Disclaimer: No money is being made from this story.

Author's Note: I started this story in my head about 3 or 4 episodes in to watching the first season of Haven (about 3 days ago). The whole plot was already played out in my head before I watched most episodes, completely AU beyond Audrey coming to town to be a local cop and trying to figure out about her 'mom'. Anything that overlaps or coincides with what actually happens on the show and in my story is mostly coincidence. Also, Jess and Evie do not even exist in my story because I didn't like either character.

You will find I am a dialogue girl and I don't always put who says what when there is a conversation. That is on purpose. I try not to let it be confusing but if it is, I apologize. I am not a professional. I'm sure there is more I can say but let's just begin, shall we?

P.S. Rereading this I want to point out I know nothing about boats. =)

All She Wanted

By Mia Bailey

Chapter 1: The Getaway

The footsteps behind her were gaining rapidly. She only had a few more moments and she would be in their line of sight. She pushed herself to run faster, the deck of the nearest boat rapidly approaching. She side stepped and leaped onto the deck, her landing as silent as a cat. The fishing boat was large and the deck uncluttered, not a help in her situation. She backed up quickly, pushing her back against the sidewall of the boat, hugging her knees close, out of eye line of anyone on the dock.

The running footsteps that were following her slowed as they came closer. She had apparently vanished from their point of view quicker than they liked. She was hoping they would continue on, thinking she had run farther ahead of them then they had anticipated. She was wrong.

They were having a discussion as to which boat to search first. As they spoke a man appeared on the deck of the boat she was on. He looked from her face to the two men on the dock. He had a towel in his hands, cleaning something. He looked to be in his early thirties, dark messy hair, well built. In the dark it was hard to tell any more details but they didn't matter. The only way she could take him on was with the element of surprise and that was gone. He had the ability to blow her cover with just a word.

"Hey." He called to the two men on the dock. She couldn't tell but they must have looked at him. She saw his eyes slide toward her; ever so slightly she shook her head, praying that he wouldn't give her up. "Can I help you?" His eyes were back on the men.

"We're looking for a girl. Small, dark hair, dark clothes. She was running this way." The man who spoke had a slight foreign accent, Scandinavian. She didn't recognize the voice, but that wasn't a surprise. She closed her eyes, trying to plan her next move if the man on the boat gave her up.

"Hmm, yeah, I think I saw her." Her eyes snapped open and she watched the man advance toward her, but his eyes were still on the men on the dock. "Booking it, like a bat outta hell."

"That was probably her. Look, she's dangerous. You need to tell us where she went. " This was a different voice, closer than the first one, American. She scrunched up closer to the wall to be sure to be out of sight.

"She went around the corner, that way." The man pointed in the direction she had been running earlier. "I saw her go by and glimpsed her past the corner but then I don't know where she went."

There was a pause. The men were debating on believing him. That was a long way away and she hadn't had that much of a head start on them. "You sure?" The accented voice asked.

The man nodded. "Yea. Like I said, she was fast. That's what caught my eye." He hadn't looked at her again for which she was grateful. That would have given her away.

There was silence for another moment then a very insincere 'thank you' muttered from the disembodied voiced. Their clunky footsteps took off down the dock. She watched the man's face as he followed them with his gaze until they were gone. He looked down at her, half curious, half suspicious, but all grins. "That was exciting."

"Thank you." She exhaled slowly.

He glanced up in the direction the men had gone and looked back to her. "They're gone. But you better get in the cabin. When they don't find you their liable to be back."

She nodded and stood gracefully, slipping past him into the cabin of the deck. He was confident he was the one in charge right now, giving her the element of surprise she desired in case she needed a quick escape. He wasn't currently a threat to her in any way.

"So can you tell me what I just did? Did I protect an illegal immigrant, an escaped convict, or just a runaway kid?" He finished cleaning the chunk of metal with his towel and set both things on a cluttered table. He leaned against the doorjamb of the cabin, crossed his arms, and stared at her. He was blocking her path out but she still knew she could get him off balance easily. She wasn't worried.

"I'm not a kid," was all she chose to answer. She walked around the cabin, absently running her gloved hand over everything. It wasn't a clean place by anyone's standards but it wasn't filthy. Just messy. "You live here?" It looked lived in.

"Oh no, you don't get to be vague and not answer questions and expect me to be forthcoming." He still had that perma-grin in place when she looked at him. "I don't mind bending the law but I would like to know what I'm in for if those guys come back."

She thought about that for a moment. If they did come back he would be questioned and probably not very pleasantly. More than likely they would be chasing her ghost for the rest of the evening. By morning she better have left a trail for them to follow far, far away from here. With any manner of luck, he would never see those men again.

"Don't worry, they won't be back." She assured him. As an afterthought she added, "tonight."

"Great. You still haven't answered my question." His patience was wearing thin.

She thought about being honest but he wouldn't believe her anyway. Vague, half truths would be better for him. "Those men are very, very bad people. They were trying to kill me. You saved my life. Thank you." She gave him a tight but sincere smile.

Her words seemed to leave him speechless for a moment. She stopped circling the room and stood to face him, her own arms crossed, her stance firm. She wasn't sure staying on the boat much longer was the safest place for her. She needed to start leaving her false trail in one direction and then go in the opposite.

"Bad people? What am I, seven?" He looked at her, clearly upset.

"Of all the things I said, that's what you choose to comment on?" She let out a small laugh despite herself.

