Darkness Falls

Tre leaned over to press a kiss against Ash's temple before straightening his jacket and moving off into the crowd. He weaved between the strangers, searching for the slightest hint of suspicious activity. They had a job to do today, and the deeper he moved into the crowd, the more sure he was that they were completely alone in this. No one else, ministry or mafia, was here for this mission.

Turning back to where he'd left Ash, Tre made his way back through the crowd, stopping as a man pulled him aside. The mission objectives were muttered into his ear, and he nodded, unconcerned when the man disappeared again. He'd talk to Teddy when it was all over.

He moved back to where he'd left Ash, his eyebrows furrowing as the space appeared blank. "...Wings...?" He called, his eyes sweeping asround the crowded street. Where had she gone?

Ashleen watched the boy leave, her gaze never wavering as he melded into the crowd, standing still for fair too long in the moving people to avoid looking suspicious. Shuffling slightly, she sighed and began to fidget with her coat, debating where to wait. Finally she decided that she was too exposed in the open.

Glancing around her she saw a mouth to an alley way. It was rather dingy but she was a big girl, besides the people were starting to piss her off.

Looking over her shoulder one more time she w andered in that direction, making sure that she could still see the way back should Tre come. She wouldn't even go all the way in - she'd just... lean against the wall, or something, until he came back and they could...

The girl tensed as she heard the footsteps following her. She swallowed but kept walking. If she stopped then she'd give them the advantage. Right now, who ever it was didn't know that she knew they were there. From the footsteps she could tell it was only one person. Reaching for her wand in her pocket - not caring if there were witnesses or underage magic - she would just take walk until she got herself to a good place for her and then...

It was just one person. She was a big girl. She could handler herself with one person.

Her eyes widened and she could help put stumbling to a slight stop as two men appeared in front of her, blocking her way. She finally risked a glance over her shoulder. The person who had been behind her had stopped too.

Three might be more of a problem.

Looking back forward again her heart jumped again as another person had appeared. The street she had chosen was dingy, and although it intersencted with at least two more (that must have been where the people in front of her had shown up) all streets seemed to be as disserted as the next.

Four was going to be more difficult. She heard a chuckle behind her and dreaded to look but...

Six.

Her heart sunk; she wasn't getting out of this was she? Still...

"I don't suppose asking you to move would work, would it?" her eyes darted from one group to the next. She was stuck between the two of them, she certainly wasn't small enough to fit around either of them and she wouldn't want to risk getting that close to either of them. She had turned slightly so she could watch both groups as evenly as possibly.

"Oh look," one of them snorted, a burly looking fellow, wide shoulders, strong build - youngish. She would have pegged him as a footballer. If she was back in america, and she was just playing people watching. "We got ourselves a smart one." The all chortled at that - rather lame joke Ash thought but she wasn't in a position to speak up right now.

"What do you think boys?" the man looked around at his companions again, before turning to leer at Ash. He took a step forward and she took a step back, unwittingly trapping herself closer to the wall "She'll do won't she? Picked her out myself. Pretty right?"

He took a step towards her again, the others closing in around him. It took only a moment for Ash to pull out her wand.

"Don't step closer." Her hand shook but her voice was steady.

"And fiesty too - that will have its advantages... later." the man's eyes glinted, and Ash felt her mouth go dry.

"I said," she spoke softer this time, suddenly having more trouble speaking, "Stay back," in a flash she was muttering the first spell that came to her head, but her hand shook so much that it didn't go straight and the man easily dodged it. He was in front of her before she could even think another word. She blinked as her wand was out of her hand, flinching as she heard the snap of wood as if it were from a great distance.

"Now, now none of that," he said slowly, walking closer to her forcing Ash to keep stepping back if she didn't want to touch him. Which she most definitly didn't want. "You know," he took another step and so did Ash. Only to find a wall in her way. Her eyes widened and she let out a little squeak. The man smirked as a hand reached out to play with her hair, "You know- it could be fun for you too, if you just," he leaned forward nipping at her ear before whispering, "go with it."

It was as if something snapped in her head. Her eyes narrowing, she clenched her jaw for a moment.

"Go. To. Hell." With more force than she previously thought she had Ashleen wouund her foot back and in the limited space stomped on the mans as hard as she could, spitting in his face for added measure. He roared in pain and flinched back slightly.

It was enough.

