Hello, sorry it's been a couple of days since my last update; this chapter may go through a few changes as the story goes along. I had typed this chapter out, than my computer crashed before I saved it. So I feel like this version is rushed and all over the place but I wanted to get another chapter posted for now.

I also want to let everyone know this chapter has some sexual abuse towards a child in it, if you do not wish to read this than skip the flashback.

As always thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

So I went back through this and did a lot of editing, hopefully this is better. =)

Chapter 8

Spencer's month of late nights was almost over "One more night" she moaned as she stretched at her desk. The blonde thoughts drifted to Ashley, she had not spoken to her much since the day they talked about her mom, with her being on late nights, and Ashley no longer shadowing her there wasn't much reason to talk. They would acknowledge each other in passing with a quick "hello" and "how are you" but that would be all, Spencer had the feeling that the brown-eyed girl was avoiding her. What bothered her was that she couldn't ignore the fact that she wanted to talk to Ashley. She smiled seeing the empty coffee cup on her desk, each day when she arrived to work there would be a hot cup of coffee on her desk Spencer knew without asking that it was Ashley leaving the coffee.

Spencer had also not been able to stop thinking about Christine; she battled all month on whether to go visit her. She knew that if she went that there would be questions she didn't want to answer, but she also missed the women who she used to wish was her mother. Spencer sighed, not having the answers and torn about what to do. She started to log off her computer when the emergency line rang "No" she moaned ask she answered it.

"Department of Child Services, Spencer Carlin speaking, how may I help you?"

"Hello, I believe the child is being abused in the apartment next to mine." The caller said in a hesitant voice.

"When do you suspect this was happening?"

"Right now."

Spencer jerked in her seat "Right this second?"

"Yes, a lot of screaming and slamming noise and I hear a child crying is coming from the apartment next to mine."

"Did you call the police?"

"No I called you."

Spencer asked the caller for the address, thanked her for calling, and disconnected the call. She grabbed her keys and headed towards the elevator dialing the police department on her cell phone giving them the information and requesting that they meet her there. When she arrived she was thankful that the police had arrived and appeared to already have someone in custody. She grabbed a stuff bear from the trunk then started walking toward the apartment passing a squad car where a man who looked strung out on drugs was alternating between being unconscious and screaming. An officer spotted Spencer and rushed up to her "There's a little girl, maybe five hiding under the bed, she won't let any of us near her."

She followed the officer into the apartment, the floor scattered with broken glass, and she continued to follow the cop back to the bedroom. The officer pointed to the bed "She's under there, anytime we try to pull her out she panics." Spencer glared at the officer, but kept her thoughts to herself, not everyone has the same experience.

"Do you mind waiting outside?" Spencer shut the bedroom door not giving the officer a chance to respond. She made sure to keep her distance from the bed, sitting down on the floor slowly, and keeping the bear where the girl could see it. When she looked into the girl's eyes the look of fear and sadness that Spencer recognized broke her heart. "Hello I'm Spencer" she quietly said, reaching the bear out towards the girl "Would you like to hold my friend Mr. Bear?"

Spencer had sat on the floor talking to the little girl for forty-five minutes just as the girl was reaching out her hand to take the bear an officer stormed in the room "What is taking so long? Just grab her." Spencer cursed in her head, turning her head to look at the cop "I will not grab her, she's had enough hands on her tonight don't you think. Now please go." He glared at her for a moment before turning to leave the room, she drew her attention back to the girl under the bed "Do you want the bear?" she held the bear out to the girl. The girl was chewing on her bottom lip just when Spencer was about to speak again the little girl started crawling out from under the bed.

The blonde had to keep her expression neutral when the girls face came into the light, her eye was black and starting to swell, she had a swollen lip and a very distinct hand print on her left cheek. She didn't move a muscle just holding the bear out for the girl as the little blonde stood up and walked towards Spencer, who guessed the girl's age closer to three than five. The girl reached out with her left hand to take the bear and Spencer noticed that she was holding her right arm against chest "probably broken" she thought.

It was another fifteen minutes before the little girl allowed Spencer to take her hand and walk her out of the apartment. She walked right passed the officer that had stormed into the room even though he was trying to get her attention; instead speaking to first officer she spoke to when she arrived. Not wanting to say something to the other officer that would later get her in trouble.

Once the little girl Marie was admitted to the hospital for the night, Spencer told her that she would see her in the morning and was about to walk out of the room. Marie started to panic; not allowing any of the doctors or nurses to check her for injuries. Afraid that she would hurt herself more Spencer went back into the room and told her that she wouldn't leave her. Once the girl was sure that she was staying she allowed the doctors to check her.

