return7

She cried out when he grabbed her, and for a moment he thought he'd hurt her. Until he turned her hand over, and saw the angry black bruise of a handprint on her wrist.

"Oh, Andie � did he do this to you?"

She looked at him, her eyes large, "No � I � I�"

"You slipped, you fell? The cantaloupe at the supermarket tumbled onto you?" He supplied. "I've heard and made them all, so it's no use."

"He didn't mean to," she answered, quietly. "It was really my fault."

He let go of her hand, but continued to keep his eyes locked in hers. "You don't have to take this, Andie."

"Once again, Pacey, you don't know me anymore!" She broke contact, and trotted down the hallway, stepping inside one of the large bedrooms. He followed her into the room, and saw Mera seated at a small play table, a tea party set up around her. Andie went over to stand behind her, her back to the doorway and to Pacey.

"Andie, what do you want?" He asked, tiredly.

"I want you to leave," she said, quietly. "Now. Before you cause anymore trouble."

"Cause trouble? Andie, did he hurt you after I left yesterday?" He came over to stand on the other side of the table, facing her.

"He � he was very angry, and if he comes home and catches you here again�"

"Not only will be beat you, but he will beat Mera as well." He supplied.

"No," she breathed. "He wouldn't lay a hand on her. And besides, I told you that I don't ever leave him alone with her."

"But you have to sleep sometime, Andie. And when you do, there is that possibility�"

Mera suddenly burst into tears, and Andie bent down to pick her up. This seemed to make the child scream louder, as she tried to pull her shirt up over her head. She managed to lift one side up, and Pacey caught sight of a flash of red. He leaned over to get a better look, but Andie saw where he was looking, and she turned Mera around to look for herself.

Sure enough, beneath the child's armpit was a large, blue handprint, identical to the one adorning Andie's wrist.

"No," Andie began, holding her daughter close to her body. "It was an accident, it had to be. He's never�"

"Or you've never noticed," he supplied. "You've got to leave. You aren't safe staying here, and she's not safe being here either."

"But we can't leave! I already told you that. We can't get anywhere. He will find us, he always does, and then he'll put me into an institution and take Mera away. I can't let that happen. I can't!"

"You also can't stay where someone hurts you and your child. It doesn't matter if he says he loves her, Andie, it doesn't make a difference at all. Does he even love you?"

"Do you?" She challenged.

He was stunned, and reached across the table again to touch her face. He slowly ran his fingers down her cheek, carefully avoiding the bruise. "I've always loved you, Andie. I never stopped. You shouldn't be here with this jerk, you should be back in Capeside with me."

"Pacey, don't�" she'd begun to cry. "It won't do any good."

"Come on," he went to her, and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm going to take you where you'll be safe. We'll go to the police station, and file a report."

"No," she stopped immediately. "We can't, I can't go the police."

"They're there to help you. They can protect you from Ralston better than anyone else."

"You don't understand!" She shouted. "Ralston is the police."

Pacey froze. "He's an officer?"

"He's the head deputy," she replied. "I've tried, and I've made reports before, but it doesn't do us any good. The entire force is male, they're all his friends. They would never take my word over his. Even when this first began, so long ago�"

"How long have you been taking this?" He put his hands on her shoulders, gently. "Because Andie, I don't think you can take it much longer. You don't deserve to take it any longer."

"There truly is nothing I could do."

"Maybe not, but I can do something. You have to trust me."

"I can't!" She cried.

"Then take this," he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small piece of paper that he had written on last night. It contained the address and his number at the B&B. "I won't go back without you, but I can't take you without some sort of plan. If you need anything, I mean anything � come, or at least call me. I can get here as soon as possible." He gave the paper to her.

"Pacey�" she tucked the slip of paper into her pocket.

"You work something out. Find a time when he's not home. Pack your things, take Mera, and come find me. If you don't call by tomorrow, I'm coming back."