A/N: Thank you to everyone who liked and reviewed my last oneshot, "Butterflies." Your kind words really made my week :)

Well, here it is, my chapter story! I've been bouncing this idea around in my head and I'm finally ready to post it.

WARNING: This story is rated M, as for this first chapter it is because of scenes of abuse, and it is very descriptive and gory. I hope all who of you who read this have a strong stomach.

Disclaimer: If I owned 'Degrassi' or its characters, I would lock them up and keep them from the world. As you know that is not the case. So please don't sue me, I only own this story.

"Justify"

Chpt. One.

Silence. Bitter, painful silence filled the entire apartment complex, some neighbors meekly peeked out their doors, waiting for what would happen next. It was like its own soap opera; why watch tv, when you had Chad Kent and Emily Nunez for neighbors? Chad, Emily... and Alex. "Poor Alex," they all whispered to each other when they thought no one was listening, "poor Alex." Elderly Catholic women crossed themselves and prayed to the Lord.

If it weren't for Alex perhaps no one on the floor would even pay attention to the weekly, sometimes nightly, clashes at casa Kent- Nunez. But they all were worried about her. Alex was nothing like her mother; she was well liked by everyone. She may have acted like a hardass at school, but at home, she was a local hero. Anyone dumb enough to mess with anyone on floor five was gonna get punched in the face. They all cared about her, because she cared about them. And they waited for the reassuring sound of her fighting back. But no... nothing. The silence was deafening.

Until now.

Alex leaped over the end table and stumbled to the door. Her bloody hands fumbled with the door; she had to get out of there. Finally; freedom! The door sung open and she ran, hard. Everyone on the floor quickly closed their doors so they would not be seen by the drunken oaf screaming at the seventeen year old girl fleeing down the stairwell.

"Come back here you miserable little bitch! Come back here and get what's coming to ya!"

Chad's booming voice made Alex shudder as she hobbled down the stairs, wincing in pain. She grabbed at her left leg, which was bleeding. She had bits and shards of glass embedded in her thigh from when Chad through a beer bottle across the room at her. Even when he was drunk, Chad didn't miss.

"Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuck!" Alex mumbled over and over as she scampered out the complex's doors and went out across the parking lot. She tried many times to turn her head to make sure no one was following her, but it hurt too much to strain her neck. As of right now, she didn't even want to know what was wrong with it.

One hand clutched her leg, attempting to slow down the bleeding. Alex used her free hand to dig in her pocket for her cell phone. She pressed the number one, and held it down. Thank God for speed dial.

"Who the hell is this? It's three fucking o'clock in the morning!"

"Jay, it's Alex, I-"

"Holy shit Alex are you okay?" Jay instantly felt bad for being angry with her.

"No, I'm not, Chad was drinking again and... and," her throat was becoming dry and she could barely speak.

"Don't talk, just tell me where you are," Jay's voice was soothing but still had a nervous edge. He was trying his best to keep her calm.

"Um... I just got out the parking lot and I'm going to the park outside my apartment."

"Okay, Alex. Go to the bench by the entrance. I'm leaving right now. Understand?"

Alex couldn't respond, she was panting too hard.

"Alex? Alex?!"

"JUST HURRY!" she screamed into the phone. She slammed it shut and tried shoving it back into her pocket, causing her to fall down. She fell flat on her face into the grass. She lay there for a few seconds, before picking her head up and spat some dirt out of her mouth.

"Glad I skipped dinner for this," Even in dire situations, she never lost her sarcastic edge. She tried to stand up.

"Shit!" Her legs buckled under her and she couldn't stand upright. Falling down must have sprained one of her ankles. "Oh terrific," she mumbled under her breath. She looked around for something to grab onto. About twenty feet away she spotted a chainlink fence. She did the only thing she could do: crawl.

She reached the fence and strained all her muscles forcing herself upright. At this point her leg was so filthy and bloody she knew better than to use it. She leaned all of her weight on her right leg and the fence, and hobbled the distance to the park entrance. Hopping on her good leg, (well not good, but somewhat better leg,) she stumbled to the metal bench, and sat down. Then warily she looked around as best she could. It killed her neck, but she had to make sure no one saw. Even art this late at night, she had to keep her dignity intact.

