Title: The Day We Died

Author: Shannon – shannyfish

Disclaimer: I do not own "Haven" or its characters, Syfy and other people do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: When Duke is confronted by friends of Reverend Driscoll that promise to give him the answers he so desperately wants, will he sacrifice everyone and everything he holds dear? How will the town of Haven be forever changed? Audrey/Nathan

Warning: All of Season 2 is fair

Author's Note: This fic takes place after the events in 02.10 "Who, What, Where, Wendigo?" Reviews make me happy :D And I'll write faster too! So, keep that in mind! And yes…I totally stole the title from the Fringe episode!

. . .

Chapter 3 – "What You Can Never Take Back"

Much to Audrey's surprise, things hadn't been so bad. Dave and Vince had actually cheered her up a lot and had actually put her to work. She didn't mind, though. It wasn't what she was used to doing, but it was more exploring parts of Haven she may not have seen before more than work. It had been a distraction and that was just fine. A distraction was truly what she'd needed.

They had tried to convince her to call Nathan and tell him that she'd rather have lunch with them. They were so cute. "I promised Nathan," she told them.

"So…do we get details?" Dave asked.

"Details about…?" Audrey asked.

"You know…you and Nathan."

"What about us?"

Vince shook his head. "They still haven't admitted their feelings for each other. "

Audrey stopped for a moment, shocked at Vince's words. "I'm standing right here, you know. I can hear what you're saying."

"I was hoping you could," Vince said. "So, end the misery and tell Nathan you love him!"

"Wait…what?"

Dave shook his head now. "They're both so oblivious to it! It's sad, really!"

"It is!" Vince agreed.

"What are you two talking about?" Audrey asked them. "Nathan doesn't think of me that way. We're partners…he's my best friend…"

"He's more than that," Vince said. "Just admit it. You'll feel better. Nathan will feel better. Then, we can have a party…"

Dave looked at Audrey. "We've been right about the dresses in the past, right?"

"Yes, but that isn't—" Audrey conceded.

"This isn't any different. It's plainly obvious to everyone except you two."

"I can't believe we're having this conversation…" Audrey mumbled and looked down at the ground. She was a little worried that she was blushing…and that there was a slim possibility that this could end up in the Haven Herald. Of course, Dave and Vince liked her and Nathan so maybe they'd be kind about everything. Her and Nathan? Really? Okay…so she'd kissed him the night before, though they didn't need to know that. But did she love him? Did he love her?

She wasn't watching where she was going and found herself colliding with someone. Audrey apologized immediately and when she looked up, the small smile that had been on her face disappeared. She was face to face with the one person she'd successfully avoided for the last day or so, Duke Crocker. "Sorry," she found herself apologizing again.

"They didn't throw you in jail?" Duke spat at her.

Audrey took a step back, running accidentally into both Dave and Vince who had come to a halt behind her. "What?"

"You killed Reverend Driscoll! You're a killer, Audrey!"

"That's not what happened," Vince argued. "She saved that girl."

"They suspended me, Duke," Audrey told him sharply. "They'll probably fire me from the only thing I know by next week. That should make you happy."

"He had answers!" Duke spat at her, ignoring Vince and Dave.

Audrey just wanted to run. She wished to be locked up away with her cupcakes. Somewhere safe and someone away from people. "Did you ever think that maybe I could help you find those answers?"

"Not doing so well with your own though?"

"You chose the rev," Audrey told him. "Nathan and I could have helped you find those answers, but you chose the rev. I did what I had to do in order to save that little girl. You told me afterwards that you didn't know if you would have stopped the rev from killing her, if you still don't know or the answer is that you wouldn't then I don't know you, Duke…and I honestly don't want to."

She turned in order to leave and she hoped that Dave and Vince would follow. At this point, she'd be happy to hide away in the guise of having lunch. Nathan would understand. "Come on, I thought we were having lunch," Audrey said to the two older men. Before she could get too far, though, she felt a hand yanking her back and around. Duke held her wrist and Audrey actually would admit, if it wasn't Duke, that it hurt…a lot.

"Let her go!" Dave yelled.

She struggled. Audrey knew that she could break free, but she honestly didn't feel okay injuring Duke in the process. It was still hard for her to process that Duke was now the enemy and no longer her friend. She was about to stomp on Duke's foot when sirens sounded.

It wasn't often that sirens sounded in Haven; normally it was due to a fire truck in need to get to a burning building fast. Today, it wasn't the fire department. It was Haven Police and Nathan. Haven was a small town; it didn't take long for police to arrive on the scene. Audrey was certain that someone along the street had called for help.

"Let her go, Duke," Nathan said. He approached with an officer.

"I can't do that… If you can't serve justice, then I will…" Duke threatened. He let Audrey's wrist go for just a second, he had a handful of her hair in no time though, which kept her in place. He pulled out a gun he'd hidden on himself and held it up to Audrey's head. "I'll do it, Nathan…"

"What do you want them to do, Duke?" Audrey asked. Tears left her eyes, she couldn't help it. Having your hair pulled wasn't comfortable. At the moment she wondered if Duke was right. Did she need to be brought to justice? What kind of justice?

