Disclaimer: Nope, don't own.

Note: Okay guys, we're nearing the end. This chapter is going to have a lot of strong violence and horrible language. I just feel you should be warned before proceeding.

---

Do you feel like a man
when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end
as your lies crumble down a new life she has.

Ben drove the car to The Rockporium and dropped Vida off. He was about to drive away but Vida convinced Madison to come inside, telling her that the others wanted to see her and make sure she was all right. Madison agreed and the three entered the store. Nick was standing near some shelves and saw them walk in. He gave a short relived smile when he saw Madison follow Vida in, but it disappeared quickly at the sight of Ben. Vida caught sight of Nick and walked over to him. She put her hand in her pocket and then took it out, putting her hand in his as if she were handing him something.

"Here's the ten bucks I owe you," she said. Nick looked down, realizing that all he could feel was her fingers in his. "Play along," Vida whispered through clenched teeth.

"Oh, thanks," Nick said lowly. Ben and Madison stood by the counter as he looked over to them. "Hey Madison, how are you feeling?" He asked. Madison's eyes widened a bit at him addressing her before she looked away.

"Madison!" Toby exclaimed, coming over to the couple. "I thought you were still sick."

"Oh, uh, no, I'm feeling much better now," Madison said. Ben gave a wide smile and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

"Nothing a little TLC couldn't cure," he said. Nick tightened his hands into fists at the sight of Ben touching her. Vida grabbed Nick's arm and dragged him the back room with her, nearly knocking Chip and Xander down in the process.

"Whoa," Chip said. "What was that about?"

"Not a clue," Xander said. The two of them approached Toby, Madison and Ben. "Hey, feeling better?" Xander asked. Madison simply nodded. Toby put a hand on Madison's shoulder.

"Hey, you tell me if you plan on starting a petition to close down that restaurant, all right? I'll do what I can to help."

"Uh……okay……thanks, I guess?" Madison asked. Toby smiled at her before walking away.

"I'm so glad to see you're feeling better," Chip said. He took Madison's hand and pulled her close, giving her a hug. "We were all really worried," Madison stiffened against him and simply patted his shoulders.

"Thanks, Chip," she said. As soon as he released her, she went back to Ben.

---

In the backroom, Nick was now the one pacing.

"I can't stand seeing that guy touching her," Nick growled. "I just…"

"Look, I got them here, so maybe we can keep an eye on them," Vida said.

"We? What can I do? You saw her, she barely acknowledges me. And l swear, if I have to even look at that bastard, I'll knock his teeth down his throat."

"Well we've got to do something to keep them here," Vida said. "I had to make up some story about my car just to get Ben to drive me back here," Nick sighed and leaned against the file cabinet in the room.

"Okay, you……tell Madison you want to listen to a new music mix of yours…….and Ben….."

"Xander," Vida said, thinking of something.

"What?"

"We need Xander. He can keep Ben away from Madison," she said. Nick seemed skeptical but simply stood back as he watched Vida leave the room and return shortly with Xander.

"Vida, what's going on? You tell me we need to talk about Chip's surprise party………..but Chip's birthday isn't for another five months,"

"We need you to distract Ben," Nick said.

"Excuse me?" He asked.

"Don't ask questions, just do it, please?" Vida asked. "Just….pull him aside and talk to him or something…..Just keep him away from Madison,"

"What's this all about?" Xander asked.

"Nick's assumptions might not have been……….totally wrong…" Vida replied. Xander shook his head.

"No way," Xander said. "Vida, I can't believe you let him talk you into believing that,"

"Thanks man, I feel really appreciated," Nick said sarcastically." Xander sighed.

"I'll do it. I don't agree with you guys, but I'll do it." Vida thanked him. The three of them left the room. Nick went to work on sorting some CDs, keeping a watchful eye over what went on. Vida pulled Madison aside and let her to the turntables. As Ben tried to follow, Xander put an arm around his shoulders exclaiming how they needed to get to know each other before leading the young man to the couches in the back. Chip shrugged and went back to work. For about an hour, Vida and Xander kept the couple occupied. Xander even dragged Chip into the fray at one point when Ben tried to go over to Madison and Xander called Chip over, saying he also needed to get to know their friends boyfriend. After a while, Ben finally got up and went over to Madison.

