A/N: First things first, I'm SO SORRY about the long wait. Life was busy for both me and my beta and things have been crazier than usual. But, life is smoothing out and I am finding time to work on this again.

So, without further ado, here's the next chapter

Connor almost groaned as he looked down at all of the new brochures and letters sitting on his bedroom floor. Coach Putnam had told him that he contacted some college coaches nearby and they were all trying to recruit him now. Connor glanced at the letter from Skidmore's Coach.

Connor flopped down to his stomach, trying to figure out what to do. It was almost April, and he was one of the few seniors that hadn't picked a school to go to yet.

A soft knock on the door sounded before Haytham opened the door. "What are you bloody doing?"

Connor shrugged, not looking up. "Wallowing."

"You and wallowing," Haytham grumbled as he knelt beside the stacks of letters and brochures.

Connor heard the crinkle of paper as his father picked up one. "You're getting letters from Division I coaches?"

Connor shrugged again. "Coach knows some people, I guess."

Haytham let out a little sigh. "And, let me guess, you still haven't made a choice?"

Connor groaned and pushed himself up to his elbows. "What should I do?"

Haytham shook his head. "Oh no, this isn't my decision."

Connor frowned. "How 'bout some fatherly advice then?"

"Connor, the day I give good fatherly advice is the day hell freezes over. Besides, this isn't my education we're talking about," Haytham retorted, picking up another letter and inspecting it.

Connor thought about all of the college visits went to with his father. Only one really stuck in his mind. "Dad?"

"Hm?"

"What would you say if I chose the school mom went to?"

Haytham arched a brow. "Skidmore? If it's what you want, then you'll hear no complaints from me."

"Would that be the right decision though?"

Haytham sighed. "Connor, there are usually three things you need to worry about when you go to school. Financial Aid. Living. And academics. You obviously have financial aid. You said you liked the dorms. And they have the program for the major you want to be in. The rest is whether it feels right to you."

Connor scratched his cheek, looking down at the letters. He picked up the letter from Skidmore's coach and read a little. "Dad, I think if I play baseball there, you won't have to help me pay."

Haytham shrugged. "That's true."

Connor wiped his nose. "Would you go with me to meet the Coach? He said I can just email him and we can set up a time."

Tossing the letters back on the floor, Haytham slowly stood up again. "Of course I'll go. Besides, there was someone I wanted to talk to at Skidmore again."

Connor pushed himself up as well. "Who?"

Haytham paused on his way to the door, glancing at Connor over his shoulder. "No one important."

For some reason, Connor didn't believe him. "Does it have something to do with-"

"It's personal. Don't worry about it," Haytham interrupted, walking out the door.

Connor put his hands on his hips and bit the inside of his cheek. His stomach did a little somersault when he thought about what his father could be doing for the case now. He also was nervous about talking to the Skidmore coach.

He sighed, flopping down on his bed.

His phone suddenly started to ring, causing him to jump. He fumbled around to find it on his bed. "Where in the heck did I-oh, there it is."

His stomach started to flip around for a different reason when he saw Ellie's name on the screen. He quickly pressed the call button, glancing at the time on his alarm clock. "You know it's 10 o' clock, don't you? And isn't Lucy over?" he asked, rolling over onto his back.

"I know it's 10, and she's asleep right now," Ellie replied. He heard the sound of footsteps in the background.

"What are you doing?"

"Making tea. It helps me sleep."

Connor arched a brow. "And that made you want to call me…why?" he asked with a laugh.

He heard the clink of a spoon. "Well, I saw that your light was on and I wanted to talk. Is that bad?" she teased. He heard more footsteps.

"You look to see if my light is on?"

"I just noticed!"

He laughed again, glad that he was able to successfully tease her for once. "So what do you want to talk about?"

He heard the sound of a door shutting. "What are you up to?" she asked.

Connor glanced down at the letters. "Coach Putnam apparently told all of the college coaches in the area about me."

"You're getting offers? That's great!"

