Alice walked out of the room so Nick could get dressed and join her while Amanda called her mother.

"Sorry" Alice mouthed once the door was shut.

"What's that about?" he asked but Alice shrugged.

"You're gonna have to ask Amanda" she looked at the door and Nick could tell she was worried. Alice mentioned it was her mother who called about Kim. Who was that? A family member, a sister maybe?

Amanda opened the door, she was fully dressed "I'm sorry" she said to him "I have to go"

"You gonna drive over there?" Alice asked and Nick wondered where she was going and why.

"I have to" she grabbed a bag and put her wallet there "you've seen my keys?"

They were on Amanda's desk and Alice handed them to her.

"I'm sorry Nick" she repeated "I don't know when I'll be back and…"

He wasn't sure what to say, he didn't mind waiting, she was clearly upset. They had to talk, he didn't come here to sleep with her and leave, not that he got to do that.

They followed Amanda down the stairs and out of the building. She was heading to the parking lot. Nick just walked after her, not sure what he should say or do. She wasn't talking and he wanted to know so he could maybe help her.

They reached to what Nick figured was her car. It was so old it didn't belong on the road. Nick looked at Alice, hoping for a sign, maybe she would just tell him what the right thing to do was.

"Call me, ok?" she ignored Nick and looked at Amanda who was about to start the car.

The engine made a bizarre sound, something Nick had never heard before. She tried again but it didn't work. Amanda refused to give up and hearing the symphony of a total loss, Nick felt bad for her. She finally walked out of the vehicle and looked at it with so much rage Nick thought she might burn it down.

"You stupid piece of shit" Amanda kicked it a few times, blessing the car with a few other nicknames.

"Amanda…" Alice tried but she ignored her.

"I have a rental" Nick finally said something and the girls looked at him as if they didn't even realize he'd been there all along "I can drive you wherever"

"Can't you give it to her for now?" Alice asked, knowing Amanda wouldn't want him to go with her.

"It's an insurance thing I think, I can't let anyone else drive it" he wanted to help more.

"I'll take the bus" Amanda took the bag out of the car, kicking it again.

"Wait" Alice pulled her aside "let him take you, it's gonna take way too long if you take the bus…"

Amanda looked hesitant, it was nice of Nick to offer, but she didn't really know him. They couldn't even sleep together. But going back home with her, that would be way too much.

"I don't think you have another choice" Alice looked at her.

Amanda raised her eyes at Nick, he was staring at something, giving them time to talk. Amanda realized Alice was right, taking a bus would take way too long and no way her car would magically work.

Amanda nodded at Alice and walked over to Nick who gave her a soft smile "can you give me a ride?"

"Yes. Where to?"

"Loganville"

Amanda gave him directions but apart from that she remained silent.

"Hey" he looked at her "you never told me about your job"

"Ha?" Amanda was confused.

"You told me you had a crappy job" he reminded her. He decided not to ask about her mother and Kim, maybe she'd tell him, after all, they were on the way to see them.

"Oh, that. It's just a waitressing gig" she replied and looked out of the window "take the next exit"

"I hope the food's not bad" Nick wanted her to talk to him, she looked so distracted.

"It's crap" she chuckled "but the shifts are fine"

"And you're in the track team" he noted, keeping the conversation alive.

"Yeah, used to run in high school and got a scholarship…" she shrugged.

"Then you must be good"

"I'm ok" she raised one shoulder "won't compete in the Olympic games"

"It could come in handy when you're chasing a perp" he glanced at her "when you join the police or the FBI or whatever it is you want to do…and after you gave me grief about being a policeman"

"Gave you grief?" she smiled and he was happy to see it.

"Ok, I went a bit too far there"

"You're the one who made a big deal about the beer"

"A big deal?" it was his turn to protest "I did not make a big deal"

"Fine. Let's start over" she said.

"How over? Like, my name's Nick Amaro" he realized it was the first time he mentioned his last name "nice to meet you"

"Amanda Rollins"

"It's very nice to meet you, Amanda Rollins" he smiled.

"It's not too far" Amanda said after a couple of silent minutes. She wasn't sure what to talk to him about. They barely knew each other, barely being an understatement, and here they were, of the way to her childhood home.

"It's ok, I don't mind driving"

"Well thank you, it's really nice of you" she smiled.

"Told you I was a nice guy"

"Yeah? How can I be sure you're not a serial killer?"

"I promise not to kill you, ok?" he glanced at her again.

"Maybe I'm not your type" she countered.

