Ashton's heart leaped as Nicole hit the floor. He froze. Then he flooded with anger. His lip curled up in a snarl at his dad. It didn't give him any satisfaction to see blood dripping from Clive's mouth. He saw the gun in his hand that he'd used to hit Nicole, and that was what his gaze focused on.

Get the gun away from him.

Protect Nicole.

Mason clamped a hand on his shoulder before he could move. He looked over. Mason's eyes were big, but he hadn't taken his gaze off Clive. Ashton looked back and noticed that he stared down at the girl on the floor, disgust on his face. When he looked up his eyes widened. "Mason! What are you doing here with him?" He sneered, as if mentioning his son left a bad taste in his mouth.

Ashton fought down his anger and tried to control himself. "I was outside. He mentioned you were in here 'questioning' Nikki and he tried to stop me from coming in here." Mason nodded, keeping his wide eyes on Nicole, who was beginning to stir.

Clive nodded slowly, narrowed eyes bouncing between Ashton and Mason. "Mason, for that, I, uh, will dock your pay. A hundred dollars."

Mason swallowed, but nodded. "Okay, sir. I'll do better next time."

Clive nodded and sighed. "Well, she's not cooperating. I don't think she really knows anything. Take her home."

"Yes, sir," Mason said. Ashton bent down and scooped her up. He carried her out to Mason's car. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek on his chest. He smiled a little.

Mason came out a minute later and opened the back door. Ashton sat her inside and slipped into the front seat. Once Mason was in, Ashton said in a low voice, "Thank you for getting me here. It means a lot to both of us."

He only nodded as he started the car. Once they were out on the road they came to a stop sign a block over, out of sight of the station. Mason stopped and didn't move. "I'm so sorry I didn't stay. I couldn't. I wish I had." He shook his head.

Ashton shifted. "Man, we're cool, okay? I mean, you got me here before anything really, really bad happened to her." Mason was quiet. Unlike him. "What's wrong?" He remembered. "If it's the money, I can pay you that hundred. I'm not poor."

Mason shook his head. "It's not that." He stared at his dashboard. Finally he sighed. "Your dad's most likely gonna put me on probation, and you know what that means."

Ashton's blood chilled. No more help. No more leaving the station when they needed him. No more anything from Mason. He'd always be with Clive. "We just can't let that happen."

"What's probation?" Ashton turned and found Nicole looking at him with squinted eyes.

He smiled at her. "It means that he'll just have to follow my dad around full-time. He won't be able to do anything out of Dad's sight, basically."

Her eyes widened. "Wow. You're right. We can't let that happen."

Mason shook his head at them. "Just short of producing the key bit of evidence that proves Ashton is the killer, there's really nothing I can do to completely avoid it happening. Even if I avoid helping you two out in his sight or the sight of the people he's paying off, there's no guarantee." He began driving to the cottage again. "Besides, if I'm not working, that can also be good, right? I mean, I can help out in the field. I can pick locks and all that."

Nicole gave him a half-smile. "You would be awesome in the field, but let's hope you're not getting probated or fired over what happened tonight. We need you in there more than out here. We pretty much have this covered."

He smiled back in the mirror and pulled into her driveway a few minutes later. Ashton thanked him for the ride as he got out. He hurried around the car to open the door for Nicole, then let her lean on him as they walked. He knew she was able to walk without help, but he didn't stop her.

His fingers brushed hair out of her face. "You know, I will be killed by your parents when they see this." His fingertips trailed lightly over the bruise that was beginning where she'd been hit by the butt of the gun.

She smiled. "They'd never do that," she assured him as they neared the door. Mason backed out, his headlights shining across them briefly. It lit up Nicole's face. Her eyes were full of love. It nearly took his breath away. He swallowed, unable to take his gaze off her.

The front door swung open. Mrs. Downs rushed to them, wrapping Nicole in a hug. "Oh, my God. I was so worried." Mr. Downs walked briskly over and hugged his wife and daughter. Ashton rubbed his arm, unsure of what to do. Mrs. Downs looked up and let go of her daughter. She hugged him. A slight hesitation, but he hugged her back briefly. It felt a little weird, but right at the same time.

Mr. Downs released his daughter and came over. He stuck a hand out. Ashton reached to shake it and Mr. Downs pulled him closer and clapped him a couple of times on his back with his free hand. When he stepped back, he shook Ashton's hand once and dropped it. "Thanks for bringing our little girl back. We really appreciate it."

Ashton was at a loss for words. "I had to, sir. I never would have forgiven myself otherwise." There was no way for Mr. Downs to know just how much Ashton meant those words.

They all went back inside and Ashton tended to Nicole's cheek in the kitchen. She sat on the counter as he took out some ice and put several of the ice cubes into a washcloth. Her parents were with Hailey in the living room, just through the doorway. He held it up to her face. She winced, but held it. He sat beside her and watched the backs of the others' heads while they sat on the sofa watching TV.

"What happened?" he whispered.

She shook her head. "I think he was going to try to rape me. He tried to choke me into submission." Her hand went to her throat. He pulled it away gently and checked. She looked okay, but there would probably be a bruise there in the morning. "Then he . . ." She shook her head and then her voice dropped to just above a whisper. Her face seemed to turn green. "He kissed me and when I didn't kiss back, he bit my lip which made me open my mouth. When he stuck his tongue in, I nearly bit it off." She gave him a grin that he knew meant she'd be fine. She had her fight. It was a relief even as she hopped off the counter and went and locked herself in the bathroom.

---

Nicole tasted the alcohol of the mouthwash she'd used hours ago. It was better than having Clive's spit and blood there. Even though she still wanted to go and brush her teeth again. It wouldn't make any difference, not now, but in her mind she still tasted it.

Ashton squeezed her ankle. It brought her back to the moment, where she was sitting with her back to one of the couch arms and her toes tucked under Ashton's leg. He was looking at her, a small smile on his face. It made her return it. "You okay?"

She felt guilty admitting she was still wanting to get his father off of her even after she washed her hair four times, scrubbed every inch of her skin until it was pink, brushed her teeth twice, and rinsed with mouth wash five times. He, of course, didn't know she'd done this, but he couldn't have missed the hour she spent in the bathroom. "Now I am," she said, which wasn't a total lie. Being home and with Ash made her feel twenty times better.

His smile slipped a moment, which made her realize he caught that she wasn't 'okay' exactly, but he let it go. He shifted in his seat a couple of times, hand still on her ankle. After a moment, he asked, "Do you like music?"

"Love it."

He smiled. "Do you like Wanted by Hunter Hayes?"

She smiled back as it began playing in her head. "One of my favorites."

Ashton bit his lip and winced, but didn't stop right away. His smile came back, but looked sheepish. "I love it too." He was quiet a moment, watching her. Something shifted in his expression, and he didn't look like he did a moment ago. Less certain. He leaned over, reaching out. She liked him to touch her face. This time he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Your arms feel better?" she asked, remembering.

He nodded. "Much." His eyes seemed to drink her in. "I was so worried tonight," he whispered. "He came here and told me Clive had gotten you alone. At first I was mad at him for leaving you, but then I was just worried and scared of what he'd do to you."

She put her hand on his, halting the dozens of knots his fingers were probably making by twisting in her hair. "Ashton," she whispered back. "I'm fine. We're both here together, and we're both going to be okay." He swallowed. She dropped her feet to the floor, making him sit up straighter as she leaned over. Her head on his shoulder, she said, "I love you."

He gave her that smile again, the one that wasn't certain. "Nicole, I love you, too. That song I asked about? I wish I'd written it, because I'd say all of that to you and then some." Her heart swelled and her lips parted. That was one of the sweetest things she'd ever heard. He blushed and looked away. "That's cheesy."

She turned his head back to face her and shook her head. "Not to me." She kissed his cheek and his temple. She was about to land a few on his brow when someone cleared their throat from the kitchen. She glanced up. Her mom was watching them. She wasn't upset, but Nicole could tell she was letting her know it was enough.

Ashton glanced back, smiled at her, and turned so he was facing Nicole, making it harder for her to reach him. Just a little harder. If she wanted to, it wasn't hard to lean over, and she did want to, but she didn't. Her mom went back into the kitchen. Ashton just watched her. "I'm going to head home in the morning," he said.

She nodded. "I figured you would. I mean, you can't exactly move in here – my parents wouldn't let you."

His lips pressed together. "Hailey wouldn't be happy either. She's already mad as it is." He smirked at her. "She thinks I'm gonna kill her in her sleep." He shrugged. "It's okay."

Nicole frowned. "It's not okay. I'm sorry she's acting this way, Ash."

He cupped her face with one hand, running his thumb over her cheek. "Don't worry about it. She'll eventually come around. You'll see."

---

Ashton awoke around dawn. He couldn't get back to sleep. It wasn't a surprise to him. The couch was comfortable, he didn't hurt too bad after he took a couple of Tylenol, and he didn't feel depressed. Those were all things he knew would make it hard for him to sleep, but that wasn't what his problem was this time. He could hear a gentle snoring coming from the Downs' room because the door was open partway. That wasn't it, either. He liked noise when he slept. Nicole's door was shut so he couldn't hear anything coming from there.

He smiled when he thought of her in there, sleeping. His eyes closed as he pictured her when she fell asleep on him and she just looked so beautiful. Then again, she always looked beautiful to him. When he first met her, he didn't think she was particularly pretty, but he liked her personality. The more time he spent with her, the more he learned about her, and then they texted. He liked her from day one, but he wasn't sure where things would go, or if they would end while she was away. It was a risk.

But it was worth it.

He'd never been in love before, but he wouldn't trade this feeling for anything else. His hands tucked behind his head, he tried to picture what he was going to do. Soft music, flowers, and maybe nice food. It would be perfect. He knew her well enough to know what she'd like. It wouldn't be that day. No, it'd have to be in a day or two. There was things he needed to get – to find.

One of those things happened to be one of the things he left behind.

He frowned. Well, he was supposed to get Ella that day, so he'd be able to get it then. In the interim, he felt a need to move. He got up, found his shoes, and left a note, letting Nicole know he was coming back after a short run.