Nicky knew that the time had come to explain what happened.

She was terrified. She didn't want Red to know but at the same time she was begging herself to tell her. She was afraid of Red's reaction but at the same time knew that Red was her protector and that she shouldn't be afraid. It was some type of internal conflict to a degree that Nicky had never experienced before and it frightened her to her very core. All of it did.

Nicky knew she couldn't keep her mother in the dark for much longer. She loved her and knew it was best to tell her sooner rather than later, for both of their sakes.

Nicky's cries became heart wrenching for Red. Nicky sounded as though her insides were being mutilated with a dagger. And Red felt, with that very same dagger, her heart being pierced over and over again. The pain was all too real for both of them.

"My poor girl, what happened?" Red was so afraid of the answer, she had a gut feeling, uncontrollable sobs escaping her throat.

"Umm…uh…" Nicky couldn't speak. She was obviously in shock and Red knew she had to be patient with her.

Silence for a moment.

"Piscatella." Nicky's trembling became severely violent at the mention of that name. She shook so hard in Red's lap.

In a fraction of a heartbeat, Red went from the comforting mother she always has been with her girl to the dangerous mother bear she always would be on behalf of her girl.

The pit in her stomach grew.

"Nicky…" Red was growing more and more murderous at what was being revealed to her.

"He…ugh...he…rape…raped me..." Nicky barely got out.

It all made sense.

The flinching, the shock, the blank stares, even not being able to respond to Red the night before.

Red cried, sobbed. Harder than she had ever cried before.

Guilt from last night, she left her in the woods. Guilt was flooding her.

Guilt.

She didn't know what to say to her girl. 'Are you alright?' was a question to an obvious answer. 'It'll be ok.' Is something that didn't' quite cover the situation.

"And I know…I should've…" Nicky began again but Red cut her.

Red put a finger of Nicky's lips, shushing her gently. "Shhh. It's not your fault. In no way is this your fault."

Red's demeanor changed like turning off a faucet from comforting to as serious as Nicky had ever seen her.

"Don't you dare think that. You hear me? This is not your fault." Red was almost scolding her. "Do you understand?"

Nicky looked into Red's eyes for what felt like an eternity. She saw so much love and protection in her beautiful, caring blue eyes which stemmed from her heart, Nicky knew. The eyes of her mother, the eyes of pure and genuine love. All Nicky could do was slowly nod her head as she took in and processed Red's words.

"Nicky…I... I am so sorry..." was all Red could muster seeing the hurt through her daughter's eyes down to her heart

Red had no words, she held her daughter so close. She was so scared with her, so terrified with her, so in distress with her.

Nicky knew she had done right by telling Red. She instantly felt as though no more bad things could ever happen.

"You make it better. You…make me…feel better…so much." Nicky was able to get out.

Guilt.

"I'm here for you, my sweet girl. I'm sorry I left you yesterday. And my darling girl, I mean it when I say it's the biggest regret in my life. I'm a terrible mother." They stayed in each other's arms, crying uncontrollably. Red kept kissing the top of Nicky's head over and over again, as if with each kiss, Nicky would be a little better.

"Let me look at you." Red moved the jacket collar so she could get a better look at Nicky's neck. Dark marks, no doubt they were from him choking her. Red glided a finger ever so gently over the dark purple rings as a way to sooth her distraught girl.

Nicky flinched but then realized it was her mother. Her loving mother, then she relaxed.

"Shh…It'll be better from now on, I'm here…shh…no one is going to hurt you, I'm here now. Don't you worry, you're as safe as ever you could be…" Red rocked her daughter in her arms. Pouring out as much love and comfort as she could.

"You're gonna get him, right Mommy?" Nicky said looking up at her mother again after several silent moments.

"Get him? Nicky," Red kissed the top of her daughter's head, "I'm going to fucking kill him."