Connor scratched his cheek. "Yeah, I just convinced my dad to come with me to Skidmore again to talk to the coach there."

"Do you want to play in college?"

"It'll keep me busy," he replied, glancing down at the letters again.

"You hate sitting still, don't you?" she asked. He could hear the smile in her voice.

"I thought you already knew that."

A loud bang suddenly sounded on his door, causing him to jump.

"Don't stay up all night talking to your bloody girlfriend! Some of us have to sleep, you berk!"

Connor rolled his eyes as Ellie laughed in the background.

"Okay, Dad!"

"I mean it!"

"Okay!"

Connor waited until he heard Haytham's bedroom door close before focusing on Ellie again.

"He really does tease you a lot, doesn't he?"

"I think he inherited it from my grandparents," Connor grumbled.

Ellie snickered. "I don't find that hard to believe."

"How was the rest of the track meet today?" Connor asked, wanting to switch to a different topic.

"It was great! Claudia got first!"

Connor listened as she continued on about Lucy, Claudia, and all of her other friends. He soon felt himself slowly relaxing. Ellie's voice was low and soothing and he soon found himself not even listening to what she was saying.

"How was practice?" she suddenly asked.

Connor furrowed his brow and sighed.

"That bad?" she asked. He could hear the sound of the microwave in the background.

Connor shook his head. "It's not that it was bad. Everyone was just tired and it wasn't as intense so it was slow. I hate practices like that."

"Daw, poor baby."

"I know, woe is me."

They both laughed softly and then fell silent. Connor felt himself relax more at the sound of her breathing. "What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked, rubbing at his eye.

"Claudia and I are going to help Lucy get a dress for prom tomorrow. I can't believe that it's only a week away now."

Connor felt his stomach flip a little. "Yeah."

"What's wrong?"

Connor almost groaned. She even could read his mind over the phone. "Nothing."

"Connor, we both know how this goes."

Switching the phone to his other hand, he tried to think of the words to describe what he was thinking. "Well…this will be the second dance I have ever been to. I don't want to make your night suck."

Ellie made a scoffing noise. "And how in the world are you going to do that?" she asked, sounding amused.

"I don't dance."

He could imagine her rolling her eyes at the moment. "Don't worry about that. Nobody really knows how to dance. Besides, all of our friends will be there so we don't have to dance. It'll be fun. After Prom is the fun part anyway."

"If you say so," he sighed, not feeling too sure.

"You're still unsure, aren't you?"

Connor put another tally under the 'Mind Reader' board in his head. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Read my mind."

"I'm a girl and I know you well."

They both laughed again and another bang sounded on his door. "GO TO BED."

"OKAY!"

Connor heard Haytham walk away again and he sighed into the phone. "Jeez."

Ellie was snickering on her side of the phone. "You're dad knows its Friday, right?"

"He doesn't seem to get the concept of 'Friday night'."

She suddenly fell silent on her side of the phone.

"What is it?" he asked, rolling onto his stomach. Something had been bugging her lately.

She didn't reply but he heard her messing with something in the kitchen.

"Remember when I talked to you about Lucy?" she whispered.

Connor's hand curled into a fist at the memory. He took a deep breath before replying. "Yeah, I remember."

"Connor, she was begging me to let her come over today. And I noticed a bruise on her before the meet. I'm really scared for her."

Connor took a deep breath through his nose, trying to stay calm. "Have you asked her about it?"

"No," she said meekly.

Connor didn't know what to say. How does someone deal with a situation like this? "I think you should. Or at least tell Eliza and Peter that you suspect something."

"That's the thing, I don't want to accuse her step-dad of something and-"

"Ellie, I think you should just talk to her. She obviously trusts you if she thinks your house is safe," Connor finally said. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, but it was what he would do.

They remained silent for a few moments.

"You're right. I'll figure out a way to ask her tomorrow," Ellie finally replied.

"Good luck. And I'll ask Desmond if he suspects anything. He can't be that oblivious."

