DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Wizards of Waverly Place or its characters. Those rights belong to Disney and associates. I am NOT making any monetary profit from this.

A/N: I noticed as I was looking back at my previous chapters that there isn't much dialogue in this story. It must be boring to have to read thoughts and feelings, isn't it? I, for one, enjoy reading stories with witty dialogue or sufficient dialogue. I feel it makes the story flow smoothly. However, this particular story doesn't have enough dialogue because it's more about describing feelings and the environment of which the feelings are set. I will try to put more dialogue in the next chapter(s). Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it! :)

Someone To Save Me

Elm Treigh

5.

The next day...

Jesse woke the next morning expecting to smell breakfast like he had been since Carmen moved in. Imagine his surprise when he entered the kitchen and saw nothing was prepared. Maybe she wasn't awake yet. Maybe she was still getting ready. What ever the reason, he decided he would make his own breakfast, rather than wait for her to make it.

He made himself some coffee and put some bread in the toaster. He didn't need Carmen to make him breakfast, though, he admitted to himself, he was becoming accustomed to it. He used to make his own breakfasts all the time. They weren't as elaborate meals as hers were, but it was still something viewed as a sufficient morning meal. He had been eating and doing fine before Carmen, and he will continue to eat and do fine after Carmen. He reasoned.

The bread popped up. Jesse retrieved the toast, and put some jam on it. He placed the remaining dirty dishes into the sink, and proceeded to leave to work. He reached the door and paused. He looked at the floor where the shattered porcelain horse should be. He saw nothing. Carmen must have cleaned up the mess. He looked over to where the blood stains were and noticed that they, too, were gone. She must have cleaned that, too.

Jesse stared into space as he tried to analyze his feelings of what he'd done yesterday afternoon, and found nothing. He focused on the would-be stains and tried to find any feelings of remorse or guilt or anything. Nothing. He didn't understand this. Why wasn't he feeling anything about what he did? He knew he should, but he didn't. He was empty of any real emotions that weren't hate and/or anger.

He bit the corner of his lip. He realized he hadn't heard or seen Carmen. He wasn't even sure whether Carmen had left to school or not. He decided he would find out. He made his way toward Carmen's bedroom. Without pausing to knock, he opened the door. He stood under the door's frame completely shell shocked at what he was seeing.

Carmen was in her undergarments, her back facing him. It wasn't that she was practically naked, in her bra and panties that startled him. Nor was he embarrassed, despite the fact that he should be. No, it was all the black, blue, green, and pale yellow marks all over her body that surprised him. It was seeing all the marks that finally awoke the emotions of disgust inside him. He did this to her? He left her black, and blue, and green? Him?

Carmen felt someone's presence and turned to investigate. She saw her brother eying her barely clothed form with a pained, disturbed, tear filled look. She quickly put her robe on and strolled lithely toward her brother. Not having a second thought of the fact that he entered her room without knocking or that he had been standing there, staring at her half nude form. It was the way he was looking at her body that made her want to hug him. She saw sadness, distress, and outrage. She saw anything but hate this time.

Jesse barely distinguished his sister's movements as she approached him in what felt like slow motion. He felt her small hand caress his face gently in a comforting way. She was trying to ease his pain? After all he has done to her? After all the horrific bruises on her face? The series of little cuts on her right cheek, the barely visible shiner on her other cheek, even the slightly swollen nose? She looked as if she were in an accident. Injuries that would merit an accident but were received by him. Still, she was soothing his regret, his shame? The tears finally broke through the barrier he put up the moment she entered his life and streamed hotly down his cheeks.

Carmen held his face, making shushing murmurs that a mother makes when comforting a child, and gently wiped some of the tears away. It pained her to see her brother upset, although she knew she should be angry with him. She knew she should be more than angry, she should be furious with him for beating her nearly senseless. But she just couldn't. She lived too many days without him. She lived too many days missing him. She hasn't forgiven him. No, that will take a while to do. She just couldn't stand to see him upset. She couldn't.

Jesse stepped away from Carmen, feeling absolutely wretched of what he did to her. He was drenched with guilt, soaked in disgust, and drowning in shame. She was a far better person than he. She should be angry with him for beating her without any legit reason. She should hate him. Nevertheless, she was attempting to sooth his pain.

"Jesse..."

