"Hello Sasha. I see you have chosen not to answer my call again. You should know by now it is impossible to avoid me or to attempt to hide from me. I have settled into my new job and I look forward to catching up with you in person very soon. If you want to make me happy, which I trust you do, then you will answer my call the next time. I know you don't want me to get angry with you Sasha. We both know what happens when I get angry."

Sasha could tell from the way the phone had been slammed down that the caller was already angry. She erased the message and sank to the floor, pulling her knees tightly to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees. She had already changed her phone number twice since Eric had moved to Florida. She knew Kelli was giving it to him every time she changed it despite the fact she had asked her not to. Kelli had no idea why Sasha feared Eric and Sasha never seemed able to muster the strength to tell her the truth. "She'd never believe me anyway." She sobbed. She loved her sister and brother-in-law and especially her nephew. If weren't for them, she would have dropped out of sight long ago just to avoid ever seeing Eric again. She hugged her legs closer to her body. The need to cut was great. She despised Eric for what he had done to her and for the hold he still had on her but she hated herself more for allowing him to maintain that hold. She didn't even realize she ripped holes in her nylons and scratched deep enough to make her legs bleed until she heard the phone ringing. She stood up to see who was calling. She was relieved and a little frightened to see it was Brian. She picked up the phone. "Hello." She said softly.

"Sasha you're home! Good." She heard Brian breathe a sigh of relief. "Listen. I just wanted to make sure you're OK. I know I left a message for you but I…" He trailed off. "I needed to hear your voice Sasha. I need for you to tell me you're OK."

"I'm fine Brian." She lied.

"Sasha, I'm so sorry I upset you. The last thing I wanted to do was upset you or make you uncomfortable."

"I'm fine Brian." She repeated.

"You don't sound fine Sasha." Brian replied. "You sound like you have been crying."

"I'm fine Brian."

"Will you please quit saying that! I know you're not fine Sasha. I can hear you crying."

Sasha choked back a sob. "I just need to get some sleep. I'm fine. Honestly, I am. I'm just tired."

Brian didn't believe her but he knew pressing the subject wouldn't gain him any ground. "If you say so Sawsh. Please don't be mad at me. I would never hurt you or force you to anything you didn't want to do."

"I know that Brian." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Just remember, I…what I said. You weren't alone in your feelings so you have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who should probably be apologizing to you for running out the way I did." She bit her lip in an attempt to stop another wave of tears. "I'm really tired Brian. I need to get some sleep. Can we just put tonight behind us and move on?"

"Yes. That is a good idea Sasha. I'm pretty tired myself." He conceded. "I will see you on Monday. Sleep tight Sasha."

"Goodnight Brian. Thank you for this evening. I had a really good time. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams." Brian echoed hanging up the phone. He knew something was still bothering Sasha but tonight, on the phone, was not the right time to press her. He had found nothing on the net that made any sense to him when he had tried to find out what Sasha meant when she said she was an SI. He decided he would ask Sam when he picked up the kids in the morning, if she knew of a medical condition with the initials SI. If she didn't then he would need to see if he could get Sasha to clue him in a bit more. Sasha looked perfectly healthy, which made him wonder if SI were a cult of some kind. 'Sasha is too smart for something like that.' He reasoned. 'It has to be a medical condition. Why else would she say she didn't want me to see her like she is?'