The cool weather of fall brought much needed relief after the intense heat they'd experienced all summer. Jenny was exceptionally thankful. She was miserably hot anyway, and with her continued training sessions, she felt she was on the verge of heat exhaustion.

"You big baby," Catie teased one morning as Jenny was complaining about it.

"You try doing push-ups with your stomach dragging the ground," Jenny growled.

"I don't envy you guys," Lindsey said.

"You should come with us," Catie offered.

"And train with Vegeta? Are you mental?" Lindsey cried. "I don't think so. I've been through enough."

"Suit yourself," Catie shrugged as she and Jenny prepared to head out. "We'll be back later, to…ya know…" she trailed off.

"Help me not freak out about tomorrow? Yeah," Lindsey sighed. She'd secretly hoped Mr. Flynn would ask for another extension, but no such luck.

"Maybe you won't be called to testify again," Leelee said hopefully.

Lindsey shrugged. She'd been trying to not think about it. "I think I'm going to go lay down," she said suddenly.

"You want me to come with you?" Gohan asked.

"I'm just going to take a nap," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "You stay here and beat Seventeen's ass at Mortal Kombat."

"Not gonna haaaappennnn," Seventeen sing-songed without removing his eyes from the screen.

Lindsey shook her head and left them, Gohan's voice following her, "You just met your match."

She welcomed the quiet and solitude of her room. She leaned against the door for a moment, taking it in. She knew it was only a matter of time before Gohan would come to check on her, though, so she got to work quickly. Within minutes, the drug was racing through her veins, the euphoric feeling washing over her again. She clicked on her stereo, "Bad Habit" by the Dresden Dolls filled the room. Nodding to the music, Lindsey lit a cigarette, taking in the mix of nicotine and lyrics that hit her system.

"Biting keeps your words at bay

tending to the sores that stay

happiness is just a gash away

when I open a familiar scar

pain goes shooting like a star

comfort hasn't failed to follow so far…"

Gods, it made sense. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, bouncing her knees, dragging on her smoke. She rocked in time with the music, totally lost in it.

"and you might say it's self-indulgent

you might say it's self-destructive

but, you see, it's more productive…"

She suddenly felt like she could handle tomorrow. She could put those guys away for good, where they would never be able to hurt another girl the way they'd hurt her. Her thoughts raced as she wondered if they'd ever done that to someone else. How many other girls were hurting the way she was? Did other girls scream out in the middle of the night? Did they despise themselves the way she did? Did they look for ways to cope like her?

"…the ugly marks

are worth the momentary gain

when I jab a sharpened object in

choirs of angels seem to sing…"

She was picking at her nails, listening, listening… the only thing that existed was that music. The alto voice was singing words written just for her. The aggressive piano notes a nod to the anger she'd felt for so long.

"…I cherish the revolting thought

that even if I quit

there's not a chance in hell I'd stop

and anyone can see the signs

mittens in the summertime

thank you for your pity, you are too kind…"

She was so lost in thought that she didn't even hear the door open.

"Whatcha doin'?"

Lindsey jumped and looked over her shoulder. "Toby?" She stood up, eyeing him uncertainly. "You're not supposed to be here."

"Aw, c'mon, Lins, it was a mistake," he said. "They got it straightened out, didn't they? Besides, Yorgi forgave me."

"Well, okay then," she shrugged. "Yorgi really forgave you? That's amazing. I didn't think he ever forgave stuff like that. But you know Yorgi. He's totally unpredictable. Don't you think? I think he is. But he's really great. I mean really, really, really great."

"Whoa, slow down," Toby said, "I can't understand you."

"Ah," she waved both arms at him as if shooing him away.

"What'd you do to your arm?" Toby asked, taking a step closer and looking at her.

She grabbed the inside of her left elbow. "Whacked it on a door. You better get out of here before Gohan sees you in here and thinks you're up to something."

"Yeah, okay," Toby smiled as he left the room.

She felt jittery and upset all of a sudden. Toby had ruined her high. She was terrified that maybe he didn't buy her story. She chewed at her thumb, not sure of what to do. This was awful.

The song had changed. Lindsey closed her eyes, trying to wrap herself in the music again, but it was no use. She was coming down now. She flopped back on her bed, irritated beyond all belief. She could kill that little bastard for just walking into her room.

"…hope grabber,

Greedy little fit haver,

God, I feel for you, fool.

You shit-lover, off brusher,

Jaded, bitter, joy-crusher,

Failure has made you so cruel…"

There was a knock at the door. Lindsey covered her face with a pillow and mumbled, "Go to hell."

Knock, knock, knock.

"Go to hell, go to hell, go to hell."

"Lindsey, open the door! My hands are full!"

She jumped at Gohan's voice, tugging down the sleeves of her shirt and opened the door for him. He entered, carrying two plates of food.

"I brought you some lunch," he said. "I figured you wouldn't be able to go back to sleep this early in the day."

She nodded and didn't answer.

"Rotten to the core,

Rotten to the core,

Rotten like a crack-whore,

Begging out the back door,

Show us what you're good for…"

"What in the world are you listening to?" Gohan asked as he sat the plates on the desk.

"Dresden Dolls," Lindsey answered.

"Is it because you're

A FUCKING….

Backstabber?

Hope grabber, greedy little fit haver…"

Gohan clicked the radio off.

"Hey!" Lindsey snapped.

"What?" Gohan asked. "That band doesn't sound all that great, anyway."

"Dresden Dolls are not a band! They're an experience. And you wouldn't know good music if it bit you in the ass."

"I'm gonna let that one slide and chalk it up to you being stressed out about the trial," he said with his back to her. "Now come here and get something to eat."

She heaved a sigh and walked to the desk, plopping down in the chair.

"Sorry it isn't much," he said, sliding her plate to her. "You know I don't know how to cook." There was a sandwich and a handful of Doritos on it. "Cool Ranch, your favorite," he smiled.

"Thanks," she said, taking a bite of sandwich.

"You nervous about tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Me too."

A rush of appreciation for Gohan hit Lindsey in that moment and she grabbed his waist, hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Gohan knelt down to eye-level with her. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Yes, I do," she answered. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Gohan."

He hugged her tightly. "It's going to be okay. Those guys will be locked up for good and they'll never hurt anyone again."

She didn't know why she felt such comfort in his words, but they soothed her heart. If only they were punished for what they'd done, if there was some justice in this world, if two dangerous men were forever removed from society, then maybe, just maybe, what she'd gone through would be worth it, if it prevented them from hurting another girl.