Author's Note- This chapter was written by Sharon.

Chapter Four

She knows this is not fair to him, or even right. It stopped being right when a few stolen kisses led to an afternoon of making love by the fireplace. She was not his girlfriend and he was not her boyfriend; they both already had one of those. They were perfectly willing to bury the secret that only the two of them knew…until today. Today she was sitting in his dorm room, her whole body trembling as she cried into her hands.

"There's no mistake," Cristian asks.

"None. I am pregnant Chris…And we both know that you are the father," Jessica says. "What are we supposed to do now…How are we supposed to get through this…I'm ruining your life."

"You did not do it alone," he says.

"I never wanted to hurt you Christian. You have to believe me. I did not plan this. I'm…"

He cuts off her words when he tenderly grips her shoulders and forces her to look at him. "Stop Pacing Jess. You are making me nervous."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing too. We are in this together. I know you did not plan this okay. Neither of us did. I think there is only one thing we can do."

"What's that?"

He pauses as he looks into those soulful eyes. He loves her. He would not deny that. The only thing he regrets is how it happened.

"I am going to have to break off my engagement to Layla and marryyou instead."

Jessica looks at him flabbergasted. He cannot be serious. Does he really think that a marriage for the baby's sake would make everything right again. If only you knew how much I love you. I want you to be happy more than anything in the world… I just wish you knew that I only regret how it happened…not that it happened.

++++

He pulls the hoodie up over his head and ducks into the small apartment he has been staying at for the last couple of months. He is using an assumed name and the only contact he has is through a burner phone…. Emergencies only.

"Daddy," a small voice calls out to him. She is lying in a small bed, with an IV hooked into her arm.

"It's okay princess. Daddy is here. I am so sorry I had to leave you for a little while. How are you feeling?"

"It hurts daddy."

"I know baby. I know. I got you some pain medicine. Are you ready to be a good girl and take it?"

Cole does not think of all the rules he has broken; He only thinks of getting his little girl the surgery she needs for her burns. Until then, all he can do is make her more comfortable.

Hope swallows the liquid medicine and drinks small sips of water. Cole lays down beside her and tells her a story.

"When are we going to see Mama Daddy," she asks.

"Hopefully soon baby. I saw your grandma today. She is going to have another little baby. That's good news right?"

"When can we see her," she asks.

"When it's safe baby. Try to sleep will you. I'll be right here with you."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah baby?"

"Are we going to be okay?"

He pauses as he thinks about how he and his daughter woke up after the car accident in some remote cabin barely alive about a year ago. A nice old lady nursed them both back to health, though she could do little for poor Hope's burns other than give her soothing ointment. It was not until an ambush on the woman's cabin that they realized someone was after them and they ran. Cole could only hope that he could keep his little girl safe as she continues to heal.

"We'll be fine Sweet Pea. Daddy is going to take care of everything. "

I do not know how but I will.

"Sweet Dreams daddy. I love you."

"I love you too Sweet Pea. Sweet dreams."

++++

Nora puts her purse down as she stares at her husband. He has the same look in his eyes that Coulson did…the same look that Colin and Troy did. He was not a man in this moment…he was a monster.

She can feel fresh tears well in her eyes but she bites her tongue to keep them from coming. She will not give him the satisfaction of watching her break. She was stronger now. Why do I keep doing this to myself, she berates herself. Why do THEY keep treating me as if I am a fool? I am NOBODY'S fool.

She walks calmly towards the desk, her hand gripping a hidden item she pulled from her purse. She looks him right in the eyes before she slashes her blouse.

"Is this what you want to see, you son of a bitch…Or how about if I take my pants off? Do you feel like a man now Clint…Do you?"

She is standing in front of him in her bra and her underwear and he is looking right through her.

"Look at me damn it…you want me to pleasure you…you will damn well look at me…"

"Stop making a scene Nora; it's not very attractive."

"And I suppose you and that gun is…"

"I don't see any action babe…"

"I am not your babe Clint…That might work with other women but me…I am not your popup doll or your piece of meat…I am your wife…"

"You haven't acted like one…"

"Maybe I don't like it when my husband hits me," she snaps.

"He What," Bo asks, when he walks in the door.

"Perfect timing little brother," Clint sneers.

"What the hell have you done to her you son of a bitch," he yells.

"Nothing that she wasn't begging for," he retorts.

"Don't…Bo; it is okay…you don't have to do this. I'm not worth it."

"You never did get what you were worth Red. You do not deserve this. Don't you get that? You are everything to me. Everything. Show me what he did. Please."

"You don't want to see," she said.

"Yes baby, I do. I need to see what kind of animal my brother has turned into. "

"Not here…not in front of him."

"You think I am going to just let you two walk into the sunset now…"

"First of all, you do not let me do anything. I have taken your abuse for the last time. I hope you burn in hell."

She lunges for Clint and pushes the knife right into his stomach before Bo can stop her. "I am not your victim Clint. I will never be anyone's victim ever again."

The room was silent now; deathly quiet. Nora was on her knees next to Clint, his blood on her hands. Bo takes his jacket and wraps it around her shoulders.

"Did I kill him," Nora cries. "Please tell me I didn't kill him Bo. I didn't mean…I just wanted him to stop Bo...I wanted him to stop."

"I know baby...You have nothing to be sorry for...nothing at all."

It was the first time he could see all the scars that lined her delicate skin. He hoped she couldn't see the tears that welled in his eyes. What kind of animal would do this to the woman he claims to love? Why had no one noticed that she was living in a nightmare? Why did she stay?

"I'm going to take care of you Red…like I should have all along. I will take care of everything. You don't have to be strong anymore; I'll be your strength."

She leans hysterically against his chest and he lifts her off the ground. The first thing he needs to do is get her some-place safe. He would deal with his brother later. Nobody was going to hurt Nora and get away with it…nobody.