Hey. I know this is a short chapter but I felt like I couldn't do anymore for this scene. Oh well. I will work getting the next chapter out really soon. I promise!

As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

My eyes snapped open, as I stared around the dark room. My heartbeat was racing from the nightmare that I just had. I looked over at Eli but he was sound asleep. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was after four in the morning. Realizing that I wasn't getting back to sleep any time soon, I decided to get up and walk around to calm down.

I slipped out of bed, and headed to the bathroom. I splashed some water on my face, and stared into the mirror, sighing. I wanted to just forget about my time with Asher and K.C.. It's not something I want to be following me around for the rest of my life.

I sat down on the edge of the tub, leaning on my knees and stared at the ground. Chill of the tiles on the edge of the tub and the floor felt great against my bare skin. Before Eli and I fell asleep last night, I had taken a shower and changed into loose shorts and a tank top. It felt great to be showering and sleeping in my own home again.

I ran my hand through my hair, trying to convince myself it was just a dream. It just seemed so real. I decided to go downstairs to get some water, figuring that would calm me more. I walked into the kitchen, grabbing a water out of the fridge and leaned against the counter. As I was sipping the water, I heard footsteps coming from the living room.

"Clare?" Danny asked coming around the corner.

"Hey, Danny." I smiled. He looked like he just woke up. "Shouldn't you be at home?"

"For the time being, no." He answered.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Derek and I are going to be here until we catch the guys who did this to you." He explained.

"Derek? Is that your partner?" I asked.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"How long have you guys been partners?" I asked.

"Five years. But we've known each other since high school." He said.

"Did you guys join the police department right out of high school?" I asked.

"Yeah. We're very close if you couldn't tell." He smiled, before glancing at his watch. "I actually have to go relieve Derek from his watch."

"Alright. Have fun." I smiled, as I watched him walk out of the room, and leave the house. A few minutes later, I saw his partner come in. He walked into the kitchen, and grabbed an apple, before speaking up.

"Clare right?" He asked, taking a bite out of the apple.

"Yeah. And you're Derek?" I replied.

"Yup. That's me." He spoke, taking another bite. I saw that he glanced at what I was wearing before meeting my gaze again.

"Yeah. I was just talking with Danny." I explained.

"Cool. So, that boy that's upstairs, he was kidnapped with you right?" He asked, glancing at my outfit again.

"Yeah. And I wouldn't really call him a boy. He's twenty-two. Almost twenty-three now." I retorted lightly.

"Well, he was kidnapped, supposedly, for five years. He never finished high school. He's got the mental age of about seventeen. To me that makes him a boy." He shrugged.

"He had to deal with a lot." I argued. I was getting annoyed now. "He's aged a lot more, and he isn't very carefree after everything he's been through. And what does supposedly mean?"

"It means, who keeps a kidnap victim alive for five years. I wouldn't be surprised if he was or still is working with them." He replied.

"Derek!" I heard Danny snap from behind him. I glanced over his shoulder, and saw Danny walking towards us. "My apologies, Clare. Derek tends to say things without thinking." He gave a warning look, but Derek shrugged it off, biting his apple again.

"What are doing in here anyways? Shouldn't you be on duty?" Derek asked.

"Spinner and Jimmy just arrived to give us a reprieve for a few hours before they go to the station." He explained, giving him another warning look.

"So you're leaving?" I asked, directing the question to Danny.

"No. We're just going to crash in the basement. Your brother showed us that there were cots down there. It's enough." He shrugged. He directed Derek in front of him towards the basement door. "Have a good rest of your night, Clare." He spoke, before heading down the stairs after Derek.

I decided I wanted to be near Eli after what Derek had said about him. Almost protectively. I really wanted him close all of sudden. So I finished my water, and headed back upstairs. When I got into my room, I quietly shut my door, so I didn't wake him up. I went to crawl into the bed, but he stirred.

"Where did you go?" He asked, yawning.

"I just went to get some water." I replied. "I couldn't sleep."

"Are the nightmares back?" He asked.

"Unfortunately." I sighed, climbing into the bed. He opened his arms to me, as I rested my head on his chest. I quickly fell asleep, while focusing on not letting Eli out of my grasp.

