I was glad that Emily had taken charge, I had been seriously worried about Sari, but I don't know if I'd have had to guts to step in there on my own. I had wanted to run and get the nearest security guard or teacher, but she'd quickly grabbed another student to do that.

Then she was pulling my through the crowd, and after a moment I helped shove people out of the way to get us to the front.

When we reached the centre of the commotion she took a moment to assess the situation before telling me that she was taking the guy in the blue shirt.

A quick look at the two guys, and I was happy with her choice. The second guy was definitely the smaller of the two.

I stepped into the fray right after her, moving to the other side of Sari just too late to prevent the guy from shoving her backwards again. At least she was now sheltered on both sides by Emily and I.

The guy in front of me looked at me in confusion, clearly not the brightest bulb on the block. I could hear the crowd still shouting and jeering, but I blocked them out. I was waiting, tense, to find out if this guy would back down when challenged, or start swinging.

"What the hell do you want?" He snapped at me.

"I want you to stop being an asshole to my friend." I snapped back.

"What did you call me?" He growled, but made no effort to move towards me. I got the feeling that he was only a tough guy when his mate was backing him, and I told him so.

"I called you an asshole." I repeated slowly, "What else would you be to attack a young woman?" I pretended to think about it, before cutting him off when he started to respond. "I suppose I could call you a coward, seeing as you couldn't even have the balls to go one on one with her…had to have your big mate back you up, did you?"

A cheer went up from a number of people in the crowd, with several people starting to jeer at the guy.

He started to look panicked, realising that the crowd was quickly turning against them.

"Go on! Run away, coward!" I taunted him, and he didn't wait to be told twice.

The crowd parted…delivering him straight into one of the security guards who had finally arrived.

I grinned, that went better than I could have hoped. I turned to check on Sari and Emily…Just in time to see the other guy send her crashing to the ground with a punch to the head.

"Emily!" I rushed over to her as the security guards ran over to restrain the guy.

Emily groaned and rolled onto her back, "Ouch…"

I let out a breath of relief, at least he hadn't knocked her out entirely, though there was already a nasty set of bruises forming on her arm and the side of her face.

I helped her sit up gently, with Sari supporting her on the other side.

"You ok, Sari?" I asked, and she nodded a little shakily.

"Emily?" I asked.

She nodded, then winced, "I'm ok…Hurts like hell, but I'm ok."

One of the security guards knelt down in front of us. "Do you need an ambulance?"

I looked at the other two. Both shook their heads.

The security guard frowned, then held out a hand towards Emily's arm, "May I?"

She hesitated a moment, then nodded. He gentle took her arm, turning it to inspect the growing contusion, then the matching injury to her face. "I really think you should get that looked at. I can give you a ride if you want? You can give your statements on the way, I'm guessing you will want to press assault charges?"

I looked at him in surprise, the thought having not actually occurred to me.

"Can you give us a moment?" Emily asked him. The man nodded and stood up, moving over to some of the people who were still standing around.

Sari was looking worried. "I…I don't want to cause any trouble…" She told us.

Emily and I both gave her comforting smiles. "You aren't." I told her, gently but firmly, "Those guys had no right to treat you like that."

"But," Emily added, voice gentle, "If you don't press charges, they'll get away with it…and probably do it again to someone else."

Sari continued to look worried, turning away from us to look around at the crowd of concerned onlookers. Most of those who had been cheering on the two guys had disappeared with the arrival of security. Those who remained were mostly young, worried looking women. Some of them wore headscarfs like Sari, or some other clothing or jewellery which marked them as different. No doubt all of them worried they'd be next, waiting to see the outcome of the attack.

Sari squared her shoulders and straightened her scarf, "Ok. I'll do it."

I smiled at her, "Don't worry, we'll be by your side the whole time."

Emily nodded her confirmation and called the security guard back over to tell him that we would go with him.

Several hours later, having all missed the days classes, we were finally dropped back at the campus grounds.

Emily and I walked Sari to her dorm, leaving her with some other friends for the night, before finally heading back to our own dorm.

"We'll have missed all the good stuff." I complained to Emily, and she nodded. There was always plenty of food, but the exciting stuff usually went early, and we were now late.

"At least there's always ice cream." She pointed out, and I perked up. Let's face it, there was no such thing as bad ice cream.

The good thing about getting to the dining hall late was that it was nearly empty, and we were free to eat our dinner without too many curious people interrupting. Having spent all day talking to nurses, doctors and police we were both quite happy to eat in silence.

"I don't know about you," I commented, "But I don't think I feel like studying tonight."

She gave a snort of laughter, "Agreed."

We plodded up the corridor. I for one was ready to collapse into bed and stay there.

"Hey there ladies." I did a double take, I would recognise that cocky voice anywhere.

"Dean!" I cried, rushing towards him.

At the Sam time I heard Emily calling, "Sam!"

We both stopped midstride, turning to stare at each other while Sam and Dean burst into laughter.

"Emily," Sam said with mock seriousness, "Meet our friend Taylor."

Dean snorted, before adding, "And Taylor, meet our friend Emily."

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