When we got out to the main entrance, I clutched the panda a little tighter, bringing my legs up to my chest as best I could and burying my face in its fur. The outside world once again looked like terrifying place with danger lurking behind every corner instead of this bright, shining place full of magic and splendor. I eyed every person that walked by us wondering if they were going to attack me. I can't even imagine what I must have looked like to Zak. He stopped the wheelchair and squatted down in front of me so that we were eye level. He looked me in the eyes searching my face for emotions when he said, "They won't let us take the wheelchair all the way out to the parking lot. Do you want to wait here while I get the car or do you want to try and walk it?"

I thought about it very seriously for a while. On the one hand I really didn't want to try and walk for fear of falling and busting my ass on the concrete, but on the other hand I REALLY didn't want to be by myself—even if it was only for five minutes. So after deliberating for a few more seconds I told him, "Walk." He nodded then stood up and held out his hand. I put my hand in his before putting my legs back down on the floor and pulling myself—along with the panda—out of the wheelchair. I was a little wobbly, but surprisingly had pretty good balance. Once I was far enough away from the wheelchair, Zak took the panda from me and put my arm tightly around his shoulder and put his arm around my waist so I could lean on to him for stability. We walked kind of slow, him letting me walk as best I could but acting like he was ready to catch me at a moment's notice. My mind was split between focusing on the walk and being hyperaware of Zak's proximity. As we walked he absently started stroking the top of my hand which felt kind of nice. Once we got to the car he opened the passenger door for me and waited for me to get seated before handing me the panda and shutting the door. While he climbed into the driver's seat, I scooted my seat all the up as far as it would go so that I could curl in a ball and rest my knees on the dashboard. I put the panda by the window so I could use it as a pillow.

"Are you still hungry?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Do you want to get something to eat now or go home and rest first?"

I sat and thought about it for a while before asking, "Can we eat something at home?"

"Is that really what you want?"

I nodded.

"Then we'll do that," he said as he put the car in gear and drove toward the interstate. He called Nick and Aaron on the way to the house to tell them where we were going.

Once there Zak helped me in to the house where we were greeted by Gracie and Angel.

"Down girls. Let me get Momma sat down first before you jump all over her." Gracie and Angel stopped trying to jump on me but followed us to couch and waited for me to sit down before each taking a side and laying their heads in my lap. I petted them both and smiled up at Zak, "I think they really like each other."

"I think they really like you," he smiled back. His smile had me transfixed. I could not tear my eyes away from his. It felt like I was falling into an ocean of bright blue when all of a sudden—

"Hey, we're here!" Aaron said as he and Nick walked in to the house.

We both jumped and turned our heads to the door.

"Did we interrupt something?" Aaron teased.

"No," I replied as I felt a blush crawl across my cheeks while Zak started walking towards the kitchen.

"Here you go," Nick said as he handed me a beach bag full of stuff, "Veronique made sure to get you everything she could think of."

I dug around and saw clothes, socks, shoes, bathroom stuff, hair ties, make-up, and nail polish. "Aww. Thank-you. Care to help a girl up?" I asked.

"Sure," he said holding his hand out. I took it and pulled myself up off the couch, bag in hand.

"Thanks."

"You good?"

"Yeah. I think I'll be okay. I have some feeling back in my legs again."

"Okay," Nick said before letting my step away from his guiding hand. Angel and Gracie both got off the couch once I stepped away and followed me all the way to the bathroom. I let them inside the bathroom with me before shutting the door. I quickly took off the clothes I had on then caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My face was pale compared to the rest of my body. My eyes were a bright green, but there was a tangle hint of fear in them. My body looked almost tiny and fragile.

