Disclaimer: Still no ownership of it.

Chapter 6.

9.30 am

About an hour later Will and Karen was at home in Will's apartment. No one was there. Grace was at work and Jack was in an unknown place at the moment.

"Karen, I think you're brave" Will said. "You managed your way here."

"Thank you Will" Karen said and smiled a faint smile.

"Do want something to drink? Or eat?"

"We just ate at home Will" she said.

"Yeah, I know, but you hardly ate anything off the omelet I made you."

He took out a bottle of water and a glass and put it in front of her. Just then the door opened and Jack came inside.

"I thought I heard you in here Will" Jack said while closing the door. "Hi Karen" he said gently to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Not to good, but it's getting better poodle" she said and threw a faint smile at him.

"That's great news Karebear" Jack said softly and sat down on a chair next to her.

Jack thought that Karen looked like a real mess. She still wore the t-shirt under Will's jacket and sweatpants. Her hair was still in the ponytail and her eyes were a bit red and puffy still. He felt so sorry for her, and he knew that he had to act surprised when she told him. He imagined that telling him was the reason for her to be here. She didn't make an effort to start talking and Jack wondered.

When Karen went to the bathroom Jack turned to Will.

"How is she really doing Will?" Jack asked.

"She was a real mess during the week but last night she was smiling and laughing a bit. I convinced her that she should tell you and Grace what's happened and she agreed, but this morning she almost backed out. I had to almost carry her here."

"So, should we call Grace and have her come home?"

"No, wait until lunch at least. I think Grace will come home for lunch" Will said.

Karen came out of the bathroom and Will and Jack immediately changed the subject.

"So Jack, how is the part coming for you?" Will asked.

"It's going great Will. We open the play in a couple of weeks."

"You're acting again poodle?" Karen asked.

"Yes Karebear. I got the lead in a play and if you're all up to it, I'd want you to be there for the opening."

"We'd be happy to Jack" Will said. "Congratulations again, I'm proud of you Jack. You never gave up hope and now you're gonna star in play that actually is good" Will continued.

"Thank you Will" Jack said and blushed abit.

"It's great Jackie" Karen said and smiled at her friend. "I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks Karen" Jack said and took her hand.

12.30 pm

The hours went by as Will, Jack and Karen made some smalltalk about Jack's play and his ex-boyfriend he met a few hours ago and already ditched for a new one.

Suddenly the door opened and Grace appeared. She looked surprised to see Karen there.

"Hi Karen. How are you? Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Hi Gracie. It's not good but it's getting better" Karen answered and smiled softly.

She sat in the couch between Jack and Will. Will got up to hug Grace and kiss her on the cheek. As he did, Karen flinched and started shaking. He was her rock and as long has he sat next to her she was able to sit and do the smalltalk, but when his safe body and warmth went away, she felt vulnerable again. Jack saw this and motioned silently for Will to come back. He hurried back and sat down next to Karen and put his arm around her shoulders. She felt safer and not so vulnerable anymore, but the shaking couldn't stop and she started crying again. Jack and Grace were shocked. They had always thought that she didn't do emotions. She herself had said so, and here she was doing precisly what she said she didn't do. Will took her in his embrace and she leaned her head against his shoulder allowing him to put both his arms around her. Will saw the looks of the others faces. He mouthed: "She'll be fine in a minute. Don't worry."

They nodded silently and sat waiting for Karen to calm down. It was clear to them that it was something big. Jack of course knew but he acted like he didn't. Finally Karen's tears faded and she stopped crying. Her shaking body started to calm down and she lifted her face from Will's shoulder. She couldn't look at Grace or Jack.

"Karen, what's wrong?" Grace said worried when she saw that Karen lifted her head from Will's shoulder.

"I ... have something ... you and Jack ...should know" she stuttered out.

Grace sat down on the coffeetable in front of her and Jack sat next to her with Will on the other side. She was surrounded by friends only. Karen grabbed Will's hand and she started talking.

"About a week ago I was home alone at night. Everyone was in bed. Suddenly I heard a noise downstairs and I went to check it out. I went downstairs and it was really dark so I turned around to switch the lights on. That's when I ..." she said and took a deep breath before she grabbed Will's hand in a tighter grip and continued. "That's when I felt a hand over my mouth and an arm around me. It was a man and he forced me upstairs into the library and down on the floor where he ripped off my clothes and started to ..." she couldn't go on and started sobbing hard and Will put his other arm around her shoulders to steady her.

"Come on Karen, you can say it" he said gently.

She sobbed but nodded.

"That's when he started to rape me" she cried out and dove into Will's shirt again.

She cuddled up against him with her head to his shoulder and her hands grabbing his shirt and crying hard.

Grace looked like she had been paralyzed. She was completely frozen and numb. Her face showing nothing. Then she started to warm up and tears were starting to roll down her cheeks. How sorry she felt for Karen. She put her hand on Karens leg and said:
"Oh Karen, I'm so sorry."

Jack looked surprised and did the same thing as Grace and said:
"I'm really sorry Karen."

Karen didn't dare to look into their faces. She buried her face against Will's shirt. His arms were wrapped tightly around her fragile, shaking body. He planted kisses on top of her head.

"Oh Karen" he sighed. "You did it. You did the hard part."

"Karen, we're here for you, you know that right?" Grace said and Jack agreed.

Karen were still sobbing into Will's shirt.

"Maybe we should get you home again Karen?" Will said softly.

He lifted her up into his arms and went to the door. She cuddled up with her face still against his shoulder and her arms in a tight grip around his neck. When he got to the door he turned around and mouthed:
"I'll call you later OK?"

Grace nodded and wiped her tears from her cheeks.

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A/N Reviews people, reviews...