Tommy goes and picks her up and takes her to the couch. "Abby, look at her dress." Tommy points at her torn dress.

"Call Dr. Max. Ask him to come over," Abby tells Tommy. "Elizabeth? Can you tell me what happened?"

Tommy runs to the phone and calls Dr. Max.

Elizabeth tries to remember what happened. "We went to a burger joint and I had a soda. I don't remember anything else." she says trying to stay awake.

"It'll be OK," Abby says, "but you've got to try to remember. How did your dress get torn?"

"It's torn?" Elizabeth asks and then goes off on another subject. "I  didn't have any alcohol, I swear."

"I know you didn't," Abby soothes her. "You had a burger and a soft drink. Then that happened?"

"I think I got dizzy and Peter took me for a ride. I think I asked  him to take me home but he said the air up at the point would make me feel better."

"So he took you to the point--did you feel any better?" Abby asks. ~Get here already, Max...~

"Yeah, until he gave me some water..." Elizabeth grabs her head. "I can't remember anything more."

The doorbell rings. Tommy lets Dr. Max inside.

"What's going on? he asks Abby.

Abby pulls Max aside and tells him the state Elizabeth's in. "I think her date tried to hurt her. I don't know how far he got--she claims she can't remember anything."

"OK, don't worry. She'll be fine. I need to examine her alone." Max tries to assure her.

"Are you sure? She might prefer--well, if he did hurt her, she might be skittish about being alone with a man. If she really does remember anything," Abby hesitates.

"You are right." Max says. "Normally we would do this at a hospital, but I think here is best." Max pulls out a rape kit from his bag.

Meanwhile Tommy is fuming and is about to leave the house.

"Tommy, where are you going?" Abby stops him.

"I am going to go find that creep."

"You stay right here," Abby orders. "I need you to make sure no one comes into the living room while Dr. Max is examining Elizabeth, and she may need you afterwards. That boy will still be wherever he is ten minutes from now, too. We've got enough to worry about without you adding to it."

Tommy sighs. "OK, I am sorry. Do you want me to go wake up Dad?"

"No, not yet," Abby says. "Let's wait until we know what we're waking him up for. But if he comes downstairs, send him in." She goes into the living room and shuts the doors behind her.

Dr. Max is ready to examine her when Abby comes in. "Abby? Please tell Dr. Max that I am fine." Elizabeth says.

"Of course you're fine, Elizabeth. But when you nearly pass out on the doorstep and come home looking like you're in a fight, well--let me play the overprotective parent for once, please?"

Elizabeth concedes. "OK, you win."

"Thank you." Abby watches tensely as Max finishes his examination.

Max face turns white. "Elizabeth, you are going to be OK. But I am going to give you a little something to sleep." Before she can protest, Max gives her a shot. Max then pulls Abby aside.

"I hate to say this, but to me it looks like she was..." Max can't bring himself to say the word.

"Is she going to be OK? I mean physically," Abby asks. "Is there anything you could give her--well, I don't want her ending up pregnant..."

"Yeah, you might want to schedule her for a D&C. Wait a second she is on the pill isn't she?"

"As far as I know, she never had any reason to be," Abby says sadly.

"Don't worry, we will take care of this. I can give you a name of a gynecologist."

"No, that's OK--I'll take her to mine in the morning."

"OK, the sooner the better. The shot I gave her should last until the morning, I wouldn't try and move her until then."

"Thanks for coming over; she barely made it home--I didn't want to have to take her to the hospital. Should I call the police, do you think?"

"You can, but this type of attack is hard to prove in court. I don't mean to discourage you."

"He tore her dress, and she came home half unconscious..." Abby begins. "Wait--she says she was dizzy after they ate, and then she started feeling better until he gave her some water. Could he have slipped her some drug or something? Something you could find in a blood test? That would help prove things, wouldn't it?"

"Abby, you are a genius." Max says. "I'll draw some blood."

"I just hope it comes up positive..."

Max draws a vial a blood from Elizabeth. "I'll drop this by at the police station along with the rape kit."

"Thanks."

Meanwhile Tom comes down and sees Tommy. "Tommy what's going on?"

Tommy can't say anything except for that Max is in the living room with Abby and Elizabeth.

Tom rushes in and sees Elizabeth asleep on the sofa. "Max, Abby. What is wrong?"