"Yeah. I just really want to help her and I don't know how."

She sounded so lost and distressed. Connor wished that he could hug her. "Hey, just be you. That helped me countless times," he said reassuringly, remembering all the times she comforted him by just being, well, Ellie.

She let out a soft laugh. "Really?"

Connor rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…yeah."

"I'm glad," she said.

He smiled. She sounded a little more relaxed now. They listened to each other breathe again. Connor didn't know why, but he liked doing this with her.

"Good night," she finally whispered.

"Good night."

She hung up and Connor stared at his phone screen. He plugged in his charger and flicked off the light.

Little butterflies flew around in his stomach until he drifted off to sleep.

Haytham looked around his office. Something was…off. Some of his papers were out of the neat piles he left them in and his chair was pushed away from his desk. He frowned and pulled out a drawer. He took out the pencils, pens, stapler, and various other things before pulling the small board out of the bottom, showing a secret compartment.

The papers he stole from Jerusalem were still there. He let out a little sigh of relief. He put everything back and walked into the hallway just in time to see Connor walk out of the bathroom. Haytham scrunched his nose at the bit of toothpaste left on the corner of his son's mouth.

"Wipe your mouth. That looks sloppy."

Connor jumped and looked at him, wiping the toothpaste off on the back of his hand. "Thanks for the etiquette lesson," he said sarcastically.

Haytham's heart dropped a little at the playful expression in his son's eyes. Ziio's looked just like that, he thought, remembering when similar, warm brown eyes used to laugh at him.

He shook the memory out of his mind and gestured to Connor's outfit. "Going somewhere?"

Connor rubbed the back of his head. "Well, Ellie is taking Lucy out today and she wants Desmond and I to come along. Claudia is going to be there too."

Haytham frowned at the sound of Lucy's name. "Are you taking Miss Johnston there to meet her?"

Connor shook his head. "No, Ellie's taking us in her car. Lucy stayed the night last night."

Realization came over Haytham. "Why does she want you to go?"

Connor suddenly looked uncomfortable. "She wanted us to go to a movie later…" he trailed off, scuffing his shoe on the floor.

Haytham crossed his arms. "No, she doesn't. What's going on?"

Ziio could never lie to him either. She used to do the same exact thing with her feet. He also was holding his hands behind his back like she would have.

Connor now looked very uncomfortable.

"Connor, don't make this hard," Haytham said, putting his hands on his hips. Why was his son uncomfortable about Lucy?

Connor took a deep breath. "Ellie thinks that Lucy's step-dad…" He trailed off, looking down at the ground.

"What about him?" Haytham asked. Surely Stillman didn't tell her 'friends' about her boss.

"Ellie thinks that he…hits her and stuff. She said she saw a big bruise on her the other day."

Haytham sighed. So, Miss Stillman was a victim as well. Haytham made a note to tell Altair. "Let me guess, Miss Johnston, being the good person she is, wants to get to the bottom of it and help?"

Connor shrugged. "Yeah. I'm going to ask Desmond if he noticed anything too."

Haytham sighed. Goddamn traffickers.

"Let me give you a word of advice. Don't beat around the bloody bush. Just get straight to the point. Then you tell me what they say. I might be able to help," he said, looking his son straight in the eye.

And you said you wouldn't use your son to help with cases, a voice in his head sneered.

"Okay," Connor said meekly, looking down at his feet still. He looked guilty.

"Don't you dare feel guilty for telling me either. I know you've dealt with things normal 18-year-olds shouldn't have to deal with. Don't do this by yourself either," Haytham said sternly.

Connor took a deep breath. "Yeah," he said, looking weary.

Haytham gulped, trying to think of all the things Connor had to deal with. He patted his shoulder. "Do you want to hear the greatest piece of advice your grandfather gave to me?"

Connor perked up a little, like he always did when Haytham talked about himself or his family. Ziio really must have kept him in the dark.

"He said this to me after my fencing career ended and I was wondering what to do. It has guided me for a long time."

