Alyssa took a deep breath as her and her three very large friends walked up the long driveway to her New Jersey mansion. Usually she wouldn't even bother going into the front house, she'd just walked around back and went straight to the guest house. Today, however she was feeling bold. She took a deep breath and unlocked the door. It wasn't long before the quiet house began to stir. Everyone could sense the tension as James entered the room with his jaws clenched and balled up fists. Alyssa stepped back towards John. John had his jaw set just like his counterpart in front of him. Although he couldn't help but be pleased that she'd come to him for protection. A part of him wanted to leap with joy, he'd finally hit her inner core. He stood firmly in his place knowing his task was not yet completed.

"Alyssa, who are these men?" James words were tight and he was clearly enraged.

"Um they are my friends. I was with John here. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the complete truth, but I didn't think—"

"You're right you didn't think!" Alyssa jumped at his outburst. John's eyes narrowed, what kind of man used intimidation to frighten his child?

"I um said I was sorry. It won't happen again, I promise." John was surprised as to how she could formulate coherent thoughts the way she was shaking. He stepped forward in front of Alyssa.

"Sir, I understand that she lied to you but this is no way to treat a child." James rolled his eyes, then his face contorted with an epiphany.

"Wait. Wait," he paused, "I know you. You're the guy from the hotel over Thanksgiving." He started laughing. "Now it all makes sense. My kid has been telling you lies since you met her." Alyssa wanted to roll her eyes but she was still too afraid. She knew somehow she'd be alone with her dad tonight and she didn't want him any madder than he already was.

"No, it's nothing of the sort. She hasn't really told me anything, well except the fact that both you and your ex-wife left her alone Thanksgiving weekend." James sighed.

"That was hardly leaving her alone, she had money and transportation." John heard both Dave and Triple H scoffing behind him. They both had kids, and knew about Alyssa's situation. Needless to say neither of them were happy.

"I call sending your daughter to a complete different state and not even informing her mother of her trip as leaving her alone and well quite frankly it's downright irresponsible." James sighed his fuse was wearing thin.

"Look, she's my daughter so what I do with her is none of your business. Now if you'll excuse me my daughter and I need to talk about rules." Alyssa paled and froze in her place. John noticed it immediately.

"No." James wasn't used to being told 'no.'

"Excuse me?"

"Like I said 'no'. As far as I'm concerned you're scaring her and not someone I think she needs to be around."

"Like I said, she's my daughter. So back off pal. If you're not off this property in thirty seconds I'm calling the cops." John, Dave, and Paul stood in their place. James shrugged. "Fine have it your way." He picked up the house phone. "Alyssa go to your room, I'll deal with you later." Alyssa was scared senseless. She looked up at John. John wrapped his large arm around her and pulled her close to his chest. James sighed. "Alyssa that was an order." John had enough.

"Look! She is a human, not a dog. Treat her with some respect." James smiled.

"The police are on the way." John smiled.

"Good, I'll inform them of your verbal, physical, and emotional abuse of your daughter. I'm sure they'd enjoy that." James laughed.

"Are you sure? You see, I'm in an exclusive golf club with both the District Attorney and the Police Chief. Somehow, I don't' think anything you say will stick." Alyssa shook her head, she knew not even all of John's muscles couldn't help her. "Now Alyssa, I won't say it again." She lowered her head and slid out of John's embrace. She began to walk forward. John grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Lyss, you don't have to." Alyssa looked up at him and then lowered her head again.

"Yeah I do." She sighed deeply. "Thanks for trying though." With that she turned and disappeared up the steps ignoring John's calls behind her. John grunted this was not going according to plan. There was a knock on the door. James smiled.

"Ah, the police." James opened the door revealing two cops. After a brief conversation they walked towards John, Paul, and Dave.

"Men you are trespassing. Either we can escort you off the property or we can arrest you." Neither of the men wanted to leave, but they weren't given a choice. They began walking towards the door. John couldn't believe this was happening. He came to help, not to make it worse. He stopped and turned towards James.

"If a hair on her head is out of place, I'll rip you limb from limb." James only smiled.

"Threatening me?" John kept his scowl outwardly, but was mentally kicking himself. He'd just lost all his credibility. The limo was still in its place and John couldn't believe he was leaving her alone with him. He felt lower than he ever had before.

Alyssa was in one of her childhood bedrooms. This would be epic. She hadn't seen her dad that mad in a while. She watched the limo pull out of the driveway and sighed. Great! That's what trust gets you? She shook her head. She never should have trusted him or anyone else for that matter. She jumped up as her father threw her door open.

"What were you thinking?" Alyssa hated when this happened, her mouth clamped shut and her thoughts were scrambled. She felt seven all over again.

"I-I uh…" James smiled as Alyssa began to back away.

XXXXXXX

Two weeks later John was back in New York for a meeting for an upcoming paper view. He felt horrible. Alyssa wasn't answering any of his calls, texts, emails, or iChat conversations. He was stuck thinking, he'd finally gotten her trust only to abandon her in her greatest time of need. What kind of friend was he?