The girl was sleeping at the moment, every so often she would open her eyes looking right at Spencer once she knew Spencer was still there, she would close her eyes and go back to sleep. Just as Spencer was getting back to her notes the doctor walked in "Can you please step outside so we can go over her exam?" Spencer walked over to the bed "Marie" the little girl's eyes snapped open. Spencer pointed to the window "I'm going to step right outside to talk to the doctor; you will be able to see me through that window. Okay?" The girl looked to the window and then back at her nodding her head.

Spencer followed the doctor out of the room making sure to stand right in front of the window so that Marie could see her. "She has a broken right arm that will need a cast, bruised ribs, and multiple knots on her head. The good news is the MRI showed no serious damage to her head. We did find multiple old injuries, which have healed on their own. They shouldn't give her a problem." Listening to the doctor list all her injuries brought tears to her eyes "Thank you doctor."

"There's one more thing." The doctor paused, taking a breath before continuing "We found evidence of sexual abuse." The tears that had pooled in Spencer's eyes slid down her face. Spencer thanked the doctor again and took a few minutes to dry her face before walking back into the room. Spencer walked over to the bed she laid her hand palm up on the bed allowing the little girl to decide to hold her hand.

The little girl slid her hand into the blondes after a few minutes the little girl crawled into her lap Spencer readjusted them so that they were both lying in bed. Spencer sent Aiden an email letting him know where she was and that she wouldn't make it to the office tomorrow, but that she would call him to update him as soon as she got a chance. With Marie snuggled against her, she looks at the clock it was almost one, then she closes her eyes and falls asleep.

18 years ago; age 9

Spencer was sitting on the floor watching Mighty Mouse ignoring the sounds coming from the bedroom, she was thankful that today Mother did not make her go into that room. They were at Mother's friend's house, when they were here Mother would spend the day drinking and smoking. It always ended with Mother and her friend going into the bedroom two months ago as they were heading to the bedroom Mother's friend was looking at her "Don't you think it's time she learns how to make a man love her."

Mother glared at me "Of course, Spencer do you ever want a man to love you?"

"Yes ma'am" she hoped that was the correct answer.

"Come here girl"

She got up and walked towards Mother who led her into the bedroom "Now Spencer if you ever want a man to love you, you have to know how to please them."

She had to sit there and watch as Mother and her friend had sex anytime that she tried to cover her ears or close her eyes Mother would scream at her "Open your eyes, you have to know how to do this."

Now more often she has to sit in the bedroom and watch, today she was happy when they went to the bedroom and left her sitting in the living room. When he walked out of the bedroom she started to hope that they would be leaving soon that hope disappeared when he began pouring more shots. He was staring at Spencer she turned away to look at the TV hoping that they would forget she was there.

"It's time that you had hands on practice." She heard him say as he walked into the bedroom where she could hear them talking but not making out what they were saying. "Spencer, get in here now." Mother called from the bedroom.

Spencer walked into the bedroom "You are going to learn how to get a man to love you." Mother said as she walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. She was confused not knowing what was going on when Mother's friend walked up to her taking her hand and placing it on the crotch of his shorts. Spencer jerked her hand away, turning to leave the room, he grabbed her, smacking her across the face "You will do as I say or else" he slurred throwing Spencer on the bed.

She moved to get off the bed when he pinned her down, whispering in her ear "you will do what I say or I will kill your dad" Spencer froze in fear just lying there as he undressed her, spreading her legs, and entering her slamming into her over and over.

Spencer jerked awake, causing Marie's eyes to snap open. "Hey sweetie it is okay go back to sleep" surprised her voice sounded normal. It had been awhile since she has had that dream. She glanced at the clock it was a little after four she cleared her mind trying to go back to sleep.

The doctors made their rounds at seven when they entered the room Spencer woke up, she started to get up "No don't move you are fine, let her sleep." She laid back listening to the doctor's discussed Marie's injury's and medical plan. The head doctor turns to her "We will discharge her today as soon as we get the permanent cast on her arm." Spencer made a mental note to start arranging for a foster home for the girl.

Once the doctor's left the room she was surprised when Ashley walked in balancing two cups of coffee, a paper sack, and a duffel bag "hi."

"Hello"

"Aiden told me what happened and that you were here. I figured you would need some things, so I brought you one of your shirts from your desk, then stopped and bought you a toothbrush, hairbrush, and breakfast. I also brought over her clothing voucher I assumed she didn't have anything either" She handed her one of the coffees.

"Thank you, I appreciated it. You have no idea."

"No problem." Ashley looked at Marie and two blue eyes were staring back at her.

"Marie this is Ashley she is a case worker like me and here to help you as well."

Ashley waved at the little girl surprised at how much she reminded her of Spencer when she was little. It was the emotions that were in the little girl's eyes, the same ones that were in and still are in Spencer's.

Just then a nurse walked into the room "It's time to take her down for a final x-ray before we fit her in a cast."

The older women walked behind the bed, following the nurse to x-ray "Do you need anything else?"