Ash took a leap and sqeezed out of the space, going to make a run for it.

Only to be yanked back by her hair; she let out a scream of pain as each strand seemed to be being pulled by their roots.

"You misreable little-" the man growled again, slamming her against the wall with enough force to leave a bruise - not that was the biggest of the girls worries now. He grabbed her hands, pushing them against the wall against the wall, pushing himself against her. She froze again, as she was reminded just what was going to happen as she felt, "I was going to be nice, but if you want to play it like that."

Smirking down at her, he nodded to his buddies who took over the duties of holding her back as his hands decided it was time to roam freely.

"And just what is my little pet hiding under here?" the man raised an eyebrow as his hand found the zipper of the jacket, and despite her squirming had the article off in a matter of minutes, eyes widening at the skimpy corrset top it was hiding. Ash was suddenly regretting her rash actions of earlier that day even more than she already had. She was practically falling out of the top. Begging for him- no not just him... them to... god she deserved this didn't she?

"Well now," he raised his eyebrows hungerly, his gaze never leaving the ample clevage she was flahing, "Aren't we just... ready for fun?"

"Boss," one of the men behind him whinned, "Can you hurry up already? Some of us got needs too."

"Silence," the man roared before turning back to Ash, "Though you are right - enough of this play." His hands went to her waste slamming into her again, rubbing against her, her squirming to get away doing nothing, in fact it was probably making it more... his rough lips found her neck and he mumbled her next words against it, "We're going to have fun aren't we Sugar?"

Ash opened her mouth to say something, anything to snark at him, but nothing came out.

He pulled back a moment, and preteneded to look surprised, "Almost forgot - we won't be needing these will we?" He smirked at her as his hands made their way to his waist band.

Ash's squirming continued as her panic increased. Oh lord. Oh lord. Oh lord. Her breath hitched, and she couldnt' breath for a moment. No. No. No.

"TRE!," her voice rang out in decibles louder than she thought possibly, her throat hurt but she couldn't stop. She needed, needed, "TRE!! Oh please lord no... SOMEBODY! ANYBODY!! TRESHAWN!"

The man swore and ordered for someone to shut her up, which they promptly did. Still squirming she whimpered as the man went back to his jeans, undoing the top button and wiggling them...

She wasn't even aware of her crying she wasn't ware of anything. It was too late. Much too late. If only she had... if she had just-

She whimpered behind the hand; only one thought repeating into her head, trying to pretend this wasn't going to happen, that she wasn't-

Tre.

Tre's eyebrows furrowed as he looked around, trying to find the familiar head of blond hair. Where had she gone? He understood that standing still was an unnecessary risk, but Ash usually stayed in sight...

A frown appeared on his lips as he made his way further into the crowd, looking around for her. She had to be around here somewhere, didn't she? Where had she gone?

Worry began to poke its ugly head up, causing his eyes to darken the slightest bit. He stood up on a park bench, looking around the packed plaza, trying to find any hint of her.

Nothing.,

"Wings?" He called out into the crowd, heedless of the way the man from earlier shot a look at him. Where on earth...?

Something within him lurched as he heard his name being called, and he was in motion long before he could fully comprehend where it was coming from. The raw fear in her voice only amplefied his, and he shoved his way through the crowd, heedless of the many civilians thrown to the ground in his wake. He was nothing. Nothing but a blur heading straight for her voice. He didn't notice as his surroundings changed, as the packed plaza was transformed into a deserted street, he didn't notice the way the man from earlier muttered something into his wristwatch and disappeared. He only sped up as her voice was abruptly cut off.

Less then a minute later, the enemy -the one with his pants around his knees - found himself struggling for breath as Tre's fingers wrapped around his neck. The boy snarled and threw him into another one of his goons, ignoring the sound the man's head made as it smashed into the pavement.

"What the-"

Tre's fist found the jaw of one of the ones holding her down, and his boot found the crotch of the one gagging her. His words were transformed into snarls of hatred, anger, and disgust as he tossed the men around like china dolls, not satisfied until each of their faces shattered.

The sound of a saftey clicking to off smashed through the red haze over Tre's mind, letting in the words. "Don't move."

Tre froze from where he was poised on the back of one of the goons, his fists in the mans hair as he'd been smashing his face into the pavement. Slowly, he turned his head to look at the man - the leader, not that he knew - his eyes pitch black and filled with hatred. His gaze went from the man, to the gun, to where it was pressed against Ash's temple.