Connor nodded, looking eager now.

Haytham cleared his throat. "He said, 'It's alright to be afraid, but don't kneel down before your fear and let it be your master. Defy it and rise up and be something more.'" he said, remembering when his father told him that in the hospital after he was injured. Edward had been the one to lift him up after his fencing career ended. He also was the one to place the Harvard brochure in Haytham's lap.

Resolve and determination started to fill Connor's eyes. He nodded and took a deep breath. "Thanks Dad."

He turned and walked down the hallway. He paused and glanced back at Haytham. "I'll text you when we're heading back." He continued toward the stairs.

Haytham felt proud, seeing how Connor stood now.

Even after all he had been through, he stood tall and strong.

Connor glanced at Desmond out of the corner of his eye. The boys had decided to tag along with the girls today at the mall; Ellie wanted Connor nearby and Desmond wanted to hang out with Lucy.

They were sitting outside of Macy's on a bench and watching other shoppers go by.

"Des?"

"Yeah?"

Connor opened his mouth to bring up what Ellie was worried about, but he didn't know how. "Er…I have a question."

Desmond looked at him, arching a brow. "Okay."

Connor took a deep breath. How would his father handle this? He decided to go with what his father would do. He kept repeating the advice he gave in his head. "Have you noticed anything off about Lucy?"

Desmond's face fell and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Like what?"

Connor bit the inside of his cheek before continuing. His father would be point blank about this. "Ellie and I think she's having trouble at home."

Desmond physically flinched.

Connor's eyes widened. "What is it?"

Desmond sighed, resting his elbows on his thighs. He rested his forehead on his clasped hands. "Thank God I'm not the only one who notices!"

Connor rested a hand on Desmond's shoulder. "What's going on Des? Ellie's really upset about it."

"So am I!" Desmond suddenly spat.

Connor pulled his hand away.

Desmond looked around and gestured to the Arcade. Connor nodded and they walked in. The loud noises and music from the games were enough to cover their voices. Desmond led Connor over to the pinball machine. He stuck a quarter in and started to play.

"What's going on Des?" Connor asked after Desmond lost twice.

Desmond took a deep breath and put another quarter in. "Dude, she asked me not to tell anyone."

Connor gulped down the angry lump in his throat. "So you ignore it?" he asked, not bothering to keep the anger out of his tone.

Desmond slammed his hands down on the sides of the pinball machine. "I notice! I notice how she hides her bruises. How she flinches sometimes. How she looks scared of me. I don't know what to do man!" Desmond buried his face in his hands. "She also told me not to tell anyone about her frickin step-dad and her mom. Do you know how hard it was not to tell you?"

Connor was shocked. He had never seen Desmond this upset; even during the whole gang thing he was never this upset. He replayed his father's advice in his head before thinking about a response. "You need to tell someone. I don't care if she says not to," he finally said, thinking about how he was going to do just that when he got home.

Desmond shook his head. Connor felt his heart sink when he saw tears forming in his friend's eyes. "Man, who do I have to tell? My dad? Hell no. Altair? He's busy trying to catch douchebag of the year. My Mom? She's in South Dakota. I've got NO ONE."

Desmond went back to playing pinball. "All I know is that I promised Lucy that I wouldn't make it a big deal and I'm keeping my mouth shut because she wants me to."

Connor suddenly felt angry. "But she's getting hurt that way!"

"I know. And it hurts me too," Desmond replied, looking defeated.

Connor grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face him. "If you really liked her you would help her! Staying quiet and accepting this isn't helping her!"

Desmond clenched his fist in the collar of Connor's shirt. "Back off," he growled.

Connor recognized the look in Desmond's eyes. It was the same expression that stared back at him in the mirror multiple times after his mom died. It was fear, anger, and frustration mixed into one.

Connor knew what he had to do.

