So...I probably should have properly look at my story again before I posted it because I forgot that there was a prologue...oops. On the plus side I finished writing my essay so I have time to post another chapter. Two days in a row, awesome.

Content warning: suggested suicide, rape and domestic violence

This is the only chapter with this sort of thing, and isn't essential to the story so if you wish to avoid the topic, you won't miss any part of the story if you don't read this chapter. It isn't to graphic, though, I swear.

This chapter is more of a back story for Halina.

The crowd roared in delight then started chanting, "Boot! Boot! Boot!" as they pressed against the sides of the boxing ring, trying to get close to the victor as the announcer held up a man's gloved fist as he made the win official. He was a giant man, standing over six foot four, covered in bulging muscle. Though, in the moment, his hair looked almost black, completely drenched in sweat, it was actually a sandy brown colour and beneath his swollen eyes sat a pair of steel coloured irises.

The crowd parted slightly as a young red-haired girl pushed her way to the front of the crowd, then was lifted up into the ring, followed shortly by an equally red-haired petite woman. The two ran up to the victor, throwing their arms around him as the crowd continued to chant Boot's name. He smiled as he looked down and he sees his girls through the one eye that hadn't yet swelled shut. He hugs and kisses his wife, then hoists his daughter onto his shoulders as he lets out another roar of jubilation.

The young girl clings happily to her father, chanting his name with the crowd, not minding the sweat that was pouring down her father's face and body and seeping into her clothes, nor the blood that oozed from his brow. She didn't care about her clothes, she just cared that her father was happy and now everyone knew what she had known her whole life. Frank 'Boot' Jackson was an extraordinary boxer and if he could stay off the booze long enough, he could defeat anybody.

Six Years Later

"Halina! Halina!" Boot called loudly from the living room. "Where'd you go, baby girl?"

"I'm up here, daddy!" Halina called from her room at the top of the steps. "I'm coming!"

"We're gonna be late!" Boot called back, his voice now coming from the bottom of the steps.

Halina contemplated the picture for a moment longer. She had taken it from a newspaper article, showing that wonderful night when everything seemed like it was only going to get better, but it didn't. That night was the pinnacle of her fathers boxing career and soon, he began drowning himself in booze once more. Her mother had to work three jobs to keep their family afloat and her progress was hampered by her husband's problem with the bottle. Finally, she couldn't take it no more and saw only one way to end her misery and so, last summer, she took her life.

Her father had been devastated with the loss but rather than sinking further into a bottle, he had managed to somber up, got himself a decent paying construction job and had managed to save enough money to get Halina an airplane ticket to Boston. Her father had been happy for her when she had told him she wanted to be a lawyer and absolutely floored when she told him that she'd been accepted into Harvard. He couldn't help her with her tuition or living costs but he could buy his little girl a plane ticket so she could live her dreams.

Finally, Halina stuffed the picture into her bag, beside the one with the three of them sitting happily together as they picnicked in one of her hometown's beautiful parks. She was more than ready to leave. Ready to get away from the snickering and whispers. She hated hearing them say cruel and snide things about her mom, about poor old washed up Boot. About how Boot had killed his wife and condemned his daughter to a childhood of poverty and shame. But they didn't know him, not like she did. She knew why her father kept drinking, what demons he was trying to run from. Her father was the only thing that made her want to stay because she feared that when she left, he wouldn't have anything left to fight for and he'd drink himself to death.

"What's that face about, baby girl?" Boot asked as he put his big hard hands on her shoulders. "Aren't you excited?"

Halina looked up at him ruefully. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Oh, baby girl." Boot sighed as he pulled her into a tight hug. "No need to worry about your old man. Baby, you got into Harvard! Harvard! This is your chance to break the cycle. Do what I couldn't. Give yourself a good life, make yourself into somebody!"

"What about you?" She asked, pressing her cheek against his still strong chest.

"I'll be right here. Waiting for you to come visit. To give me a big hug."

