A/N: Hey all! Sorry about the delay in updating again, but I've been busy. I had two huge tests on thurs and well...they were huge. :D I spent the last week studying like a fiend for them. :D Good news is, I'm officially on spring break, so I'm hoping to write like a fiend and hopefully, post like a fiend as well. :D

Glad you guys are all enjoying this fic! I look forward to seeing your reviews! (PS: 1/2 Hour To New Episode of Instant Star! Whoot!)

Chapter 10

July 6, 2008

It was dark and though the night was warm, she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling cold and alone in the parking lot. She crossed to her car when her phone rang. She answered it with a shaky voice. It was her mother. She wanted her to pick up a couple things before she came home. Jude hung up the phone and pulled out of the parking lot and stopped at the small grocery store between G Major and her mother's home.

She got the items and exited the store when a voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Jude." She felt every cell in her body freeze. She slowly turned and saw Mark standing behind her. She gasped and dropped her items. Her mouth opened in horror and she tried to scream but no sound escaped her throat. He grabbed her and pulled her into the darkened alley and she felt tears sting her eyes. "I've missed you Jude." He said, nuzzling his face in her neck and she could feel him pushing against her. He slammed her into the brick wall behind her and her vision danced before her eyes.

"No," She said, and struggled against him. He smiled tauntingly at her and kissed her roughly. She pushed him back, but his hands grabbed hers and pinned them to the wall above her head. She was trapped and she knew it. She did the one thing she could, she began kicking and he backed away from her. Jude ran down the alley and leaped into a dumpster to hide herself. She felt a cool metal brush against her and she felt for what was against her leg. It was a small blade, but as she ran her hands down the edges, she could tell it was sharp.

She held onto the knife handle as if her life depended on it. She heard footsteps approach the dumpster and she bit her lip so she wouldn't make a noise. The lid to the dumpster opened and Mark peaked in on her. He reached in and Jude thrust up with the knife, cutting Mark's hand. He let out a scream of pain and Jude climbed clumsily out of the dumpster and ran to the entrance of the alley. A hand grabbed her and she spun. Mark held onto her arm.

"Let go of me." She said, her voice shaking.

"Never," He said, pulling her to him and Jude plunged the knife into his chest. She watched in horror as he backed away from her, pain on his face. The knife was still lodged in his chest and she felt her legs shake with the reality of what she had done.

"No," She whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "NO!" Jude Harrison had just killed a man. "NNNNOOOO!"

"Jude!" She gasped and opened her eyes. She looked frantically around and felt a hand on her arm. She snapped her head around and leaped back when she saw a male face staring back at her.

"Jude, honey, what's wrong?"

"Tommy?" Jude said, gasping and feeling her heart slow and her panic reside.
"You ok?" He asked her, and Jude's mind went back to her dream. It had been so real…

"Yeah…it was just a dream." She said, closing her eyes and running a hand through her hair.

"A hell of a dream then…" He said, scooting closer to her and laying a comforting hand on her arm.

"It seemed so real." She whispered and Tommy wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug.

"It's ok, it's over now." He said, stroking her hair. Jude pulled back slightly and kissed him.

"I'm better now…really." Jude said, her mind not able to shake the dream, but she didn't want to worry Tommy. He had enough on his plate without worrying about Jude's dreams. She didn't kill Mark. She would remember that. It was just a stupid dream…nothing to worry about.

Tommy and Jude lay back down in the bed and Jude laid her head on his chest and his arms circled around her and held her close. Jude felt her eyes grow heavy and began to drift off to sleep again when a loud knock pounded on the door. Jude and Tommy both started and sat up, glancing at the other.

"Who would be…?" Jude began to ask, but at Tommy's perplexed look, she stopped her question. Who would be knocking at this hour? It was, Jude glanced at the clock, 2:54 am. It was definitely too early for a social call.

Tommy got out of bed and found his pants and pulled them on and left the room. Jude stayed where she was a moment and got up. She pulled on one of Tommy's shirts and headed out into the living room.

Tommy was standing in the doorway with two officers.

"What's going on?" Jude asked.

The cops glanced at her and then entered further into the apartment and began searching the place. Tommy sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"They have a warrant to search the place…don't know what they're expecting to find." Tommy explained and Jude frowned at the knowledge.

The officers did their thing and when Tommy and Jude thought they were done, one of the officers entered the room and held out a sweatshirt.

"Sir," The officer said, calling attention to the older one. The sweatshirt was held out for examination and Tommy and Jude studied it along with the other officer. The sweatshirt was old and it had several bloodstains on it. Jude glanced at Tommy and before he could explain, the older officer walked over to him, a grim expression on his face.

"Mr. Quincy, we are going to have to put you under arrest for the suspicion of the murder of Mark Snow." He pulled out handcuffs and Jude was gently pushed aside. She was frozen and stared at Tommy, her eyes wide and disbelieving.