Here is the next chapter. I am not sure when I will post the next one. It depends on when I can write more and if I can get on before my graduation party tomorrow. I hope you enjoy this!

TRIGGER WARNING: There is a short scene of abuse in the beginning. It's super short and not graphic, but just giving a warning.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Fast and Furious" or anything familiar about it. I do own my characters.

Nora's body shook as she curled up at the top of her bed with her eyes closed. The loud noise coming from outside her room frightened her more than she wanted to admit, and she knew that any second it could swallow her whole and she would cease to exist.

Just like she had predicted, the thunderous noise moved closer and suddenly her bedroom door was thrown open. Standing in the bright doorway was a drunk man, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and his belt in another.

"I'm sorry."

He grunted. "What did I tell you about talking back to me?"

She didn't respond, but watched him walk closer to the bed.

"What…too good to speak now?" He slurred.

She couldn't win, she knew that, and prepared herself for the beating that was to come. Suddenly, her legs were on fire and she cried out in pain. The belt had struck her across the thighs, and were bright red from the impact.

"Please stop!" She heard herself shout, knowing that no matter what she did he wouldn't.

"Do you think you rule this house?" This line came from a high-pitched female voice just outside the door. "You can't tell us what to do."

"Please…" She cried and felt punch after punch hit her body.

"You stupid, worthless, little shit."

"Nora…"

"You are a disgrace to this family!"

"Nora…"

"You deserve everything you get young lady and you say thank you."

"Nora!"

Nora shot up in bed, hearing a loud bang. She looked around the room and saw she was still in her dark room at her new house and not in the one trapped inside her mind. Then she looked down and saw something that horrified her.

The thud, she realized, had come from a body. Her eyes went wide and she met Jack's shocked gaze on the floor. She'd pushed him off the bed and he'd landed on the floor—hard. Suddenly, the room filled with light as Mia and Brian ran to the doorway.

The second their eyes landed on Jack, she panicked. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

She looked back and forth from them to Jack and didn't know what to do. Jack stood and ran out of the room, making her reaction even worse. Glancing at Brian, Mia hurried off after her son.

Nora instantly brought her knees to her chest and pulled her head down to them. She couldn't catch her breath, and now her nightmare was going to come true again. She'd hurt their child, and now she'd have to pay. She felt Brian move closer to her and shook her head.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I'm so sorry. Please…please don't." She cried and struggled to breathe properly.

"Nora…hey, Nora look at me." Brian said calmly, rubbing her back. Slowly her eyes met his. "It's okay. You didn't do it on purpose. He's not hurt. It's not him I'm worried about right now, it's you. Listen to my voice and breathe normally. You're okay. You're safe. I told you that, remember? No one is going to hurt you here."

A few moments later her breathing settled back into its normal rhythm and Brian sat next to her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded slowly. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He paused. "Nora, you do believe me when I say that you're safe here, right? We're not going to let anything happen to you."

She sighed. "It's hard for me to accept that when I have never had that before."

He was going to respond again, when Mia walked back in followed by Jack. He carried his blanket and pillow and marched over to the bed. He pushed his stuff up next to her as Mia helped him climb up onto the mattress.

Then he looked at Brian. "I sleep in here tonight. I'm going to protect Nora from the monsters."

Nora smiled, tears in her eyes , and put her arm around him. "Thanks monster."

He smiled at her and curled into her side. She pulled her blanket up over them and Brian and Mia watched as their son fell back to sleep. Nora followed just as quickly. Shutting off the light, they walked back to their room. The second the door was closed, Brian turned to his wife.

"We need to see her file." He told her, concern written on his features. "That wasn't just any nightmare, Mia. She was screaming."

Mia nodded. "I know. She sounded like she was in pain."

"She thought I was going to hit her." Brian said and watched as Mia looked at him with a horrified expression. "I'm willing to bet that wasn't a dream, but a memory. A really nasty one."

