JT barged through the door only to come to a screeching halt. All the lights in the hall fluctuated with such intensity, extremely bright one second and completely dim the next that he felt blinded by the harshness even when the lights were low. Within seconds of his arrival, the lights grew brighter and brighter and then everything had gotten dark. They had all shattered simultaneously. Glass fragments lay everywhere. His eyes took a moment to adjust, and then JT ran forward to where Gwen stood; her face covered with her hands, her shoulders drooping low. She was sobbing quietly and shaking her head, mumbling something he didn't quite understand.

When he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, she screamed and wiggled away from him. Without turning to look, she backed into the nearest corner.

"Gwen its JT." He approached her slowly, in a non-threatening manner. When she refused to open her eyes, his concern grew tenfold. He knew he had to snap her out of whatever had scared her, but he wanted to do so delicately. He didn't know how though. Being in a difficult situation was nothing new to JT, but the circumstances he had been in were those that he had been trained for. He knew exactly how to handle them. This ... this was new to him, and he didn't enjoy being helpless.

JT made soft, soothing sounds as he approached Gwen again. When she didn't squirm away from him, he put one hand on her elbow and rubbed gently. He sighed internally when she didn't pull away from him. Slowly JT tried removing her hands from her face.

"Gwen it's me... JT. Gwen, look at me." This time, she did. She peeked through her fingers and was visibly relieved to see him. She let go of her face and ran to the safety of his arms. He couldn't understand what scared her so though. Okay, he admitted to himself. India had its share of electricity issues. It wasn't overly disturbing to see the fluctuation. In fact, it was quite normal. Perhaps not to the magnitude where all the lights shattered. But hey, this was an old house with old wiring. Easily explainable and not quite so disturbing... except for the shattered glass. Now, that was a mess, and one of them could have gotten hurt.

"Hey... it's all right," he said softly as he ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to soothe her. "It's okay. These things happen.... shhh. It's okay". Gwen stopped shaking and looked up at him.

"It's okay? How can it be okay?" She looked positively upset, and JT was at a loss again. Wasn't she overreacting just a wee bit?

"Listen, I can perhaps see why you're not used to this, but we'll get somebody to look at the wiring in the house."

"Wiring? What's wrong with the wiring?" Gwen replied just as confused as JT.

He looked around the hall, and she looked with him. Her eyes opened wider as she saw the broken glass mess on the floors. "How? When?" is all that she could whisper.

"You didn't see the lights going crazy?" JT asked.

She shook her head still trying to absorb what happened. "No, they were fine when I came in."

He pushed Gwen away from him just a fraction and looked into her eyes. "What made you scream then?" He was clearly perplexed now. Something was missing. Like a piece of a puzzle. Information he didn't have. What was it? He scanned his brain and then looked around the room hoping to spot what spooked her so.

"That," she said pointing to the end of the hall, but not looking at whatever she was pointing at.

JT's eyes followed her hand till they rested on that old metal box she had dug up near the cemetery. Just above it, in what looked like dry red paint, were three words 'You ...Are... Mine...'

"Tom... you son of a bitch," JT muttered.

Gwen swatted JT on the chest and giggled. "Language, mister," she said. He looked at her wondering how she could focus on something so irrelevant at this point. Then seeing her laugh, he burst out laughing too.

"You scared the hibbijibbies out of me," JT said ruffling her hair playfully.

"Hibbijibbies," she mimicked JT, and they both laughed some more.

Getting serious, he ran his fingers over the bruise on her lip. Tom was certainly a threat. One he would need to take care off and soon. Especially if he had the guts to walk in while JT was there and terrorize Gwen like this. "Hey, tell you what," said JT, "I'll get the boys to clean this up. You and me, let's get out of here for a while okay?"

"Sounds good," she said. "Where we going?"

"Not too far, but somewhere safer," JT said. "Pack enough for a few days."

"Pack? I've got nothing to pack. Everything is still a wet, dirty mess!"

"Well... Take whatever you need or whatever you can find that isn't messy and let's go. We can buy whatever you're missing."

She nodded as she disentangled herself from JT, suddenly conscious that he was still bare-chested, though not quite as sweaty as before.

"Oh erm... and one more thing." He looked extremely uncomfortable as he said this. "Leave the short nightdress behind." He rubbed his neck hoping the heat from the embarrassment was disguised by the friction from his hand.

