A/N: I decided that I couldn't leave this as a one-shot, though I have no idea how long this will end up being. A mild trigger warning for this chapter, though: there are a few assault scenes in this. Nothing majorly graphic, but just be cautious. As stated previously, I own nothing except the original characters. Hope you enjoy!

Just as he had the previous Sunday, Jed Bartlet made his way to the Reference section of the university library, hoping (though he would never admit it) that perhaps he would run into one Abigail Barrington again. A quick glance showed that he was alone in the quiet section, which was perfectly fine with him, and as he pulled a thick medical book from the shelf, he paused, thinking. What had led her to ask for that particular book? Why was she in the library on a Sunday afternoon instead of relaxing with her friends? What subjects was she studying?

He shook his head as he walked back to a table in the corner of the section, opening the book to the title page. It wasn't nearly as large as the book Abbey had taken with her, but it was large in its own right, and as he began to read, he soon found himself lost in the world of medical jargon, diagnostics, and statistics. A majority of the information turned out to be things that he would likely never encounter, but that didn't make it any less interesting, and as he read, he didn't even notice the hours slipping away from him.

"Jesus, Jed...it's a good thing you're studying to be a priest," Jeremy said as he walked into their dorm room hours later.

Jed frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you spend so much time in that damn library that the only women you'll ever see are old enough to be your mother."

Rolling his eyes, Jed tossed his jacket on his bed, reaching out to turn on the lamp resting on the bedside table. A white envelope was sitting on the smooth table and he reached for it, inwardly groaning as he recognised his father's neat handwriting. He wanted nothing more than to ignore it, but he knew that if he did, he would never hear the end of it, and he sighed as he ran his finger under the lip of the envelope. A quick glance revealed what his father's letters always did: inquiries about his lessons, a general disdain for the major he had chosen, and an ever-present reminder to be on his best behaviour. As if he had ever done anything else in his entire life.

He quickly composed a standard reply that would if not satisfy his father then at least pacify him, and as he carefully wrote his father's address on the envelope, a sudden idea came to him. He reached for another piece of paper, ignoring the strange look he could feel Jeremy giving him, and as he began to write, he felt the stress of his day leaving him.

Dear Mrs. Landingham,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you don't mind my writing to you. Things are going well here at Notre Dame, though my roommate seems to think that attending classes is merely a suggestion rather than a requirement. I recently received a letter from my father, which went about as well as you would expect, and it gave me the idea to write to you. At least something good came from it, I suppose. I also met someone who reminded me of you, and I thought you might like to hear about her.

We met in the library because she needed help getting a book from the top shelf, although I can't imagine why she would have chosen to ask me, and the book in question was a medical textbook. We've only spoken a few times, but she seems to be very intelligent, and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. Hence the reason she reminds me of you. She's very pretty, not that it matters, but it made me wonder: did you have to fight for your place in the world as an attractive woman? I'm guessing you did and you certainly deserved your accomplishments, but I'm thinking about trying to incorporate something about the struggles of women into one of my thesis papers and I would love to hear your thoughts. I hope you're well and that I hear from you soon.

All the best,

Jed Bartlet

As he walked across campus, Jed ran his fingers through his hair, determinedly making his way to the library. He'd just dropped his letter to Mrs. Landingham in the mail, and he figured he had about an hour before Jeremy started pestering him to go to yet another party, so he needed to make the most of his time. He walked through the door, waving at the librarian, and as he walked to the Reference section, he heard someone softly call his name.

"Jed Bartlet, fancy meeting you here."

He turned, more than a little confused, and when his eyes landed on Abbey Barrington, he smiled.

"Abbey, hi. Long time, no see."

She laughed quietly.

"Yeah, two whole weeks. Finished your book already?"

He shrugged.

"I'm making my way through the Reference section. With one exception."

Abbey frowned, and he nodded in her direction.

"You still have that book. Can't read it until you bring it back. Unless you plan on throwing it at me again."

She smiled, shaking her head.

