It was a stupid reaction, why was I backing into a corner. Logically, I knew that none of these guys would actually hurt me. Even Raven, while handsy, has not actually shown violence toward anyone that didn't have it coming. Yet seeing those videos again had me retreating back into old behaviours and expecting the worst of those around me, particularly men.

The panic really started to set in when my back hit the wall. Brandon had stopped moving toward me and the others had all stood to watch the interaction, not daring to come closer. I was scouting exits, knowing I needed space to breath, to get myself back into the right headspace so that I wouldn't shut out the people group of people that could help me find who was tracking my information, when the sound of a door slamming open sounded from the TV. It drew the attention of everyone in the room; there was no way to ignore that sound. Knowing what was coming next, having lived and relived through it, I used their distraction as a chance to hide in the bathroom. I needed a shower anyway and after watching those videos again I am sure that if I had anything left in my stomach it would have made a reappearance.

I locked the door, knowing it would be useless against them if they really wanted in, but it would at least slow them down a little. In my rush to get in here I didn't think about clothes if I was to shower. Ruling out a shower for right now, I settled for washing my face with some cold water from the basin.

I am not sure how long I had been there, washing and rewashing my face, trying to rid myself of the memories that come with seeing those videos. It must've been a while though, and I must have been lost in my own head longer than I thought because when I finally turned the faucet off and dried my face I was startled to see the door wide open, Brandon leaning in the frame.

"We looked at the videos after we had read the information in the file. Sorry you saw that. It can't be easy." His brows furrowed, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how to approach it. "You do know that we wouldn't hurt you, don't you? I would never... we would never do anything to intentionally hurt you."

"I know Brandon, I didn't mean to react like that earlier. Seeing those videos, reliving those moments, it brought back a lot of the feelings and emotions from those days. I may have been Academy, but I was purely white collar. I was a lawyer, who moonlighted as an accountant and psychologist for Academy members. I had had no formal training, and didn't know how to protect myself when the person attacking me was someone I cared deeply for. He gained my trust and my heart before he revealed the monster he was." For someone I had only known for about 24 hours, I had just blurted more about my time in New York to Brandon than I had to anyone since I was saved from the situation.

"Ok. Just remember that we wouldn't intentionally hurt you. We saw the information on Kayli and Blake and while some of us had accepted her decision a long time ago, others weren't so quick to get over it. Raven wasn't particularly happy when he saw those files. He might be angry, he might try to take it out on you, but stand your ground. You made the right call. I am sure you will tell us more about it when you are ready. For now, maybe come out of the bathroom and let them see you are ok."

With that he turned on his heel and walked away. As his words sunk in, I realised that I may now have to deal with an angry professional Russian. Not to mention, I had no idea how the others had reacted to the news of my part in the destruction of their family a few years ago. I could only hope they understood.

'Take a deep breath, trust your training, don't let your past define your future', I reassured myself as I re-entered the living room of the apartment. Corey, Brandon and Axel all seemed okay with the information they had learnt ad by okay I mean they don't currently look like they want to murder me.

Marc is clearly frustrated, but still not looking murderous. Raven on the other hand, well if looks could kill I would have been a small pile of ashes the moment I entered the room. Great. Well at least I knew whom I needed to talk to, to try and bring back around. I need to at least make sure that I can trust them to help keep me safe. I don't care if they hate me, as long as they are willing to help me.

"Please tell me you have food, I am starving!" Corey laughed at my statement.

"Yeah Curly Sue, we've got food. What do you feel like?" Marc asked. Well, while not particularly original, he was still comfortable enough with me to give me a nickname.

"A stir-fry would be amazing! I can cook if you want." I offered.

"Na short-stuff! We've got this" Brandon told me with a smirk. At his statement, he, Corey and Marc moved into the kitchen to make a start on preparing dinner and Axel excused himself to call Phil and let him know I would be staying here until the threat was neutralised.

Standing alone in the room, with Raven staring me down like he would eat me alive given half a chance, was not at all comfortable. In fact it was bordering on downright terrifying, considered it didn't even look like he was breathing. I had to break the silence.

"Spar with me?" I asked. "I still have too much pent up energy and I would like to actually be able to sleep later."

Instead of answering me, Raven removed his shirt and threw it on the couch before advancing on me. We met in the middle of the room and started circling each other. He was sizing me up and I was fine with it. Nathan had taught me well and I trusted my training.

We did another full circle before he finally advanced on me. We exchanged strikes for about 30 seconds, gaining the attention of everyone in the apartment. It was obvious that Raven was holding back, and while I was grateful he wasn't going all out and trying to harm me, I was hoping that he would use it as a chance to release some of the anger he currently had toward me.

Three strikes later and he had me pinned against a wall, hands resting against the wall on either side of my head. He was leaning down, crowding my personal space, trying to intimidate me and to be honest it was working. If I didn't know he was Academy, I would be terrified right now.