Gwen nodded and walked towards her bedroom. The seriousness of the situation sinking in again. As she reached for the doorknob, she stopped. Her hand shook, and she began wondering if Tom had been there as well. To her bedroom. The room she had lived in all these weeks. The room she had felt most comfortable in. The room she and JT had spent the night in. She shuddered to think of how Tom would react if he had known that last part. Perhaps that's what had set Tom off? Was he watching last night? Did he see JT come in? Is that what he meant by you are mine? Was that his warning to JT or Gwen or both?

As if reading her mind, JT walked up to her and said, "Here, let me go first." He swung open the door and walked in without hesitance. He showed no fear. He was protective of her, strong and unfearful. And most importantly he was here with her during the scariest time of her life. Gwen mumbled, "thank you," as she followed JT into the room, albeit with much hesitance.

With the room checked, JT took his leave, stating that he'd like to check the rest of the house, clean himself and dress more appropriately for travel. She smiled at the last bit wondering when he'd finally realize that he was still bare-chested. Though a part of her was saddened to hear it. She did enjoy the view after all.

She grabbed her smallest travel case and began shoving stuff in, her charger, her phone, wallet, and whatever clean socks and underwear she could find. In a separate section, she stashed her important papers, bank stuff, house stuff, and passport, just in case. She draped her jacket over her shoulders and took one last look around the room. She saw the short nightdress JT had advised against and it tickled her to think of think of his reaction if she did actually take it with her. And so, she stepped back into the room and grabbed it, and stuffed it at the bottom of her bag. Then she made her way to the bathroom to grab a few necessities. She wanted to wait by the door but stepping into that hall without JT's comforting presence made her turn around and head to the kitchen instead.

JT wandered around the house, opening and closing doors, looking in corners and cupboards. He hopped down the stairs and checked the lower half of the house. Satisfied that, for the moment, they were alone, he headed back to where he had left his shirt. Once dressed, he checked his pockets for his valuables – phone, and wallet, all there. He walked back to the house, phone in both hands, texting as quickly as possible letting Aalam know what was happening and where to find them. His keys were in the kitchen, and he hoped that Gwen would be ready by the time he grabbed them from the counter. The faster they left the house, and the quicker he took Gwen somewhere safe, the better he would feel.

"All ready?" JT asked when he spotted Gwen standing by the kitchen window looking out, lost in her thoughts.

"All set," she replied turning and smiling at him. There was some sadness in her smile though she was attempting to hide it. He could see it, and he wondered if she had another reason to be sad. Sure, this incident was upsetting but wasn't she laughing a little while ago? He shelved the thought and grabbed his keys.

Perhaps a little light humor will change the mood a little? "Milady," JT said offering Gwen his arm. She smiled and took his arm, but the sadness still lingered. He cursed Tom silently for ruining a perfectly good day as he made his way towards the hall, Gwen in tow.

Ten minutes into the drive, Gwen wanted to smack JT on the back and ask him to slow down. They were zipping along the winding roads, and she wanted a minute to look around but, everything was a blur. It didn't help that JT forced her to wear his helmet. It was clearly too large for her, and half her eyesight had been blocked because of that darned thing! She was grateful that he'd thought of her safety above his. Still, it was cumbersome. Plus, eeecchh, helmet hair! Oh, who was she kidding? All these years of living in wet and cold London, her hair was perpetually limp and stringy. There was no changing that! She sighed and hung on tighter.

He was perfectly in control, sure. Nonetheless, he was being reckless driving at such speed. She had remembered seeing road signs during her earlier walks and bus rides, stating max speed limits for big vehicles and light cars. She never recalled a bike speed limit. Perhaps that was common here? She shuddered at the thought. On some level, she understood though. Hot blooded males and their constant need for that adrenalin rush. She smacked him anyway. He deserved it for forgetting she was sitting pillion and that she didn't need the adrenalin rush... not after the mid-morning incident!

He laughed and sped up some more. There was no question of a conversation. She was certain the wind would carry their voices in all directions other than their ears. So, she did what she could. She hung on tighter, burrowing her face in JT's back and closing her eyes tightly. She thought she heard him say chicken but she couldn't be sure.

Oh ... I'll get you for this JT, she swore and began plotting her revenge.