Nelson rocked back as if she had struck him. Then he leveled angry eyes on her. "You knew about them? Thats why Caroline called you?"

"Yes. Bri told me she was going to tell -"

All of his terror was transformed into anger. This was Reeses fault! If she had told him, he would have put a stop to this nonsense before Brianna got hurt! Nelson moved so unexpectedly Reese didnt have time to counter, had she been inclined to. He grabbed her with both hands and slammed her into the wall. "You son of a bitch! You knew my daughter was fooling around with some girl and you didnt tell me?!!" he roared. He punctuated his fury by pounding his forearm into her body. "You let it go on?!!"

Fire tore through her side. Reese never lifted a hand, though she was well equipped to defend herself. "Nelson--" she gasped.

When Tory came around the corner, she saw the pain in Reeses face. Nelson stood, one fist poised to strike, the other hand twisted in Reeses shirt front, pinning her to the wall. He was momentarily stunned as Torys cane cracked down on his forearm, the curved handle catching around his wrist, preventing him from swinging into Reeses unprotected face.

"Let go of her, Nelson," Tory said in a deadly tone. "Now."

Reese sagged slightly in Nelson's grasp as he turned to Tory in confusion. Reese coughed, one hand pressed to her side, trying to catch her breath. Every inhalation felt like a knife stab.

Torys eyes never left Nelsons face as she shifted her weight, ready for the next strike. "Do it Nelson, or Ill break your arm."

"Its okay, Tory," Reese gasped.

"Hed better pray to God he didnt hurt you," was all Tory said. When Nelson finally dropped his hands to his sides, Tory relaxed slightly, but she kept her eyes on him. "The evac team is on their way. Shes stable, and intermittently conscious. Shes asking for you, Reese."

"You stay away from her," Nelson seethed. "If you werent queer yourself this never would have happened."

"I need a statement from her," Reese stated. And I need to see that shes all right

"Forget about a statement - youre fired."

Reese shrugged. "You can fire me tomorrow. Tonight Im going to catch whoever has been terrorizing the kids in this town. Tory - call Caroline, will you? I promised her -"

"Go ahead, Reese, Ill take care of it. Then I need to look at you." Tory said these last words with a glare toward the Chief.

Reese, smiling gently, brushed her fingers over the hand Tory clenched around the head of her cane. She drew as deep a breath as she could, determined not to reveal how much it hurt.

"Im really okay."

**********

Reese pushed open the door to the procedure room. Nelson followed, halting just inside the door. He was paralyzed by the sight of his daughter. She lay naked under a thin sheet, nearly unrecognizable from her bruises, hooked up to two iv bags. He saw a clear plastic evidence bag filled with bloodied clothes on the counter, with an open rape kit beside it. He fought the sudden urge to vomit. He looked again at the stretcher, expecting to see his little girl, and he saw a battered woman, someone he didnt know. He was afraid to go near her.

Reese pulled up a stool, taking Briannas hand in hers. She pressed the torn and bloodied fingers to her cheek. She was aware of Nelson coming to stand behind her.

"Its Reese, Bri," she said gently. "Youre all right now. Youre safe."

Bris eyelids fluttered, then opened. She tried to focus on Reeses face. Her throat was so dry, it was hard to form words. She found the blue eyes, and let herself be held by the tenderness in them. "Caroline?" she managed at last. "Is she -?"

"Shes fine, Bri. Shes on her way."

"Dont let her see me like this -please," Bri said with a struggle.

Reese smiled in understanding, brushing a lock of hair out of Bris eyes. "Shell need to see you, Bri. Shell be more scared if she doesnt." She waited for a second, then continued with what she knew must be done. "Can you tell me who did this, Bri?"

Bri tried to turn away as tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. Reese caught them on the backs of her fingers.

"Did he rape me?" Bri asked.

Nelson choked back a groan.

Tory moved from where she had been standing in the doorway. "I dont think so, honey," she said softly. "I still have a few tests to run."

Bri closed her eyes with a sigh. Reese waited patiently, her entire being focused on the young woman before her. She gently stroked her hair. Tory watched her lover, knowing that at this moment, Bri was the most important thing in Reeses life. How had she ever been nave enough to think this was just a job for Reese?

"Help me, Bri," Reese whispered.

