Title: In the Past

Summary: She never thought she would come face to face with the horrid past she left behind…

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Greys and Shonda Rhimes

Setting: The 12th season finale and after with one change; Jo never told DeLuca or anybody else about her husband and Alex never beat up DeLuca.

Note: This story will take place during 2 different times; present day and about 5 years earlier.

Chapter One:

April 2009:

The hairs on her neck stood up as she heard the sound of his car pull into the driveway. She stared at the dinner she had spent hours working on, the delicate appetizers he had ordered. She knew tonight was a big night for Paul; his team of doctors were close to getting a big grant that they had been working on. She couldn't screw up the dinner, it would set the mood for the close of the deal they were working on.

Her breathing quickened as she heard the door open and she desperately attempted to control it. She needed to stay in control right now, he would demand it of her. He despised when she was "a pathetic mess" as he called it.

"Brooke!"

His voice was loud….not angry, but loud and demanding….loud enough that she had to force down the anxiety creeping through her, loud enough that he could control her every move with it, loud enough to make her wish she was anywhere but here right now.

She met his gaze as he entered the kitchen, trying to smile, to look like the wife he wanted, the wife he expected. It was the least she could do for him after he worked all day.

He blew past her, not even a hello, no acknowledgement of any kind, and began to inspect her work. She looked away, certain he would find that she had screwed something up. She always missed, forgot, left out, screwed something up. Why would tonight be any different?

Her confidence in the meal that she had worked so hard on today was disappearing with every second he continued to inspect her work. Brooke fixated her gaze on the floor, counting in her head, just trying to focus on her breathing. He was taking too long. Something was wrong. She vaguely wondered what the punishment was for messing up something that was so big for him. She knew it wouldn't be good.

"Where's the seared scallops?"

His voice broke her out of her trance, and she quickly looked up, meeting his eyes. They were the first words he had spoken to her, his voice dripping with anticipation. He knew what a screw up she was. He knew she could never pull something like this off and not have messed it up for him.

"They're on the table. I...I ran out of room on the counter," she whispered, her gaze lifting up just enough to watch his scoff at such a thing.

She closed her eyes once more, her own voice ringing through her ears. Screw up. Trash. Pathetic. Ungrateful bitch.

When she opened her eyes again, he was standing in front of her. She tried to step back, but he was too quick. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "You forgot to put out the olives, you put the scallops on the table, and there are only twelve place settings when I distinctly rember telling you there were thirteen people attending. My god, Brooke, are you trying to make me lose this deal. Are you?!"

She opened her mouth to speak, tears flowing freely down her face, but it was too late. She had messed this up for him and now, now she must be punished.

His fist landed first on her stomach, the force sucking what little breath she had in her out. She felt a kick land on her side as she fell to her knees, her body curling protectively into itself. She whimpered as her punishment continued, trying to endure it, wishing she would just disappear.

She screamed when the first strike of the belt landed on her back, followed closely by a second and a third. "Please, please, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she cried as he grabbed her by the hair, shoving her into the wall.

"When will you ever learn you stupid, worthless, dumpster diver!" he yelled, hauling her to her feet only to punch her again. "These punishments are designed to teach you, Brooke!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so, sorry!" she cried, a harsh sob escaping her lips when the belt connected with her back again.

She began to rock back and forth on her knees, choking on her own sobs and tears as he continued to berate her for her mistake. Everything just hurt so bad. Why couldn't she follow his simple instructions? Why did she always bring this on herself?

"I'm sorry. I'll do better. I'll fix it!" she pleaded, gasping when he grabbed her by the ear, twisting and pulling painfully as he dragged her to her feet, hauling her towards the back door. "Please, Paul, Please just let me try again," she cried.

Trash. Garbage. Dumpster Diver. Worthless. Pathetic. Ungrateful. She didn't deserve another chance. She deserved to be punished.

Brooke continued to cry as Paul dragged her through the backyard, stopping in front of the small back shed. She couldn't watch as he unlocked it, pushing her into the smallest, darkest corner of it.

She didn't have the strength to fight as he forced her shirt over her head, the cold spring air hitting her broken and bruised body. She cried as he took her pants and undergarments as well, sobbing as he left her completely exposed to the cold, dark shed.

"You don't deserve the roof I've provided for you, or the clothes I so graciously bought for you, you pathetic dumpster diver. Maybe spending a night without those luxeries will teach you to be more grateful for the things I've provided you," he said, leaving her alone in the shed, and it wasn't until she heard the door lock and his footsteps long gone before she broke down completely.