Disclaimer: I don't own G.. Sigh.

Chapter 2 - It's All Coming Back To Me

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He's out Shana. He escaped last night."

Scarlett went white and nausea reared up so fast she had to swallow hard to keep from getting sick.

"Dad, listen to me. I want you, Mom, and Brian to quickly pack a few things and head for Aunt Tracey's in

Tallahassee. Let Barry know what's happening and take out cash so you don't leave a paper trail. Call Sean and Frank and tell them to stay where they are. Everybody is to lay low until I call and let you know it's safe. I'll befine, Dad. I'm not as helpless as he remembers. I love you too, I'll call you later. Be safe."

As her shaky hands closed her phone, she turned to see Hawk and Stalker looking at her with confusion and worry on their faces. Snake Eyes remained, as always, unreadable.

She slumped in a chair and explained, "His name is Craig Jarvis. He moved to Atlanta with his family when I was 14 and he started at my school. He was shy, so to be nice, I invited him to a night of pizza and bowling with a group of friends."

" The evening started off pleasant enough, and he seemed to be opening up a bit, then I noticed he was spending a lot of time staring at me. Every time I turned around he was watching me more and more intently and it started to really creep me out. I pulled him off to the side and told him that I wasn't looking for a boyfriend and he was making me uncomfortable. He immediately became defensive and irrational, calling me a whore and a tease, screaming I'd led him on. He was completely nuts. Luckily, my brother Brian was there with his buddies and heard the commotion, and when Craig saw Brian coming at him he left."

Snake Eyes watched as she clenched her hands together to stop them from shaking as she continued.

"I was a little shaken up but didn't think about it much more, until later that night when I was woken up at about one o'clock by him on top of me trying to rip my pyjamas off."

Stalker muttered, "Jesus Christ."

"My brother heard me scream and ran into my room to help me. In the struggle he stabbed Brian in the thigh and ran off. I was lucky to have my brother there. The 13 year old girl he ran into later that night wasn't. The police caught him running away from where he'd raped and strangled a 13 year old girl just 4 blocks from my house. She was a redhead, about my height and build. The psychologist figured that's why he picked her, because he could pretend she was me. I testified at his trial, with him continually disrupting that I was his, he would come for me, it never ended. In his mind we were in love and the rest of the world is trying to keep us apart."

"What happened to this creep?"

"He was sentenced to life with no parole, but that wasn't the end of it. He was a very good computer hacker and he's sent me letters over the years, even finding me at military bases, his obsession is still very much alive. I'm not worried for myself, I can take care of myself, I'm scared he'll try to get his hands on my family and hurt them to draw me out."

Hawk laid his hand on her shoulder, "You've done the right thing keeping your family safe. You think he'll be able to find you here?"

Scarlett ran a hand through her hair, "I honestly don't know, Hawk. But he seems to have an uncanny knack for tracking people down. His parents are very wealthy and they are very much in denial about their son's problems. They'll give him money, passports, whatever he wants. My dad will let the detective in charge of his case know what is going on and he'll set surveillance on them. Until I hear from him all I can do is wait."

Hawk nodded, "I'll keep your duty load light until this is over, you let me know if you need anything."

"Yes sir, thank you."

Stalker followed Hawk from the room about half an hour later, and Snake Eyes was about to follow them when he heard Scarlett's cell phone ring. He paused, in case it was news about Jarvis, although why he cared was something he preferred not to think of right now.

Scarlett frowned as she saw her home number on her call display and answered, "Dad, why are you guys still there, you should be on the road by now!"

"Hello, my love."

Snake Eyes new something was horribly wrong when he saw all color drain from Scarlett's face and her next words confirmed it.

"What do you want, Craig?"

"Where are you pet? I've missed you so much. I won't let them keep us apart. No one will tell me where you are. The stubborn old man wouldn't tell me, I just couldn't make him understand."

A cold knot settled in Scarlett's stomach at his words as comprehension dawned in her mind, 'Oh no.'

"Craig, what did you do?"

"If he would have only told me where you were, I wouldn't have had to hurt him, he gave me no choice."

"Craig, listen to me, no one knows where I am, don't hurt anyone else, it'll just get you in more trouble. Please turn yourself in."

"I can't do that, Darling. I have to be with you, I can't let you go, I'll find you."

Scarlett hung up the phone and turned it off and Snake Eyes watched helplessly as she sank to the floor and began to sob. "Oh God, he killed him, and for nothing. That's two people dead because of me."

Snake Eyes surprised Scarlett and himself by kneeling in front of her and signing, "Don't think that. You are not to blame for his sickness. You cannot hold yourself responsible for what he has done."

The heart he thought had long ago had turned to stone began to break as Scarlett looked up at him and he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"He killed Burt,, he was 78 years old and was our neighbour since before I was born. He bounced me on his knee when I was little. He was the sweetest old man I've ever met and now he's dead!"

She started to sob again, swallowed by grief for the senseless murder of a sweet old man.

Slowly, tentatively, Snake Eyes curved his arms around her shaking body and pulled her close. She tensed for a moment, then chose not to fight but instead tucked her head under his chin and let her grief pour from her in a flood of tears.

He rocked her gently, and slowly. Scarlett even felt warm puffs of hair against her ear, as though the silent man was trying to whisper words of comfort to her. After what felt like hours, she exhausted herself and fell asleep in his arms.

He nearly panicked but slowly and with infinite carefulness, he stood, picking her up in his arms and carrying her out of the room. Unsure what to do with her, he decided to take her to her quarters and he set her down on her bed, pulling a quilt up and over her.

He then stood back and looked at her. Purely out of reflex (or so he told himself), he reached out and brushed a coppery curl away from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek.

He decided at that moment that this woman was under his protection. He would let nothing and no one harm her.

Period.