Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews! They really make me happy. :)

Just a little heads up—There's some strong language in this chapter, so if you're easily offended, sorry.

Keep reading and reviewing! Enjoy!

~Jillianna

Disclaimer: Chapter One

Rose felt her knees quiver at the sight of the blood, not knowing whose it was. She'd never shot a gun before… Was her aim really that bad that she shot Jack? She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as Cal's arm fell limp and Jack stood on unsteady legs. They both looked at Cal whose body was already shaking violently as his face blanched, the nasty wound on his leg bleeding uncontrollably. His black hair was a lovely contrast to his white skin as he pointed his gun at Rose, the corners of his mouth turning up in a wicked grin.

Jack's eyes went wide and he dove to stand in front of Rose, shielding her from the aim of the gun. Rose gripped his shoulders tightly and held on for dear life, pressing her face against his back and their bodies both shook with fear and adrenaline.

"Bang, bang…" Cal whispered, pulling the trigger twice, the clicking of the unloaded gun echoing eerily in the empty room. The clatter of the gun as it hit the tile floor was almost as satisfying, but the sickening thud of Cal's head dropping just after the gun seemed to top it all.

"Oh, God," Rose whispered, falling to her knees and sobbing loudly. Jack was instantly on his knees (whether it was to comfort Rose or because his legs couldn't hold him any longer, he didn't know), cradling her head in his lap. "I… I killed him!" she wailed into Jack's shirt, desperately clutching at him. "I fucking killed him!" A siren suddenly wailed in their front yard and Jack looked to the kitchen door as he heard the front door kicked open. "Police!" he heard a man yell. "In here!" Jack called, his voice cracking. "We're in here."

Rose whimpered in his arms, clutching him more tightly. "I don't want to go to jail…" she whispered as the police man's footsteps came upon the kitchen door. "I didn't mean to kill him… I really didn't. He was a human. He didn't deserve to die!" She let out another wail as the police man entered the room, his eyes inflating like balloons when he saw the scene in front of him. "Backup!" he screamed over his shoulder, visibly shaking as he turned to Jack and Rose.

"What the Hell happened?" he asked, clearly shocked as he grabbed the doorframe to steady himself. Jack swallowed hard, gently petting Rose's hair as she began sobbing again. "This man broke into our house while I was upstairs. My wife tried to get him out of the house, and when I came down, he was threatening her at gunpoint. I thought it was loaded, so I shot him with my own gun and now… he's…"

Two more officers burst through the door, wielding guns, aiming them around the room as they surveyed the damage. One of them ran to Cal's aide, checking his pulse. "Get the ambulance!" he screamed and the second armed officer was suddenly gone, the door still swinging in his wake. The first man went to Jack and Rose, gently taking Rose out of Jack's arms.

He helped Jack to his feet and turned him around, handcuffing his wrists together. Rose's head fell to the ground as she sobbed, not even able to look at Jack. "Shit…" he whispered, not bothering to fight against the officer. "Rosie? Rose, baby, listen to me, okay?" he said sweetly, keeping his voice as calm as possible. Rose, though in her hysterical state, could pick up on the panic in Jack's voice.

"Honey, I need you to pack yourself an overnight bag and go to see Ted, okay? He's gunna take care of you until I get back. I promise I won't be long, okay? Rosie, are you listening to me?" She nodded, sniffling, still not looking at him. "I'm just gunna go down to the Police Station with this fine man and get this whole thing sorted out, okay? And then you and me, we're… we're… Fuck…" he muttered stumbling over his own feet, his legs shaking from his nervousness, as the police man ushered him out.

"It's gunna be okay, baby! I'll be home soon, I promise!" The door closed and soon enough, Cal was carried out of the room and to an ambulance, where he was rushed to the hospital. And Rose was left all by herself in her house with Cal's blood splattered on the floor next to a now dented pan with what had been eggs and bacon grease. Never before had she felt so alone in her entire life.

J&R

The school was almost empty by the time Rose arrived, a bag slung over her shoulder packed with a set of clothing and a blanket. She prayed Ted was still in the school. Even though she didn't know him very well, apparently he and Jack were already good friends and that made her feel much safer than going to any neighbor's house.

Rose found herself standing by the front entrance to the school, staring at her shoes and absentmindedly picking at a loose thread on her bag. She had managed to calm herself some. At least Jack had promised he'd be home soon. He'd never broken a promise before and there was no reason for him to start now. When he got home, he would take her in his arms and kiss away her tears and make everything better.

She had managed to tidy herself up, after she cleaned up the breakfast no one had eaten and the all the blood, something she had less than eager to do. The only indication that she had been a hysterical mess only two hours earlier was the fact that her eyes were still very red. Oh, well… she thought. After what I've just been through, I think I deserve to look even a little distressed. "Rose?" the voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked up to find Ted staring at her, his brow furrowed.

Not being able to suppress it, Rose smiled weakly "Hello, Mr…?" "Ted," he answered simply, still looking confused. He offered her his arm, which she took gratefully and they began walking. "Jack didn't come in today… In fact, he told me yesterday that he was taking time off to be with you. Is everything all right?" Rose frowned scornfully.

"There's been a… a mistake," she managed to choke out, lifting her chin before continuing. "Jack's been arrested and he asked me to come to you until he can sort the whole thing out." Ted stopped walking and turned to Rose, who had fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I hope it's not anything of a… an inconvenience, but…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as Ted wrapped his arms around her.

"It's quite alright, love," he assured her, squeezing her tightly. "You can stay as long as you need. And if worse comes to worse, I'm here to help and I can get Jack out of jail, or get him an attorney or whatever he needs." "Thank you," she whispered, feeling very foolish for reasons she could not yet identify. Ted kept his arm wrapped around her and led her back to his house as if they had been old friends through the entire ordeal.