Jesse looked up at the bruised face staring at him. He stared into the hazel-green eyes that bore into his, concerned, and all he could think of was that to this day, those eyes still troubled him. Those eyes still brought back memories he wants to forget. It was his father's eyes that followed him like a shadow, from wake till sleep and wake again. However, for once, he didn't see his father's judgmental eyes staring back at him. For once, it was Carmen's eyes. For once, since she's been in New York, he saw his baby sister like he remembered her before he left. The little girl he adored. The little girl he loved more than anything. The little girl he protected and spoiled and would never harm. This was the little girl he had wanted to see. This was the girl he had struggled to see, until now.

The wretchedness he felt inside him intensified as the little girl, his little sister's battered face, gazed at him. He couldn't take it anymore. He walked away from her, but froze when he felt pressure on his arm. He looked to see Carmen's dainty hand on his arm. He turned, slowly, to face her.

"Jesse, I can't go to school today. I-I don't feel well. Would you mind calling the school to notify them of my absence? Oh! And could you also add that I won't be attending school tomorrow, either. I... uh... really don't feel all that great. Please?" She asked, leaning her head on the door and closing her eyes in an attempt to emphasize how tired she was.

Jesse looked away from her, nodded, and left hurriedly out of the flat and away from Carmen. He wanted to get away from the pain. Away from the repulsion he felt, away from the shame, and guilt threatening to suffocate him. It was all becoming too much. How much more of this could he endure?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Morning, Alex!" Dean said, leaning in to give Alex a soft kiss on the lips. Alex sighed content. "Have you seen Carmen?"

"Carmen?" She asked disbelievingly. How could he be asking for her when he was with her?

"Yeah, I'm a little worried about her. She looked kind of scared yesterday when she left to go home," he began to explain.

"How could she be scared? You walked her home, didn't you?" She asked, a hint of resentment in her voice.

"Yeah, but I didn't walk her all the way to her door. She wouldn't let me," Dean answered not aware of the jealousy Alex was showing.

"Why would you need to walk her all the way? She's a big girl, Dean. She can take of herself." Alex scoffed.

Dean stared confused at Alex before the bitter undertones of her words finally reached his brain. He smiled at her, teasingly. "Alex Russo, are you jealous?"

"Me? Jealous? Of what?"

"You're not jealous of my being friends with Carmen, right?"

"No! Why would I be? I mean, just because you grew up with her, and she's met your mom, and she knows more about you, and you two are close, or the fact that she's pretty and smart and funny, doesn't mean I'm jealous."

Dean grinned widely and gave Alex a hug. He kissed her hard on the mouth. "Alex, Carmen is and will always be just a friend to me. A sister. That's it." He said, trying to assure her. Alex didn't seem convinced.

BRRRRIIIIIINNNNGGG!

Dean gave Alex another kiss and then left. Alex regarded Dean's form as he left to class. She wished she could believe that he and Carmen were just friends, but she couldn't. She knew well that friendships between a boy and a girl, don't always last. One or the other eventually falls for one or the other. She just hoped Dean doesn't fall for Carmen.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The day continued, and still no sign of Carmen. Dean was beginning to worry. Had anything happened to her? Was it the same thing that gave her that bruise? What happened to her? As long as he's known her, she had never missed a day of school unless it was something really bad. Dean's stomach churned uncomfortably. Something was wrong.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The next day...

"Alex? Have you seen Carmen today?" Dean asked anxiously.

Alex sighed, annoyed and answered in an annoyed tone. "No, Dean I haven't seen or heard from Carmen."

"I hope she's OK." Dean commented to no one.

"I'm sure she's fine, Dean. She's a big girl. She can take care of herself." She answered feeling irritated at having to repeat the same thing over and over.

Even when she wasn't there Dean was still practically all over her! Dean walked toward the office. Alex followed. "Where're you going?"

"Do you think they'll give me her number if I asked for it?" He asked hopefully.

"No, of course not."

Dean nodded, lost in his thoughts. "OK. Asking is out, then." And with that he walked away from the office and Alex. Alex watched Dean leave, feeling absolutely offended.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Carmen was in her pajamas, cleaning the flat. She figured she would do as much as possible, so as not to give Jesse any reason to freak out on her again. Although, there wasn't much for her to do. She had done a lot of cleaning the day before. The day she missed school because her injuries were much to noticeable. She didn't like having to miss school. She's never missed school before. She pouted childishly as the thought of her unblemished attendance record was now blemished by two days.