"No, she is getting discharged soon. I really do appreciate what you did already."

They were silent for several minutes when Ashley told Spencer that she was going to go visit her mom while she was in the hospital and walked toward the elevators.

While the doctors were fitting Marie for a cast Spencer was trying to find a foster home for her, she was able to contact Kelly, who was a single female foster parent she took in short-term emergency placements until long-term arrangements could be made. Spencer thought that Marie would do better with a single female foster mom due to the trauma that the girl has experienced. They made arrangements to bring Marie to her home after they left the hospital.

After getting Marie settled at Kelly's which went a lot smoother than Spencer had thought it was going to go. The little girl had been hesitant at first clinging to her side, but eventually the girl warmed up to Kelly, nodding yes, when Spencer asked her if she wanted to stay there. She now found herself driving back to the hospital to visit Ashley's mom.

She walks back into the hospital stopping at the information desk "Hello, I'm here to visit Christine Davies can you tell me what room she's in?"

"Absolutely, give me just a second." It only took the girl behind the desk a few seconds to find her room "she's on the fourth floor, in the Rehabilitation Center in room 4126."

"Thank you."

She started walking towards the elevator as she was almost there she saw Ashley stepping off the elevator. The brown-eyed girl did not see her, so she ducked around the corner, and out of sight. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want Ashley to see her before she went to visit. After she walked by without seeing her Spencer took the elevator to the fourth floor.

When she reached the room she started having second thoughts, she peeked into the room and saw Christine sleeping. Spencer just stared at her tears filling her eyes to the blonde the older woman looked exactly the same except with gray hair, she started to turn to leave not wanting to disturb the sleeping woman when she heard "Don't even think about it!" Spencer looked back at the older woman lying in bed.

"Hello Mrs. Davies." Spencer said from the doorway.

"Spencer you better do two things, one is to call me Christine and two is to get over here and give me a hug." She walked into the room, and hugged the older woman. Spencer did not pull away from the hug until Christine move "Let me see your face honey." Spencer moved back surprised to see that both women had tears in their eyes. "Oh Spencer I have missed you."

"I've missed you too, Mrs. Uh Christine." Spencer felt awkward calling the older woman Christine, when she was a kid; she always addressed her as Mrs. Davies, even though the older woman had tried to get her to call her by her first name.

The two women were visiting and catching up when Christine could no longer keep from asking "Honey what happened, why did you disappear ten years ago." This was the conversation Spencer did not want to have "I had my reason."

"I'm sure you did, and I want to know them. Ashley wasn't the only one heartbroken when you left."

Spencer looked away not able to look at the pain in Christine's eyes, feeling guilty that she had caused it. She was silent for many moments collecting her thoughts before saying "Ashley told."

"Ashley told what? To whom?"

"Did Ashley ever tell you what my home life was like?"

Christine reached out and took Spencer's hand "It was four years after you disappeared, but yes, she told me." Spencer just nodded thankful that she didn't have to say that part.

"Do you remember who Shelby was?"

Christine thought for a minute "Is she the cheerleader that Ashley would call Royal Bitch?"

Spencer laughed "Yep that's the one so you remember her."

Christine nodded, waiting for Spencer to continue to talk "It was the last day of school and I was at my locker cleaning it out getting ready to go meet Ashley in the parking lot. I was checking the top shelf of my locker when Shelby walked by seeing the bruises saying "Oh look did mommy punish you again; she must not like having a dyke for a daughter. Although it's no wonder you're a dyke after she turned you into some guy's sex toy." I tried to get away from her, but she continued "Do you think Ashley loves you, your own mother doesn't love you or that she would keep your secrets?" Shelby had told everyone about me and Ashley and the fact that my mother physically and sexually abused me. The counselor found out, calling me to her office, and filing a report with DCS. She wasn't going to let me leave school until DCS arrived and spoke with me, I asked to go to the restroom, and then walked out of school.

Spencer stopped talking for a second "I left school that day betrayed by Ashley, scared of what Mother would do when she found out about DCS so when I got home I packed my bags and ran away."

"Have you talked to Ashley?"

Spencer just shook her head no.

"I don't know what Ashley did or didn't say, but from what she told me I doubt she was the one to say anything to Shelby. She was heartbroken when you disappeared; I was so worried about you both. Talk to her sweetie; give her a chance to explain."

Spencer nodded, not trusting to talk at the moment, for so long she thought Ashley had told. She had to have told, how else Shelby knew everything that happened to her. Spencer looked at Christine "Can you please not tell Ashley I was here or the reason I disappear?"

"Of course I won't tell it's not my story to tell."

After that, the women spent the next two hours getting caught up, Spencer told Christine how she got her GED, put herself through college and started working for the DCS, when she went to leave, she hugged Christine and promised not to disappear again.

Walking out of the hospital she decided that it was time to talk to Ashley.