Charlotte guessed that she must have fallen asleep eventually, if only for a few hours. She woke up feeling worse than she had done before she'd gone to sleep. Slipping from the duvet, she saw that Matt's pillows were still plumped up. He clearly hadn't come to bed. She stood up and noted that the apartment was empty. Matt wasn't in the living area or the bathroom. Charlotte let out a deep breath, wondering just where he was as she went over to the flowers on the dining table, looking at them and suspecting that she should throw them out considering they were beginning to wilt. She moved a finger over the petal of the sunflower and looked up to the ceiling, wondering just exactly what she was going to do.

Matt had told her that he was going to probably keep going out there whenever he heard trouble. He'd told her that he wouldn't be able to stop. She didn't know what that meant. She guessed it meant that he wouldn't be there some nights. He would be out. What would she do? Sit around and wait for him to come home? Sit and pray that he was going to come home and be alright? She didn't know. She had no idea if she could do that. She was scared. She was scared about what could happen to him, even though she knew all about his hidden abilities.

Charlotte went to shower and change, her mind still focused on what it was she should do. She knew the chances of getting him to stop were slim. He wasn't someone who turned a blind eye to people needing help. She knew that and suspected it was why he'd taken her under his wing at the orphanage when she'd arrived and the other kids had picked on her. He had been the only one to stand up for her.

Finishing off getting dressed, Charlotte grabbed her hair drier and quickly dried her hair before she went to grab her sneakers, figuring she should go for a walk and clear her mind. She needed some space. She let out a deep breath and was just about to grab the door handle to leave when there was a knock on the other side. She opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. It was Jonathan. Charlotte tried to close the door quickly, not wanting him anywhere near her, but he was quick.

He slammed the door open, hitting her face and causing her to stagger backwards and collapse against the wall across. She tried to stand up straight and make a move, but Jonathan was in front of her again. He grabbed her firmly, his fingers wrapping around her neck and his front pressing against hers, trapping her there. His face was inches from hers and she could smell the coffee on his breath. It tried to mask the fact that he'd been drinking whiskey most of the morning.

"Where the hell is it?" he snarled at her and Charlotte gasped for breath, her hands flailing against his wrist as she tried to push him down and away from her, but he wasn't moving. "What have you done with it, you worthless whore?!"

Charlotte managed to gain some purchase, her hands on his shoulders as she brought her knee up and hit him in the crotch. It was enough to make him loosen his hold and she pushed him away from her, running further into the apartment and looking for any sign of something she could use against him. She didn't get far as Jonathan limped after her, wrapping his arms around her waist and dragging her to the ground. She shrieked loudly as he grabbed hold of her wrists, pinning them by her head as he bent over her, straddling her waist and keeping her pinned down.

"What did you do with it?" he snapped at her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Charlotte yelled back. She had no clue what he was talking about, but he seemed like he had something on his mind that he was keeping from her.

"The memory stick…where is it?" he tried again and Charlotte really did have no idea what he was talking about. "I put it in your jewellery box, but that's gone. Where is it?" he tried again and Charlotte's brows knitted together. Her jewellery box had been a gift from Matt for her eighteenth birthday. It was an intricate silver box that looked like an antique. It was prettier than anything anyone had ever bought her before.

"What's on it?" Charlotte questioned and Jonathan chuckled, bending down closer to her, nose brushing hers as she tried to turn her face to the side and look away from him. She wanted him to be nowhere near her.

"That's for me to know and you never to find out, baby," he said in a whisper. "I need it back and that means I need that box."

"Why the hell would you put it in there?" she demanded from him.

"Because I knew if the worst came to the worst then no one would look at that tacky box your precious boyfriend bought you," Jonathan retorted. "So where is it? It's not in the bedroom and it's not in your dressing room. What did you do with it?"

"None of your business," Charlotte replied.