She walked past a mirror and regarded her reflection. Her nose had finally come to its normal size. The bruise she had from the first assault was gone, but the black and blue mark with a series of cuts along it was still there. She had tried to cover it up this morning in hopes that maybe she would be able to attend school, but the cut's started to scab and she knew that if she tried to peel them off, if only slightly, that they could possibly leave a scar, and that was the last thing she wanted. Also, she was still more than sore.

Her entire body ached from the beating she took the day before yesterday. It was a wonder she was able to move around her new home. She smiled sadly at that thought. Her new home. Yes. The flat had become her new home, despite the sadness, and hate, and anger that lingered awkwardly in the air whichever way she turned, whichever room she entered.

She heard the phone ring. She went to pick it up. Maybe it was Jesse. She didn't want to make him wait. She answered the phone on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Carmen? It's me." Said a familiar voice.

Carmen sighed. "Dean." She stated simply.

She should have guessed. Of course Dean would wonder where she was. It was, she supposed, his duty as the best friend to find out whether she was alright or not. But she didn't want to have to lie to him. She knew he would see right through any lies she would attempt to give him. They've been apart from one another for so many years, but there connection was still there. He would know if she lied. He always knew then, and he'll definitely know now. She sighed, again.

"Carmen, what happened?" He asked her.

"Nothing. I just don't feel all that great."

"You've never missed a day of school since I've met you. What happened?" He asked again.

"Seriously, Dean. Nothing happened. I'm fine. I'm just not feeling all that good, really," She tried again, though it was apparent that it would be pointless.

"You're lying," Dean accused angrily.

"How did you get this number anyway?" She asked him, hoping it would divert his attention.

"Don't try to change the subject. What're you hiding? What won't you tell me? Talk to me Carms," Dean begged.

Carmen's heart fell to her toes. She wanted to tell him. She really did. But she couldn't. She needed to be loyal to her brother. She needed him to see that she loves him, and will not betray him by ratting him out. She's lost him before because of her parents, she wasn't about to lose him again. Not by her.

"There's nothing to tell you, Dean. Seriously, I'm fine. I'm just a little sick. I'll be at school tomorrow, OK?"

"You promise?" He asked her desperately. He had lost this battle, but he will get the answers he seeks.

"I promise," Carmen said.

"Pinky promise?"

Carmen laughed. "How am I supposed to pinky promise?"

"Just do it."

Carmen laughed, and held her pinky to the phone. She heard a scrape on Dean's side and smiled. He must have his pinky on the phone, too. They both blew into the phone, pinkies still in place, and then said, simultaneously, "Promise!"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The next day...

After the bruises on her face were easier to cover with make up, Carmen finally attended school. It took about three days to achieve that, but she was glad to be back. She had missed seeing Dean, and Justin, and Alex, and Harper, and even Max. She missed them all. She was very glad she was back. She just hoped that they wouldn't notice her change in wardrobe.

The injuries on her arm and back, and even her legs haven't healed yet, and she was still a little sore. Which was why she was wearing clothing that covered almost every inch of her body, except maybe her hands and face; but she deliberately left her hair down to hide behind it in case she received any unwanted, or suspicious stares from anyone. Especially from Dean and possibly Justin or Max.

She didn't want to have to lie to them. She wouldn't know what to say. It wasn't like she could say she tripped again and that because of the fall she received unsightly bruises that she would rather cover than have them revealed for the whole school to see and that she was still sore from the fall, which was why she missed three days of school. She knew Dean wouldn't buy that story, and neither would the rest. She was clumsy, that much had been obvious, but not so much that she would damage her entire body. Dean would see right through that. She would have to do her best not to flinch or shudder with every ache she was sure she would feel that day.

She entered her first class as she was running late. She looked for Justin and smiled as she saw him return her smile. He seemed happy to see her and she felt herself blush at the thought. She crossed over to join him, sitting in the seat right next to him.

"Hey," He said.

"Hey," She replied.

"Hello!" Said a third voice behind Justin. Carmen and Justin looked at the boy that spoke.

"Hello," Carmen answered politely. "I haven't seen you before. My name is Carmen."

The boy extended out a hand and shook Carmen's hand. "I'm Zeke." He replied.

Carmen smiled warmly at him. She tried to remove her hand from the handshake but Zeke didn't seem to want to let go. Carmen smiled at him awkwardly and glanced at Justin. Justin stared at Zeke and cleared his throat. Zeke, who not only still held Carmen's hand hostage, but was also staring at Carmen with a goofy grin on his face, glanced at Justin. Justin gave a curt nod toward their hands and then cleared his throat again.