"Hey, let's go," he said.

"Okay," Madison said. "I'll see you later V," she said.

"Wait, Maddie, I-" Vida protested but Ben and Madison were gone. Nick, Chip and Xander went over to her.

"You tried," Nick said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Can someone tell me why I just had to sit through Xander making Ben tell me his life story?" Chip asked.

"Why don't you ask Nick and Vida, they're the paranoid ones," Xander said, crossing his arms.

"Xander, come on, you saw Madison's bruise yesterday," Nick said.

"Yeah, that was when that thing kicked her," Xander said.

"Xander, I thought that too……But come on, that thing was huge," Vida said.

"Well, Vida, in case you've forgotten, that monster was pretty huge too," Xander said.

"Wait, what's going on?" Chip asked.

"Look, last night I put Maddie to bed and Nick came over and stayed with her for a while, and then Ben showed up. Ben and Maddie were alone for a while Nick and I were talking. This morning, I saw this like……welt on her arm…..and I don't remember seeing it before. Now, you didn't bump her into anything when you were carrying her, did you?" She asked.

"Of course not, I was beyond careful," Xander said.

"Then how else can you explain it?" Nick asked. Xander opened his mouth to respond, but in reality, couldn't think of anything. His eyes narrowed and he glared at Nick. Before anyone could react, he grabbed the collar of Nick's work shirt. "Then why did you leave her alone, you idiot!"

"Xander, it wasn't his fault," Vida said. She reached over and tried to pry Xander's fingers away from Nick's shirt. "I'm the one who let Ben go up and see her…..I didn't know.." Xander let go of Nick.

"What am I saying? This is all a bunch of nonsense. You guys are crazy if you think Madison would actually let this happen," Xander said before walking away. Chip looked at Nick and Vida.

"Well, Chip, what do you think?" Vida asked. Chip sighed.

"I don't know,"

---

Madison and Ben were driving back to her house when he turned to her.

"What was all that before?" He asked.

"What?"

"Nick, Toby, Xander and Chip," he replied, as if that was enough of an answer.

"What? They're my friends, they were worried about me," she said. Ben pulled up in front of the house and shut off the car before the two of them got out.

"It didn't friendly to me," Ben said. Madison opened the front door and walked in.

"Ben, you're being paranoid," she said. Madison gasped as an explosion of pain erupted between her shoulder blades, knocking her onto her stomach on the ground.

"What did you say?" Ben growled. Madison slowly sat up and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," she said. Ben grabbed her arm and dragged her to her feet. "Ben, please," she begged.

"Shut up!" Ben yelled. He shoved her into the living room, making her collide with the coffee table. She fell on it, her back hitting the wooden surface before she rolled onto the carpeted floor.

"Ow!" Madison said. Ben stalked over to her and pulled her to her feet by her hair.

---

Back at the Rockporium, the others were going about normal business when their mystic cell phones went off. Nick and Vida pulled theirs out and looked at each other.

"I've never been so happy to hear that sound in my life," Vida said. Nick nodded; agreeing that a monster fight meant Madison would be with them. The four teens gathered together and ran out of the store. "See ya, Toby," Vida called out. Toby groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah," he said.

"Maddie'll meet us at Rootcore," Nick said as the two made their way.

---

Madison lay huddled on the floor in the living room. After Ben had yanked her to her feet by her hair, he proceeded to slap and punch her in the face before shoving her to the wall where she slid to the floor. She curled up in a ball as Ben kicked her.

"You're sleeping with all of them, aren't you?" He yelled at her.

"No, I swear," Madison protested weakly.

"You come off as some pristine little good girl but you're really just a pathetic slut!"

"No," Madison said. She heard the faint chimes from her mystic phone.

"And what the hell is that?" Ben demanded. "Every time you hear that thing go off you run off somewhere. What is one of your other boyfriends calling you?"

"No, you're the only one," Madison said.

