Chapter 2

Jack's POV

The club is packed tonight. It has been ever since Ali started singing. Everyone comes to hear her. They changed the show so it's a different set every night of the week and it gets slightly altered every other week so that people can continue to come back and not see the same show. Tonight features some of Ali's favorites. Mostly it has songs that I wrote. Tess worked out a deal that for every song that I write that works she gives me a bonus. With the club doing as well as it is, Ali and I are doing pretty well for ourselves, and growing up where we did we both don't take it for granted.

Ali just finished Big Spender, a burlesque classic and I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. I haven't been much help at the bar lately. I never can keep my eyes off her.

Coco and Georgia take the stage to give Ali a chance to rest her voice and get changed. I turned back around to make some drinks when I heard a familiar voice.

"You weren't kidding when you said she was amazing."

"Everyone comes just to see her...What can I get for you mom, it's on me."

"Just a glass of chardonnay will be fine."

"Did you see all the sights you wanted to?" I ask while pouring her wine.

"I saw most of them."

"Ali and I can take you on a tour sometime if you like."

"Sure, that would be great.'

We continued talking while I made drinks for the waitresses to deliver. It was almost intermission and I was hoping Ali would join me down at the bar.

Ali's POV

I just finished Big Spender, one of my favorites, and went back to my station to change. Coco, Georgia and some of the other girls went on for Dr. Longjohn which gave me time to change. After their number it will be intermission which is about 10-15 minutes long. Sometimes I go down to the bar and others I stay back here and relax.

I just finished changing into my next outfit for the number after intermission. I put my hair up into my wig and decided I would go spend my break with Jack. By this time intermission had started and there were usually a lot of people walking around. To avoid everyone I decided to go the long way to get to the bar. I had to go down a bunch of hallways instead of walking through the club but atleast it was quiet.

Well until I saw him. Marcus. I hadn't seen him since I was at his house when he picked me up from Sean's. The day Natalie had shown up.

He looked angry.

"Ali! Just who I was looking for."

"Marcus," I said.

"How have you been?

"I'm alright, you?" I said trying to be civil. In all reality Marcus is the last person I want to be seeing right now.

"I've been better. You know, I was not impressed when I heard Tess got money to pay the banks and is keeping the club. I had a lot of plans for this club and they were all dumped down the drain."

"Well, I'm sorry you didn't get your dream building but this club is her baby, I think you can understand why she didn't give it up."

"No, I really can't."

"Well thats too bad, but everyone who works here is like my family so I'm sorry that I don't have much sympathy for you." That didn't make him happy. I saw Marcus get even more angry. He slowly got closer to me and I instinctively backed up. He kept getting closer until I was pressed up against a wall and he was about 2 inches away from my face. It was then that I could smell the alcohol coming off his breath. He was clearly drunk.

Jack's POV

I guess Ali decided to stay in the back during intermission today. I don't blame her the club is packed tonight and she probably needed some peace and quiet. I check my watch and it's been about 25 minutes. The second half of the show should have started already. The bar has been so busy that I didn't even realize.

"Jack, have you seen Ali?" Sean asks. He must be looking for her.

"No, I thought she stayed in the back. Where could she be? Aiden cover the bar!" I yelled I walked out from behind the bar.

"Wow Jack, relax, she's probably in the bathroom. I just thought I would check here first incase you two lost track of time in each other's mouths."

"Come on Sean, you and I both know Ali isn't late for her numbers. I'm helping you find her."

Ali's POV

"Marcus, please let go of me." I was scared. Marcus now had me pinned against the wall. He had my arms in a vice grip and I couldn't get out. I was at a loss for what to do.

"Why? So you can run to that bartender who wears more eyeliner than Nikki? What is he going to do?"

"Marcus please, I'm going to be late for my number." I didn't want to delay the show. Tess would be pissed at me.

"No, after everything I did for you. I had producers come meet you just so I could get a chance to get you in bed. And this is how you repay me, telling Tess my plan. I could have made millions, and instead I got distracted by you. Ya know you aren't even that good I just expected you to be easy like the rest of the girls here. But, you are far worse than everyone else. You're a slut, jumping from that loser guy to me and right into someone else's bed." By this point I gave up, everything he said I had been fearing for awhile now. I had tears streaming down my face. I was barely holding it together.

"See, you have nothing to say for yourself. I must be spot on, just a nobody from nowhere."

"Marcus, please, you're hurting me, please, stop" I managed to whisper.

