Sorry for no Sunday update, things have been hectic. Not a whole lot to say today, things are kinda crap right now but hey...I'm updating so at least my brain's still working, right? Fair warning, this next chapter contains a little violence...Read & Review peeps!

Chapter 28...

2:30 A.M.

"What's the matter?" Nikki nuzzled the side of John's neck. "You got all quiet all of a sudden."

"Nothing," he said, moving away. "I'm fine."

"Do you still wanna go back to the hotel later?" she smiled excitedly.

John forgot he made that suggestion earlier. That was before his talk with Raquel.

"I don't think so," he shook his head, finishing his drink.

"Why not?" she pouted. She scooted closer to him, her hand on his thigh, "I promise you'll have a good time. I can make sure you forget all about whatever's bothering you."

"Actually," John moved her hand. "I don't think you can."

She looked offended.

"Listen, I don't wanna be mean or anything but..I just..I'm not interested in the same thing you seem to be interested in. Not tonight."

"I can change that," she smiled.

"No," he got up, growing frustrated. "You cant."

He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and tossed some money on the table, "Tell Randy I'm going back to the hotel."

---------------------

"I think I'm drunk," Brianna stared through her empty glass, hear head down on the table.

"Yeah, I think you are too," Jeff patted the top of her head. He was feeling quite the buzz himself but he hadn't had as much as her.

"That last autograph I signed," Brianna laughed. "I don't think I signed my name."

"Well, as long as they got a picture, I think they'll be okay," he shrugged.

"Tha's a good point," she slurred a little. "I'm gonna go splash some water on my face."

She got up, stumbling a little and Jeff grabbed her arm to steady her. After a second, she gave him a nod to let him know she was okay and he let her go. Once she walked away, he looked around. He'd been trying to keep an eye on Raquel while at the same time be a shoulder for Brianna. He hadn't seen Raquel in a few minutes. Almost as if he'd conjured her up with his thoughts, she appeared, walking rather unsteadily toward him. He walked toward her, yelling to be heard over the loud music, "Are you okay?!"

"What?!" she yelled back.

He took her wrist, gently leading her closer to the table where they could hear better, "I said are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she pulled out of his grasp. "Why?"

"Because you cant walk straight," he said, concerned.

She said something that Jeff couldn't make out. It didn't make any sense.

"What?" he stared.

"I said I can walk jus ine," she said, staring at him as if he was the one being unclear.

"You can walk just fine?" he asked.

She nodded, looking annoyed.

"I don't think so," he shook his head. "I think maybe you've had enough. We should get back to the hotel."

He tried to take her hand but she yanked it away, "No!"

"Raquel what is wrong wi-"

"I don't need you in my face Jeff," she slurred, her gaze not quite focused on him. "Mind your own damn business. I'm fine."

"What?" he stared at her, trying to figure out where the hell this hostility was coming from. "You're not fine."

"Shut up," she pointed, her finger right in his face.

He was tempted to slap it away but he tried to remind himself that she was drunk and it was the liquor talking

"You need to sober up," he said.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes. "You're just trying to ruin my night because you're jealous."

"Jealous of what?" he stared, beginning to get angry. "You're not making any god damn sense!"

"You're pissed because I was hanging out with somebody else," she accused. She was trying for an amused smirk but she just looked wasted. He was doing everything he could to maintain his cool but she was trying his patience. All he was doing was trying to help her.

"Look Jeff, just because I've been nice to you lately, doesn't mean I like you," she laughed. "You don't even have a chance with me. I think we both know you got lucky once but it's never gonna happen again…so you should really just give it up."

That was it. He shook his head, turning and walking away. If she was going to be a crazy drunk bitch, she could take care of herself.

---------------------

Brianna was on her way back from the bathroom when she heard Jeff and Raquel arguing. She knew she'd had a lot to drink but she was nowhere near as gone as her sister. She'd been a royal bitch to Jeff.

Brianna sighed, walking over to Raquel, "What was that?"

"What?" Raquel looked annoyed.

Brianna shook her head, she wasn't about to be verbally abused like Jeff. She'd talk to her sister when she was sober. She stumbled a little but managed to regain her footing as she walked toward Jeff.

"Hey!" she tapped his shoulder when she found him at the bar.

"What?" he turned angrily. He softened a little when he saw her.

"Jeff, she's drunk," she said. "Don't be mad, she doesn't know what she's saying."

"I don't care what she's saying," Jeff shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"Obviously it did if you walked off like that," she said.

"I walked off because I didn't want to talk anymore," he shrugged. "Not because she hurt my feelings."

"I just don't want you to hold this against her," she said.

"Brianna, I don't care," he insisted. "It's nothing. Let's just talk about something else."

"Okay," she shrugged, deciding to let it go.

"Okay."

---------------------

Raquel walked back to the table she was sitting at with Dustin, trying to keep her balance. She was beginning to feel a little sick. Actually, she was feeling really sick. She was slightly nauseous and, unless she was imagining it, she was getting a little short of breath. It was definitely time to stop drinking. Justin stood, smiling when he saw her.

"Why don't we go out and get some air?" he suggested.

She nodded, figuring it might help. Justin took her hand and they walked through the club toward the door. The bass from the music was pounding through Raquel's body and she had to look down at her feet because when she looked up, it felt like everyone was coming at her. Everything was so bright her eyes hurt. She was grateful when they finally reached the door. Justin held it open for her and she walked out, right into a cold breeze. She couldn't tell if it helped her or made her feel even worse. She felt all the liquor in her stomach threatening to reappear and she put a hand over her mouth, leaning over.

Justin lightly rubbed her back, "Are you okay?"

She took a deep breath and straightened up, nodding, "Yeah, I think so."

"Do you want me to take you back to the hotel?" he said, tucking her hair behind her ear and touching the side of her neck. She was surprised that he would touch her like that when she was ready to throw up. Something about it was just..creepy.

"No, thanks," she shook her head. "I have to leave with my friends."

"Not necessarily," he said. "Did you drive?"

"No," she answered, feeling another wave of nausea.

"See, you can go with me then," he said. "Come on."

He gently took her wrist, trying to lead her toward his car.

"I really don't think so," Raquel said, trying to plant her feet to keep from being pulled. It was difficult though since she could barely feel them touching the ground.

Justin's kind gaze hardened, "Come on Raquel."

"No," she tried to pull away, growing frightened. She was in no condition to fight this guy off. "Justin we need to go back inside."

"I don't think so," he tightened his grip on her wrist, twisting it. Her mind told her mouth to scream but before she could, he yanked her against him, clamping his hand over her mouth, "What's the matter baby? I thought you wanted to have some fun with me."

Raquel could feel her heart beating through her chest and she struggled to get out of his grasp but he was way too strong for her. She screamed but his hand muffled the sound. She scratched at his hands and arms but it didn't seem to bother him. He started to drag her but her vision was so blurred that she couldn't see where they were going, not to mention they were filling with tears. She could barely breathe. She screamed again, hoping, praying that someone would hear her.

"There's no point," he said, his lips against her ear. "Even if I move my hand, nobody can hear you all the way in there."

She cried, her chest heaving as she tried to figure out what to do. But after all the drinks, she couldn't think straight. Her head was pounding, and all her mind could manage to focus on was her fear. She heard what sounded like a car door opening and then his hand was gone. She gasped for air, trying desperately to fill her lungs. Then, she felt a fist clench in her hair and without thinking, she screamed so loud her throat hurt. Justin jerked her roughly and she felt a pain in her neck as he tried to push her into the backseat of a dark blue SUV. She pressed her foot against the frame, trying to keep from being forced in. She took a deep breath and screamed again but this time Justin gave her a hard shove and she tumbled into the backseat. She turned over kicking wildly. She felt her bare foot connect with his shoulder but he didn't seem terribly affected. She wasn't about to give up though. She screamed, kicking at him again as he tried to climb in on top of her. He avoided most of her blows but she kept trying and kept screaming. Her throat was raw and she was started to feel even more dizzy but she couldn't stop.

"Get off of me!" she screamed, roughly pushing at his chest.

"Shut up!" he ordered, slapping her across the face.

Raquel felt blood begin to fill her mouth and she started to cough. Once again, he tried to get on top of her. She slapped, scratched, punched, whatever her hands and arms could manage but he didn't stop. She felt so sick and dizzy and she could tell that her movements were beginning to slow down. She could hear her breathing getting faster and faster and she just prayed she didn't lose consciousness. She couldn't stop him passed out. Her arms started to feel ten times heavier but she kept clawing at him. He cried out and to her surprise, when she tried to focus on his face, she could see three streaks of red across his cheek.

