Eric

She tried to shrink herself, hide from my gaze. I was still staring at her face, mouth open in shock. How could somebody do this to her? To anyone for that matter. Rage boiled inside of me at the thought of him laying his hands on her. I shook my head. My stares were making her uncomfortable, I hated that. I closed the gap between us and wrapped her in my arms. Her body was tense but I could feel her slowly relax into me as I stroked her hair whispering to her that everything was going to be ok. Her arms wrapped around my waist as she buried her head in my chest.

"I'm sorry I called, I didn't know what else to do" Her voice was sad and quiet, it made my heart ache for her.

I pulled back so I could look at her. I knew exactly what we were going to do, there was no question in my mind about it.

"You can't go back there." I stated. She was about to argue but stopped herself, nodding in agreement. "I know you must be scared but you are safe, I will not hurt you." I promised her leaning down to kiss the top of her head gently. I told her she was going to come and stay with me until she figured out what she wanted to do. She needed a safe place to gather her thoughts together and I was more than willing to be that for her. Her body sagged against me as tears racked through her. I sat back on the rock and pulled her onto my lap, tightening my arms around her.
"I'm so sorry, it's just nobody else knows and it's all so overwhelming" She explained through her sobs. I help her tighter and ran my hand up and down her back in an attempt to soothe her.

"Stop apologising, I understand." I lifted her chin to look at me, smiling reassuringly down at her as my thumb wiped away her tears. "If what you need right now is to cry, then let it out. I'll be right here" She put her head back on my chest and I continued stroking her back, drawing little patterns with the tips on my fingers.

We had sat like this for hours the other night. She had occasionally looked up at me, a flirty glint in her eyes as she bit her lip. It made me sick that that same lip was now all bloody. She had been exuberant. I remember the way she smiled and laughed as she danced, completely carefree. The way she giggled and bit her lip had made a shiver run down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Now she lay broken before me. He had broken her. I gritted my teeth together as I tried to keep my anger in check. I wanted to find him and break him. I wanted him to feel the pain he had put her through

I don't know how, but I will fix her. I promised myself. Even if all I could do was be there for her as she repaired herself.

I felt her body becoming heavier and her breathing grow slower as she fell asleep, she must have been exhausted. Relief flooded through me. It was heart breaking to hear her cry like that, I don't know if I could have taken much more of it right now.

I am so thankful that she wasn't scared of me too. I tried to imagine myself in her position and it would be easy to retreat into herself and be scared of everyone around her. She trusted me and that filled me with pride. I am so thankful she called me.

I slowly got to my feet lifting her with me, careful not to wake her. She looked so peaceful in sleep. I walked through the trees and back to my car. I must have looked insane to those looking on. A guy in a suit coming out of the trees carrying a girl in his arms. I didn't care. I wanted to get back to my place so she could be comfortable and sleep, she needed it. I placed her gently in the passenger seat and leaned across to do up her seatbelt. I smiled to myself when she clung to me, reluctant to let go me go.

"Tris. I'll be right beside you in a minute" I whispered to her as she stirred in her sleep, curling up in the seat, her hands balled into fists under her chin as she settled in.

I went round to the driver's side and got in, put my seatbelt on and started the engine. I looked over to Tris and saw she was shivering. I cranked up the heating and waited until she warmed up before pulling away from the curb.

I didn't live too far away but I drove slower than I normally would, afraid I would wake Tris. I kept stealing looks over at her as I drove. She was beautiful, the lines of stress she wore on her face earlier completely smoothed out. She was so serene, I couldn't bear to disturb her. I pulled into the drive of my house and cut the engine. It was a smaller and less lavish house than the one she was used to but I liked the simple, modern design. It was a little way out of the city and stood alone among the trees, surrounded by luscious grassy fields and wildflowers. It was a modern build, the side was completely glass. I didn't have neighbours for about a mile so privacy wasn't an issue. I liked being away from everything, but it did get lonely.

I watched Tris for a while, unable to bring myself to move her. I jumped as my phone rang loudly in my pocket. I hurried to answer it before it disturbed her. The caller ID showed it was Tobias calling, probably wondering why I wasn't back at the office yet. I couldn't deal with him right now so I put it to voicemail. I squeezed the phone tight in my hand as my fury towards that idiot returned. I have to admit it gave me some slight comic relief that he would have gone home to an empty house, Tris nowhere in sight. I bet he would have been furious. It serves him right.

"Eric, where are we?" She sat upright, rubbing at her eyes as she yawned. Her hair was strewn to one side where she has been lying on it and I felt my anger subside and my muscles relax at how adorable she was. I couldn't be angry when she looked at me like that.