A/N: I really suck at getting these chapters out on time. Like, I told people this would be out on Monday. It is not Monday. So, to those who I informed that this chapter would be up way sooner- I apologize; school has sucked, and so my writing time was severely cramped. However, it's a long weekend- possibly, there will be more updates. Fingers crossed.

The flashback in this chapter is one of my absolute favorites. I've started planning 'Fractured', which is very exciting to me.

I'm also working on a Grey's Anatomy Mark/Addison slightly AU fic that was posted two days ago, so if you're into that, maybe you'll like it :)

Also- a (very!) belated Happy Birthday to a faithful reader/reviewer, ladybugsmomma! :)

Disclaimer: I own my OCs and the plot.

"No matter what, I got your back, I'll take a bullet for you if it comes to that," –'No Matter What', Papa Roach [Such a good band, and this is one of my favorite songs by them.]


Jenny knocked on Ashley's front door, shivering slightly.

While it was a relatively warm day, she was still cold in her black yoga pants, short-sleeved royal purple t-shirt, and her thin gray sweater. She's chosen a simple pair of purple tennis shoes, and she tapped her toes nervously as she waited for her friend to open the door. There was a loud crash and a few moments later the door opened to reveal a harassed-looking Ashley.

"Oh, Jen, I'm sorry," Ashley apologized, letting her inside and heaving a sigh as she shut the door. "It's kind of a warzone in here."

"Doesn't bother me," Jenny said with a shrug, slipping off her sneakers. "Lizzie was always picker about cleanliness than I was."

"You're telling me. My room looked like a pigsty compared to hers," Ashley said, rolling her eyes and snorting slightly.

"Ashley, your room was a total wreck compared to anyone's," Jenny replied, raising an eyebrow slightly at her friend. Ashley rolled her eyes again, not saying a thing.

"Mom, where is- oh, hi Miss Jenny," Beth said as she skidded to a stop in front of the two adults, her brunette hair up in a messy bun, her eyes smudged with blue liner, and she was dressed in worn gray sweatpants and a dark green tank top. "I didn't know you were coming today."

"Did I forget to mention that?" Ashley asked, rubbing at her eyes tiredly. "Sorry. Well, your dad took Christian, Lil, and Giz to the mall, and they won't be back until late tonight. So it's just the three of us."

"Sounds like a party," Jenny said, the corners of her mouth turning up into an amused smile. Beth laughed, her blue eyes dancing, and then turned to her mom.

"Do you know where my English book went? I think Lilly took it."

"It was sitting on the kitchen counter, last time I saw," Ashley replied, and Beth shot off to go get her book. Ashley turned to Jenny, sighing. "I seriously apologize for how disorganized my life is right now."

"Ashley, it's fine. I appreciate your life no matter how disorganized it is," Jenny told her, and Ashley chuckled, squeezing her friend's hand.

"You are way too nice for your own good," she said, and Jenny swallowed, trying to smile but failing. Ashley noticed and folded her arms, looking at the redhead critically. "I know that look. What is it, Jen?"

"Um…can we sit somewhere? This isn't going to be pretty," Jenny replied, and Ashley's gray eyes widened before she nodded, leading them to an office a few doors down the hall and closing the door behind them.

"Speak."

"No foreplay?" Jenny asked, her lips twisting in mock amusement, before sighing. "Bobby Austin."

"Your reason for saying his name under my roof would be…?" Ashley asked, her eyes narrowed at the name.

"He was at the agency, this past week," Jenny replied, and Ashley's eyes widened, shock leaking into her features.

"Jen…what the fuck?" Ashley asked bluntly, her gray eyes a mixture of emotion that Jenny couldn't decipher.

"He robbed and murdered a Marine. He's going back to prison, this time with no chance of parole," Jenny answered, her voice devoid of emotion. "He was out on parole for two days total, and now he is back in prison, awaiting trial."

Ashley said nothing- her mouth was hanging open slightly, her gray eyes wide at Jenny's words. She swallowed hard, floundering for words.

"I don't…holy shit."

"You read my mind," Jenny replied softly, sighing. She rubbed at her eyes, and she could hear Ashley's breathing hitch in her chest.

"Jen, seriously, what the hell?" Ashley asked again, shaking her head. "So this means he'll finally stay behind bars?"

"Most likely, yes," Jenny replied, nodding. "The consequences of killing an enlisted man are very severe nowadays."

"You're not okay," Ashley observed after a few moments of silence. Jenny opened her mouth to protest, and Ashley held up her hand, cutting the redhead off. "If you lie to me, it will not be pretty, Jennifer Shepard."