She knew exactly where it was. She'd hidden it in a drawer in Matt's bedroom. He'd cleared three drawers for her and half of his wardrobe, despite her protesting that he didn't need to. Whatever was on that memory stick her husband needed desperately which meant that it contained information that could ruin him. She didn't want to give him that. She wanted to ruin him. She didn't want him to get away with what he'd done.

He watched on as she remained completely mute. She wasn't going to give it up. Sighing loudly, Jonathan looked down to her and knew he had to do something. He moved to stand up and she predictably scrambled up after him. She forced herself to her feet, but he was quick. He slapped her firmly across the face, the noise echoing through the room and the force sending her to the floor again. Jonathan moved then, rushing into the bedroom and looking around for it. He couldn't see anything. He opened the wardrobe and began pulling clothes out, strewing them around on the floor, tossing hangers behind him.

Charlotte tried to ignore the stinging of her cheek and how her stomach ached from hitting the coffee table on her way down. She pulled herself upwards with the help of the armchair and looked to Jonathan in the bedroom, rummaging through her bedside drawers, tossing her underwear out and making a mess in his wake. He knocked over the lamp and she heard the shattering of glass. Shaking her head, she stormed in after him, trying not to trip up on the piles of clothes and shoes that now littered the floor.

"Jonathan, you can't do this!" she snapped at him. "It's not here and even if it was, you have no right to it."

"The hell I don't," he hissed back. "That memory stick is mine and he…he needs it…the time is coming and you are always getting in the way. You're constantly getting in the way."

"Have you ever thought that you might not be in this position if you didn't involve yourself in dodgy business?" she questioned and his glare turned to her for a moment as she positioned herself in front of the chest of the drawers that sat against the wall by the door. She folded her arms over her chest and blinked back the tears from her stinging cheek.

"I know it's here because I know it's the one thing you would never get rid of," he retorted. "You're far too sentimental when it comes to the blind bastard."

"And he'll be back soon," Charlotte replied. "So I suggest you get out of here or we'll call the police."

Jonathan chuckled. "I still find it adorable that you think the police could do anything," he said to her and pushed her aside. She grabbed at his arm, but he was too strong for her. He was pulling open the drawers and reaching into them, pulling out jumpers and jeans.

"Jonathan," Charlotte complained and then he found it.

He found exactly what he was looking for. He reached for the silver box, smile widening on his face as he opened it up and tore the cloth from the back of it. Charlotte watched as he reached for a small memory stick. He held it up and observed it as Charlotte wondered just what was on it.

"You've been very helpful, sweetheart," he said, pushing it into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He straightened out the green tie that sat against his white shirt. Charlotte's teeth ground together and she wondered just how she was going to stop him from getting away. She held her head up high and glowered at him. He chuckled, finding the entire situation amusing. Moving towards her, he lifted his hand up and reached for her cheek, cupping it tenderly as she backed away and her back hit the wall by the dresser.

She was back in his apartment, fearing what he was going to do to her. She remembered the pain. She remembered the way he'd hurt her with his words and his hands. She remembered trying to fight him and feeling so weak. It was power that he held over her. He still did, even after all this time.

"You know, I do miss you," Jonathan said to her, lowering his voice slightly.

His eyes remained full of amusement as he ran his thumb over her lower lip, the tip of it brushing her teeth. He could see how her eyes widened and her breathing sped up. She pressed herself further into the wall, almost hoping that it would swallow her up.

"And I know you must miss me too. Murdock isn't half the man I am and you know that," he continued his taunts and Charlotte and felt his other hand reach for her simple white shirt, toying with the button by her chest. "You can come home, Charlotte. It isn't too late. I'll take you back."

He popped the button open and Charlotte realised exactly what he intended to do. She took a hard gulp and shook her head. "You need to leave," she said and he chuckled, knowing that her voice sounded stronger than she felt. He stepped towards her, his fingers slipping in between the material of her shirt.

"Come on, baby," he whispered, voice husky. "There's been no one since you. I miss you…can't you see that?"

"Get away from me."

