Authors note: This is only my second story, so I hope it's not too bad. Please review! I don't know how many of you out there ship Cece Drake + Jason Dilaurentis but I do. I hope you all like it!
I own nothing! All rights to those who own them. Sara Shepard wrote the books and made the characters, and ABC Family the tv show. Anything else I don't know about, those rights still aren't mine so, all credit to those it should.

'Just breathe', she told herself like a mantra, over and over again. All you have to do is knock. You know he's home.

She raised her hand to knock, but lowered it again before she touched the door. That sinking feeling she'd been having knotted in her stomach, worry, and the little voice in the back of her head came back making her doubt her decision to even come here. "What if he hates you?" it asked, "What if he doesn't want to talk to you? What if he slams the door right in your face?" But the question that cut the deepest and kept her from knocking was "What if he doesn't love you anymore? If he never did?"

She turned away from the door and was about to take a step to leave, when the door behind her opened and she froze in her tracks feeling rooted to the spot. And a thought occurred to her just then 'What is he going to think, opening the door to see me bruised, beaten and bloody at 2 in the morning?'

"Cece?" He asked, recognizing her immediately, even from behind. "What are you doing here Cece? What's wrong?" He continued as he took a few steps towards her, closing the distance, coming up right behind her. "No-n-n-nothing." Cece stuttered out, still refusing to turn to face him. "Cmon Ce, What happened?" He asked again, but this time using his nickname for her from when they had dated.

She took in a shaky breath and finally turned to face him. "It's nothing. Really. I'm fine Jason. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by, but then I realized how late it was." She felt like she was trying to convince herself more so than she was trying to convince him.

By turning around the light hit her face and he could see all the cuts and bruises that littered her face and arms. As well as the blood that stained her clothes. She felt him take in her appearance and she felt her instinct to turn and run rise up again. So as quick as she could she turned on her heel to bolt. But he grabbed her arm and spun her around, effectively pulling her to himself in the process and back into his house with him. Carefully, he sat her down on the couch and firmly closed the door before kneeling in front of her. She kept avoiding his gaze and focused on anything but him.

Jason started to feel frustrated that she wouldn't look at him. Sighing he brushed some hair out of her face. That got her to look at him, but she promply looked back at her hands and started to fidget and bit her lip.

"Cece. Look at me." When that didn't elect a response from her he tried again. "Cece," he said taking her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him, " Look at me. We're not moving until you tell me what happened. I can do this all night. So talk?" he demanded putting emphasis on the word all.

"I-i..I…" she stammered, trying to say something coherent about what happened. "Uh, i-ii-i." She tried again, tears already starting to pour out, " I can't!" she cried out softly as she tried to choke back a sob. Quickly putting his arms around her he shushed her and tried to calm her. "Shhhhh.." he whispered into her hair softly, "I've got you Ce. Let it all out. You're safe. It's all right, it's going to be all right." He continued as he rubbed her back in a soothing motion in an attempt to help calm her faster.

"I..I.." Taking a deep breath she tried again to continue, "Ali forced me to help her fake her death. And some people were after her, whoever they are she's afraid of them. They thought I was her and they kidnapped me, and locked me in a room for hours. They realized I wasn't Ali and when they came back they hit me, over and over and over. Tying to get me to tell them where she was. I don't know even remember how I got out." She let it out in a rush of words, sucking in a deep breath when she finished.

She watching him, trying to gouge his reaction to all she had just said. The only sounds she heard were the ticking of they grandfather clock, her own heavy breathing and extremely loud heartbeat.

He felt her tense in his arms and realized she was scared and worried about his reaction to the news. So he held her tight and felt her bury her face into the crook of his neck. Jason felt like everything was in slow motion, his anger flaring up made it very difficult to not go out , tack these people down and make them suffer for what they did. He knew he shouldn't do anything, that he should only call the cops with her.

"Jason?" she asked quietly, questioning what he was thinking and feeling. "I'm all right Cece, but you're not. You're staying here, I'm not letting you out of my sight." He said sternly. His voice wavered and was noticeably laced with worry when he spoke again, "Do you understand me Cece?" He leaned back so he could see her face as he spoke.

"Uh-huh." She nodded.

He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed, glad that he wouldn't have to fight her on this. "Let's go get you cleaned up." He said as he scooped her up of the couch and into his arms, bridal style. He carried her carefully up the stares to the bathroom and just as carefully set her down on the counter. Grabbing a washcloth from a cabinet Jason got it damp and began gently cleaning away the blood and grime from Ceces face and arms.

When he finished he left the room and returned with a t-shirt in his hand which he set down on the counter. Cece looked at the shirt with curiosity before it dawned on her when he began to fill the tub with water. She was going to take a bath. When it was full enough he turned the water off and turned so he was looking at her.

"I'll be right in the next room. Just relax and clean yourself up. If you need anything," he said reaching out and cupping her cheek, "just holler, and I'll be right there. Ok?"

Cece tentatively nodded. Casting her eyes down a little, for what reason she did not know. Embarrassment maybe? And whispered three words, "Thank you Jason."