"Oh, sorry," Zeke said as he let go of Carmen's hand.

"It's alright. My hand was kind of cold. Thanks for warming it up for me," She said winking at Zeke, teasingly. She heard Justin let out a snort as she saw Zeke redden.

"Where have you been the last three days?" Justin whispered leaning toward Carmen.

Carmen could smell a mixture of cologne, sandwiches, and... incense?... on Justin. She smiled at him. Another odd combination for a boy, but it smelled divine to her. She could see that Justin was staring at her inquiringly, and she felt she would swoon under his gaze. She loved those gray eyes of his.

Justin gazed into her eyes, mesmerized by the color. He's seen hazel eyes before, but Carmen's eyes seemed to change in color every minute. He heard the teacher speak and his question floated in the air aimlessly and unanswered.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

After a couple of weeks passed, Carmen was pleasantly surprised that she had yet to tell anyone any lies. She managed to avoid Dean as much as possible. He was getting into the habit of trying to protect her from anyone that got too close the day she returned. She was sure it was because he still suspected that she was hurt and not sick. She appreciated his concern, but not only was it starting to annoy her, and strain her friendship with Alex, it was also getting to be difficult not to break an tell him the truth. She couldn't afford to tell him anything. She wouldn't.

Jesse had yet to recover from his repulsion, and had spent most of his nights drinking it away; to Carmen's dismay. Every time Jesse would leave to drink his shame away and he'd come home piss drunk, she was the one appointed as his punching bag. She took it all, though. And her attendance had suffered severely because of it.

The school had even gone so far as to call Jesse and ask what was going on, but Carmen was the one that answered the phone every time. She was able to convince the school that she suffered from some post-traumatic-what-ever over her parent's death that was, even now, reasonably fresh. They accepted her excuse and sent her her assignments by e-mail. Of which she was grateful for. She didn't want her grades to suffer along with her attendance.

It was the nightly beatings that still had her aching, though, and unable to attend school because some of the injuries were not as easy to cover as the others. Which was she was trying very hard to avoid Dean. But she didn't mind all that much. She was content with spending most of her days with Justin at her side, while she was avoiding her best friend. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty that she was betraying Harper, but Justin assured her that he didn't view Harper that way at all and that Harper was a bit delusional in her affections for him.

"Aren't you at least flattered that she cares so much for you?" She asked again, as the guilt crept up her spine... Again.

"Sure, I am. But... I just don't see myself with Harper. She is a nice girl, no doubt about that, she's just..." Justin trailed.

"It's OK, Justin. I get it," Carmen had smiled.

Justin repaid the smile with a wide grin of his own. They were walking to their next class together. Justin could see that Carmen was reciprocating his feelings. He was delighted by this and took every second with her as a treat. It had been a while since a girl showed a genuine interest in him. And he felt a small ego boost that someone as sweet, intelligent, and attractive as Carmen would like him and enjoy his company.

He wasn't blind. He knew there were other young men that had their eyes set on her. Other's that would, no doubt, be better prospects for her, but she chose him. Justin had even seen Max's crush on her. But he suppressed that guilt. He knew Carmen wasn't the only girl in Max's heart. He hadn't forgotten Max's "love" for Gigi. He snickered at that thought.

Carmen stared at Justin curiously. "What's so funny?" She asked amused.

"Nothing." He answered.

"No, tell me," she said nudging him before giving him the pleading-doe-eyed look that she knew no one could resist. Except her brother...

Justin sighed and she smiled triumphant. "I was just thinking of Max's crush on you."

"Max has a crush on me?" Carmen asked taken aback by the news. She heard Justin let out, what seemed, an irritated sigh.

"You didn't know?" He asked skeptically. Carmen shook her head. "Oh. Well, now you do."

"Aw. That's cute," she responded. "But that's not something you should be laughing about, Justin."

Justin smirked. "I wasn't laughing that he had a crush on you; I was laughing that he has a crush on Gigi, too."

"Really? Why?"

Justin shrugged. "He thinks she's pretty, I guess."

"Do you think she's pretty?" She asked as casually as she could manage.

"I guess," Justin shrugged, again.

"You guess?" Carmen teased. "Well, I think she's pretty."

"You do?" Justin asked flabbergasted.

