Carter sat cowered against the bathtub, the tiles cold against her butt and her legs, her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting atop her trembling knees.

Each breath she took resulted in a sob and her chest heaved at the effort, but she just couldn't stop. Jacob had not only hit her, but he had done what nobody should ever have to go through.

She didn't want to think about it, but that's all she could think about. The scar on her side burned and only further reminded her of his harsh grip and forced actions.

He'd left her alone after he'd had his way with her and she had dressed quickly and locked herself in the bathroom.

Her phone was clutched tightly in her hand and, after a good number of minutes spent wallowing in her sorrow, she turned it in her hands and unlocked the screen with shaky fingers.

7:45.

Carter tried to calm herself down, but it only seemed to make things worse.

Jacob was throwing things around out in the living room, he was probably drunk now, and she hoped that he would continue demolishing things as long as it meant that he would leave her alone.

She hadn't even realized that she was calling Harry until his voice came through the speaker, faintly because she didn't actually have him on speaker for fear that Jacob would hear and take his anger out on her again.

"Carter?"

She couldn't stop crying enough to answer him and he freaked out immediately, "Carter! Sweetheart, what's wrong? What happened?"

Carter forced the words through trembling lips, "H-he h-hit me and then he-he..."

He didn't answer right away and she knew that he was livid and heartbroken all at once, "I'm coming over now. Where are you in the apartment?"

Another sob took hold of her entire body, "The b-bathroom."

"Stay right there, sweetie. I'll be there soon. I'm so sorry."

"P-please hurry."

She hung up because it had gotten quiet and she was afraid that Jacob would be listening at the door. Carter held her breath, her lungs suffering from the strain and her heart pounding furiously against her ribcage.

It was too quiet and she was terrified that he would break down the door if he had heard her talking to Harry.

Torturous minutes passed before Jacob resumed smashing things and yelling profanities at her.

Carter hummed to a lullaby Harry had taught her one night, closing her eyes and focusing on the words because she couldn't seem to make her body calm down.

She was still shaking and sobbing when Harry showed up five minutes later.

. . .

Harry practically kicked open the door, his fists balled tightly at his sides and his jaw taught.

Jacob happened to be pretty close to the door and Harry immediately swung at him, his fist connecting hard with his jaw and sending him into the glass coffee table in the middle of the room.

Glass shattered and Jacob hit the floor hard.

"How dare you put your hands on her like that, you son of a bitch!?"

Jacob laughed as he stood up, he winced and pulled some glass from his hands, "You must be Harry."

"You're damn right I am. Where is she?"

Carter had heard them from the bathroom and ran out as soon as he asked where she was, her arms wrapping around him tightly and her tears wetting his t-shirt.

She didn't say a word and clung to him tightly, he was her lifeline and she was lost at sea.

Harry ignored his anger momentarily and focused on her, his arms circling around her and holding her equally as tight and his lips pressing to the top of her head.

"It's alright, sweetheart. I'm here." Carter started to cry harder and he knew that Jacob hadn't only hit her because she would have hit him right back. "I'm here."

He held her for a minute or so, ignoring Jacob's snide laughs and comments, "Go get your things, whatever you want to take with you, and I'll take you home. He won't hurt you again, I promise."

Jacob laughed again, Harry closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose, trying to keep his cool in front of Carter because she didn't need to see him angry and beating the living hell out of her ex.

Carter nodded and carefully detached herself, she didn't want to let him go, but he would still be there when she got back.

The moment she disappeared into the bedroom, Harry lunged at Jacob again. Strangely enough, Jacob didn't move away or even act like he felt anything.

It took Harry a moment to notice all of the empty bottles of alcohol and piece things together. The man was too high on alcohol to even think straight, let alone know what he was feeling.

That didn't stop Harry from hitting him again.

Jacob was on the ground, breathing heavily and still laughing to himself. Harry bent down to his level and spoke lowly, his glare deadly, "You don't ever have the right to rape someone, you stupid son of a bitch. Come near her again and I'll kill you, that's not a threat, it's a promise."

He stayed silent after that, heavy tears rolling down his cheeks. Harry didn't feel bad at all as he rubbed his knuckles and paced the room, waiting for Carter to get everything that she wanted because he wasn't going to let her come back.

Carter stepped out of the room, body still trembling, with a large suitcase trailing behind her. She wouldn't look at Jacob even as he pleaded with her to stay.

Harry took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and giving hers a gentle squeeze to reassure her that he was there for her, no matter what the circumstance.

They'd barely made it outside the building when Carter threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. She was still too in shock to want to talk, but she wanted him to know that she knew and that she was so grateful that he'd come for her.

Harry drew small circles on her back, staying silent because he was struggling to find the right words to say and because he was still so unbelievably pissed at Jacob.

No one on the streets paid them any attention.

After a few minutes, Harry pulled back to gently push the hair from her eyes, his thumb caressing her cheek even after the hair was back in place, "Do you want to press charges?"

Carter nodded quickly, warm tears coming into contact with his hand as he continued to hold her face. She loved his hands, especially when he held her face the way that he was doing, but she couldn't even enjoy that because of what Jacob had done to her.

Harry took her down to the police station, where she made a full report and he confessed to beating the living hell out of the man in return knowing that Jacob would probably use it against him if he didn't.

It was late by the time they'd made it back to Harry's hotel room, nearly two A.M.

Harry drew her a bath the moment he got the chance and he made no move to get in with her because he knew what state of mind she was in. Touching her really wasn't in his best interest at the moment, even if he wanted to and it would help her.

She had flinched every time he touched her since they had gotten out of her former apartment.

If she wanted him to join her and to comfort her with more than just soothing and comforting words, she would tell him and he had no problem waiting.

He put on some soft music for her before exiting the bathroom and joining her at the edge of the bed.

Carter had been zoning out since they'd left the police station so he spoke softly knowing that she probably hadn't noticed him running her a bath, "I ran you a bath, just the way that you like it, with the jets on and everything. You can get in whenever you'd like, but you don't have to if you don't want to."

Harry watched as she shook her head lightly, closed her eyes for a brief moment, and released a deep breath, "I never thought that he would take it that far, ever."

He reached for her hand and risked her flinching away in a small attempt to comfort her. Carter flinched, but only slightly, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, absorbing his warm, gentle, and healing touch.

"I know, sweetheart. I know. I'm so sorry that I let you go in there alone, if I was there I-"

Carter gave his hand a gentle squeeze, it wasn't his fault at all.

"No, it isn't your fault. Don't think like that, please."

His green eyes were filled with a mix of regret, sadness, and profound love and she didn't want to push him away because Jacob had hurt her.

Carter lifted his hand to her lips and kissed each of his knuckles. Words were just words, but actions were everything and she wanted him to know that it wasn't his fault and that she didn't think that it was his fault either.

She wanted him to know that he could comfort her with every little touch and kiss that he could think of. She wanted his love in the purest form that she could get and he understood without her having to say a single word.

Carter stood up and led him into the bathroom. The second that she turned around and her eyes met his, he leaned in and kissed her sweetly, his lips careful and light, telling her that he was there, that he would always be there.

Neither of them exchanged a word.

The water was perfect and so was the music, Carter resumed holding onto him like a life buoy and drowning in his very essence and Harry held her the way that she needed to be held, like she was strong and fragile all at once, and pressed gentle kisses on her shoulder and neck.

Everything was peaceful and broken, but they would mend and repair, just like they always did.