"And you're going to make me?" Connor said, standing taller. He hated doing this to Desmond, but it had to be done. He grabbed Desmond's wrist and twisted just enough to make Desmond let go. He had to remember to thank Achilles and his father for teaching him. Desmond yelped in surprise when Connor grabbed the back of his jacket.

Connor started to drag him out of the Arcade.

"What the fu-"

"Shut up."

Connor dragged him out to the parking lot and around the corner of the mall. He looked around. No cameras were nearby. He let go of Desmond and gave him a hard shove. "Hit me."

"What?"

"Hit me!"

Desmond swung and knocked Connor in the jaw. Connor wasn't unfamiliar with being hit in the face, it almost didn't faze him. Desmond was already grabbing the collar of his shirt and had him pushed against the wall.

"Does it feel better?" he asked, ignoring the throbbing.

Desmond blinked couple times before letting Connor go and turning away.

Connor resisted the urge to rub his jaw and stepped forward. "Does it feel better?" he asked again.

Desmond slowly nodded; then he started to shake his head. "Goddammit," he paused and sat down on the curb. "Sorry."

Connor sat down next to him. "Don't be."

Desmond let out a big exhale and looked at him. "Why did you do that?"

Connor tried to pop his jaw. "You know my friend Josh?"

"From the Rez? Yeah."

Connor leaned back on his palms, looking up at the sky. "When my mom died, I was so angry at everything and everyone. He finally just pulled me to one of the clearings in the woods and riled me up enough to hit him. I felt better afterwards."

Connor remembered punching Josh in the nose hard enough to break it.

"Shit."

"Yeah."

They sat in silence.

Desmond finally broke it. "Connor?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you tell your dad? I don't want to break my promise to Lucy."

Connor nodded. "I can."

The boys remained there until the girls came out and found them.

Connor slowly walked into his house, heading straight to the kitchen. He hoped his father wasn't home. He grabbed a rag out of a drawer and opened the freezer. He grabbed some ice cubes and wrapped the rag around them. He pressed it to his jaw.

"Well?"

Connor looked over his shoulder to see his father leaning against the entryway. He sighed. "Desmond told me that her step-dad is hurting her."

Haytham sighed as well. He mumbled something.

"Huh?" Connor asked, taking the homemade ice pack away from his face for a moment.

"Nothing. I'll take care of it now. Good job son," Haytham replied, walking away.

Connor wondered what his father was thinking.

Haytham suddenly stuck his head back in. "What did you do to your face?"

"Desmond needed to vent."

Haytham sniffed and walked back out. "Put raw steak on it!" he said as he walked away.

Connor made a face.

The last thing he wanted to do was put raw meat on his face.

Haytham quickly walked back up to his office. He pulled out his phone and called Altair. He tapped his foot impatiently as the line rang.

"Hello?" Altair said groggily. He must have been taking a rare break.

"We have a problem," Haytham said, sitting down at his desk.

"And what's that?"

Haytham heard the rustling of sheets in the background. "It turns out that Miss Stillman is a victim in all of this as well."

Altair cursed. "That makes my job ten times harder," he growled. Haytham now heard the sounds of papers shuffling. "How do you know this?" the agent suddenly asked.

Haytham pinched the bridge of his nose. "My son and his girlfriend suspected something, so they asked Desmond. They all think its domestic violence," he explained.

Altair cursed again. "Good. The less they know, the better. I'm very close, Haytham. So close to finding the asshole."

Haytham shook his head. "What are you going to do about the girl?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Haytham exhaled deeply. "Because she's now my son's friend, whether I like it or not. And she's exactly what Jenny was when she was taken."

Altair didn't respond right away. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'll do my best to make sure she gets out of this okay," he finally said.

Haytham rubbed his temple. That would have to do for now. "Keep up the good work Altair."

Altair scoffed a little. "What I'm doing is nothing compared to what you did."

Haytham shook his head. "Don't listen to the horse shit Holden tells you about Jerusalem and find the bastard."

Altair let out a little laugh. "Roger."

He hung up.

Haytham sighed.

What a mess.