Zamora watched the clouds race like snails across the dark Oregon sky. She had had her fun and today was the day everything she knew and loved would be ripped away from her. She was stuck in the back of her social worker's blue Honda Accord. Ben had anticipated the long trip to California and had his car modified a bit. Basically, riding in the back of his car was no different from riding in the back of a cop car; she would know she's ridden in nearly every police car in the state.

"Are we there yet?" she sighed.

"Listen Z, I know you're trying to win the "most insanely annoying case I could have ever stumbled upon" award, but could you hold off on the "are we there yet" game - at least until we leave Oregon."

"YOU COULD HAVE LEFT ME ALONE!" her face and hands now pressed in rage against the metal cage that separated the front from the back seat.

"You know that wasn't a possibility, Z. You are my job. Which sadly enough means you are my life."

Zamora pounded her fists on the cage. "I'M NOT AN ANIMAL!"

"Prove it," he laughed.

Zamora knew she had been defeated. She flung herself back into the seat and slid so she was parallel to the floor with her feet resting on the window.

"You really should buckle up, you could get me into a load of trouble."

She screamed a lashing of profanities at him.

"I thought you might say that." He sighed.

Ben accelerated to upwards of 80mph on the deserted country road. It was 5:37 in the morning and no one was around for miles.

"Do you have any idea what would happen if we wrecked right now? No? Well let me tell ya ' that pretty face of yours would go right through these bars right down to the bone. Not to mention most of those bones would be shattered ' have you ever eaten Jell-O?" he smiled at the sound of her seat belt clicking and slowed back down to 65.
Hours had trudged by before either of them had uttered a word. Infact, it was their stomachs that had done the talking. It was now past 8 and the only thing either of them would agree on was food. Ben pulled into the Denny's parking lot. Zamora escaped her seat belt and waited for Ben to open her door.

"You can't honestly think I'm that stupid." He began.

"What? Don't I get food too?"

"Sure, you tell me what you want and I'll bring it to you."

"So then how am I ever going to prove to you that I'm not an animal if you never even give me a chance."

Zamora had a point, but Ben knew better than to let her talk him into such a powerfully stupid idea. But just because he knew better didn't always mean he'd listen to reason. He opened her door.

She stretched out to her full height of 5 foot 10 and shook out her long black hair that teamed with her naturally tan skin to show her true Native American heritage.

"Thank you" she grinned and followed him into the restraunt.

"Two please" he instructed the waitress and followed her to a small table beside a window.

They both ordered and ate in silence. Ben watched her pick at her toast, he really had been wrong about her and he was glad about it. He smiled as he thought this might actually be a pleasant trip after all. He might even miss her. Ben choked on a piece of pancake at the thought.

The waitress stopped to refill Ben's coffee, "Is there anything else I can get you two?"

"No thanks" Zamora answered and Ben shook his head.

"Right then, I'll just bring y'all your check."

Zamora slid out of her seat and Ben cleared his throat. "And where do you think you're going?"

She pointed to the sign above the restrooms as she walked towards them. Ben got up to pay the bill as a horrifying thought crossed his mind.
"I don't suppose there's a window in the bathroom?"

The waitress nodded and Ben slapped a twenty on the counter and ran into the women's restroom. Sure enough the window was open and Zamora was nowhere in sight. He ran back out into the restraunt and out to his car.

"YOU LYING BI-" his words were cut off by the sight of Zamora leaning against his car.

Zamora smiled. "I love making you yell - brings out your accent."

"Get. In. The. Car." He warned while masking his thick Greek accent.

They had driven four more hours in silence. Ben was once again lost in thought. After he graduated he wanted to come to America to help troubled youths. And now he really wouldn't mind hurting the one in his back seat. Zamora was his first case ' the only case he could handle; he'd been with her for over a year. She was a 24/7 job. And now because of her he was ready to switch professions. She was a wild beast and after her aunt died her grandparents agreed to take her in and tame her. It was the last thing she wanted but she had run out of options. The family that actually wanted her had all died and the family that didn't flat out refused to house an animal ' even if it was only for a few months. She had met her grandparents once when she was eight, Ben had only read about it in a report. It was at her mother's funeral. They were the parents of the man that ran off on Zamora's mother. They shouldn't even be considered family; they disapproved of her mother because of her roots. He had no idea why they agreed to take Zamora in the first place.

