Allie tiredly rubbed her eyes as she stared at the computer screen in front of her; it had just gone 2am and she was stuck in her office totally on her own fixing someone else's mess…as usual.

One of the more determined interns that her editor Jack had taken on over summer had for some reason felt the need to alphabetise their entire back catalogue of designers, not realising that they were already in a specific order, and after 8 rounds and 3 practice rounds of rock, paper, scissors, Allie was left to put everything back as it had once been.

"Fuck it," she mumbled under her breath as she slammed her palms against the edge of her desk, causing her chair to slide away from it. Reaching down, she tugged her shoes back on and winced as her aching feet were once again confined to their leather prison; casting a glance back at the computer, she bit her lip knowing that she should really stay and finish the damn thing, but on the other hand, she had pyjama's, coffee and a gorgeous man lying in his bed waiting for her. Grinning, she switched off the monitor without a second thought.

Making her way down the hallway to the lift, she pressed the button and looked down the darkened hallways the only illumination in the building coming from the eerie blue lights of the computers as they hummed quietly, waiting for the morning rush. Stepping inside the elevator she pressed the button and leant back against the wall, all energy seeping out of her body. Whoever said a job in fashion was easy obviously hadn't worked a 13 hour day in Louboutin shoes.

The sharp ping of the elevator alerted her to the fact that she had arrived at the ground floor, which meant in roughly 30 minutes, she'd be in bed with Pete sound asleep and dreaming up excuses to give to Jack in the morning.

Strolling through the foyer, she smiled at Mark the 40-something security guard who had insisted he stay until she was safe at home.

"Sorry," she called to him, her heels clacking on the marble floor and creating an echo. "I had no idea I was going to be that long,"

"Its fine sweetie," he winked at her. "You just go home and get some rest, ok?"

"Thanks Mark," she gently patted his arm and pushed through the doors out into the mild early May morning. Though still dark there was a warmth in the air that allowed her to leave her jacket unbuttoned, blowing in the soft wind as she walked quickly down the road to the nearest tube station; glancing at her watch, she swore realising that she had about 3 minutes before the last train back to Sloane would be leaving.

Breaking into a jog, she almost tripped on the stairs as her heels skidding on something wet; willing herself not to think about what it could be, she scanned her card and pushed through the barriers, running faster when she heard a train approaching.

"Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger," she chanted, watching as the doors started to close. Shooting her hand out, she managed to catch them before they shut completely and hopped into the empty carriage with a satisfied grin.

There didn't appear to be anyone else on the train, which to Allie simply emphasised how stupidly late or ridiculously early it actually was.

Flopping down into one of the seats, she pulled her phone out of her pocket smiling when she realised she had three missed calls fro Pete.

Just got on the tube. Be at yours in 20mins. If you wait up, I'll make it worth your while love you x

Pressing 'send' she closed her eyes and tried to ignore the musty smell of the train seats or the clanking noise of the tracks; instead just focusing on the fact that in 20 minutes, she'd be home safe and sound.

…

Stepping out onto the road that led to Pete's house, Allie sighed her body feeling as though it would collapse if she didn't find a bed soon. Dragging her feet along the footpath she could probably now navigate with her eyes shut, she moaned out loud when her phone started ringing, for a second unsure if she actually had the energy to reach into her purse and retrieve the damn thing.

Knowing it could only be one person, she didn't even bother looking at the screen.

"I'm almost there," she mumbled into the receiver.

"Allie, it's fucking 2.30 in the morning."

"I know."

"What are you doing at work? Can't they get some fucking office monkey to do it?"

"No, I'm the only one who knows the exact order," she rubbed her eyes. "You didn't actually have to wait up," she grinned. "I'm far too tired to make good on my promise."

"Where are you now?" he asked.

"Just leaving the station," she yawned. "I'll be there soon, ok baby?"

"I'm going to come and meet you."

"Pete…"

"You're not walking down that road on your own," he told her firmly. "Just stay in the station, alright?"

"Fine," she conceded, too knackered to even argue. Slumping against a lamppost she closed her eyes and pleaded with her body to just put off going to sleep for a few minutes more.

"I'm on my way," he told her. "See you in a minute, babe."

"Bye," she whispered, flipping the phone shut. Blindly moving to place it in her bag, she swore as it slipped from her fingers and dropped to the ground, the light clacking sound seeming to echo in the empty street.

"Shit," she whispered, bending down to retrieve it, shaking the phone and consequently getting some of the questionable coloured water on her jacket.

"You alright there, love?"

Allie froze, her blood running cold as she stared at the ground; she knew that voice. Urging herself not to panic, she stood up slowly, shoving the phone in her pocket.

"I'm fine, thanks," she avoided Mickey's gaze, feeling her body snap back to life as adrenaline and fear rushed through her veins.

"Now, don't break my heart and tell me you don't remember me?" Mickey stepped in front of her, blocking Allie's path. Looking at him, she felt her stomach clench; he still smelt like beer and stale smoke, his face was red and his dark eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down.

"See, I've heard a little rumour, Allie…see I remembered your name," he told her, walking in a slow circle around her and grinning at the other boys. "That you're Dunham's little girlfriend now, ain't that sweet boys?"