"That's not what you used to say," Jonathan retorted and she shuddered as his fingers brushed her bare skin by her chest and tickled along her collarbone. "You know you want to. You need me to look after you. You know that I'm the only one who can."

"I need you to get out of Matt's apartment before he comes home," Charlotte said and Jonathan rolled his eyes to the sky, letting out another deep sigh at her comments. He moved quickly then, reaching his hands down and grasping the material of her skirt, hauling it up her legs as she thrashed around, trying to push him away from her.

"I tried to do this nicely, Charlotte," Jonathan said. "But do you think I like the idea of you being here with your childhood sweetheart?" he sneered at her. "That he's touching what is mine? No. I fucking hate it. We might be getting a divorce, darling, but that doesn't mean you'll ever be his."

He grabbed her chin and slammed her head back against the wall. Charlotte's vision clouded as she heard his belt buckle unclasp and she felt him push her tighter against the wall, his body pinning hers there. She felt his hands on her legs again, manipulating her as she tried to regain her composure. Her body shook violently as she knew what was coming. But then she thought of Matt. She thought about those women her husband had violently assaulted. She thought about the years she had spent letting Jonathan hurt her too. She was done with it.

She fought hard against him, ignoring how her vision remained clouded. She pushed at his shoulders and leaned forwards enough so that she could spit in his face. He shouted obscenities as he moved his hands to his eyes and wiped at them, giving Charlotte enough time to grab his shoulders and knee him in the crotch. He whimpered in pain as he doubled over and she pushed him to the floor.

"You bitch!" he shrieked, hands now cupping his crotch, belt still undone. Charlotte knew that he'd get up soon enough and she took off, running away from him. She didn't get far, only making it to the front door and finding Matt opening it, gasping for breath as his sightless gaze fell in her direction, hands on her shoulders to steady her.

"Where is he?" Matt asked and she was about to question how he knew Jonathan was there, but then she remembered who she was talking to.

"Bedroom," Charlotte said.

"Has he hurt you?" Matt asked.

"I'm fine," Charlotte replied.

"Fine never means fine," Matt retorted as he heard Jonathan struggle to his feet and limp forwards.

He heard the noise of something clasping and he suspected it was a belt. Matt's teeth ground together at the implication of that and he only hoped that Charlotte really was alright. He pushed her behind him as Jonathan finally left the bedroom and headed towards the door, seeing the two of them stood there. Charlotte stayed behind Matt's shoulder; his arm stretched out slightly in front of her body to stop her from thinking of getting by him. He wasn't letting her go anywhere, not so long as Jonathan was in his apartment.

"Ah, if it isn't the blind lover," Jonathan said. "You almost interrupted us there, Murdock."

"It seems like Lottie had the beating of you," Matt retorted. "I suggest you get out of my apartment before I call the police."

"Still so funny that you think they'd do anything," Jonathan said, pushing his hair back and sniffing, trying to ignore his watering eyes from the pain in his crotch. "Charlotte was just playing hard to get…as she always does…has she put out for you yet, Murdock? Have you slipped in between those legs yet?"

"I'm only going to tell you once more: get out of my apartment," Matt said, hands clenching into fists, knuckles turning white.

Jonathan chuckled and stepped forwards. "I'll take that as a no," he decided on saying. "Not surprising. I didn't think she'd put out after everything I've done to her…take some advice from me, Murdock, all she needs is a strong hand-"

Matt moved then, grabbing hold of Jonathan by the lapels of his jacket and whirling him round, shoving him up against the door. Matt's breathing came out unevenly as Jonathan just laughed straight in his face, finding the entire thing amusing. Charlotte grabbed hold of Matt's forearm, looking at him.

"He took a memory stick," she said. "That's why he's here. If we can get that back then he'll go."

"If you take that memory stick then worse people than me will come after you for it," Jonathan said darkly. "There are things on there that you don't want to get involved with. If you think the police can help you then you're mistaken. They're in on this entire thing. You're not getting out of this with that memory stick so I suggest you let me go."

