Hello my wonderful readers! Here I am with another chapter of this (hopefully) great story!

Aquababy58: thank you for always leaving a review! I always want to hear your thoughts before I post a new chapter every time. Also, you're right: the mystery of how Annabeth got drugged is revealed BUT not on this chapter; maybe immediately after? Right now we're gonna get some angst for our favorite characters because it's been too long since last time!

To all of you: I hope you like it!

Enjoy!

It turns out Chin had also come back from the lab, but he hadn't brought good news. Neither him nor Charlie could find any match on the databases that linked the DNA from the raping kit to anyone in particular.

Kono wasn't having much luck either. There were no records of this MO in the databases and, as some agent from the mainland so gallantly told her, it wasn't the most distinctive of MO's, so it was a really long shot to match it with any other raping cases anywhere. Essentially, anyone in the world could have done this.

So, momentarily leaving those courses of action behind, they concentrated on the new information Steve and Danny gathered at the bar. Chin dedicated himself to the search of information on Trimetrafin and trying to find out where it can be bought. Danny and Kono started reviewing the security tapes searching for the time Annabeth had gone into the bar, and Danny was paying a special attention to any pair of men entering the bar before or after her. If his gut was right about this, then the men the waiter had mentioned had something to do with what had happened.

On the other hand, Steve had motioned Annabeth to go to his office.

- How are you holding up? – he asked her, leaning on his desk while she took a seat in the chair.

- I'm good – she answered. Truth was, she had felt the need to go to the bathroom little before everyone had returned and the process had been painful.

- You look tired – Steve noted – have you gotten any rest? – Annabeth had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. She knew he was just worried but she didn't want to be considered weak.

- I'm fine Steve – she said, standing up from the chair trying to avoid where the conversation was going – it's not like I'm gonna fall on my face if I … - but she couldn't finish. A sudden wave of dizziness hit her and she doubled over when her vision blurred to the point she couldn't even see the door in front of her, which is where she had been walking.

- Hey! – exclaimed Steve and rushed forward to help her. She held on to his arm until the dizziness went away and she turned to him again.

- Sorry I just stood up too fast. I'm fine – her voice was small, her breathing a little too heavy.

- Annabeth you don't need to pretend like everything's fine. You have nothing to prove here. The doctor said you needed to rest and you should really go home to be able to do that.

- I'm not trying to pretend anything! – liar! She said to herself – I am fine and you have to stop treating me like I was a victim. I'm not! – she was raising her voice now.

- Anna… - Steve started but she didn't let him.

- Everyone just keeps using that word. Victim. Victim. Yes, I was attacked but that doesn't mean I'm gonna go home and hide under the covers!

- No one's expecting you to do that either!

- You are! All you want to do is send me home and keep me away from this. You don't need to protect me from the investigation Steve. I can handle it!

- I'm just worried Annabeth! The doctor said you could still feel pain and dizzy spells, which is exactly what happened now. Have you felt any pain at all? – she just looked defiantly at him.

- No - she said. He just kept looking at her – maybe…

- See? It' not that I think you can't handle it, I just don't want you to hurt yourself even further because you wouldn't stand down from this – by now, the anger inside of her seemed to transform into sadness as her eyes started to moist and she looked down to the floor. Seeing this, Steve came closer and reached for her chin to bring it up – hey, what's up? – he gently asked. She swallowed.

- I don't want to go home – she answered, trying with all her might to keep the tears from falling.

- Why? I bet you would feel a lot better if you got a couple of hours of sleep. You haven't slept much since yesterday so it couldn't hurt to do so for a little bit.

- If I go home you'd still be here working on the case – she finally looked him in the eyes again – and I don't want to be alone – he felt like someone was squeezing his heart with an iron hand. How could he have not thought about that? Normally Annabeth was so independent that it didn't cross his mind to think she would be scared of being alone at home. Geez! He could be dense sometimes. He stepped closer and enveloped her in a hug, resting his chin on her forehead.

- I'm sorry – he said – I didn't think of that – once she had calmed down enough, she wiped the only tear that had managed to escape but she didn't break the hug.

- I know you're worried – she started softly – but you're also angry and I know you. You're not gonna let anyone else run this investigation and that means you have to be here. And if you're here, then I'm here too – she finished, hoping he would understand her need to be close to her family.

- You're right – he said with his voice tight – just promise me something.

- Shoot – she answered.

- Don't pretend with me. You don't have to and I would never think less of you for being scared or hurt about what happened. I know you're strong and I know you can handle a lot just, don't hide from me – again, a tear made its way down her cheek.

- Okay – she whispered.

- You know I'm here for you right? – he asked, breaking the hug to look at her. She smiled at him.

- I know.

- Hey guys! – yelled Danny while opening the door to the office – sorry to interrupt but you should see this. Maybe you can identify someone from this video – he said directly to Annabeth. She wiped her eyes again and squeezed Steve's hand one last time before nodding.

- Let's go – she said. And they made their way to the smart table.

Now we're gonna start getting some answers! I just need a little bit of time to connect what has already been written with what I have of the infamous Option 1 story line. It shouldn't take me long… maybe a day? Definitely less if I get some very motivational heartfelt reviews! Which are, of course, whatever you decide to write because all your reviews, from all of you, are always filled with kind and encouraging words!

So, I'm gonna go write now! Until next chapter!

P/S: REVIEWS!