"It's Elizabeth," Abby says. "She's been...Oh, Tom, I should have listened to what Tommy was saying. He didn't trust this boy at all. But I thought he was just being overprotective, and I didn't want to worry you, and now..."

"Now what?" Tom asks impatiently.

"Tom, we think Elizabeth was attacked tonight" Max says.

"Attacked?" Tom goes into shock.

"From what it sounds like, from the little Elizabeth told me, it was that boy she went out with. I'll take her to my doctor in the morning, but there's a lot more she'll need to deal with than the physical aftermath," Abby says.

Tom rushes to the phone and starts dialing.

Abby hurries after him. "Who are you calling?"

"The Police."

"Shouldn't you wait to make sure that's what Elizabeth wants?"

"She's underage Abby." Tom reminds her.

"She's still a person. That boy took away her choice once tonight. Don't you do it a second time."

Tom slams the phone down.

"Tom let's take this one step at a time OK? Let me get the test results first before you two make any decisions." Max says.

Tom nods unable to speak.

"I'll be in touch." Max says and leaves.

Tommy is standing there not knowing what to do.

"I shouldn't have let her go out tonight," Abby says.

"Then why didn't you stop her? Tommy asks.

"Will you two tell me what you are talking about?" Tom asks.

"Tommy told me he didn't trust this boy. I told that to Elizabeth, but she said he was just..." Abby stops, loathe to break either Tommy's or Elizabeth's confidences. "She said not to worry."

"Terrific." Tom says. "Look you two, it isn't anyone's fault except that so called boy. Understood?"

Tommy nods.

"Go to bed son, I have a feeling its going to be a long day for all of us tomorrow."

Tommy goes upstairs.

"Abby? It's not your fault." Tommy says from the stairs.

"Try to get some sleep, Tommy," Abby answers, refusing to believe either her husband or her stepson. When Tommy's door closes, Abby turns to Tom. "You weren't feeling well. I didn't want to worry you. I thought I could handle it on my own."

"Abby, I am not blaming you. I probably would have taken one look at this boy and thought he was fine." Tom tells her as he holds her.

"Maybe you're not blaming me, but that's OK--I'm blaming me enough for the both of us."

Tom sighs. "What good is that going to do? It is wasted energy. Besides Elizabeth is probably going to need you now more than ever," he reminds her.

"Oh, I plan to be here for her--good thing I haven't gone back to work yet. I'll just extend the leave, and whenever she needs me I'll be there--unless I can get some kind of work at the high school..."

"Do you think you could get a job at the high school?"

"I could try. They're always looking for substitutes."

"It's up to you sweetheart." Tom tells her. "Are you coming to bed?"

"I should probably stay with Elizabeth, in case she wakes up."

"I'll stay up with you." Tom says.

"No, you're still not feeling well. Sleep. If I get too tired to stay up, I'll come wake you and ask you to take over."

"OK, but if you or Elizabeth need me. Wake me up." Tom says. "I doubt I'll sleep well anyway." Tom says as a tear forms in his eye.

"If you can't," Abby gives him a kiss, "you know where to find me. If you need to talk, or just want to be with someone..."

"I always want to be with you." he says and kisses her back. "I'll go try and sleep and relieve you later."

"We'll get her through this, Tom," Abby promises.

"I hope so." Tom sighs and goes upstairs.

In the living room Elizabeth wakes up and tries to get up.

Abby hurries to her. "Shh...Elizabeth, lie down."

"Abby, what happened to me?"

Abby hesitates. "How much do you remember?"

"Not much, just getting dizzy at the diner and Peter giving me some water." Elizabeth says blocking out what happened to her. "and Dr. Max being here. Why was he here anyway?"

"You were hurt. When you got home, you were barely conscious and your dress was torn."

"Torn?" Elizabeth starts having flashbacks but then pushes them out of her mind.

"Elizabeth, it's all right. You're safe now. Dr. Max took blood tests and...samples... in case you want to press charges, and tomorrow I'll take you to my doctor."

Elizabeth finally realizes what happened to her and starts crying

Abby holds her and lets her cry.

"Why?" she asks still sobbing.

"Because there's something very wrong with that boy. You just were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"It's all my fault." she says. "I should have listened to you and Tommy."

"It's not your fault," Abby insists. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Elizabeth finally becomes exhausted from crying and lies back down on the sofa.