"Stand."

He slowly got to his feet, his face an emotionless mask as his eyes flickered between the gun and the man.

Ash dropped to the ground her limbs useless as she was suddenly not held up by anything. Some part of her was vaguely aware of what was going on, of Tre...

But she was too lost in her own mind to really notice anything. She was still gasping from breath, swallowing back tears and trying to control her shaking. She could still barely believe that they hadn't -that she hadn't.

She didn't notice the way her bare skin on her knees and hands tore as she skidded across the ground, and she certainly didn't notice her gun, carelessesly stuffed in the back of her skirt as her father practically dragged her out of the club by her ear, fall to the ground with a clatter.

That is, she didn't notice until she was roughly picked back up and found it directed at her head.

She swallowed hard as she brought her briming eyes up to Tre's. She'd done this. This was all her fault. IF she had just-just...

She ruined everything; she should have stayed where she was, or not-not put on that stupid - god she had asked for it, she had-

Tre was going to do something stupid, she could see it... and she was the one that deserved.. everything.

"I'm Sorry," she more or less whispered before doing one of her stupidest stunts and attempted to pull away.

At her words, the last bit of control Tre had snapped.

The man cracked the gun against Ash's head as she tried to pull away, snarling at her to stay put. Somewhere, something mused that the only reason he hadn't shot Ash is because she was the only thing keeping Tre away from her, but that something died down almost instantly.

Tre's fists clenched, and his eyes went to Ash. There was something about the way he looked at her, something dark and possessive and protective, something not the least bit Tre. No one was looking behind the man. No one's focus was on the fact that it had rained yesterday, but Tre knew this. His eyes never left Ash.

The gun clattered to the ground as the man struggled for breath, his hands going to his throat.

Water had encompassed his head, cutting off his air, and no matter how the man moved, it stayed with him. Tre was at Ash's side in an instant, ignoring the sound of the man falling to his knees, or the sound of him collasping to the ground. His fingers ran over the planes of her face, his eyes darkening as they came across the smallest of imperfections. The man spasmed as the waterpressure increased.

His eyes went over every inch of her, and he barely thought about it before tugging off his shirt and slipping it over her head. His jacket was next, hung over her shoulders, a low whine the only thing he could manage to ask her if she was alright.

There was a crash as the man's spasming limbs hit a tin trashcan, drawing Tre's attention to him. The water did not seem to surprize him in the least. Then, the boy was standing over him, kicking him in the ribs with increasing force, over and over again, a grim satisfaction growing as the man's face turned increasingly red and he curled in pain.

Ashleen's head snapped back as the gun hit her, the sharp metal tearing into the skin of her scalp, adding more cuts to her body but again she barely noticed. She blinked dazed slightly, her brain rattled by the knock - not enough to cause perminate damage but on top of the shock, it was enough to get her to stop moving.

Again, as soon as she was released the girl flopped back down; she seemed unable to stand on her own. She was completely ignorant of the man for a moment. She was slowly getting lost in her head more and more - images that weren't happening running through her mind.

She even flinched from Tre's touch at first, not seeing Tre but other hands, other... she blinked slightly at some added warmth, somehow managing to miss the shirt being pulled over her head, added by the jacket. She kept mumbling the same thing over and over.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

The only thing that seemed to snap her out of her head was when Tre was suddenly gone. Slowly blinking she looked around her slowly until her gaze landed on the boy. There was something... wrong... about that.

She wanted- wanted the man to... but, but not by Tre not by her..

"Tre," she spoke softly, her voice unable to do anything more; she seemed to have pulled out her vocal cords on the few screams she actually had gotten out. "Don't. Please don't he's... he's just-just scum, not, not worth it. Please, leave him. Please."

Tre paused, his dark gaze going to Ash. He met her eyes, emotions flashing through him too fast for him to comprehend, and then he was aiming one last kick at the man, grunting with satisfaction as the man's mouth opened in a silent scream.

The water was just water once more, splashing downward and drenching the man completely. He struggled for breath, gulping in the air before Tre lifted his boot and smashed it into the man's face. The man fell, out cold.

