TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS & DESCRIPTIONS OF ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE

Written by: KariGorsuch

My heart raced as I watched Eve being yanked away into the crowd, Nick's grip tight around her wrist. "EVE!" I shouted, trying to push through the bodies in front of me, but they closed in like a wall, and I couldn't get to her. The familiar wave of panic hit me hard, and I couldn't breathe fast enough to catch up, my ribs protesting against the strain.

The crowd surged around me, oblivious to my panic. I tried to focus, to push through, to get to Eve, but my chest burned and my vision swam.

Then I felt it- hands on my waist. Firm. Rough. Pulling me backward.

"Eve?" I breathed, my voice weak but the grip wasn't hers. It was too strong, too determined. My stomach dropped as I twisted around to see who it was, but the dim, flashing lights only cast shadows across his face.

"Guess again," He smirked, his hands tightening around my waist. "Miss me, Bri?"

I jerked my body to the side, trying to shake him off, but he held firm, steering me backward through the sea of bodies. I could barely hear myself think over the music, the bass pounding in time with the fear rising in my chest. "Let me go, Jared!" I shouted, but my voice was swallowed by the noise.

"Funny, Eve said the same thing to Nick." He muttered, leaning in close, his breath brushing against my ear. "There's not a chance in this world that I'll let you go again. We've got some unfinished business."

"Get away from me!" I screamed, shoving at his chest with what little strength I had, but the alcohol dulled my reflexes. My arms felt like lead, and my legs wouldn't cooperate.

"Stop fighting, Bri," Jared said, his voice low and warning now. "You'll just make it worse for yourself."

My heart pounded harder as he dragged me toward the darker corner of the bar, the crowd oblivious to the struggle. I twisted again, trying to free myself, but he grabbed my arm roughly, his fingers digging into my skin.

"Jared, stop!" I choked out, tears burning in my eyes. "You're hurting me!"

"Good," he muttered, his smirk vanishing. "Maybe that'll teach you not to run from me."

The air felt too thick, and my vision blurred as he pulled me farther from the dance floor, away from the people, the noise, the chance of someone seeing. Panic surged, but my body wouldn't cooperate. My ribs ached, my head spun, and my legs felt like jelly.

"Let me go!" I shouted again, trying to plant my feet, but Jared yanked me forward with enough force to make me stumble.

"We're going to talk," he said firmly, his voice icy now. "Whether you like it or not."

I glanced desperately back toward the bar, but the crowd had swallowed Sam and Dean completely. I couldn't see anyone—no familiar faces, no help.

My throat tightened, and I felt my breaths coming in shallow gasps. "Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Don't do this."

Jared just laughed, his grip tightening as he dragged me toward the bathrooms. The bright neon sign above them cast a sickly glow over the hallway. My ribs screamed in protest as I struggled against him, my heart pounding harder with every step.

Jared shoved open the bathroom door with his shoulder, dragging me inside as I tripped over my own feet. The fluorescent light buzzed overhead, casting a harsh, unflattering glow over the dingy tiles. The room reeked of bleach and stale beer, and the muffled thump of the music outside seemed miles away now.

"Jared, stop!" I shouted, pulling against his grip. My voice cracked with desperation, but he didn't let go. He twisted around, slamming the door shut behind us with a deafening thud.

I stumbled back as he let go of me, my back hitting the sink. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

"What's wrong with me?" Jared snapped, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. "What the hell is wrong with you, Bri? Running off like that, acting like you could just forget about me?"

I braced my hands against the sink, trying to keep my legs steady. My ribs throbbed with every breath, and the edges of my vision felt blurry, but I forced myself to stay upright. "I didn't run off. I left, Jared. I left because of you."

He laughed bitterly, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "You think you can just leave me? After everything we've been through?"

"Everything you put me through," I shot back, my voice firm despite the lump in my throat. "I didn't leave you, Jared. I escaped."

His expression darkened, and he took another step closer, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You're being dramatic," he sneered, his voice low. "We had our problems, sure, but that doesn't mean you get to cut me out of your life."

I flinched as he raised his hand, half expecting him to lash out, but he just brushed a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "You think you're better off without me, huh? Out here playing the hero, running with those guys, acting like you're someone else. But you're not. You're mine, Bri."

"I'm not yours," I whispered, my voice trembling with suppressed anger. "I was never yours. You just thought you owned me."

He scoffed, stepping even closer until there was barely an inch between us. "You don't get to rewrite history," he said coldly. "You don't get to act like I didn't give you everything."

"You gave me hell," I spat, my fear momentarily overridden by fury. "And I'm done living in it."

Jared's jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring as he stared down at me. His presence felt suffocating, the air in the small bathroom thick with tension. His hands wrapped around my waist again, this time pushing my shirt up as he drove a knee between my thighs. His lips descended on my neck, rough and impatient. I wanted to fight, to scream, but my body felt frozen, my mind racing too fast to focus.

