Lights flashed around the club as sweaty bodies pressed tighter and tighter together. Caitlin threw her head back and released an exhilarated laugh as she danced between Hartley and his boyfriend. This was exactly what she needed after a long work week. She smiled as she threw her arms around Hartley's neck.

"Hartley, dance with me!" She squealed excitedly. Hartley laughed and pulled her close.

"What do you think we were doing two seconds ago?" He replied. Ben smiled as he looked at the two friends. He knew that Hartley had been right in suggesting a night out for the three of them. After everything that Caitlin had been through, she needed it.

"I'm gonna go get a few more drinks, I'll be right back." Ben shouted over the thumping bass. He knew that Caitlin needed a few moments alone with his boyfriend to process everything that had happened and he wanted to make sure he gave her that. Caitlin closed her eyes and grinned like the Cheshire cat as he turned away.

"Vodka!" She shouted back and Ben rolled his eyes fondly as he made his way to the bar.

Once realizing that it was just the two of them, Hartley grabbed Caitlin's hand and led her to a booth.

"My feet are killing me," Caitlin groaned as she fell back onto the seat. Hartley laughed as he sat down next to her more gracefully.

"Six inch stilettos in a club will do that to you." He replied as he took off his blazer. Caitlin closed her eyes as she felt the alcohol swimming through her veins and Hartley took the time to study her.

There was a soft discoloration around her neck and the faint imprint of fingers wrapped loosely around the mark. As if she knew he was staring, Caitlin opened her eyes and shook her head.

"Don't," she stated softly and Hartley nodded his head, knowing better than to argue with her. Not when her guards were down like this and she was having fun. Ben appeared next to them and slid Caitlin's shot of vodka over to her, as well as a glass of water. He then handed Hartley his whiskey and coke.

"To healthy friendships!" Ben announced and the trio quickly downed their drinks.

"And healthy relationships, I suppose," Ben amended a moment later. Caitlin grinned softly at the couple before glancing at her watch. She sighed as she stood up.

"Sorry guys, I have to go." She said as she balanced herself on wobbly knees. Hartley nodded as he followed suit. He placed a hand lightly around her elbow to help steady her.

"We'll walk you out." He replied. Caitlin nodded her head gratefully as she held her clutch in one hand and her water in the other, occasionally taking small sips out of it. Once they made it outside of the club, Ben hailed down a cab for her as Hartley pulled her off to the side.

"Cait, promise me you'll call me if you need my help for anything." Hartley whispered. Caitlin focused her round eyes on him and nodded her head slowly, having no trouble understanding what he was referring to.

"I will," she murmured as a cab pulled up and Ben opened the door for her. She gave both men a quick kiss on their cheeks and got in.

"Thanks, gentlemen!" She called out before she shut the door.

As soon as the cab pulled away, Caitlin leaned her head against the cool window and sighed. She was going to be in so much trouble.

"Where to miss?" The cab driver asked.

"Home."

As Caitlin eased open her front door thirty minutes later she stiffened before walking in. Like the calm before the storm, Caitlin knew what was about to occur would be bad. Taking a deep breathe, she managed to calm her erratically beating heart and shut the door softly.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Though not totally unexpected, the harsh voice made Caitlin jump slightly as she turned around slowly.

Jay was sitting in their living room, staring at her with menacing eyes. Caitlin felt a shiver run down her spine as she nervously watched him.

"It's three. In the morning," Jay spit out viciously as he stood up. Caitlin backed against the door as she bit her lip.

"I know I said I'd be home around one but I just really wanted to catch up with Hartley and Be-" A sharp blow to her face had her head slamming back into the door and stars burst in front of her eyes. Groaning, she blinked back the pain as a hand flew up to instinctively cover her cheek.

The look in Jay's eyes was murderous and Caitlin wondered if she should start running now.

"When you say you're going to be home at a certain time, I expect you to be home at that time," Jay snarled as he placed both hands on either side of her head, effectively locking her in place against the door.

Caitlin willed herself not to tremble in front of him, it only made him angrier.

"I'm-I'm sorry," Caitlin said softly as she avoided his fiery gaze. She winced as Jay roughly grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.

"Why the hell are you back so late?" He demanded.

"I told you, I wanted to spend a little more time with my friends," Caitlin replied carefully. She watched as his eyes narrowed and knew that in the next moment she would be feeling extreme pain.

Jay flung her onto the ground and she gasped as she had the air knocked out of her.

"You were with someone else, weren't you?" Jay growled as Caitlin struggled to catch her breath.

"N-no! Just with them, I promise!" Caitlin cried. This was how these nights always went. Caitlin would go out with her two colleagues and Jay would automatically assume she was cheating on him. She was getting tired of it.

"Why won't you just believe me for once?" Caitlin bit out. Mistake number one: never lash out at your angry husband. Jay was seething as his boot made contact with her ribs and she screamed out as she curled herself into a tight ball.

"Maybe I would believe you if you didn't go out to clubs dressed like that!" Jay yelled. It took all of Caitlin's self restraint to not cry as she clutched her side. At least two ribs were broken. At least. She thought he would let up as he saw her laying on the ground, struggling to breathe through the pain.

Mistake number two: never assume your angry husband was done until he said he was done. He bent down and picked her up roughly and slammed her against the wall. For the second time that night, stars burst in front of her eyes and for a moment everything went black. Then Jay was throwing her down on the ground and kicking her with a vendetta.

"Stop! STOP!" Caitlin shrieked out.

"I'm sorry I'm late, just please stop!" She begged but it made no difference; Jay was merciless in his attack. Eventually, she blacked out.

Caitlin came to sometime later with a gasp. Every bone in her body was on fire. She glanced around through squinted eyes as her head pounded and noticed that Jay was nowhere to be seen. Convinced that at least a half dozen bones were broken, Caitlin glanced frantically around for her phone. Noticing it a few feet away from her, Caitlin stretched her arm out to reach it while suppressing a scream. With fumbling fingers she quickly scrolled through her contacts until she landed on the one she desperately wanted.

With a quivering lip, she prayed that they would answer.

"Hello?"

"Hartley," Caitlin cried, "I need your help."