"You promise?" She squeaked as tears threaten to fall.

"Promise." He pulled he back and smiled down at her, his steel grey eyes misting up as he looked down at her. Suddenly he shook his head and grabbed her bags from the ground. "We gotta go, baby girl."

Four and a half years later

Halina looked at her reflection and winced at the bruise forming around her eye. Of all days that Caleb had to sock her, why today? Halina had dated Caleb for almost four years now, having met half-way through their first year. Her father had taught her to take shit from no one, but Caleb wasn't no one. Their first year together had been bliss. He'd showered her with gifts and affection but halfway through their second year together, he'd started hitting her.

The first time it'd happened, he'd profusely apologized immediately, he'd cried even, and Halina forgave him. He'd been drunk, she'd told herself, and he'd had a build up of test stress. It wasn't his fault; she shouldn't have given him shit for showing up at her door drunk. It had taken another whole year before he'd done it again but this time, it wasn't just one hard back hand. He'd knocked her down and then proceeded to lay down a flurry of punches and kicks that resulted in her landing in the hospital. Halina had to be brought there by a friend as Caleb had quickly left, nursing his own wounds as Halina hadn't taken her beating lying down. She had fought back but Caleb had a black belt in Jui Jitsu, she didn't stand a chance.

Again, she forgave him. He promised he'd never do it again. He had issues, family issues, that had left him scared but he was a good man. Halina believed it with all her heart. She'd seen her own father struggle with his own demons. He'd never struck his daughter and Halina was fairly certain he'd never struck his wife, but he did get into a fair share of bar brawls. Even rumbled a few times with his buddies at the gym.

Never again has she had to go to the emergency room, but this time he quickly resumed smacking her around whenever she said something he didn't like. Her friends insisted that she needed to drop him, that he was a terrible human-being who would never stop hitting her. She had begun to believe them but then they'd graduated, and it seemed like finally, everything was changing for the better. Caleb had gotten a job over the summer, interning at a mid-sized construction firm as a civil engineer and they had gotten an apartment together. He'd turned back into the man she had met in their first year, sweet and generous.

Two months back at school, for Halina still planned on being a lawyer, things changed again and for the worst. She'd been tired one night, from a long day of studying that had taken a great deal of the evening up as well. Caleb was in the mood, Halina was not. Caleb wasn't about to take "no" for an answer. So battered and bruised, he'd forced himself on to Halina when she couldn't fight back anymore. It got so bad that Halina didn't fight anymore; he wanted to get laid, she let him have his way with her. It was just easier that way.

But tonight, Boot was in town. After four years of saving, Boot had managed to save up enough money to buy himself a plane ticket and a hotel for six nights. Halina had failed to tell Caleb that he was coming, and he'd bopped her in the eye for it. While she told Caleb that she'd simply forgotten, the truth was, she knew Caleb wouldn't want Boot here and would have forced her to make up some sort of excuse to make him not come. She half wondered if Caleb was maybe a little afraid of Boot, even though he was a blackbelt. Fact was, Boot was still a big, formative man with a fiery temper and a soft spot for his baby girl. He still boxed and was still built like a heavy weight boxer. Compared to Caleb's 5 foot 10 inch lithe frame, Boot's was a 6 foot 4 inch mountain of muscle.

She had just finished applying concealer under hazel eyes when a heavy knock resounded on the door. Halina straightened up and smiled, she hadn't seen her father in two years but talked to him frequently over the phone, usually at school where Caleb wouldn't know. As she reached for the door, her smile wavered. Maybe he would notice her black eye? What then? She quickly pulled her long red locks forward and tried to partially cover her eye without it looking obvious. Then she opened the door.

"Daddy!" She squealed and threw her arms around his thick neck.

Boot chuckled as he wrapped his big arms around his little girl. "It's great to see you, baby girl." He said, pressing lips against her temple.

After a moment, she stepped back. "Come in!"

