Christian walked into the small building with Chloe and Shannon. Light waiting room music played in the background. The colors were light and comforting, which was definetly what Christian needed at the moment. He stopped at the door for a moment. He took in everything with eyes that betrayed no emotion.

"You OK?" Shannon inquired softly, rubbing his shoulder.

"Yeah," Christian faltered. "I'm fine."

"I'm really glad you made the decision to come, Christian. I know this person, and I'm sure they can help," Chloe assured him.

"Who's to say they'll even take me in? You know you have to have an adult here with you. This was probably just a waste of time, and time is something that I cannot waste at this point in time."

"Look, Chris. He is going to take you in even if I have to tie up all the other clerks and doctors. Please, just sit down and I'll go find him," Chloe began walking towards a small white hallway with gray carpet.

Shannon sat down in front of the large window with Christian. "Want a coke or something?"

"No, I'm fine. I just want to rest, really. Just to rest and not think about anything. I'm definetly going to need my strength, that's for sure, because this may turn out to be the fight of my life, Shannon."

Chloe bumped into someone coming out of Dr. Woodman's office door. She smiled when she saw who it was. "Brent! I didn't expect to find you here today. I thought you'd have a baseball tournament or something."

Brent laughed. "You've caught me on the one Saturday that I don't have anything to do. I was just up here helping my dad file away some stuff." He stopped and a concerned look entered his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

The light went out of Chloe's face. "I'm here supporting a friend. He really needs some help, and I remembered hearing that your dad was a psychologist so I decided to see if he could help. I really hope he can, because my friend is about to lose hope."

"Man, this sounds serious."

"It is. But if you wouldn't mind, I would greatly appreciate your help. Your dad really doesn't know me, so it wouldn't really look right for me to walk in his office. If you could please explain to him the circumstances of the situation, I would be so grateful."

"Sure, go ahead and shoot."

Chloe related the situation to Brent. His face was lined with sorrow by the time she finished. "I can't believe it. Who would've ever thought? You're right, Christian doesn't deserve this. I'll talk to my dad now."

Chloe watched Brent go back into Dr. Woodman's office. "Please, Brent. Please give Christian the chance to tell his side of the story."

Jessica, growing strong but still a little woozy, silently looked at the playing TV above the door. She wasn't watching the program, though, she was thinking.

"Just keep the story in view, Jess. Remember what she did to you." Jessica repeated the statement over and over in her mind. She knew that she would have to in order to complete what she was setting out to do.

At that moment someone appeared at the door. Jessica didn't move her head, but instead shifted her eyes towards the door. "Right on time, Carrie. Right on time."

Carrie quickly made her entrance. When she noticed that Jessica was awake, she halted abruptly. "You...you're awake."

"Sadly, yes, Carrie. What, I wasn't dead enough for you?" The words came cool and fatal.

"I don't know what you're talking about Jessica, and if I were you I'd rest. You know what the doctors say, rest makes better."

Jessica laughed. "You'd like that wouldn't you? No, Carrie, I'm not going anywhere, especially not to sleep. You and I need to have this out right here and right now."

Carrie set her purse down on a chair slowly. She took her time before facing Jessica. "I don't think you're in the condition to be arguing right now, Jessica."

"You didn't care about me when you put me here, so why should you give a rat's butt about me now?"

The words felt like a slap across the cheek to Carrie. Her cheeks reddened with fury. "If you want to have it out now, then so be it. It won't be my fault if you...hurt yourself."

"The only one who's in danger of being hurt in here, Carrie, is you. Now you listen to me closely, because what I'm about to say is only going to be said one time, and one time only."

"Hey, Robin," Sloane greeted Robin. Gemini was hiding behind a magazine, but could still have a view of the well-built Sloane.

"Hi, Sloane. I'd like you to meet my friend, Gemini Narcissus," Robin sharply nudged Gemini in the ribs, causing her to wince in pain.

The magazine lowered below Gemini's eyes. She smiled weakly. "Hello." The voice was shaky and soft.

Sloane's eyes took in the slightly quivering figure that was Gemini. The features were so delicate, the eyes so limpid. He cleared his throat. "Nice to meet you."

"Same here," Gemini blurted. "You freak! Why did you say something like that? He's going to think you're a complete retard who's afraid of her own shadow. Pull yourself together, girl!"

An awkward silence fell between the two. Robin finally interrupted it. "I've got to head down to the studio to help Ms. LeVon set up. I'll see you two in about ten minutes, k?"

She knew it would be no use to wait for an answer, so she unobtrusively made her exit.

Sloane looked out the window. "It's pretty outside," he said aloud. To himself, he thought, "Oh God, could you have sounded more ignorant? 'It's pretty outside.' Help me, dear Lord, to keep my stupid words to myself."

"Most definetly. Winter's coming quickly. I hope it doesn't get too cold, though." Gemini nearly gagged. "Put a cone on my head and call me a jackass."

The silence continued on between them, but it was now a shared silence. Something was drawing them close together, something strong and powerful. To find out what it would lead to, no one knew, but they knew it would be something big.

Brent stepped out of his father's office. He quickly nodded his head towards Chloe. She let out a long, relieved sigh. "Will he do it?"

"It took quite a bit of convincing, but he finally said he'd do it. He understands how complex and difficult this situation is, so I'm sure that he'll do whatever he can to help."

"Thank you so much, Brent. You'll never know how much this will help Christian."

Brent looked thoughtfully at Chloe. "You know, I really admire you Chloe. What you're doing for Christian goes above and beyond the call of duty. It's really touching."

Beams of pleasure eminated from Chloe's face. She then attempted to stifle them. "Thank you, but what we really need to focus on right now is getting Christian the help he needs. Excuse me while I go tell him."

Chloe slipped quickly into the waiting room. Christian's face was hopeful yet restrained as he looked intently at her eyes, searching for clues. Chloe refused to betray any, though.

"Well, Chris, it looks like you're in luck."

A smile flashed quickly across Christian's face before disappearing. "Thank you so much, Chloe. I really appreciate this."

"Hey, don't thank me. It was Brent who convinced his dad to do it. Come on now, he's ready to see you," Chloe took Christian's arm and lead him to the office.

Christian hesitated at the door. He looked at Chloe & Shannon with the eyes of a frightened child, for that's all he was. A frightened child with nowhere to turn, nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. This was it. This would be the turning point in Christian's life, one way or the other.

Jessica swallowed before continuing on. Her mouth was dry and her throat raspy, but she would keep going no matter what. "If you think that I am going to sit by and let you get away with the hell you've put me through, think again. While I sat here in a coma, all you could worry about was whether what you had done to me would come out or not. I was sitting here fighting for my life and all you could do was sit there and think about yourself!" Jessica yelled, her words threw daggers into Carrie.

Carrie looked at Jessica coldly. "It never would've happened if you would have heeded my warning."

"What?! Heeded your warning? I'm not going to sit over here and roll over like all the other girls you trample over. I am not going to let you ruin my life because of your mistake! Because you tried to take my life away from me I think it's only proper to return the favor, girlfriend!"

"Don't you dare even think of threatening me, Jessica. Being in a coma will seem ten times better than what I'll do to you if you think about attacking me, do you hear? You listen to me, and you listen to me clearly. I will put you away for good if you try and go against me."

"Oh no, no, no, Carrie. You threaten me, you eat your words. I may not be up to my full strength yet, but trust me when I say I'm getting better. In a few days I will be out of here, and I will make sure that everyone knows just how much of a tra** Carrie Emerson is. And those, my friend, are threats you'd better listen to, because trust me when I say that when I gain back the rest of my strength there will truly be Hell to pay!"

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