Hey guys I'm back with number 6! Last chapter was a roller coaster of emotions, and this one is full on angst, so brace yourselves… There's no music playing in the actual chapter, but the song that inspired the chapter title is "Pain" by Tiger Army. Great song, and it's perfect for Iris. Anywho, enough of my rambling, on with Chapter 6!

Chapter 6: Pain, Hurt For So Long

I woke up the next morning still sitting on the floor, barricading the door. I use that term loosely; waking up would require going to sleep first.

After that terrifying nightmare last night, I was on high alert and in full panic mode. I kept the knife in a vice-like grip the entire night, as if I was expecting him to pop up out of nowhere.

But that's not going to happen. He's still in Miami, he has no idea you're here. You're safe.

Was I really, though?

As long as I was being plagued by these nightmares and the paranoia, I was never going to be safe. Not from the dark corners of my mind. Not really.

I sluggishly stood up and walked over to my room to get dressed for work. I had no idea how I was going to get through the day without passing out from exhaustion. But I couldn't disappoint Lucy on my second day of work. I'd never forgive myself.

It wasn't until I reached for my clothes in the dresser that I realized I was still holding the knife. I shakily set it down on the dresser, allowing a few tears to fall before I stiffened my spine with determination and grabbed my clothes.

I was exiting my apartment and locking the door when I saw Matt stepping out of his apartment at the same time.

"Good morning, Iris." Matt greeted. His voice so sweet and tender, it even sounded concerned. I was on the brink of tears again.

"Good morning, Matt." I replied, my voice as hollow and broken as I felt.

Matt tilted his head in concern. "Are you alright? You don't sound so good." He asked as he stepped towards me.

"Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep last night." I replied, my eyes shifting to the ground.

"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice a lot closer as he reached out to touch my shoulder.

I couldn't control the impulse as I flinched away from him. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's no big deal." Liar.

Matt seemed to agree with my inner thoughts. "I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble believing you." Matt replied as we started walking towards the elevator. I walked ahead of him to keep him at a distance.

"Well, it's really none of your concern, Matt." My voice was tight as I tried to keep my composure.

"I disagree." Matt argued as he walked ahead to stop me from moving. "Iris, I care about you. A lot. So whatever you're going through is my concern." He tentatively reached for my face to caress my cheek. "I can't stop thinking about you. I feel something between us, and I know you do too."

I could hear my heart racing, my eyes welling up with tears. "Maybe there shouldn't be anything between us." I whispered broken-hearted. Don't you dare end this with him before it can really start.

Matt stiffened. "Don't do that. I know what you're trying to do." Of course he does. He's a very clever man. "I know you're in some kind of trouble, and I want to help you. But you have to let me in. Please." He begged desperately.

I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat as tears ran down my cheeks and onto his hand. My voice cracked as I gently squeezed his hand before pushing it away, and I replied, "Nobody can help me."

With that, I walked around him, not giving him a chance to argue. I walked past the elevator and took the stairs instead, distancing myself further from the first genuinely sweet man I had met.

I entered the bakery feeling more broken and exhausted than I felt earlier this morning. I had barely reached the counter when Lucy appeared from the kitchen.

"No." She pointed at me with authority. "Go home."

My eyes widened perplexed. "Good morning?"

"Good morning, Sweetie." Lucy greeted. "Now go home."

"Why? What did I do?" I asked, feeling super confused.

"Not taking care of yourself, apparently." Lucy replied, gently scolding me. "You, my friend, need to go home and sleep. You can come back to work tomorrow or when you're well-rested."

Now I was even more confused. "How the Hell did you even know about that?"

Lucy was quick to reply, "Matt called Foggy, and then Foggy called me. So it's my duty as your new boss and best friend to help you."

I had so many questions for that statement, but only one came to mind at the moment. "Foggy called you?"

"I encouraged him to ask me out and I gave him my number; don't change the subject." Lucy replied with a fond smile on her face. "The point is we're all worried about you, and you need to take care of yourself even if the three of us have to force you."

There was no winning this argument with technically three people ganging up on me for my own good.

