Shattered

By: Abellen

A/N: WARNING this chapter contains mention of sexual assault. There will be no graphic sex or violence, but anything I feel is edging towards a more adult nature I will warn you of. Oh, and a quick warning of very mild language.

We're back to Fillmore's POV, and represents a flashback of sorts.

Chapter Five: Feelings

If I didn't concentrate in my last lesson of the day then Ms. Williams, the History teacher, didn't bother to drag my attention back to the topic at hand. My mind was a whirlwind of thought, and none of it had anything to do with the American civil war. The thing throwing me into such turmoil was a person, and it wasn't just my mind she was having an affect on.

I sighed and tried to focus on my desk, but the issues kept coming back to me. I had been surprised at the surge of raw jealousy I had felt when I'd seen Monaco touching Ingrid's arm, but that shock dimmed in comparison to what I felt when I'd stopped her from falling.

The touch had been entirely accidental. She'd been about to fall, and I grabbed her. One hand had landed on the relatively safe territory of her forearm, the other had grabbed her waist. I smiled faintly at the memory of soft warmth beneath my palm. It had lasted no longer than a second but it had been enough to linger on my mind all day. The touch had been electric, and that alone had been enough to confuse the hell out of me. Some when I'd stopped seeing Ingrid as a platonic partner, and started to realise how good she looked.

The school bell rang and I shook my head to myself. One thing was for sure, I had the worst timing. Why now, when Ingrid's life was in such a mess? I sighed as I packed my books away and began to make my way back to the office. Of course, it hadn't been like hitting a switch. I hadn't gone home on Friday thinking of Ingrid as my partner and turned up on Monday thinking she was, well, more than that. It must've been happening gradually, so I barely noticed it.

I tried to think back and put my finger on the turning point, but nothing came to mind. All I could think of was that, after grabbing her by the lockers, I'd spent most of the day trying to find excuses to be near her. 'Sad, Fillmore,' I muttered to myself. 'Real sad.'

I just had to pull myself together, and get a grip. I couldn't do anything about this, not now, and maybe not ever. Ingrid needed a friend, but she didn't need the complications of more than that, and neither did I. The last thought arrived in my mind without much conviction as I opened the office door.

'Do you know where Ingrid is?' Vallejo demanded before I'd even set foot over the threshold.

'She went home. She needed some time to herself.' I noticed the sweat of Vallejo's brow and frowned. 'Why, what's going on?'

'I just got a call through from Folsom's office. Something about a social worker. I guess it doesn't matter. Folsom can handle it. She just wanted Ingrid's input, that's all.'

'You got all worked up about that?'

'I'm easily stressed,' the Junior Commissioner replied. 'I've got a meeting with Folsom afterwards anyway. I want to go over a couple of Safety Patrol policies with her. I'd rather she was in a good mood.'

'What policies?'

'Well, like the fact that the walkie talkies aren't meant to leave school property, but we all take them home with us anyway, and the policy on romantic involvement.'

Vallejo was watching me very carefully, perhaps looking for some kind of reaction. I didn't give him the satisfaction of letting anything show.

'Why are you talking to her about that?' I was unpacking my bag, but looked up just in time to see Vallejo roll his eyes.

'Gee, I wonder! There's enough tension between Anza and Tehama to drive anyone crazy, and something tells me that there's been a shift in other areas of the staff too.'

'Like what?' I was glaring now, and I felt a small amount of satisfaction as he squirmed, before giving up.

'Nothing, Fillmore. I must've imagined it. Still it can't hurt to get the thing revoked.'

'Well, good luck, man. I'm going to see if I can get any more information from the note for Ingrid, then call it a day.'

'Okay, Fillmore. Don't stay too late. You're too young to be married to the job, especially a voluntary job.'

'I'm only a month younger than you!'

Vallejo only gave a snort in response before he departed, leaving me in peace.

With barely a thought I sat in Ingrid's chair and opened a nearby evidence drawer. I pulled out the note, still locked in its polythene bag prison. I examined the paper carefully, swiveling myself in the chair slightly as I thought. 'Why now? Why are you picking on Ingrid now?' I mumbled, shaking my head bitterly. Humanity never ceased to disappoint me. Almost all of the X middle school populace were young teenagers. It might be pushing a bit to call them children, but they were far from adults. Sometimes though, the crimes they committed were the crimes that would put a grown up behind bars. There was fraud, abuse and theft. It made me think that some people were born bad. Some of them turned their lives around, like me, but most just sank deeper into their ways and retaliated at those around them.

My thoughts turned, with dread, to Harris. So far there had been nothing to indicate that he was a suspect in the current case, but like a hungry dog the worry gnawed at my mind. He'd hurt Ingrid once, badly enough to make her clam up about it. Had he mended his ways, or had he become more vindictive since that time? What if Ingrid was still his target, and what if this time the abuse was more than just a punch. What if it was sexual, or worse, fatal?