"No. I really am sorry about that. I hope there wasn't any lasting damage. I could take a look, if you like. I'm studying to be a doctor."

Ah, so that was why she'd been here studying instead of partying like most students. And why she'd immediately called him out for smoking. It certainly explained a few things and he nodded at her.

"A doctor. That's impressive."

"Thank you," she said, sitting down at the table a few paces away, "What about you? What are you studying?"

"Theology," he replied without hesitation, "I'm studying to be a priest."

Abbey looked at him slowly, her eyes trailing up and down his entire body and she frowned, a strange expression on her pretty face.

"Hm...that's a shame."

He had expected puzzlement or even laughter, but her response threw him off, making him look at her longer than necessary as he tried to figure it out.

"A shame?" he repeated.

"Yeah," she said lightly, "A lifetime of celibacy...I can't even imagine."

She laughed quietly, shaking her head. Watching him for a moment longer, she ran her hand through her hair, studying him intently.

"What led to this particular field of study? A young, attractive man like you...surely you didn't always want to be a priest?"

It was framed as a question and he shrugged, unsure of how to answer. Truth be told, he couldn't remember when he had made his decision, not that it truly mattered, and Abbey smiled, walking to the nearest set of shelves.

"Well, the female population certainly mourns the loss," she quipped.

Disappearing into the stacks, Abbey said nothing else, and by the time Jed had truly processed that she had, in fact, said those words to him, she was nowhere to be seen.

As she sat on cross-legged on her bed, Abigail Barrington tried desperately to pretend that she was listening as her roommate Millicent Griffith was recounting her date in intricate detail, but her thoughts were running a mile a minute in her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about the quiet boy she'd met in the library, though she knew she had absolutely no business doing so, and she frowned as she forced herself to listen to the girl across from her.

"—and then before I knew what was happening, his tongue was halfway down my throat."

"Millie!"

"What?" Millie laughed, rolling her eyes, "It's not like you haven't done all that and more with Ron. Don't try to act all sweet and innocent."

Abbey laughed, shaking her head slowly.

"No, it's not that. But Ron and I didn't have a full-on makeout session on our first date."

She paused, smirking.

"It was the second date."

Millie burst into laughter, moving closer to the edge of her bed, leaning down to pick up a sweater that had fallen onto the floor. How Abbey managed to keep her side of the room so organized and clean, she would never understand.

"Speaking of Ron, how are things going? I haven't seen him sneaking out in awhile."

Abbey sighed. She knew Millie meant well, but she really didn't want to talk about this. As much as she had tried to ignore it, there had been a nagging, insistent thought in the back of her mind telling her that something wasn't right in their relationship. It wasn't as though Ron had done anything wrong, he treated her in the same way he always had, but...maybe that was the problem. They had been dating for the better part of nine months now and they seemed to have settled into a routine that, while comforting, was beginning to get a little boring. She'd been trying to pretend that it was simply the stress of college life, that this was something every couple went through, but the more time had passed, the less certain she was.

"I don't know," she answered quietly, "I mean, nothing is wrong, exactly, but..."

"But...?" Millie asked, her tone carefully leading.

"It's just...Ron's a good guy. He's attractive, he's sweet, he's considerate...but something is missing. I don't know what it is. I..." Abbey paused, looking at Millie sadly, "I sound like such a bitch."

Millie shook her head.

"No, you don't. Maybe you and Ron are just...I dunno, maybe you're moving in different directions. You want different things and you know, people do change over time. Maybe the spark that was there in the beginning just went out. It happens sometimes. No one is really to blame."

Abbey shook her head, sighing heavily.

"I guess. I just feel so terrible. It's going to hurt him so badly, and I don't want that."

"Abs, no matter what you do, someone is going to get hurt," Millie said gently.

Though she knew her friend was right, it did nothing to ease the immense guilt that she felt as she closed her eyes tiredly.