He returned to Ash's side, cooing at her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him, not letting her go for an instant. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck, breathing her in, making sure she was alright. He was slowly coming down from his adreneline rush, feeling the soreness of his muscles from all the fighting, the raw patch of skin where one of the men had gotten a lucky hit in, and multiple bruises all over his body. He didn't notice that he was trembling, he didn't notice he was contremplating going back to kill each of the men. He did, however, notice that he had started babbling.

"Ash..." he murmured. "Ash. Ash. Ash..."

Ashleen froze again for the moment at the touch before relaxing into the familarity of it - her instincts telling her it was Tre not-not-

"I thought-I thought he was, was going to," she curled into him, sticking her face into his chest attemtping to hide away from the world, from... from the truth, "He, he touched me, and-and I thought he was going to- he was going to-"

She looked up for a moment before hiding away agian. She didn't want to look, see know... anything...

"Can we go?"

"I won't let anyone touch you." He snarled, his hold on her tightening. He pulled away slightly, wrapping his arm around her waist and standing fully. His eyes swept the scene before them, unconcerned with the bodies, his eyes searching the shadows with growing suspicion.

He pulled her against him, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before pulling her after him, keeping her as close as possible while still being able to walk. They had barely cleared the ring of bodies when the cars pulled up, drenching them in light as the headlights blinded them.

Tre snarled, backing Ash into the wall and taking a defensive position in front of her, his eyes still dark. He tensed, readying himself for an attack, his eyes moving between each of the cars - there had to be at least seven of them - and flitting between each of the silhouettes that emerged from the car.

"Ashleen?!"

Tre moved back further, pressing his tattooed back into her front and completely sheilding her from the man before them, ignoring the sneer that flitted across his face.

"Move Aside, Beneparte."

Tre snarled, ignoring the obvious order.

Lord D'Angelo was not amused.

Already following Tre at a distance that was so close it really was almost unbelievable she had yet to trip over him, she let out a squeak and moved even closer as the cars drove up. Her heart rate spiked and she swallowed hard, closing her eyes, sure that there was more of them, that they were coming... coming for her.

Her eyes widened and heart jumped as she heard the voice, recognizing it as...

"Daddy," she mumbled as Tre backed even closer to her blocking her view of the face she knew so well, the one that mirrored her own in so many ways, and instead, she found her cheek resting against the dark lines of wings, that seemed to shine ever so slightly at the contenct, and felt warm to the touch.

Swallowing hard, Ashleen whimpered slightly and traced the lines with a shaking finger. No, no, no - Daddy couldn't be here. Not here then he'd know... he'd know...

What a failure she was; he'd see...

He'd see what a shame she was; what a waste of time.

She heard her father's voice raise in response to Tre's snarl but she wasn't listening enough to pick out words. Still...

"Tre," she whispered softly, kissing the skin right by her mouth, lighting up the whole tattoo with that slight but intimate contact, "Don't... don't fight - not... not for me, not for this."

Tre growled as the man stepped closer, baring his teeth at him and pressing further back into Ash. His train of thought was momentarily derailed by her touch, a shiver flitting through his body as he cocked his head to the side, listening to her voice. A slight rumble vibrated through his chest, somewhere between a growl and a purr.

His eyes, still dark and dangerous, leveled with the mans gaze. He stood tall, challenging Ashleen's father eye to eye for the first time in his entire life. He didn't back down, locking their gazes until, at last, D'Angelo glanced at some of the silhouettes and sent them off to take care of the men on the ground. The sound of suppressed pistol fire didn't faze Tre's gaze, and neither did his own father stepping out of one of the cars.

"Shawn..."

Tre repressed the violent urge to attack, for Ash if for nothing else.

"Let us have a Healer look at her, won't you?" The man didn't miss the suspicious glint in his son's eye, and he called out over his shoulder, ordering a healer to step forward.

Teddy was the one who materialized next, stopping next to both the fathers.

"Come on, Angel, you know I won't hurt Lady Leen." Teddy joked warily, with a smile. "Dontcha?"

Slowly, Tre moved aside, so that Ash could see around him slightly, though her body was still mostly blocked by him. Cautiously, Teddy moved closer, stepping into the five-foot perimeter Tre hadn't noticed they were keeping around him. Tre's eyes didn't leave the man, even as he started talking softly to Ash, asking her questions that Tre couldn't hear.

His eyes went back to the fathers, who had kept their distance.

"Shawn....?"

Tre showed no recognition.

Ashleen swallowed, the voices continueing around her but she couldn't quite focus on all of them. Her head was swirling, jumping from moment to moment - she was having trouble focusing on anything.

