AN: Violence in this chapter

Jennifer walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel, and headed towards her cellphone, which she had plugged into the wall before spending some quality time with a steady flow of hot water and a room full of steam. The relaxed state she had reached quickly faded as she found five more text messages from Alec.

Hey Jenny. Please call me or at least text me back. I just want to talk. Thats all. Promise.

*Delete*

Baby please dont ignore me. I promise Ive changed. I just want to make things right with you.

*Delete*

Come on Jen! Why do you have to be like this? I just want to apologize and make amends!

*Delete*

You know, this is a small town. Im sure if I ask around someone will tell me where I can find you. You cant hide from me forever.

*Delete*

Im never going to give up on you.

*Delete*

She knew she should keep her promise to Duke and call Audrey and Nathan. Alec was right, after all. If he asked around, sooner or later he'd find someone who knew who she was. Chances are it wouldn't take very long. When you run around town covering up troubles with the Herald it's difficult to keep a low profile. She just hoped that the people of Haven would have the sense to not tell some strange man where she and Duke lived. Plus, she had told herself that she was not going to let him or the fear he instilled in her run her life anymore.

Just as she thought she felt her bravery coming back, her text message alert sounded again. She slowly lifted her phone. She let out the breath she had been holding when she saw it was from Duke.

Just made it to Portland. I'll try and wrap everything up here as soon as I can. Everything still okay? Did Alec try contacting you again?

Everything's fine. No more messages.

Good. I have to go, I'll call you when I'm headed back.

Sounds good. Drive safe!

She felt guilty for lying to him, but she knew that if he knew the truth he'd be worried for the rest of the day. She didn't really know what his meeting was about, but she knew it was somehow important and she didn't want to cause him to screw it up. He'd also make her call Nathan and Audrey. Explaining her past to Duke had been enough for one day. Once Duke got back she'd tell him the truth and they'd deal with it together. He'd probably be mad but… what was that saying? It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission? Something like that.

Jennifer made a pot of coffee, just remembering that she never did get her latte, and curled up on the couch with a mug and a book. She was glad to be reading something besides Unstake my Heart, although she did miss the days when holding onto a simple book was able to solve her problems.

She tried to immerse herself in the story and forget what was occurring in her real life. It wasn't working as well as she had intended. She kept glancing at her phone, unsure as to whether she was looking at it out of fear that Alec would text her again, or out of longing for Duke to call and tell her he was on his way home. Seeing Alec earlier had stirred old memories. The physical injuries had healed long ago, but her mental and emotional scars were still there, hidden beneath layers of perkiness, sass, sarcasm, and some really fast rambling. During the time she lived with Alec, Jennifer had grown to feel as though she was worthless as a human being. That nothing she could do was right. That she would amount to nothing and whatever pain Alec inflicted on her was what she deserved. Little by little she was recovering from these thoughts and beliefs. Without even knowing it, Duke helped a lot.

Jennifer tried to push the thoughts from her head as she directed her focus back to the book.

After two cups of coffee, a turkey sandwich, and 183 pages, Jennifer's phone finally rang. After a brief moment of panic that Alec was calling her, Duke's image popped up on the screen. She smiled as she answered it.

"Hey Duke! You on your way home?"

"Yeah. I'm just getting on the highway now. I had to make an unplanned stop so I'm leaving later than I intended. Which means that I am now sitting in traffic. Is everything still okay there? No more contact from Alec?"

"Nope. It's been quiet around here all afternoon. Pretty boring actually."

"Good, good. Look, I'm probably going to have to go straight to the Gull and open it. But I promise I'll be quick, and then I'll take you somewhere nice for dinner."

Her anxiety increased as the realized she was going to have to wait longer to be with Duke again, but she did her best to play it off. "Somewhere nice? Where? What's the occasion?"

"Do I need a reason to treat my girl to a decent meal? And as to where, it's a surprise. But dress up. I may even have to put on a collared shirt."

"Ooo! That'll be a nice change to plaid or denim!"

"I thought you liked my plaid and denim."

"I love them. But change is good sometimes."

"I can agree with that. I'll probably be back to the Rouge around 5:00."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

"Stay safe. See you soon."

"Bye, Duke."