I could not help but notice the scars that ran across my body. Most were on my back or midsection, but some were on my upper thighs. Each scar told a different piece of the story that was my past. I gently ran my hand over the scar on my lower back that was between my spine and left kidney, remembering once again the feel of the knife being plunged into my back. Angel let out a soft whine. I sighed heavily before tearing my eyes away from the mirror and looking down at her. I petted her on the head before returning to the task at hand. I decided on a pair of black sweatpants and a heather grey thermal. Not that it was cold so much as it was that I didn't want anyone to see the scars any more than they already have. Once dressed, the girls and I walked back out of the bathroom to see Nick and Aaron talking while Zak furiously dug throughout the kitchen for something.

I laughed under my breath and walked back to the couch. Once sitting, Angel and Gracie once again laid down on either side of me, both curled into balls with their head in my lap. I smiled before realizing that I did not have the remote for the TV. I looked around the room a few times before spotting the remote on the coffee table. Three feet away. I glared at it for a while before reaching my hand toward the table. When nothing happened I dropped my arm. I repeated this movement about three times before looking down and pouted, "Stupid force. You no work."

"Do you need some help?" Zak asked, smiling.

I looked up to see all Nick and Aaron standing in between the kitchen and the living room grinning from ear to ear and Zak standing a few feet in front of me, wearing his characteristic smirk.

I lift my hand up toward the remote again. He just shook his head as he walked over and grabbed the remote then handed it to me. My eyes lit up and I grinned like a little child, "Yay!" I said in my best two year old voice.

"Lynn?"

I looked up at him.

"What do you want to eat?"

I deliberated for a bit before answering, "Cream of Potato. Or Yogurt."

"Cream of Potato soup?" Zak asked confused.

"Yes."

"Okay," he nodded, "I can do that."

"Thank-you."

He just smiled at me—not one of those fake half smiles, but a real, genuine smile—before heading back into the kitchen.

I started flipping through the channels on the TV until I came across Wicked Attraction. I squeak in a moment of excitement before setting the remote back down and stare down the TV like it was revealing the meaning of life.

A little while later the guys came into the living room—food in hand. Zak tossed a pillow in my lap then handed me a bowl of soup before sitting down on the couch next to Angel.

"How can you eat with this on?" Aaron asked as the TV showed a scene of a decomposed corpse being examined.

"Simple. Like this," I said before grabbing my spoon and eating a bite of soup. Zak and Nick started laughing. After a couple more episodes of Bones I started falling asleep so Nick and Aaron decided to go home.

"All right crazy girl, come on. Let's get you to bed," Zak said standing in front of me.

I yawned, "But I'm not tired."

"Uh huh," he mocked, "and that's why you're yawning nonstop." I groaned in response, but gave him my hand to help me get up. Once he was sure I was not going to fall over he walked me up the stairs and into the guest room. He pulled the covers back before letting me sit on the bed. "I'm just right across the hall if you need anything." I nodded and brought my feet up on the bed and laid down. He pulled the covers over me, "Now get some sleep."

I woke up to the sound of Angel barking. I rolled over and buried my head under the pillows trying to drowned out the sound so I could go back to sleep. That's when I felt something touch my ankles. I jolted upright and noticed that my feet were still covered by the blanket. I took a deep breath then flipped the covers back to discover nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"hahahahahahahahaha" I heard from in front of me, but no one was there. Knowing Zak's profession there was only one explanation my brain could come up with for what was happening and it wasn't good. I bolted out of bed and ran to Zak's room and climbed onto the bed and curled into his side—body shaking from fear.

"Lynn?" Zak asked groggily.

I couldn't answer.

I felt his weight shift as he rolled over, "Sweetheart what's wrong?"

"Can—Can I stay in here with you?"

Zak didn't say anything, he just took my hand and guided me to the top of the bed then rolled me over so that my back was pressed against his chest before pulling the covers over us and rested his arm over my waist. "Better?" he asked.

"Uh huh," I said putting my hand on top of his, intertwining our fingers, and pulling it to rest over my heart.

"Get some rest Lynn. No one is going to get you here." Zak said. I don't know why, but hearing those words made it feel like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Feeling Zak's hand in mine I closed my eyes and moments later was asleep again.