He's Forbidden, as am I

Tammy looked confused at the lack of surprise on Officer Baker's face. "Did you hear me?" she asked. Zack gave her a nod. "Honestly the thought already crossed my mind." he told her. He read the Coroner's report, and was a little surprised her mother's death wasn't investigated. "Didn't seem to cross anyone else mind." she mumbled, crossing her arms. "They just didn't have probable cause to open a case." Zack said trying to justify it for her. Tammy rolled her eyes, "Yeah, cause a perfectly healthy 35 year old woman just dies of a heart attack, not to mention her husband is a fucking Cardiologist, but there's no probable cause," she ranted at a grumble, "My ass."

Zacky suppressed his to chuckle. She probably wouldn't appreciate it. "I read the report, and he did everything he could to save her life." he told her, and anger flashed in her eyes. "Are you defending him to me?" she snapped. After everything that dickwad has done, was this cop really defending him? Zack calmly shook his head.

"I'm defending the system. We have rules to follow. People have rights, even the ones that don't deserve them. Honestly if you don't have anything to go on, I can't open a case, and there's no way I'll be able to get approval from another state to have her body exhumed. I'm sorry, but there's just isn't enough to go on."

"I have her diary, and a motive."

Zacky's eyes widened a little, "Really?" he asked a little surprised and intrigued. This could change everything. Tammy nodded, "All her stuff is stored in the attic. I was looking through it to see if there was anything left from her company I could use, and found it in a trunk. I read it. She knew."

"Knew what?"

"What he wanted. She noticed a change in him as I got older. He wasn't as attentive towards her. They weren't....um...you know....as much." she explained, slightly uncomfortable. Zacky let out his chuckle this time, "I got ya." he said, and she relaxed a little. He understood. He didn't like thinking or talking about his parents doing the nasty. Yuck.

"At first she thought he was cheating on her. Then she started to notice the way he was looking at me. It was the same way he use to look at her. Catching his eyes in places they shouldn't be. She noticed things I never did, or didn't read anything into. Like all the extra time he was spending with me. Touches that anybody else would think was innocent, but happened more and more often. She was going to leave him, and take me away from him before anything happened...."

Tammy trailed off as she felt another sob creep up, and tried to push it back down. "He killed her before she could," her voice cracked, not being able to hold it back anymore, "She just wanted to protect me, and he killed her. She's dead because of me." she sobbed out before burying her face in her hands, and just letting it all out. The anger that Zack had first felt when this all started had long since faded. A wave of sadness crashed through him, and he found himself standing, and walking around the table to her. He turned her chair to face him, and crouched down eye level, "Hey, look at me," he told her as he pulled her hands from her face, "You can't think like that. None of this is your fault."

"How can it not? If I wasn't here, she still would be."
"She wouldn't have wanted that, and I think you know it. Obviously you were the most important thing in the world to her, and I'm sure she would have rather died trying to protect you than not have you at all."

Tammy sniffled a few times as she wiped her eyes, "I know," she whispered before letting out a sigh, "but it doesn't help. I miss her more now than ever." Sympathy washed Zacky face, and he stood up, "Come here." he said motioning her up with both hands. "What?" she asked looking at his outreached arms with confusion. "I don't normally do this, but you look like you could use one." he told her motioning her up again, and seeing a smile that wanted to make it's way out.

Was this guy really serious? Tammy hesitated for a moment before silently saying 'fuck it', and stood to accept his hug. She rested the side of her face on the front of his shoulder, and took a deep calming breath. He smelled nice, not as nice as Mr. Haner, but nice. This did help. He was right, she needed one of these. "Sorry I knocked you on your ass." she mumbled actually feeling bad about it now. Tammy smiled when she heard him chuckle, and the two pulled apart. "Don't worry about it," Zack told her as he walked back around to his seat, "I gotta admit, you got a hell of a shoulder."

Tammy's smile faltered a bit, "Sometimes the only way out of a tight situation is through the person blocking your way." she said softly, and Zack cocked a brow. "Have you fought him off before?" he asked. "I try every time, unless he catches me by surprise then I don't stand a chance." she told him. "How many times have you been successful?" That was attempted rape charges they could pile on. "Um...six times, including the time Kimmie walked it." Zack felt his heart break a little more. There were a lot fewer successful times than not. A sigh escaped his lips, and he wasn't sure just how much more of this story he could take. "Is there anything else?" he asked, relief flowing through him when she shook her head.

Zack rubbed his eyes a little, and ran a tired hand down his face. "I'm going to get a search warrant for your house. Is your mother's diary still in the trunk?" he asked. Tammy shook her head, "I hid it. I don't think he knows about it. I'm sure he would have gotten rid of it by now."
"Then how would he have found out she was planning on leaving?"