If he noticed anything different in the way Abbey looked at him, Ron Erlich didn't mention it, and as they walked the campus, she found herself trying to find the words to accurately explain the way she was feeling. Each time she thought she'd found them, she quickly changed her mind, opting instead to stay silent as they neared Ron's dorm room. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked, and just as they approached the building, he turned to look at her.

"You okay?"

She nodded, but when he leaned down to kiss her, she took a step back, shaking her head slowly.

"Ron, wait."

He frowned.

"Did I do something wrong?"

She sighed.

"No. But I...I don't think this is going to work. Please understand, it's nothing that you've done, or I've done, it's just..." she trailed off, unable to articulate what she meant.

Ron stared at her a moment before nodding, reaching out to touch her cheek gently.

"I get it," he said quietly, "It's kind of like we were just friends who kissed occasionally. I mean, it's not like we've slept together recently, and..."

He sighed, meeting her eyes seriously.

"I'm not angry," he assured her, "I just wish you had told me sooner. How long have you felt like this?"

"A few months," she said softly, "I know I should have told you, but I didn't want to hurt you."

He was silent for a long minute and Abbey averted her eyes, no longer able to stand looking at him, and when he kissed her cheek softly, she couldn't hide her shock.

"Take care of yourself, Abbey," Ron whispered.

He had walked away before she could even comprehend that he'd moved, and as she stared at the place he'd been standing, Abbey wondered if he'd ever really been there at all.

In spite of the fact that she had been the one to end the relationship, Abbey still felt the loss keenly, and as much as she tried to deny it, she knew her focus had been impacted by the entire ordeal. She found it difficult to focus on anything, even the English lessons she had once loved, and as she stared out at nothing, she found her mind was doing everything possible to make her second-guess herself. Had she made a terrible mistake in leaving Ron? How would her family react to the news? What would Millie say?

Finally, class was dismissed, and Abbey felt a sense of relief wash over her, so strong that she nearly wept, and as she reached down to pick up her bag from the floor, she wasn't surprised to find her hands shaking.

"Miss Barrington?"

She jumped as she heard her name, glancing up at her professor in confusion.

"A word, please."

Nodding, Abbey let her bag fall from her fingers, and as she sat back down in her seat, she wondered what she could have done to make her teacher single her out like this.

"Yes, sir?"

"You seemed distracted in today's lesson. I'm not one to pry into my student's lives, but this isn't like you. Is everything alright?"

Abbey glanced at him, her eyes beginning to prickle with tears at the question, but she refused to let them fall, hoping her voice was steady as she spoke.

"No, sir. Everything is fine. I must just be a bit tired, is all."

He took a seat next to her, closer than he had ever been to her, and looked at her seriously.

"If you say so. By the way, while I have you, I wanted to discuss your most recent paper. Do you have a moment?"

She nodded, and he stood, gesturing for her to follow as he walked back to his desk. He sat behind it, and when he motioned for her to come closer, she frowned, hesitating.

"It's easier to explain if you're looking at it," he said.

Too tired and emotionally spent to question it, Abbey walked around the desk, sitting down in the chair next to it. It was clear that he often conducted business this way, though it still struck her as odd, and when he pulled her paper from the stack on his desk, he gave her a smile.

"This was extremely well written, but I think you may have missed a few of the finer points."

Abbey blinked, confused.

"It's just a poem. I didn't think it had finer points. Or, it didn't when I wrote it."

He frowned, pointing to one of the lines in the middle of a stanza.

"This line here. Was it intended to have such sexual undertones?"

Though she didn't know why, she was immediately made uncomfortable with his use of the word "sexual", and as she read the line in question, she frowned. It was a fairly innocent line as far as sexual content was concerned, it was certainly nothing worthy of a conference, and just as she opened her mouth to say as much, she froze. His hand was resting on her knee now, gingerly making its way up her leg, and Abbey felt her heart pounding in her chest.

"I think you and I are a lot alike, Abigail," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "There is so much that I could teach you."

