"Want me to get someone to look at your head?" Detective Lance passed me a cup of coffee and sat down across the table from me.

"No, thank you. The injury is old. I'm okay." I took the cup and put it to my lips, but didn't swallow. I could have dropped the girls and the van off at SCPD and left, but I wanted to make sure the girls get where they need to go. Home. I didn't trust the legal system to do it without throwing them in jail first. Det. Lance assured me they were in medical. Getting fed and clothed. Safe. I'd like to see it with my own eyes.

"So, take me through this again. How did you know the girls were in the van at the gas station?" Det. Lance eyed me warily as he scribbled on his notepad.

"I didn't. I couldn't see at the time if anyone was in there or not. But with the lighting I could tell the windows were barred from the inside out. Never a good sign. Also the men were Albanian. The mark on their necks, it's the symbol from a gang in their country. They specialize in trafficking women. So I guess you could say I had a hunch." My hands shook, anxious for the questions I was sure would follow. The cuffs around my wrist shook with them, and Det. Lance noticed.

"Are you cold? I could get you a blanket."

"No, I'm fine. Thanks."

"Mhmm. So you steal a car, fancy trick with the wires there, by the way, and then follow them. Then you light their warehouse on fire, and steal their van? Then your first instinct is to come to the police station and turn yourself in? Why? You could have dropped the girls off at a hospital. No one would have known you had anything to do with it." I liked the way his forehead creased when he asked me a question. Like he was really interested in the answer, and not just because it was his job.

"I needed the make sure the girls would be taken care of. Be taken seriously. They're the victims here. I wanted to ensure they weren't treated as criminals. You're country isn't too kind of sex workers here." I couldn't help the acid that dripped from my tongue. He seemed genuinely surprised at my vehement response.

"Well, I can promise you I will personally see that they are taken care of and sent back home, where they belong. And I'm dropping all charges against you. You're free to go." I was waiting for him to change his mind, but he reached in his pocket and unlocked my hand cuffs. While doing so, he noticed the marks on my wrist. "If you don't mind me asking, who's going to take care of you, Bennett? Make sure you're doing okay?"

"I have a brother. But I do alright on my own."

"Yes, I can see that. Well do me a favor, would you? Try and stay out of trouble. It's dangerous out there. And no more stealing cars! Next time I won't let you off so easy."

A smile tinged my lips. I decided then that I liked him. "Yes, detective."

Outside the precinct, the sun had risen fully and I knew that by now Ray would know I was missing. He was probably in full blown panic mode. I knew I should call him. But standing in the middle of downtown, with no car, no wallet (only $27 left), no phone, I realized I could leave. I could walk, or maybe hitch hike half way across the country. Take my pain with me, somewhere it could never hurt anyone else.

Maybe it was kismet, but in that moment a bus pulled in across the street. Next stop-Central City. Tickets-$25. Just as I found my seat on the bus, I saw Ray's car pull into the SCPD parking lot. My heart clenched as he raced up the stairs into the building. Desperate. I placed my hand over the window as the bus picked up speed.

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"Hi, yes I'm looking for my sister. She's about 5'5", brunette, her name is Bennett." Ray leaned over the receptionists' desk as she typed into her computer.

"I don't see anyone by that name…"

"Umm, she, uh…"

"Oliver. Getting yourself into trouble again?" Detective Lance came into the waiting room and saw Oliver with the blonde girl and Ray Palmer. Trouble alright.

"Detective Lance, we're looking for a friend actually. Her name is Bennett? Have you seen her?"

"Should have known a girl like that was friends with the likes of you." Lance gruffed as he adjusted his belt. "Yeah, she was here earlier. Brought in two stolen cars with her."

"Where is she? Is she alright?" Ray pleaded.

"That girl is tough as nails. Brought down a couple guys we've had our eye on for awhile now. I released her about twenty minutes ago."

"Released her, what?" Ray couldn't believe what he was hearing. She didn't even get out of bed all day yesterday and today she was out fighting crime and stealing cars?

"Do you know where she went?" Oliver was worried, to say the least. Bennett wasn't in the right state of mind. He would feel better once she was back at home, safe.

"Uh, no. Sorry."

"Hey Lance! Need your help for a second." A younger deputy in training called from the back.