"You made my little thief leave." He snarled at me.

It was enough to get me snap out of haze I was in and have me moving again. A quick assessment of our position had me realise he had made one mistake when he pinned me to the wall. He left one of my legs free between his. Thinking quickly, I brought my hands up to Raven's forearms, grabbing hold. I brought my knee up swiftly and hard, connecting with his groin. I kept my leg moving upward until my knee was at my chest, not letting Raven collapse when I kneed him. Ripping his arms outward and off the wall, I placed my foot on his chest and pushed it out, and sent him tumbling backward.

He had no sooner hit the ground and I was on top of him, straddling his waist, my knees pinning his forearms to the floor at his sides and my feet anchoring his thighs. I brought my hand up and wrapped it around his throat. It wasn't hard enough to actually hurt him or do any real damage, but was enough to show him I was being serious and he needed to pay attention.

"I get that you are pissed at me right now, sunshine, but the decisions were not mine alone. I was just the one that had to sign off on them. While I didn't agree with Kayli being brought into the Academy and I was always worried about her motivations for wanting to join, I was overruled. When it came to Blake though, I had to put my foot down! While I was checking him for membership, I found he was being investigated for fraud, racketeering and money laundering! He is not the sort of person that we want associated with our organisation! And before you ask, he fled the moment he found out he was being investigated, taking Kayli with him. She found out about it all when they got to the Cayman Islands and chose to stay with him anyway. Do not blame me because she turned out to want different things from you and your family!"

Finishing my rant, I moved my hand from his throat and my feet from his thighs, pushed my palms flat on the ground and forced myself upright. I grabbed my bag, which was still next to the couch, and told the guys I was going to take a shower before dinner. They were all too busy picking their jaws up off the ground to respond.

I took my time in the overly warm shower, washing my hair and shaving all the important parts, trying to scrub away all of the hurt and pain that those videos brought up. I knew it was no use and would be a while before I was able to shake off all of the negative feelings, but I had to try anyway.

Dinner was relatively uneventful. We all ate in companionable silence and Raven was no longer trying to bore holes into the side of my head with his eyes. After dinner, Brandon and Raven had to head to Brandon's shop. Avery called with a disgruntled customer and asked for some help. Brandon had tried to insist he could go on his own, but Raven refused to stay behind.

Axel had some reports to finish for the last mission he did and wanted to contact the Blackbourne team to see if there was anything they could add to the information they already had from my files about my time in New York. Axel thought since they were the ones to get me out, they might have more insight into the situation.

Marc, Corey and I were sitting on the couch. They were watching some Tarantino film while I was working through some of the emails that had come in. For the most part they were the boring day-to-day stuff that usually came in. The only different one that had come in was an order confirmation from a local coffee shop. The delivery was set for 8 am tomorrow and was addressed to Bruce Wayne.

"Hey Corey, I know we technically haven't known each other very long, and considering you are already helping me work out what is happening with my information being accessed and all, but can I ask another small favour please?"

Corey perked up a little when I said I wanted to ask a favour. "Sure! What can I do?" He asked.

"Victor has organised for a new phone to be delivered for me. It was part of our failsafe arrangement in case my ex ever decided to pay a visit. He has already gone ahead and arranged for it to be delivered here, tomorrow morning at 8 am. It will be disguised as a coffee delivery – sorry Marc, I didn't organise it. The thing is, he has addressed the delivery to Bruce Wayne, and so I can't pick it up at reception. Would you be able to get it for me, please?"

"No trouble at all! Do I need to do anything in particular for the transaction?"

"Payment is already done. There will actually be four coffees, and a brown paper bag – the kind that pastries usually come in. Instead of pastries, it will have the new phone and a spare, just in case. All you will need to do is give the old one back to the delivery person. They will get it back to Victor, who will rig the GPS to have me showing as on the other side of the country, in case they are smart enough to try tracking it."

"Not a problem" He said, taking the phone from me. "And speaking of tracking, I should get back to seeing if I can find more information on the person who hacked you. Goodnight Andy."

"Sweet dreams Corey, and thank you again for all of you help!"

"We should probably head to bed too." Marc stated easily.

"What do you mean we?" I asked sceptically.

"Well, Axel only has a single bed, so you aren't staying in there. Raven and Brandon will be out for a few more hours yet and while he seemed to have snapped out of his anger toward you when you pinned him to the ground earlier, I still don't trust him not to try something while you are sleeping. So, you are in my room with me, no arguments."

I could feel exhaustion starting to take over, considering I had been up early and spent a few hours working out, so instead of arguing for the couch, I let him lead me into his room. While he changed into his pyjamas and turned out the lights, I climbed into the far side of his bed. I fell asleep before Marc even made it back to the bed.