"Are you kidding me, Jo? It's like you're purposely trying to piss me off now. Shouldn't you be home with your lover –"

Jo cut Alex off, "can you please just shut up?" She turned her head and her bruised eye and lip made Alex gasp, "can I stay here for the night?"

"I'm gonna kill him," the words came out of Alex's mouth without him even thinking.

"Just say yes."

"Of course you can stay here."

Alex held out his arms and Jo instinctively ran to them. She had been trying so hard all night to not just lose it, but in this moment, she knew nothing would hold the tears back anymore. She was so ashamed of letting Alex see her this vulnerable, but at the same time a part of her didn't care.

Alex walked Jo into the house and made her sit on the couch.

"You just stay there; I'm going to get some ice for your eye."

Jo just nodded her head. She hated this. She hated being treated like some helpless victim. She spent her whole childhood that person, she was really hoping here in Seattle she'd be able to get a fresh start. Sometimes it's funny how a past tends to follow a person.

Alex entered the living room with some ice in a baggie and a brownie. He figured at least one of these things will make her smile.

"Put this on your eye," he handed her the ice.

"Is it that bad?"

"I don't think it's gonna need stitches, but it's gonna swell if you don't ice it." The couple sat in silence for a moment. "Oh, and I figured you could use this," he handed her the brownie.

"Thanks. You read my mind," she took a big bite of it. "Did you make these yourself?"

"It's actually not mine, I think they are Cristina's."

"Are you crazy giving me her food? She already has it out for me."

"I think she'll understand."

Jo just stared at Alex. He stared back. Neither one knew what to say to each other. This wasn't new ground for either one of them, but neither one knew that. Jo was so mad at herself that she found herself once again injured by the hands of a guy who claimed he loved her. Alex sure has had put his time in comforting women over something traumatic.

"So what did that douche do to you?" Alex broke the silence.

Jo wasn't sure to answer the question because a part of her believed she deserved everything Jason did to her. "It's, uh, it's not what you think, Alex."

"Bullshit! Come on, Jo, it's me, Alex. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not," she took the ice off her face but Alex pushed her hand back up. "You have to believe me."

"I don't."

Jo didn't want to get two men mad at her in one night, so she thought maybe it wouldn't hurt to stretch the truth a bit. "Jason confronted me about my past … I think what really made him mad was that I told you and not him," Jo looked away, fighting back tears. "You still had no right to tell Jason that. I told you about my past in confidence."

"I didn't know. I guess I just assumed that he knew."

"I'm not sure if I can forgive you for that."

"You don't have to."

Jo just stared at Alex again. Why is he being so understanding? Why isn't he getting mad at her? She wasn't used to this. What is this? Is this what love is? How the hell was she to know, it's not like she's had many people ever love her before. Well, not for anything beyond her body and looks, anyways. She didn't recognize the look on Alex's face. In her experience this would be the time the guy would just walk away and leave her to her own devices. She could tell Alex's mind was racing as well. She guessed it was about how she could be this stupid to allow this to happen to her. Jo was wondering the same thing, actually.

"How many times did he hit you?" Alex asked almost in a whisper, like it just came out without him really thinking about it.

"I don't know, four or five times, I guess."

Alex stood up and kept opening and closing his hand. He was plotting something; that was obvious.

"Whatever you're thinking about, please don't," Jo could barely hear herself.

"Dammit, I hate guys who thinks it's acceptable to beat up the person they say they love."

"I know."

"No, you don't know."

Maybe Alex forgot that he also told Jo about his upbringing. Jo understood what he went through. In fact, that's why Alex was the only person who entered her mind as Jason was hitting her. She knew he wouldn't judge her. She knew he'd understand.

"Alex, I'm getting tired; it's been a long day for me."

A lot of crying, anyways.

"I'll help you upstairs."

"I think I can manage."

"I'll find you some clothes you can sleep in."