"I promise not to kill anyone, how about that?"

"I'm convinced" she nodded.

Nick chuckled "you're gonna make a great cop"

"With this kind of interrogation skills…" Amanda pulled her hair up in a ponytail.
"Who's Kim, your sister?" he wasn't going to wait anymore. It's not like he was unfamiliar with complicated families, he had one of his own.

"Yes" she replied, not giving any details.

"What's going on with her?" He didn't let it go, she probably wasn't going to give him any info unless he asked.

"Nothing" she lied and offered nothing more, staring out of the window as if she was interested in the view.

Nick debated with himself whether he should ask more or let her be. He was both curious and worried. Alice said it was an emergency, was she sick? Nick decided to leave it for now, he'd find out when they get there.

He saw the sign welcoming them to Loganville and kept on driving. He waited for Amanda to give him directions. She seemed even quieter now, and he called her name.

"Shit" she jumped, realizing they were about to drive the wrong way "turn left here"

"Ok" he took the turn and she wasn't distracted anymore, telling him where to go on time.

They reached a quiet street with small houses and she told him to stop.

"Where's your house?" he parked the car. It seemed like there was no one anywhere.

"It's a few houses over" she was about to step out when he stopped her.

"Really?" he gave her a questioning look "I'll drive you over there" he turned the engine back on and drove to the right house, parking on the opposite side of the road. It was probably serious so she didn't want him to witness whatever it was, the police car parked by the house didn't ease the worry.

"Stay here" she ordered.

"Amanda" he caressed her hand before she could go "what's going on?"

"Nothing, stay here" she left him in the vehicle and Nick watched as she walked to the other car, tapping on the window.

The officer got out of the car and gave Amanda a quick hug "how's it going?" he asked her.

"How are you Oli?" she didn't answer.

"Not too bad" he looked at the house "wish I could say the same about your sister"

"What now?" Amanda looked at the ground.

"You can guess…"

"I'll go talk to her" Amanda didn't have to guess, she knew the answer. Kim was only sixteen, but unlike others in her age group she wasn't interested in boy bands, clothes or anything like that. She was hanging out with a bad crowd from a young age, and things only got worse. Lately Kim got into drugs.

"It's not something a conversation will help Amanda" the officer stopped her.

"I…"

"I'm going to arrest her, your mom said she'll call you so I waited here, as a favor to you" he said "but I don't have a choice"

"Come on Oliver, she's a kid"

"She's high, not pot high. I don't know what she took but…she was seen trying to get into a store by breaking the window"

Amanda chuckled "let me talk to her"

"You can talk to her, but then I have to do my job…"

She didn't say anything and walked to the house.

Amanda knew Oliver for years, since she was six years old. They met when he arrested her father, Robert, or Bob, as most people called him. Both men were pretty much the same age then. He was driving over the speed limit, excited about a win. Amanda was sitting in the back sit, happy because her father was. He made all sorts of promises about how they will take a vacation, go to Disneyworld, Seaworld, wherever she wanted.

He started cursing when he noticed the lights but pulled over.

"Be quiet Mandy" he looked at her.

"Ok daddy" she leaned back and looked through the window as a man wearing uniform walked over to them and started talking to her father. Amanda didn't really understand everything. Her dad said she was sick but she felt fine, she was happy because she was going to Disneyworld and Seaworld soon.

"How are you doing kid?" the officer asked and Amanda looked at her father "My name's Oliver, but you can call me Oli, what's your name?"

Amanda's father nodded so she answered quietly "Mandy"

"Mandy?" he asked and she nodded "that's a pretty name, is it a short for Amanda?"

"Yes" her voice was higher now.

"What happened to your seatbelt Mandy?" the officer asked and glanced at Robert.

Amanda shrugged, a few hours ago she was told to get in the car, spent a long time with her daddy while he played a game, telling her she could only watch. Now they were driving back home.

"She has a stomach ache, so I unbuckled her…you know how it is with kids, they cry and there's no saying no" Robert tried to joke.

"Your tummy hurts?" Oliver looked at her.

Her tummy was fine, she acted like a good girl the whole day, not bothering her parents when they were arguing, helping Kim put her clothes on, playing with her. She was very quiet when her dad was playing, he told her not to make a sound and even when he won and everyone around cheered, Amanda clapped without making any noise. She didn't cry once.

But Robert was giving her a stern look, and between him and Oli, who was very nice, she had no idea what to do.

Amanda ended up nodding awkwardly. The gesture didn't satisfy the officer and he brought them both in.

