Luke stared at Lucky in disbelief. "How can that be, son? Elizabeth saw Baker, right?"
Lucky nodded. "When I first found her she was hysterical. She said he tried to rape her again and that he ran when he heard me. She told me he was hiding on the other side of the boxcar."
"Did you see him yourself?"
Lucky paced back and forth in front of Luke and Laura, running his hand through his hair. "No, I didn't. I didn't see him." He stopped and looked at Luke. "And you know something else, dad? I never sensed him. You know, the way you taught me how to sense if someone is following behind you?"
Luke nodded. "And you have a keen sense for that, Lucky."
"Exactly. I never felt it, never sensed anyone close behind us until I heard you on the docks. You saw her. You saw how scared she was, There was no reason for me not to believe her." He slumped down on the couch, his head in his hands.
Laura sat down beside him and gave Luke a worried glance as she put her arm around Lucky. Finally he looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. "What the hell is going on? Do you think she just imagined that he was there?"
"I think that's very possible, Lucky. I think Elizabeth is in a lot more pain than any of us can imagine."
"I don't know how to help her anymore. She doesn't trust me to keep her safe anymore. Do you know how that makes me feel?"
"I know, sweetheart. But it isn't really that she doesn't trust you. I think she doesn't know what to think or feel or trust anymore."
Lucky nodded as she wiped a tear from his cheek. He took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. "I'm just relieved that Tom isn't really out there. Before she went to sleep, she told me she could feel him coming for her. I can't even imagine the fear and pain she must be in if she thinks that's true."
Laura took his hand in her two, rubbing it gently. "Lucky, do you want me to call Kevin in the morning? Maybe she'll talk to him."
He thought for a moment. "Yea, that's a good idea, Mom. Would you mind? Do you think she'll talk to him?"
"We can only try, and I think Kevin would be happy to help. I think she's going to need someone in addition to us to help her get through this. Someone a little more objective than we are."
Lucky stood up. "Okay. Okay. That''s a good idea. Maybe she'll talk to him and tell him how she's really feeling. Listen, I'm going to go back upstairs. I don't want her to be alone when she wakes up. Is it okay if we just stay here for a while? I don't think she's ready to go back home yet."
Laura hugged Lucky and said, "Of course, Lucky. You can stay here for as long as you need. We'll take care of Elizabeth together."
"Thanks, Mom. I'll see you both later."
Lucky went upstairs and Luke touched Laura lightly on the arm. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, wiping a tear from her face. "I'm okay, it's them I'm worried about. I just hope Elizabeth can find her way back from this. If she doesn't, I don't know what will happen to Lucky."
He smiled at her. "Our son is a strong boy. He got that trait from his mother, you know. He'll find a way to help her and bring her back. It just may take some time."
Laura nodded. "I know you're right, but you know me, when Lucky's hurting, I'm hurting."
"I know that. Listen, I think I'm gonna go on home now and let you get some sleep."
She nodded as he headed for the door. "Luke? You'll come back? Soon?"
He looked back at her and smiled, sadly. "Yea, baby. I'll come back real soon. You call me if you need anything, okay? Anything at all."
"I will. Thanks, Luke. Lucky's really going to need you now, you know."
Luke nodded and they looked at each other for a long minute before he turned and opened the door to leave.
Upstairs, Lucky pulled up a chair beside the bed and watched Elizabeth as she slept, fitfully, wondering what demons she still had to face before she was well again, before she was no longer afraid. He didn't want to sleep so he watched her for a long time, remembering the events of the last week, wishing he could take away all of her pain. But he knew he couldn't. This was something that she would have to work out on her own, and he would be there beside her every step of the way, no matter how long it took. After a while, he felt himself begin to doze but awoke some time later with a start. Something was wrong, he could sense it. The bed was empty, the covers thrown on the floor in a heap. "Elizabeth? Where are you? Elizabeth?"
He looked frantically around the room, yelling for Laura as he did. She appeared in the doorway, "Lucky, what is it? What's wrong?"
"She's gone, Mom. She isn't answering me." Suddenly he heard a faint whimpering sound from inside the closet. He opened the door slowly and found her crouched in the corner, behind the clothes, a look of wild panic in her eyes, shaking her head back and forth, her hands tearing at her hair.
She began to whisper then. "Please don't hurt Lucky again. Please, I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt Lucky again."
"Elizabeth, it's me....it's Lucky. I'm okay. I'm right here." He reached his hand out to touch her and she recoiled further into herself.
She let out a long, low, mournful moan and said, "Don't you touch me....please, please just go away and leave us alone. I can't take anymore....."