"Where the hell are the pills?" Julianna asked as she dug into the cabinet above the kitchen desk. She turned to look at George. He shrugged.

"I wouldn't know." He murmured. She turned to him and placed her hands on her hips.

"Why would you take the Advil?" She asked. He sighed.

"You don't need them." He said.

"I have a headache." She said.

"Then take some Tylenol." He said.

"I had Advil in that bottle." She said.

"Yeah, and what else?" He asked. She sighed.

"So I had a few sleeping pills in there. I wasn't going to take them." She said. "I have a headache. I need aspirin."

"Get some Tylenol." He said.

"That doesn't help." She replied.

"Liar. I know you and I know you take Tylenol for your headaches. You never take Advil for headaches. You told me once, or do you forget?" He asked, staring her down.

"Okay, so I was going to take a little sleeping pill. So what?"

"Why would you take a sleeping pill if you weren't going to bed?" He asked.

"Because if I take them earlier I get drowsy just before I sleep."

"Wrong answer." He said. She threw her hands in the air.

"What do you want me to say? What is the correct answer in your eyes?" She asked.

"The truth." He said.

"I am telling the truth."

"You've never lied to me before. I don't like it." He said.

"You're not my guardian! You have no control over me, or what I do." She said, growing angry. And panicky. She needed those pills.

"I'm your best friend, Julianna." He said, stressing the words. "Isn't that enough?"

"Why should it matter if I need a little bit of a chemical to help me through the rest of the day? You drink alcohol!" She exclaimed.

"I don't drink to get me through the day. I only drink when I am with friends, or just relaxing with a beer." He replied. "Besides it wouldn't be as big of a deal if you hadn't taken a few already today."

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

"I've been with you all day long. Don't you think I would notice when you popped a few pills?" He asked.

"Dammit, George. I need those pills." She said, her panic growing. Tears built up in her eyes and he tried hard to stay frozen from her tears. He watched as a few tears fell and he clenched his jaw. Finally her tears quickly dried up and anger replaced it. "Damn you, George. They are mine. You can't stop me from doing this."

"Why are you doing it?" He asked. She stopped and shook her head.

"No." She said.

"No what? Are you denying it again? What is it, Julianna? What has got you so fucked up now that you have to pop a few pills to get through the day?"

"Shutup, George, shutup." She said and covered her ears. "I don't want to hear this."

"Julianna, I am only trying to help." He said softly, becoming undone by her emotions. They were spiraling and making him dizzy to catch up.

"If you want to help, then give me my God damn pills." She said. He shook his head sadly.

"No, Jules, I can't do that. You know I can't."

"Fine." She said and turned, stalking away from him and up the stairs to her bedroom. He followed her and watched as she slammed the door and locked it. He heard her rustling around and waited outside, knowing she would be coming back out. Moments later she did. "Where are they?" She screamed and threw the door open. "Where are my pills?"

Julianna began to beat his chest with her hands and her fists, a red rage filling her eyes. She was out of control, and a part of her knew it, but couldn't stop. He had stolen her pills. She needed them. They helped her forget. She continued hitting him, although subconsciously she wasn't hitting George but was hitting her attacker, until George finally managed to get ahold of her wrists. George pushed her back against the wall and pinned her wrists against the wall by her waist. Then he became shocked with her quick change of emotions. She began to cry, very quickly, huge tears streaming down her face.

"Don't touch me, don't touch me!" She moaned. "Please! Oh God. Let me go!" She sobbed. He immediately dropped her wrists and backed away, scared that he had hurt her. He hadn't meant to frighten her.

She slid to the floor and pulled her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she sobbed into her knees. He bent down, worried sick. Had he done something completely and totally wrong?

"Jules?" He asked and reached out with his left hand to touch her shoulder. She shied away.

"Don't." She whispered fiercely and he immediately backed off.

"I'm sorry, Julianna. I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry." He said. He felt like throwing up.

"George." She moaned softly.

"If you want me to leave, just tell me." He said, fully prepared to leave her alone.

"Help me." She whispered. Then she scooted forward and wrapped herself around him. He wrapped her up in his arms, their limbs tangled as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"It's okay, it's okay. Shhhhh, shhhhh." He murmured into her ear as he stroked her hair and rocked her. "What's wrong, baby, what happened?" She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and said the words aloud for the first time.