Matt weighed up Jonathan's words. He knew that he was telling the truth. Matt knew all about corruption from his job. He saw it first hand. He took a moment to consider his options before he relented. He backed away from Jonathan, hearing the politician grunt for a breath.

"Get out," Matt simply said to him.

"I'll be seeing you round, sweetheart," Jonathan addressed Charlotte and Matt felt her tense up next to him. The door to his apartment shut and footsteps receded down the hall. Content that they were alone again, Matt spun around, his hands going to Lottie's upper arms.

"What did he do to you?" he asked from her.

"He just…he hit me…pushed me around," Charlotte said. "But he didn't get a chance to do anything else. I got away from him before he could and ran to the door."

Matt nodded his head and he could tell that she was in some pain from the way her breathing seemed laboured. He suspected she had sore ribs and also a bruised cheek from the way she flinched when he stroked her cheek. He exhaled a deep breath, wondering if he should feel slightly relieved that nothing worse had happened or guilty that he'd just been wandering around the streets and had left her alone.

"Come here," Matt said, still hearing her erratic heartbeat. He held his arms out towards her and she stepped into his embrace. He cradled her too him, trying not to press her too tight to him with her bruised ribs. He moved a hand to her hair, cradling the back of her head tenderly and letting her rest her cheek on his shoulder, their previous night's argument not a priority. Matt burrowed his nose into her hair, smelling the shampoo and her body wash. He closed her eyes tightly, noticing how her hands clung onto his back, refusing to let him go.

"I'm sorry about last night," Charlotte whispered.

"That's not important right now," Matt said, surprised that she thought it was.

"Yes, it is," Charlotte replied. "It's important because I…I love you and I don't want to lose you, alright? But…whatever he's got on that memory stick…it's bad and we know it's bad and I…you shouldn't have let him go. I should have taken it-"

"-No," he interrupted her, his voice firm. He could hear her blood pressure spike and smell the adrenaline from her. He pulled her closer to him, his arms engulfing her. "You should have let him take it, Lottie, because the people he's in bed with are worse than we could imagine and I don't want them coming anywhere near you."

"But whatever is on that memory stick-"

"-Is stuff we'll get back," Matt interrupted her and she went silent then, confusion taking hold of her. Matt pulled back from her slightly, his hands going to hold her cheeks, thumbs running over her cheekbones as he felt her frown. "But you're not getting involved. Whatever is on that device…I can get it back and find out."

"No," Charlotte said firmly. "It's too dangerous, Matt. It's far too dangerous."

"You were willing to risk your life to keep it."

"Because it is my fault Jonathan was here. It is my fault you're involved in any of this," Charlotte said.

"None of this is your fault," Matt replied, voice firm. "Your problems became my problems the moment I let you back into my life because I was an idiot to ever let you go in the first place."

"You don't need to do this."

"I do, Lottie," he responded in a gentle voice. "Because you're involved and when it comes to you, I'd do anything."

St Martin's Chapel

Matt knew he shouldn't be doing this. He knew it was risky. It was foolish. But he had to do it. He just couldn't let her go in there and marry Jonathan. They hadn't spoken since the night at the bar when Matt had fought with her boyfriend, now fiancé and soon-to-be husband. He had tried to call, but she hadn't been picking up. She'd told him that she needed time away from him. She'd warned him that she needed space for the foreseeable future. And then Foggy had opened his mail one day and found a letter from her. He'd read it to Matt. All of the words told him how sorry she was for letting him go, but she needed to move on.

And that was why he was at the chapel. He knew she was moving on with the wrong man. He didn't think he was the right man. He knew he wasn't. He was the man he was and Charlotte deserved better.

He'd stood outside of the chapel and listened to the commotion inside, loitering at the side. Guests had gone in, gossiping and excited about the upcoming nuptials. Everything had gone quiet when a car pulled up. He waited expectantly for any sign of her. He smelt her familiar perfume on her when she got out of the car, two women fussing around her and tugging on materials of dress.