"You'll see when you read it."

"Where is it?"

"Am I going to be able to get some things before they take me away?"

Zacky nodded. "I'll leave it out for you." Tammy told him. It was hidden with other things she didn't want dickhead to find. "Alright, well the social worker should be here now," he said glancing at his watch, "I'm going to release you to them, and a female officer. They'll take you to the hospital to have your injuries check out and documented." Zacky paused when it looked like she was fighting the urge to cry again. "What about Kimmie," Tammy asked, fighting a loosing battle, "You have to let me say goodbye." her voice cracked. Just because she had a plan B didn't mean it was going to fall into place. Obviously, since plan A fell apart. He had to let say goodbye while she still could.

Zack gave her a reassuring look. "I still have to get her statement, but I'll make sure you get a chance." he promised. Tammy took a deep breath to push down her sob, and gave him a small nod. He tried to give her a comforting smile, but it was obvious it wasn't working. He could tell she was terrified of what was happening, and for a moment he wished there was something he could do about it, but there wasn't. The law is the law, and he was sworn to uphold it. He reached out for the recorder, and shut it off. "Can you sit tight while I go get them?" he asked receiving another slight nod. Wasn't like she could go anywhere anyway.

Zacky grabbed the recorder off the table, and stood to leave. He walked out into the main station, and spotted a woman in business attire, with her brunette hair pulled back in a tight bun, sitting at his desk looking over a file. He walked over to her, and she looked up with a frown, "Are you Lt. Baker?" she asked with some annoyance in her voice. "I am, and you are?" he asked with a charm in his voice, and a smile. He suppressed his urge to chuckle when she looked at him even more annoyed. "I'm Ms. Avery from Social Services," she told him as she stood up, "And I don't really appreciate being kept waiting."

Zack's smile vanished, and his face slowly started to match her irritated expression. "Well it took a little while to get a statement from the victim." he told her. "Great another brat that doesn't want to cooperate." she mumbled, and Zack started to get angry. "Her name is Tammy, and she pretty fucking terrified of what's about to happen, so why don't you show a little compassion, or find another job." he snapped a little. Ms. Avery looked at him with fire in her eyes. "How about you not tell me how to do my job, and just take me to the victim, so we can get on with this." she hissed, and pushed past him. "Whatever gets you out of my station faster." he muttered before leading her to the door to the interrogation rooms.

Another smirk made it's way out onto Zacky's face once they approached the door. "Excuse me a moment." he said, and just left an even more irritated social worker waiting at the door. He almost forgot a female officer. His eyes scanned the station, and soon landed on Brian, who was still there, and looking at him with slight desperation. Zack let out a sigh, and walked over to him. "What are you still doing here?" he asked. "What's going on? How bad is it? Is he hurting her?" Brian flew his own questions at him.

The grim expression on Zack's face was clear, and Brian felt his heart sink once again. "I can't give you all the details. It's an open and ongoing investigation now, but yeah, he's hurting her. In more ways than one." Zack told him. Brian had been consumed with worry, fear, and concern since this all started, and now a new emotion was creeping up. "What are the charges?" he asked through his teeth. Zacky shook his head. He could tell this was already pissing him off. "You don't wanna know." he said. Brian looked at him with blazing eyes, everything about his face saying he did want to know.

Zack hesitated, not really sure how Brian was going to react. It was obvious he cared about her. Even if she did tell him she hated him. It didn't matter. He could be the most arrogant, cocky son of a bitch when he wanted to, but he would always put others and their feelings above him and his own. With a heavy sigh, he looked him dead in the eye. "Child endangerment, assault of a minor, child molestation, attempted rape of a minor," Zack paused and swallowed a little thick, "Rape of a minor, and attempted murder." he finished watching Brian's eyes go wider. "He tried to kill her?" he asked at a whisper. "Not her." Zack said simply, but Brian knew who. There was only one other it could be.

"How long?" he asked jaw clinched tight, fists knuckle white. "What?" Zack asked, not really hearing him. "How long," Brian repeated louder, his anger starting to show through, "How long has she been living like this?" Zack let out another sigh, and ran his hand through his hair. "Three and a half years." Brian plopped down in a chair as the shock slapped him in the face. Three and a half years!? How the hell has no one noticed until now? Why the hell would she want to continue to live there after so long?

Zack looked down at his friend with sympathy, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "You need to go home, Brian. There's nothing more you can do here, and she'll be leaving soon anyway. I'm sorry, but at least she's safe now, and she'll never have to worry about that motherfucker again." he told him. Brian felt his heart sink again, only for a different reason. She was leaving, and he was never going to see her again. Brian pulled slightly at his hair in frustration. This girl hasn't been in his life very long. Why the hell was he so attached to her? "I'll leave when she does." he whispered.

