This chapter is dedicated to one of my WP BFFs, TheWriterD, who has also volunteered recently to be my number one beta reader so if you find any typos, blame it on her XD. She has been a avid Rena fan from the start and has scored 2nd place in the pre-lauch contest. Virtual hug!

There are no changes to this chapter compared to draft I.

3 - Back Behind Bars

Rena's POV

"I got this."

The voice behind me makes my insides freeze and I reluctantly turn around to face Ryan Parks who is strolling along the corridor with Sam on his heels. A gun is stuck in a holster under his armpit and the FBI badge dangles loosely around his neck, probably to intimidate the local cops in the precinct. A wide smirk is plastered on his face - he got me exactly where he wants me.

When he grabs my arm, a shudder runs through me and I pull away. "Don't touch me."

I used to totally lose it when men sought out any type of physical contact, but the therapy sessions with Doc have been helpful enough to avoid a total meltdown every time it happens. It still bothers me, but I can hide my discomfort.

Ryan rolls his eyes. "Impertinent as usual." His glare penetrates every fiber of my body - I feel totally unprotected when he looks at me that way. "I really don't understand what my son ever saw in you."

He extends his hand to follow him and I trot behind like a lost child who is being summoned to the principal's office. Sandwiched between the two FBI agents, my scalp tingles in anticipation of oncoming trouble. I am pretty sure he will take the booking process as an opportunity to talk to me without my lawyer, damn well knowing it's against the rules. Yet, Ryan has never valued regulations that didn't benefit his cause.

To my surprise, he slumps into a chair and allows Sam to take over as soon as we get to the booking area. The other cops are shooed away with a nod of Sam's head and he pushes the door closed with the tip of his foot.

"I guess you know how this works, Ms. Cooper." He gets a fresh index card from the counter. "I will first take your fingerprints."

With a sigh, I offer him my right hand and glance at Ryan. "Isn't this out of your jurisdiction? I'm surprised that the cops just let you run the place."

Ryan leans back, cupping his hands behind his head. "I just finished an unrelated case in Chicago and some cops owed me a favor. That's how it works in law enforcement - we are all a big family."

It is something I learned the hard way. Ryan has always managed to know every little detail of my life, having not only visibility to my probation file for some unknown reason but has also exposed every single slip-up so far.

He even figured out the disaster with Connor which ultimately made me lose sole custody of Noah in the first place. My father tried to work against him since he is a well-respected member in the Chicago police force but Ryan, with his FBI connections, has always succeeded to stay ahead of the game.

Sam rolls my right index finger over the ink pad before pushing the tip on the index card. A clear imprint is left behind. He moves on to the next finger, yet I feel his eyes upon me every time I twitch. The ticking of the clock on the wall is the only sound in the room and brings back memories of the night Brent tortured me. Cold sweat makes my shirt stick to my back and I cringe under Ryan's constant stare.

He finally breaks the silence. "You know, Rena, it doesn't have to be this way. Charlotte and I don't want to see you in prison. That's not in Noah's best interest."

I snort, that's news to me. Just last month he told Noel that he will not rest until justice is served and I am locked up for good. Yet, he has always had a selective memory when he has tried to manipulate me, telling me anything I wanted to hear in the hopes to guarantee my cooperation. So far, it has never worked - I can see right through his insincerity.

"No offense, Ryan, but that's bullshit. We both know that you wanted me to get the needle."

He exhales with a frown, still playing the act of a concerned grandfather. "That was a long time ago. You are Noah's mother - if I like it or not - and the boy deserves to have a relationship with you. You can still be part of his life, even if he lives with us."

Sam is finished with my right hand and starts on my left. His bottom lip is tucked between his teeth, but I can't tell if he agrees with Ryan or is just concentrating.

Ryan continues with this little speech. "You are risking a probation violation for this, Rena. If you go to prison, and I guarantee you will if you continue to hide Noah, you'll probably never see him again. We'll file for adoption in a couple of years and you'll be out of his life for good."

As his threat sinks in, tears pool my eyes again. He is totally right - why am I even fighting him? He has always gotten what he wanted so far and no judge will prefer a convicted murderer over a loving couple with an impeccable record. There is no proof he ever abused Brent and Noel said that Brent's statements to me will probably not be admissible in court since it is hearsay. How will I ever proof what kind of monster he is?

I clean my smudged fingers on a sanitary wipe that Sam hands to me, quickly wiping away a few stray tears. A small smile plays on Ryan's lips who has not missed my public display of distress. I hate that he is chopping away more and more of my defenses.