"From the looks of them, they weren't after to you to give you a lollipop. I knew they wanted to hurt you. That's why I helped you. They didn't look friendly."

"Good eye." She nodded her approval.

"But why here? Haven, of all places; why are 'bad men' chasing you, a perfectly normal looking girl, in this middle of this town?"

She sighed. She couldn't answer his question without creating more questions that would eventually lead her to telling the unbelievable truth. "It's complicated." She hoped that would shut him up but she could already tell he was the inquisitive type.

He nodded in agreement. "Most of what happens in Haven is. But it usually happens to townies. I know you're not a townie."

She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, trying to figure out how to remove him as an obstacle without using force. She needed him to drop the subject of 'her' so she could go and he wouldn't give her another thought. If she forced him now he'd probably go after those two men and point them in her direction. Of course, she'd be long gone by then, maybe it wouldn't matter…

"Look, I am on your side here. I just want to help you. Can't help you if I don't know what's going on."

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly; a calming technique she used often. Extending her hand she smiled brightly. "Hannah Evans. New to town, mysterious past that is going to stay mysterious. I like bowling, pancakes, and the color blue. I am twenty-nine, single, never been married or had any children. I have two brothers and a set of parents that have been married for thirty years. I'm from the Midwest but I travel a lot for my job. I enjoy long walks on the beach, movies, and popcorn. Anything else you need to know?"

He had reached for her hand automatically when she put it out; he shook it slowly as she spoke, giving her a strange look. His grin grew wide as she spoke and he realized what she was doing.

"Is any of that true?" He asked when she was finished.

"It's customary to introduce yourself back when shaking hands." He hadn't let go of her palm.

"Duke. I'm Duke and this is my boat." He still gripped her hand.

"It's all true." She replied, jerking her hand back from his. "Lying is too complicated. It's simpler to leave out details you don't want people to know."

"So you want me to know about your favorite color and places you like to go on dates?" He surmised, still grinning at her.

"It's information I don't care if you have." She corrected. "Difference."

"Oh, you care." He was being flirty now. Not good.

"It was nice to meet you, Duke. I need to go now." She was tired of playing word games with him.

"I would let you, but…"He trailed off, looking over his shoulder.

"You can't stop me." She warned, ready to be physical if needed.

"I can." He replied, still not looking at her. Something in his voice stopped her.

"What?"

"They're coming back." He was whispering now. He walked inside the cabin toward her. She allowed herself to be pushed back toward a hatch that led below. "There is a loose board to the left of the stairs. It's roomy underneath. I promise you'll only stay there a few moments, until I get rid of them."

"I'll be vulnerable."

"You'll be safe."

"You don't know these men, they're good at their job-"

"I've dealt with worse. Trust me."

"But-"

"Trust me." He grabbed her gently by her upper arms and gave her a little shake, willing her to trust him with his eyes.

Hannah never trusted anyone. In this moment, however, she trusted him. There was something about the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice. He wanted to protect her. She turned and navigated the stairs as quietly as possible, finally dropping down and finding the board he was talking about. The hold was obviously for smuggling illegal goods but she couldn't care about that at the moment. Instead she crawled inside and gently set the board back in place above her head.

The next twenty minutes were hell for her. She had no weapon and no vantage if she was found. She heard creaks and muted voices but she couldn't tell exactly what was going on. At the last moment, right before she thought she was going to lose her mind with worry about what she didn't know, she heard a whispered, "Hannah!" The board was lifted away and Duke looked down at her with a self satisfied grin. "Told you I knew what I was doing."

He helped her up out of the hole and slid the board back into place. He gestured for her to lead the way back up into the cabin. Once there she turned to thank him again.

He held his hands up to stop her. "Hey, all in a day's work, saving a pretty girl's life."

She turned to walk toward the door. "I should go before you get in more trouble."

"They weren't trouble. They just wanted me to let them know if I saw you again. They're staying at the Storm Crow Inn. They said they would be in town for a few days."

Hannah turned back to him. "Hopefully they'll be gone tomorrow."

He looked concerned. "What are you going to do?"

"Lead them away." She was talking more than she should. She shook her head with a small laugh. "Why are you even worried?"

"Because you were right. In the light I could see them. They are some scary dudes. And you're just a tiny, little thing. I don't know why they want to hurt you but they could snap you in half easily. I'm worried that I saved your life and now you're going to go jeopardize it."

"That's sweet, really, but you'd be surprised at how well I can take care of myself."

"You needed my help earlier."

"I would have been fine."

"Really?" He had a knack for raising one eyebrow in a very cute manner.

"It would have been messier but I would have been fine." She repeated, backing toward the door. "I don't need to put you in any more danger than I already have."

"Sweetheart, you can put me in danger whenever you want." He was flirting again. Hannah couldn't stop herself from grinning at him.

It faded into a sad, wistful smile as reality crashed into her. "If you're lucky, you won't see them, or me, ever again."

"I don't think that would be lucky." He countered, moving forward as if to stop her.

"Trust me, it would be." She turned, keeping just out of his reach. At the door she turned back one last time. She was trained never to turn back, never to take one last look. This time, she had to. "Thanks, Duke, for saving my life. I owe you one." It was symbolic, not meant to be taken literally.

"I'll hold you to that!" She heard him call after her as she crossed the deck and climbed onto the dock. Part of her was grateful that he didn't follow her and try to stop her; part of her was desperate for him to come after her and drag her back into the safety of that cabin. She was already starting to regret having to leave Haven.