The waitress brought our drinks and a basket of breadsticks, interrupting our conversation.
"You guys ready to order?" she asked, pulling out a notepad.
"Go ahead, Elle," McGee told me.
I glanced at the menu for the first time since it had been handed to me. "No, you go ahead. I'm still not sure what I want."
McGee ordered a plate of regular spaghetti with meat sauce and I just handed the menu to the waitress and told her I'd have the same thing. I didn't want to think about picking out anything off the menu.
When she was gone, I continued. "Will was the greatest best friend anybody could have, you know—like a once in a lifetime best friend. We did everything together. I still just can't figure out how he loved me for so long and I never saw it. He never tried to put his arm around me and hugs were just awkward for us. Why didn't he ever say anything?"
"Would you have liked for him to have said something?" McGee wanted to know.
"Yeah—no! I don't know! It might've made things awkward between us, but I don't know. I can't imagine Will being anything but my nerdy, handsome best friend. Do you have anyone like that?" I asked him, looking up at the NCIS agent.
"Yeah, kinda. Our forensic scientist, Abby, and I used to date about four or five years ago. Now we're great friends, but it would be weird if we ever started dating again," McGee admitted.
I nibbled on a breadstick absently and sipped my diet coke slowly. "I just wish I hadn't found out after he died. I just wish he hadn't died at all." Suddenly, I looked up at McGee sharply. "Do you think I'll ever forget him? My dog died three years ago and I can barely remember him anymore. I don't want Will to become just a photograph beside my bed."
McGee wasn't quite sure what to say to that.
After dinner, McGee drove me back to my car and then followed me back to my apartment. I got out of my car in front of the complex and so did he.
"Thank you for coming tonight, McGee," I told him, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jacket. "It was really sweet."
McGee smiled and I could swear he was blushing. "It was nothing."
"No. It was something. I needed someone and you were there for me. Most NCIS agents wouldn't work overtime on a case that had already been solved." I gave him my best smile.
"Most of our victims aren't beautiful blondes," McGee admitted. He cursed himself the moment the words came out. It sounded like something Tony would have said.
"I'd like to see you again soon, McGee," I told him. "But you have my number and it's up to you."
"Oh trust me, I'll call you again." He leaned in and kissed my cheek lightly. "I hope you feel better soon. Call me whenever you need to—I'm happy to help."
I got inside and looked in the mirror next to my front door. I barely recognized the girl in the glass. My hair was straggly and my eyes had dark circles underneath them. I suddenly realized how exhausted I was. My bed was looking extremely inviting, so I slipped into an old pair of cheerleading shorts and a sports bra, then slid in between the sheets.
Not long after sleep claimed me, I began to have the worst nightmare I'd ever had….
My wrists were bound tightly and I couldn't tell exactly where I was. Something was stuffed in my mouth and I couldn't get it out. I tried to kick and scream, but I couldn't manage to make any noise. It was like I was kicking at air, all around me. I could hear fighting and then a gunshot. I tried to scream again, but nothing would come out.
Suddenly, light surrounded me and I could see Scott's face, his dark eyes gleaming wickedly. I shook my head and tried to get away from him, but I was helpless. He grabbed me by my hair and began dragging me through the bedroom. I didn't see Will anywhere, but Scott threw me on the bed and began fumbling with the buttons on my shirt.
I woke up with a start, a cold sweat drenching my clothes and the sheets around me. I was sobbing unconsciously and my heart was pounding inside my chest. The dream had felt so real and it made began to wonder if maybe…I didn't even want to think about what Scott might've done to me. Had he…raped me? I moaned and fell back against the pillow, sobbing again. I felt so violated, so vulnerable.
The next morning, I went to the Emergency Room and told them what had happened to me recently. They checked and then came back and gave me the bad news. Scott had indeed raped me while I was unconscious. I held in my emotions until I got into the car. Then, I broke down. Scott had violated me. He had ruined me. I was damaged. I was a victim.
The next night, I was awakened by nightmares again. I ached for someone to comfort me, tell me that it was all going to be okay. But, at the same time, I was afraid of being near anyone. I didn't want anyone to know what had happened to me. To know what Scott had done to me. I wanted to call McGee. I wanted McGee to call me and tell me things were going to get better.
Two days after I the nightmares began and I found out what Scott had done to me, I went to a coffee shop early one morning. Caffeine was the only thing keeping me awake. I hadn't slept in three days and I felt weaker than when I'd had the flu for a week. I carried a book with me, but while I was sitting at the table, drinking my coffee, I dozed off over the book.
McGee had just picked up his cup of coffee from the counter when he saw a familiar blonde head leaning over a table, the long hair flung out over the table. He thought for a moment that it looked a lot like Elle Charlton, but he wasn't positive. But, when he saw the purple designer handbag hanging on the back of the chair, he realized that it was her.
"Elle?" McGee put his hand on her shoulder, nearly scaring her to death. She jumped and knocked her coffee over.
"Damn it!" she swore loudly, catching the attention of many of the coffee shop's customers who enjoyed their early morning quiet.
"Elle, it's okay," McGee assured her, grabbing some napkins and sopping up the spilt beverage. "It's okay. I cleaned it up, see?"
Elle looked up and McGee and suddenly, she bolted, running from the coffee shop as fast as she could, not even bothering to take her book and purse.
"Elle!" McGee called, running after her. "Stop! What's wrong?!"
I ran down two blocks to where my car was parked, then realized that my keys were still in my bag at the coffee shop. I turned around and found myself face-to face with McGee.