Waking up for the final time this morning, I realized that I was still tired. After waking up the first time, I wasn't able to sleep right. I kept waking myself up, either due to a nightmare or just to make sure that Eli was still there.

When I realized my surroundings this time, however, I notice Eli isn't in the room. I headed downstairs, when I realized he wasn't upstairs. When I made it downstairs, I saw Eli talking with Danny, Derek and Jake. They were all laughing and joking around, so I left them to go into the kitchen.

I had to pass my mother and sister sitting at the dining room table. They became quiet immediately at my entrance, so I ignored them. I wandered through to the back door, and decided to head into my backyard. I sat down on my deck stairs, that led down to the ground, and looked out through the trees in my backyard. I propped my head up with my hands, and continued to people-watch through the trees. Through them, I could see other houses with people doing things with their families and friends.

It made me want to go back to when life as simpler. Before I met K.C.. Before I was kidnapped. I'm glad I met Eli and Adam through all of this, but I lost Alli and Sav. And I was raped twice. This isn't how I expected to live my life. This isn't how I expected everything to turn out.

"Hey." Eli called from behind me. He shut the door behind him and walked over to sit beside me.

"Hey." I repeated.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Thinking." Looking away from him, and glancing back through the trees.

"Is it a good thinking or a bad thinking?" He asked.

"I haven't decided yet." I exhaled.

"About?" He prompted.

"Everything that's happened recently."

"Don't worry so much about it. I promise you, it's in the past. You won't ever have to go through that again. I'd rather die than let that happen." He stated, making me look at him.

"Don't say that." I argued.

"Why not? It's the truth." He shrugged.

"Don't say you'll die for me. I don't think I could handle having your death on my conscious along with everything else." I sighed.

"Clare. I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not going to tell you that I am going to let them take you and save myself. I would never do that. I couldn't. My conscious wouldn't let me." He explained.

"Just try not to let it come to that any time soon." I sighed again.

"Agreed." He smirked. He leaned into me and kissed me.

"Clare? Oh, sorry." I broke away from the kiss to find Derek standing in the doorway.

"It's okay, Derek. What is it?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"Your friend is here. He just arrived. Adam, I believe." He stated.

"Okay. Thanks." I replied, standing up with Eli doing the same. I thought he was done speaking, but I was wrong.

"I also would like to apologize for what I said earlier. Danny was right. I do tend to speak my mind without thinking. I didn't mean you to take it the wrong way at all." He explained.

"I understand. Thank you." I smiled. He nodded before glancing at Eli and heading inside.

"What happened?" Eli asked the moment he was gone.

"Nothing. When I was getting water last night, I talked with him and the way he worded things made me a little annoyed. Nothing to be worried about." I smiled.

"He rubs me the wrong way. I'm not a fan." He stated.

"Why not? Because one misinterpreted conversation?" I asked puzzled.

"No. There is something off about his personality. Something I don't like. I also don't like the way he looks at you." He grumbled. He looked annoyed that he admitted that. My smile grew as I saw his expression change.

"Are you jealous?" I teased.

"Possibly." He sighed. "I'm just not sure how to deal with things out here anymore. When we were with Asher, I knew I had you. You wouldn't leave me for anyone in there. Now that we are out, with normal people I don't know how to handle it. I just don't want to lose you."

"Hey. Don't worry. You aren't going to lose me." I pulled his face to mine, and kissed him. When I pulled back, I continued speaking, leaving my hand on his cheek. "Okay? I'm not going anywhere. With anyone."

"Okay." He agreed, pecking my lips.

"Now let's go find Adam before he thinks we have deserted him." I prompted.

"I wouldn't mind that, if it meant I would get more time with you." He smirked at me.

"Nice try. You're very coy, but I'm serious." I smiled.

"So am I."

"Let's go." I stated, walking towards the door. I like this side of Eli. When he lets his guard down and is just himself. Whether it's the playful Eli, or the vulnerable one. I'm coming to learn that I really like Eli. Possibly even love him. All of him. Even with all of his flaws and sides. Because, seriously, who doesn't have flaws?