John sighed, after a grueling morning of interviews, that he just couldn't get his mind into. Great. He sighed, and rubbed his eyes. What would he do? He'd left her in New Jersey needing him. He wanted to scream. He just wanted to know that she was ok. Then it hit him…she goes to school in New York. John shot up.

"Taxi!"

Alyssa sat at her desk in her room. Boy was she glad to be back in her room…alone. The last two weeks were pure and utter hell. Her dad had moved into a new level or rage and aggression. She sighed, rubbing her bruised shoulder. Just one more year and she'd be on her own. Alyssa opened her cell phone. No messages from John. She sighed, he'd been calling and texting non- stop, well until two days ago. Then all his attempts to contact her stopped abruptly. She was torn, she wanted to trust him, to reach out to him, but she couldn't be hurt again. She just couldn't. Oh well, back to life as usual. Time for another documentary.

John took a deep breath and walked into the front office of the school. People were staring at him while he entered. Like always he put a smile on his face and entered. "Hello, may I help you?"

"Um, yes my name is John Cena. May I see Alyssa Sullivan please?" The lady's eyes narrowed and typed some information into the screen. She smiled.

"What is your business with her?"

"Well we're old friends and I want to surprise her." The lady nodded. She knew more about Alyssa's situation than she let on. Alyssa had been here since she was five years old, and in all those years her parents only came to visit her once. Shaking her head, some parents those were. She knew this man would be a good thing for Alyssa. The poor child.

"Ah yes, Alyssa. She's in Allen Hall rom 254. I'll have someone escort you in." John nodded.

"Thank you ma'am. "

John was oddly nervous. The kid, who escorted him in, was highly uninterested in him, so he was left alone with his thoughts. Man, he hoped she wouldn't freak out and kick him out. "Well here it is. I'm sure she's in there." John smiled at the sullen boy and walked out. John took a deep breath. This was the moment of truth.

Alyssa groaned, who was knocking on her door? She sighed and opened it.

"John?" John smiled and looked her over. She looked skinnier and tired. He sighed.

"Yeah, who were you expecting?" Alyssa shrugged not knowing what else to do. There was an awkward silence. Alyssa looked at her shoes. John sighed, this was a completely different girl than the one he'd met almost two months ago.

"Uh, would you like to come in?" John nodded, this was going better. He looked around the room. Clearly one side was hers with posters of big events in history and a modest computer set up. He smiled, she was watching a documentary. At least that was the same. John sat down on the bean bag chair in the corner. "So what are you doing here?" John took a deep breath.

"Cut the small talk, huh?" Alyssa shrugged. "Well you haven't been answering my attempts to contact you. I um was kinda worried." Alyssa didn't know what to say. So the truth came out.

"I um, aren't supposed to talk to you." John's eyes narrowed and then it hit him. Of course.

"Your dad?" She nodded.

"And mom. Apparently you're 'distracting me from making proper judgment calls'. In other words you make me act like a human instead of a robot." John nodded, he'd made her bolder and control freaks don't like that. The awkward silence returned. "So um, when are you leaving?"

"Actually, I'm off until tomorrow evening. So…" Alyssa nodded. John was tired of beating around the bush, he need to get this off his chest. "Um, I'm sorry I left you that day." She shrugged, honestly she didn't want to remember that day at all. "Really I am."

"I believe you." John smiled and took a deep breath. He needed to know what went down.

"So um, what happened?" Alyssa sighed, he should know anyway.

"Alright, well after you left my dad stormed into my room. He was really angry. Anyway he yelled, screamed, and threw things. He told me I wasn't to see or talk to you and if I did, I'd pay for it." John winced, at least she seemed physically ok. He still felt horrible though. Alyssa was happy her bruises were concealed, she didn't need him to know the extent of James Sullivan's latest rampage.

"It wasn't too bad was it?" She shrugged.

"It was pretty bad, he was really angry." John sighed, he should have went about it differently. John walked across the room and brushed the stray piece of hair out of her face. She winced and pulled away. Great, now he'd find out! John narrowed his eyes. That was when he saw it. There were remnants of a black eye. It was fading but it was still there. He hadn't noticed it before because she covered it well. She stood up angrily. How could he have let this happen?

Alyssa watched him pace the room. She didn't know how to respond. Usually pacing was bad, but she knew somewhere deep inside John would never hurt her. "He didn't hit me." John stopped mid step. He turned towards her in confusion.

"What? Lyss, your eye…" She took a deep breath and glanced at the door, making sure it was still closed.

"He didn't hit me. Well not directly anyway. He threw one of my textbooks at me and it hit me in the face. That's where the black eye came from." John took a deep breath and sat down.

"Did he leave any other bruises?" Alyssa shifted, not wanting to answer. John sighed. Great, he left her there to be a punching bag. He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. This was a lot. Alyssa felt bad, she never told anyone of what went on when her father went into one of his fits of rage. She didn't know how to respond. John felt so bad. He'd left her. He wrapped his arm around her and set his mind. She'd never have to endure that again.

"Lyss, I promise you that you'll never have to go through that again."

"Let's not make promises you can't keep." John sighed, this was all so complicated.

There ya go! Love you guys!

I'm going to try to update soon!