Matt had gotten used to not being able to see. He'd accepted his fate long ago. There were times he wished that he did have his sight. There were times he wished that he was able to see. He wished it at that moment in time. He wanted to see Charlotte. He wanted to see what she looked like as a bride. In his head, he pictured her. He pictured her in a long, white gown with long sleeves and intricate lace detailing. He pictured her with a bouquet of sunflowers, her favourite flower. He could see her walking down the aisle, a wide smile on her face. But she was walking to him. She wasn't walking to Jonathan.

He had always told himself that wasn't what he wanted, but he knew it was a lie. Deep down, it was a complete lie. If Elektra knew he was here then she'd be proven right. There had been so many times when she had said it to him. She'd told him that, no matter the fire between them, it would never be the same as what he felt for Charlotte Daniels.

Moving from the shadows, he heard Charlotte tell her bridesmaids that she just needed a minute to compose herself. He moved quickly up the steps of the chapel, grateful the main doors were closed. He grabbed hold of her forearm, not giving her chance to question him. He dragged her off to the side, opening the storage closet and hauling her into it.

"Matty, what the hell?" she demanded from him as she turned the light on and he locked the door.

"I needed to talk to you considering you sent me a letter when you know full well that I can't read," Matt snapped at her and Charlotte observed him in a cable knit sweater with dark jeans, hair mussed up and dark eyes like he hadn't slept in ages.

"I just…I was scared you'd answer your phone," she confessed, nervously tucking her hair behind her ears and then fiddling with the satin bow belt around her waist. "I told you that I needed space, Matty."

"You told me that you were going to marry this man," Matt said. "This…he's no good for you. You know that, don't you? You know that you deserve better than him?"

"He's my fiancé and in another hour he will be my husband," Charlotte sniped back at Matt, not wanting to back down as she looked over him and saw his eyes dart around. She glowered in his direction, hoping he was well aware of how annoyed she was with him. "The fact that you don't like him isn't a reason for me not to marry him."

"I know that," he promised her, "but you…he's not a good man…and I just…I couldn't stand by and let you go through with this. I know it's selfish. I know that it's selfish for me to be here with you and saying this, but it doesn't make it any less true. You…Jonathan…he isn't the man for you, Charlotte."

"And who is?" Charlotte questioned. "I love him, Matt. I love Jonathan and I'm going to marry him."

"It's a mistake," Matt said to her.

"No, it's not," Charlotte replied. "The fact that you're here trying to stop my wedding is ridiculous. You're here telling me what to do but you're not giving me any reason why I shouldn't do it. I tried to talk to you months ago, Matt…I told you how I felt and you told me we needed to move on. This is me moving on."

"What if I was wrong?" Matt wondered. "I mean…I…I don't know…maybe I was stupid…I wanted you to move on, yes, but not with him…and maybe not with anyone."

Charlotte wondered what he was getting at then. He stepped towards her and she felt his hand lace into hers, fingers cold from being stood outside for ages. He lowered his face down, nose brushing hers for a moment before she pushed him back. She shook her head and jabbed her finger against his chest.

"No," she snapped at him. "You do not come here and do this. You do not come here and tell me that you don't want to see me move on and what? Wait for you to be ready? Wait for you and Elektra to finish whatever you have?"

"Charlotte, that's not what I'm asking."

"No, I know why you're asking but I don't know why you're asking it," she responded, voice firm and low. She knew she didn't have much time before she had to be back outside for her wedding.

"I…neither do I," Matt said. "I just know that I am asking it."

"That's not good enough, Matty," she replied with a shake of her head. "If you'd have come here…told me it was a mistake because you loved me then maybe…just maybe I might have believed you. But you couldn't do that. You want me to be your back-up and I'm not anyone's back-up."

"That's not what I want," Matt said with a shake of his head. "I just want you to be happy and I don't think he makes you happy…but I…I do love you, Lottie. I love you."

