A/N: I would like to warn everyone that this chapter is very graphic. If that's going to bother you, or if you are too young to be reading something like this anyway, you should probably not read past this note.

"I can't believe we have to take this son-of-a-bitch his supper." Frankie kicked at a wall as he and Kenny walked down the hallways to Warden Snyder's office, carrying trays of food. "And how come we don't eat like this?"

"God damn it, Frankie, would you shut your damned mouth?" Kenny pushed open the door, putting on an obviously fake smile. "Good evenin', Mr. Snyder sir! Here's your supper, enjoy."

The McKennon brothers walked out and Frankie sulked as they made their way through the hall. "You didn't have to be so rude to me, Kenny."

"Shhh!" Kenny elbowed his brother and pointed out the windowed front doors. "The gate guard's goin' off duty. The next guard won't be here for a good five minutes."

"...So?"

"So come on, you dolt!" Kenny grabbed Frankie by the arm and they bolted out the front door, barely slipping out the gate behind the retiring guard. They slowed to a stroll as he turned around to look behind him, doing their best to look like two people just passing by. The guard didn't say anything.

"Jesus, Kenny." Frankie laughed a little. "So, where are we headin'?"

"Brooklyn."

Penny sat off to the side of the dressmaker's front steps, taking her lunch break. It had been two weeks since Killian was born, and she was getting a little lonely at work. She understood that Elise had to stay back at the lodging house with him, and get some rest, but Penny really had no other friends at work. Everyone was kind of wrapped up in their own business. She understood that, though. Lord knows she had plenty of her own private business to tend to.

"You know, a pretty girl like yourself oughtn't be sitting out alone, especially not in a place like this."

Penny's head snapped up. She knew that voice. She jumped up to run into the shop, but a strong pair of arms grabbed her around the waist and dragged her into the alley behind the building.

"So, Kenny, you want her first or should I?"

"I've had 'er before. You go ahead." Kenny's arms pinned Penny to the ground, his dirty hand pressed over her mouth.

Frankie pushed her skirt up, laughing as she squirmed. "Be a lady, sweetheart, and hold still." He grabbed her firmly by the hips and pushed.

Penny felt that vicious burning sensation, that horrible tearing she'd tried so hard to forget. She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled by Kenny's hand, tried to kick, but Frankie was too heavy. Eventually she gave up, stopped moving, and closed her eyes. Tears leaked out their corners as he pushed more and more, faster, harder. Her breath hitched in a silenced sob.

An all-too-familiar burst of heat told her he was finished. As he stood up and refastened his britches, he grinned that rotten-toothed smiled. "You want a go, Kenny, or should we take her home first?"

"Penny, where the hell are you?" Mama Green's voice, laced with aggravation, echoed through the alley. "Girly, you just wait until I find you!" The door of the shop slammed, and Frankie and Kenny scattered.

Penny stood up, brushing debris from her hair and dress. She walked, or rather, limped out of the alley and looked sheepishly at Mama Green.

"What the hell happened to you, Penny?"

Penny shrugged. "I, um... I tripped."

"What were you doing in the alley?"

"I... uh... I heard a noise, and went to see what it was. I suppose it was just a rat or something, because when it ran past me, I tripped over it."

"Your dress is torn."

"I must've snagged it on something, I guess."

Mama Green clucked her tongue and sighed. "Well, you're late. What am I going to do with you, Penny?"

"I'm sorry, Mama Green."

"Get inside and get back to work."

After work, Penny trudged out of the shop, trying her best to hold back her tears. All she wanted was to get back to the lodging house, take a long, scalding bath, and curl up in bed. She didn't want to see anyone, talk to anyone, not even Elise.

But Skittery was waiting on the steps for her, with a little bouquet of red flowers in his hand. With a huge smile, he handed the bunch to her.

"I paid a whole three cents for those," he said proudly.

Penny put on the biggest smile she could muster, which wasn't much. "Thank you, Skittery. That's very sweet of you." She gave him a small peck on the cheek.

"How was work?"

Her heart sank. She wasn't sure whether to explain to him what happened, or to flat-out lie to him. "It... it was work." Not exactly a big lie, but a lie nonetheless.

His smile faded. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm fine." Lie. "I'm just tired." Lie. "It was a long day."

Skittery shrugged. "Well, let's go down to the docks and you can tell me about it."

Before Penny could protest, Skittery threw an arm around her shoulders and started walking. Exhausted, she leaned into him.

They sat on the end of the dock, and Skittery took her hand in his. "So, what went on at work today that's got you so dead-tired?"

She sighed. "Oh, um... there were just a lot of customers. Kind of a demanding day."

He nodded and looked her over. "Hey, how'd you tear your dress?"

Closing her eyes, Penny shook her head. "Um... there was a nail, sticking out of the wall, and I snagged my dress on it. Nothing big, I didn't get cut or anything." Another lie.

"So you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Promise?" He squeezed her hand, and she nodded. Lie.

She laid her head on his shoulder and sat for a few minutes. Skittery inquired about getting dinner, but she declined.

"I kind of just want to go home. I'd like to take a bath, and see Elise and Killian."

"Okay, well, I'll go with you. Crutchy's there, visitin' Elise, and he probably shouldn't walk all the way back to Manhattan by hisself."

Penny sighed and stood up, still quite sore. As much as she liked being with Skittery, as safe as she felt with him, all she wanted to do was be alone.