Jo accepted that answer with a smile. Alex picked Jo up in his arms like she was doll. Normally she hated being treated like this, but she was too tired and worn out at the moment to protest. Instead she grabbed his muscular arms and allowed herself just for a moment to imagine getting lost in his arms. She could see herself with Alex. She hated how badly she wanted it, hoped for it because that wasn't who Alex was to her. Alex was just her guy pal. He was the guy she did stupid stuff with. He was the guy that made her laugh when she was trying to be serious. Oh, yeah, plus he was her boss. This relationship wasn't meant to happen. Jo understood that. But she hated it.

Once they entered his bedroom Alex put her down. His hand found its way in her hand and he held it a little too long. Jo closed her eyes and once again became Alex's girl.

"Are you okay in sleeping in one of my shirts?"

"I don't know, I might get Evil Spawn germs all over me," Jo attempted a joke.

"So that's a yes?" Alex, always the cocky one.

"Yeah, I'm not picky."

He threw a shirt at her, but Jo wasn't looking so it hit her. She jumped a little and hoped Alex didn't see her. Deep breathe, a shirt doesn't feel like a fist on contact. She bent down to pick up the shirt and she held it up to her body. She would be swimming in it for sure.

"I'll just go out in the hallway to let you get changed."

"You don't have to," Jo smiled.

"Yeah, I do, Jo."

And with that he walked out the room and closed the door. He has boundaries, he is respectful. But why did Alex treat her this way? Lord knows she didn't deserve it. She shouldn't have left Jason's; he treats her the only way she deserved. But, there were a lot of things in her life she did that she shouldn't have. What's one more thing to add to the list?

"Are you done yet?"

"What?"

"Are you done changing?"

Oh yeah, that's what she was supposed to be doing.

"Just another minute."

"Alright."

She lifted up her shirt. Damn, she was sore. She didn't even realize she was bruised elsewhere. Maybe it was a good thing Alex left the room after all. She caught her reflection in the mirror and she saw a big hand print on her side. She wondered why it didn't hurt. She wondered what that meant that she was bruised bad enough to leave a hand print, but over the years she's become so numb to it that she didn't even notice the pain anymore. She carefully pulled on Alex's shirt and immediately got a big whiff of his cologne. She held the shirt to her nose and inhaled. She couldn't help but smile. He smelled so good.

"How about now?"

"Yeah, I'm changed now."

Alex opened the door and laughed at the sight in front of him.

"That's a good look for you."

"I was just thinking the same thing, actually," they joked.

This was what Jo loved about Alex. He got her sense of humor, as odd as it may be. Alex sat on the bed and patted a spot next to him. Jo got the hint.

"Will you be okay here alone for a bit?"

"Alone? Where are you going?"

"I have some business to attend to."

"Alex, he's not worth it."

"I know, but you sure as hell are."

Jo blushed. He was just being kind.

"Just try not to kill him."

"I'm afraid I can't make any promises."

He grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

"Alex?"

He stopped in the doorway, "yeah?"

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Anything."

"Can you not mention this to anyone at work tomorrow?"

"Jo, I think people will notice your face."

Without hesitation she retorted, "trust me, they won't."

Alex understood. This wasn't her first time with those bruises. She knew how to cover them up. He hated that about her. That's something no woman should have to figure out how to do.

"I won't say a word to anyone," Alex said looking at the floor.

"Thanks."

"Lay down now; try to get some sleep, okay?"

Jo nodded her head and obeyed. If there was one thing Jo Wilson was good it, it was at obeying men. She laid down and Alex walked to the bed to tuck her in. Then he leaned in to kiss her softly on the forehead.

"If I could, I'd take away all the pain and heartbreak you know in your life," he whispered in her ear.

Jo looked him in the eyes and said, "I know."

Alex returned her smile and headed for the door once again. Before he turned out the light he looked at Jo one last time. But this time all he could see was the bruises and that pissed him off. He closed the door and as he headed down the stairs he knew what he was about to do was the right thing. He just hoped he would be able to stop before he was dead …