She had to wait for her mother and spent the time with Oli, they painted together and she told him she has a sister, but no dog. She really wanted a doggy.

"I have a dog" he took a crayon and drew a smiley face "his name's Rocco"

"Really?" Amanda's eye widened with excitement "can I play with him?"

"I don't know…what are drawing?" he looked at the paper, it had small rectangles with red shapes in them.

"Daddy's game" she raised her eyes at him "what are you drawing?" he only had colorful lines and the face on his paper.

"I don't know yet, what do you think I should draw?"

"Rocco!" she smiled.

"Good idea" he took a different crayon and looked as she continued with the shapes "what's the game?"

"You take a card and then another card and then another" she explained, not too sure of the rules "when you win people cheer, it's fun to win"

"I guess, does your daddy win a lot?" he realized the kind of game she was talking about, this was in no way appropriate to take a child there.

"Sometimes" she shrugged.

"And what happens when he doesn't win, when the people don't cheer?" the man didn't seem to care too much about his daughter, what if he physically hurt her?

"He says stuff"

"Like what?"

Amanda put down the crayon and looked at Oliver "like…eh…fuck this shit"

She pronounced the words so effortlessly, so casually it caught him off guard "so he says bad words then?"

"Why are they bad?" she asked.

"These words mean bad thing, so it's not nice to say them"

"But my daddy is nice!" she insisted "finished" she gave him the drawing. It was full with cards and Oliver felt bad for the little girl.

"And here's Rocco" he handed her his drawing "he looks better in real life"

Amanda giggled and thanked him "when can I go home?"

Oliver called social services but they told him to release the girl to her mother. It took her a few hours to show up. Oliver's shift was over but he didn't want to leave Amanda and bought her some food and a drink.

When Amanda's mother finally showed up she made a scene at the station and the sergeant in charge just wanted to get rid of her so Oliver said goodbye.

Somehow Robert was able to get the charges dropped and there were no consequence to that night. Oliver took Rocco for walks by the Rollins residence, wanting to make sure Amanda and her sister were alright. Amanda was thrilled to meet the dog, her parents were not happy about it all. They threatened to complain but he was always outside and in plain sight so they wouldn't have a case, he really wanted the best for the girl.

There wasn't a lot Oliver could do, Robert was more careful, which was a good outcome, but it was clear he was only doing it when Oliver was around.

When Amanda was almost nine he left. By then Oliver was about to start his own family and had less time to make sure Amanda was safe. He was at the house way too many times after getting calls from neighbors about loud noises and maybe even violence from one of Amanda's mother boyfriends. But the woman denied everything, complained that the neighbors were nosy and exaggerated about everything. He couldn't do anything.

"Kim!" Amanda called the second the door was shut.

"Amandaaa!" Kim ran towards the door. There was no doubt something was going on, she had a huge wacky smile and she was now dancing towards her sister "Amandaaaaaa" she hugged her, giggling "home from college"

"What is wrong with you?" Amanda pushed her away "what are you on?"

Kim twirled, she looked like a typical teenager, her hair was very long and she was wearing a dress that was a bit too short, but that was the least of her problems.

"I'm perfect, don't you think so?" she frowned and started laughing "that's not how a sister should behave"

"Oli said you tried to break into a store"

"You should be friends with people your own age Amandy" she whispered "people will talk"

"What is wrong with you? Who gave you the drugs?"

"Whatdrugsareyoutalkingabout?Mom!" Kim shrugged "mom!"

The older woman walked down the stairs "Amanda" she greeted her older daughter.

"Mom, what's going on?"

"Why won't you answer your phone? Why am I supposed to look for you?" she asked and gave Amanda a quick hug.

"Why is she high? Aren't you looking after her?" it wasn't the first time Kim took something, but when Amanda moved to college her mother promised to make sure Kim would be fine.

"I can't be with her twenty four hours a day Amanda, you're away, I have the house to take care of, I have me, it's not like someone takes care of me" she shook her head.

Valerie always put herself first, Amanda wasn't sure if her daughters or husband came in second.

"Look at her mom, what the hell?" Kim was sitting on the couch, trying to look innocent, but she was failing, having a hard time not to giggle.

"I called you, didn't I? You were always better handling your sister"

"Cause you never cared enough" Amanda muttered to herself, this wasn't the time for that argument.

"Look Mandy" Valerie turned to her "just ask Oliver to look the other way, god knows he'll do whatever you ask of him" Amanda didn't like what she was implying, Oliver was nothing but good to her, never asked for anything.