Mia sat on the edge of their bed and Brian noticed she had tears in her eyes now too. "Brian…she can't go back to that. She told you her mom takes her back, right? How can anybody let that happen?"

He shook his head and sighed. "I don't know. But maybe her file will tell us something about how we can help her."

"I'll call in the morning." Mia told him.

One thing was for sure, they definitely weren't getting any sleep that night.

A few weeks later, Mia drove up outside the store she was supposed to meet Nora at. There hadn't been a rehearsal that day, so she and Paige were going to grab coffee and do their usual Wednesday routine. As she walked into the pet shop, Mia caught sight of the girls playing with various animals in the back.

"How can I help you today?" The woman behind the counter asked with a smile.

"I'm just here to pick someone up." She replied quickly.

The woman nodded. "Ah, you must be Nora's new foster mom. She said you'd be coming in here."

Mia smiled. "Do the girls work here? They say they come here every week."

"They do, every Wednesday." She looked back at them. "You see that little Yorkie next to her? About two months ago, they came in with that little thing. It was shaking and hadn't been properly taken care of for a long time. We got him back on his feet, but he won't go with anyone. He only wants her. So we keep him here and she comes in and takes care of him every week."

Mia was shocked. She saw how Nora was with him and sighed. "What's his name?"

"Groot." The woman smiled. "She named him herself."

At that moment they saw Nora look up and smile. Then she threw a ball for Groot and the girls snuck out of the room.

"How was your day?" Mia asked them.

"It was good." Nora said. "Math sucks, but what else is new?"

Paige rolled her eyes. "She always says that."

"Bye Helen. We'll see you next week." Nora smiled and they left the building.

They parted ways with Paige and climbed into Mia's car. "I thought we'd stop by the garage and see what they're up to. Is that okay?"

Nora nodded. "That's fine with me."

"Good. They picked up Jack today, so we can grab him and head home to start dinner." She told the younger girl.

When they arrived at the garage, they both noticed the tension in the room. Jack ran over and sat next to Nora. "The lady who works at the desk isn't coming anymore. Daddy and Uncle Dom are mad."

Nora smiled. "It's okay kid. They just need to find someone else to work here; then they'll be happy again."

She took his hand and they walked back to see Dom complaining to Mia. "I just don't know what to do. We have Dustin covering the mornings, but the afternoons are busier and we need him."

"I'll do it."

Everyone turned and looked at Nora. "What?" Dom asked.

"I said I'll do it. You need someone and I can come by after rehearsals, that about when she would start right?" Nora shrugged. "I can do it."

Brian sighed. "Nora, you don't have to-"

"I know. I want to." She smiled. "Plus this way you don't have to pay someone to do the work."

"That's stupid." Letty said. "Of course we're paying you."

"What problems are you causing now, new girl?"

Nora rolled her eyes and looked at Dustin. "I'm working here now, so you'll need to come up with something better than 'new girl'."

"Not a chance." He grinned.

Sending a look to the adults, she strode over to yell at him.

"Oh this will end well." Dom joked as her voice echoed behind them.

Laughing, Jack went to help his new friend. Mia took the opportunity and turned to them. "Noelle dropped off her file today.

"And?" Letty asked quickly.

"I'm waiting for Brian so we can read it together." She told them.

"Why don't we take them out to dinner tonight?" Dom suggested. "That way you can have time to read it without worrying about her."

"I don't know if she'll go for that, but it worth a shot." Brian said.

"Hey Jack, do you want to go to dinner with Aunt Letty and I tonight?" Dom shouted and the young boy nodded excitedly. "Nora, that offer is for you too."

She bit her lip. "I mean…I don't want to intrude."

Dom gave her a look. "Remember what I told you?"

She sighed. "That would be lovely, thank you."

"So it is settled. We'll take them without us when we leave here and bring them home after dinner." Letty smiled.

"Thanks." Mia smiled and watched as Nora went back to yelling at Dustin.