Disclaimer: I do not own anybody except the characters you do not recognize…Not that I would complain if I did.

Chapter 1

"Shut up!" He slapped her across the face. She staggered, but she didn't fall. "You are such a slut. I know you slept with him." His face was turning redder by the minute and she was just praying she and her daughter would make it out of here alive.

This was not the first time she had been beaten, but she swore it would be the last whether she died or not. "I didn't sleep with him." She tried to say, but he slapped her again. This time the force of the slap knocked her down. Blood was coming out of her mouth and bruises were showing up on her face. "I haven't, Brett, I promise!" She was sobbing by now.

"Don't lie to me, Alex!" After kicking her three times in the stomach he pulled her from the floor and grabbed her throat. "You're nothing but a filthy, no good, fat, slut." He said making sure to prolong the last word. He squeezed her throat tighter while she clawed at his hands. "I am the only person in this world who could ever want you. That other guy you've been sleeping with is using you. He just wants sex from you, but I love you."

Alex gasped for air, but nothing was happening. Her chest was getting tighter and she was feeling weak. She knew she was about to die. 'Please Lord, take care of Gabby.' With that last prayer everything went black.

Gabriella was hiding in her room like her mommy taught her, but she could hear everything going on in the living room. She had always been a smart child and she knew that her father was abusive. She heard a thump and even though she was only six she knew what that meant. She clambered out of her hiding spot and throwing open her door she ran into the living room.

"Leave mommy alone!" She shouted as she ran up and kicked him in the leg.

He dropped Alex on the floor and slapped Gabby across the face. She went flying across the room, but she was so determined to stop him that she got up and tried to hit him again. "You're not going to touch my mommy again you mean man."

This time he used verbal abuse as he held her arm. "Shut up you little idiot. You mom doesn't even love you." He said in an icy cold tone "We never even wanted a daughter." He threw her to the ground.

"Mommy loves me and I don't like you."

"It wouldn't matter anyway because she's dead and you are about to join her." He kicked her in the stomach. He thought he heard Alex stir so he turned around, but that proved to be a mistake.

Gabby was hurting, but she was also mad and she wanted to protect her mother. Her mother had once taught her what to do if her dad tried to hurt her. She scurried into the kitchen as fast as she could and grabbed anything she could find to use as a weapon. She knew he had seen she was missing, but she also knew he would come after her. Gabby hid behind the door of the kitchen and waited.

It didn't take very long because he came running into the kitchen to find her. "Where are you, you little brat?!" He yelled "I will find you."

When he bent down to look under the table she struck him in the head with her weapon of choice…a cast-iron skillet. He fell to the ground…he was unconscious.

She did the next thing that came to her mind. She grabbed the phone and dialed her uncle's number.

"Goren"

"Uncle Bobby." She said in a hurried voice.

"Gabby, what's wrong?" he asked in a worried tone.

"Uncle Bobby, she's hurt bad and I did the best I could, but she won't get up." She started crying "Help us, Uncle Bobby. I don't know how long he will stay down."

Bobby was already running out of his door by the time she finished the sentence. "Gabby, calm down. Where is your daddy?"

She breathed in and out a few times and answered "I hit him in the head and he hasn't moved. I'm so scared. Please hurry."

He could hear the terror in her voice so he sped up and made it there in a very short amount of time. "Gabby, I need you to buzz me in. Do you remember how?"

"Yes." She got up and buzzed him in. "Uncle Bobby hurry! He's getting up."

Then he heard a scream. His heart was pounding as he raced to her apartment door. He pulled out his gun and kicked the door in. As soon as he came in he saw Alex on the floor, but he knew Alex would want him to help Gabriella first so he ran into the kitchen and she was lying on the floor. He looked around the room, but he didn't see anyone.

He ran over to her and checked to see if she had a pulse. She had a strong pulse so he knew she would be fine for now. He pulled out his phone and called the police. While waiting for the cops he decided he would check the rest of the house. When he walked back into the living room he saw…

A/N: I hope everyone liked it, but if you didn't I would appreciate constructive criticism. I have another story I am currently working on, but it's a Crossing Jordan fanfic (check it out). I should really work on that some more, but this popped into my head and I couldn't resist writing it. I thought the chapter would be longer, but I always miscalculate it. I will update as soon as I can. Please REVIEW!

Beth