Alone

Chapter 6: The Truth Will Set You Free

Last week my life was fine. I was sane. I wasn't a rape victim. Now I am, and it's not going to change. Though this ordeal has brought about a great deal of change in my life.

Elliot. Damn him. Son of a bitch.

Rafael. I'm not sure what to think of him. Of his behavior. Through it's not my main concern right now.

Amanda. Oh God Amanda.

Light shown through the window of my room. I'm not sure how long I slept after I fell asleep, but I assume it's morning. I haven't moved, Amanda's arms still wrapped around me. I don't want to wake her up.

She's been so helpful to me. I'm very grateful, I feel like she's the one one who even begins to understand.

"You awake?"

I jump a little. Startled.

"Yea, umm. Sorry. About last night, I.."

"I know." She cuts me off.

"I want to go talk to Rafael." I state suddenly.

She looks at me, questioning. I shake my head slightly.

"Mmkay." She agrees sleepy.

"Did you get much sleep?" I question her, jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Plenty. Slept better than I have in months. You?" She responds, laying back down with her eyes closed. Her blond hair in a mess along the pillow.

"Yea. No nightmares. Maybe I should sleep with you more often." I joke playfully as I go to get up.

"Ahhh. Shit. Damn..." Words flow from my mouth as I attempted to get up.

"What's wrong hun?" Amanda is by my side, fully awake and aware now.

"Me head. My eye. Feels like a train ran over me." I gasp softly.

"I'll get you your pain meds and some water."

I didn't even know she left, the next thing I knew she was handing me the pills and water.

"Thanks." I reply in a small voice.

"I'm going to get ready to go. Maybe stop by the office."

"Olivia do you think that's a good idea. I mean yesterday was..."

"It was life. And I have to live with it." I said, ending the conversation.

"Okay..." She replies, defeated.

*****

'Stay calm, stay clam, stay calm.' I repeat in my head as I walk down the street.

'This is so fucking stupid. I can't even leave my damn house without feeling like... This.'

I stop by the park a few block down from work and pull out my phone.

It seems to ring forever.

"Barba."

"Rafael, it's Olivia."

**(Rafael POV)***

"Olivia. How are you?" I ask sitting up straight in my office chair. Surprise evident in my voice.

"I'm good. I'm still here." She attempts to joke.

"Thats great, Liv." I state honestly.

There was a silent pause, it seemed to last hours but I'm sure it was only seconds.

"I want to talk about what happened yesterday." She suddenly states.

"Okay..." I agree reluctantly.

"When?" I ask.

"Now? If your on lunch break yet."

"I'll meet you..."

"At Riverside Park." She cuts me off.

"Okay, I'll see you in a few."

I put down the phone.

My thoughts are everywhere.

'I'm not sure I'm ready to explain this to her. I don't want her to think less of me. I would have never have taken this job here if it wasn't for him. He wanted someone he trusted around her. Now I've grown to actually like her, care for her. He knows. And now its time she knows the truth as well. I am sorry mi amigo. I didn't know it would come to this.'

*****
(Elliot POV)

"She was raped?" I ask the man sitting next to me in the bar.

"How did this happen, Fin?" I ask still in shock.

"Louis. That bastard. He assaulted her a few mouths ago. After Amanda found him in the park, flashing a couple of girls. He burnt his fingerprints off."

Fin stopped to take a swig of beer.

"Finally put the bastard in jail after Liv beat the shit outta him." He smiled at the memory.

"That a girl." I comment.

"Yea, she did good." There was a long pause.

"Long story short, he escaped prison. Kidnapped a little girl. Olivia went off the map to find him. Exchange herself for the little girl. She would have died to protect Amelia. Lewis told Olivia... Told her he would with rape her or Olivia." Fin looked as if he was ready to cry.

So was I.

"She volunteered herself, to save Amelia."

I restated, a little shocked.

"Yea. She did. I'm just sorry that son of a bitch killed himself. I wanted that chance." Fin said with anger.

"Yea. Me too, Fin. Me too."

*****
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