She waved him inside and watched as he took in the luxury apartment. The apartment was open concept with the living areas all flowing into one space with beautiful hardwood floors, big windows that looked down into city centre and a kitchen with gleaming marble counter tops. While Caleb had just barely acquired a full-time position at the construction firm, but he came from a wealthy family who paid for all his bills.

"Pretty damn fancy, no wonder you never want to come home." He said, smiling slightly.

"You know that's not true. Caleb's just busy a lot."

"Don't mean you can't come." He said, studying his daughter carefully.

"You're right, daddy. I should come visit you more. I'll come this summer."

"I don't want you comin' because you feel guilted into coming, I want you to want to come home." Halina opened her mouth to respond but Boot shook his head. "It's fine, baby. I'm not here to argue with you or to make you feel bad. I'm just glad to see you."

"I really have missed you." Halina said somewhat sheepishly.

"I know, baby girl." Boot said as he smiled at her. "Now where's that boy of yours? Caleb?"

"He had to work late," Halina lied, he was likely drinking, "he said he'd join us at the restaurant. He has us booked for some fancy restaurant that I hate but how about we go to a steakhouse or something. I haven't eaten at a place like that in a while and you'll like it better."

"Yeah, I'm not exactly the fine dining sort." Boot said as he indicated his almost clean jeans and white t-shirt with a big red 'Levi's' emblem on the chest.

"Caleb wanted to impress you." Halina said as she turned towards the coat rack to grab a jacket.

"Or to embarrass me." Boot muttered.

"I doubt that." Halina said as she glared slightly over her shoulder. "I actually didn't tell him you were coming until a few hours ago. It's impressive that he even got a reservation at the place but, like I said, I hate it there, so we'll go elsewhere. I'll text him on the way."

Boot didn't say anything as she slid on her coat, glad that she was facing the wall so he couldn't see her wince, then grabbed her purse.

"Ready?" She asked with a smile.

"Whenever you are." He said walking back towards the door.

He opened it for her then followed as she stepped out and waited silently as she locked the door. The silence continued as they walked to the elevator and waited for the doors to open. Once inside, Halina grabbed her father's arm with hers then rested her head on his shoulder as he patted her hand. Once inside the cab, Halina frowned as she watched the scenery went by. Her father had been tense since she'd opened the door. He had relaxed a little as he had hugged her but otherwise, he looked like he was expecting someone to jump out at them.

They had chosen to eat at a diner rather than a steakhouse, as it provided more options for Caleb's particular diet, although Halina doubted very much that he would be impressed with the place. Once she'd texted the address to Caleb, she set her flip phone aside and smiled at her father.

"So, how's things back home."

Boot gave her a bit of a guilty smile. "I think I might get back into the ring again."

Halina looked at her father in shock. "Really? But it's been so long, and you were having a hard time getting fights already eight years ago. Now? Don't take this the wrong way but—aren't you a little old?"

Boot put a hand to his heart and feigned pain. "Ouch."

"What about your job?"

"I talked about it to my boss. He's good with it as long I keep showin' up for work. I've been training, baby girl. I've even had a couple of sparing matches with the young 'un's . I hold up a lot better than you realize."

"I just—worry about you, daddy. You're all alone and then coming home the way you used too. You won't have mom or me to look after you."

"I can take care of myself, you know." He looked at her a little annoyed, then smiled slightly mischievously. "And who says I'm alone?" Boot laughed at her shocked expression. "Yes, I have a lady friend."

"D-do I know her?"

"No. She's reasonably new in town, been there a couple of years but you haven't been there since she moved there. Met her at AA, her name is Ellen. Not as beautiful as your mom, but very few are, but she's good for me. Keeps me grounded. Thought about askin' her to come with me so she can meet my baby but that's a lot of money."

"Well, if I go home for summer, I can meet her then." Halina smiled at her father, he seemed happy when he talked about Ellen.

"That'd be great, really."

"I don't know if we'll have time." Came Caleb's voice from behind her, causing Halina to jump.

