A/N: This idea has been floating around in my head for months now. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I still don't and will never own any part of 7th Heaven.

June 19

Her body ached with ever minor movement she attempted to make. Even shifting slightly sent a scalding pain through her. She lay cold, alone, and vulnerable, her bare skin grazing against the concrete. She felt an unstoppable whimper rising in her throat that quickly turned to a sob. Ruthie Camden could do nothing but shake in honest fear knowing she had allowed herself to become exposed to the cold chill of the late night air. She was also aware that if she didn't call for help soon her uncovered body that was battered and bruised beyond recognition would set itself up for the several stages of hypothermia she knew would come.

She was home alone for the weekend. Lucy and Kevin although only a house away were on a much needed family vacation. Her parents had taken the boys to Disney World for a week given the fact that they were now officially on summer vacation. She knew she could have gone with them but she had decided to try staying home alone for once. She now found herself begging to join them on Splash Mountain.

Instead she was two blocks away from home after just coming back from Kenny Smith's first day of summer party. Given her current situation she had no way of getting home without reaching the pending hypothermia. She couldn't think of putting her tattered shirt and pants back on. Not only would it hurt too much to even try but she would have the constant shadow of what had just been done to her pasted to her body. Martin she thought. I need Martin, she cried. At a time like this she was more than grateful that she carried her cell phone everywhere she went. With trembling fingers she pressed the 2 on her speed dial trying her hardest not to drop it. True to form Martin picked up after the second ring.

"'ello," she heard a weary voice grumble from the other end. Ruthie quickly felt the urge to hang up. She had woken him from a much deserved sleep, she could tell. As much as she didn't want to the only thing she was cable of was crying. Crying as if the sky was falling. As if her entire world had come crashing down.

Martin's heart dropped like a boulder. He recognized that cry. He knew that whimper with agonizing certainty. Ruthie was in trouble. No sooner had he thought those words did he find himself out of bed as he threw on a sweater over his shirt heading directly for the door.

"Ruthie what's wrong?" he asked quickly. The only reply he received was a new string of strong whimpers and cries. Martin felt his stomach drop even further. Never had he heard her cry in such pain. "I'm coming to get you right now. Just hang on for me, okay?"

"Two…blocks…home," she whispered, the phrase barely audible.

"I'm almost there Ruth, almost there." By now he was jogging his way over. The sight before him made Martin stop cold. He could clearly make out a shape that shook more violently as he approached. Within two seconds he had her in his arms. "Oh Roo who did this to you?" he asked. The only answer he got was a tight grip on the collar of his shirt as she cried silently digging her tearstained face into it inhaling the soft smell. All he could do was hold her as he shielded her naked body from the cold. "Let's get you home, okay?" he said softly while gingerly putting the sweater on her to keep her as warm as possible. Taking her petite frame with him as he rose from the ground. "Just hold on a minute okay? I have to make a couple of calls." The first he made was to Sgt. Michaels addressing the issue as well as he could. The next would be the hardest. "Hi Mom its Martin.

"Oh hello Martin how are you?" Annie Camden asked cheerfully.

"Good, but Ruthie's not."

"What's wrong Martin? What's wrong with my baby?" she cried.

"I found her about two blocks from the house and..some…someone left her here. Some idiot took advantage of Ruthie," he said. The last sentence had come out painfully.

"Oh my poor Ruthie. My god I wish we could get home! All the flights are canceled because of a freak snow storm down here." Snow in Florida? How in the world? "We'll be there as soon as we can. Until then tell Ruthie I love her."

"I will," he said before he hung up not finding the words to say much else. Carefully, Martin rose from the ground, a frightened Ruthie plastered to him. Frustration surfaced quickly as he retrieved her torn clothes. He would get them. Whoever had done this would pay a very high price. If it was the last thing he ever did in life it would be making sure that the scum who had left her lying here would get the hell they deserved. No one made the mistake of hurting his Roo was going to go unpunished.

Martin was quickly brought out of his train of thought when he felt Ruthie shifting in his arms. With the minor movement came a sob that tore at his heart. He brought his hand up to gently move a piece of matted hair behind her ear. "Shhh honey. You're safe now," he assured her. The reassurance did little to lessen her fear. If anything it made it more prominent. Her fierce grip on him tightened. As if to make sure he would keep his promise, scared to death that he would up and leave her.

Making sure the sweater had stayed securely around her he took of in a run. The speeds he rain in made Ruthie feel lightheaded which made her cry out in fear.

"It's okay Ruthie I've got you," he whispered. By this time they had made it to the Camden's front door. Thankfully it was already open so all he had to do was turn the knob. Ruthie released a new string of cries in deep panic. He had let her go. Martin was going to leave her here. Fearing loss of her protection she gripped him with new found strength allowing tears to soak his dark T-shirt. He couldn't leave her now. She couldn't be alone. "Hey, hey calm down sweetheart. I was only opening the door to get inside," he said gently. "Now lets get you a nice warm bath to get you all cleaned up."

