. She lifted her shirt up slowly, only so much that she could see the healing stab wounds.

"Looks like they hurt," a voice commented. Kris turned to see Jean standing in her doorway. "Can I come in?" Kris nodded, a slow smile coming to her face. Jean sat next to Kris, then took Kris' hands in her own. "I'm sorry. I really am. About everything."

"No," Kris insisted. "I deserved everything that happened to me." Jean stared at her as though she were psychotic.

"Kris, no one deserves what's happened to you," she insisted. Kris' eyes widened.

"So you know?" Kris questioned. Jean nodded.

"It's kind of hard to miss the stab wounds and the sight they showed on TV."

"But you don't know what happened specifically?" Kris asked, needing an answer.

"No, no one does." Kris let out a sigh of relief.

"It's better that way."

"Why?"

"So that I don't have to put anyone through any more pain." Jean let out a sigh of frustration.

"You don't have to always be so strong for everyone, Kris. It's alright to let us be your support sometimes." Kris shook her head defiantly.

"I have to be able to stand on my own to feet without anyone else. It's the way I was brought up, the way I'll always be."

"You're a Ritter now," Jean argued. "You have a new way of life." Kris nodded her head, though not completely believing it. "So…how did you get these?"

"From a knife," Kris replied blandly. Jean took the hint and left Kris alone in Matt's room. When Kris looked about, everything looked so familiar. Matt still had a picture of her upon his wall.

"You alright?" Matt asked, coming in and sitting on the floor.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Junior seemed really upset when he came out," he commented. Kris forced a smirk to her face.

"Well, there's only so much a guy who loved you can feel when he sees his ex after he's married. One is love, the other is anger. It's just easier to go with anger." Matt nodded his head.

"He and Laura are really happy," Matt explained. "I guess it was just really hard for him to have to see the girl he used to love in such a…hard position. I'd know."

"Matt, please-"