Author's Note: Color this as a Modern Day AU...ish, featuring a cameo - Bernardo from West Side Story. (Don't worry - next week's is back to normal.)

The first time she heard the snaps and catcalls, the Rabbit wasn't afraid. She'd dealt with such atrocities before her move, and she expected more of the same here - her body and looks almost demanded them. So when they began once again, she continued walking like normal, the bag of groceries in her hand, and even as the men grew closer, she just clutched the paper sack tighter.

It wasn't going to happen here.
It wasn't going to happen again.
 Period.

A hand touched her forest green sweater, tightened on her arm. Sharp intake of breath. She turned to him, smile tight and plastered on, his eyes dark and hungry as he licked his lips. Her hand on his, pulling it off, nails digging in.

Men like jackals. Men that howled, hooted, leered, jeered, cajoled. His eyes flickering, angry, pained.

She ran.

Cold concrete beneath her. Blood dribbling from a split lip. Hands on her wrists.

At least this time she could say she fought them.

They pushed one of their members forward, and he glanced at her, wide blue eyes skimming the surface. His knife shook in his hand. The Rabbit knew better than to spit at him, knew that it would only make matters worse. She'd be his first, no doubt - not easy, perhaps, but enough to get by. He wouldn't be through quickly, but a girl could hope, couldn't she?

She closed her eyes.

Sounds of a struggle, a scurry, and the hands on her wrists began to slip. When she finally opened her eyes, there was no one there but one man, his knuckles bloody, flipping his own knife shut. She took a deep breath, waiting, and when he moved forward, one hand outstretched, she backed away. His eyes narrowed in concern.

I do believe he just saved my life.

Jessica stood, uncertain, and stepped forward, one foot in front of the other. She was missing a shoe - the one she'd hopelessly used as a weapon. For a moment, she just stood there, wrapping one arm around her waist and gripping the other.

"Thank you."