Elliot sat in the Benson apartment talking to Marissa. He had found out that once you got past her paranoia and over-protectiveness toward Freddie, she was a lot like Liv. She was a fighter when it came to protecting people and making sure they were safe, but she also had a real soft spot for children.

"Elliot, I knew that Sam was a broken child, I mean, I knew that she was carrying a lot of pain, but I had no idea how truly horrible it was. Poor thing, she has such a terrible home life, I see the bruises, but then on top of that, she has such a grown-up thing that she has to deal with when she's just a child. Poor, poor Sam. Is there anything I can do to help her Elliot? I feel responsible for her, seeing as she's one of Freddie's best friends."

"Sadly, Marissa, there is only so much we can do, and in this particular situation, all we can do is be there for her if and when she needs it." Elliot sighed. He hated telling victims' friends and families that basically they just had to hold their hand while they suffered. "What do you mean 'terrible home life'?"

"Her mother's a drunk. Can't stand to even look at her, that's why she sent the twins away. Some of those boyfriends of hers are a piece of work. Sometimes I think that she intentionally has them beat poor Sam. Poor kid, never stood a chance…"

* * *

Liv sat in her car thinking about Sam. That girl really got to her. They had some kind of connection, something that drew them toward each other, something about Sam's new life that wasn't there before.

Olivia sighed. There was only so much that she could do. She had to remind herself of that. This girl had been through hell and back and all she could do was hold her hand and watch her cry. She hated this job so much, but yet something about it always pulled her back in. She didn't know why, she never got to see the victims heal, only the broken bodies and spirits.

At least she had her Elliot, something for her to look forward to everyday. Ah, HER Elliot, gosh, she liked the sound of that. He was hers now, and she was going to be hers for the rest of their lives…

* * *

Sam lay silently on the couch, resting her head on her arm. Carly was sitting on the arm of a chair to the left of Sam and Sophie was on her desk. "So, Sam, what would you like to talk about?" Sophie asked, smiling gently, looking over the tops of her black rimmed glasses.

"……I-um……I just, it's just that……" Sam stumbled over her words.

"Okay, sweetheart, do you care if I call you that? I understand, you're unsure where to start. Since I know that we just met, so you don't trust me completely, we'll just chat. So, where we you from originally?"

"Seattle…" Sam said, without even looking up at her.

"No, honey, I mean before you came here. Where were you when the abuse started?"

"Manhattan." Sam said.

"Oh, and how did you find your way to Seattle?"

"I hitchhiked. I wasn't all that worried about the danger, killing me would be doing me a favor…" Sam sighed.

"Sam!" Carly exclaimed.

"Carly, it's very normal for Sam to feel like that; you have to realize all that she's been through. Sam, have you ever considered or tried to hurt yourself?" Sophie said gently, her voice calm and even.

"I…. I'd rather not say……" Sam rolled over to where her back was to Sophie and Carly.

"S-" Carly started, but Dr. West held up her hand to silence her.

Dr. West got up and walked over to Sam, sitting down on the couch behind her, her hand coming to rest on Sam's arm. "Sam, sweetie, I want to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me."

"Yes, yes I have considered hurting myself. I think about it every time one of mom's drugged-up boyfriends comes to 'visit me', every time she beats me in a drunken rage, every time I wake up screaming and crying in the middle of the night because I had a nightmare!" Sam cried out, sitting up and turning to look at Sophie.

"Sam, are you still being abused?" Sophie asked. The two were in an intense conversation and didn't notice that Carly was sitting quietly, tears running down her face.

"……I want to go now, Sophie, I want to leave……" Sam jumped up and headed for the door.

Dr. West was faster, though. She got between Sam and the door and rested her hands on Sam's shoulders, "Sam, I'm here to help you. If someone is still hurting you, it's up to me to make sure that you're taken out of that situation. Sam, we care about you and we just want you to be safe. I don't want you to be in pain when there is something I can do to stop it, when there is something I can do to stop it. Listen to me, Sam, let me be there for you. You need help, you're just a child and you can't defend yourself against these men and your drunken mother. If you are still being abused, you need to tell me."

"Yeah, I am. There. Are you happy now? I admitted it. I'm still being abused. My mom beats me and she lets her boyfriends rape me. There, I said it. Happy?"

"No, Sam, I'm sorry. I had to know. Now I can get you away from them. I can make you safe. No one is ever going to touch you ever again, Sam, not ever."

"Sam," Carly spoke for the first time, "I'm so sorry. I knew she as an out-of-control drunk, but I had no idea how bad it was. You can stay at my house; you don't ever have to go back to her!" Carly was shaking and she ran over to Sam and wrapped her arms around her.

The two girls hugged for a moment and then split, looking at Sophie. "I think that's enough for today."

"Thank you," Carly said her arm still around Sam.

"Just helping a friend," Sophie smiled, "Will I see you girls next week?"

Carly looked at Sam, who nodded, "I guess so." Carly said.

The two girls walked from the building with their arms linked.

* * *

Spencer and Casey lay on the couch together, making out just as they had been doing for the last half hour. The doors were locked and the lights were out. They didn't want anyone to bother them. They were busy…