She blinked slightly as Tre moved flinching at the bright lights of the cars and the people. So many people... what if they-they...

As Teddy approached her she flinched back from him, shrinking away despite the familiarity of his face. She knew that she should be safe with him, but she didn't want to-to-

"Hey there, Wings," he cooed softly, halting his movement as soon as she began to flinch away, "Its just me - just harmless old Teddy; I just wanna talk to you for a moment? Will that be okay. Maybe I can do something for those hands of yours, I bet they sting."

Ashleen bit her lip and stared at her hands - she had forgotten about them completely and then looking back up at him for a moment, before she ducked her head and shuffled forward again back to where she orginially was, a singal for Teddy to know she wouldn't move away if he tried to move forward.

"There, not so bad huh?" he looked at her for a moment, his gaze locking on her haunted blue onces, and a frown began to mar his face before he pulled it back into his overly pleasent one. "Hey there, want to tell me what happened? You know, I'm real curious." Ash closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't want to, ever, ever... "Please Ashy, just a little bit? I only want to help."

"No one can help," she mutter softly her voice cracking slightly.

Teddy frowned again, "You sure about that, Wings? Not even a little." Ashleen just continued to blink back at him. His eyes flashed to the boy just in front of them, and then back at her, "What about him? Could telling help Angel? I know you want to help Angel."

Ash bit her lip and followed his gaze. She didn't want to say it for anything in the world but... but if Teddy was right?

Ashleen would do anything for Tre.

"I-I didn't mean to," she whispered shakily, "I just-just wanted, and then then I thought I could but there were soo many of them - too many of them, and and then the one he-he and I-" her breath shook a bit as her eyes brimmed again, "He was going to-to-to."

"Ashleen," the older man reaching out two hands and then proptly pulling them back at Tre's reaction, "What was he going to do to you?"

She bit her lip and shook her head, not wanting to say it allowed. She couldn't- couldn't... but if, if... she glanced at Tre again, and then leaned forward, placing her mouth besides his ear she whispered the word she couldn't bare to say any louder, "rape."

Teddy's gaze widened and he lost his professonal tone as he swore, "Did they... did they...?"

She shook her head tearfully, "But they we're really close; really, really close."

Walking away from her Teddy paced for a moment, walking back to the fahter's he muttered the information he'd gained to them reluctantly; they had to call over extra men to keep D'Angelo back, his eyes furious, the fact the the men were already dead didn't seem to detire him, and he muttered somethings about not getting to do it himself.

"She needs calming potions, sleep," he muttered quietly glancing back at the girl. "And probably more things that magic can't provide. But... we're not going to get her away from Angel either; he won't..."

Tre's eyes stayed on the growing group of silhouettes around them, his eyes beginning to flit around like a trapped animal. They were all a danger to her. None of them would touch her!

His arm snapped out, his fingers wrapping around Teddy's wrist as he reached to put his hands on her shoulders, a growl working its way out of his throat in warning before he dropped the wrist. His focus was once again on the growing number of people, a step or two backwards so he was touching Ash, sure she was there, the only measures he took. He was calculating the amount of time it would take to take out each and every shadow, heedless of the automatic weapons appearing around them. He'd take them all out, and take Ash away. Far away. Far far...

Lord D'Angelo's anger at Teddy's words had him against Ash again, snarling at the lot of them, sending most members stumbling a few steps back. His tattoo glinted, and his eyes darkened further. They wouldn't touch her!

"Angel..." Teddy murmured, moving forward again as their fathers made hasty orders to send the men back a few more steps. "Angel... it's me Teddy, you recognize me, right?" A growl was the only answer, along with another step backward, keeping Ash secure between himself and the wall.

"We should get her out of here. Before the cops come. You know how the cops don't like us." Tre bared his teeth again, but the slow way he did it hinted at the fact he was listening. Lord Beneparte shouted something and the crowd parted, leaving a trail to one of the cars. "Come on, Angel. Bring Ash and we'll all go home."

Tre growled again, snarling at the prospect of walking Ash past all those people, at the thought of one of them touching her.

"If we make them all leave, will you do it?" D'Angelo said, looking dead at Tre. The man met the boys gaze with the mutual understanding that nothing would get past him. Nothing would get past either of them.

Slowly, reluctantly, Tre nodded.

The men seeped away into the shadows, disappearing into cars and alleyways as they piled the attackers' bodies into the trunks of two of the cars.

Then it was only the fathers, Teddy, Tre, and Ash.

"Come on, now, Angel." Teddy said gently, opening the door to the backseat of one of the cars. "Let's have her in here, shall we?"

Tre turned to Ash, his dark eyes wide with worry and anger, asking her for permission.

None of the adults moved, and silence fell, as if the world was holding their breath.

Ashleen scanned the shadows the people with nervous eyes, not focusing on any of them enough except for Tre, Teddy and their fathers. Her eyebrows furrowed as her dad began to yell. What was wrong with Daddy?

"Tre," her voice was low, a warning but she didn't know what she was warning of as she touched him again. "Tre... home," her brain picked up the one word, needing that word. "I want to go home Tre."

She barely noticed everyone leave but she met his gaze with a steady if shaken one. She had only one response to his unasked question.

"Home."

His anger dissipated as he looked at her, and he nodded once. He intertwined their fingers and pulled her against him, growling as D'Angelo made a move to step forward. He glanced at Ash before leading Ash slowly to the car, peering suspiciously inside before standing aside for her to enter. Once she had, he slid in after her, baring his teeth at Teddy as he tried to come in after them and slamming the door.

There was a slight pause outside, as they discussed something, but Tre paid them no attention, wrapping his arms around Ash and pulling her close. He buried his face in her collarbone, breathing in that she was alive and well. The thought to let her go never crossed his mind.

He glanced up as the front doors opened, growling lowly as their fathers got in the car. D'Angelo shot him a look from the passengers seat, as Lord Beneparte started to drive. He bared his teeth at their fathers before going back to nuzzling into Ash, doing yet another check to make sure she was alright. His lips found her jawbone, and he traced light, possessive kisses up to her ear.

"I love you."

Ashleen relaxed slightly into her seat as she sat into the car, followed by Tre. Her sense were still on high alert, and she'd jump at any stranger who came within meter of her, but familar faces...

"Daddy..." she whispered softly as the man got into the car, distracted by the man, her voice soft and childish for a moment, "I-I'm s-sorry; I-"

She ended off her word, shook her head and shrunk back into herself, only drawing out slowly at Tre's words, completely missing the helpless look that crossed her fathers face, before being replaced by his angry glower again.

She turned into Tre's touch slightly, somehow feeling, hoping that his could earse the memory of that last...

"I love you too," she murmured softly as her eyes closed, and she crossed her hands in her lap, trying to get them to stop shaking. "I-I- ... don't leave... please?"

Tre took her hands in his, pressing a kiss to her fingers. His arms wrapped around her once more, taking no heed to the fact that the car was moving in a caravan with the other cars, nor to the glances his father was shooting him.

"I will never leave you." He purred softly, his hold on her tightening. "Not for anyone, not for anything, not even for death." His father murmured something to Ash's father, but he missed it as they pulled up to the current safe house, not that Tre could even remember which one it was. Both men got out, and D'Angelo opened the door closest to Ash, holding out his hand for hers.

Tre snarled, pulling Ash back and out of the man's reach, his eyes - which had been slowly lightening up to this point - darkening drastically. "Don't. Touch. Her."

He moved away to the other door, opening it behind him and stepping out, not letting go of Ash's hand. He waited for her to get out, his eyes flashing around at all the threats securing their perimeter.

"Shawn." Tre's eyes went to his father, more because of his proximity to Ash than recognition to the name. "We'll take care of her. Let her g-"

"No!" Tre snarled, pulling Ash toward him again. He backed away from his father slowly, snarling at every new person he saw.

"Clear the path to his room." Teddy advised, stepping out of another car. The members scrambled, moving away from him as he made his way up the stairs. He paused on the doorstep, not liking the fact that the house was dangerously enclosed. Anyone could be hiding in there....

He moved with a jolt as he heard the sound of something clattering in the kitchen, pulling Ash against him and growling. He bared his teeth until the familiar sight of Heaven burst into the room, whining at him and trying to get past him to see Ash. Then, the dog changed.

Angel and Heaven, both nothing but snarling watchdogs now, made their way up the stairs, pausing to watch every member they came across. At long last, they were in front of Tre's door. A ball of golden light ripped through the door, and it flung open, revealing the familiar chaos that was Tre's room. He shuffled through the door, suspicious of every shadow, until the light clicked on and his creaky ceiling fan started up.

