"You're the only one she wanted, the only person she kept asking for." Her voice softened with the gentle reminder, the last thing she wanted was him to start hosting his own pity party. "Is she having some unpleasant associations? Yes...and she probably will for a very long time." Maybe always. Abby bit her lip before continuing, "I'm still neurotic about locking the deadbolt, someone pounding on a door is enough to make me jump out of my skin and the sound of a kettle whistle sets me on edge and it's been...five years."

Five years since her neighbor, a pissed off abusive monster in his own right, had attacked and pummeled her, broke her nose and sent her halfway across her own apartment. Abby shook herself from the memory and cleared her throat. "I've been where she is, Rory, to a certain extent. More than once. Some things will probably always trigger memories for her and the best you and she can hope for is learning how to cope with them when it happens."

And that's so far down the road from now it wasn't going to help Pippa today or tomorrow. "You're right, she needs to talk to someone and I'm more than willing to help her find the right fit, I just wish I knew someone here that could help. If I were in Chica--Chicago..." Her voice caught on the word, if only she were in Chicago. "The head of psych here is a total shithead."

And as she thought about what Pippa would need, Abby swore quietly. "This is going to be a bitch, you know that? I think you and I and shit, your father should probably discuss a few things before anyone tries to sell Pippa on talking to a therapist. We need to get a few things straight."