Abby covers her up. "Sleep. It'll be good for you. I'll be here if you wakeup again."

Nancy comes downstairs from her bedroom. "What's going on?"

Elizabeth nods and then hears Nancy calling. "Abby, I don't want to see her or anyone." she begs.

Abby nods. "I'll take care of it. You just rest. If you need me, I'll be right outside the door, OK?"

Elizabeth nods yes "Hurry back OK?"

"I will. And if you need me before I come back, just call for me."

Abby comes out of the living room, shutting the doors so Nancy can't see in. "It's late--you should be asleep."

"I'm not Nicholas. Now what happened?"

"Well, I suppose you'll have to know, but I'm not sure what we're going to tell everyone," Abby says. "You were right tonight. That boy Elizabeth went out with..."

Nancy's insides grow with fury and worry. "What did he do to her?"

"Promise you won't go running out of this house? Elizabeth will need you."

Nancy braces herself. "Yes."

Abby takes a deep breath. "From what she told me, and from what Dr. Max could tell, he drugged her. And then he...he...he raped her," Abby says, her eyes filling with tears.

Nancy is too stunned to say anything and to prevent the tears from falling.

Abby hugs her.

Nancy cries in her arms and a little while later. "Does she want to see anyone right now?"

"No--she needs a little time alone, she said. I'm just staying with her in case she needs anything. But she'll need you--especially you--a lot in the next few days and weeks."

Nancy nods. "Tell her I love her ok."

"I will. I'd better get back to her."

"Ok, who all knows?"

"Your father and I, Dr. Max, and Tommy--he was here when she got home."

"I won't tell anyone else then. I'll leave that up to Liz, you, and Dad."

"Thank you."

She nods and goes upstairs.

After she sends Nancy back upstairs, Abby goes back into the living room to check on Elizabeth.

Elizabeth is asleep and dreaming about the nights events and starts moaning in her sleep.

"Shh," Abby tries to sooth her in her sleep. "It's OK, Elizabeth. You're home now."

Soon the sun comes up and Tom comes down and finds Abby asleep in the chair. "Abby?" he whispers. "Go on upstairs, I'll take over."

Abby looks at the clock. "By the time I really got to sleep I'd have to get up--my doctor gets in at 7:30. I'll go make us some coffee."

"Abby, you are forgetting it is Sunday." Tom reminds her. "Unless you can get her to see Elizabeth right away."

"Let me call her service." Abby goes off, makes her call, and comes back. "I left a message--she should be calling back soon." Abby's barely finished saying this when the phone rings and Abby hurries to get it before it can wake anyone. When she comes back she tells Tom, "Eight o'clock in her office."

Tom looks at Elizabeth sleeping. "Think she will be up to it?"

"Probably not, but it has to be done. Max is a good doctor, but he's no gynecologist, and Elizabeth..." Abby hesitates, not quite sure how to remind Tom about some of the facts involved.

"I really hate this." Tom says. "I'll drive you two over there."

"Good. What are we going to tell the other kids? Or do we leave that up to Elizabeth?"

"I doubt Elizabeth will be up to it." Tom says. "I'll gather the others while you make coffee. Hopefully Nicholas won't wake up yet."

"I didn't mean she should tell them," Abby clarifies. "I meant she should decide how much we tell the others."

"They are going to be suspicious Abby, especially when we drag Elizabeth to the Doctor on a Sunday."

"I guess. But if it were me, I don't think I'd want everyone knowing before I was ready to say something myself."

"Trust me on this one, Ok?" Tom tells her.

"Whenever you say 'trust me' I worry. But OK, we'll do it your way."

Tom kisses her. "Could you call David, while I gather the troops?"

"As soon as I get the coffee up." Abby goes into the kitchen, gets the coffee started, then dials David's number.

After a few rings David answers the phone. "Hello."

"David, I know it's early, but could you come over right away? Your father and I have something to tell you kids, and we'd rather you all be together when we do."

"Sure I'll be over in a little while is it serious?"

"Would I be calling you at this time of the morning on Sunday if it weren't?"

"No I guess not I'll be over soon."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Meanwhile in Nancy and Elizabeth's room. Nancy is lying there staring at the ceiling like she had been all night contemplating how she will be there for her little sister, angry and sad about what happened to her, and considering what to do about Peter.