She hung up the phone and decided to start getting ready for her date later. She still had a while, but decided she wanted to take her time getting ready. For the first time today she was excited for what the future held. She was glad that neither she nor Duke were going to let Alec's presence to cause her to live her life in fear and hiding again. She had done that for far too long.

It was only 4:23 by the time she was ready. Her makeup was perfect, her hair was curled, and she had on Duke's favorite little red dress. And she realized she was starving. She looked at the time, wondering if Duke had made it to the Gull yet. Maybe she should just meet him there so they could get to the restaurant, whichever one it was, sooner.

She decided to do just that. Even if Duke wasn't there yet, she had a key to get into the Gull. And Nathan and Audrey would be right upstairs, so how mad could he get at her? She grabbed a nice shirt and pair of pants out of Duke's closet, found her keys, and drove towards the Gull.

Traffic getting back from the city must have been really bad because Duke still hadn't made it to the Gray Gull by the time Jennifer got there. She grabbed her bag and the change of clothes she had brought for Duke and unlocked the front doors. She set the stuff and her keys on the bar before going to flip the chairs of the tops of the tables.

She never heard the car pull into the parking lot, but she did feel the cool breeze that cut through the room as the doors opened. She had forgotten to lock them behind her. She froze in her position wiping down a table, stupidly facing away from the door.

Please be Duke. Please be Duke.

All the hair on the back of her neck stood up as a voice came from the doorway.

"Wow, Jenny. You're look really amazing! Is that a new dress?"

She spun around and stood as close to the table behind her as she could, clinging to it tightly with both hands.

"What are you doing here?"

"I asked around about where I could find Duke and Jennifer. I have to admit that the people in this town are skeptical to give information to strangers, but finally someone told me about this place. I was glad to see you were alone in here."

"Duke will be here any minute. And two police officers live right upstairs. With guns."

"Jeez, Jenny. You act as if I'm here to kill you or something. I just want to talk." He took a few steps closer to her and she moved to the other side of the table.

"You should really leave. We don't have anything to talk about."

"C'mon. I've changed, Jenny. Just give me another chance. I quit drinking. I've been doing yoga to control my anger. And I miss you. I'm so sorry I ever hurt you. But you leaving me really opened up my eyes and it got me to change my ways. For you."

"I didn't leave you. You abandoned me! I woke up in the hospital scared and alone! I went back to our apartment to find all my stuff in the hallway, the locks changed, and no one answering the door while I was banging on it! Finally Phyllis from next door came out and told me you had left. Moved into a different apartment with 'just-a-friend' Rachel from work! I had to go crawling to a friend I hadn't spoken to in over a year, because you made me too embarrassed to hang out with anyone in case they saw the bruises, and ask for a place to stay while I looked for an apartment I could afford! What part of any of that sounds like me leaving you?!"

"You tried to commit suicide. I thought it was your way of saying that death was better than life with me. I was doing you a favor."

"You were-!" She paused and took a breath. She knew he was lying to get her talking and get her back. He had left when things got complicated. He had probably hit Rachel, who was probably a stronger woman than she was, and was now trying to get back the girl he knew he could control. Well, he wasn't going to control her any more. "No. I'm not arguing with you about this. Just leave, Alec. I'm never going back to you. I'm with Duke. And I'm happy here. So just leave. Go back to Boston. Lose my number. And forget about me."

She walked to the other side of the bar to put away the rag and start putting silverware on the tables.

But Alec wasn't going to just leave it alone. "So this is how you're going to be? Just as much as a bitch as you always were!"

Jennifer tensed as the Alec she knew started coming out. Then she realized her mistake. She was behind the bar. And Alec was blocking the only way out from behind it. And he was coming closer. She stood her ground, mainly because she was unsure of what to do next.

"C'mon Jen. Jen-bunny." It was a nickname he had given her back when they were happy together. Now, it made her skin crawl. "Just come back to Boston with me. We can work this out. We used to be so happy." He took a step even closer so he was about a foot away from her, and placed his hands on his upper arms.

She tried to push him off, managing to get him to take a half step back. "I said 'no'! I'm never getting back together with you. You don't deserve a second chance after everything you put me through. You may have come here looking for the weak girl who would obey your every command. But she's not here anymore. I've changed."

"You'll always be my Jen-bunny. And there will always be a part of you that's still in love with me." He smiled at her and took a step closer again, limiting the space between them even more than it was before.