He thought Carmen disliked Gigi. She told him how she seemed so full of herself when she was basically telling her the "rules" of the school she proclaimed she owned, the day she and her clones essentially kidnapped her, and of how she offended her by calling her Carly.

Carmen nodded. "It's too bad she isn't pretty in the inside, too. What a waste, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I suppose," He agreed. He was right after all. She didn't like Gigi.

They entered their class. Zeke approached them with a huge grin on his face when he saw Carmen. Carmen sighed, and Justin chuckled under his breath. Carmen slapped him playfully.

"Hey guys!" Zeke said, enthused.

"Hi Zeke!" Both Justin and Carmen replied.

"Hey, Justin can I talk to you about something?" Zeke asked as he was already dragging Justin away from Carmen.

Justin nodded, staring at Carmen as he was being ushered away. Carmen smiled, mockingly at Justin. As if to say, 'Ha ha! It's your turn!' Justin rolled his eyes at her and grinned sheepishly.

Suddenly, Carmen felt an arm grab her and pull her swiftly out of the classroom. She didn't have time to let out a startled squeal, for a hand covered her mouth almost immediately. She began to squirm in her panic as she pulled at the hand. She discontinued the motion when she felt the texture of the hand over her mouth. She relaxed and the hand slipped off of her. She turned to see the person that practically snatched her from her class.

"Dean! What're you doing? You scared me!" She said slapping his arm as roughly as possible, though she knew she would never hurt him.

"You've been avoiding me, Carmen," He accused. Carmen looked away, pouting. "This was the only way I could think of to talk to you."

"Wait. Did you ask Zeke to 'talk' to Justin so that you can basically abduct me?"

"I wasn't trying to 'abduct' you, and yes. I did ask Zeke to 'talk' to Justin."

Carmen folded her arms in front of her. "OK, you have me here. What do you want?"

Dean folded his arms, imitating Carmen. "I want you to tell me what's going on. Why are you avoiding me? Why are you hanging out with Justin so much?"

"I like Justin, Dean."

"You do?" He asked surprised. He wasn't expecting that answer.

"Yes, I do. What? Am I not allowed to like other guys, now?" She said sarcastically.

Dean held his hands up in surrender. "I didn't say that."

"Then what? You don't like Justin?"

"I didn't say that either."

"Well, then what?" Carmen asked exasperated.

"I don't care if you like Justin. He's a nice kid and he'll treat you right. And if he doesn't..." He trailed, not wanting to finish that sentence.

He hoped Justin would treat her right because if he didn't than he would have to hurt Justin and he didn't think Alex would be too pleased with that. He knew that although Alex teased Justin, almost mercilessly, that deep down, she liked her dorky brother.

"I can take care of myself, Dean." Carmen scoffed.

"Really? Then why have you been wearing clothes that cover your whole body?" He countered.

Carmen stared at Dean. "I've been cold."

"It's not that cold, Carms. What're you hiding?"

"Nothing. Leave me alone." She said walking away from Dean, but Dean grabbed her arm and saw Carmen cringe in his grasp.

He pulled her gently closer to him. Carmen tugged, but Dean tightened his grip, causing Carmen to hiss in pain. Dean loosened his grip a little but still maintained his hold. Carmen looked away from him, hiding her face behind her hair like she always did when there was no where else to hide. Dean reached for her sleeve and slowly lifted it upward to see Carmen's arm. He saw the imperceptible pale yellow and green bruises right above her wrist continuing further up. How far do these bruises go? Where else where they? He thought furiously.

"Who did this to you?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"No one," Carmen answered tugging her arm away. Dean released it and Carmen pulled the sleeve down.

"Don't lie to me, Carmen Maria Santiago," Dean warned.

"Or what?" Carmen dared.

Dean snapped his head up and stared disbelievingly at Carmen. She wasn't going to tell him what happened? She wasn't going to let him protect her? He loved her like a sister and she wasn't going to let him treat her as such? They've been apart for so long. There was a lot they needed to catch up on, and since they realized who one another where, since he walked her home, she had isolated herself from him. Did she really think he wouldn't be able to look out for her? She couldn't possibly believe Justin could protect her. Unless, she was still worried about her friendship with Alex. But he spoke with Alex already. There wasn't anything going on. Why won't she let him near her anymore?

He lifted his hand to cup her cheek, but Carmen stepped away from him. "I have to get to class. Bye, Dean." And with that, she walked away from him.