His hand was on her thigh now, his touch making her skin crawl, and she finally found the strength to stand, her entire body shaking as she backed away. She grabbed her bag from the ground, her steps as quick as she could make them, and as soon as she had gotten to the relative safety of the hallway, she ran, too afraid and humiliated to look back.

How Jed had managed to find himself at another party he couldn't have said, but he would have been lying if he'd said he didn't find it entertaining. He had always enjoyed observing people, had always liked seeing the way they acted when they didn't know he was watching, and he smiled as he retreated to a far corner of the room, taking his soda with him. As he watched, Jeremy passed him, stopping just long enough to pull him into a drunken hug, and as he laughed quietly, he noticed a very familiar figure walking in the doorway.

He immediately straightened, his eyes taking note of the red cup in her hand, and he frowned. He hadn't known that she drank. Not that he supposed it mattered. Just about everyone here had downed more than a few drinks that night and it certainly wasn't his place to judge. He watched her carefully as she slipped out the back door, much like he had done the night they had met, and before he knew what had happened, he found himself following her.

At first, he couldn't see her, the darkness so intense, but once his eyes adjusted to the light, he found her sitting against the brick of the house, her drink held tightly in her hand. She seemed to be shaking, and he frowned as he walked closer.

"Abbey? What are you doing out here?"

She raised her head to look at him, her eyes slightly unfocused.

"Oh...Jethro. Fancy seeing you here. For a priest, you sure do go to a lot of parties."

He laughed.

"Not a priest yet," he reminded her, "And it's Jed, not Jethro."

She shrugged, the gesture somehow strangely endearing to him, and he smiled.

"So, what brings you here?"

Abbey raised her glass, not meeting his eyes.

"Free alcohol," she muttered, taking a long drink to prove her point, "Helps me forget."

He frowned, looking at her seriously, though she still hadn't raised her eyes from her lap.

"Forget what?"

Abbey sighed, draining her cup.

"Broke up with Ron," she said quietly.

Jed had no idea who Ron was, but he nodded sympathetically. He hadn't even known she'd been seeing someone, though he supposed it made sense, and she looked at him finally, her eyes bright even in the darkness.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" he asked, indicating the space next to her.

She shrugged again, and while it hadn't actually been a verbal confirmation, he moved closer, sitting next to her on the cold concrete of the porch.

"If you want to talk about it, I don't mind."

Abbey was silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"Do you mind if we just sit here?"

Jed shook his head, his eyes meeting hers in the darkness. Though he couldn't have explained why, he would have stayed on that back porch with her for an eternity if she kept looking at him.

The next few weeks passed without anything extraordinary happening, and while he was profoundly grateful for that, Jed was struggling to admit that he was bored. He found himself becomingly increasingly agitated during his lessons, and as he listened to Jeremy storm into their dorm room, he sighed, running his hand through his hair. How could one person make so much noise? It didn't seem natural.

"Do you think it's possible that you could make more noise? I don't think they heard you all the way in New Hampshire," Jed said dryly as Jeremy slammed the door.

Jeremy glared at him, flopping down on his bed angrily.

"Very funny."

Sensing that he wasn't going to get any peace or silence any time soon, Jed shook his head, grabbing his books.

"Where are you going?"

"Library," Jed said shortly, not bothering to wait for a response as he walked out.

Was it too much to ask for some quiet?

The library was quickly becoming his sanctuary, his safe-haven on campus, and as he walked through the large doors, he felt instantly calmer. He made his way to the table he occupied every week, thankful that no one frequented the Reference section like he did, and he sat down in the chair, pulling out one of the many thick Theology books he had been studying for the better part of the week. He opened it carefully, soon losing himself in the intricate text, and as he read, he could feel some of his irritation starting to slip away.

"Don't you have a dorm room?"

The voice was unmistakable, and he smiled as he glanced up at her, raising his eyebrow slowly.

"I could say the same to you."

"Fair enough."

Abbey smiled as she sat down in the empty chair across from him, her eyes clearer than they had been the last time he'd seen her.