"But it's not enough, is it?" she retorted. "We had our chance and I'm not waiting round for you to make your mind up. I'm worth more than that."

"Lottie, please-"

"-No," she interrupted with a shake of her head and she held a hand up as he moved towards her again. "I'm leaving, Matt, and I am going to marry Jonathan. We're finished, okay? We're done."

And then she left him alone once more.

…

"He won't be dumb enough to leave it laying around somewhere," Charlotte told Matt as they tidied up the bedroom together. Matt picked up her jumpers and folded them as she hung his shirts back up. "He left it in my jewellery box. It was hidden…somewhere no one would have found it…so whatever is on it is bad."

"You think he'll have given it to someone?"

"I think that must be why he wanted it back so badly," Charlotte said with a nod of her head. "But whoever he's giving it to, he won't meet them until tonight. He has a rally going on all day…cameras following him…he wouldn't risk it."

"So…we find him tonight," Matt said. "You know his schedule. Where does he usually go?"

"On Saturday night he would usually go home and order in. He wasn't someone who enjoyed doing things publicly…he said smiling all the time would drain him," Charlotte said. "And whatever business he's doing, I doubt he'd want to do it in public."

"His apartment then," Matt said. "I need you to tell me what security is like in that place. How many guards does he have? What codes are there?"

"Whoa," Charlotte said, holding a hand up and stopping him for a moment. She could feel a headache coming on. "You're going to go there? Are you crazy? He'd recognise you in an instant. Not to mention it's probably going to be dangerous."

"I have the mask."

"You think a mask will protect you?"

"Probably not, but I don't intend on him seeing my face. I can get in and out quietly…but I need to know about the building, okay?"

"Matt-"

"-I know that you're going to yell at me and tell me this is ridiculous and a part of me agrees with you," Matt interrupted her. "But the fact is that this is the right thing to do, Lottie, and you know it. We know that no one is going to stop him, but I can try…I can try and stop him…but I need your help. I don't want to keep things from you. I want to do this with your knowledge."

"I know you do," Charlotte said and she sunk down onto the edge of the bed. "And I guess if I had your abilities then I would want to try and help anyway I can too…but…I just want you to be safe. I want you to be safe."

"And I want that too," Matt assured her. "But more than anything, I want to keep you safe and until your husband is locked up then I'm scared I'll never get that."

"I don't want you to have to protect me."

"I know that you can protect yourself," Matt assured her. "You're more than capable…but we're in this together, alright? I need your help…but more than that…I just need you, Lottie. I just need you to be here because I don't want to be without you again."

"You mean what you say?" Charlotte asked from him. "We're in this together?"

"Cross my heart," Matt said and sat down next to her, making the motion over his chest and earning a chuckle from her at that. She looked to him and ran a hand down his stubble covered cheek.

"I'm not happy about this, you know that, right?" she checked with him.

"I know."

"But last night…I laid in bed…and all I could think about was how walking away from you would hurt more than anything."

Matt's lips arched despite the situation and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she leant into him and closed her eyes. He kissed the top of her head and left his cheek to sit there. "I'm with you forever, Lottie," Matt promised her. "Should have said those words a long time ago. Not sure why you gave me a second chance."

"Who was it that said love makes you do stupid things?"

Matt's smirk grew and he chuckled. "I think that's from one of those stupid cheesy movies you watch," he said to her.

"They're not stupid," she replied to him, voice firm. "Unrealistic and over-the-top, yes, but not stupid."

"This is one argument I'm tempted to let you win," Matt said.

"I could argue this with you and win fairly, Murdock," she retorted. "You might be a lawyer, but you know how persistent I am."

He chuckled. "Well aware of that," he assured her and she kissed him on the cheek before standing up and going back to tidying clothes away. Matt remained where he was for a second, sitting silently and listening to her walk around the room and tidy things away. He knew he said that they were in this together, but he knew that he would always protect her, no matter what they came up against.

...

A/N: What's on that stick? Please do let me know if you are reading and leave a review! It would really make my day!