I gasped, my hands instinctively flying to his chest to push him away, but my strength was no match for his. My ribs protested with every sharp intake of breath, and my muscles felt weak, drunk and bruised from the fight and from his grasp.

"Jared, stop it!" I shouted, my voice trembling but forceful. I managed to shove at him again, but he only tightened his grip, his knee pressing harder between my legs, pinning me to the sink.

"Shut up," He growled, one hand leaving my waist, tracing its way up my chest to wrap around my throat.

"You always acted like you were better than me," he muttered, his breath hot and sticky against my skin. "But you're not. You've always needed me."

"Let go of me!" I twisted to the side, my shoulder slamming against the mirror, but it was no use. He had me trapped, his strength fueled by a sick mix of entitlement and anger.

"Shh," he whispered, his lips grazing my ear now, his grip tightening around my throat. "You're just drunk. You'll see—this is what you want. You always come back to me."

Tears stung my eyes as I felt a sob rise in my chest. My mind raced, every nerve in my body screaming at me to do something. But fear had wrapped around my throat, choking me, and my limbs felt like lead.His other hand was pushing my shirt farther up, bruising the skin underneath as he groped at my chest.

The air in the bathroom felt suffocating, my pulse pounding in my ears as Jared's grip on my throat made it harder to breathe. Panic gripped me, and I clawed at his hand, trying desperately to loosen it, but his hold was unyielding. His other hand pushed higher, rough and invasive, and I felt helpless as his strength overpowered me.

I wanted to scream, but the sound caught in my throat, strangled by both his grip and my rising terror. My vision blurred, a mix of tears and adrenaline making it harder to see, and I thought, This can't be happening. Not again. Not like this. His hips pushed against mine, making it obvious how much Jared was enjoying his little power trip.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me, momentarily overpowering the fear that paralyzed me. My nails dug into his wrist, scratching, clawing, anything to make him let go. "Stop," I choked out, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "Get off me!"

But Jared didn't stop. His smirk widened, the sick satisfaction in his eyes making my stomach churn. "You think you can fight me, Bri?" he sneered, tightening his grip on my throat. "You're nothing without me."

I closed my eyes, tears spilling freely now, and tried to will myself to fight harder, to kick, to scream, to do something. But his weight pressed against me, trapping me against the sink, his free hand continuing its unwanted exploration. Every second felt like an eternity, and despair threatened to swallow me whole.

The room spun around me as I clawed at Jared's hand, my ribs screaming in protest with each futile attempt to push him away. His grip on my throat tightened, and I gasped for air, choking on the sobs that refused to come out. The edges of my vision started to darken, and I thought I might pass out when the bathroom door burst open with a deafening crack.

"Get the hell off her!" Sam's voice roared, reverberating through the small, tiled room like a thunderclap. Jared smiled against the skin of my neck.

"So the protective boytoy comes after you. How... sweet." he sneered, pushing his hips into mine again. "Tell me, does he fuck you like I did?"

"I said, get the hell off her!" Sam's voice was louder this time, laced with a fury that sent a shiver down my spine even through the haze of panic.

Jared laughed, low and mockingly, litling his head just enough to glance at Sam over his shoulder. "You really think you can take me, hero? She's mine. Always has been."

Sam didn't answer. He didn't need to. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Jared by the back of his collar and yanked him away from me with a force that made Jared stumble backwards, and my knees gave out.

I crumbled to the floor, my ribs protesting with a sharp stab of pain as I struggled to stay conscious. The world felt like it was spinning, and I couldn't get enough air into my lungs fast enough.

Behind me, I could hear Jared's voice, venomous and spiteful as he regained his balance. "You think you can protect her? You're nothing but a pathetic little sidekick."

Sam's response was a growl, low and dangerous. He took a step toward Jared, his eyes narrowing with an intensity I had never seen before. "You don't know who you're dealing with." His voice was ice-cold, the words laced with fury. He wasn't a sidekick. He was something much worse for Jared.

Jared sneered, taunting, his hands balling into fists as he squared off with Sam. "You really think you can take me on your own? You'll regret—"

Before Jared could finish, Sam moved. With a swift motion, he grabbed Jared by the collar and slammed him against the bathroom wall with enough force to rattle the tiles. The sound of impact was sickening, and Jared gasped for air, his eyes wide with shock. But Sam wasn't done.

He slammed his fist into Jared's stomach, knocking the wind out of him, then followed up with another punch that sent Jared reeling back. Jared stumbled but quickly recovered, his hands coming up in defense. But Sam didn't give him the chance. With each punch, Sam showed Jared that this wasn't a fight Jared could win—not with the rage in Sam's eyes.

"You don't get to touch her again," Sam growled through gritted teeth. His fists connected with Jared's jaw with a sickening crack, and I winced as I tried to focus on breathing.