Her father's expression darkened considerably as he watched Caleb slid in beside Halina. "Startin' to think you're trying to keep my daughter from me." He growled.

"It's not my fault that your daughter has a social life that doesn't revolve around you, Frank."

Boot's knuckles turned white as tightened his grip on his coffee mug, a death glare eating into the top of Caleb's head as he looked down at the menu and sneered. Neither the comment nor calling him Frank was likely sitting well with him.

"Is there anything edible here? What was wrong with the Sprout?"

"Can I take your order, hun?" The waitress said with forced pleasantness.

"Just water is fine. Preferably in a clean cup if you would." Caleb said, his voice sounding incredibly snobbish.

She forced a smile onto her face. "Sure. Are you two ready to order?"

"Can't quite make up my mind." Boot said pleasantly to the waitress. "What's better? Your house burger or the Jake burger?"

The smile the waitress gave Boot was a sincere smile. "Well, I'm supposed to say the house burger, of course, but I personally prefer the Jake burger. More bang for your buck and the special sauce just adds something a little special to the burger."

"Jake burger it is. Fries please and extra BBQ sauce if you could. And maybe some more coffee."

"Sure, hun. What about you sweetheart?"

"I'll take the same, just no onions please and I need a refill as well."

"Seriously? You're getting fat enough already, don't you think?" Caleb said looking at her as if she was diseased.

The look Boot gave him caused Caleb finally to deflate as Halina looked at her hands and flushed. "Say that to my little girl again and I'll knock yer teeth out." He growled.

"No…no its fine…" Halina said, panicking. She didn't know what scared her more, the idea of her father beating the tar out of Caleb, or what was going to happen at home.

"It's alright, sweetheart. You want a burger; you get a burger and a slice of lemon pie along with it." The waitress gave Caleb a stone cold look before turning on her heels and marching away.

There was silence for a long time, largely filled with Boot glaring at Caleb and Caleb staring at his hands, with the only interruption coming from the waitress to fill Boot and Halina's coffees and slamming down Caleb's water in front of him, making it slosh onto his pants. He started to say something to the woman's retreating back but Boot's glare silenced him once more. Halina mind started racing, wondering what waited for her once they got home, in desperate need of a distraction, she finally broke the silence.

"So—Ellen, tell me about her. Where's she from? Got any kids?"

Boot finally tore his eyes from Caleb to look at his daughter. Something flickered across his face but she didn't quite get what it was she had seen. Concern? Fear? Indecision?

"New York. She's from New York. Worked as a secretary at some big law firm there, now she works for Doc Wheeler, and she got two boys, both in college like you."

"Why'd she leave New York for our sleepy little city?"

"Her husband got cancer, died and then she started drinking. She needed a fresh start, a place that wasn't as stressful as that place." Caleb snorted. "You got a problem, boy?" Boot said in a dangerous voice.

"Alright, you two." The waitress said, breaking Boot away from his stare down as the waitress slid his plate down in front of him then reach across and set a plate down in front of Halina. "I'll bring the pie around when you're nearly done."

Halina looked worriedly at her burger, wondering if she should actually eat it. It looked and smelled amazing but the sideways glance that Caleb was giving her, unsettled her.

"Eat, baby girl." Boot said around a mouthful of burger.

She tentatively picked up the dripping burger, it really did smell great. She took a bite, and her taste buds were met with instant bliss. She was halfway through her burger and fries when Caleb crossed his arms and shook his head in disgust.

Boot slammed his fist down. "She's skin and bones, you sack of shit, stop shaming her!" He snarled.

"That's it! We're leaving!" Caleb said as he shot up and dragging Halina out of the booth.

"Let go of her." Boot said dangerously as Caleb hauled Halina to her feet.

"Or what, old man? Are you going to hit me? That's assault and boy would I like to have you sent to jail."

Boot puffed up to full stature, hands clench and ready to clobber the young man before him but Halina put her hands on his chest. "Daddy, don't. Please." She begged. "I'm tired anyways and I've got classes I've got to prepare for, for tomorrow."