"NO, YOU BITCH!" He yelled before slamming me back into the wall. I heard a crack and fell to the ground from the impact. All I felt was pain in my head. A constant throb that overpowered my hearing.

Jack's POV

Me and Sean had covered most of the club with no luck. Tess had eventually gone on to keep the show going.

We were heading back to the bar with the last strand of my hope barely holding on. That's when I heard it. The sound of someone yelling and a girl crying and whimpering. But not just any girl. Ali.

I ran to where the noise was coming from. By the time we got there, I saw Ali on the ground holding her head and Marcus standing over yelling at her.

I walked straight to him and punched him. I didn't stop until Sean put his hand on my shoulder. It was like I was snapped out of a daze. I looked down and saw a bloody Marcus, struggling for consciousness. I immediately walked over to Ali. She was still in the same position as when we first got there. Sitting against the wall, her knees up to her chest and she was holding her head.

"Ali," I said quietly trying to get her attention. She didn't look up so I tried again.

"Ali," I said a little louder.

She looked up with fear in her eyes. Her hands never leaving her ears. It took her a second and then she realized it was me.

"Jack," she croaked out. I bent down and picked her up. She put her head against my chest and started sobbing. I carried her straight out into the parking lot and to our car.

I forgot Sean was there until he opened the car door for me so I could place her in the seat. I sat her down and she grabbed my hand, terrified that I would let her go.

"Ali, I'm not going anywhere."

I turned around to see Sean still standing there.

"What can I do?" He asked me.

"First, call the damn cops and have that asshole arrested."

"Ok, can I get anything for her?"

"Yea, yea, get her stuff from her station, tell Tess, and maybe grab a bottle of water."

"Ok, be back in 10 tops." With that he ran back for the club. I turned my attention back to Ali. While I was talking to Sean she had gone back to holding her head.

"Ali, can you tell me what's wrong, did he hurt you?" She only nods.

"Okay, what hurts?" She looks at me and for the first time I notice that she never stopped crying.

"My head," she whispers.

"Ok, where?"

"Everywhere, and I have a massive headache."

"Ok, anything else?" She shakes her head slightly.

"Alright." Sean comes running out at that moment with Ali's bag and Tess in tow.

"Is she alright?" Tess asks.

"I'm not sure right now."

"Take care of her, I'll come check on her later."

"Ok," Sean hands me her things and Tess runs back for the club, she still has a show to finish.

"Listen Jack, when I went back in, I went to see if Marcus was still there and that's when I realized some glass was cracked and had blood on it." I could feel the blood drain from my face. I turned back to Ali.

"Ali, sweetie, I need to look at your head for a second." And sure enough, after some careful maneuvering Ali had a cut on the back of her head that looked pretty bad.

"Sean, I'm going to take her to the hospital, tell Tess i'll keep her updated. You two will be the first to know."

"Alright."

I got Ali into a somewhat comfortable position and drove her to the hospital as fast as I could. When we got there I carried her inside and someone immediately got her a gurney. We were brought to a room and I told them everything I knew that happened.

Through everything I felt terrible for Ali. Every doctor and Nurse that came in and tried to touch her she jumped and freaked out. The doctor said she was just in shock but that didn't make it any better.

But soon enough, we were being discharged and on our way home. Ali had to get a couple stitches but other than some shock and bruising on her arms she'll be alright. At Least that's what the doctor said.

We were soon home. I helped her change into some pajamas and get into bed. I told her i would be right back before making my way to the kitchen. I got out two glasses and filled them with water. I looked down and drank some. This was the first time I stopped to think about everything that has happened. I gave myself a whole 20 seconds before picking up the phone and calling Sean and Tess. They both were so worried about her. They promised they would stop by tomorrow.

I picked up the glasses and made my way back to the bedroom. I put on some sweatpants, pulled off my shirt and climbed into bed.

"Ali," I whispered. She rolled over and looked at me with her big, sad eyes.

"I was so scared, I didn't know what to do." She whispered with more tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, Ali, its alright. It's over now and I won't let him hurt you again." I said while pulling her into my chest.

And that is how we fell asleep. Me holding her, while she cried her self to sleep, and I followed shortly after, both of us exhausted from today's events.

A/N: So I couldn't get this idea out of my head and had to write about it. I plan to have another chapter or two after this one. I know Burlesque is kind of old at this point and nobody really reads these fanfics but I'm still going to write this for those of there out there who love it just as much as I do. Review and let me know what you think!