"What's it got to do with you?" Allie asked him, discreetly reaching into her coat and flipping open her phone. Pete was on speed dial, all she needed to do was push one button…

Suddenly, Mikey grabbed her wrist, hard enough to make her cry out and snatched the phone from her, throwing it against the wall behind her. Allie jumped and felt her heart start beating harder, and her breathing quicken as the fear made itself known within her body.

"What it's got to do with me, princess, is that I saw you first," he smirked and pushed her backwards against the wall. "And I'm a big believer in finder's keepers,"

Allie shuddered as he ran a finger down her neck and moved in so that his face was closer to hers; she caught a whiff of his breath and felt physically sick, turning her head away.

"Please leave me alone," she begged him, growing frustrated as her eyes began to fill with tears. "I haven't done anything, so just please go away."

"Oh but see where's the fun in that?" Mikey laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You must be good if he's kept you around," he whispered in her ear. "Personally, I bet you're filthy aren't you? See it's always the good little girls that turn out to be the best fucks."

"Help!" Allie shouted, struggling against him and almost breaking free but he slammed her wrist against the wall, covering her mouth when she screamed, almost certain that the bone was broken.

"That wasn't very fucking clever," Mikey hissed in her ear. "Now be a good girl and give your boyfriend a little message from me."

……

Pete pulled his car up to the curb outside the station, frowning when he couldn't see Allie anywhere. Stepping out of the car, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and tried calling her, looking down at disgust at the large spots of what appeared to be blood on the footpath.

"Hey, you've reached Allie but I'm far too busy and important to take your call so leave me a message and I'll get back to you," he smiled at the familiar giggle at the end of the message and then waited for the beep.

"Allie, I'm at the station where the hell are you?" he frowned. "If you've carried on walking on your own, I'm going to kill you. Just call me back when you get this, ok? I love you." He flipped the phone shut, going to shove it back into his pocket when it started ringing again. That had to be a world record for Allie.

"Where are you?" Pete laughed down the phone. "I was starting to think maybe I'd dreamt the whole conversation."

"Pete."

Her voice wiped the smile off of his face; she didn't sound right, her breathing was harsh, and her voice was too raspy. It sounded like she was crying.

"Help," she sobbed. "You have to help me,"

"Baby what's going on?" Pete demanded. "Where are you?"

"Ally way," she choked out.

Before he was even sure his brain had registered what she had said, Pete ran past the entrance to the station and glanced down the side ally that ran along next to the train lines.

Oh my God, no…please fucking God, no…

"Allie," Pete shouted, dropping to his knees beside her, trying to ignore the ache in his chest as he looked at her. Her face was covered with blood from a deep looking gash on her forehead, her lip was split, her wrist crumpled looking as she cradled it against her body. Her tights were torn, and her knees covered in sore looking grazes where's she'd fallen to the ground. But it was the look in her eyes that killed him; her eyes were pleading with him, the pain and fear so palpable in them that he had to force himself to look at her.

"Baby, come here," he pulled her into his arms, wincing when she cried out. "It's ok; we're going to get you to a hospital ok? But I just need you to hold on to me."

Trying to lock her arms around his neck, she sobbed as her wrist bent and collapsed back onto the ground, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face.

"I can't," she sobbed. "It hurts…"

Fuck, Pete cursed himself as he felt tears stinging his eyes. He was supposed to protect her. What kind of fucking man let his girlfriend walk home on her own at 2am?

Pulling out his phone, he quickly dialled 999, making sure to keep Allie as close to him as he possibly could without hurting her. He could feel the tremors running through her body and gently rubbed her back to warm her up.

"999 emergency, do you require police, fire department or ambulance?"

"I need an ambulance now," he almost shouted, his fear getting the better of him. "It's my girlfriend, she's been attacked."

"Ok, can I have the address?"

Pete fought to keep his patience as he told her their location, finding some solace in the fact she had promised him an ambulance within 5 minutes.

"Ok, the ambulance is coming and they're going to fix you up," Pete told her, pushing her hair which was matted with her blood away from her face. "Jesus, baby what happened?"

"I was waiting," she sobbed. "And I, I didn't think anyone else was here, but they just snuck up and I didn't…" shaking her head, Allie struggled to breathe as the sobs shook her small frame. "I thought they were going to…"

"Baby," Pete's voice cracked as he lifted her face up to his. "You need to tell me who did this,"

"It was that…Mikey guy," she groaned as her head started to throb, the shock obviously wearing off just enough for the pain to start kicking in. "He was saying things…"

"Fuck, baby I'm so sorry," Pete kissed her forehead, realising that he could taste her blood and felt ill. She was hurt because of him; it had been over two months since his encounter with Mikey on the train and he'd thought that Allie was safe. No one would touch her with him around to protect her. Hearing the sirens getting closer and closer, Pete closed his eyes and sat there in the ally, cradling the woman he loved as she bled and wept, paying for something that had nothing to do with her.

Reluctantly letting her go as the paramedics pushed him out of the way; Pete watched as they lay her on a stretcher and placed an oxygen mask over her face talking in medical riddles that he couldn't understand.

They lifted her up and began pushing her towards the ambulance, her small, bloodied hand reaching out from underneath the blanket to grasp his as he watched the tears continue to spill down her cheeks, and watched his world fall apart.