A/N: hey peeps! Sorry for the delay in this chapter, but I've been working on homework and my other fic that this one got pushed, temporarily, to the backburner. I'm really happy how this fic is coming and I do have to warn, starting near the end of this chapter and into the next, it gets darker and it's going to stay that way for the next couple chapters. I just had to put the warning out and that's why I'm going to have to be delayed in posting these chapters. I can't be in a light mood when I'm doing this story, at the moment, it requires a different mood so I'm going to milk it up while I have it. Hopefully I can get the rough copy of the next couple chapters done and that way all I have to do is re-go over it, which doesn't necessarily require the right mood. Again, sorry for the delays and I will get this fic rolling faster!

Chapter 3

After receiving the news, Georgia allowed Tommy and Jude to have the day off. Jude was visibly shaken hearing about Mark Snow being on the loose and Tommy was worried about her and determined not to leave her side until the former producer was back where he belonged. The couple went back to Tommy's place in silence. Nothing was said and nothing needed to be said.

They sat down on the couch, Jude leaning against Tommy's chest and his arms were wrapped protectively around her.

"I feel so stupid…" Jude muttered after a few minutes of just taking comfort in Tommy's embrace.

"You're not"

"Yes I am!" Jude said, her voice loud and she leaped off the couch and began to pace. Tommy sat up and watched her, his eyes worried, but he let her rant, though her words killed him. "I hear his name and I can't help but start shaking! I'm sick of being scared all the time and just when I thought I was getting over this…" Jude trailed off a moment, her voice catching with emotion. "I don't know if I can do this." She said, her voice quiet and barely audible. Tommy got up from the couch and crossed to her.

"You're not stupid and you have a right to be scared," Jude shook her head negatively. Tommy grabbed her arms and spun her around to face him. "Jude…what he almost did to you..." Tommy's jaw clenched slightly and Jude felt anger coming off him in overwhelming waves. "I couldn't protect you from that, and you have no idea how sorry I am."

"It wasn't your fault." Jude said, knowing Tommy had his guilt, but it was the first time he had ever voiced it and she found herself wanting to squish his doubts.

"In a way, it was." Tommy said, looking at her sadly. "But I'm not going to make the same mistake again," Tommy added, and pulled Jude to him and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." He murmured and kissed the top of her head. Jude wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes, taking in this moment and reveling how everything seemed to slip away when she was in his arms. She always felt safest when she was with him. She closed her eyes and tightened her hold around him.

"I don't know what I would do either…" She said and added "So stop talking like that!" She pulled back slightly, just enough to look him in the eyes. Jude saw the beginnings of a smile on his face and she leaned in to kiss him when a knock on the door interrupted them. Jude stared at Tommy exasperated and the couple reluctantly broke apart. Jude collapsed on the couch and Tommy made his way over to the door, his moves slightly cautious.

Tommy glanced out the peek hole and stepped back and opened the door, mildly surprised to see a couple uniformed Mounties standing there.

"Can I help you?" Tommy asked, studying the Mounties a moment.

"Mr. Quincy, we're here to inform you"

"We already know." Tommy stated, and motioned for the Mounties to follow him into his apartment.

Jude glanced up when she heard the voices and saw the Mounties talking to Tommy near the foyer. She didn't get up, she didn't want to hear what was being said. She lay down on the couch and curled herself into a fetal position and her mind drifted back to that night almost a year before.

"No…no Jude." He said, petting her hair. He grabbed her roughly and led her through the club and towards the back door.

"Marc, let me go!" Jude said, struggling against him. He grabbed her wrist tighter and Jude thought she'd end up with a bruise. He pulled her out the door and into the alleyway that ran beside the club. "Marc, Marc, I need to go" She was cut off by him kissing her once again. He took full advantage of her open mouth and plunged his tongue into her, and Jude bit down hard, in an attempt to make him stop. He pulled back in rage and smacked her across the face. Jude's vision blurred and she fell to the pavement, black dots dancing before her eyes.

"You like it rough girl? I'll give you rough." He said, coming back to her. He knelt down on top of her, and Jude beat on his chest with her fists, but her efforts were in vain.

A hand on Jude's shoulder made her start. She glanced around, slightly frantic and noticed Tommy standing next to her, concern on his face. She launched herself up from the couch and into his arms. Tommy gave an "oof" of surprise and had to work to steady himself before he returned the embrace. Jude's body shook with her soft sobs and each one broke his heart. He knew what the cause of Jude's emotion was. He stroked her hair and murmured words of comfort to her while she cried.