"Alright." I conceded. "You win, I'm going. I'm so sorry, Lucy." I felt so guilty for being the one thing I hated being. A burden.

Lucy wrapped me in a comforting hug. "Don't be sorry, Iris. Just get some rest and come back when you feel better. And call me if you ever want to talk about what's going on with you, okay?"

I nodded as my eyes welled up with tears for what felt like the hundredth time. "Thank you so much, Lucy."

I started walking towards the exit when I stopped and asked one more question. "Did you call yourself my best friend?"

Lucy shrugged with a smile, "We baked shot glasses out of cookies and christened them with chocolate liqueur. If that's not Best Friend material, I don't know what is."

I let out the first laugh I've had today. "I couldn't agree more. See you tomorrow." I waved to her as I walked out of the bakery. Unaware of a familiar presence watching over me and following me from the rooftops above my head.

I couldn't bring myself to go back to my apartment yet. The idea of being cooped up in there alone with my thoughts and the nightmare from last night still lingering terrified me. I just kept walking with no real destination in mind.

I found myself at a park not too far from a hospital I passed on the way.

I saw an old pay phone nearby; surprised there were any still around, I quickly made my way towards it. Relieved to find it was still working, I put in the change and called for the one person whose voice I desperately needed to hear.

"Amsterdam Nursing Home. How may I help you?" A woman's voice greeted on the other end.

"May I speak to Violet Williams in room 17, please?" I asked patiently.

"May I ask who's calling?" The woman kindly asked.

"A friend of the family." I answered.

Thankfully that was enough for the receptionist to patch me through to her room.

I could feel my palms sweating, my heart beating a mile a minute.

"Hello?" My mouth went dry as I heard the sweetest voice that always gave me comfort.

"Hi, Mom." I whispered, keeping my hand on the mouthpiece so she couldn't hear me.

I had panicked. I didn't have the courage to speak to her yet. But all I wanted was to hear her voice.

"Is anyone there?" The sweet and confused voice asked.

"I love you so much." My whispered voice cracked from the tears I fought to hold back.

"If someone's there, could you speak up, please? I can't hear you." Mom asked kindly with a chuckle, breaking my composure more and more.

"I have so much to tell you." My knuckles turned white from the death grip.

"Jane, I don't think anyone's there." I heard Mom say to who I assumed was her nurse.

"But I'm okay." I whispered, wishing I had the courage to let her hear me.

"I'll hang that up for you, Violet." Another woman, possibly Jane, said on Mom's end.

"I miss you, Mommy." I said as the other line hung up and all I heard was the dial tone.

It was only when I hung up the phone did I allow myself to surrender to my tears.

I wandered aimlessly through the park until the lack of sleep caught up with me, urging my exhausted body to sit down.

I sat down at the nearest empty bench,staring off into nothing as I lost myself in my thoughts.

I was startled out of my thoughts as someone took a seat next to me.

"Hi. I'm sorry if I startled you, but is it okay if I sit here?" The woman kindly asked me.

I turned to look up at the stranger. She was a beautiful brunette with caramel colored skin, and was wearing blue hospital scrubs.

I smiled and silently nodded for her to sit.

She sighed in relief. "Thanks. I'm on my lunch right now, and I needed to sit somewhere that wasn't in the hospital." She held up her small bag full of food, pulling out two green apples. She held one out to me.

"Here. You look like you haven't eaten anything today."

I shook my head in protest. "No, you don't have to do that. I'm fine." My stomach chose that moment to growl in hunger.

The woman eyebrow raised at the sound. "Sweetie, your stomach is calling you a liar. Take it. I have plenty." She insisted as she pushed the apple into my hand.

"Thank you." I softly replied as I took a huge bite of the apple.

"I'm Claire, by the way." She introduced herself, holding out her hand towards me.

I took it in return, "Iris. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Claire replied. "I haven't seen you around here before." She rolled her eyes, "huge city, I know. But you seem new. Did you just move here? Or are you visiting?"