Tom goes upstairs and gets Mary, Joannie, Susan, Nancy and Tommy out of bed and they all gather in the dining room.

"What going on, Dad? You know I always sleep late on Sunday mornings," Joannie grumbles.

"I know honey, but this is a family emergency."

"Yeah Dad what gives?" Mary asks.

"I'll tell you all as soon as David gets here." Tom says holding back the tears. "Abby is making coffee for those who want any."

"What did you do, Dad, crash both the cars?" Joannie asks.

"Not that I saw them both when I arrived." David says.
"I wish that's all it was." Tom tells Joannie.

Abby brings in the coffee just as David arrives.

"So then what's the emergency?" Joannie counts heads. "And where are Elizabeth and Nicholas?"

"This concerns Elizabeth and she is getting some sleep, I hope and Abby and I will talk to Nicholas later."

Nancy gets a cup of coffee and waits for Tom to tell her other siblings what she and Tommy found out the night before.

"What happened to Elizabeth?" Mary asks becoming worried at the looks on her dad's, Tommy's, and Nancy's faces.

"Now that everybody is here. I have some disturbing news. Elizabeth was attacked last night by her date."

David and Mary are both stunned by the news.

"Oh no" Susan says to herself.

"She's going to be fine, but to make sure Abby and I are taking her to see Abby's doctor this morning." Tom tells them.

Nancy gives him a funny look and leaves the room.

Abby hurries after her. "Nancy, you all right?"

"I know he means well but she's not going to be fine, not anytime soon anyway."

"Your father meant physically," she tells Nancy.

~Peter won't be fine physically.~ "Oh ok."

Meanwhile, Joannie tells her siblings, "We can't let that boy get away with this."

Nancy goes up to the attic to look for something.

"What do you have in mind?" Mary asks.

"What do you think she has in mind?" David says with fury in his eyes.

"David calm down." Mary then turns to Joannie. "Do you have a plan?"

"Other than beating him senseless?"

"I'm all for that." David says.

Meanwhile in the basement Nancy finds what she's looking for and hides it in her purse. She then goes downstairs. "I'm going for a drive I'll be back later."

"I am going with you." Tommy says.

"Tommy I rather you didn't." Nancy says.

David glances over at her and notices how exhausted she is and sees the look in her eyes. "You're not going either." He says to her. "And what's in your purse?"

"Nothing." She heads out for the door.

Tom sees Nancy going out the door. "Nancy!?!"

She tries to rush out but Tom stops her and gasps when he checks her purse against her protests.

"He has it coming to him." She says in a low quiet tone.

Tom is shock when he sees his old gun from Korea. "Nancy, this isn't the answer. Do you realize what trouble you could have gotten into?"

"What about him Dad? What if he walks? What if he keeps on doing what he did to Lizzie." Her tears start falling.

"Don't you think I want to do the same thing? But us going to jail isn't going to help Elizabeth. She has to be our first priority right now." Tom tells her while he holds her

She cries herself to sleep in his arms.
 
Tom motions to David to take the gun. "Lock it up."

"You got it and do you need any help carrying her upstairs." David asks.

"Please and can you stick around here today to make sure no one else goes off half-cocked while Abby and I take care of Elizabeth?"

"Sure." David locks the gun away and carries Nancy upstairs and puts her in Mary's bed.

Elizabeth wakes up and sits there looking out the window.

Meanwhile, Abby goes to wake Elizabeth, but sees that she's already awake. "You should probably go get ready--if you want to change or anything," she says.

"OK." she says numbly.

"Um..." Abby hesitates. "Just change your clothes, and put them in a bag or something, OK? You probably shouldn't wash up too much, in case that makes any difference."

Elizabeth nods. "Do the others know?"

"Your father told them. Most of them are still down here--want me to ask them to disburse until we're gone?"

"I am so embarrassed." Elizabeth hangs her head down.

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about," Abby tells her.

"I'll hurry and get ready," Elizabeth says and runs upstairs hopefully not running into anybody.

Abby goes to look for Tom. "I'm going up to get ready. You OK?"

"No, but that isn't important right now. How are you holding up?"

"Functioning--that's all I need to be right now, right?"

Tom holds her. "Like you told me earlier, we are going to get thru this."

"Eventually."

