Justin was still trying to get those words to register with him, but he couldn't.

        Raped? That bastard raped her! I want to kill him!

        “Justin?” Anna called his name for the fourth time. She knew he was having a hard dealing with the fact that Elizabeth had been raped. So was she.

        He tried to remain calm, so he folded his hands in his lap. “What did you say?”

        “The doctor is just checking Elizabeth out, they say she's going to be fine,” Anna told him, trying to make him feel better. “She’s going to be fine.”

        He didn’t look at her. He stared a couple that was waiting in the waiting room, playing with their son.

        “Yeah, but he raped her!” he burst out.

        “But he's in jail now. He can't hurt her anymore,” Anna said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “She needs you now. Don't be angry about this, just be there for her.”

        He nodded then reached for a plastic cup and filled it up with water, then slowly drank it down. He wanted to punch anything near him, but he was too afraid to. He didn't Elizabeth to be in any more pain than she was already.

        “At least she's okay,” he said. “That’s the important thing.”

        “At least she's okay. When the doctor brings her out, just try and remain calm, okay?” Anna was still trying to keep herself from going over to that jail and saying a few words to Thomas.

        “You don't have to worry about me.”

        Just then, the doctor came out of the room with a bandaged Elizabeth. There were a few on her forehead and some on her arms.

        “She'll be good as new soon,” the doctor said, handing a folder to Elizabeth, who had been on a small smile.

        But she still looked different. There was no longer a sparkle in her eyes.

        She took it and walked over to the counter and started filling them out. As Anna began to talk with the doctor, Justin made his way over and stood beside Elizabeth.

        “Are you okay?”

        She almost jumped at the sound of his voice. But it soothed her. She looked at him and smiled the best she could. “I will be.” Tears started to form in her eyes as she thought about how he and Anna saved her life. Then she thought about all the damage Thomas had done to her. “Thank you for everything. I wouldn't be alive right now if you didn't save me like you did.”

        “I was so worried about you...I didn't know what to do.”

        “Anna said you were. That's so sweet of you. I'm not used to someone caring so much for me like that...well not a guy anyway.” She was afraid to touch him. She just looked at him at smiled, grateful for what he had done. She just couldn’t touch him. Not yet.

        He smiled and brushed a piece a hair out of her face. “I'll always be here for you.”

        Tears again started to form in her eyes. She gave him a hug, and as she leaned her head on his chest, she felt safe. She looked up as she moved away and kissed his cheek gently.

        “I love you so much.” She didn't wait for him to answer, she turned back and finished signing the papers and left the folder on the counter.

        “I love you too,” he said. He placed a protective arm around her and led her to where Anna and the doctor were talking.

        “As I said,” the doctor continued, “she'll be fine. Just make sure she gets lots of rest.”

        “Oh she will,” Anna said. “I'll make sure of it.”

        “I bet you will,” Elizabeth cut in.

        The doctor turned to her. “Please take care of yourself. We don’t want to lose you like we did your mother.”

        “Thanks.” Tears filled her eyes as he mentioned her mother. Her mother had died on his table. It was one of the most reassuring moments in her life. She thought about her mother everyday. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “I know she's in a better place.”

        “Well I miss her a lot. She was a great person. Stop by so I can see how you're doing.” The doctor patted her shoulder before he walked away when his beeper went off.

        “Are you okay, Liz?” Anna asked.

        Elizabeth smiled, and this time it was real. “Yeah, I'm okay. I just want to get home and forget this. All of this.” She looked at Justin. “I'm sorry I never told you…”

        “Hey, I don't blame you,” Justin said. “I just wish you did so I could have helped.”

        “There was no way to know he would be like this,” Elizabeth said, rubbing his back.

        “Let's just forget about it. I just want to get you home.” He grinned. “You get me to take care of you for three whole weeks. We have three weeks off.”

        “Oh oh,” she said, pressing the button for the elevator. “Does that mean you’re not leaving my side?”

        He brushed her cheek with his. “Yes.” He looked in her eyes to ask for permission to kiss her. She smiled at him, and before he could think, she pressed her lips to his in a sweet kiss, a promising kiss.

        The three walked outside and when Elizabeth smelled the nice, cool night air, she knew everything would be okay.

        Thomas was in jail for a long time and she had Justin.

        Forever.