*******

"She?" Tina giggles slightly, and I think it sounds great.

"You can really do that?" Then before I can respond,

"Do you really have to work tonight?" She asked softly..

"Yes, but you won't be alone. You can come with me and sit in the lobby, or I'll see if Dennis will stay here with you. I think Rose will be here later, too."

I know there is no way Mikel will give me the night off. Not now when we're this close to the holidays, and not after he'd already refused to give me this week off to study, and with the economy the way it is, I don't want to have to find another job. I'm just glad he gave me next week off, so I can see my family. I hate having to leave her after what she had just gone through, but I really have little choice. I feel like such a heel.

"I don't want to be around a bunch of strangers. Do you promise to come back here when you get off?" There is no mistaking the fearful hope in her voice.

"I promise," I say as she pulls away from me, and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.

She stays in my room, watching as I got dressed for work.

"You know Stephanie has a crush on you, right?"

Her question shocks me, and I don't know how to answer. Finally she speaks up after a few seconds of silence.

"I don't mind, really. We aren't official, or anything. I think she is actually kind of cute."

She glances over my body, before adding

"And with that body you're building, I'm surprised more women aren't chasing you."

If only she knew. . .

I really don't know what to say to that, so I just grunt noncommittally, and she laughs. I quickly finish getting dressed for work, and make sure Tina is alright staying here with Dennis and Rose for a few hours, until I get back.

"Just come back to me," she said me as I walk out the door. She hugs me tight, and I was almost late because she refuses to let me go…..

...

Work goes by agonizingly slow, my heart in my stomach, except for when Stephanie shows up.

"Are you here to spy, and make sure I'm not making up excuses, huh?" I ask, as I flip over a filet mignon on the grill.

"I believed you," she replied defensively, with guilt in her voice, and I know she's lying.

"Oh, so you wanna go back into the freezer, and relive some memories?" I tease, already knowing the answer.

"Is everything always about s*x with you?" she accuses.

Oops.

"Sorry, it's just been awhile, and as always, you look gorgeous." I compliment her.

She smiles and gives me a peck on the lips, before letting me get back to work. It's not until she is gone, that I realize she didn't have the 'happy' or 'memory' switches.

That had been Stacy. Those vixens!

As soon as my shift is done, I rush right home, using my switches to turn all the stoplights green.

"Is she okay?" Dennis asks me as soon as I walk in.

"She's taking her third shower since you left, and she's always a little panicky anytime I have tried to get close to her."

Worried, I knock on the bathroom door calling out her name.

"Tina?"

I did not receive any response, but I 'm not sure if she can hear me above the shower.

The door is locked, but my ability easily takes care of that.

When I get in ,the mirror is fogged up, and steam is pouring from over and around the shower curtain.

"Tina?" I call out again.

"How did you. . . oh, right. . . nevermind." She sounds a little panicky, far away and despondent.

I peek around the curtain, and see her furiously scrubbing her skin with what I have to assume is Rose's loofa. She look at me, but doesn't bother to cover up.

"Do you have another loofah? I still feel dirty, and I don't think this one is working." Her skin looks raw and red, making me wonder how hard she's been scrubbing.

"Tina, stop. You're as clean as you're going to get. Give me the loofah." I hold out my hand to her, and she just looks me in the eyes for a bit, before finally handing it over.

"I know. I know it doesn't do any good. You read about these things, and it doesn't look like it's a big deal, but then it happens to you, and it feels like he is under my skin. No matter how hard I try to forget it, I still feel like he is watching and I feel so filthy." Even as she talks, she's scratching her skin, leaving red lines where her nails dig into her already raw flesh.

I nod as she speaks, and grab the shower nozzle, rinsing off the soap. As soon as that's done, I turn off the water, and help her out. She lets me gently dry her, wrapping the towel around her before she hugs me tightly again.

"Oh, Nick. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can still feel his lustful and evil eyes on me*, I can't help imagining what would have happened to me if he succeeded in r*ping me, I want to throw up!"

I should never have left her alone here, I realize, but the mistake is already made, and I need to take care of things as they are now. I have made a number of mistakes, but concentrating on those won't fix my current problems.

I remember making the memory switch in Tina, and quickly flip it, so she can forget about what happened today.

She calms down a bit, before pulling away, and looking up at me.

"Did you just do that? You made me forget something. I was just thinking about. . . something, and suddenly. . . I don't remember. I can recall everything else, but that one thought is gone."

"You don't need to suffer," I whisper. I clear my throat and lower my voice.

"Let me help you," I said.

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