"I guess we better go get ready." Tom tells her.

"Yeah," Abby agrees. "I'd guess so."

They go upstairs and find Nicholas knocking on the bathroom door.

"Elizabeth."

But Elizabeth doesn't answer.

"Good morning, Nicholas," Abby says, and knocks on the bathroom door again. "Elizabeth, are you in there? It's time to go."

Elizabeth wipes her eyes and blows her nose. "Yeah, I'll be right there.

"Where are you guys going?" Nicholas asks.

"Oh, um..." Abby turns to Tom; let him figure out how much Nicholas can be told.

"Elizabeth isn't feeling too well, so we are taking her to the doctor."

"Oh, Dr. Max?" he asks.

"Dr. Max can't treat everything," Abby says. "I mean, he doesn't fix your teeth, does he?"

"No." Nicholas says.

"Has Kenny P. left town yet?" Abby asks.

"Not until next week."

"Why don't you go spend some time with him, then?"

"Really?" Nicholas asks.

Tom rolls his eyes.

Meanwhile Elizabeth comes out of the bathroom.

"Sorry you aren't feeling well." Nicholas says.

"Thanks Nicky." she says.

"I am ready." Liz tells Tom and Abby.

They drive to Hilda Krauss's office. "Do you want to come in with us or wait down here?"

"I'll come in and wait in the waiting room." Tom says.

"Good."

All three of them go into Hilda's office.

Hilda is waiting for them. "Good morning, Abby."
 
Abby introduces everyone.
 
"Elizabeth, why don't we go into my office?" Hilda says.
 
"I'll come, too," Abby offers.
 
"No, wait here," Hilda tells her. "Unless, of course, Elizabeth wants you to come in."

"Can she please?" Elizabeth asks.

"Of course." The three go into Hilda's office. "Have you ever been to a gynecologist before?" she asks Elizabeth.

She shakes her head no.

"OK. First thing, go behind that screen, take off everything and change into this gown, OK?"

"OK." Elizabeth changes and comes back out.

"Now get up on this table and lie down on your back." When Elizabeth does, Hilda helps her position herself correctly. "Can you tell me what happened last night?"

Elizabeth tells her what she remembers.

Hilda continues her exam. "Does this hurt?" she asks.

Elizabeth cringes. "yes." she quietly says.

"I'll try to be more gentle," Hilda promises. "What kind of birth control do you use?"

"I don't." Elizabeth says. "I meant......" she starts to say.

"You meant what?" Hilda asks.

She looks at Abby and says "I meant to get some pills."

Abby looks away guiltily.

"I'm sorry." she says quietly.

You don't have anything to be sorry about," Hilda says.

"Are we finished?" Liz asks feeling very uncomfortable in this position.

"Almost." Hilda continues for a bit longer, takes a few samples, then tells Elizabeth she can sit up. "I'd like to see you again in a month or so."

"OK, since no one has brought the subject up. Could I have become pregnant last night?"

"It isn't likely, but it is a possibility. That's one of the tests I'll run the next time I see you; it would be far too early now to tell."

Elizabeth looks at Abby. "I just can't be." And tears start falling.

"Elizabeth, don't worry about it now," Abby tells her. "Hilda just said it isn't likely."

"OK."

"Elizabeth, physically you'll be fine," Hilda assures her "Why don't you get dressed while I talk to Abby and your father?"

Elizabeth nods.

Tom is pacing in the waiting room.

Hilda goes to her office and Abby goes to get Tom. "She wants to talk to us," she tells him.

"Is she alright?" Tom asks as they walk to her office.

"Physically, she'll be fine. There was some bruising, not all that much--the drugs might have had something to do with that, if he really did slip her some," Hilda says. "But I'll need to see her in a month. I can't test for pregnancy until then, and I'll want to run tests for venereal diseases, as well."

"Pregnancy? VD?" Tom asks nearly in shock.

"You said physically," Abby asks, ignoring Tom's shock. "What about mentally?"

"I'd suggest you get her some good counseling," Hilda said. "And make sure she's always got someone to talk to if she wants--don't let her feel isolated or guilty. Have you given any thought as to whether you'll try to press charges?" she asks Tom.

"No, not yet. We are waiting to hear from our doctor, Dr. Greg Maxwell."

"About?" Hilda asks.

"He did a rape kit on her and drew some blood. The police have it now." Tom explains.

"The results of the kit you already know, and your daughter's told you who did it. Do the blood tests make a difference in your decision?"

"No, but I don't know how much more Elizabeth can take. I am a journalist and I know how they make these things look like the victims fault."

"True, especially since she did choose to go out with him."

"I'll admit that last night I wanted to call the police but Abby seems to think we should let Elizabeth decide. But if I had my way I would just need 5 minutes alone with that punk."

"Maybe you could invite Nancy along," Abby says sharply.

Tom sighs. "I know you are right Abby, but it doesn't change the fact of how I feel."

"May I make a suggestion, Tom?" Hilda asks, then continues without waiting for his answer. "Don't let Elizabeth see how angry you are. It'll only make things harder on her."

"I won't let my anger interfere with Elizabeth's healing." Tom vows.

Hilda nods, but Abby looks at him skeptically.

"I guess we should take Elizabeth home." Tom says. "And thank you for seeing us today."

"If she has any pain, or there's any reason you think she should see me again sooner than next month, just call and I'll see her."

Tom, Abby and Elizabeth drive home silently.

Later that afternoon Nancy wakes up and goes into Tommy and Nicholas' room. Nicholas isn't there at the moment. "Are they home yet?"

"No, not yet." Tommy says. "I hope she's OK."

"Yeah so do I." She sits down. "How are you doing?"

Tommy chuckles. "Not well, you?"

"About as well as you, I wish I can erase it for her."

"Me too."

"So where are the others?"

"I think downstairs in the kitchen."

"Let's go join them."

"You go ahead, I have some homework to do." Tommy says as he opens his books.

"Ok," She goes downstairs to the kitchen.

"What's going on?"
 
"Nothing," Joannie says.

She gets a cup of coffee and sits down. "Sounded like a whole lot of nothing."

"That's pretty much what it was."

"I don't know about you all but I feel like strangling the little punk."

"We know." David says. "Dad had me lock the gun away, hey I know how you feel but that's not the way to go about it."

"Then what is the way?"

Her only answer is complete and utter deafening silence.

She goes to wait elsewhere for Tom, Abby, and Elizabeth to get home.

~Fine if they won't include me I'll work solo.~ She starts calling Elizabeth's friends, not letting them know what has happened, but obtaining as much information about Peter as she can. After getting all the information she copies it down two more times. One copy for Tom, Abby, and the police and another copy for her siblings. She drops it off on the kitchen table in front of them and then goes upstairs to her bedroom and starts plotting. After awhile she looks at her watch. ~What's taking so long they should be home by now?~ She puts the information away where Elizabeth won't see it and wishes her older siblings wouldn't keep her out of whatever plans they're making. ~Now I know how Nicholas feels.~ She glances at a picture of her
younger sister and the tears threaten to come again. ~I shouldn't have let her leave last night. Why did I listen to Abby? I could have gone after them and brought her home. True she would hate me for awhile but that's better than what happened last night.~ "I'm sorry I let you down kid." She starts crying.

When the tears finally stop falling she gets busy, grabs the phone book, and starts writing down phone numbers for rape crisis counselors. She then calls her therapist to find out which ones are
the best. Again leaving out what has happened saying it's just a friend she's inquiring about.

After she's done she goes back in her room to avoid everyone else's silence. At times like this she didn't understand her family. At times when everyone should be comforting each other and most
importantly Elizabeth a silence always seemed to surround the house with everyone going off on their own and not talking to anyone. ~Wait a minute they're talking downstairs just not with me.~ She tries to push that thought out of her head and concentrate on Elizabeth instead.
But the thought keeps coming back. She starts getting angry mostly that she's thinking about her self when she should be thinking about Liz.

She decides to keep herself busy to keep the selfish thoughts out of her head so she can concentrate on her sister instead. She cleans up the whole room and then goes downstairs and starts on the living room. After she's done in the living room she goes to the grocery store against David's protests and gets all of Elizabeth's favorite food and then brings it home and starts cooking her favorite foods for dinner.

She observes the kitchen and sees all her siblings watching her.

"Will someone please set the table."

"What are you doing?" Tommy asks

"Making Elizabeth's favorite foods."
 
"What makes you think she'll even want to eat?"

"If she doesn't I can always freeze or keep it in the fridge until she's ready to eat."