Ben had been sitting at the gas pump in Redding for several minutes lost in his thoughts. Finally Zamora reminded him where he was.

"This is California buddy and that sign says self serve."

"Mmhmm." he grunted as he left the car.

Zamora waited patiently while he filled the tank. She knew she shouldn't bother him about it seeing as it wasn't really his choice, but she couldn't help it. He could sway the judge - she'd rather be locked away for a year than be at the clutches of her grandparents. For the first time since her mother's funeral, Zamora feared for her life.

She listened as the pump clicked and he twisted the cap back on. Maybe she could get him to change his mind about her. It would be a hard task, but she was quite confident ' after all, she had once made a living off of lying.

"What time do you think we'll be in Beverly Hills?"

Ben was still in his own little world. "Huh? OH! Not tonight, we'll have to pull off when it gets dark."

"You're not going to make me sleep in the car are you?"

Ben couldn't help but laugh. He should have said yes ' just to get a reaction. Z was hilarious when she was vexed.

"No we'll get a room."

"Good cause these seats are so uncomfortable." she shifted miserably in her seat.

Ben laughed, "Does her highness need a pillow for her bum?"

Zamora laughed which caused Ben to swerved and nearly hit a car in the next lane.

"What the hell happened?" she pulled her seat belt out of her neck.

"That was the first time since I've known you that you laughed."

They both returned to silence, Ben's heart still pounding in his chest, Zamora could feel it too.

"Is it really that scary?"

"What?"

"Me laughing? I just hadn't in so long that - I don't know, maybe I just forgot how'�"

Ben sighed in relief. "Not the least bit frightening. Just caught me off guard is all. Maybe if you laughed more often I wouldn't have to wreck the car." They both laughed again.

Ben pulled the car over to the side of the road and got out. He walked over to Z's door and opened it.

"What's going on?"

Ben smiled and offered her his hand. "Oh, didn't you know?

She accepted out of curiosity. "What?

He led her to the passenger side door and opened it for her. "You're not an animal." He helped her in and got back into his seat. Ben started the car and looked into her creamy brown eyes. "You don't deserve to be caged." He pulled back out into traffic

Zamora was completely stunned by what he just did. He trusted her. Somebody actually trusted her. She didn't dare move she didn't want anything to change ' as if sitting more comfortably would change that, but she still didn't want to risk it.

The sight of her was amazing. She was sitting stalk still and stiff as a board. She even appeared to be holding her breath. This girl was full of surprises. He watched her cheeks burst into crimson flames. He couldn't believe it ' the queen of mean herself'�was blushing! Ben savored the moment and continued on in silence.

Five more hours had passed with Ben and Zamora in a comforting and yet unnerving silence. They had just left Sacramento and it was getting dark. Ben didn't drive at night unless he had to. It was his first time in California and he wanted to see it all. He pulled into the parking lot of the Super 8 motel. He unloaded their bags from the trunk and expected Zamora to be out roaming the parking lot, but still she sat - as if frozen to the spot. Ben walked around and opened her door.

"You know, this door opens."

"Huh? OH! Sorry! ' Habit I guess." She got out and shut the door.

"Are you all right?"

"Huh, umm ' tired I guess." She faked a yawn.

She followed Ben into the lobby where he paid for a room and led her upstairs to room 202. Ben put his bag on the bed closest to the window.

"Do you mind if I take first shower?"

"Umm no. I'm just going to get some sleep."

"Fine by me." He rubbed her head as he walked past her into the bathroom.

"Ten minutes!" he called out through the closed door.

Zamora walked over to the window, her hand on the glass. This was her perfect opportunity. What was holding her back? She felt a tear slide down her cheek. She walked to the door, unlocking the bottom lock then the slider. Her hand gripped the door handle as her legs fell from beneath her.

Ben opened the bathroom door to find Zamora kneeling with her head against the wall and one hand on the door, fighting back the sobs of a broken girl who until this night refused to cry. He readjusted his towel and knelt beside her.

"It's okay Z, I'm here. You're okay ' just let it go." He repeated in her ear.