"My roommate is kind of loud," Jed said by way of explanation.

She nodded.

"Mine, too."

Jed said nothing as she pulled the large medical textbook from her bag, opening it to a bookmarked page halfway through, and when it became clear that she was planning on staying, he couldn't have explained why he felt a sudden rush of happiness.

Neither of them knew how it really began, but the next few weeks found Jed and Abbey studying together in the library more frequently, and though he would have denied it to anyone who had asked, he looked forward to those study sessions more than he had done with anything in his recent memory. They rarely spoke during those hours, not that either one minded, but each evening as they walked to their respective dorm rooms, they found themselves in deep conversation, completely oblivious to the world around them.

Jed now knew Abbey's favourite colour (red), her favourite food (linguine in a garlic cream sauce), as well as a few deeper details, such as how long she had dated Ron (nine months) and what she hoped to accomplish after graduation (Harvard). She in return knew his favourite author (Hemingway), the person in his life he most admired (Mrs. Landingham), and his favourite way to spend his free time (reading). It was a cautious beginning to their friendship, for various reasons, but Jed soon found that he enjoyed talking with Abbey more than he had enjoyed anything in years, which left a bittersweet taste in his mouth, but he wouldn't have traded those moments for anything in the world.

His time had somehow been divided into three separate segments without his realising it, and only once it had been brought to his attention one evening by his well-meaning roommate did he stop to consider it. His weekdays were spent either in class or studying in the library with Abbey, while his weekends were devoted to preparing sermons and church, something he had been struggling with for longer than he cared to admit. He had even gone so far as to ask Abbey for advice regarding his sermons, and while she had listened attentively and offered brilliant feedback, he was still having difficulty figuring out what was wrong with him.

"I just can't make sense of it," he said one evening, not really expecting an answer.

"I can," came Jeremy's response from under his bed, "It's pretty damn obvious, Jed."

Jed frowned, looking at Jeremy's legs, the only part of his body that was currently visible to him.

"Is it?"

"You're a smart guy," Jeremy said, crawling out from beneath the bed, holding the shirt he had been searching for, "Think about it."

"I have been. I spend all my time in class, I take notes, I listen to the professors, I study every day with Abbey—"

"That! That right there, Jed. You study every day. With Abbey. That's the difference. Isn't it obvious? You like her."

Jed frowned, looking at his roommate as though he had lost his mind, shaking his head.

"Of course I like her. We're friends."

Jeremy groaned, tossing the shirt in his hand at Jed's head in frustration.

"Not what I meant, you idiot. You like her. As in, more than a friend. Damn, I thought you were the smart one here."

Jed ignored the shirt as he thought about what Jeremy had said and shook his head. He and Abbey were friends. That's all there was to it. Or at least, that was what he was trying to tell himself.

No matter how hard she tried, Abbey couldn't keep her body from shaking as she walked into her English class, her heart pounding so loudly that it was hard for her to hear anything else. Ever since the incident with Professor Howson, she had been constantly on edge, always on high alert when she neared the building, taking a seat in the farthest corner of the room, refusing to engage in the class in any way that could bring attention to herself.

In spite of her best efforts, she still occasionally felt his eyes lingering on her as they passed over the room, though she never acknowledged it, and she unconsciously found herself wearing her hair down in an attempt to obscure her face. She always tried to be the first one to hand in her assignments, giving him no time to focus on her as she bolted from the room, and though today was no exception, she soon realised she would never be able to make it to the front of the room in time. She tried to blend in with the crowd of students as she approached his desk, and when she handed him the paper in her hand, she knew she wasn't imagining the way his eyes roamed over her.

"A moment of your time, Miss Barrington," he said as he placed her paper on his desk.

The tone of his voice told her that there was no room for refusal, and she glanced at the students next to her, willing one of them to notice the panic in her eyes. None of them did, however, and she merely nodded as they filed out of the room, leaving her alone with the very person she was desperately trying to avoid. She refused to meet his gaze as she stood in the empty room, careful to leave the desk between them at all times, and when he looked at her, she was immediately overcome by the desire to run.

"Your class participation is suffering," he began, looking at her intently, "I'm wondering if there is a reason for this. Partying too much, drinking, a boy, perhaps?"

Abbey frowned, looking at him in confusion. What business was it of his what she did in her personal time?

"No, I've just been busy," she replied quietly.

"In addition to your participation, I also wanted to discuss your creative writing piece. It was brilliant, but it's unusually dark for a young woman studying at Notre Dame. I've written some notes, and I'd like you to look at them so we can discuss them."

He handed her the papers she had turned in the week before and even though she hated to admit it, he made a valid point. The piece was incredibly dark, reflecting the inner turmoil she'd been experiencing since their last encounter, and she didn't even bother glancing at the notes he'd scrawled in the margins.

"This isn't the type of writing I would expect from a young woman like you, Abigail, but I am very curious to see if it could be explored in a deeper manner. Tapping into that inner darkness, unleashing that tragic beauty."

He walked around the desk, closing the distance between them, and reached for the pages in her hand, his fingertips lingering on her skin as he took them.

"Talent like yours should be nurtured carefully. Tenderly," he whispered, reaching out to brush her hair behind her ear slowly.

Abbey shook her head, stepping back, her eyes burning with tears.

"Don't," she said, her voice not nearly as loud as she wanted.

He frowned, looking at her in confusion.

"Is something wrong?"

"Don't touch me," her voice was stronger now, her anger giving her an edge.

He took a step closer, leaning in so that his breath washed over her skin as he spoke, his words a dangerous whisper.

"Don't test me, Abigail. This isn't a game, but if you try to cross me, you will lose."

He kissed her cheek as he pulled back, leaving her shaking, and when he walked around his desk, he nodded at her, his expression cold.

"That will be all, Miss Barrington."

Abbey bolted from the room, hot tears spilling from her eyes as she ran, her only thought about putting as much distance between them as possible.

"Abbey, you have to say something! He's harassing you! He should be fired, if not thrown in jail!"

Abbey shook her head, looking at Millie desperately.

"You don't understand. It's my word against his. No one saw it, no one heard anything, and he's been here for years. Why would they believe me?"

"Okay, then drop the class. Switch to a different teacher. You can do that, right? Go talk to someone in administration."

She nodded, her eyes sad.

"I am. I've got an appointment first thing in the morning. But that doesn't really solve the problem. He's still here. He knows where to find me."

Just from the look on Millie's face, Abbey could tell that this thought hadn't occurred to her, and she frowned, looking at her seriously.

"Public places. Always make sure there are people around. Don't give him the opportunity to catch you alone. If he's worried about being caught, he'll watch his step."

Abbey sighed, falling onto her bed in despair, and buried her head in the pillows, her voice muffled.

"I just want this to stop."

She jumped slightly when she felt Millie's comforting hand on her hair, and tried to pretend that she didn't feel the tears soaking into the fabric of her pillow.

As she waited for Jed in the Reference section of the library, Abbey couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She tried to avoid any potential danger by spending her time weaving through the stacks, always keeping a watchful eye out for Jed, and when she heard someone say her name, she turned, the low whisper making her frown.

"Miss Barrington. How nice to see you."

She took a step back, the anger in Howson's eyes almost palpable, and she glanced around her nervously.

"Professor Howson...I didn't expect to see you here."

"You dropped my class," he said, "May I ask why?"

Abbey shook her head, taking another step back, her body hitting the shelf painfully as he reached out to touch her arm.

"I just...I thought it would be best if I—"

"I told you not to cross me, Abigail," his voice was low, dangerous, "If you think that—"

"Abbey, is everything okay?"

Looking over Howson's shoulder, Abbey was so relieved to see him that she fought the urge to burst into tears, and she quickly moved towards him, her eyes locking on his frantically.

"Jed! I was starting to think you weren't coming."

She threw her arms around his neck, her voice low as she whispered in his ear.

"Just go with it," she said, her eyes closed, "Please."

He knew if he gave any indication that she'd spoken it would end badly, so he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her as he pulled back to look in her eyes. There was a fear in her eyes that he'd never seen before, one he hadn't expected, and he gave her a smile, hoping it would reassure her.

"Yeah, I got caught up by my roommate. Are you ready to go?"

Jed could feel her shaking as she stepped out of his arms, her eyes conveying her thanks as she nodded.

"Come on," he said, reaching for her hand as they walked towards the front of the library.

He knew they were being watched, the eyes of the older man practically burning a hole in his back as they walked away, and Jed unconsciously tightened his hold on Abbey's hand, refusing to let her out of his sight. They kept walking even after they had exited the building, both fighting the urge to look behind them, and it was only when the library was no longer in sight that he dared to speak.

"What just happened?"

Abbey sighed, looking down at the ground as they walked.

"It's...complicated."

"I've got time," he said, glancing at her, noticing that she still hadn't looked at him.

He didn't have a clue of where they were going, merely wandering the campus aimlessly, and as they neared a deserted area that seemed secluded enough, he stopped, scanning the grounds to be certain they wouldn't be overheard. It wasn't until Abbey moved to sit on the ground that he realised he still hadn't released his hold on her hand, and when she sank onto the concrete, he noticed how pale she had become.

"You might want to sit," she said softly, gesturing to the empty space next to her.

He did as she suggested, making sure to keep a careful distance between them, and when she looked at him finally, he was surprised to see tears shimmering in her bright green eyes.

"Whenever you're ready," he said gently.

She nodded, taking a deep breath, and as she began to speak, he noticed that she was fidgeting with her hands, twisting them nervously in her lap. It was strangely endearing to him, but he said nothing, focusing instead on her trembling words. She paused several times, taking deep breaths to stop her tears from falling, and he fought the urge to reach for her hand again as she began again. She kept her voice low as she told him everything, as though the softness of her voice made it less real, and when she recounted the way Howson had threatened her in his classroom, Jed couldn't fight it anymore. He took her hand in his, running his thumb slowly over her skin, not surprised in the least by the way her entire body was shaking.

The silence around them was deafening after she stopped speaking, Jed still trying to process everything she had told him, and he looked at her seriously, his eyes taking in every detail of her pale face.

"Oh, Abbey," he said quietly, still holding her hand, "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?"

She shook her head, not even caring about the tears that fell as she moved.

"You've already done enough. I just...I don't know what to do. I've never had anything like this happen before and...I mean, I know I should report it, but it's his word against mine, and no one would believe me."

Jed was silent, thinking hard, and as he thought back over everything that had happened, he shook his head slowly.

"It's not just your word. I was there. I saw him with his hand on you. I can come with you as a witness."

She smiled weakly, her voice sad as she spoke.

"Jed, we're just two students. Why would they believe us over a well-respected teacher who has been here for years?"

Jed smirked, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

"I'm not just any student, remember? I'm training to be a priest. I'm a model student, Theology major, I've got a pretty good reputation here. And so do you. We have no reason to lie. We can do this, Abbey."

Abbey considered him for a moment, her eyes meeting his in the dimming light of the evening.

"Give me some time to think about it."

"Sure."

They sat in easy silence, neither one relinquishing the other's hand, and when Abbey's quiet voice broke through his thoughts a few minutes later, Jed turned, looking at her carefully.

"Jed?"

"Yeah?"

She took a deep breath, shifting just enough that she could raise up on her knees, and she leaned closer, kissing his cheek lightly, smiling at him as she pulled away.

"Thank you."

He smiled, running his thumb over her hand again, hoping she couldn't hear the way his heart was pounding in his chest.

"You're welcome."

He had no idea how long they stayed there on the ground, but he wouldn't have traded a second of it for all the money and riches in the world.

A/N: Reviews are like fine wine: wonderful and they make me smile! Hope you liked it!