WARNING – DISCUSSIONS OF ABUSE AND RAPE. MAY NEED TISSUES.

A few hours later, George slowly began to wake. He blinked away sleep and felt a warm, comforting presence next to him. He turned slightly and found Elliot was asleep. Elliot slowly woke and found George watching him.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hello," George replied.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Good." George laid his head in Elliot's chest and Elliot ran his fingers through George's hair. "Do you want to talk about it?"

George sighed. "There's something I haven't told you, about what happened before I came to New York."

"You know who did this, don't you?" George nodded against Elliot's chest. "Who is he?"

George took a deep breath. "His name is Eric Peterson."

"An ex?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah," George answered. "I had just finished my FBI training and started working in D.C when I met him. He was nice, caring. We went for drinks a couple of times as colleagues, then friends, than after a few months he asked me to dinner. We started dating and after only three months, I moved in with him.

"Everything was fine at first, then after about two months, he started to get jealous and possessive. He would get angry if I spoke to a male colleague for too long. He would accuse me of lying about where I was and who I was with, convinced I was seeing someone else. I don't know how, whenever I wasn't at work, I was with him."

"Why didn't you leave?" Elliot asked gently.

"I was scared he would find me and things would get worse. And besides, I had nowhere else to go."

"What about your family?"

"They were never very accepting of my sexuality, but they could pretend that part of me didn't exist as long as I was single. When I told them about Eric, they said if I choose to be in a relationship with another man, then they wanted nothing more to do with me."

"I'm sorry," Elliot said, as he stroked up and down his lover's back. George smiled sadly. "What happened with Eric?"

"Things got worse very quickly," George told him. "It started with him shouting and throwing things, sometimes trashing the entire flat. And then on day, he hit me."

"What happened?"

"We were out with colleagues. They were his friends. I can't remember exactly what was said, but I know I disagreed with something he said. He was not happy. I always knew not to argue with him, especially in front of his friends, but I just couldn't help myself. At the time he just laughed it off, but when we got home, he started yelling at me, saying how much I had humiliated him and that his friends are going to be laughing at him for not being able to control his 'pet'.

"I was really angry when he called me that, so I slapped him. He just looked at me for a second, and I knew how much trouble I was in. I started to step backward, scared, when he grabbed me by the arm, pushed me onto the couch and started to hit me over and over." Tears began to fall from his eyes.

"Oh, darling," Elliot said, as he held George tighter. "Shh, it's okay. Do you want to stop?"

George shook his head without lifting his head from Elliot's chest. "I need you to know."

"Sure?"

George just nodded and took a deep, calming breath. "When he finally stopped, he just got up and went to bed. I just lay there for a while, unable to move. The pain was unbearable. Eventually I managed to move to the bathroom, where I cleaned up as much as I could, took some pain killers, then went to bed, because, even though I was afraid of him, I was even more afraid of what he would do if I didn't.

"After that, it happened quite a lot, and I never knew when. I was terrified of him. It continued for nearly six months when things got even worse." His voice began to shake and his body trembled as tears began to fall even faster.

Elliot saw the state his fiancé was in and tried to calm him. "Sweetheart, you don't have to tell me now if it's getting too much."

George took another calming breath, as he tried to stop his tears. "No, it's okay. If I stopped now, I don't think I could talk about it again."

"Ok. But if you want to stop, just tell me."

"Ok." George paused for a second before continuing. "As I said, things got worse. Eric and his team had managed to close a big case. They all went out to celebrate and Eric took me with them, even though I wasn't really in the mood. After a few hours, he suggested that they all come back to the flat and have a party. I wasn't too happy, but I was too scared to say anything, so I let them. They were playing loud music and drinking a lot, and after a while I decided to go to bed."

He paused, and took shuddering breath. "When I woke, I couldn't move. My arms and legs were tied to the bed and I was naked." Tears began to fall again. "I heard a voice whisper in my ear from on top of me. It was Eric." He shivered as he remembered. "He told me that I had to do what he said or he would kill me. He then …" He paused for a minute, as he tried to gather his thoughts. Elliot continued to try and keep him as calm as he could.