Nathan got Dave and Vince to the police car, so Audrey was at least relieved at that. She'd been a little worried that the two older men would try to help her. She really was more worried about their safety over hers. If Duke was going to shoot her there, then it was going to happen. She had no doubt in that. Did she want to die, though? Absolutely not. She knew that she had so much still to do.

"I want to see justice…" Duke told her.

"She's being investigated!" Nathan yelled. "What else do you want? I'm not in charge of it! They won't even take me as a character witness or any of my input."

It was tense and Audrey waited for things to happen. Either Duke was going to shoot or the police officer was going to. Nathan had his gun out, but she doubted that he'd chance hitting her. She closed her eyes and just wished the world away. She concentrated on her moment the night before with Nathan. Their lips touching and the crackling she'd felt through her soul. The peaceful and perfect moment was interrupted by the sound of a moan emanating from deep inside of her. She'd been thrown to the ground and had actually hit it pretty hard since she wasn't expecting it.

"Audrey!" Nathan shouted.

"I'm okay!" she said quickly. She really wasn't, but it was the standard response to deliver. There were footfalls and Duke complaining and the familiar sound of cuffs. Audrey started to get up on her own, but found Dave and Vince there to help her a moment later. She accepted the help and gave them both a small smile. She heard them gasp and looked downward. Her hands were scraped up pretty badly and she felt bruised in various places.

"You're going to need a doctor for those," Dave told her.

"I'm fine," she told him. She just wanted to hide away somewhere.

Vince guided her to the curb. "Come sit here."

She did as instructed and then looked back at Nathan. He and Duke were arguing. The police officer was standing close by. Normally she was the moderator between them, but something had happened to Duke. He'd changed…reverted maybe. He'd changed since she'd gotten to Haven, for the better…and now this.

"The rev deserves justice!" Duke yelled again. "And I'm not the only one who feels that way, Nathan!"

"You know what," Nathan responded, his voice almost too low for anyone else to hear around him. "You're lucky… Audrey probably won't file charges against you even though I'm going to insist she does. She's changed you Duke. You were a common criminal before and then you were practically an upstanding member of Haven…and now this… You've got your priorities all screwed up! Audrey's helped you and you can't even see it!"

"Chief," the police officer spoke up.

Nathan nodded. "Take him down to the station." He was beyond pissed. He had finally settled down and had stopped worrying when the call had come in. A local shopkeeper had seen the incident. All of Haven knew what had happened with the rev and he was sure that enough of those rumors blamed Audrey. The shopkeeper was concerned for Audrey and Nathan was extremely grateful.

As he made his way towards where Audrey sat and Vince and Dave stood nearby, he knew what she'd say. He knew Audrey well enough, even in this heightened emotional state. She was going to blame herself and tell him to let Duke go. He wasn't going to like that conversation. He wanted to at least let Duke sit and hope that some sense came to him. Pressing charges against him would actually make him feel better about everything, but she wasn't going to let him.

"She needs a doctor," Dave said.

Nathan nodded. "We called an ambulance already."

"I'm sorry, Nathan," Vince started. "We didn't see Duke. We were distracted by our conversation."

"That good of a conversation, was it?" Nathan asked and then sat down next to Audrey on the curb. He reached out and inspected the palms of her hands. At some point, her body had automatically tried to keep herself from hitting the ground. Audrey had still hit the ground, but he had a feeling he'd be more worried about a head wound, if her body's natural instincts hadn't kicked in. It was pretty bad, well bad enough that he was pretty sure that the medics en route would at least clean it up, put something on it, and wrap them up. He dropped the hand he'd been gently supporting and reached out to move her face, so that she was looking at him.

"Nathan, I'm fine," Audrey told him quietly.

"Shh…"

Her left cheek was already bruising. He frowned. He didn't like her getting hurt. He knew that she was a cop, she knew the risks. They could be killed on the job at any time, but this… Nathan didn't like this at all. He really wanted to go to the station and have some time alone with Duke. He couldn't though; Nathan had to be on his best behavior while they were investigating Audrey.

"We can argue about pressing charges later," he finally said. The sound of the ambulance pulling up had pulled him from his thoughts. "Right now, I want you to get looked over."

"I'm fine."

"Audrey, I need you to go to the hospital. I just want to make sure that everything's really okay," Nathan told her. He turned to Dave and Vince, who were still nearby. "Can you two go with her?" They both nodded quickly. "Thanks." He needed to take a statement from the shopkeeper.

"How did you know I was going to argue about pressing charges?" Audrey asked him, eyeing him.

"You're my partner, Audrey. I know you," Nathan told her and left it at that.

"I really don't need to go to the hospital."

"For my sanity, you need to," Nathan insisted.

"It doesn't hurt," she told him as she held her hands up.

Nathan eyed her. "I highly doubt that my trouble is contagious. I don't want to be finding out three days from now that you had a concussion. You're going to the hospital."

"You did hit your head," Dave pointed out.

"Nathan's right," Vince agreed.

"Three to one…not fair, guys…" Audrey complained but then nodded to Nathan. She'd do as he requested. Not because she wanted to, but because it would make Nathan happy.

. . .

TBC…