Ben hugged her close and rubbed her back as she finally released the pain of a thousand heartbreaks, letdowns, and mistakes. He should have been excited by his first real break-through with her, but he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by her pain. It cut him deep to see her in such agony. It was nearly morning by the time she finally fell asleep. Ben carried her over to her bed and tucked her in without waking her. He was relieved to finally feel the softness of a bed and was quick to fall into his own deep sleep.

Ben awoke to the comforting sound of running water later that afternoon. That meant she was still here. He was almost giddy at the thought. He rushed down to the lobby where they served free breakfast every morning and grabbed a couple of leftover muffins and some juice. By the time he got back up to their room she was dressed and brushing out her hair. Zamora was quick to spot the food he carried.

"You do love me!" she distracted him with a friendly kiss on the cheek and stole the chocolate muffin.

"Are you going to be ready to leave after we eat?"

Her silence in this case was the calm before the storm. "You mean I still have to go?" the disappointment in her voice nearly killed him. "If you had any kind of heart you'd take me home!" she sunk to the floor and was once again devoured by a heart filled with tears.

"Wait a minute! That was always the plan; what made you think-"

"I must be a real idiot to think you might actually care about me!" she hurled the muffin at his face.

He deflected the enemy muffin and caught hold of her arms. "What the hell is going on?" his accent braking through in panic

Zamora was now sobbing uncontrollably. If he didn't care if she lived or died'�then neither did she. She took a deep breath and accepted her fate. Her spirit had already been destroyed, now it was time for her body. She escaped Ben's grip and rose ' head held high, she had the blood of a warrior running through her veins. Zamora walked to the door and waited for him to follow.

Ben was completely baffled by what had just happened. Zamora was a storm of emotions. Of all the times he had found her and brought her back to whoever was claiming her at the time he had never seen her this tormented by anger. Ben grabbed his bag and followed her out to the car. He had opened the front door for her, but she sat in the back. Ben was positive he just felt his heart implode. This morning she was the happiest she had ever been. He had destroyed her.

It was nearly 1 and if he drove at the maximum speed he could make it to Beverly Hills by 9 that night. Ben looked in his rear view mirror. Zamora was sitting sideways on the seat with her back against the door and was hugging her legs to her chest. It reminded him of one of the pictures in her file. She was six years old that day. Her mom threw the closest thing she could to a party, but one of her boyfriends at the time showed up drunk and beat her mom nearly to death. The picture was of her sitting just like that on the porch with the exact same look in her eyes. She was watching the paramedics wheel her mother off to the ambulance. It was also the same day she discovered whiskey and the first time she attempted suicide. Zamora's life had gone to the dumps from that point on. She had lied under oath, destroyed private and public property, stolen, fought, and was caught with drugs and alcohol on more than one occasion. There was a shining moment when he thought she had truly changed. Ben wanted nothing more than to have that girl back, but still he drove onward to her demise. He knew what he had to do.

Zamora couldn't believe how anxious he was to get rid of her. He was even speeding; with the exception of tormenting her he never sped. She watched the buildings and trees turn into mere smudges of color on a bluish ' gray canvas. It was hard to believe that this was what the last day of her life would look like. She was desperate for alcohol, drugs ' hell any way to escape. Her eyes were still swollen from her night of tears and she had a headache that could put any hangover to shame. Zamora's body was exhausted and sore from the previous night's release. She had no idea how much of a workout crying could be. Finally, she surrendered to a less than peaceful sleep.

Zamora awoke to darkness and lights streaming past her window. Her vision was blurred but she could tell that there was another body in the car now. She could only hear distorted voices, but she heard enough to recognize two frighteningly familiar voices and neither one was Ben.

She blinked to try and clear her vision, after a few minutes she could see enough to know she was no longer in the back of Ben's Honda. Her eyes stung and her headache was fiercely painful. She moved her arm only to find ropes had restrained her. Panic hit her system and she moved her head to try and get a better look at the situation. Her heart was like an anvil falling through the sky; Ben lay beneath her on the floor of the car unconscious and stained with blood. She bit her lip to hold back the screams that fought to be released. She put her face back down on the seat only to find the blood she knew must have spilt from her head.

