AN: This story is in it's last few chapters, and we see a variety of things start to happen, just as Brooke and Matthew start to fall for each other. We get a glimpse into Brooke's past, she has to save Shaundi from STAG, and the Dadeleus (sorry for the wrong spelling) might make an appearance. Good and bad news all around, huh?

Chapter Seven: Not A Moment of Peace

Brooke wondered just why she asked Matthew to stay at the clubhouse that night. She began to blush as she thought about him being close by, and at this moment in time, she really needed someone that she knew she could trust to be close by when she needed it most. She was glad that she could get a moment of sleep, because with STAG in the neighborhood, or city rather, it made sense that when she could, she better get some rest because it was going to be a rough fight in store for the Third Street Saints. Hell, it was going to be a tough fight for all of them, if you think about it.

With those thoughts in her mind Brooke turned over and went to sleep,with nightmares soon to follow.

14-year-old Brooke was sound asleep in her room in Stillwater. As her mother was "entertaining" someone that she had met while she was out partying. Brooke was used to her own mother doing reckless things like this. Hell, there was times that she would hang out on the streets of Stillwater until, well, whenever she felt like coming back home. Then again, with a home like this, who could blame her for not wanting to come back to this hole in the ground? It was kind of hard to try and fall asleep, if anyone in Stillwater could fall asleep, that is a mystery to her.

Brooke closed her eyes, and tried again to fall asleep. That is when she heard her door open, and a figure stepped in. Brooke knew that her mother must have finished doing whatever she was doing int her bedroom, and she came into her bedroom to see if Brooke was asleep.

As her mother got closer, that is when Brooke knew something was wrong here. Brooke smelled the strong smell of aftershave, and alcohol. Whoever her mom was entertaining, decided that he was up for more, and entered her room for round two.

"Well, your mom was right, you are a pretty little thing." The man said. Brooke felt the man climb on top of her, and to her disgust, she felt the man's hard on against her leg.

"Don't fight this, or I'll slit your throat." The man whispered in her ear. Brooke did the only thing that she could do,

Cry...

Brooke's eyes snapped open, and she saw a figure standing in her doorway. She reached for the gun that she kept right by her on her nearby nightstand. She grabbed it and pointed it at the figure in the doorway, and was about to fire when the lights went on. Brooke let out a sigh of relief, and smiled lightly as she saw Matthew standing in the doorway, having a concerned look on his face. Matthew slowly stepped inside, but stood a few steps from Brooke's bed, not wanting to cross a boundry between them.

"Brooke? What's wrong? I heard something in here, so I came in to check on you." Matthew asked her. Brooke took a deep breath before answering.

"I was having a nightmare." Brooke said.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was it about?" Matthew asked. Brooke shook her head no, and Matthew nodded, heading for the door.

"I was raped when I was 14." Brooke said out loud. Matthew stood there, staring at the door when she said that, and was frozen. Matthew heard that as clear as day, but he was still shocked as he heard it. Matthew turned to face her, but he did not say a thing. He walked over to her bed, and sat there as she began to cry.

"I'm sorry, Brooke." Matthew said.

"Just hold me." Brooke said. Matthew wrapped his arms around her, and held her close as he cried into his bare shoulder.

As he opened his eyes, it took a few moments to register exactly where he was. Matthew then remembered the events of the night before, and Matthew remembered the confession that Brooke made to him last night. He was in her bedroom, Brooke's room to be exact. Matthew sat up, his legs hanging over her bed. He looked around for Brooke, but she was not in her bedroom, of course. She figured that she might want to talk about what happened. He walked out of her bedroom, and that is where Matthew found Brooke, who was dressed in her usual combat boots, tight jeans, and Third Streets Saints shirt, heading for the elevator.

"What's up? Where's the fire?" Matthew asked her.

"No time to talk. STAG taking Shaundi, and I have to save her." Brooke said, stepping into the elevator, and hitting the button for the lobby.

"Wait, I should come with you." Matthew said.

"Nope. I got this." Brooke said.

Matthew tried to get another word in, but the elevator door closed, and Brooke was gone. All Matthew could do was sit in the clubhouse, and wait for them to return, hopefully.

Matthew sat in the clubhouse, watching the news with Oleg, and before they knew it, a STAG transport plane landed in the Saints helipad, and Viola, Pierce, Shaundi, and to their shock and dismay, Cyrus Temple stepped out of the transport.

"What the hell are you doing bringing him here?" Matthew asked the group.

"Chill out, man. That's the boss. She got surgery to look like Cyrus Temple." Pierce said.

"Oh, thank god." Matthew said.

"I can't wait to change out of this ridiculus outfit, and change myself back to normal." Brooke said, in a Cyrus Temple voice.

"Neither can I." Matthew said under his breath.

The day, surprisingly, went on really peacefully. Matthew played chess with Oleg, and talked with Shaundi and Pierce, all the while Brooke was in and out of the common room. Matthew knew that he had some questions about what she told him last night, and he knew that he should probably ask her about it, but when and where would the appropriate time would be?

Figuring that there was no time better than the present, Matthew walked away from Oleg and Pierce, and walked towards the bedroom that Brooke occupied. Matthew quietly opened the door, announcing himself. Brooke looked towards him, and smiled sweetly. Matthew closed the door, made sure that it was locked so they would not be disturbed, and walked over to Brooke.

"Brooke? I was wondering if you would like to talk about what happened last night." Matthew asked her.

"What's there to talk about? What happened to me happened a long time ago." Brooke said casually. Matthew wondered if she should be concerned about the casual nature how she was referring to her being raped as a young teenager.

"I am not going to push you to talk about this subject, but I want to let you know that I am here if you need to talk about it." Matthew told her. Brooke turned around, and faced her friend.

"Look, the way that I came to terms with what happened to me is that I can live my life without constantly thinking about what that night was like." Brooke said. "I hate thinking about that night. So the less I think about it, the better."

"Okay. Fair enough." Matthew said, giving her a friendly and comforting smile.

The days came and went, and Matthew felt himself growing attached to Brooke, again of course. Matthew did not let her know this, but he always harbored a crush on her, and when he finally got the nerve to bring his feelings up to her, the explosion on that ship with Councilman Hughes happened. That might already be known, but it needed to be said again. Matthew wondered if Brooke felt the same way, but he did not have the nerve to ask her. Hell, how do you ask the leader of a feared gang if she has feelings for you, or even out on a date?

Yet, here Matthew was, about to do just that.

He waited until the moment was right, and then he approached Brooke.

"Brooke?" Matthew said, getting her attention. Brooke looked to her friend, and saw the nervousness in his face.

"What's up?" Brooke asked him, a sly smile on her face.

"Listen, I was wondering something. Well, I had something that I wanted to ask you." Matthew said. Brooke took a mental note that Matthew was not looking her in the eye a lot while talking, and when he did look at her, he would dart away when their eyes met.

"What? What are you trying to ask me?" Brooke asked Matthew.

Matthew took a deep breath, and was about to speak when Oleg appeared, and whispered something to Brooke.

"Oh, sorry Matthew, but something came up." Brooke told him.

"What is it?" Matthew asked her.

"We are changing clubhouses, we are gonna be bunking at your place from now on." Brooke stated.

"Okay, but what are you gonna do with this clubhouse?" Matthew asked her.

"We are setting a trap to fuck up STAG." Brooke said, a smile growing on her face.

Matthew knodded, and decided to go along with the plan, knowing that there was no way to talk Brooke out of this, knowing her.

AN: The STAG Assault is the next chapter, along with a first date after that entire ordeal, if you can believe it.