I couldn't explain it, but I felt comfortable enough around this woman to give her an honest answer. "Just moved here. To be near my mom. She's by herself in a nursing home. She's blind and can't move her left side very well. She had a stroke."

Claire's face crumpled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that." She paused for a moment before she continued. "Where were you at before? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"I was visiting an old friend." I started to lie. "She needed me."

Sympathy still painted Claire's features. "Oh god, was she sick too?" She then shook her head. "I'm sorry, that's none of my business."

After going this long without telling anyone the truth about me, I couldn't contain it any longer. I felt so tired and done with keeping my past to myself. It didn't really hit me until that moment that I needed to talk to someone. Maybe I just needed to talk to a kind stranger who I didn't see every day. Who didn't truly know me. I needed to tell someone the truth.

"She left her husband." I finally said in a whisper, causing Claire to turn her eyes towards me.

There's no turning back now.

My heart raced as I continued, "He was a horrible man. He used to beat her."

"Oh my god." Claire gasped, keeping her eyes on me.

"It started right after their honeymoon." My voice sounded hollow as I continued. "At first, he was charming, and tender. But then it all changed. He was a tyrant; he controlled everything she did. Took away things she loved that he didn't like. Kept her isolated from the world so that all she had was him. He said if she ever left him, he would punish her, and he meant it. His punishments…" My voice cracked and my body shivered at the memories. "Were terrible."

I took a shaky breath to calm myself. "He would never let her go. He said he'd find her anywhere."

"What a bastard." Claire visibly shivered as she asked, "Couldn't she call the cops?"

I quickly nodded, already expecting that question. "Well yeah, she did. She called them, and a lawyer too. They said she could make a citizen's arrest, get a restraining order. It was pathetic." I let out a weak laugh. "She knew that would never be enough. She truly realized that nobody could help her. She was all alone."

"Well, how did she leave?" Claire asked anxiously.

I took a deep breath as I looked away from her. "She...risked everything. She escaped. Started a new life. New home. New look. New name." I finished with a whisper.

The silence was deafening. I could feel Claire's eyes on me as I looked over at the trees.

"She's a really brave girl." Claire spoke with admiration.

I shook my head in protest as I admitted in a broken whisper, "She thinks she's a coward."

I felt the unnecessary shame of my actions hit me all at once. I never truly felt brave for doing what I did to escape him.

"A coward?" Claire exclaimed in disbelief. "No way. Not a girl like that."

I'm glad one of us thinks so.

"How long did you stay with him?"

My heart stopped and my head snapped over to face her. There was no judgment in her eyes. No disgust or shame. Just a knowing look of sympathy . She nodded in understanding.

Tears of pain and relief ran down my cheeks, my voice cracked as I replied. "Too long. Three years. Seven months. Six days." Three years of my life I could never get back.

I quickly wiped the tears from my face as I gave Claire a broken smile. "Thank you for the apple." Claire smiled back at me, her own eyes welled up with unshed tears. "And thank you for listening." I thanked her graciously.

"Any time." Claire replied with a gracious smile. "Do you have a phone on you?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked out of curiosity as I pulled out my cell phone.

Claire reaches for it and started typing on it. "I'm giving you my phone number. Anytime you need someone to talk to,or just have a friend to hang out with, give me a call." She finished as she handed back my phone after using it to call hers.

"Thank you, Claire." I said, not knowing what else to say to express how grateful I was.

"You don't have to go through this alone anymore, Iris." Claire gripped my hand in comfort. "You don't have to be alone anymore."

I nodded gratefully as I tried to swallow back the tears threatening to pour out once more. I couldn't believe my luck at finding the most genuinely kind and caring people in Hell's Kitchen of all places.

My mind immediately brought up Matt, and my heart felt heavy. I felt awful for how I treated him this morning. He poured his heart out to me and wanted to help me, and I repaid him by pushing him away. I didn't even know where to begin with how to face him again.

Claire must've noticed my mood dampen even more. "What's the matter?"

Well, you've gone this far with telling the truth. Why stop now?

