A/N: You lovely people. Thank you to AnGeL BaBii, ohmystars, john-cenawordlife, REM 4488, dixieixa, coors1977, and reyrey'sgirl. For my first fic the response has been far beyond anything I expected. Shawn is not the wonderful HBK. He is, obviously, a very malicious, twisted blast from Emma's past. There is a lot John doesn't know. All will be revealed soon and here is an extra long chapter

"You hit him really hard." Emma stated simply.

"Not hard enough. What was he doing here anyway?"

She shrugged.

"He won't be hanging around for much longer,!"

"You can't force him John." She told him. "I have to live around here remember."

"Your moving, far away from him. You're not safe here."

"I'll be fine if I handle things on my own." She argued.

"Shawn will never leave if you handle things on your own." John told her. "You don't have a good way of dealing with situations."

He didn't mean for his statement to ring true on so many levels.

"Em, I didn't mean it like that." he said.

But Emma ignored him. "I'm sure punching people is the perfect way to deal with things." she said sarcastically.

"Where you even listening to him? "

"Are you?"

"Am I what?" John asked, taken back by her sudden change of tone and subject.

"Jealous of Shawn."

He laughed. "This is ridiculous. What do you think? It seems you would rather hang around a maniac like him then me!"

"Me and you are over! I asked you a simple question, there's no need to take your frustration out on me."

"Your question wasn't simple, it was stupid."

John stood up, he was beginning to feel tense again. "Every time I try to help you, you always drag me into a whole new mess."

"Did I ask you to come here? You just showed up and expected me to be grateful. I never asked for your help!"

"You need it."

Emma picked the ring box up and even thought she knew it was a feeble gesture she hurled it at him. It flew wide.

"Get out!" she screamed.

"Gladly!"

The plate smashed against the wall accompanied by a loud scream of frustration. It lay in blue bits on the cold kitchen floor and Emma didn't feel any better, but now she was done one plate. Her life was a mess, she was a screw up and she wanted out. Why did John have to show up? Over meant just that. No more them. Didn't he get that? Anger welled up again and this time it was a glass that was victim. She was doing this for him, because no matter what she said she did love him. The door bell rang. Emma stormed out of the kitchen.

"What?" she barked.

"Is he still here?"

Shawn's voice filtered through the letter flap and froze Emma to the bone.

"If you don't leave me alone I'll take you to court." She told him, hating herself for not being able to control her quivering voice. "I'll get a restraining order."

Shawn laughed. "They'll want to know why. How this whole thing all started. You don't have the courage to stand in front of a judge and tell him your deepest, darkest, most humiliating experiences of your life. You'll be stuck with me."

"Just go or I'll call the police or..."

"John? Please. He's not coming to your rescue now is he?"

He would. If Emma called him he'd be there in a heartbeat. But wouldn't that be like saying the break up didn't matter? As much as she hated to admit to Shawn, let alone herself, John wasn't.

"No. He's not."

Another laugh. The kind that made her want to head for the hills.

"Didn't think so. Let me in."

"No."

"Little pig, little pig...."

Shawn's fist came flying through the glass and Emma took flight.

Even hours later, when John had a chance to cool down and reflect on what had happened, things still didn't make much sense. Everything had spun out of control so fast. He'd gone to talk to Emma and ended up arguing with her. He was wondering whether he should just leave her and let her get on with her own life, after all, that's what she wanted. But he couldn't, he still loved her, he couldn't deny that. He had to help her. By the time he had all of this figured out, it was late. He thought she might be in bed and debated if he should leave it until the morning. Then he saw the broken glass panel in the door. Broken pieces of glass littered the path in front of the door and glittered from the street lamp. It looked bad, out of habit John knocked, he knew if Emma was actually in she wouldn't answer.

"Emma!" he shouted through the hole. "Emma! Are you in?"

From upstairs he heard a noise and made a split second decision to get inside. He reached through the hole and opened the door. There was more glass inside the house. John looked into the living room before running to Emma's room. The door was closed tightly, but there was a light on inside.

"Emma, It's only me."

When the door was pulled open seconds later, Emma's reaction was both angry and relieved. She held a heavy wooden bat over her shoulder as if preparing to swing, before she brought it down to her side.

"He came back and when I wouldn't let him in he broke the window. I grabbed this bat and ran upstairs.

"Did he actually come inside?" John asked.

Emma nodded. "He was right outside here, he tried to get in but I'd locked in. I kept thinking he was going to come back."

She held her hand to her eyes in some attempt to hide the tears that had begun rolling down her face. John put his arms around her and held her close to comfort her.

"Everything's going to be alright."

"How?" she asked. "How is this going to be alright? He's following me and I can't do anything."

"I'll make him leave you alone."

"By punching him until he does? Then what? After you've gone he'll still be around and worse then ever. This exactly why I didn't want you to get involved."

John let go of Emma. "I'm trying to help you here, that's all I've ever tried to do. Now why don't you try and help yourself."

"I am."

"You're not."

"Yes I am. Why can't you let me deal with this myself?" Emma asked.

"Because you can't deal with it, not alone. Shawn makes your life hell. I don't see what he's doing here anyway"

"That's between me and him." Emma told him, folding her arms over chest and sitting down on the floor near the bed. "You don't have to worry about me anymore." she said quietly.

"But I do. Look, your not staying here. Not if there's a chance Shawn will come back."

"I'll be fine."

John pulled Emma up by her elbows. "You won't be. You're coming with me, we'll sort this whole thing out in the morning."

"And then what? When you go on the road he'll be back."

"You won't be here." John told her. "You can come with me."

"I can't and you know why."

"Forget about that for now and just get some stuff together."

"I'm staying here!" she shouted suddenly.

"Emma you asked how it was going to be alright and I'm telling you." he shot back.

She crossed her arms and paced the room. She'd broken up with him so he didn't have to deal with her problems and here he was wanting to take her home, like he said he'd do. She couldn't go with him, but she couldn't stay where she was.

"If I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here I will." John said. "I'll wait outside for you."

He left the room closing the door behind him with a soft click. Emma stormed over to her dressing table and dragged a brush through her hair as best she could. She dragged a duffle bag from under the bed and threw some clothes in, her toothbrush, hair brush and deodorant. She pulled a denim jacket on over her T-shirt and pushed her feet into her training shoes. As she turned the light out she was sure it couldn't be a good idea. She hated herself for caving.