"I was raped." She murmured. His body stiffened and his arms tightened around her. She began to sob louder, feeling more ashamed. He was disgusted, she just knew it. She just knew he regretted making love with her. He immediately relaxed his body, knowing it was only making things worse.

"When?" He murmured.

"Over a month ago." She managed to get out. He nodded.

"Okay, darlin', just calm down now. Relax." He said as he continued rocking her. And he did feel totally and completely disgusted. With himself for holding her up against the wall the way he had. Because he had had sex with her without knowing it. If he had known, he wouldn't have done it. Or he would have been more careful. And him holding her against the wall had obviously scared her and reminded her of her...her raping. He also felt disgusted for the man who had done this to her. He could kill him. Would kill him if he ever found the man. "You just think of something else." He said. "I'll sing." He offered. She laughed just slightly through her tears as he began to sing in a wobbly voice. He started singing 'Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh' like they had once for an episode of ER when they had sung for a patient, because he knew it would make her happy.

He hated his singing, knew he wasn't good at it, but he also knew that it might keep her mind away from her sorrow. And he would do anything to keep her mind off of it.

She was emotionally exhausted. As she listened to him sing softly into her ear, she began to drift off. The exhaustion of her crying spout, and telling him, was draining her. Plus the sound of his low voice in her ear was making her sleepy in itself. As he finished the song, he looked down at her to see her snuggled against him, her tears drying on her cheeks.

"C'mon." He murmured softly and began to move. She shook her head and burrowed further into his shirt. He smiled a bit and managed to scoop her up into his arms and get himself onto his feet. He took her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed.

"Stay." She said. He nodded.

"Alright." He said and slid in beside her. She sank into him, grateful for a warm, strong, safe body to relax into. She knew Ron had tried, but she couldn't tell him. Couldn't let him in. But George had somehow managed to chip through and get to her. He always did, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

George held her in his arms and felt his rage growing. He felt like killing someone. A specific someone. He wanted to kill the man who had hurt her like this with his bare hands. He knew he would if he had the chance.

====== ====== ======

Around 1 A.M. that morning, Julianna awoke to find herself curled up in George's arms. She smiled and snuggled closer sleepily. He had stayed with her. She buried her nose into his chest and took a deep breath. She had always wanted to do this. To snuggle up to him and breath him in and watch him as he slept. She turned her face up and looked at him in the darkness. In sleep his brow was pucker slightly, as if he had fallen asleep thinking deeply. She sighed a bit and reached up to smooth his brow. He sighed softly and squeezed his arms around her tighter. She grinned a little and continued watching him. Finally the desire that was flowing through her overtook her, and she ran her fingers lightly down his chest. She kissed his jaw lightly and then moved up to his cheek. She pressed her lips there and felt him shift underneath her. She pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth and felt them twitch slightly. She smiled and kissed him there again. He sighed and opened his eyes just slightly.

"Jules.." He said.

"Shh." She replied and kissed him fully on the mouth. He kissed her back for a moment before he remembered everything. He quickly pulled away from her.

"No, Jules." He said. She looked up at him, a bit puzzled. He was looking down at her, watching her seriously. She watched him for a moment before she pulled completely out of his arms and turned over onto her side, away from him. He was disgusted, she thought. Now that he knows, he doesn't want to touch me, doesn't want to make love with me. Oh God, what do I do? She wondered to herself. Her eyes filled with tears and she curled up into a ball. "Jules?" He said and reached for her shoulder.

"Don't touch me." She said. He quickly pulled his hand away like she had burnt him.

"I'm sorry, Jules, I didn't mean..I just.."

"If you think I'm disgusting, then you can leave." Julianna said and her voice quavered.

"What?" He asked.

"It's obvious that you're sickened by me. Just leave me alone, George." She said and a tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away and sniffled softly.

"Jules, that's not what I..."

"I don't want your excuses. It's bad enough that I have to live with my own disgust. I don't need yours."

"But I'm not disgusted," He said, "not with you. I'm fucking disgusted with the man who did this to you." He said hurriedly, worried that she was going to kick him out. He didn't think he could bare it. She remained silent, slightly confused. "Jules..What happened to you, doesn't change how I feel about you...I still think you're beautiful, and...sexy." A huge weight was lifted off of her chest when he said that. She turned to him.

