Dan woke up relatively early in the morning, used to working first shift when he was on duty, although he was off today, of course. He went to the bathroom, but then read the newspaper in bed until he heard Mara stirring. Once he heard her padding around, he went over to her bedroom, tossing on a pair of sweats and a white beater shirt. He knocked twice on the door, then pushed it open a crack. He closed the door again when he saw she was only in her panties, and spoke through the door. He'd seen even with just a glimpse, that she looked much worse in the morning light, her face all puffy and bruised. "Mara," he called out through the door. "I can't let you go home looking like that," he explained. Then, he decided to go in anyway, even if she wasnât dressed. He pushed the door open and sat on the end of the bed. âI canât send you home like that.â