* Please review even though this story is finished! I am redoing this story. *

Jillian Winters rubbed her eyes. She had been studying at the library for hours that night. Even though she had been out of college for four years, she still had to study to stay up with the new medical breakthroughs. She looked at the clock and saw it was eleven at night. Luckily for her, the library stayed open until 1 in the morning. She put her books in her bag, slipped the strap over her shoulder then headed out for the night. She only lived one block away so she walked. It usually didn't bother her but since it was so late, she was nervous.

The only sound she heard were her shoes. There was no traffic that night which wasn't unusual. Most of the traffic was at the bars on the other side of town. There was only one bar by the library and it was a little Irish place that the young college students didn't go too. She held onto the strap of her bag and swallowed her nerves as she suddenly heard steps behind her.

Jillian turned to glance behind her and saw a man following her. She looked in front of her again. He wasn't following her, he was just walking the same way she was, she told herself. She thought she heard his steps sped up but refused to allow herself to look again. She crossed by a small alleyway as she gripped the strap of her bag. She yelled at herself for being so stupid when a hand reached out and grabbed her arm. Jillian was yanked back into the alleyway.

" What the hell!" Jillian yelled before a hand clamped down on her mouth. She was slammed against the brick wall by the building behind her.

" Shut up, bitch! This is going to be quick and you better be quiet or I will slit open your throat." The man hissed in her face. He started grabbing at her pants, trying to undo the button.

" Now that's no way to treat a lady." Came a voice from the entrance of the alleyway. Jillian and the man looked towards the voice. Another man dressed in all black with a black pea coat was standing there. He brought his hand up to his mouth and lit up a smoke casually.

" This is between me and my woman, mind your business." The man against Jillian snapped.

" Doesn't seem like she's your woman." The man said as he walked into the alleyway. He swept his coat to the side and pulled out a gun. Jillian closed her eyes as the man holding her started to shake. This night just went from bad to worst.

" Look man, when I'm done with her, you can have a shot too." The man said. Suddenly the man holding her made a grunting noise and his hand slipped from her mouth. Her eyes snapped open. The man who had been holding her was passed out on the ground. The man with the gun was standing in front of her.

" You okay, lass?" He asked. Jillian was shaking but she nodded. The man smiled slightly. " You sure? You're kind of pale. I'm Murphy by the way, Murphy Macmanus." He held out his hand to her. Slowly Jillian took it and allowed him to pull her away from the wall.

" Jillian Winters." She said. He continued to pull her by the hand until they were out of the alleyway.

" Well Ms. Winters, let me walk you home to make sure nothing like this happens again." Murphy said as he let go out of her hand.

" How did you know we were back there?" Jillian asked as they started walking.

" I came out of the bar and saw that guy following you. He didn't look like he was up to any good so I decided to follow him. Good thing I did, huh?" He said with a smile.

" Yeah, thank you for saving me." She said. She was at a lost for words. " I have walked this way thousands of times and that has never happen to me before." She said. " I just can't believe it." She suddenly looked at him. " Shouldn't we call the cops or something?" Murphy shook his head.

" Nah, I don't think he will be bothering anyone else for awhile. I think I scared him enough that he will think twice before he does it again." He said.

" I think I'm in shock." She said. " If you hadn't come along..."

" Don't think about it. You will just get yourself upset." Murphy said as they reached her building.

" This is my place." Jillian said. She stopped walking and faced him. " Wow, thank you again for saving me." Murphy smiled.

" No problem. Try and stay out of trouble." He said.