"You lying whore," Ben yelled as he kicked her again.

---

Nick, Xander, Chip and Vida all arrived at Rootcore.

"Is Madison here?" Nick asked Udonna the second they arrived. She looked at them and shook her head.

"No," she said. Vida paled slightly.

"She's probably having some trouble getting away from Ben to get here," Xander said.

"That's what I'm worried about," Vida said.

"V, you know that's not what I mean," Xander sighed. Chip put a hand on Vida's shoulder.

"I'm sure she's on her way," he assured her.

"Rangers, one of Imperious' monsters is attacking at the city plaza, we do not have time to wait for her," Daggeron said, approaching them.

"We'll tell her to meet you guys there," Clare said. Daggeron and the rangers left Rootcore.

"I'd feel better if I called her," Nick said, pulling his mystic phone out as they made their way to the destination.

---

Ben had pulled Madison up to her feet again, twisting her arm behind her back.

"All you do is lie," he growled, twisting her arm some more and making her cry out in pain. The phone went off again. Ben reached into Madison's pocket and pulled it out.

"No, Ben, wait," Madison protested.

"Shut up!" He said. He opened the phone and placed it to his ear.

"Maddie? Maddie where are you? Are you okay? Where are you? Come to the City Plaza, okay?" Ben's fury escalated at the sound of Nick's voice. He slammed the phone shut and threw it across the room. Madison watched helplessly as the object hit the wall and fell into shattered pieces onto the floor.

"I knew it!" Ben yelled, throwing her at the coffee table again. This time, Madison's foot tripped on the carpet and she fell on her side, her cheek slamming into the edge of the table as she went down.

---

"Well, where is she?" Vida asked.

"I don't know, I heard her pick up but she didn't say anything and then the call just ended,"

"She's probably already there waiting for us," Xander said.

---

"Ben, please…..stop…." Madison begged, her face streaming with tears as blood trickled out of her nose, mouth and the cut on her cheek from when she hit the coffee table. He simply hit her face again. "No, Ben, please," Madison sobbed. Ben picked her up and slammed her onto the coffee table.

"I love you, Madison," he said as he towered over her. "Why do you make me do this?"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please, Ben. I'll change, I swear," she sobbed. Ben's hands slid up to her neck as he leaned over her, pressing his body to hers as he kissed her gently. Madison responded to the kiss, praying that this was over. He had accepted her apology and he'd be gentle again.

"I'm sorry, Maddie," he whispered against her lips before his hands tightened around her neck. Madison's eyes widened as she suddenly began having trouble breathing. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. She thrashed wildly beneath him, clawing and pulling at his hands.

"No, Ben, no," she squeaked as his grip only got tighter. Blotches of darkness clouded her vision as she fought to breath before her hands limply fell to her sides and her eyes began to flutter shut. Just as she felt herself on the brink of unconsciousness, she felt Ben's hands release her neck. Madison sucked in gasping breaths as she coughed and turned to her side, forcing Ben to get off of her. She looked up at him with hazy eyes. "Ben," she said. He took hold of her hands and pulled her off the table. He pulled her to him and hugged her closely, burying his face in her hair.

"Promise me, Maddie," he said. "Promise me you'll never talk to Nick, Chip, Xander or Toby ever again. Okay? We can fix things but you have to promise me that, okay?" Madison's chin quivered as she heard his words. He loves me….She told herself. He just……he just doesn't want to lose me….He's just a little jealous…….He loves me, that's why he stopped. "Will you promise me that, honey?" He asked. ………But……he could've killed me……I could've died……How can he do that to me?

"No," she said.

"What?" Ben asked. He pulled back and held her at arms length. "What did you say?" His voice edging on that dangerous tone again. Madison sucked on her bottom lip; she could taste her blood on her lip. She shook her head.

"No, I won't," she said. She took in a gasping sob. "I won't promise you anything," she said. Ben's eyes darkened with renewed rage.

"Yes, you will," he said.

"No," Madison said. The next thing she knew, she was being shoved back on the coffee table with such force that her legs went over and she fell off the other side. After that, her entire world seemed to go black.