Sam clears his throat and my attention turns to him.

"You have to stand over there, Ms. Cooper, and hold up this sign."

He points at the chart on the wall which will record my height. I do as requested, holding the plate with the jail identification number firmly pressed against my stomach. Almost two years ago, I stood exactly in the same spot on the night of Brent's murder, spending five months behind bars until the judge cut me loose. I wonder how long I will be forced to remain in a prison cell this time around.

Ryan is still glaring at me but I manage to suppress more tears. My heart races twice as fast as usual with a dull ache in my chest - I want to scream and shake him to leave me alone. An iron taste irritates my palate and I realize that I have chewed my lip so hard to make it bleed.

"Turn to the left," Sam orders and I am relieved to have at least a minute without seeing Ryan's smug face. His eyes continue to burn into my back.

"Charlotte and I discussed it and we are willing to offer you shared custody until he starts school. Two weeks split every month. We even pay for an apartment in Quantico so you can be close to him the rest of the time. We want to make this work, Rena, but you need to give a little as well."

I spin around, having enough of his grandiose plans for my son. He is a child abuser and nothing else and a danger to Noah. "I will never turn my son over to you, Ryan. Brent told me what you did to him and I will not allow you to hurt Noah."

Sam pauses for a moment and lowers the camera. "Hey, I wasn't done."

This time, he earns evil glances from both Ryan and me but I turn back to my previous position with my eyes on the window, glad to have an excuse to ignore my nemesis.

A few more photos and I am told to turn the other way. Ryan is keeping his mouth shut - he has probably realized that his attempts to sway my opinion of him are futile.

Five minutes later, Sam has completed booking me and calls the guards to take me over to the jail. To my surprise, he tags along while Ryan remains at the precinct. Maybe they are intending to play good cop - bad cop.

Thelma is in tears when she sees me, taking the intake papers with reluctance.

"What did she do this time?"

Sam responds in my stead. "Contempt of court. Just give her the orange and let her change in private. No need to search her. I'm sure she didn't bring in any contraband."

I give him a small smile, relieved that I won't have to strip in front of the guards, when I grab the jumpsuit and disappear in the small bathroom. As soon as the door closes behind me, I lean against the wall, grasping for air. Tears begin to flow and I bury my face into my hands. What have I gotten myself into?

The sobs shake my shoulders but I force myself to think of Noah and that cute smile of his. Ryan would most certainly break him. I have to stay strong - for him. I can't let his grandfather wear me down. As his mother, I owe it to him to stand my ground against his enemies and protect my son from harm.

With a new found strength, I wipe the tears away before sprinkling water into my face. My hands are still slightly shaking when I change into the orange jail outfit, straightening my hair when I am done.

I grimace into the mirror. "You can do this." I spur myself on. "Noah is safe and that's all that matters."

The suit is still way too big for me and I feel small and lost. Everything is working against me but I still force myself to keep my chin held up high when I walk back out of the bathroom. Sam jumps up, quickly glancing at Thelma, who is talking to another guard.

"They will put you in the general population." His words are low and spoken in haste. "Whatever you do, don't trust anyone." His mouth is still open when Thelma approaches, but he just sucks in a deep breath and remains quiet.

I squint at him, what an odd character. I can't figure out if he is trying to help me or just attempting to get me totally paranoid but whatever his motives, I intend to follow his advice. Pam forewarned me that there are sometimes snitches in the jail who are trying to get you to talk for a reduced sentence and I won't fall in any of Ryan's traps.

Thelma leads the way and my stomach cramps as I follow her, now officially an inmate at the jail again. The place hasn't changed a bit since I was a guest here last except that the cell she opens is huge and holds already eight other female prisoners. Most of them are stretched out on their cods and glare at me with lazy eyes. A TV is blasting in the background, turned to some afternoon soap.

When the door slams shut behind me, despair washes over me. I had sworn never to step foot inside a jail cell again but keeping promises almost seems impossible these days. Yet, this fight is even more important than the previous battle for my life. Whatever happens, Ryan cannot get his hands on my son.

Thanks for reading - this may not have been the most exciting chapter but I felt it was important as a transition and refresher of some of events of LWTCWM. I hope it worked for you - please let me know either way by dropping me a comment. Next chapter, we will jump back into the past, filling in all the gaps between the trial and Rena's return to the jail. Please don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter.