Riley wasn't sure how long she'd been lying on the couch crying. She sat up
wiping the tears from her face. She winced when she came in contact with her
split lip. Riley glanced around the room wondering if she would ever look at her
living room in quite the same way. Her anger from earlier had vanished and she
just felt heartsick. Without any real thought she reached out and picked up the
phone. She really didn't consciously notice whose number she'd called until she
heard that familiar voice.
"Hello." Riley was almost surprised to realize she'd instinctively called Sam.
"Hello." Sam said again.
She cleared her throat before speaking but her voice still sounded rough from
crying.
"Hi Sam. It's Riley."
Sam tensed at the sound of Riley's voice. "What's wrong?" She was answered
by silence.
"Riley please tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me."
"My uncle and aunt were waiting for me when I got home. Dr. Stevens must've
called him and told him about us." Riley couldn't stop the tears from falling again.
"My uncle was very angry." She told Sam though her tears.
Sam glanced over at Kim and Jess. They were both watching her closely. She
put her hand over the receiver for a second. "It's Riley, something happened with
her uncle." She quickly explained.
"Baby, listen to me. Did he hurt you?" Sam's anger soared when Riley didn't
answer and started to cry harder. "I'll be right there." Sam told her already on her feet.
"No. Wait Sam. I don't want to disrupt your time with Kim and Jess. I just needed
to hear your voice. I'll be fine." She tried to convince her. She already felt guilty
for even bothering her.
Sam ignored her protests. "I'll be there as fast as I can. Don't open the door for
anyone 'til I get there." She hung up before Riley could protest further.
Sam grabbed her keys as she turned to face her sister. "I have to go. Riley's
uncle was waiting for her when she got home. Her asshole boss called him and
told him about us. He was very angry according to Riley. I think he hurt her and
she's not telling me. I've got to get up there."
Jess grabbed her backpack. "Let us go with you. I can help if she's injured and
Kim might be able to help her deal with the fallout from the confrontation with her
uncle."
Sam shook her head no. Kim stepped in before she could speak.
"No Jess. It's Sam Riley needs. Riley would've told her if she was seriously hurt.
She reached out by calling her and Sam needs to be there for her." Kim
counseled.
Sam quickly kissed Kim and her sister goodbye. "I'll call when I can and let you
know what's going on." She assured them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam broke the speed limit as well as several other traffic laws as she raced up
to Riley's condo. She figured worse case if she got stopped they'd let her off
when she told them who she was. She managed to make the almost thirty
minute drive in fifteen. She ran up to Riley's condo arriving slightly out of breath
from the pain. Her leg hadn't been up to running.
She knocked on Riley's door. It took several moments before the porch light
clicked on. "It's me Sam." She confirmed. "Let me in."
The door opened revealing Riley with her bruised face and bloody split lip.
"Oh Christ." Sam gasped before quickly stepping into the condo and locking the
door behind her. She gently pulled Riley into her arms cradling her against her
chest. "Are you alright Baby?" She asked in a gentle voice.
Riley burst into tears clinging to Sam. Sam wrapped her arms around Riley
holding her tightly to her chest. She stroked her hair trying to calm her. Riley's
tears tapered off. She shuddered, tightening her arms around Sam's waist.
"I am now." She finally responded her voice muffled by Sam's shirt.
Sam placed her fingers under Riley's chin and carefully tilted her face up. "Did
your uncle do this to you?"
"Yes." Riley whispered.
"I'll kill that bastard!" Sam hissed through clenched teeth her whole body going
taut with rage.
"No Sam. Please."
Sam berated herself. She has seen plenty of these situations and violence was
never the answer. Riley's needed her support and caring, not her anger.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart; it just makes me crazy that someone hurt you."
Riley couldn't help but notice the endearments Sam had been using. This was a
side of Sam she'd never seen. She smiled at Sam and instantly winced.
"Let's get you taken care of. Where's your first aid kit?"
Sam kept an arm wrapped around Riley's shoulders as they made their way into
the bathroom. She directed Riley to sit on the commode as she searched for all
the supplies she needed. She carefully cleaned her split lip with peroxide and
wiped the blood off her face. When she was done she pressed a soft kiss to her
forehead.
"Go into the living room and I'll get some ice for your face and lip."
Riley looked hesitant. Her eyes drop to her lap and she made no attempt to get
up.
"What's wrong Baby?" Sam questioned kneeling down in front of Riley.
"I really don't want to go back in there right now." Riley told her softly.
It took Sam a second to realize that must've been where the confrontation with
her uncle had taken place.
"Do you want to leave? We could go to my apartment." Sam offered.
Riley shook her head. "No I won't let them run me out of my own home but..."
Riley seemed suddenly almost shy. "Could we go up to my bedroom?"
Sam grinned causing Riley to blush. She reached out and stroked Riley's cheek.
"Whatever you want. Why don't you go change into something comfy and I'll get
the ice and be right there."
Riley's eyes were liquid pools of heather as she gazed into Sam's eyes. "Thank
you."
"You don't have to thank me. I'll be here whenever you need me for as long as
you need me."
Riley felt her tears start to flow again. Sam immediately enclosed her in a warm
embrace.
"Everything is going to be alright Riley. I promise."
Riley turned to head up the stairs and didn't see the look of pain that crossed
Sam's face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam made her way into the kitchen fighting the tears that threatened to fall. She
felt like a tight band was closing around her chest. She prepared the ice for
Riley's split lip. When the image of Riley as she'd looked when she first opened
the door filled Sam's mind her tears started flowing. " What have I done?" she cried to herself. " This is all my fault. If I'd just left her alone none of this would've happened." She dried her eyes and splashed cold water on her face before
heading upstairs. She didn't want Riley to know she'd been crying. I need to be
strong for her, she reminded herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam stepped into the doorway of the bedroom and stopped in shock. Riley was
standing as if she was frozen in the middle of the room. The place was a mess.
All the drawers were open with clothes hanging out of them. The covers were
pulled off the bed and lying in the floor.
"Riley?" Sam called quietly, not wanting to startle her.
"Why would she do this? What'd she think she was going to find?" Riley cried.
Sam stepped over closer to Riley. "Who? Who did this?"
Riley turned to face Sam. "My aunt. When I came home, my uncle was waiting