We've Got You

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Tory just nodded but then stopped. "Mrs. LaRusso, there's something you need to know." Amanda frowned and furrowed her eyebrows. "Something about John Kreese." Tory paused and took a deep breath. "He's back."

Amanda's jaw dropped. "How do you know?"

"When I was leaving the medical center I felt someone walking behind me. I went to kick them, and they grabbed my leg. I looked up and saw Kreese." Tory explained.

"Oh, God," Amanda said, shocked. "What did he tell you?"

"It seems like he wants me to go back to him," Tory told her, nervous to see her reaction.

Amanda stood there, jaw open when she started pacing. "Has he tried to contact you again?" Tory shook her head. "We need to tell Daniel and Johnny. We don't need him approaching anyone else." Tory nodded. "Come on. You look like you're going to pass out any second now." Amanda helped Tory out of the dojo. She looked dead on her feet.

When Amanda and Tory reached the car Sam opened the door for Tory and got in the other side. Sam watched Tory on the drive home and saw her eyes close on and off. She felt for Tory. She had no idea what she was going through but she knew that Tory would need all the support she could get. Sam heard Tory sniffle and frowned. She looked over and saw a tear roll down her cheek, so she reached out and grabbed one of Tory's hands. Not saying anything, just offering her silent support.

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Tory was getting settled into the guest bedroom shortly after arriving to the LaRusso house. Sam had brought in an extra pillow and blanket. She was turning around to leave when Tory called out.

"Sam," Tory paused. "Would you mind staying? At least until I fall asleep?" Tory asked, her voice smaller than Sam had heard it before.

"No problem. Just going to get changed." Sam told her. Tory nodded and watched Sam leave. Tory sighed, leaned back in the bed and got under the covers. Tory turned on her side and closed her eyes. She tried to stay awake, not wanting to fall asleep alone after the last couple of days she'd had. She watched the door, waiting for Sam and was thankful when she came into the room.

"Tory, you look exhausted," Sam said, noticing she was still awake. "Go to sleep. I'll be here. I promise." Sam told her, sitting on the bed next to her, resting a hand on Tory's shoulder.

Sam was sitting up against the headboard, on her phone when before she knew it an hour had passed. Sam felt the bed move and watched as Tory turned, now facing her. She watched Tory's face twist, her eyebrows furrowing.

Oh, shit. Nightmare. Sam thought.

Sam was about to shake Tory awake when Tory jumped up. She was panting and held a hand to her chest.

"Tory? Tory, look at me." Sam tried to get her attention, but it wasn't working. "Tory!" Sam moved to sit in front of Tory and held both of her hands. "Tory, look, I know you're most likely trapped in a memory of your mom, or you're stuck in the memory of finding her or this is just a nightmare-induced panic attack but feel me okay," Sam said, squeezing Tory's hands. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." Sam said and continued to try to comfort her and reassure her that she was safe.

It had taken several minutes for Tory's breathing to calm and when it did Tory looked up at Sam, tears in her eyes.

"Tory, it's okay for you to let it out. You're safe here, okay?" Sam said and watched Tory nod. Tory let a couple of tears fall and when Sam pulled her into her arms the dam broke and she began to sob.

Sam was holding Tory in her arms for a few minutes when she heard footsteps come from behind her. Tory looked up and saw Amanda. She gently pulled away from Sam, wiped the tears off her cheeks and looked back to Amanda.

"Sorry to interrupt, I was just coming to see if either of you is hungry?"

Tory shook her head and looked down. "I don't think I could keep anything down, Mrs. LaRusso," Tory said, looking at her for a quick second before looking down at the blanket.

"Sam, why don't you go get something to eat," Amanda told Sam and waited for her daughter to leave before turning to Tory.

"You don't need to say anything," Tory told Amanda before she could even get a word out. Tory looked at Amanda. "Why are you even doing this?" Tory asked.

"Doing what?" Amanda asked eyebrows knitted together.

"Being nice to me."

"Tory," Amanda was cut off by Tory standing up.

"No. Just please stop. Just tell me the real reason you're doing this. Please." Tory asked.

Amanda sighed. "Tory, when you hurt my daughter in the school fight all I wanted was for you to be locked up. Anyone who hurts my child I would feel the same, it's not exclusive to you. I wanted you to be in juvie. I ranted about it multiple times but then I learned more about you and your story, I began to understand. Going and giving you groceries wasn't an empty gesture, Tory."

"I know," Tory said, not missing a beat.

"I know I could have handled myself differently, but I just wanted you to have someone be there for you while you were taking care of your mother and brother. I just wanted to help take some of the weight off your shoulders." Amanda told her, watching her face to see if she could gauge how she felt about it.

"I appreciated it even though I did come to the dealership to tell you to back off and leave me alone." Tory ran a hand through a hair. "I've put your daughter through a lot and I'm sorry, Mrs. LaRusso," Tory said and looked down.

Amanda shook her head. "Stop apologizing. I know you're sorry. All we can do is try to move past it and please, feel free to call me Amanda."

Tory nodded but then it was silent between the two for a moment.

"I know you're not hungry, but can you come and eat something? Please." Amanda asked, knowing that Tory most likely didn't eat yesterday when the news was fresh.

Tory sighed and nodded. She followed Amanda out of the guest bedroom and towards the kitchen, hopeful she would be able to keep something down. When she walked in she saw Daniel and stopped in her tracks. She knew Daniel hated her and he probably hated having her in his house.

"Hello, Tory. Come and join us." Daniel said and Tory sighed, wondering how this would go.