Nothing was out of place.

He let Ash into the room, Heaven leaping up onto the bed as he slammed the door in Teddy's face.

"Angel? Let me..." Another burst of light had the door locked, and a muffliato had the noise taken care of. Tre pulled Ash to the bed and sat down, pulling her onto his lap and playing with her hair.

Safe.

He melted, his hold on her tightening as he leaned against her.

"I'm so sorry..." He murmured thickly, starting to tremble. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you..."

It was an odd feeling she had, letting Tre drag her around like a rag doll, flopping to his every tug and pull and not caring at all. If this had been a normal sitiuation she would have put up a protest to her lack of control, choice at least once - probably even thrown a tantrum by now, if it had kept going at this level.

But she felt so strange... devoid of other emotions. Her ears continued to buzz, most words not even running through her ears properly. Every sense seemed to be mutted except for the one waiting, alert for something else to happen. It was as if her body had put in a natural defense system - if it couldn't stop things from happening, it was going to stop her from actually feeling them all.

Her interest spiked up a bit, some sense coming back as her dog showed up; the only being besides Tre she trusted without a second hesitation. She reached down to let her figers run numbly through her fur, but didn't move otherwise. She stood still blinking in Tre's room, his shirt too large for her hanging off her almost covering the skirt that had always been too short.

"No-no," she mumbled the first words since entering the house, leaving the car. "Not. Not you're fault... if I hadn't- if I had.... my fault. Not yours. Never yours."

Tre growled softly. "It's not your fault." He said softly. "It's... those monsters that attacked you. Never you." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, before eyeing her clothing for the first time. He hugged her tightly before getting up and going to his dresser drawer, pulling out a clean t-shirt and some plain sweat pants with drawstrings. He was back next to her in a second, holding the clothes out to her.

"Here. Change over there. I won't look. Promise." Gently placing the clothes on her lap and pressing a kiss to her temple, Tre fell back onto his bed, busying himself with petting Heaven as he tried to ignore the fact that she would be taking off her clothes in the same room as him. The dog nuzzled into him, and Tre chuckled lightly, scratching her behind the ears. His eyes had lightened the slightest bit, now that there were no threats present.

Ashleen bit her lip, nodding her head slightly because that seemed like the thing to do, not because she really believed him. She supposed he did have a point, but she couldn't help that nagginging feeling...

If she just hadn't done this, or had done that... If she had just...

That was the phrase constantly running through her head.

"Thank you," she mumbled quietly, taking the clothes and wandering over in the direction indicated. She bit her lip, fingering the edges of the jacket before slipping it off quickly, setting it aside, and removing the shirt just as quickly.

Then she was back in the ridiculous outfit she had put on earlier. What had she been thinking? She hadn't been thinking that was it. Looking at that outfit in the mirror - remembering some her mindless actions at the club, before her father had shown up to drag her away from that too... that was part of the reason she blamed herself. If that outfit, those actions wasn't asking for it...

Then what was?

She took the skirt off quickly, slipping the pants on quickly tying up the drawstrings, and then she reached to remove the top... only to find a problem. She frowned slightly, reaching an arm back. Maybe she could reach...

She really didn't want to do this - she didn't want to have her shame more openly expressed then it already had been - but if she didn't...

"Tre," her voice was soft reluctant really, but the strings at the back of her corrset top were impossible. She had gotten a house elf to magic them up when she put it on. If she could ask anyone else..... She hung her head, her blond hair hiding her face, "Tre... I can't- the shirt I-I... theres too many... the strings. I can't- I can't untie them on my own."

Tre's eyes had closed as Heaven licked at his forehead, humming a soft tune as he kicked off his shoes. His voice cut off abruptly as Ash said his name. He resisted the urge to open his eyes. "Hmm?" He asked, opening his eyes slowly. He glanced at Heaven, who seemed completely unconcerned, and only licked his forehead again.

"You are absolutely no help, you know that?" He murmured to the dog, rolling his eyes as her tail started to thump against his bed. He pushed himself up off the bed, his eyes staying two feet to her left as he moved soundlessly toward her. He gulped as he realized that he would have to look at her to undo the strings.

For the first time, Tre saw her shirt.

