A/N: I just want to put a little warning in to say there is an attempted rape in this chapter, nothing graphic but could be upsetting.

Chapter 2

That weekend found her thinking about unblocking Alfred and asking for her job back. Who knew it was so difficult to get work these days? She'd been working for Joja for five years, straight out of high school, and without their recommendation, her portfolio looked a bit bare.

By Yoba, just what had she been doing those five years? She hadn't been on holiday, she hadn't even visited her grandpa on the farm. He'd had to catch the bus to her. She didn't even have a hobby outside of reading.

Couldn't afford one. And now she couldn't avoid rent. She'd been living pay check to pay check for so long, she had no savings at all.

She refreshed the jobsite, and dropped her head into her hands. Pages upon page of Joja Corp jobs. Perhaps she could apply to a different branch?

Before she could consider it too long, her doorbell rang. It was her parents with their new puppy and a grocery bag full of fresh food. They often dropped by on the weekend. Her father set the bag on her counter and glanced at the bills scattered there.

"You can always move back in with us, you know."

"I might take you up on that."

Her mother clapped, and when everyone turned to her (even the puppy, Newton, was jumping up at her) she tried to disguise her glee, "Mmm, I'm hungry. How about I get some lunch together?"

"Thanks mum," Jenny collapsed into her desk chair and sighed.

"How's the job search going, Jen?" Her father clasped her shoulder and smiled, the smile dropping when he saw the Joja Co. logo on the computer screen. "You're not thinking of trying to go back there? They won't take you back after you quit like that."

"They're the only place hiring, dad. Maybe I can apply to a different branch."

"Oh no," piped up her mother, "Clara told me her son's friends brother who works there,"

"Woody, yeah," Jenny knew the guy.

"He said your old manager had you blacklisted. You'll never get a job at Joja again." She smirked over the spring onions she was cutting, "Terrible place to work anyway. Now, hairdressing. Business is booming. How about it, partner?"

Jenny was speechless in dismay, "Mum, I-"

Her mother winked at her, "I know, it's not for you. Plus I don't think they'd let you back to the boutique after what you did to that ladies hair . . ."

"That was five years ago!"

"A woman never forgets a bad haircut, Jenny."

"Well," her father had his glasses on and was reading through her bills, "You're either going to have to move in with us at the end of the month, or find a job. Did you have nothing saved up? You're in the red, Jen."

"I know, it's just . . ." She didn't earn enough to get by, but that was too embarrassing to say.

"It's an evil company," said her mother angrily chopping, "You never should have worked there."

"Why did you quit anyway?" asked her father.

"Hm?" stalled Jenny, "Oh, that. Just needed a change." She couldn't tell them, she quit for such a stupid reason. She fell asleep and got shouted at? Her manager stroked her fur the wrong way? " . . . I didn't think it through, is all."

"I'll bet," he agreed. "What's this charge here?"

Jenny's blood ran cold, "What charge?" What the hell had she ordered and from where? She'd bought some stupid things . . . but recently?

"Merry Hatchett Hardbacks?"

"Oh that," Phew, "They're these awesome books. I've been collecting them."

He lowered the bills, "You've spent 500g on books?"

Uh oh, Jenny turned her back on her parents in shame, "No . . . they're 15g."

"Yes but when you add up all these purchases you are looking at quite the sum."

"I had to catch up, I missed a couple of early –"

"What!" blasted her father, his face instantly went red, "Waste! This is why you have no savings!"

"I'm allowed to buy things I like, with my money, dad!" She could feel her own face heating up, and she tried not to cry, "You're not my boss!"

"Oh yes, you have no savings and you quit your job! With bills to pay!"

"John-!" called her mother, stepping around the counter, hands raised pleadingly.

"You are just like my father!" spat her dad, tears rolling down his cheeks, "Your grandfather died penniless in a hovel, and if you don't watch out that's how you'll die too!"

A stunned silence fell. The puppy yawn-whined.

"John," repeated Jenny's mother, gently.

"What!" Snapped Jenny's father.

"I think you know what. Say sorry now, dear. We'll work it out." Jenny's mother was always the peacekeeper in a family of hot-heads.

Jenny swiped at her own wet eyes, "I'm sorry! The bills were getting harder to pay when I used up my savings, so I thought, why not just buy things I want?"

"You could have asked us for money before it got this bad." Said her father, wetly.

"Let's hug it out," said her mother.

"No," said Jenny and her father at the same time. They looked at each other and Jenny reluctantly started to smile. Her father laughed then and swept his wife and daughter into a hug.

"I'm sorry," said her father, "I just worry about you. You remind me of your grandpa."

"It's alright, dad. I know."

Later when it was dark and her parents were sitting around her coffee table, with their glasses on going through her bills, Jenny sat with the sleeping puppy on her lap. A little terrier, he was no bigger than a kitten.

"Did you know grandpa had a cat?"

"Hm?" Her mother looked up, "He did didn't he? That was a long time ago."

"No, I mean, he had a cat called Tibbs. Do you remember?"

"Tibbs?" her father slid his glasses up on top of his head and rubbed his eyes, "As in Sergeant Tibbs?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have to bring this up now, dear?" said her mother, tiredly.

"It used to hide when we brought Pongo with us, so we never saw it much. I think it was still alive, when grandpa . . . died. He was asking for it. The cat I mean, and the cat would only be about fifteen years old, cats can live for longer than that."

Her mother's mouth was a flat miserable line, "No. Someone would have known. Someone in the town probably has it."

"God, his cat!" Her dad cried, "We couldn't even keep his cat alive for him. Maybe it survived? Maybe it's been hunting mice?" he was standing up, bills falling around him.

