Life After High School. Is It Scary? You Bet.

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: We own nadda but our own characters

Summary: Stuff it. We dunno.

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(Benny's POV)

"Jaime…I don't want to keep any secrets from you" I said slowly, keeping my eyes lowered to the ground. "But I don't want to talk about this. I'm sorry…but I just don't"

"Why not?"

"Because, I just want to forget about it," I whispered. "You don't want to know what I had to do for them and you don't have to know. None of you do. It's just between me and Damon"

"Okay" Jaime sounded rather hurt. I hadn't meant to upset her; I just couldn't talk to her about this. I was too ashamed to even think about it, let alone talk about it. "But if you do need to talk, Benny…"

"I know" I managed a very weak smile. "Thank you"

The door opened and Damon came in. He hesitated when he saw Jaime.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he asked. I shook my head.

"Jaime was just leaving," I muttered. Jaime took the hint and left the room. Damon came and sat on the bed next to me.

"How you feeling?" he asked. "Have they finished with us yet?"

"You lot yeah," I told him. "Emma's okay now, Mr Silverblade is leaving first thing in the morning. But…but I have to go see them again tonight. This morning wasn't enough for them"

"Jaime been asking you questions?"

"Yeah" I stood up and began to pace up and down the room. "I hate keeping things from her, especially when she has been so good to us. Damon…they have no use for Emma anymore but they…they've been threatening me"

"What do you mean, Benny?" Damon's voice was hard and cold. "What have they said?"

"It's Jaime's parents mostly" I muttered. "They said that if I don't do exactly what they say…they'll send someone to hurt…hurt my daughter. That's why I have to go tonight, even if I don't want to. I think…I think they have contacts in the criminal business and I'm afraid. Who knows what they are capable of"?

(Damon's POV)

I could see his problem. Benny hasn't seen his daughter for two years, but I knew that he would kill himself if it would prevent any harm coming to her. I slipped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him against me.

"It will be okay," I whispered. "We have contacts in the criminal world too. Don't worry"

"Damon" he whispered. "Don't tell the others were I'm going tonight. Not a word. Promise me"

"I promise," I swore. "I won't let a word pass my lips"

Benny slipped out while the rest of them were going to bed. Since he hadn't made much of an appearance since we got back, no one noticed that he was missing. Or if they did, they didn't say anything.

While everyone else slept, I sat up waiting for Benny to come home. I knew that I couldn't have slept, even if I had wanted to. I was too worried about Benny. From what I knew of Emma's father and Jaime's parents, I didn't feel safe leaving Benny in their hands.

Finally, in the early hours of the morning, there was a quiet knock at the door. When I opened it, I had the shock of my life. Benny was standing there, only it didn't seem like him. His face was even paler than usual and he had a bruise beginning to develop on his jaw. His eyes were what freaked me out though. They were all vague and scary. Like he wasn't there. His breathing was coming in low shallow gasps and his clothing was disarranged. I realised instantly what had happened.

"Benny, come and sit down" I insisted. Benny allowed me to put my arm around him and guide him to the kitchen. I just managed to get him to the sink before he threw up. Then he slumped in a chair and put his head in his hands.

"Dirty bastards tricked me" he muttered. "Damon, my head feels heavy and my chest feels weird"

I acted as quickly as I could. Firstly I got him a glass of water and helped him to drink it. Then I ordered him to take off his shirt, which he did with my help. He had bruises right across his chest, just as I had suspected.

"I think the best place for you, Benny-boy" I told him gently. "Is bed"

"I don't remember what happened, Damon" Benny whispered. "They gave me a drink and I went all strange after that"

"I think you have been drugged, Benny" I told him honestly. "Looks like you've taken quite a beating too"

"I ache all over" He got to his feet with my help and I helped him towards our room. "Even in places I shouldn't"

"They won't get away with this" I promised, as I helped him get into bed, then crawled in, fully clothed beside him. "Not if I have anything to do with it"

Benny gave me a tiny smile and rested his head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and we fell asleep like that. Just two friends together.