"Hey." Rountree's soft voice filled the room as Fatima settled onto the couch next to him.

"Hey," Fatima whispered.

"Is everything okay? You seem sad," he said quietly. Fatima nodded.

"Can I get your opinion on something?" she asked.

"Of course. What's up?" Devin asked softly.

"I, um... It's about Ali," she whispered.

"Okay," Devin said softly. He felt his stomach flutter. He loved Fatima with all of his being. He wanted to be her boyfriend, and he wanted Ali out of the picture.

"I, um, don't think I'm as happy with him as I was," she said quietly.

"Okay..." Devin was confused. "Is he doing something?"

"No. I mean..." Her voice trailed off. "No," she clarified. Devin felt immediately suspicious.

"Are you sure?"

"You know, just 'cause you're jealous doesn't mean you get to judge my relationship," Fatima snapped.

"Hey, no, absolutely not. No. It was just something about the way you responded. Felt like you were hiding something," he said quietly.

"Look, I'm not, okay?!" she snapped.

"Yeah. Yes. Okay. Got it. He doesn't try to hurt you," Devin reassured her. "So what's going on?"

"I just... I thought I loved him when we first started dating. But its like, dinners feel like a chore. He's, um, never mind. You don't want to hear about that," she mumbled.

"Yes I do. I want to hear everything you have to tell me. I'm your open ear," he said quietly. "And if you want my advice I'll give it, and if not I'll keep my mouth shut."

"He's hinting that he's ready to have sex with me," she blurted out.

"But you're not ready," Rountree said knowingly.

"No! No, no! I want to wait for like, a really long time. Like marriage," she said quietly. "And I told him that and he said he would take me to get married tonight. That's kinda why I'm here. I told him that I had to work late."

"Fatima, that's clearly pushing your boundaries," he said quietly. Fatima nodded.

"Can you hold me?" she whispered. Rountree moved his drink from his lap and grabbed a pillow, placing it over his crotch. Fatima narrowed his eyes. Devin sat up a little more and put the pillow on his shoulder. Fatima snuggled into him. "Thanks," she whispered.

"Of course. Hey, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be inappropriate. That's how me and Jordyn always laid together," he whispered.

"It's okay," she whispered.

"So what are you thinking about Ali?" he asked, rubbing her shoulder gently.

"I don't know," she mumbled. "I wanna break up with him but I'm worried he won't take it well," she whispered.

"Fatima Namazi." Devin's voice was suddenly sharp. "If you are unhappy with him, you dump him. Do you understand me? I will be there if you feel unsafe breaking up with him, but I saw his training. He will not be able to hurt you," he said quietly. "You don't owe him shit." Fatima was silent.

"If I text him to meet me at my desk and break up with him there will you wait around the corner just in case? Like tonight?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. Put some jeans on so it looks like you were actually at work before we go, Miss Sweatpants," he said playfully. Fatima smiled and nodded, then got up. She disappeared into her bedroom, then returned a few minutes later.

Fatima texted Ali as Devin pulled into the parking garage. She walked over to her desk and settled into her desk chair as Devin walked up the stairs.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Ali asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah, uh, hey. Look, you're a really sweet guy, but, um, I think we need to break up," she whispered.

"You can't do that," he said sharply.

"Yes I can, " Fatima retorted.

"Get-HEY!" he snapped, pushing her against the desk. Fatima gasped as he put his hand over her mouth.

"You don't get to tell me shit, you little whore. You think I don't know about Rountree?" he hissed. "You think I don't know you're sleeping with him?"

"I'm not," she whimpered. "I swear." She felt his hands wander over her chest. "Hey, hey stop that."

"Don't fucking tell me no. I own you. That's what the Qur'an says," he whispered. Fatima felt her jeans loosen and she realized he must have undone her button and zipper.

"Stop!" she cried out softly. She felt his hands slide under her jeans and into her underwear. "Stop!"

"You like it, don't try to fucking lie to me. You're all wet." Fatima wanted to scream louder, to yell for Rountree. Where was Rountree?! She was embarrassed. She didn't know whose side any witnesses would take.

"Help! He's trying to rape me!" she screamed, trying desperately to wiggle free. When did he get so strong?!

"I told you to shut the fuck up. You're gonna burn in hell, you little whore," he snarled. Fatima felt the weight being lifted from her. She opened her eyes and saw Devin yanking Ali from her.

"You're under arrest," Devin snarled as Fatima crawled under her desk to cover herself up again. Once her jeans were up and her shirt was fixed, she peeked out nervously. She watched as Devin shoved Ali out and sat him on the bench by the staircase. "Hey," his soft voice said. "Do you just wanna stay there while I take him to LAPD?" he asked quietly. Fatima shook her head. "Do you wanna come with us?" he whispered. Fatima shook her head harder. Devin moved her chair and sat next to her. "Come here," he murmured. Fatima leaned against him and wiped a stray tear.

"I've never been assaulted before," she whispered.

"I'm not gonna tell you that it's okay because it's not, but you're safe now. He can't hurt you ever again," he whispered. "I'm so sorry it took me so long," he whispered.

"What were you doing?" she whispered.

"Nothing that was worth your safety. I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"What were you doing?!" she asked again, tears running down her face.

"It's not important," he whispered.

"I asked what you were doing that was so important that you didn't realize your partner was being raped!" she screamed.

"I was upstairs. I didn't see or hear you until you screamed," he whispered. Fatima stared at him.

"I told you to stay close," she whispered.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Fatima. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what else to say. I thought he wouldn't be as much of a threat," he whispered. "And I didn't hear you and I'm so sorry and I'm the worst person ever and I wish I could go back in time and do this right." His soft voice comforted her in an odd way and she broke down crying. "I'm so sorry. Fatima, you deserve so much better than me and I'm so sorry again. I hope that your kind, beautiful heart can forgive me someday," he whispered. "Are you coming? I gotta get him out of here."

"I'll come but only if you keep him cuffed," she whispered.

"Of course."

"Tree?"

"Yeah, partner?"

"I forgive you," she whispered as she crawled out from under the desk.

"Thank you," he whispered.