"Then why did you..?" She asked.

"Why did I say no?" He asked. She nodded.

"Because I'm scared of hurting you. I know we've made love before, but Jules..Now I know..I'm so sorry if I've hurt you. I promise that I never meant to hurt you." He said, becoming a little upset. She reached for his hand, but he continued on. "I don't want to hurt you like he did. I'm sorry I took advantage of you, I.."

"George, shutup!" She exclaimed and he closed his mouth. She couldn't help but laugh a bit. "You didn't hurt me, okay?"

"Are you sure?" He asked, worried.

"It sort of hurt the first time, but.."

"God dammit!" He yelled. "Why did you let me do that? I would never have touched you if I had known, Jules! You should have told me. I would have been gentle."

"You were, George. I promise." She cupped his cheek in her hand. "You didn't hurt me like he did. It only hurt a little bit, sort of like re-losing my virginity. But I wanted you to, George. What he did was totally different. I promise." She paused. "I was there."

"Still...I wish you would have told me." He said.

"George..The entire reason I invited you over that night was because I wanted you. I was sick and tired of feeling...dirty and used. For a month I had felt that way. And I couldn't let Ron...I just couldn't," She said and didn't offer an explanation. "But I wanted to associate sex with pleasure again, not something horrible and dirty and scary. And I wanted you to be the one to...to make love to me after that." He sighed and brushed his hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you, okay? I know it wasn't that big of a deal to you, but...I'm still sorry." She nodded.

"Okay."

"Jesus, Jules." He pulled her into his arms and buried his face into her hair. "I want to fucking kill him." He said. She wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"I do too." She replied softly.

"Talk to me about it, Jules." He said and pulled away a little bit. She shook her head.

"I can't...not right now. Please, George."

"I want to help you." He said. She nodded.

"I know, but I can't...Not yet." He nodded.

"Okay, okay. It's alright. But still...You can't go on doing this to yourself, Jules."

"I know, but..It helps me forget." She replied. "And I need to forget."

"But you're going to kill yourself."

"George..." Her breath hitched in her chest. He pulled her against him again.

"Okay..We'll talk about it later, alright?" He asked. She nodded and tried to control her tears.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. He kissed her temple.

"I don't want to hear that. You don't have anything to be sorry about. I'm going to help you. Tomorrow." He said. He reached down and pulled the covers up over them, tucking her in, against him. "You're never going to be alone with this again, Jules. Do you understand?" He asked. She nodded. "Good."

"George?"

"Hm?" He asked.

"Make love to me now." She said. He hesitated for a moment, but he knew that she needed it more than anything. She needed to feel like she was still attractive, despite the ugly internal scars she carried. He bent his head and kissed her and felt her body shudder with relief.

"Just tell me if I hurt you, okay?"

"You won't." She murmured against his lips.

"Tell me." He said again. She nodded.

"Okay." She replied, but knew she wouldn't have to. And she didn't.

====== ====== ======

After they had finished making love and Julianna was asleep, George lay awake holding her in his arms and thinking. He made a solemn promise to himself that he would do everything in his power to help her. He would move in with her if that is what it took. He didn't care about rumors. It was all about her and helping her get better. And he knew he could be the one to do it.

====== ====== ======

Later the next morning after Julianna and George finished eating breakfast, George brought up the subject he had been thinking about since last night.

"Jules?" He asked.

"Yes?" She replied and met his gaze.

"I want to move in here for a little while. Or have you move into my house. Either way."

"What?" She asked, slightly shocked as she stared at him.

"You're going through a rough spot and I don't want you to be alone." He said.

"George, I can take care of myself." She said, somewhat angry.

"You haven't been so far." He said quietly and gently. She sat back and just looked at him. She wanted to argue, but on one hand she knew he was right, and on the other hand she actually liked the idea of him being around all the time.

"It offends me somewhat to hear you say that, but the sad thing is, I know you're right." She looked away and her voice lowered. "I do need help." She whispered.

"Would you rather I moved in here?" He asked. She glanced up and looked around. Then she nodded. Her home had been her safe haven ever since she had been raped and she wasn't ready to let go of that.

"Yes." She said softly. He nodded, understanding and not minding.

"That's fine then. How about later today we head over to my house and get some stuff for me to stay here." He suggested. She nodded.