"It was an old cat, dad," said Jenny tearfully, glad to be sharing this misery.

"No, I'm sure someone would have cared for it." Said her mother.

"Can you imagine it . . . looking for grandad?" Jenny could barely get the words out past the lump in her throat, "Wondering why . . . he wouldn't open the door . . .?"

"Jenny!" snapped her mother.

Her father wailed, "In the rain?"

"John!" snapped her mother, "John, we'll make the drive tomorrow, there's no use rushing out tonight."

Her parents gathered their things together, and her mother took her aside, "Well thank you Jenny, just what I needed . . . a long road trip. No, no," she waved away Jenny's complaint, "I know how you two worry. I don't think we'll find anything, though. Either the cat is dead, or it's gone. Cats are resourceful."

"I want to come too, to see grandads farm."

"Oh it's not much of a farm these days, he barely stayed there most nights towards the end . . . it quite got away from him. But no, you stay here and keep looking for jobs. Or a free course, or some volunteer work. It all looks good on paper."

"Good idea," agreed Jenny, "I want to come to the farm."

"Jenny . . ."

"Come on then, Li. I want to get going." He father gave her a quick hug, lifting her off her feet, "try to get some sleep."

"Yeah . . ."

"We'll see how you feel, tomorrow." Said her mum, picking up her puppy.

"Thanks, mum."

She kissed her mum on the cheek and waved them out of the door. After they left, she gathered all her paperwork and piled it on the counter. They hadn't helped much, just nosed at her purchases and complained about her spending sprees when the pay check came.

She'd just sat down for a second helping of lunch as dinner, when there came a thump at the door. It wasn't a knock, but more like someone had stumbled into it. She glanced at her clock, 00:15am, she held her breath and listened.

The door creaked like someone was leaning against it. She moved closer, "Hello?"

There was a breath released and then there came a heavy knock.

"Who is it?" she asked, heart trying to beat out of her chest.

She reached for her phone, and unlocked it, ready to call the police.

"Hey, Shepard. It's me." It was Alfred. "I just want to talk."

Too late to pretend she wasn't in. She hesitated, should she answer the door? If they had a good talk, maybe he'd get her taken off the blacklist. Rent problems solved.

She put the phone in her pocket and opened the door, "So, I heard you got me blacklisted?"

He stood in the doorway, his eyes raked her toes to head, "You been crying?" He pushed past her, "Good."

Shit, was he drunk? She kept the door open, and stood by it, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you. I don't think we parted on great terms."

She didn't reply, just observed his unusual stance, "Alfred, I think you should leave."

"I just got here." He picked up a bill and waved it at her smiling, "Found another job, yet?"

"I think you should leave."

"We have a new girl, but she's not a good girl."

"Come back in the morning, Alfred." She'd be gone by then.

"You used," He lurched towards her, driving her back into the doorframe, "to call me Sir."

"That-" Jenny put her hand on his chest and tried to push him away. Even though they were of similar height, he wasn't budging. No. No-no-no. Her voice wobbled, "That was because you were my manager, and I had to. Now get away from me!"

"Call me Sir," he said, placing his hands either side of her head, "And maybe I'll let you go."

She squirmed away and ran to the kitchen, but he beat her there, blocking the knives. Becoming hysterical, she ran to the door, but he grabbed her and pinned her to it. She tried to scream, but he covered her mouth.

He leant in close, stomach to stomach, grabbed the door and slammed it shut inches from her face, "I said call me Sir, and maybe I'll let you go. Now I'm going to take my hand away, but if you scream, I'll kill you, okay?"

She always thought she'd scream in this situation. But the thought of her parents finding her body in the morning was too terrible. She had to live. She nodded.

He slid his hand away from her mouth, and down to her neck instead, where he pressed his thumb warningly.

"Go on," he murmured.

"Alfred," she began, "did you want some dinner? Why don't you sit down-"

He squeezed.

She choked and her eyes watered. He loosened his grip. She tried again, "Sir . . ."

"Ye-es?"

"Please let me go."

"Hmm. No."

"You said you'd let me go."

"I said maybe!" He grabbed her arm and shook her. "I don't like the way you're talking to me, and I didn't like the way you talked to me, back at the office. I've been thinking about it for days. I want you to tell me you're sorry."

"I'm sorry."

"Sir."

"I'm sorry, Sir."

"Good girl. Now, come here and make it up to me!" He exploded into violent motion. She screamed as he grabbed her arm and threw her onto the sofa, quickly climbing on top of her despite her kicks. She let out a scream again as he began to pin her limbs, his face split with a grin-

The door slammed open and her father ran in, yelling her name. He caught sight of them and threw himself at Alfred. Her mother was soon to follow her phone in her hand and tears streaming down her face. She went to Jenny and pulled her aside. After that it was a blur.

The police turned up and took a beaten Alfred away. They took a statement from a dazed Jenny and her parents. The door was completely broken, so her parents bundled her in their car and took her home with them.

"Is he why you quit your job?" asked her father, at a red light.

Jenny nodded.

"She nodded," said her mother, sat next to her in the back, "You poor thing. You should've told us."

"Didn't want you to know," and speaking of . . . "How did you know?"

"How did we know . . . what was happening?" her mother raised her eyebrows, "You called us, darling. We heard the whole thing."

"I called you?"

"Don't you remember?"

Jenny thought back to unlocking her phone and putting it in her pocket, "I must have butt-dialled you."

"Then it was very lucky, Yoba must be watching over you."

Lips trembling, Jenny rested her head on her mother's shoulder.

"Are we still going to the farm tomorrow?"

Her mother leant her head on top of hers, and sighed, "If you like."