I cringed at the thought and my mind slipped back to a meeting that the male members of the Safety Patrol had sat through. Folsom had invited us into her office about a year ago, and requested that Ingrid and Karen wait outside until afterwards. I could remember it so clearly because it had sent chills up my spine, and it still did.

Principal Folsom finished scribbling her hasty signature on some forms as we trooped into her office, all of us uncertain why we were there. Danny was fidgeting nervously and Vallejo was ringing his hands. Anza wasn't showing any outwards signs of concern, but his jaw was clenched as he took a seat and waited for the Principal to begin.

'Boys, I'm glad you could make it. I won't keep you long.' She rose from her desk and walked over to the window, surveying her domain as she continued to speak, 'You're growing up now, and growing up fast. I've asked for your presence because you're of a certain age -' she faltered and cleared her throats, before turning to us and biting her lip, suddenly looking more like a concerned parent than a figure of authority. 'I should have just put this in a memo,' she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

She took a deep breath and ploughed on, as though it would be easier to say if she hurried through it. 'There's a time when adult crimes can happen to children. When children themselves commit adult crimes. Petty theft and fraud can become darker and more violent. As the Safety Patrol you are the natural target for revenge. I know you work well as a team, and watch each out for each other, but I wanted to re-enforce that concept. I particularly want you to watch Miss Third and Miss Tehama.'

'Why?' The words had come from my lips before I had thought it through, and to my alarm I thought I saw tears well up in the Principal's eyes. She blinked twice and they faded away, before she turned to look out of the window once more.

The air in the room thickened noticeably and I heard Anza grind his teeth next to me. Vallejo had gone totally still, as had Danny. They were watching the Principal with their mouths slightly open, almost as though they feared what she would say. 'I ask Fillmore, because almost all of the criminals you are dealing with are male, and while they may retaliate to you with a punch or a kick, their actions towards the girls may be of a more sexual nature.'

'Rape?' Anza's voice grated over the word, as though it was forced from his throat. His face was pale and his jaw clenched so tight I was amazed he didn't break his teeth.

'Yes, in the worst case. It will probably never happen. I certainly hope that no student of mine would have to suffer such abuse, but it is not unheard of. I wanted to warn you.' The Principal's eyes found mine and she swallowed, reading the horror I could tell was written all over my face. 'That is all, please send the girls in after you.'

'You're going to tell them?' Vallejo croaked in disbelief. 'They'll quit! They'll never come to school again!'

'I have to. Good day, boys.'

I shivered in the silent office remembering how sickened and fearful we had all been. I hadn't let Ingrid out of my sight for a month. Vallejo had been reluctant to let them out of the office at all, and Anza had been vicious, almost violent to anyone who looked at Tehama in a mildly sexual way. It hadn't been until Danny had crept up on Tehama in the office and she'd thrown him onto the floor that we found out our girls could take care of themselves. The Principal had offered them self-defense classes from the day of the meeting onwards, and at Ingrid's insistence had made it open to all.

I pursed my lips and tried to repress the shudders that raced over my skin. The Principal's words had given me nightmares. I'd dreamt that Ingrid had come to me, bleeding and broken, and I was too late to help. I dreamt that she'd withdrawn from me and faded from sight. It had been my Dad who'd reassured me then, and gradually the nightmares had faded away, but the thought still lingered in the back of my mind, whispering to me.

I stood up suddenly, full of restless energy. I had to know what he had done to her. I had to reassure myself that my nightmares from a year ago couldn't become a reality because of Harris. I choked as another thought filled my head. All I knew was that he had been physically violent to her. What if it was worse than that? No, if he had raped Ingrid he would never have gone to school again. He'd end up in juvenile prison - unless Ingrid had kept it quiet.

I left the desk and opened the door to Vallejo's office. As much as I loathed breaching his trust I knew I had to find out about Ingrid. I'd rifled through his files before, in times of desperate need. For a moment I hesitated, thinking that I should just get Ingrid to tell me the truth, before I remembered her current situation. She had too much on her mind in the present to go dredging up the past. I'd set my mind at rest the easy way.

I skimmed through the files with dexterous ease, the paper ruffling beneath my fingertips as I scanned the pages, looking for the right information. What I found was a neatly typed page. Three small paragraphs detailed Harris' past, and his victims. Most were summed up in a single sentence. They were "verbally harassed". When I read the section about Ingrid I felt the blood drain from my face. The author of the report had taken quotes from her medical notes. It was stated that there was extensive bruising to her torso. Two ribs had been badly broken, and neighboring bones fractured. A psychologist's note went on to say that Harris' behavior stemmed from a history of domestic violence between his parents. It detailed that he restricted evidence of physical violence on his victim to the torso so that it was easier to hide.

One final sentence rounded off the report and made nausea roll greasily in my stomach:

"Unless the subject, Michael Harris, is reformed his violence will continue into a downward spiral and his assaults on women will only worsen."

X was his last chance. Had he been reformed, or was this going to be the place where he committed the last in a string of worsening crimes? Would it be here, within the school walls that he turned from a bully into a criminal, and the people who were trying to help him finally gave up?

I put the file back and went back into the outer office. I rubbed a hand across my jaw, trying to make up my mind. The investigation of Vallejo's files hadn't reassured me as much as I had hoped. All I knew was that only Ingrid could really tell me the whole story, and that wasn't likely. What could I do for her except keep an eye on her? If I was too protective she'd notice and demand to know the reason, but even now a flock of anxieties was making me feel ill. "What ifs" crowded in my head until I knew that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the note, or anything to do with case.

I grabbed my bag from the desk and stalked out of the office, locking the door behind me. My strides ate up the corridors of X and I shoved headphones in my ears, trying to drown out my dark thoughts. I hated the fact that I couldn't pretend the world was innocent anymore. I thought how strange it was that only a year ago I hadn't thought much beyond the next test and next minor case. Now... I swallowed hard and shook my head. I wouldn't sleep well tonight, but I was resolved to be there for Ingrid. Harris wouldn't touch her, I'd make sure of that.

Tomorrow I'd do some investigating, and see just how Harris was settling in, and if anything seemed even slightly off I'd tell Folsom. Her concerns about the girls weren't unfounded, and I knew she'd take me seriously. I sighed, wishing I could just lie and get him kicked out of the school, and out of Ingrid's life, but I needed proof.

The sidewalk slipped past beneath me as my feet guided my unerringly towards home and I stepped inside the front door with a sigh. My mom looked up from her work and smiled at me. The smile faded when I didn't give a similar response and she set her pen aside.

'Cornelius, are you okay?' She stood up and walked towards me and I had to smile slightly. She was a tall woman, but I was catching up fast. Her eyes were already nearly level with mine. She seemed to realize it too and motioned towards the sofa. 'You look almost sick; are you coming down with something?'

'No, I'm fine.'

She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow in disbelief. 'Is it about Ingrid?'

I looked up sharply before lowering my head wordlessly. My mom had her intuition down to an art, and I knew she would smell an untruth a mile off. It was Dad I talked to about the Patrol, about bullies and crime and the stupidity of people, but it was Mom I talked to when I was down. I knew most people didn't have parents as good as mine, or had to share them with siblings, or just couldn't talk to them about anything important. I thought of Ingrid without any parents at all, and knew I was luckier than most.

I took a deep breath and began to speak. 'She's being so brave, and I'm so worried for her, Mom.'

'How's she holding up?'

'Amazingly. Losing you or Dad would be enough to ruin my life, but she's still doing her homework, and smiling sometimes,' I trailed off, and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and clasping my hands together. 'It's not just her parents though. This guy has moved into school. It's his last chance to be a reasonable person, but he's a bully, and he did more than just pick on her. He beat her up, put her in hospital, and I don't know what else.'

My mother reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it reassuringly as my concern made my voice wobble. 'And that's not all of it!' I carried on. 'Some - some bastard has decided to pick now to start making her life hell! She's getting scary notes and phone calls, just because she's the brightest kid in school!'

'Is she the only one?' my Mom asked quietly, ignoring my bad language.

'No, there are four others so far.'

She nodded silently, digesting what I had told her, before smiling at me. 'Fillmore, you're good friends with her, and I know you'll do everything in your power to keep her safe, and keep her life on track. You're doing all you can, and I know that doesn't stop you worrying.' She gave me a sly look, and smile curved on her lips. 'You like her, don't you?'

I felt a blush warm my cheeks and a grin touch my lips as I remembered the shock of touching Ingrid earlier that day. My mother's laughter was musical as she caught sight of the smile on my lips, but she soon fell serious again. 'Fillmore, Ingrid is a wonderful girl, and I really do approve, but now isn't a good time to start something like this.'

'I know, I know,' I replied, sitting back with a sigh. 'I just don't know what to do, Mom. I know that she's hurting and scared but she's hiding it so well.'

'Then make it so she doesn't have to hide it. All relationships are based on trust, Cornelius. She must trust you some, but make it so that she can tell you anything, and be sure you trust her equally. As for what's going on at the moment, at school, and at her home, all I can suggest is to be there when she needs you. That's what your father did for me.'

I looked up and smiled. I'd heard the story of how my parents fell in love before, but I'd not realized the parallels between my mother's and Ingrid's situation. 'Thanks, Mom.'

'You're welcome. Now do your homework before dinner.'

I grabbed my books from my bag and settled at the table, still on-edge, but calmer after talking to my mom. There was only so much I could do, and I was doing my best. I'd be there for Ingrid, in whatever way I could be, for as long as she wanted me. Maybe one day it would be more than just friendship, but for now friendship was enough.

End of Chapter Five

A/N: Well, it's not a particularly action-packed chapter, but it's going to be quite a long fic, and some chapters will be more character development-ish (More I/F romance ;)) and some will be more plot based. I hope you all enjoy it, and thank you for your reviews. They are fantastic, and really encouraging!

See you Sunday!

Oh and I'm not sure about Fillmore and Vallejo's relative ages, so the "one month younger" thing is just made up.