She found herself sitting in the dimly lit kitchen of her prison-like house, her fingers tender and bruised from the iPhone she had taken from someone earlier. Night had fallen hours ago, casting a somber atmosphere around her. Seeking solace, she curled up against the cool wall, feeling the weight of her despair. As tears welled in her eyes, she mustered the courage to dial a phone number, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Hello..." Much to her surprise, the voice on the other end greeted her with unwavering cheerfulness, despite the early hour.

"Patch," she whispered, a small sob escaping her lips. Hastily, she covered her mouth to suppress any further sound.

"Braddock," the voice on the other line responded in a soothing tone, careful not to disturb the fragile peace.

"I need help."

—- —- —- —-

Sam Braddock was relentlessly pounding the punching bag in the SRU headquarters. Ed Lane, his team leader, approached, not surprised to see Sam there ahead of the rest of the team. He watches for a moment before asking, "Something on your mind…?" Sam continued his assault on the bag without acknowledging Ed's presence. For Sam, this was his way of expressing his anger and frustration, a habit formed during his upbringing in the Braddock household.

"Sam," Ed called out again. "Sam, stop hitting the bag." Reluctantly, Sam ceased his attack and turned to face Ed. Ed's concern was evident in his voice, giving Sam pause. He could sense Ed silently berating himself. "You need to wear gloves if you're going to hit the bag that hard."

"Yes, sir," Sam obediently replied.

Ed silently chastised himself. Sometimes he despised how Sam reverted back to his soldier mentality. "What's troubling you?" The older man asks.

"Nothing," Sam growled, his gaze fixed on his hands. Frowning, he noticed his reddened knuckles. The pain had gone unnoticed until Ed pointed it out. "It's not work-related." Both men stood in silence, understanding that Ed wouldn't let this go easily. "I'm just worried about my sister, sir."

"That's understandable," Ed responded, concealing his surprise. It was the first time Sam had willingly shared something personal. "Family has a way of causing concern. What's causing your worry?"

"I'd rather not discuss it further, sir." Sam replies.

"Understood, Braddock." Ed decided to drop the subject for now but vowed to keep a close eye on Sam. "Clean up your hands and put on some gloves before you resume releasing your frustrations on the bag," Ed instructed. Sam nodded, silently grateful that Ed didn't press further, before heading back to the locker room.

The young woman, once full of life, had now become a target, a victim of abuse. She cautiously slid out of bed, stealing a glance at the man still asleep beside her. Breathing a sigh of relief, she realized he hadn't awakened. She thanked fate that he didn't wake.

Swiftly, she dressed, hastily throwing on the first pair of jeans and hoodie she could find. Silently, she descended the stairs and adorned her jacket and sneakers before dialing a phone number she had called just two days earlier. "Nearly there," a voice answered on the other end, she abruptly terminated the call and concealed the phone in her jacket pocket.

She bit her lip, battling back tears. She was bidding farewell to her life, leaving behind everything she had ever known. Standing at the door, her hand gripped the doorknob, a deep breath filling her lungs. Everything she was leaving behind she could get replaced, but she knew if she stayed she wouldn't be alive soon. He was close a few months ago, and she couldn't do it again. With determination, she opened the door and hurriedly made her way to the awaiting car parked on the street. "Please, just drive," she pleaded with the driver.

"Is this where you want me to drop you off?" the driver inquired as they arrived at the SRU Headquarters building.

"Yes, thank you." She feigned obliviousness to the sudden wave of dizziness that washed over her. Waiting for the driver to leave, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, attempting to compose herself before entering the building.

With the sun still below the horizon, the parking lot was sparsely populated. Perhaps she had arrived too early. Perhaps he wouldn't even be there. Perhaps the man who had inflicted so much torment upon her was right – her older brother wouldn't care. "Maybe he's right. Maybe Sam will hate me. Maybe he doesn't love me," she thought, bringing her hand to her face and releasing a pained groan. "Perhaps I deserve this." The sound of a car door slamming shut behind her startled her, causing her to utter a curse and clutch her injured hand to her chest.

"Ma'am?" a voice called out, bringing her back to reality. Kevin Wordsworth stood before her, observing the woman intently. He noticed the various bruises on her skin and the way she held her hand against her chest. Something was dreadfully wrong – he recognized the signs and knew she was in trouble. He had been sitting in his car for over ten minutes, watching her. "Can I help you? I'm Kevin Wordsworth, an SRU officer. If you're in trouble, I can help you." He repeated himself, realizing that the woman was trying to gather her thoughts.

She nodded slowly, taking a step back from Kevin, who had stood a bit too close for comfort for her. "I... I'm looking for... He... he can help me. Sam... Sammy Braddock," she stammered, struggling to piece her thoughts together. It was now she realized how much it hurt to speak. Escaping from the prison she called home seemed unreal, all she wanted was her older brother hoping that he would protect her, help her.

"Alright. He should be here. He's usually one of the first to arrive." Kevin reassured her. "Would you like to follow me? I can bring you to him." He felt a twinge of guilt for not yet asking her name, but he knew the woman was on edge and he didn't want to frighten her more.

She nodded, barely audibly. "I'm sorry if I'm..."

Kevin offered her a soft smile, one he reserved for his own daughters. "No need to apologize. I'm happy to help." She didn't respond, simply trailing behind him into the building. "Winnie," Kevin called out to the officer at the front desk. "Is Sam around?"

"He was just sent to the locker room by Ed," Winnie replied.

"He's going to be so upset..." the young woman whispered to herself.

"No, he won't be. I don't know why you two are connected, but I believe Sam wants to see you, help you. He doesn't strike me as the type to get angry in a situation like this." Kevin reassured her as they made their way towards the locker room. He sensed that she must personally know Sam, given that she referred to him as Sammy. "Braddock! Come out here. You have a visitor."

The rookie emerged from the locker room promptly, freezing as soon as he spotted her. "Emmy!" he exclaimed, causing her to flinch. Stepping forward, he enveloped her in a tight embrace before she had a chance to move. "Wordy, where did you find her?" he whispered, seeking an explanation from the older officer. He doesn't flinch as the younger woman starts to sob.

"Outside. She asked for you. Said she needed help, although she was having trouble speaking," Wordy answered swiftly. "She's holding her hand to her chest. She's injured."

Sam sighed, holding her even tighter. He wasn't sure exactly what had unfolded, but he knew something was wrong. "Emmy, you're safe now. You're safe with me," he murmured, his lips brushing against her hair as she sobbed against his chest.