After what seemed like hours to Alex, salvation materialized in the form of yellow headlights in front of her. Jay didn't bother turning off the engine, he flew out of his orange sports car, and sprinted over to Alex.

"Alex what the hell happened to you?" He shined a flash light over her, from her bloodied leg all the way up to her badly bruised face. "Oh my God," he whispered.

"Ah Christ Jay, get that fucking thing outta my face!" Alex squinted as he accidently shined his flash light in her eyes.

He smirked, "Sorry," Still a bitch, even in her darkest hour...

"Whatever Jay, just get me the hell out of here," she said sarcastically. She no longer had any problems speaking, and was going to give Jay a hard time for his stupidity, if need be.

"Okay," he rubbed his eyes before speaking, "Can you walk?"

She sighed, "No, not really..." She looked down at the ground.

Jay turned the flashlight off. "All right, give me your hand."

Alex outstretched her arms limply. Jay took her right arm and slung it over his shoulder, giving her time to stand up. They slowly made they way to Jay's car, but only after a few steps they stopped.

"Dammit Jay quit tripping me!"

"I'm not!" Jay sighed exasperated, "You just can't seem to put any weight on that leg."

"My right leg's fine, it's the other one that's busted up, moron!"

He rolled his eyes, "Doubtful. You probably injured both."

"Whatever, let's just get out of here, please." Alex's eyes began to water.

Jay bit his lip, he knew what had to be done. "Okay," he whispered, "Here." He took her arm off his shoulder and stood in front of her.

"Wh- what are you doing?" Alex was confused now.

"I'm going to carry you," he said matter- of- factly.

"Ha! You're what?!" She laughed disbelievingly.

"You can't walk, and you can barely stand," He ran a hand through his unkept hair. "I'm going to carry you to the car."

"Oh my God, you can't be serious," Jay said nothing. "No, no you're not carrying me!"

"What's the problem?" Jay through his hands in the air, "It's like, twelve feet Alex, it's not a big deal!"

"I don't give a damn!" She yelled.

"Neither do I!" His car was still on. He couldn't waste his precious battery any longer! He didn't care what she said, he was going to carry her dammit! Jay bent down and put his one arm around her back and the other around behind her knees.

"Christ Jay, put me down!" She struggled in his arms but he was much stronger. He ran as quickly as he could without dropping her, and swung open the passenger door, securing her into the seat.

"I know how to buckle myself, thank you!" Alex hissed.

Jay gave her his signature smirk, "See, most girls I rescue this late at night are a bit more... um... thankful?"

She scoffed, "Move, or I'll close the door on you."

Jay backed away with his hands in the air, still smirking. She slammed the door shut, scowling at him as she watched him go around the car. She contemplated locking him out as revenge, but just as she reached for the lock, he opened his door and sat down in the driver's seat. They said nothing, he just put the car in gear and sped off into the blackness.

They remained silent for a long time. Jay kept glancing at Alex out of the corner of his eye. She just stared out the window. God, she looked awful. She had to see a doctor immediately. He sighed, and focused his attention back on the road.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" Alex turned away from the window and look at Jay.

He sighed again before speaking, "Alex... you need to go to the hospital..."

She shifted back in her seat, "I know..." More silence followed. "God Jay, I feel like such a freak." Her eyes spilled over with tears, but she didn't make a sound.

"Alex I gotta ask you something..."Jay squinted out the windshield to see, as it started to rain.

"What Jay?" She was looking out of the window again.

"Uh... did he... did he..."

"Did he what Jay?" She knew what he was asking her, but she made him say it.

"Did he..." Jay held back a sob, "did he do anything else to you besides beat you?"

Alex turned completely in her seat, so she could look him in the eyes, "No Jay, he didn't. He didn't get the chance."

There was a giant clap of thunder as Jay began to cry. He didn't hold back his tears any longer. However they were somewhat tears of relief, he was so glad Chad didn't violate her. That was dwelling on his thoughts the whole time.

"Good," was all he could muster.

Alex nodded before leaning back in her seat. She closed her eyes, trying to think of an excuse for the doctors at the hospital. A fight at a bar maybe? She was too tired to think. She just wanted this night to be behind her. The roar of the car's engine was muffled by the booming thunder of the storm.