I watched the suds disappear down the drain as I finished the dishes. I double checked that Mike's food was being kept warm in the oven for him, ready to eat. Just as I was about to retreat to my room hoping for an uneventful night, I heard the pitter patter of small feet approaching.

"What are you doing out of bed Jakie?" I asked him, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. Mike would be home any minute now, I needed to get Jake back in bed and out of eyesight.

"I'm thirsty, can I have some milk Bella?" He was rubbing his eyes and he looked adorably sleepy in his ninja turtle pjs.

"Sure honey," I said as I headed towards the fridge to grab the milk. Just as I turned, I saw Jake reaching for a glass but before I could stop him he made a swipe for it, managing to send it plummeting to the floor. Shit, this wasn't good. I saw his lower lip start to tremble.

"It's fine Jake, just don't move. We don't want you to cut your feet sweetie." I made my way over to him carefully navigating the dispersed glass and lifted him out of the danger zone. I immediately started to clean it up but it didn't matter because I heard the door slam shut and Mike's heavy footsteps fast approaching.

"Run to your room now, shut the door and hide like we practised." I told him urgently.

"But Bella…"

"Go." I said sternly. I let out a sigh of relief as I saw Jake disappear around the corner. That relief was short lived as I was met with Mike's sneer, which turned to a feral snarl as he noticed the broken glass.

"What the fuck is that?"

"I'm really sorry Mike. I was cleaning up and it just slipped out of my hands." He took a step towards me, backing me into the corner of the kitchen.

"This is how you repay me for taking you into my home, providing for you when no one else wanted you. You destroy my fucking property." He emphasised his last statement with a stinging slap to my cheek. And so it began, punishing blows delivered across my body, one after the other. I went to my happy place, keeping every cry of pain from slipping out. I didn't want Jake to hear and I didn't want to give Mike the satisfaction. I was brought back to the present by a particularly hard punch to my rib, I felt it splinter and all of a sudden it was hard to breath. I looked to Mike's face and panicked, there was something different, he looked craze. Holy shit, he wasn't stopping.

"Mike please," I choked out. I was consumed with burning, pain radiated across my body. He was spitting out angry words, nothing he was saying made any sense.

"You think you can fucking leave me Jess, I own you." He stopped the beating only to start tugging at my shirt. Holy fuck, he thought I was his ex, he was going to rape me. I could barely move and my breathing was getting shallower. If I was going to make a move it would have to be now. I eyed my surroundings, I saw the kitchen knives on the counter across from me and knew that it was my only option. As his hands fumbled at my jeans, I kneed him with as much strength as I could and lunged for the kitchen knife. From the reflection of the kitchen window I saw him charge at me and I turned. His eyes widened in shock as the knife penetrated his chest.

"Holy fuck," I screamed as he slid to the floor, knife protruding from his chest still. Oh my God, I stabbed him. What's going to happen to Jake? Spots were clouding my vision as the adrenaline wore off and the immensity of my injuries took hold. I knew I had to call for help first, I stumbled towards the home phone and dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency." I heard the voice of the operator.

"I stabbed him, please I need help." I wheezed.

"Who did you stab miss?"

"My foster father, he wouldn't stop. Please send help."

"What is your location?" I choked out my address and then the darkness took hold.

"Miss, miss can you hear me?" Pain, unbearable pain. I could feel someone prodding me and I wanted to scream at them to stop.

"Multiple fractures, shit I think she has a punctured lung Frank."

"Fucker really did a number on her, how's he doing?" Please say not dead, please.

"Lucky, missed any vital organs, he's stable. Will need surgery to remove the knife."

"Help me inflate her right lung?" I felt a stabbing pain, followed by blessed relief as I could take in some air.

"There you are sweetheart, just take a breath. You're going to be fine."

"Jake, get Jake." The EMTs brow crinkled in confusion.

"Who's Jake sweetheart?"

"My foster brother, he's five and hiding in his closet. It would normally be over by now and I would tuck him in, he's probably really scared." I started trying to sit up to get to him.

"Hey, stop. You've got some nasty injuries, you need to stay still. Frank here will go get him, okay." I nodded, lying back.

"First door on the right." Frank gave me a small smile and headed upstairs. I saw police officers documenting the scene, another pair of EMTs taking Mike away.

"Hi, I'm Officer Janko, you must be Bella."

"Not now officer, she's in no state to be answering any questions. Has someone called social services yet?"

"Yep, their case workers are on the way." He asserted. No, no, no, I can't do this again, another home. I'm going to be separated from Jake. How am I going to make sure he's okay? As I was about to protest, I saw Jake being carried in by Frank kicking and screaming.

"Bella, I want Bella. Pwease." His little formed quaked with the force of his sobs. I reached out for him, aching to soothe him.

"She's right here little man, my partner is just helping her feel better." As he focused enough to see me, he only got more hysterical when he saw my battered form.

"I'm sorry Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make him mad, I just wanted milk." He broke free from Frank's grip and charged towards me. I winced as his little form hurtled into me. I heard the EMT curse under his breath and move to pull Jake back. I stopped him, desperate for the comfort of Jakie in my arms unsure of when I'll get to hold him again, if ever.

"Sshh, shhh, sweetie. It's wasn't your fault, you didn't make Mike angry, he already was." I said smoothing down his hair.

"But he hurt you, he should have hurt me." God it killed me a five year old was saying that to me.

"No, no, no. What did I tell you about me being hurt?"

"Mike's bruises don't hurt you. You only hurt if I hurt."

"Exactly honey, so are you hurting?" I asked him giving him my best attempt at a smile.

"No."

"Then I'm not hurting." I looked up, suddenly aware of the fact that we weren't alone. Infact along with the two EMTs, there were several police officers and my caseworker. Emily Smith had been my case worker for a while now and she was giving me a disapproving look. I knew why, I should have contacted her sooner, reported Mike but I loved Jakie and I didn't want to loose him.

"Alright, we need to take Bella to the hospital now little man to get her all patched up." His grip on me tightened making me groan. Jake started getting hysterical again and refused to let me go, so the officer from earlier stepped forward and picked him up, taking him out of the room. It was the final straw of the day and I felt myself also getting hysterical. What if that is the last time I see Jake. The EMT noted my accelerating heart rate and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"We're just going to give some pain relief sweetheart, try to relax." Try to relax, right. I felt like laughing, God I missed my parents. I felt the drugs taking affect and swam into unconsciousness.

Authors Note: So this is a chapter for a new story I've been brainstorming about. Please review and let me know whether I should continue with this fanfic story.