"That's fine...But aren't you going to have to go back to work?" She asked. He nodded.

"Yeah. I'll cut back as much as I can. I don't have a movie going on right now, but I still have productions and stuff like that. So I can't always be home with you. We're going to have to work on you not doing these things when you are alone." He said. She stiffened slightly, but she nodded. He sighed a bit and reached out and took her hand. "I know this is rough, and that sometimes the things I say are going to piss you off, but you have to remember I'm just trying to help you." She nodded.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just...I'm used to being independent. I've always been that way." She said.

"I know. But you're going to have to get used to depending on me...for awhile anyway." He said. She nodded.

"I know." He kissed her hand gently.

"You're going to be just fine."

====== ====== ======

George stayed with Julianna for a few days, but then he had to go back to work. That night she stayed completely sober, because she had tried her best to think of George and not her attacker. The next night George stayed with her, and then the day after that he decided to chance going back to work. That's when she broke down.

George came home to find Julianna no where in the house. He knew she was home, because her car was there, and it worried him a bit that he could not find her. He peered outside, and finally saw her walking around the pool, carrying a bottle of beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He sighed and slid the door open. She looked up, and smiled happily, a bit too happily.

"Well, hey George!" She said, and tried to hide the bottle of beer behind her back. She continued walking laps around the pool.

"What are you doing, Jules?" He asked.

"Jus' walkin', how 'bout yourself?" She asked sloppily. He sighed.

"Jules, did you take any pills?" He asked. She shook her head no.

"Nope. 'Course not. Why would I do such a thing?" She asked. He sighed.

"Jules, please don't lie to me." He said calmly. She shrugged.

"Maybe one or two." She said.

"How many?" He asked. She shrugged again. "Jules." He stared at her.

"Okay, so I had....four, maybe." She said and took a swig of beer.

"Jules, what kind did you take?" He asked.

"Well, I can't be sure...I think, maybe jus' Advil? Or some kind of sleeping pill? I can't 'member." She muttered and smiled at him, walking towards him. She dropped her cigarette absent-mindedly and wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to him. He wrapped his arms around her, to steady her, and then he dragged her over to her cigarette and crushed it under his shoe.

"Did I drop that?" She asked.

"Yes, Jules."

"Well, I'll be!" She exclaimed.

"Let's get you inside, Jules." He said.

"No, it's nice out....side. Nice. Feel the breeze." She swayed in his arms.

"It's chilly, and you aren't wearing shoes."

"Aww, it's fine! You can warm me up!" She said and kissed his neck. He pulled her back a little bit.

"Jules, you promised to let me take care of you. That's what I'm trying to do." He said.

"You're a nice guy, George. Nice." She said and smiled lazily. "Pretty, too. Yeah, you sure are pretty." She sighed and stared at him as she continued to sway a bit.

"You're prettier, Jules, now let's get inside."

"Aw, you party pooper. There's nothin' inside."

"There's a hot shower." He said.

"Nope, no shower! Not 'less you get in, too." She said.

"I don't think that's what you need right now." He said, and finally managed to get her in to the house. They stumbled up the steps together, after he somehow found a way to take the beer away from her. He figured a hot shower might wake her up a bit. He was not sure whether he should let her go to sleep or not, considering he did not know what she had taken. He thought he should call the doctor, but he also knew Jules would probably never forgive him if he did that. He lead her in to the master bathroom, and leaned her against the sink. She sank against it, watching him.

"Are you mad?" She asked in a quiet, solemn voice. He turned the water on and turned to stare at her. He shook his head softly.

"No, baby, I'm not mad at you." He said. Tears began to fill her eyes.

"I know..I.." She stopped. "He hurt me, didn't he?" She asked. George sighed and walked to her. He took her face in to his hands.

"He'll never hurt you again, okay? I'm here." He said. A tear slipped out and she nodded. He gathered her in his arms for a minute and rocked her. Then he began to help her undress, but he kept his hands off of her, ignoring the desire he always felt for her. She let him put her in the shower, and he stood right outside, making her talk to him so that he could make sure she would stay awake and aware.

Once she got out of the shower, he figured that the next best step was to put her in to bed. She may have taken pills, but she seemed aware enough. He would just lie awake next to her until she woke up, so he could make sure she was constantly breathing.

====== ====== ======

Next