Boot deflated as he looked into his daughter teary eyes. "You don't have to go with him, baby girl. He's not good for you. I know he hurts you…"

"I love him, daddy. He just needs a little help, like you did."

"I maybe liked the hooch a little too much, but I never touched you or your mother, we ain't the same." He growled.

"I know." Was all she said then turned to where Caleb stood by the waving impatiently for her to hurry up. She left her father there looking worried but uncertain as what to do.

Next Day

Halina gasped in pain as she moved her arm. She laid naked and alone in the bed she shared with Caleb. She heard him in the kitchen, moving around, humming happily to himself as he prepared for work. Halina dared not move again, hoping he'd leave without coming back into the bedroom. She wasn't so lucky. He paused at the threshold of the bedroom, and looked at her as she feigned sleep then heard him unbuckle his pants.

"One for the road." He whispered in her ear as he parted her legs and forced himself inside her once more.

She tried to not cry out in pain but every part of her hurt, including her insides. He laughed as he slapped her face, relishing in her pain. Once he reached his climax, he stood up to do up his pants once more then grabbed her leg and turned her hips, so her buttocks faced him and slapped it hard.

"You're such an easy whore. Might have to do something more interesting tonight, make you work for your place here." He walked to the door then turned back. "If I hear you ever talk to your dead beat father ever again, last night will look like a cake walk, I promise you that. Oh, and no more law school for you. Whores don't need law degrees."

She laid there for hours, to scared to move. She finally did when her phone rang, scared that it might be Caleb calling to make sure she hadn't gone to school, she rushed as quickly as she could to where her phone still sat in her jacket pocket.

"Hello?" She said hastily.

"Miss Jackson?" Asked a crisp professional voice.

"Yes." She said as she winced in pain.

"Someone called this morning claiming to be your husband and said that you were withdrawing from the program. Is this true?"

Halina froze for a moment and suddenly everything she'd been through came crashing down on her and she started weeping, phone still in hand. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She kept saying as she tried to collect herself.

"Miss, are you alright?" The tone of voice changed from a crisp professional to one of sympathy and concern.

"I—I don't want to but—I'm stuck, I don't what to do. I'm scared he'll come after me if I leave." She said haltingly shivering as she dropped to the floor, still naked and likely not making any sense.

"Who'll come after you? Your husband?"

"He's not my husband." She croaked.

"Sweetheart, if he's hurting you, there are things in place to protect women like you." The woman said, her voice choking with emotion. "I can talk with the dean, get you immediate housing, on campus. We have security who will keep you safe. And you can file a restraining order, if you wish. No woman should have to live in fear of the person they live with." When Halina didn't respond, the woman continued. "Miss Jackson, where are you? I can come get you right now if you wish." Again, Halina didn't respond. "Miss Jackson, are you still there?"

"Y-yes." Halina stared at the floor, should she leave? Everyone told her too and now he was trying to force her to leave school, to abandon her own father. He was trying to cut her off from everyone who cared about her, wasn't he? Trying to isolate her. She wasn't even allowed to see her friends outside of school.

"N-no, you don't need to come h-here. My father—he's in town, he'll come get me but—I will need housing." She started to choke up again but managed to not break down again as the woman replied.

"Alright, sweetheart. Here's what we're gonna do. Call your dad, the second you hang up then pack your things as quickly as you can. I'm gonna talk to the dean, get you a place to stay for tonight, it might not be your permanent residence, but it'll get you somewhere safe for tonight. Come straight to head office and I'll be waiting for you. We'll deal with the rest from there, alright?"

Halina sniffled. "Alright."

"Remember, call your dad then pack, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'll see you in a couple of hours."