"He says he's going to arrest her"

"Arrest?" Kim jumped off the couch "I'll die in prison! He can't do that to me, please Amanda, please! I can't go there, I will die"

"You'll die if you won't stop with the drugs"

"Please" she grabbed her shirt, pulling hard "you're my sister, you can't let him do that to me!"

"Enough Kim" Amanda freed herself from Kim's grasp "there's nothing I can do, Oli will make sure you're safe and I'm sure they will let you out soon if you agree to get help, but there's nothing we can do"

"No!" Kim shouted "you're such a bitch Amanda, leaving me here while you do god knows what in Atlanta, I hate it here! Hate it here" she kept on yelling.

"I promise to help you out, I won't let them…" Amanda tried to calm her down.

"No, you never cared about me Amanda!" she pushed Amanda and rushed to the door, running out of the house.

"That girl…" Valerie turned away "let her go, she'll be back"

Amanda wasn't going to listen to her mother. She ran after Kim and noticed Oliver was out of the vehicle, running after the girl.

"Kim!" Amanda shouted and ran to her direction. Amada was able to outrun her but Kim caught her off guard and tripped her.

Nick watched the short conversation between Amanda and the officer and saw her stepping into the house. He had so many questions. He could tell the house was uncared for and figured whoever lived there got the same treatment.

A part of him wanted to go talk to the policeman, question him about Amanda, but that would be very inappropriate and she would be very angry with him. So he sat there, just watching and waiting. Until the front door opened and a young girl ran out of it. She was a teen and looked like Amanda which meant this was Kim. The officer tried to catch her but he was older and seemed to be tired. He saw Amanda running after the girl, she almost caught her when Kim tripped her, causing the older sister to fall on the ground.

Nick wasn't about to sit and watch this scene, he didn't care about being scolded later. He stepped out of the car and joined the chase. It wasn't difficult for him to catch the girl.

"Stop" he said when he was close to her. Kim didn't know him and the confusion caused her to slow down. Nick grabbed her hand firmly.

"Help!" she shouted.

"Shut up" Amanda reached them and once she held on to Kim's hand Nick let go. Amanda glanced at him with a very unclear expression.

"Don't let him arrest me" Kim tried to sound miserable and force tears to go down her cheeks, it was only half working.

"I'm sorry" Amanda said quietly and hugged Kim.

"Who are you?" Oliver asked, taking out his handcuffs.

"He's a friend from school, gave me a ride cause my car broke down" Amanda quickly explained.

"Kim Rollins" Oliver turned to her "you are under arrest…"

Nick thought that Amanda looked sadder than Kim, it seemed like she was about to grab her and ran away somewhere, but she didn't move.

"You want a ride to the station?" Oliver asked, not sure if she'd ask this friend of hers, he wasn't looking at her like he was just a friend.

"Yeah, but just a sec, ok?" Oliver nodded and dragged Kim to the car.

"Thanks for the ride Nick, I really appreciate it" she looked at him "but you should go back now"

"I'll wait for you, I have time" he offered but she shook her head.

"Listen" she started "go back, it's gonna take a long time, go back to…New York"

Nick was surprised by this, why would she ask him to go back home? "I really don't mind waiting Amanda" he ignored the mentioning of New York.

"I'm gonna take the bus to school, just…go…I'm sorry, I…I have a lot to deal with" she didn't wait for him to say anything and walked to Oliver's car, asking him to give her another minute.

"Mom?" Amanda walked back into the house "I'm going to the station with Oliver and Kim, come on"

"You know" Valerie was dressed in a different outfit "you're better than me when it comes to this things, you go and it's gonna be fine, I have somewhere to be"

"Mom…" Amanda tried again but there was no use, she probably had a date or something, her daughter didn't matter, neither one.

"Fine mom" Amanda said "bye"

Nick watched as Amanda walked out of the door and sat inside the car. A moment later they were off. What was he supposed to do? Leave? That's what she asked him to do. But this was clearly a messy situation, maybe she thought he didn't care. But Nick did care, and even though this wasn't how he planned to spend the day - she needed support. Her mother didn't seem to go with them, what was up with that?

Nick would love to be the support she needed, he liked her. He had to get rid of those nagging thoughts about distance again, this time it was harder. Amanda mentioned New York, which meant it was in the back of her mind. She was thinking about the fact they lived far from each other. And now she asked him to leave, without even talking about it with him. It was clear she was stressed about her sister, maybe she thought this was what he wanted to hear?

Was he supposed to stay or go?