His eyes widened and his face turned bright red, his mouth going dry as he took in their reflection in the mirror. He could barely breathe, looking at her, she looked so... delectable...

His fingers fumbled on the strings, the dangerous urge to get the shirt off her as soon as possible taking over his actions. He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, finishing untying with a hitch in his breath. He met her eyes in the mirror, before disappearing back to the bed, groaning and falling on his back.

Heaven wagged her tail again, probably proud or something. Tre made a soft sound somewhere near the back of his throat and closed his eyes, running his hand through his hair.

Ashleen looked up once, notcing his flush and mirroring it with one of her own. God, she looked like such a...

Tramp.

Why did she... just wanting him to get the stupid thing off as quickly as possible, she crossed her arms over her chest, holding the front up so that she didn't fall out completely as soon as it was undone.

She shivered slightly at his touch, his lips at the base of her neck. If it had been any other situation, hell if it had only been hours earlier, this whole situation, she'd jump at.. well at him, but not now.

"Thank you," she muttered softly as he walked away, watching him in the mirror. Wishing she could... make it better, but... "I'm sorry."

Looking back down at her feet, she dropped the offending top down as fast as possibly and pulled on the T-shirt, hugging it close to herself. It was soft, comfortable - and it smelt like him.

Staring at her reflection for another moment, she hung her head and turned away, not liking the eerie way her blue eyes stared back at her, flat, hollow. Paddling back over to the bed, she sat down carefully, tucking her feet under her and reaching out a hand, sticking it deep in Heaven's fur, taking comfort in her calming presence.

She looked down at her hands, flexing them as she looked at the scraps on them, she had torn off most of the skin on her palms and barely noticed. In fact she was covered in wounds she hadn't noticed till now, her knees matched her palms, there was some blood matted into her hair from the blow to the head, and her back was more than a little sore.

"You know," she said after a moment her voice low, "We're going to- going to have to go-go- b-b-back out there sometime."

She found it odd how frightening her own suggestion was to her.

Tre's eyes flickered open, then he was sitting up, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Hey." He said softly, meeting her eyes. Gently, his fingers brushed along her face, up to the bruise on her temple. His eyes flickered to it, and a soft golden light flitted between his fingers, healing her slowly and filling her with euphoria. His lips brushed against hers, softly, his hands going to hers and healing that too, then pressing gently on her knee to heal that.

"It's not your fault."

Once she was mostly healed, his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him and lying down next to her. He curled around her, spooning and resting his face above hers. He started humming again, his chest pressed against her back. He grumbled slightly, wrapping himself around her and shaking his head.

"We don't have to go anywhere we don't want." he murmured. "We'll just stay here forever. Have a house elf bring us food... I think this is the safehouse where my room has a bathroom." He lifted his head to glance around his room, losing interest in looking the second he moved his head away from hers. He snuggled back into her, curling tighter around her.

"...If we do have to go..." He stopped breathing for a moment, nuzzling his nose into the back of her shoulder and pressing a soft kiss into the back of her neck. "...I won't let you go alone."

Ashleen closed her eyes as his hands, his healing light roamed her skin gently, healing all her visable wounds.

That was the key word there, wasn't it - visible; there was so much more that she couldn't... even the slight euphoric feeling that settled on her, bringing a slight smile to her face could push back all the shadows that were now hiding within her head.

She curled into him, relaxing even further into the familiarity of this touch. She felt safe there. If Tre had her then no one else could touch her.

"And school?" she whispered softly. "W-we'll have to go b-back there and..." she paused as she remembered something, her eyes going wide. "M-m-my wand... I-I.. He-he took, took it," her ears seemed to remember a sickening snapping sound she hadn't even heard properly when it happened. "I-I think... he... he broke-broke it."

"Shh..." He soothed, his fingers running through her hair. "School won't be a problem. I'll be with you always, never leave your side if you want." His hold around her waist tightened, nuzzling his nose into her neck again. "No one will touch you." He murmured darkly. "No one but me."

He rolled with her, placing himself above her on the bed, pinning her there. "Hey." He murmured, looking down into her eyes. Their gazes locked, and he found himself just looking at her, lost in the emptiness of her eyes. His eyes brightened, slowly and surely turning back to gold. Gently, he brushed his lips against hers, deepening slowly, filling the kiss with promise.

"Don't worry about anything for a while, alright?" He said softly, his eyes swimming with worry. "I'll take care of everything."