"There's a man," I started, "He's my neighbor. He's…amazing. He's so sweet, and considerate, and funny, and charming. I like him...probably so much more than I should. He feels the same way, he told me as much this morning. He's also incredibly clever and observant. He knows that something is going on with me. He even wants to help me." I started to crack as I continued. "I pushed him away. I was so rude to him. I just don't know how I'm going to face him." I rolled my eyes at myself, "Hell, after this morning, he probably wouldn't want to come near me anyway."

Claire rubbed my hand in sympathy. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad. And if he's as great of a guy as you say he is, then he won't be driven away so easily. He probably understands better than you think."

I couldn't help but agree. "You're right. He had his friend call my boss to send me home for the day because I didn't sleep last night. He was worried about me, even after I was being horrible to him."

"Sounds like a pretty great guy to me." Claire chimed in.

"He really is. The amazing thing is he's blind, and yet he can see things better than anyone else can. When I'm with him, it's like he can not only see me, but see right through me into my soul." Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Claire sit up a little straighter with curiosity.

"This neighbor of yours...his name wouldn't happen to be Matt Murdock, would it?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know him?" My eyes widened. How small is this damn city?

Claire chuckled. "Yeah, he's a friend." She looked like she wanted to elaborate, but she didn't. "If there's one thing I can tell you about Matt, it's that he's extremely protective over the people he cares about the most." She looked at me pointedly. "When he says he wants to help, he really means it, and will do everything he can to do it."

"I believe you," I said in agreement. "I definitely got that impression from him. But I just don't know if he can help me with this. I tried talking to a lawyer before, and it did nothing."

"True, but Matt's different from most lawyers. He actually gives a shit about the people he fights for." Claire gave me a gentle nudge in the shoulder. "And in your case, that especially means you." My face flushed at her statement. "Now, Iris, I'm not going to push you into doing anything you don't want to do. God knows, you've experienced enough of that. But will make a suggestion if you're willing to hear me out."

What do I have to lose? "I'm listening." My eyes met with hers, giving her my full attention.

"Talk to him." She advised. "Tell him the truth. At least as much as you're comfortable with. Speaking from personal experience, I know what it's like to be with the wrong guy and have him break your trust, and you have every reason not to want to trust a man again." She really gets it. "But, and I'm not just saying this as his friend, you can trust Matt. Believe me when I say he'll understand, and the last thing he would ever want to do is hurt you."

What Claire said made a lot of sense. I thought it would be easier and safer to just keep my past to myself. However, I'm starting to realize that keeping everything that happened to me bottled up inside is actually doing more harm than good. Maybe telling Matt could help me; although the thought of telling him everything scares the shit out of me. Can I trust him? Should I trust him?

He's been nothing but wonderful to you. He hasn't given you any reason not to trust him. He wants to help you. Give him a chance.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding and nodded in understanding. "You make a hell of a point, Claire... I'll try."

Claire smiled, "At least you're considering it, and that's what matters." Claire started to stand up from the bench. "I guess so should head back in before they actually miss me." She said with a sarcastic roll of her brown eyes.

I offered a sympathetic smile, "It was great meeting you, Claire. I hope the rest of your day doesn't get too crazy."

Claire snorted, "You and me both!" Claire stopped and looked at me. "Have you had a checkup at all?"

My brows furrowed in confusion, "Um, not in a long time. Why do you ask?"

Claire gave a tense nod. "Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm only asking because of what you said about…" she trailed off, hesitating on how to approach this delicately. "How your ex treated you?" She paused until it dawned on me what she meant. "I was just wondering if you've had anyone check on your...injuries."

I couldn't help but feel touched at someone actually asking about that. "No, he'd never let anyone else see me like that. He'd leave me alone to tend to myself."

Claire shook her head in disgust. "I'm hating this asshole more and more."

I let out a surprised laugh, never having had the courage to say such a thing myself.

"Me too." It felt liberating to allow myself to admit that much at the very least.

Claire offered me her hand with a sincere smile. "Come on. I want to give you a check up, it'll ease my mind."

I could feel those damn tears coming up again in gratitude for this incredible offer of kindness. How could I possibly refuse such a generous offer? I grabbed her hand and rose up from my seat. "Lead the way, Doc."

