Haven: Know Who I Am

For RazielOmega because writing her tweetlets (story tweets via private messages on Twitter) helped inspire this fic. :)

Part I

Audrey studies William with careful trepidation as he takes a step forward. A part of her feels uneasy, weighty hesitance in every crevice of her body as her eyes trace the contours of his face.

It isn't (wasn't) a face of deception. Not at first.

At one time, she had trusted this enigmatic William. Trusted his words about "big love" and how he'd known they'd see each other again.

She shifts slightly on the balls of her feet and fights the urge to play with an errant lock of her hair (a Lexie-ism that seeps into her being) as she tries to read him. Tries to predict his next move.

(She can't.)

"And she…" he says, drawing out the words, locking eyes with hers in a glare of unwavering defiance. "Is mine."

His voice deepens, thundering around her as his hands reach out and touch her face. Sparks fly from his fingertips and blinding white light assaults her vision, dragging her down into a bottomless abyss.

(She feels nothing, but sees remnants of everything – everyone she's ever been – before they are gone in a flickering instant. It's a not-so-distant memory of Lexie's that she clings to, barely holding onto the edges of what she must remember.)

Her eyes snap open as she awakens in a field. The same field she'd been standing in.

William is nowhere in sight.

Instead, her eyes fall on…

"Parker," Nathan looms over her, apprehension masking his features.

"Audrey," Duke's voice whispers beside him, concern also streaked in the creases of his face.

"What happened?" Nathan presses gently, stormy blue eyes boring into hers, searching. "Where's William?"

Words slip out effortlessly from Duke's mouth before he can stop them, the oncoming rush of an avalanche. "If that son of a bitch is anywhere around here, there's some serious ass-kicking that's clearly in order."

Audrey's eyes remain wide, horrified. No words tumble from her lips. She can't bring herself to say anything.

William's touch had procured a specific memory, one that horrified her.

Tess had still been in the Barn when she-

(The memory flickers, like the slow development of a black and white photo, but the pieces her mind strings together haunt her. She wonders how much time she has to hold onto it. When will it become no more than a whisper?)

Her mind races in a million directions.

Tess…

Then, suddenly, she's throwing her arms around them both, clinging to them desperately. Her breath comes out in short gasps.

"It's okay," Nathan reassures, running his hand gently along her back.

"It's okay, Audrey," Duke echoes, following the same motion.

She pulls back, gazing at both of them while tears stream down her face. Two hands both simultaneously reach out to wipe her tears away.

Involuntarily, she flinches, pulling back even further. Remembering William's hands on her. A blinding flash of light and then... nothing.

She wants to smile - she really does - but her life does not allow for such luxuries. Only momentary glimpses of happiness. Now is not one of those times.

"You found me," she finally says after another stretch of silence and warm tears.

Nathan and Duke exchange glances.

"When you're ready, will you tell us what happened?" Nathan asks gently. His thumb caresses her cheek and she manages to nod slowly.

Duke's hand wipes away the tears on her other cheek. "Can you stand up?" With Nathan and Duke's help, Audrey gradually rises to her feet.

Just as she tries to regain her balance, she's overtaken by an unexpected wave of dizziness. Her vision starts to darken around the edges before the pervading blackness welcomes her into its depths.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: I could've made this a long one-shot, but I wanted to break it up a bit. It will probably only have two or three parts total. The character Tess briefly mentioned here is inspired by an original character I'm writing in one of my scripts for class also named Tess. Even with how I'm writing her in the script (at least right now), she seems like the kind of character that would be friends with Lexie because Lexie needs friends! Lexie, Tess, the Barn and William are ALL connected and I also want to explore Audrey's relationship with her boys. Stay with me. Exciting new developments ahead!