Title: Forced

Warnings: Face h/c; (mention of rape…but nothing graphic)

"Hey Faceman, ain't that the chick you was out wit the other night?"

Face's hand instinctively went to the scratch on his cheek as he looked in the direction B.A. was pointing. "Um, yeah," he replied nervously. "Do me a favor and finish up here, B.A.?"

Before B.A. had a chance to respond, Face was already half-running toward the door. "Anything to get outta a little work," he muttered, pushing the shopping cart toward the register.

Face stepped out into the sunlight and leaned heavily against the brick facade of the store. Closing his eyes, he tried to get his breathing under control and stop the trembling of his limbs.

"Where's B.A.?" Murdock asked from behind him.

Face jumped and spun around. "Don't sneak up on me like that ever again," he snapped.

Murdock was about to come back with a witty comment, but then he noticed the pale color of his friend and the wild look in his eyes. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, just needed some air. I'm fine," he lied. He was anything but fine.

They started walking toward the van. Out of the corner of his eye, Face saw the stunning blonde heading toward her car in the parking lot. "Hey, isn't that..." Murdock started, before Face cut him off.

"Yeah, it is. Listen, Murdock, I'm not feeling so good. Would you mind helping B.A. load the van?"

Murdock gave Face a concerned look; it wasn't like Face to admit he wasn't feeling well. "Sure, why don't you go sit in the van?"

Face smiled weakly. "Thanks."

A few minutes and a few threats from B.A. on Murdock's life later, and they were on the road. Face sat in his usual seat, while Murdock and B.A. occupied the front. Face had his eyes closed and was leaning his head against the cool glass. His body ached and he felt dizzy and weak.

"You doing okay, Muchacho?" Murdock asked.

"Yeah, I'm just really tired."

"Man, that lady really did a number on you, didn't she?" B.A. asked.

Face's eyes flew open. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look at you, man. You came home from that date all beat up lookin' and now you can barely keep your eyes open!"

"She must have been something else," Murdock added with a wink.

"You can say that," Face said softly, looking down into his lap.

"You needed some recovery time before hookin' up with her again?" B.A. teased.

''I hope I never see her again,' Face thought, but kept silent.

"Face's playing hard to get. Smooth...real smooth."

"He ain't just playin' hard to get...he just about ran away from her in the store. That's more like impossible to get."

"Can we please talk about something else!" Face exploded.

"Relax. We just messin' wit' you man. We don't expect no details."

"Not that we would object if a few happened to slip out," Murdock joked.

Face groaned and shook his head. They didn't want the details. If they knew what went down on Saturday night they would never look at him in the same way again.

TBC…