"Well, stay out of trouble. And keep your eye on the girl."

"Thank you, Detective."

Felicity half-dragged Ray outside. Oliver followed behind them.

"Maybe she went home. We should go look." Felicity patted Ray's back as he searched through his pockets for his keys.

"I'll head to the club, see if she's there. I'll call you if I find anything."

"We'll do the same."

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The bus ride wasn't long, but the seats were uncomfortable and the driver had a knack for finding every pothole in the road. When the signs for Central City finally flashed by, I was more than ready to get off.

I still had the pangs in my stomach from leaving Ray, but I needed this.

I had to ask a few passerbyers, but I found my way to STAR Labs in time. I pressed the buzzer, hoping Kaitlyn was here and not too busy. The little camera by the buzzer clicked on, the light flashing green before the door clicked open.

Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. Out of the elevator, I took the turns by memory and found my way to their lab.

Dr. Wells was working on something that resembled a laser pointer, but I was sure it was something more high tech.

"Bennett, what a surprise to see you. Is everything alright?" He placed the piece of metal on his table and wheeled to my side of the room. I took an unintentional step back. He noticed.

"Um, not really. Is Kaitlyn here?" I wasn't sure I wanted to be here alone with him.

"No, she and the guys went to grab some lunch. Can I help you? I don't have a medical degree but I know my way around this place." His lips formed what I guessed was a smile but couldn't know for sure.

"Oh, uh, no I'm not hurt, or anything. I was just hoping to talk to her about something. But you know it seems really stupid now so I'm just going to go. I'm sorry to bother you." I started to turn back towards the elevator, but as I was approaching the doors opened and Barry stepped out.

"Bennett? Hey! What are you, uh, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad to see you or anything, I just didn't expect it. Hey, are you okay?"

"What am I doing here? God, I don't even know. What am I doing here." I was more asking myself than Barry. I came here thinking I would tell Kaitlyn, about everything, and maybe she could fix me. So I could go home to Ray after all, whole and healthy, and I wouldn't hurt him anymore. And everything would be fine. Now that I was actually here it seemed like the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. The gravity of the last few hours came crashing down on me all at once, taking the air out of my lungs. What sounded like a sob wracked out of me and the wings flashed in the corners of my eyes. The darkness was coming, weakening the bones in my legs until I swayed.

Before I even had time to realize I was falling, Barry was there. Man, he really was fast. His hands held my back until I could stand again.

"I'm okay, sorry. I just need to sit down." Just like that, Barry whipped down the hall and back with a chair. "Thanks." I felt better once I was off my feet. My bad leg was throbbing. I could feel the scabs beginning to form, stitching the skin tight.

"Ray doesn't know you're here, does he?" Barry's face came into view, concerned.

"No."

"Do you want me to tell him where you are?"

I could feel the cogs in my mind turning, debating. Barry waited for my answer.

"No."

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Back at Verdant, Oliver couldn't help but hope that Bennett would be there, waiting for him. But there was no sign of her. A text from Felicity informed him she wasn't at home either. They searched the security cameras outside the SCPD, but the only one covering the back exit had been damaged the night before, and wasn't recording.

Oliver had checked his phone a dozen times for a phone call, but nothing ever came.

The way Bennett had looked the other night, frozen, alone, cut at his heart. She was hiding something, some hidden pain that was eating away at her, piece by piece. He wanted desperately to find out what it was and fix it. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but somewhere between telling her about his father and the night she showed up at his apartment bleeding, Bennett had carved out a space in his heart and settled in. He felt a fierce need to protect her, while simultaneously knowing she didn't need it. She was strong. Brave. At least that's what she wanted everyone to think.

Finally, his phone rang and he lunged for it, knocking it off the counter in the process.

He snatched it up from the floor. The caller ID read Allen, B. Disappointed, Oliver answered.

"Hey Barry, this really isn't a good time."

"Bennett's here, Oliver." Oliver almost dropped the phone.

"What? Where? In Central City?"

"Yeah, she got here awhile ago. Listen, she told me not to tell anyone where she was, but I knew you guys were probably worried sick. She's fine, but I just thought you should know."

"Thank you, Barry." With that Oliver ended the call and grabbed his keys. He sent a quick text to Felicity, 'Going to get Bennett. She's safe,' and shut the lights off as he left.