"I know now that I never loved you." As he stepped closer, Jennifer reacted on instinct and slapped him across the face. She regretted it immediately. At first, Alec was shocked, but it didn't take long for that expression to change to one Jennifer knew all too well. He was still blocking her only escape route. She tried to use his shock to her advantage and turned to climb over the bar and get away from him.

But she wasn't quick enough. He grabbed her and pulled her back down and then spun her so she was facing him again. He grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed her upper arms tightly. Too tightly. There would surely be bruises in the shape of his fingers there later.

"You. Ungrateful. Little. Bitch!"he spat at her and then backhanded her. She was knocked off balance and collided with the side of the bar. Before she was able to regain her composure, a forceful hand grasped a fistful of her hair. She should have screamed. Why didn't she scream? Alec threw her to the ground, knocking her head against the bar on the way down, and began kicking her in the stomach. "After all I did for you! After all we had together! How can you say that doesn't deserve a second chance?!"

She looked around for a way, any way, out of this situation. She spotted a knife on the shelf. Between blows she managed to slide her way towards it, grab it, and then jam it into the side of his leg. He stumbled backwards and she crawled to the end of the bar, found her way to her feet, and ran towards the doors. She wrapped a hand around her midriff, trying to brace the likely broken ribs. Her head throbbed and the world spun with each step she took. She ran as fast as she could over to her car.

She pulled hard on the driver's side handle. The door didn't budge. Locked. Her keys were back on the bar. With her purse. And her phone. She spun around looking for how much time she had and for a way out of this situation. She could try to outrun him. She did stab him in the leg. But she was also hurt bad and didn't know how far she would get.

Then she saw the light on in Audrey's apartment. As fast as her injuries would allow, she ran back in the direction of the Gull and started up the stairs towards the apartment. "Audr- Ahhh!" she screamed as a hand grabbed her ankle and pulled, causing her to fall and hit her head, once again, on the wooden steps. Her vision faded in and out as Alec flipped her onto her back. She tried to cry out again, but before she was able to Alec's hand was around her neck, crushing her windpipe.

"Keep quiet you stupid bitch!"

She clawed at the hand constricting her ability to breathe, but to no avail. She wanted to kick at him, but he had all his weight on top of her and she couldn't move. Any fighting she was doing stopped when she felt the tip of a blade press against her cheek. He still had the knife she stabbed him with.

He smiled when she froze. "That's more like it." He closed the space between them and forcefully pressed her lips against hers. She clenched her eyes shut. When he pulled away he whispered in her ear, "You're mine." The hand around her neck finally released and she took in a much needed breath. Alec stood up and grabbed her by the ankles, dragging her down the stairs to the flat ground beneath. Her head pounded as it bounced and came harshly into contact with each stair. As soon as she hit flat ground he was on top of her and the hand that had previously been around her neck reached down and caressed her thigh. She became extremely aware of how short her dress was. He began using the knife to cut up her dress.

Jennifer felt reality slipping away from her. The outside of her vision had become black and the rest was blurry and fading. Her head was throbbing and every part of her body hurt. She wanted to cough to ease the discomfort in her throat, but coughing would have required too much energy. She was aware of the weight of Alec's body on top of hers and the cool breeze hitting more and more exposed skin as he sliced further up her dress.

Then she realized that there was no hand around her neck anymore and he was focused on getting her dress off her. She mustered up every last bit of energy she had to cry out, "AUDREY!"

Alec slapped her hard across the face again. "Dammit! I thought I told you to SHUT UP!"

The next feeling Jennifer became aware of was a sharp sensation in her stomach, with pain unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything to get away from the pain, but all she could do was lie there in agony.

"Hey!" a familiar female voice called from somewhere above Jennifer.

"Shit!" She heard Alec exclaim before feeling the knife being twisted and torn from her flesh, sending another wave of pain throughout her body. Her breath caught in her chest as he ran away and another person came and knelt down next to her.

"Jennifer? Jennifer, it's Audrey. It's okay. It's going to be okay. Just hang in there!"

Audrey took off her jacket and pressed hard against the wound in her stomach. Jennifer thought she couldn't possibly feel more pain. She was wrong. Her vision went completely black and her limbs were starting to numb. The last thing she remembered was hearing Audrey say, "Jennifer! Stay with me, Jennifer!" before every sensation in her body disappeared completely and the numbness took over.