A/N: Warning! This chapter has descriptions of injuries left on Alice after her abuse. Just a warning for those who may find this a trigger.


Alice was happy to step inside the trailer. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was safe here.

Jerome shut the door behind him and locked it, then he made his way to his windows and pulled all the curtains closed. After he did this, he turned to Alice. "Take it off."

"What?"

"The clothes. Take them off."

Alice looked at him, her eyes widened. "W-why?"

"Because I want to see what he has done to you."

Alice paused before replying. "You're...not going to...hurt him...are you?"

"Alice!" Jerome closed his eyes and took a breath to cool his temper, he lowered his voice and looked back at her. "Please, doll, just...do this for me."

After a few more seconds of hesitating, she decided to do as the ginger asked. She took her hood down to reveal her face.

Jerome looked upon it. She had a black eye, a split lip, still with fresh blood on it and a small cut on her hairline, which was also bleeding a little. He held back a groan and let her continue.

She unzipped the hoodie and placed it on the sofa.

Jerome noticed that the side of her shirt had blood on.

She held the bottom of her shirt and tried to pull it off, but winced at the pain in her shoulder and grabbed it.

He stood before her and without a word, took the bottom of her shirt and helped her take it off. His eyes fell to where she had winced and saw her shoulder was purple and black with bruises. It looked like she fell on it.. His theory was affirmed when he saw her rib cage matched her shoulder, along with a small gash here and there. He clenched his teeth and ran a finger over the bruised shoulder.

Alice shuddered at his touch as the tears that were in her eyes finally fell to her cheeks.

His hand moved between her breasts and he stopped when he saw familiar marks of a cigarette burn on her skin. Those he knew too well.

"Is this is?" he asked in a soft murmur.

She shook her head, her voice weak. "N-no..."

"Where else?"

Alice looked at Jerome. She moved her hand down to her belt buckle, but paused, unsure weather she should show or not.

Jerome's eyes met hers and he placed his hands over hers. "May I?"

She nodded slowly and looked away. His face was bad enough when he saw the marks so far, when he saw these, she didn't want to see his expression.

Jerome carefully undid her belt and slid it off, then worked on her jeans. He placed her hand on his shoulder so she could steady herself and helped her out of the clothing. At first, he saw her feet. They were fine, the bottom of her legs were fine also. But then his eyes moved up to her thighs. There were small bruises on the inside of her knees and he followed them as they led up to her inner thigh. They were getting darker and more violent. But nothing could prepare him for the amount of bruising and redness he saw around her underwear.

Alice was right to not look at his face.

Jerome stood up and disappeared into the bathroom.

Alice didn't know what to do, she just stood in the trailer, tears still falling. She couldn't look down, she couldn't look at her body. At what he had done. She heard Jerome behind her.

"Sit down." His soft voice said.

She sat on the sofa and saw he had a small bowl in his hand and a rag.

He sat on his knees on the floor and took the small cloth, dipped it in the bowl of water and looked at her. "It may sting." he took a finger and moved her face to look at him and began dabbing away the mixture of dried and fresh blood from her face.

Alice had no idea he could be this gentle.

After he had finished that, he placed the cool cloth on her cigarette burns. "Hold that there." he stood and rummaged in a draw for a few minutes, then returned with one of his shirts in hand. "It can get cold in here at night, put this on. It should be loose on you, so it shouldn't rub too much." he helped her put the shirt on and disappeared once more to take the bowl and rag back.

Alice could smell him on his shirt, it was a somewhat comforting smell to her.

In the bathroom, Jerome was trying his hardest to keep his anger at bay. He heard movement from Alice and saw her picking up her clothes. He walked over to her and took them from her. "I will sort them."

"But...I don't have any other clothes."

"Where will they be?"

Alice knew better not to t ask questions or argue with him. "In my room, second door on the left upstairs, there is a wardrobe. It has a few of my clothes in. Next to it, there is a chest of drawers with my underwear in. Also, I have some shoes lying about and maybe a jumper or two. There is a bag under my bed you can use, I know it will all fit in there."

"I will get it all." Jerome walked her over to his bed and pulled back the covers.

She slid in and sat as he moved the covers to her waist. She grabbed his hand when he attempted to walk away.

He didn't refuse her and sat on the edge of the bed. He moved some of the hair from the cut on her head, then his finger trailed down to her cut lip. "You need to sleep."

She nodded, then opened her mouth to say something, but shut it again.

"Say it."

After a short pause, she spoke. "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what?"

"For...not listening to you...I should have...I should have just..."

Jerome pulled her into him as she sobbed. He placed a small kiss on her hair as he felt her arms wrap so tightly around him. She was clinging to him like she would never let go.

He looked out the small crack between the curtains and saw it was getting dark. Just a little longer.

Alice pulled back.

Jerome looked down at her, "better?"

She nodded.

"Now, before you got to sleep, I need you to do one last thing for me, doll."

Alice looked at him, "What?"

A smile crept on Jerome's face. "Smile."

She couldn't help but do so, causing Jerome's smile to widen.

"That's my girl!" he ran his fingers along her cheek to wipe the last of the tears.

Alice moved in a little and placed a soft kiss on his lips, "Thank you." she whispered.

Jerome placed his forehead against hers, still stroking her cheek. "He won't hurt you again doll, I promise. Okay?"

She nodded, "Okay."

"Now," he moved the pillows behind her and lay her down. "Get some sleep." he turned his attention to folding her clothes and placed them in a bag, he would wash them sometime. But right now, he had more important matters to deal with.

After he was sure Alice was asleep, he opened the trailer door and locked it behind him. He began to walk into the night.

He was looking forward to this.