Jared, still stunned from the blow, raised a weak fist, trying to strike back. But Sam blocked it with ease and delivered one final crushing blow to Jared's chest that sent him crumpling to the ground in a heap.

Panting heavily, Sam stood over Jared, his chest rising and falling with each breath, but his eyes never left Jared's defeated form. There was no satisfaction in Sam's expression, just cold anger, like a calm storm waiting to break.

I managed to push myself up from the floor, my vision swimming, and reached out for Sam's arm to steady myself. "Sam..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Sam's gaze immediately softened as I reached out, his eyes flicking to mine with concern, but he didn't let go of his protective stance. He gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. "You're okay. You're safe now," he murmured, his voice rough but steady.

I nodded, but the shaking in my body wouldn't stop, and my ribs protested the movement, still sharp with pain. I winced, trying to steady myself. "I... I don't know what to do. I can't... I can't believe he came after me like that," I whispered, feeling the tremors rise in my hands.

Sam's expression hardened slightly as he glanced down at Jared, who was still groaning on the floor, barely conscious. "Don't worry about him. He won't hurt you again." His hand tightened around my waist, keeping me steady. "Let's get you out of here."

I winced as Sam's hand pressed into the fresh bruises created by Jared. I knew it wasn't his fault, but it still hurt. "Where's Dean? And Eve?" My voice cracked, strained from being choked.

Sam's expression darkened as he glanced down at me, his hand instinctively lifting off my waist. I caught his hand before he fully retracted it- wanting the comfort that he provided. Pulling his hand back around my body, I placed his palm on my hips. "Don't pull away... please."

Sam hesitated for a moment, the tension in his body still evident as he looked at me. I could see the struggle in his eyes- he wanted to respect my space, but there was no mistaking the concern for me, the need to make sure I felt safe.

Slowly, he placed his hand back on my hips, the warmth of his touch grounding me in a way that nothing else could. I leaned into him, closing my eyes for a moment, just letting the quiet comfort of his presence ease the terror that held me.

He spoke again, his voice low and gentle. "Dean went after Eve. When we lost sight of you, we got worried. When the crowd thinned and we still didn't see you, that's when we started looking. Knowing Jared was here and dragged you off... Nick probably did the same with Eve."

I swallowed hard at the mention of Nick, the thought of him pulling Eve away the same way Jared had done to me sent a chill down my spine. My grip on Sam's hand tightened slightly, trying to steady myself against the rush of anxiety threatening to overwhelm me.

"Nicks here?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them. I knew that he was- The two of them running into each other at the airport couldn't have been a coincidence.

"He is," Sam confirmed. "But he and Eve aren't in the building. I've checked everywhere in here looking for you, so he must have dragged her outside."

My stomach churned at the thought of Nick taking Eve outside, the fear for her suddenly feeling all too real. "Sam, we have to go after them," I said, my voice trembling with urgency.

Sam's grip on me tightened, his touch a little firmer now, though I could feel the weight of his concern. "We will," he said softly, his voice steady despite the tension running through it. "But not until you're sure you're okay."

I shook my head, refusing to let fear cloud my judgment. "Sam, I'm fine. We need to get to Eve. I can't just sit here, not knowing where they are or what he's doing to her."

He let out a long, slow breath, clearly torn between wanting to protect me and knowing that Eve was in danger. "I know," Sam murmured, his eyes locked on mine, filled with determination. "But you're not fine, Bri. You've been through too much already. Let me handle this—just for a minute."

I could see the desperation in his eyes, the urge to keep me safe, and it made my heart ache. But the thought of Eve, alone out there with Nick, brought every instinct I had to the surface. I needed to be there for her. She had been there for me before, and now I needed to do the same for her.

"Please," I begged, my voice breaking slightly as I met his gaze. "I can't just wait here. Not when she's out there with him."

Sam hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed my words. I could see the conflict on his face, but then his shoulders slumped slightly in defeat, as though he knew I wouldn't back down.

"Okay," he said, his voice quieter now, full of quiet resolve. "But we're going together. I won't let you go in there alone, Bri."

Sam guided us toward the exit, his presence so commanding that people instinctively stepped aside as we made our way through the crowd. The air outside hit me like a rush of cold water, crisp and sharp, and I gasped for breath, trying to skate the lingering panic from my system.

As we stepped further into the night, the sound of raised voices reached us, drawing our attention to the alleyway beside the bar. My heart jumped in my chest as I recognized Eve's voice, though it was laced with tension and fear.

Sam's jaw clenched. Without a word, he picked up the page, guiding me quickly but cautiously toward the narrow alley, the sound of the confrontation growing louder with each step.

When we turned the corner, the scene before us hit like a punch to the gut.

Dean stood a few feet away from Nick, his fists clenched by his sides. Nick was leaning against the brick wall of the alley,a cruel smile playing on his lips. Eve was struggling on all fours - it seemed - to breathe and interject in the fight somehow, but her face was abnormally pale and had a mixture of fear and defiance.