"It was the black truck thats been following us. I dont know him, but I - I think I broke his nose. I punched him, when he was on top of me -" Bri lapsed into silence, shaking, overcome by the events too fresh yet to be memories.

"Oh, Jesus -" Nelson moaned.

"Give me something more, Bri -" Reese pushed. Bri gasped for breath as she tried to put words to her terror.

"Reese," Tory warned.

Reese ignored her. "Tell me, Bri. Help me get him."

Tory bit her lip, vowing she would stop this if Reese didnt.

"He hit my bike - I think it smashed his headlight," Bri said with a struggle.

"Good girl," Reese said.

Bri, fighting to remain conscious, looked up at her father. "Im sorry, dad. I wanted to tell you. I was scared. " Her voice trailed off as exhaustion claimed her.

Reese moved aside so Nelson could sit with her. She needed to get back to the field. She needed to check the motorbike for evidence, and start looking for the perpetrator. Very likely he would be seeking medical attention himself if Bri had really broken his nose. As she pulled the door closed, she saw Tory forcefully interrupt Carolines headlong dash down the hall.

"Wait a minute," Tory soothed, holding the struggling young woman. "It might be better if you see her tomorrow, Caroline. Itll be hard to see her like this -"

Caroline fixed Tory with a contemptuous glare. "Youre just like all the rest. You think just because were young that our feelings dont matter. Last night right about now she was making love to me. Do you think that doesnt matter either?"

"Thats not what I meant, Caroline. I know you care about her."

"_Care_ about her?" she said coldly. "What if it were Reese in there, Tory? Just how long would you wait out here?"

Tory stared at her, knowing that it could easily be Reese under other circumstances. Just the thought made her ill.

"Youre right. Im sorry," Tory said softly. "Nothing on earth would keep me away."

She watched the pretty young blond, who now seemed so much older than her years, resolutely push through the doors to her lover. She turned to her own lover, who was issuing orders into the phone.

"Call me with anything," Reese said. "Im heading out now."

"Not until I take a look at you," Tory said as Reese hung up the phone.

"Five minutes," Reese conceded.

"In here," Tory said, motioning to an empty exam room. "And Ill take as long as I need. Take off your shirt."

Reese complied with a sigh, trying to hide the pain that pierced her side as she shrugged out of her clothes. Tory bent to examine the stitches.

"Why didnt you stop him?" Tory asked as she cleaned the healing incision with peroxide. "You could have."

"He didnt know what he was doing," Reese grunted as Tory probed a tender spot along her rib cage. "Besides, hes my commanding officer."

"Im going to pretend I didnt hear that, Reese. Because as much as I respect and admire your pigheaded dedication to your job, I cannot believe you would let him do that to you." There was a faint sensation of movement under her fingertips, and she felt Reese withdraw from the pressure.

"He would have come to his senses in a minute. If he had really endangered me, I would have stopped him."

Tory stepped back, her face furious. "Well, he broke your rib. Now give me your goddamned gun. Youre not working tonight."

Reese took Tory by surprise when she caught both her hands, pulling Tory against her body. Im going to frighten her again, Reese thought. How many times can I do this to her before its too much?

"Tory, I love you with everything in me! But I cant do what you want. Please dont ask me to."

Reeses embrace was so tight it was almost painful. Tory pushed back in her grasp, searching the blue eyes that searched her own. There was honesty there, and shockingly, fear. Shes afraid Ill leave her!

"Youll need them taped," Tory stated, feeling the tension in Reeses body ease. "And I want your word of honor that you wont take any chances. Not one. If you love me, you owe me that, Reese."

Reese kissed her softly, "I promise - and thank you."


Chapter Twentyone

Nelson stood back against the wall watching Caroline Clark tenderly stroke his daughters swollen cheek. With her free hand Caroline brushed tears from her own face. The look she had given him when she entered the room had warned him he would have to forcibly keep her away. The steel in her gaze rendered him speechless.

"Its me, Bri. I love you," she whispered over and over. At first Nelson was embarrassed to hear her say such things to his daughter, but after a while he found himself praying that the love of this slight blond girl would be enough to keep his only child holding on. God knows, he hadnt offered her much reason.

Finally Bri opened her eyes as much as she could, trying to smile when she heard Caroline whisper her name.