Halina hung up the phone then broke down once more, holding her side as pain shot through her. After several minutes of crying and gasping, she collected herself once more and looked shakily at her phone and started to dial the hotels phone number she had memorized. When the concierge answered, she managed to croak out her father's name and then listened as it rang once more. Panic started to set in as she wondered if he had left but the phone was hastily picked up just before it redirected back to the front desk.

"Hullo?" Came her father's voice.

"Daddy." Was all she managed to say before she broke down into painful sobs once more.

"I'm coming baby. I'm coming." Was all he said before the phone went silent.

Halina dropped the phone as she continued to sob, although she wasn't sure if it was from the fear or the pain. She suddenly looked down at her bruised, naked, and slightly bleeding body. She couldn't let her father see her like this. She painfully pulled herself to her feet then limped to the shower and ferociously scrubbed her body, despite the pain, trying to get rid of Caleb's smell. Eventually she gave up, the whole house stank of him, she wouldn't get rid of it until she got out of that apartment. She pulled her luggage bag from under the bed and began cramming her clothes into it. Her closet was half empty, when banging came from the door.

"Halina! Halina! Are you in there? Halina?" He sounded incredibly panicked; she'd never heard him like that before.

She limped for the door and opened it to see a wide-eyed Boot staring back at her. "Oh, baby!" He croaked as he stepped forward to hug her, but she hissed immediately in pain. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said in the same, panicked voice. His face turned dangerous when he looked into the apartment. "Where's that summa bitch? He here? I'm gonna kill him!"

"He's not here." She said quietly, her tone flat and emotionless. "Can we leave? I just want to leave."

"Yes, baby girl, of course."

"I've got a bag in the bedroom; can you grab it?" She knew her tone was scaring him even more. It was void of emotion, but she was tired of feeling, she just wanted to feel nothing at the moment.

Boot rushed into the room but didn't leave immediately. "Hali, baby, there's still clothes in the closet. Don't you want them?"

"No." Was all she said as she slid her feet into a pair of boots then painfully reached down for her runners and her favourite pair of flip flops.

Boot emerged from the room with her luggage but stopped where her phone still sat open on the floor.

"Leave it."

"Nothing else you want from the apartment. Your computer? You need that, don't you? For school?"

"N... wait, my pictures!" Her eyes went wide as she remembered the pictures she had of her parents.

"Where are they? I'll get them."

"I taped them to the bottom of my nightstand, so he wouldn't take them from me." She said not daring to look her father in the face.

"Which one?" His voice had tensed but he was trying to remain calm for her sake.

"The left."

She heard him disappear into the room once more, heard him rifle around as he pulled the drawer out. She didn't dare look up as he returned, then heard the zipper of her bag. When it didn't zip up again, she looked up to see him walking further into the apartment, grabbing her textbooks and her laptop then returning to jam them into her luggage. Once they were securely in her bag, he wheeled it towards her and they started for the door. Boot suddenly stopped at the threshold, looking down at something.

He reached for it then picked it up, bringing it into view. It was a baseball bat. Boot inspected it a moment then turned on his heels and marched straight into the living room and out of sight. There was a sudden loud crash, then another and another. When Halina stepped back into the apartment, she found the TV smashed as well as the assortment of pictures that sat beneath it and he was lining up a decorative vase that sat beside the couch. When saw his daughter, he held out to her.

"You won't let me beat the turd, might as well destroy his stuff instead. It'll make you feel better."

It wouldn't but Halina grabbed the bat anyways and obliterated the vase. She winced as she looked around, it hurt to swing that bat, but she had to admit that while it didn't make her feel better, it did give her some satisfaction. She eyed the glass-fronted cabinet doors as she walked into the kitchen. Finally, she swung, then swung again, and again, ignoring the pain in her body. When they finally left the apartment, Boot had put several holes in the wall and had even managed to break off a piece of the marble countertop. As she locked the door behind them, she swore she'd never let herself be a victim again, she'd never force her father too look at her like that again.

A bit of a dark start to the story but I promise it lightens up for the rest of it...mostly. I mean, this is a Daredevil fic. R/R

-Shockra