George eventually felt he was able to carry on. "He then started to rape me. It hurt so much. Then I heard another voice. I turned my head and saw all of his friends were there as well, laughing and enjoying seeing me in pain. I felt humiliated. I loved this guy, how could he do this to me. When he was finished, he got off me and told his friends that they were 'welcome to me', and they could do whatever they liked," George sobbed as Elliot began to cry with him.

"I was more afraid than I had ever been before. I wanted to fight, but I couldn't move. I have no idea how long it lasted. It could have been minutes, hours, or even days. All I know is that eventually I passed out. When I came around, my arms and legs had been released and everyone was gone. There was a note next to me from Eric, saying he was going to be home late and not to do anything I might regret.

"I began to stand and my entire body felt like it was on fire. Somehow I managed to make it to the bathroom. I took a shower, then I looked in the mirror. When I saw all the injuries and felt the injuries I couldn't see, I knew I had to get out of there."

The two remained silent for a few moments, holding each other close. Eventually Elliot was able to calm himself down enough to break the silence. "What did you do?"

"I cleaned up as many injuries as I could, got dressed, packed my bags and left. I stayed at a hotel for a few days, while I sorted out s transfer to another state, knowing I had to be as far away as I could. When it was done, I moved from D.C to Oregon, hoping to leave it all behind me.

"I had been in Oregon for about eight months, when I saw him again. I was terrified. As soon as I could I got another transfer, this time to Idaho. After a few months, the same thing happened again. He always seemed to find me. It was then that knew he wouldn't stop, so I kept transferring, even if I hadn't seen him. I was so scared of him finding me, that I never stayed in one place longer than 18 months. Until I came here. My relationship with you is the first one I've had since I left him."

"George."

"When I came here, I never expected to meet to someone, never mind fall in love. I definitely didn't think I'd end of engaged and pregnant. I kept moving because I never felt safe." He looks up at Elliot. "But now I do. I feel safer than I've ever felt in such a long time, and that's because of you, Elliot. I knew there was a possibility he'd find me, but not once had I thought about leaving, because I knew I would never be able to leave you behind."

"You only had to ask," Elliot said, "and I would've come with you."

"You have a good job and a family who need you. I could never take you away from that."

"I can be a cop anywhere, and I know my kids would understand."

"Would you really have given it all up?"

"If it meant keeping you safe, then yes."

George laid his head back on Elliot's chest. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, I was just so scared."

"I know, love, I know," Elliot said gently. "But you don't have to be scared anymore. We're gonna find his guy and he'll get what he deserves." George nodded against Elliot chest, as he listened to his fiance's heartbeat. "You know what," Elliot said, "I'm gonna call Cragen and tell him I'm taking the rest of the week off, so I can take care of you."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes I do. Besides, I wouldn't be much use at work if I'm spending all my time worrying about you." Elliot kissed the top of his head, before standing up. "Now, you rest, while I make the call."

George settled in the bed, as Elliot took out his cell. He left the room, and stood in the corridor as he made the call.

"Cragen," a voice answered after a couple of rings.

"Captain, it's Elliot."

"Is everything okay?"

"I need to take the rest of the week off. George needs me and I don't want to leave him right now."

"Sure, Elliot. You look after him."

"Thank, Cap." He ends the call and went back into the room. He stood at the door for a second as he watched his lover.

"El?" George whispered.

"Hey, you should be asleep."

"I can't sleep without you, no right now."

Elliot sat on the bed behind George, one hand stroking his hair, while the other rubbed gently over his stomach and their unborn baby, while George laid his head back against Elliot's heartbeat.

"Are you okay?" Elliot asked.

"I am now."

"You know, you need to ell Olivia what you told me if we're going to get this guy."

"I know," George sighed. "I'm just scared."

"I know," Elliot said as he kissed the top of his head, "but I'll stay with you while you tell her."

"Really?"

"Of course I will. I wouldn't leave you to do this on your own."

"Thank you," George smiled.

"Anything for you," Elliot told him. "Now, get some more sleep. I'll be right here if you need me." George nodded as he fell back to sleep, while Elliot held him tight.

Elliot looked at his love and began to whisper to the sleeping man. "I promise you, my love, that I'll never let that man hurt you again. I will do whatever it takes to keep you and baby safe. I love you, both of you, more than anything else in the world. You will always be safe with me. I promise."