Jenny closed her mouth, sagging in defeat.

"I'm eerily reminded of after I first met Bobby," Ashley said out of the blue, filling up the silence. Jenny nodded slowly, closing her eyes at the memory.

"Jen, where are you going?" Ashley asked, her thick brunette hair tumbling down around her shoulders as she caught up to Jenny in the halls, brushing the younger girl's shoulder.

"Right now? Gym," Jenny replied, wrinkling her nose as she lifted up her black drawstring gym bag. "I'm meeting Lizzie by her locker. Where are you headed?"

"I'm off to AP Psych," Ashley replied, adjusting the shoulder strap on her bag and flipping her long hair. "Mr. Thomas assigned us this huge project on psychoanalysis and I need to get some serious work done this period, or else I will possibly fail my sophomore year of high school."

"Oh, I highly doubt that Ash," Jenny said, rolling her eyes.

Then they turned the corner, and right in front of them was Bobby Austin.

"Hey Red," he said, his eyes traveling the length of her body slowly. "Lookin' fine today, darlin'."

"Excuse me, do we know you?" Ashley asked, her gray eyes turning to steel as she assessed Bobby, folding her arms over her chest.

"Red here knows me pretty well," Bobby replied, his brown eyes looking close to a leer as he grinned cockily at Jenny.

"'Red' has a name," Ashley very nearly spat, hostility in her tone. Bobby's eyes widened, their brown color darkening at the brunette's words.

"I know her name, Evans," Bobby said, using the name most people called Ashley, to distinguish her from the other Ashleys in the school. "I just like callin' her Red. Got a problem with it?"

"Yeah, I do, actually," Ashley said, her eyes narrowing and her tone darkening even further. "Because calling her 'Red' is degrading and annoying, it isn't her name, and your use of it for her is seriously pissing me off. Get a life, loser, and stop calling her by her hair color."

"Well, I see someone's got a bit of an attitude," Bobby said, but there was an undercurrent of something in his eyes that made Ashley involuntarily shudder. "I don't think I like that."

"Too bad I don't give a fuck," Ashley said, her eyes narrowed even further. "I think you'd better get to class, Bobby."

"I don't take orders from girls like you, Ashley," Bobby returned, and Ashley's fists shook with rage. Jenny touched her friend's arm gently, biting her lip to stop herself from screaming.

"Ashley, we have to go," Jenny said softly, tugging on her. She lowered her gaze, not meeting Bobby's, so when his large hand enclosed around her upper arm, she was barely able to hold in the gasp.

Jenny pushed Ashley to go towards the end of the hall, motioning for her to leave and that she'd catch up. Her friend walked off, still fuming, and Jenny turned to Bobby, her teeth still sunken into her lower lip.

"I don't like you hanging out with her, Red," Bobby said, and Jenny swallowed.

"Bobby, I barely know you. What are you doing?" she asked, exhaustion in her tone.

"But I know you, Jen," he said, and there was a shiver on her end at the nickname. "And you're gonna know me real well soon. I full intend on you gettin' to know me pretty damn well, darlin'."

Jenny shivered as he walked away, the feel of his warm hand lingering on her skin.

She caught up to Ashley, who was still pissed.

"I hope you never get involved with him, Jenny," Ashley said, shaking her head as they continued to walk. "He is absolute scum."

Jenny remained silent, because her mind was on everything Bobby Austin had said- and on just how tempted she was to get involved with the tough, bad boy BA Bobby Austin.

"Jen, you aren't- Jen!" Ashley said, clearly horrified. "Don't lie to me- you're thinking about him!"

Jenny said nothing- because she was thinking about him.

Her stomach was in knots.

"I knew you were gone in that moment when you didn't talk. You always talked," Ashley said softly, shaking her head.

"He had me," Jenny replied, sighing. "I wanted to badly to know what being wanted felt like."

"There were so many other guys Jen," Ashley whispered, shaking her head again as anguish tinged her tone. "So many other nice, healthy, perfect guys for you."

"You know I wanted adventure, Ash," Jenny said, shrugging. "The adventure I found was just too big for me."

"That's one way to put it," Ashley said, sighing. "I hope this new encounter doesn't hurt you, Jenny."

"I hope so too, Ashley," Jenny said, her fists clenching as she bit her lip, glancing down at her exposed, lined forearms. The scars tingled like they always did when she thought of Bobby, and she swallowed hard, her index finger tracing one absentmindedly. "I hope so too."

The silence that lingered was louder than any words that could have been said.