Zack was about to respond, but a very irritated, female voice interrupted them. "Lt. Baker, I do not have time to stand around while you socialize. Will you please take me to Miss Ross, so we can leave?" Brian jolted from his chair, and looked confused between the woman and Zack. "Who the hell is this?" he questioned a little annoyed at her tone of voice. "This is Tammy's social worker Ms. Avery," Zack so unenthusiastically introduced them, "This is Mr. Haner one of Tammy's teachers that reported the incident." he told her. "Nice to meet you," she said with no pleasure in her voice whatsoever, "Now can we get on with this? I have a schedule to keep." she said, looking at Lt. Baker impatiently.

Zacky resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He didn't like social workers like this. These kids are just paychecks to them, and they have no real passion for what they do. Sometimes he wished they would just find some other job. Save this one for the people that really care. "Why don't you try to act like you give a shit!" Brian snapped. Apparently Zacky wasn't the only one this woman was rubbing the wrong way. "Mr. Haner with all due respect, it's not that I don't give a shit as you so blatantly put it. When you've done this as long as I have, and have seen the things these children have been through, the places they come from sometimes you have to numb yourself to your emotions. If you don't this job will tear you apart. Now," she said looking to Lt. Baker, "Please take me to Miss Ross."

Zack shared one more glance with Brian before leaving him there. He lead Ms. Avery back to the door, only stopping to grab a female officer. He opened the door, and walked down to room one. Tammy was still sitting where he left her, and she looked up when the three walked in. "Tammy, this is Ms. Avery and Officer Reynolds. I'm going to release you to them now. They'll take you to the hospital, and then to get some of your things." he told her looking to Ms. Avery for conformation. "Just a few things," she said, shocking Zacky a little with the softness of her voice and expression, "A weeks worth of clothes, and anything sentimental you want to hang on to." she told her, and Tammy nodded. Ms. Avery gave her a small comforting smile, and held out her hand to her.

Tammy took it and stood up to leave. She put on a brave face as they left the room, but inside she was curled up in the fetal position, trembling with fear. Everything that's happened is making her question everything going to happen. She was so sure their first plan was going to work out. What if she couldn't stay out of foster care? She could end up somewhere out of state. How the hell would she get back to Kimmie? What would it be like there? She's read horror stories about children in foster care. Some of them were better off at home. Not to mention she could end up bouncing around from home to home. Who knows where she could end up. There was a real possibility that she would never see her best friend ever again.

"Wait," Tammy stopped them in the hall, "You said I could say goodbye to Kimmie." she said, and Zacky could see some panic in her eyes. "You will. I promise," he reassured her, "I still have to talk to her, but she will be at your house when you get there." he said. It shouldn't take to long. All he really needed from her now was backup to the original statement. He had a feeling Kimmie has been wanting to get this out, and it wasn't going to take long at all.

"She better," Tammy said, and Zack could see a half little smile come out, "I might get angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." A chuckle escaped his lips, and it amazed him a little how she could still keep a sense of humor through all this. Maybe it was just one of the was she dealt with it. He opened the door for the three ladies, and hung back. There were other things he needed to take care of.

Tammy followed the two women through the station, keeping her gaze down. She really didn't like people seeing her like this. Only Kimmie was allowed to see her like this. She could feel a set eyes on her as soon as she walked through that door. She could feel them follow her as she walked through that station, and soon she couldn't stop her own eyes from looking around. She didn't have to look long before her gazed quickly connected with Mr. Haner. Why was he still here?

Tammy quickly pulled her eyes away, and had all the intentions to just walk right past him. She was still mad at him. It wouldn't last forever. She knew that, but right now she just wanted to be mad. However the sad guilt ridden expression on his face was making it hard. She walked past not saying a word, but soon found herself stopping. "Goodbye Mr. Haner." Tammy said turning to face him. Brian snapped out of his emotional daze, and met her eyes once again. "Brian." he whispered, and she smiled weakly at him. "Goodbye, Brian." she said again. "Goodbye." he sadly replied before she turned, and continued to walk away.

Notes

Did you see what I did there? :D If you haven't read my last story then probably not...
Actually you wouldn't even have to read it to see it :)

ANYWAY back to the story, which I so happy to say is back on. It took me forever to get this chapter written :( Its a real bummer when you have to start it all over...

Are we getting tired of the sad chapters yet? Don't worry there are only a few more to go before things start looking up. If they do ;)