Zamora felt weak as her body begun to surrender. Silently she begged ' one last chance was all she asked. She wanted to make things right before she died and for the first time since she could remember she prayed to a God- any God that would listen to her pleads. She needed Ben to know '

Zamora faded into another slumber and there she remembered - she remembered everything. She was awakened by the sound of Ben's door slamming. He left a door open for her to follow if she so pleased, and she did. She followed him silently up to an over-the-top gaudy dwelling. It was the house the devil himself steered clear of. Ben walked right up the steps and pounded on the gold-plated door.

She couldn't let this happen. She needed to live. She needed to prove to everyone, but mostly herself that she wasn't a waste. Zamora left the car and all the memories it carried behind. She walked down the long driveway and back out to the road. She didn't feel like dealing with anyone else's bullshit tonight. Tonight she walked. No awkward rides from truckers or soccer moms looking down their noses at her. This was her vision quest.

All the while Zamora would have never imagined what Ben was really up to. He was on a fool's mission to get her one last chance. The door finally opened and what stared him in the face was not a loving family member.

'Who are you?'� the man was too weighed down by lavish clothing to be a servant.

'My name is Ben, we spoke on the phone last week Mr. Carson.'�

'Ah yes, the social worker. Come in.'� Ben followed the man in to the foyer.

'Where is the girl?'� There was an eerie tone in his voice.

'Do you mean Zamora? She was waiting out in the car.'�

'THAT WAS NOT WISE!'� The man screamed in Ben's face.

Mr. Carson ran out to find the car had been deserted. Ben watched as he searched frantically for any sign of Zamora. He didn't know why he was so surprised that she ran away again, he thought she was seriously done acting so childish. Ben actually thought she had changed. She was just another disappointment. Ben watched Mr. Carson run back into the house screaming for his wife.

'Catherine! She's gone!'� the woman was quick follow the men outside, but not empty-handed.

Catherine pistol-whipped Ben who fell immediately to the ground. Mr. Carson ran to the garage and pulled out in a black Lexus. The couple struggled to get Ben into the back and was soon on their way to find Zamora.

She was two miles down the road ' she could walk fast when she had a purpose. Zamora knew they would be out searching for her in a minute or two. She felt chills as a car came up behind her, slowing to a stop. Zamora didn't want to turn around. She didn't want to see the faces that still haunt her dreams. She kept walking. Maybe it wasn't really there. She quickened her pace. The car slowly followed.

'Do you want a ride or not?'�

She felt relieved as she turned to face the stranger. 'No. Thanks, but I need to walk.'�

The man shrugged and sped off down the road. Zamora decided that it probably wasn't safe to walk out in plane sight of everyone on the road. The only cover she could find were a few scattered shrubs.

'Screw it.'� she sighed. 'I'll take my chances on the road.'�

Just as she made her decision the headlights of a car in the distance cast her shadow. Before she could even think she threw herself behind one of the shrubberies in hopes that the lights didn't give away her location. The car still sped towards her. She didn't dare move a single hair. She didn't breath ' she didn't even think. The car slowed to a stop several yards up the road. Two car doors slammed shut. This is it. She thought. But they won't take me without a fight.

Zamora took in a deep breath of crisp night air. She gripped handfuls of dirt in her fists. The footsteps moved closer towards her. A heavy black designer boot stopped right before her and sent a cloud of dirt into her face. In one swift movement she jumped to her feet and threw the dirt into the man's face. Zamora ran as far and as fast as she could. She listened to a car door slam in the distance. She didn't even know what hit her.

Mr. Carson picked Zamora's broken body up off of the ground. They must have been going about 30 when they hit her. She had a vicious head wound and was bleeding all over the seat.

Zamora awoke from her dream of reality in time to feel the speeding Lexus slow down. It was too dark to see out of the tinted windows, but she could feel that they were now driving off-road. They had driven several miles down a rough mountain road and soon pulled to a stop. Zamora felt cold air on her face and knew her door had been opened. Her grandfather grabbed her by the throat and threw her into the dirt. Zamora lifted her head only to see a makeshift tombstone, but that wasn't what horrified her; what did was the name that was carved into it.

Zamora struggled to free herself of the restraints, but found her efforts useless. Tears engulfed her swollen eyes. She tried to blink them away hoping another name would be carved on the small plank of wood, but the clearer her vision became the more her name stood out in the night.

'Why?'� She choked out between sobs. It was the only question in her mind.

Her grandfather grabbed the shovel that was lying next to Ben's unconscious body. He stood over Zamora who was fighting against the darkness that was trying to take her away.