"I guess."
 

When they get home Abby asks Elizabeth if she'd like to go upstairs and get some real sleep.

"Yeah, how about I sleep my life away."

"That would be boring."

"Not with what I have been through."

"Sleep for a while, take a few days off, but you are going to have to go back to school, you know."

"How about I transfer?"

"Where to, Memorial?"

"At least Peter won't be there."

"He should be the one who has to leave, not you."

"But how?"

"I don't know, but you running away isn't the answer."

Elizabeth sighs. "I can't think about this right now."

"Then don't. But don't think about hiding away, either."

"Easier said then done."

"OK, then, think about it--but don't do it."

"OK."

"Do you want me to come upstairs with you?"

"If its not too much of a bother." Liz says.

"Of course it isn't," Abby tells her.

"Thanks." They go upstairs.

In the kitchen, Tommy says. "I am going to kill that guy tomorrow at school."

"I guess the adult thing would be to talk you out of that, but I have no room to talk after this morning."

Tom walks in "Tommy, you will stay away from the boy tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"But...." Tommy starts to say then sees how serious his dad is. "Yes sir."

"How's Elizabeth?"

"She's upstairs with Abby, she's going to be fine. But she will be out of school for a couple of days."

Nancy hands him all of the information she gathered while they were gone. "As far as the counselors go I know we shouldn't force her to go but it's an option she can look into if she wants."

"Thanks Nancy, but right now I don't think she is in the right frame of mind to see any of this."

"No problem."

"So is she in the mood to eat at all?"

"Why don't you try taking a tray up to her." Tom suggests.

"Ok." She makes a tray.

Abby helps get Elizabeth settled. 'You need anything?"

"No, but thanks."

"OK, then I'll just sit here with you. Try to get some rest."

Elizabeth nods.

Nancy then goes upstairs and knocks on the bedroom door.

"Elizabeth?" Abby asks, "are you up to having anyone in here?"

"Got to face them sometime, right?"

"Up to you when, though."

"One at a time, I don't think I could handle a whole mob." Liz replies.

"OK." Abby goes to the door to check who is there. "Nancy--come in. I mean, it is your room..."

"Thanks Abby." She puts the tray down. "Are you hungry?" She gently asks Elizabeth.

Abby retreats to the corner, allowing the sisters some private time, but staying close enough to intervene if it looks like Elizabeth wants to be alone.

"You made my favorite foods." Elizabeth says before bursting into tears. "I am sorry."

Nancy gives her a hug. "Sorry for what? Crying is good for you."

"I suppose, do you mind if I eat this later? I think I would like to sleep."

"I don't mind at all honey." She puts the tray aside. "Do you want one of us to stay with you?"

Elizabeth nods yes.

Nancy smiles at her. "Ok."

"Thanks." Liz says and lays down and closes her eyes.

"Anytime." Nancy whispers.

After Elizabeth falls asleep. Nancy approaches Abby. "I'll stay with her if you need a break."

"No, it's OK," Abby says. When she sees the look on Nancy's face she adds, "But you can stay here with me."

"Ok." She smiles and goes to put the food away and then returns.

Elizabeth wakes up and sees Nancy and Abby sitting there.

"Hey do you need anything?"

"Something to drink please."

"Sure." She goes to get her something to drink and brings it back. "Here you go." She hands it to Liz.

"Thanks, I am sure you two have better things to do than babysit me."

~It can wait you're my first priority.~ "Actually I don't, and it's not babysitting."

"Oh?" she asks

"Nope it's not."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

"We're not babysitting, we're just staying with you. And actually, no, I don't have anything else to do," Abby says.

"Ok, whatever." Liz says almost nasty. "I am sorry, I didn't mean  that."

"It's OK. You have a right to be angry."

"Yeah, but not at you."

"At me, too."

Nancy looks at Abby strangely and shakes her head.

Elizabeth is confused. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you have the right to be angry at anyone you choose to. If it's me right now, then it's me."

"I'm not angry at you, if anything I am angry at myself."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Nancy says.

"Why?" Abby asks.

"For not listening to you or Tommy."

"If you'd listen to me all the time I'd probably faint with the shock--teenagers are supposed to rebel. And who listens to Tommy ever?"

Elizabeth finally cracks a smile.

Abby smiles back.

Mis-steps part 2b