Dean stared at the empty space in front him. Something was going on, he knew it. He was going to watch out for her whether she wanted him to or not. He loved her and he doesn't allow the things or the people he cared about most get hurt. Carmen was hurt. Whoever did this to her will pay. He made that vow then and there.

Carmen came into an abrupt halt when she was met with Justin.

"Zeke told me that Dean asked him to 'talk' to me so that he could talk to you," Justin confessed.

Carmen sighed. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's OK. So... Everything alright between you two?" He asked concerned.

He had heard about Dean and Carmen's past from Alex, though he wasn't as apprehensive about the situation as his sister was. He knew that Carmen liked him and that she saw Dean as another brother. Dean was her best friend and she had even confessed to him that Dean was her first kiss. She begged him not to tell Alex because she could see Alex wasn't to thrilled about her friendship with Dean. Justin promised to keep it a secret. He was keen on the idea of them sharing a secret together. The fact that she wasn't in good terms with Dean had him a little worried, though. He didn't want to see Carmen sad and if she had a disagreement with him, that meant she would undoubtedly be upset.

Carmen groaned. "I don't know."

Justin gave Carmen a hug before they walked into class and took their seats.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Dean came up to Alex at the sub station later that day. "Hey Alex," he whispered in her ear.

Alex smiled and turned to face him. She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Hey yourself." She responded.

Alex had been in a much better mood since she noticed Carmen had been hanging out with Justin. She was glad she was right in her assumptions over Carmen's attraction toward her brother. Still didn't understand it, but she was glad to be right. She was nearly, always right.

What she didn't like was Dean's concern for her. While Carmen had been hanging around Justin, Dean had been feeling as though she was avoiding him and he hadn't a clue as to why. Alex disliked Dean's concern for Carmen. She wanted him to stop trying to be there for Carmen, commenting repeatedly that Carmen was a big girl and that she can take care of herself. But she was always shot down when Dean insisted to her that there was something wrong. He was the one to point out Carmen's new wardrobe. Alex shrugged it off as Carmen going through a phase. She recalled when she used to cover every inch of her body, too. Although, when she did dress that way, it was because she had received a rash that appeared after a potion went awry.

"Alex, would you mind doing me a favor?" Dean asked her as he held her in his arms, but let go of her quickly, when he noticed Alex's father staring at him through narrowed eyes.

Alex rolled her eyes at her dad, and walked Dean to a booth where they sat. "Sure." She responded.

"Great," Dean beamed. "Do you think maybe you can watch out for anything weird?"

"Weird? Like what?" Alex asked cautiously.

"Anything weird about Carmen," he clarified.

Alex groaned. "Dean, c'mon."

"You don't understand, Alex. I was talking to Carmen and―"

"You were talking to Carmen? When?"

"Before she went to class. I asked Zeke to pretend to talk to Justin so that I can talk to her alone, 'cause you know, she's been hanging around him a lot and ―"

"Why couldn't you just tell her that you needed to talk to her?"

"Because I knew she wouldn't. I had to force her to talk to me."

"You forced her to talk to you?" Alex asked shocked.

"Will you just listen?" Dean snapped.

Alex fell silent. Dean had never snapped at her before. This must be serious.

Dean took in a breath to calm himself before he let it out and continued, "When I was talking to Carmen, she was giving me a lot of attitude. She's never given me attitude before. Ever. Then she tried to walk away from me and I grabbed her. I saw her flinch when I grabbed her. I lifted up her sleeve and she had this ugly yellow and green bruise near her wrist. But I saw more around her entire arm. I don't know if she has more. She won't tell me how she got the ones I saw."

"Maybe she fell again," Alex ventured. "I mean, the girl is kind of a klutz, Dean."

"I know that, but she didn't say she fell. Don't you think she would tell me that if she did?"

Alex thought about that for a while and realized Dean had a point. Carmen was quick to say whether she tripped over something or fell into something. She accepted being so clumsy and it was the only thing she wasn't too embarrassed to admit. Alex started to rethink everything again. Maybe there really was something wrong.

She looked intently into Dean's face and saw he was desperate for help. He asked her a favor and who was she not to accept? Besides, she was interested in what was going on now. "OK, Dean. I'll keep an eye on Carmen."

"Thanks Alex. You're the best." Dean smiled as he leaned in to give Alex a kiss, but Alex's dad intervened.

"Can I get you anything, Dean?" He asked getting in between Alex and Dean. Alex rolled her eyes.