'Why?'� He laughed, surprised at her question. He didn't answer, but instead hit her head with the flat end of the shovel leaving a thick gash across her right cheek.

This time Zamora tried to surrender herself to the darkness. She wanted the pain to end ' she needed it to end. She was alone in the world, without any real family or friends.

Zamora felt her body fall as if in slow motion. It felt like an eternity before she hit the soft dirt bottom of her grave. She was relieved to feel the dirt piling up on her back. The torture of life was finally ending. She drifted off as the dirt fell upon her face.

Ben began to come to as he heard the voice of Catherine; it held an odd pitch and was nearly impossible to ignore. He also heard the husband shoveling dirt. They were arguing about something, he wasn't sure what about till he heard his name. He moved his arms beneath him to support his body. His head was pounding and the voices were fading in and out. He slowly pulled his way out of the car; he looked to where Zamora must have been and ran his hand through the blood. It was still warm. Anger overcame him and adrenaline drove him on. A gleam from the front seat caught his eye. Catherine left the gun on her seat.

The couple heard the click of their gun being cocked and spun in unison. Ben was so weak from his head wound that he could scarcely hold the gun steady. Mr. Carson ran at Ben with the shovel in hand and was hit with the second bullet. He stumbled forward to his knees holding his chest, blood streaming through his fingers. Catherine fell to the ground in shock and crawled to her husband. Ben aimed for her head but missed, his second bullet hit Mr. Carson in the leg. Finally the third bullet went through her neck. Sounds of her choking on her own blood coursed through his head and finally her body collapsed over her husband's.

Ben could hardly hold his body upright; he fell to his knees. He crawled to the edge of the pit and peered into it. Zamora's feet and part of her head were still visible. Ben slowly lowered himself down next to her body and pushed off as much dirt as he could. He rolled her over and was relieved to see the faint rise and fall of her chest. She was still alive.

'Zamora! Please wake up! Please God damn it!'� he sobbed. He leaned over her body and prayed for the both of them.

He listened as her breathing grew stronger but raspier like she was trying to speak. Ben moved so he could look down at her face. Her lips were moving but her eyes were still sealed shut.

'Zamora? Zamora can you hear me? Speak up.'�

'You weigh a ton.'� She laughed lightly.

'Z, I was so afraid! I thought you ' '� she felt his tears fall on her face.

'Shh. Just get me out of here. Okay?'� she rolled over so he could untie her.

Ben boosted her up to the top of the pit and climbed up after her.

'What should we do about them?'� her eyes glued to her ex-grandparents.

'Screw them both. Well send the police to pick them up later.'� He was in no mood to have to deal with the corpses of his attackers.

Ben helped Zamora into the still open passenger door. He got in the driver's side and they both sat in silence amazed at what had almost been the end of their lives. Zamora was shaking. Ben turned the key and was relieved to hear the car jump to life. He sped back up the gravel road ignoring the safe speed limit. He drove for twenty minutes before finding the road to the Carson's property. Ben pulled into the driveway and helped Zamora into the house. He sat her down on the white sofa in the living room and called the police.

'They said about ten minutes.'�

'Right so that means they'll be here in three hours. Good, I'm tired.'�

'No sleeping!'� After all that had happened today he didn't want to lose her to a coma. 'I'll be right back. Don't fall asleep!'� Ben left the house and ran out to his car.

Zamora found it easy to stay awake, the bottom of her grave was softer than the Carson's sofa. Besides, her mind was wide-awake. There's nothing quite like a near death experience to get your brain turning. She was curious to know what Ben was up to though; it wasn't like him to just run out with out another word. But before she really got a chance to think on it she heard the front door slam. Her gut told her to run, nearly forgetting about the death of her grandparents, but her legs refused. She was in no shape to run, she could barely even walk. Luckily it was Ben who intruded on her thoughts and sat next to her.

'I wanted to wait till your birthday, but after all that has happened today I think you deserve it.'� He pulled a little black box out of his pocket.

Zamora was at a loss for words; her birthday wasn't for another two months.

'You got me a present? You remembered my birthday?'� she was shocked. The last time she even thought about her birthday was when she was six. 'Thank you.'� She whispered with tears in her eyes.