Before she could do anything else, she felt his hand clamp around her throat. She could vaguely hear her own strangled cries as she watched him reaching for something in the pocket on the back of the passenger seat. She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but it was no use. She could barely see through her tears but she caught a glimpse of something silver as he finally found what he was looking for in the pocket.

"You see this?" he held it in her face.

She dug her nails into the hand around her throat, still trying to move but feeling as if everything was going in slow motion.

"You keep fighting me and I'm gonna have to use it," he said, resting the object against her face. She couldn't see it but she could feel the cold steel of the knife against her cheek. She closed her eyes, feeling tears escape under her lids and roll onto her cheek, then over the knife blade. She wasn't going to get out of this alive.

---------------------

Jeff looked around at their booth. Andrew, Matt, and Trish were having some sort of debate about Canada. Maria was trying to talk to Brianna but Bri's focus seemed to be on the drink in her hand. He couldn't blame her, it hadn't been the best night for her. Hell, the night hadn't been that great for anyone. He thought back to his last 'conversation' with Raquel and frowned. He hadn't seen her in a while.

"Hey, where's Raquel?" he asked no one in particular.

"Should you be looking after the way she bit your head off earlier?" Andrew laughed.

"Shut up," Jeff rolled his eyes.

"Don't listen to him Jeff," Maria advised. "He's just pissed because some chick wouldn't give him her number."

"You got shot down?" Matt laughed.

"I did not get shut down," Andrew insisted.

Jeff tuned out the rest of the conversation, looking around. He didn't see her anywhere.

"I need to go get some air," Brianna said, though her speech was marred by all the alcohol.

Jeff slid out of the booth so she could get out. She stumbled and had to hold on to the table.

"You shouldn't be out there by yourself," he said. "I'll go with you."

"The more the merrier," Brianna shrugged, running a hand through her hair as they walked toward the door. Jeff walked in front of her, weaving through the crowds and checking over his shoulder to make sure she was okay. At the same time, he was looking around for Raquel. Where the hell could she be?

When they finally reached the door, he held it open for Brianna.

"Oh that's so much better," she said as the breeze hit them. It wasn't cold but it was cool enough to have a slightly sobering effect. Just slightly.

They were walking toward the parking lot when Jeff felt something catch his foot.

"Now who's drunk?" Brianna laughed as he stumbled.

"It's not my fault," he said. "I tripped."

"On what?" she asked.

They both looked down and Jeff felt his stomach knot up when he saw the small black purse on the ground near his feet.

"That's not…" Brianna shook her head, kneeling down to pick it up. She opened it quickly then looked back up at Jeff, "It's Raquel's."

Jeff was about to tell her not to panic when they both heard a piercing scream.

Jeff felt his heart start pounding and he pulled Brianna up, running toward the sound. On the way there, he saw a small, strappy shoe that he could swear belonged to Raquel.

They heard the scream again and both of them started running faster. Brianna's heel broke but she kept going, running slightly faster than Jeff. They rounded a corner and there, in the alley between Warehouse and another club, they spotted a dark SUV. Jeff could see Raquel's legs barely moving and another pair of legs between them. That was enough for him. He raced toward the car and grabbed the guy's shirt, yanking him off of Raquel, slamming him back against the side of the building. Blind rage took over and he swung, his fist slamming into the other man's face. Before he could punch him again, Jeff felt a hot, sharp pain go down his arm. He looked down to see the man pulling a knife away from him. He ran at the other man, grabbing his wrist and slamming it against the brick wall until he dropped the knife. Then, he punched him in the face again. And again, and again. He wasn't sure when enough would be enough but that time certainly hadn't come yet. He could see blood beginning to cover his fists but he didn't care. The guy was still conscious and that was a problem. The bloodied stranger managed to land a lucky punch to the side of Jeff's head. Jeff fell to the side, his vision fading for a few seconds. He shook his head and just when his sight returned, he saw the guy running away.

"Son of a bitch!" he yelled, running after him.

"Jeff!" he heard Brianna yell after him. He didn't want to stop but something in her voice made him. He turned to see her climbing out of the SUV and trying to get an unconscious Raquel's arm over her shoulders, "We need to get her to the hospital."

---------------------