Clean she thought. The one feeling she would never have the joy of experiencing again. As it was right now she felt so dirty. As if all the water in the world couldn't rid her of the filth she felt layering her entire body. No a shower wouldn't do a thing for her.

Martin gently placed her on the bathroom floor as he filled the tub with warm water. As if it were a reflex the minute the tub was filled he gathered Ruthie to him protectively. With the tenderness she knew he had Martin placed her in the luke warm water. At the slight change in temperature Ruthie felt herself jump.

"Shhh honey its okay. The water's just a little bit warmer than you expected isn't it?" He suddenly felt as though he were speaking to a young child. He lonely got the smallest of nods. Martin then began by ladling water in his palm and rinsing her soft face gingerly. The idea that she sat completely naked in front of him at the moment didn't make Ruthie feel embarrassed or scared as it should have done. In fact it did the complete opposite for some reason. Even in this state she felt completely safe around him. He would keep her safe. She knew that from past experience.

Now that she sat in the bathroom better light allowed him a clear picture of what had been done to her. He felt a lump rise in his throat as he softly traced a deep scrape that went all along her inner thighs. He felt his hand become a fist as he looked up to see a very visible print on her left arm. Who would do this? He gently brushed the back of his hand along the cat-like crape on her right check as he took in one of larger size on her right shoulder. Martin could see the deep chocolate eyes he loved so much shining with tears. With the pad of his thumb he brushed away a single tear being careful of the scrapes and bruises that lay scattered on her mocha colored skin.

"I know angel face. I know it hurts. Just a few more minutes while we wash your hair and you'll be under the nice warm blankets." The soft massaging motion she felt as he rubbed shampoo into her scalp allowed her to close her eyes briefly as he washed away the layers of dirt Ruthie felt covered her entire body.

"Let's get you into bed sweetheart. How does that sound?" he crooned. She nodded silently raising her arms above her head. Martin smiled sadly as he removed her, taking a towel and rapping it snuggled around her. Holding her close while being careful of her injuries he sat her gently on the bed. As he released her and turned toward her drawers to get her fresh clothes a strangled cry escaped her. Martin whipped around concerned. "Hold on just a minute. We have to get you dressed," he told her softly. He frowned when she gripped his hand as if were she not to it would disappear as well as her feeling of security. "I'm not going anywhere Ruthie," he whispered. "Now let's get you in some nice warm pajamas. Which ones?" he asked holding up two options. She only shook her head vigorously. "Why not? These are your favorites," he said remembering how often he had come in to the house to see her wearing them. Ruthie pointed a trembling finger at the bathroom across the hall that could be seen through the open door. "We just came from the bathroom Ruth," he reminded her. Regardless of being told her dainty finger stayed where it was. "Did you need something in there," he asked. Ruthie only nodded still shaking. "What do you need?" She then made an act of pointing at him and then at the clothes that were spread out. "You want to wear my sweater?" Ruthie just nodded. "I have to go get it though. Do you think you can wait for me?" he asked taking a loose strand of curls and putting them securely behind her ear. She dropped her head silently and released his hand reluctantly. "I'll be back in just a second," he promised placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

As he got farther and father away Martin could hear her crying out for him. The painful sound divided his heart even further. Never had he seen strong, independent, fun-loving Ruthie so vulnerable. He felt his own eyes harboring unshed tears as he allowed one to travel down. As it did he quickly swiped it away. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't let himself. If he did Martin knew he would fall to pieces. Quickly grabbing what he needed he jogged back to the bedroom.

"Arms up," he said gently putting her head through. Once the sweater was on her arms stayed up, dark brown eyes begging to be held. Carefully, taking Ruthie in his arms he made the short trip to the head of the bed. "Now why don't we try and get some shut eye?" Sleep she thought in absolute terror. No she couldn't sleep. Not with the images painted so clearly in her head. She would have to die before she let herself go through that again. She whimpered quietly taking a forceful grip on his large hand. Ruthie could only shake her head violently as new tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "Come on Ruthie. Close those big, beautiful eyes for me. I promise I wont let anything happen to you," Martin assured her which to no surprise worked with little success. He felt her tug at his hand, her almond shaped eyes pleading with him. Her deep sense of insecurity scared him. She had always been so sure of herself. Now it was as though she were a toddler fearing abandonment. "I'm not going anywhere Roo," he whispered. Martin saw her pat the bed asking him to join her. Regardless of any given situation Martin Brewer was to this day incapable of denying Ruthie Camden anything. All she needed right now was to feel safe and protected.

It was a miracle she wasn't scared to death of him given the current circumstances. "Of course I'll stay. If being here will let you sleep I'll be here as long as you need." He crawled into the empty space after turning out the main light taking her in his arms again. Ruthie suddenly felt a large weight being lifted. She knew the nightmares would come. But there in Martin's warm embrace she felt the safest she had ever been in the longest time. Nothing could touch her. Not as long as she had her knight in shining armor.

A/N: There we go with chapter 1. Let me know how it went.