Ben held the box out to her. She ran her hand over the velvety exterior and opened the box. She gasped at the sight of it. She ran her fingers over the platinum chain and rested them on the opal butterfly. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

'Its perfect.'� She breathed.

Ben smiled he knew she was pleased. 'No.'� He watched her confusion as he took it out of the box and fastened it around her neck. 'Now its perfect.'� He kissed her forehead.

They were both startled by the knock on the front door. Zamora latched onto Ben's arm.

'It's okay Z, it's just the police.'� Ben walked over to answer the door relieved to find the county sheriff on the other side along with an ambulance.

'Ten minutes.'� Zamora laughed. 'That was only seven. You guys should get a medal.'�

The sheriff stepped in towards Zamora. 'It's not every day one of the most respectable, not to mention most annoying, couples in the city is killed in self defense.'�

The paramedics wheeled in a stretcher for Zamora while Ben filled the sheriff in on the night's events.

'You better ride with them, they can take a look at the nasty cut on your face.'� Ben reached up to caress the tender spot the sheriff must have been talking about. 'I'll follow ya in.'� he walked back to his car.

The paramedics helped Ben into the back of the ambulance and he held Zamora's hand while they dressed her wounds and rushed off towards the hospital. While there they had been split up and taken to different ends of the hospital. Ben had been taken into a private room where he was able to tell the sheriff the whole story and Zamora had been wheeled of to X-ray. She had three fractured ribs on her left side, a broken ankle, a sprained shoulder, a concussion, and numerous cuts and bruises. After nearly three hours of explaining to a detective Ben was finally free to visit Zamora.

It was hard for Ben to look at her. The nurses had washed away the dirt and blood and now all Ben could see was that same little girl from the pictures. Even drug'induced sleep couldn't mask her fear. But what he didn't know was that over the course of the night, her fears had changed.

Zamora could feel his eyes resting heavily on her face. Why wasn't he saying anything? She opened her eyes and turned her head to face him. He still didn't shift his gaze. He walked forward to her bed and fell to his knees. Ben took her hand in his as his eyes filled with tears.

'Ben?'�

He hung his head in an attempt to hide his tears.

'I'm so'�'� he fought back a sob. ''�sorry.'�

'Oh Ben, no. It's not your fault.'�

'I didn't listen to you.'� He sighed. 'When you needed me to.'�

At his last words Zamora found it hard to fight back her own tears, but she didn't want to fight them ' not any more. They held each other for quite some time before they were interrupted again.

'Ben? Why don't you come with me, we'll set you up in your own room so you can get some rest.'�

Ben and Zamora exchanged smiles. He kissed her forehead before following the nurse down the hall. Ben was eager to get some rest, but he didn't want to leave Zamora all alone.

'Don't worry about her hon, we have staff checking up on her every ten minutes.'�

Ben smiled at her attempt. 'Thanks.'� He walked into the room only a few doors down from hers and sunk into the hospital bed. He listened to the air mattress crinkle beneath him and slowly drifted off.
Ben was awakened the next night by a very happy face.

'I thought you might sleep forever!'� she poked his cheek.

He moaned and rolled over. 'Give me a break ' saving your life wasn't easy.'�

Zamora started randomly pressing the buttons on his remote. They both laughed as he tried to escape the bucking bed.

'All right, all right! I'm up!'�

'Good lets go get some food.'�

Ben pushed her wheelchair down to the cafeteria where they ran into the sheriff. They all sat together so he could explain what was going on. Zamora had tuned most of the legal crap out; her head was in enough pain.

'So when do we get to go home?'� she was anxious to get back to a some-what normal life.

'You can leave tomorrow, but you'd still have to be back for trial at a later date.'�

The men spent the rest of the night discussing the possibilities of the situation. Zamora took the opportunity to wheel herself back to her room. She dozed off and was awakened by Ben the next morning.

'You ready to go?'� he smiled at her sleepy face.

'Home?!'� her face went from excited to sad in mere seconds.

'Yes, home. You're going to stay with me ' well, if that's what you want. I mean I do have a spare room'�'�

It took a minute for the word 'home'� to sink in. Zamora hadn't lived in a place she could call home for quite some time, but was sure she could get use to it. Ben helped her crutch her way to the counter where they signed out and were soon on their way home. Together.

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