"Technically I'm a nurse, but I'm not going to stop you from calling me that." Claire smirked.

I let out a laugh. "Then Doc, you shall be."

I proceeded walking towards the hospital entrance with my new friend.

Once more, I wasn't aware of the secret third person keeping a close watch from above; and had been listening to the entire conversation.

Matt

Matt stood on the roof of the hospital speechless; his body stiff and his fists clenched tightly to the point they were shaking. His usual vision of the world on fire burned even hotter and redder. He waited until Iris and Claire were inside the hospital before he grabbed an abandoned empty beer bottle and hurled it aggressively against the wall as he let out a yell of rage.

Oh how he wished the bottle was the face of the asshole who dared laid his hands on the woman he's fallen for.

Oh God, Iris. What did that bastard do to you? What monster could look at your sweet face and still have the nerve to hurt you like that? You've been through so much for so long. You didn't deserve to suffer in that Hell. You deserve to be cherished and loved, and protected. He thought as he loosened his tie and tried to control his heavy breathing.

Oh how Matt wanted more than anything to hold Iris in his arms and protect her from anything and anyone that wanted to harm her.

He knew that she was running away from something, but he never thought she'd be running and hiding from the one man who was supposed to love and protect her for the rest of their lives together.

His blood froze as he remembered one detail she mentioned. "Three years. Seven months. Six days." Iris is only 23. She got married when she was only 19, 20 at the most. She was just a kid, young, naive, and in love. Too young and naive to realize who she agreed to spend the rest of her life with before it was too late. She had sounded somewhat older than her actual age in the few times Matt has spent with her.

Suffering at the hands of that pig forced her to grow up too fast.

God, Iris. You were so young, and small and fragile, you must've been terrified. You're still so young, and you've survived this whole time. You're so much stronger than you think, sweetheart.

Matt's heart broke for Iris as he listened to the still vague details of her past being told with years of pain in her voice; and his blood boiled with an unspeakable rage towards the man responsible for that pain.

It took all of his self control to not burst into Iris's apartment the moment he heard her scream last night from the other side of the city. Her heart had been beating out of control, causing his heart to beat in sync with hers as he rushed back to their building to check on her. Each sob she let out caused him more pain than being stabbed ever did. She wasn't the only one who lost sleep last night.

Matt didn't expect to feel this strongly for anyone, but that all changed when the adorable girl next door with an exciting love for music charmed her way into his heart in the span of a week without even meaning to. She managed to ignite a light in his life he didn't think he deserved to have; and he'll be damned if he let some worthless abusive asshole hurt her any more than he already did.

It didn't matter to Matt whether or not he and Iris would ever get together; he swore right then and there that he was going to protect her no matter what.

He hoped Iris was going to take Claire's advice and talk to him. He wanted her to trust him enough to tell him the full story, but it's her choice to do so, and he wasn't going to force it from her. She deserved better than that.

Until then, he's going to continue watching over her and making sure she was safe. If only he could protect her from her nightmares and memories. The thought of what she could've possibly dreamed about last night made him sick to his stomach and made him shake with rage towards the man who's caused her suffering.

He needed to let out his aggression.

Feeling hesitant at first at the thought of leaving Iris alone unprotected, Matt reasoned with himself that she's safe with Claire for the time being.

With that resolve, he leapt across to the next building, and made his way towards the church, all the while he kept a vigilant ear out for Iris.

Some guidance from Father Lantom was in order; but first, he was going to make great use of that punching bag they kept downstairs.

Matt knows! I've been looking forward to this chapter and that scene with Iris and Claire since I started this fic! So a lot more has been revealed about Iris, but still not the full story, but ALL will be revealed very soon! I hope I did Matt's POV justice, this is a much darker side to him that I haven't fully explored in this story yet, but I hope I did him right. He has so much anger, but the first and most important thing in his mind is Iris and keeping her safe. God I love this man. Well, that's all for now. Thank you so much for reading, don't forget to subscribe and PLEASE leave comments! They really make my day. Until next time! *Kiss noise*