Content/trigger warning for discussion of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence.

“You need to hold still so I can clean these cuts.”

Raf winced at the solution Christina was applying to his knuckles. “It stings.”

“Of course it stings, you dummy,” she sighed. “It’ll hurt worse if it gets infected. Don’t be a baby.”

Despite the harsh-sounding words, Christina’s voice was quiet and subdued, and she held his hand gently as she brushed the cotton swab across his scrapes and bruises. Raf could tell she was still feeling shaken after their encounter with Robert, but she had insisted on helping to patch up his injuries while Dante took care of filing the police report.

Raf sat silently, holding a pack of ice gingerly against his nose as she finished bandaging his other hand. 

“Okay, now take off your shirt,” she instructed him. He shot her a look, and she gave another exasperated sigh. “I need to see how bad the bruising is. I also want to check and make sure you don’t have any broken bones. If you do, we might need to take you to the hospital.”

Raf set down the ice pack and shrugged off his t-shirt, wincing as the muscles in his arms and shoulders screamed in protest. “You seem to have a lot of first aid knowledge for a lawyer,” he observed. “Did you have some kind of formal training?”

“Not formal training, no.” She pulled on a pair of surgical gloves and began prodding the bruises on his chest and stomach. “I’ve got a lot of practical experience, though.”

Raf hissed as she touched a particularly tender spot, then gritted his teeth as she began applying a strong-smelling ointment to his skin.

“Personal experience?” he asked, immediately regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly, “you don’t have to answer that.”

“No, it’s all right,” Christina rubbed salve onto another bruise. “I don’t mind talking about it. I realized a long time ago that I’m not the one who should be ashamed of it. That honor goes to the bastard who gave you all these bruises.”

“He was your mate, right?”

“Still is, technically. We were together for ten years.” She frowned slightly. “Despite how he is now, it was actually really good in the beginning. When I first met him, Robert was charming and sweet. He basically bent over backwards to convince me to date him. At the time, I was just at the beginning of my career, and I wasn’t looking to attach myself to anyone who might jeopardize that. He said he didn’t mind that I worked. He told me that he’d always thought it made no sense for Alphas to dictate what Omegas could and couldn’t do. I’d never really met an Alpha who thought that way. Anyway, before I knew it, I was completely smitten with him. He gave me the bite mark after we’d been dating for less than a year. 

“For a while,” she continued, “we were completely inseparable. I guess we were what you’d call one of those ‘power couples’. I was rising in the legal world; he was advancing through the ranks as an officer in the army. With him by my side, I remember feeling like I could take on the whole world.”

She moved on to another bruise. “Things started to change around the time that Cameron was born,” she said in a quieter voice. “I wanted to keep working, but Robert objected on the basis that it was too expensive to hire a nanny. His hesitation honestly made no sense to me. He’d never indicated that he wanted me to be a stay-at-home mother before, and I knew we could afford to hire help.

“What I didn’t realize at the time was that things weren’t going very well for him at work. The base where he worked had this really intense environment, where everyone put in long hours, and harassment and verbal abuse were just part of the culture. It was really toxic, and he started turning to alcohol to help him cope with the stress. Over time, the drinking got worse, and of course his performance at work started to suffer. Eventually, one of his superiors caught him drinking on the job, and he was fired.

“That’s when things got bad at home. He would find excuses to pick fights with me, and then it would escalate and we would end up in these awful yelling matches. I’m not proud to say I sometimes responded in kind when he was screaming and cursing at me. One night, we were fighting, and we were both feeling completely flooded with anger. I forget what he said, but I ended up slapping him. His response was to punch me in the face.” 

She paused for a moment, remembering. “It really scared us both,” she said. “He apologized immediately. For my part, I couldn’t help feeling like I had been the one to provoke him, so I was happy enough to let it drop and pretend like it hadn’t happened. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. It was like something broke in him, after that first time, and from that point on, our arguments started to get more...physical.” She winced slightly at the memory, but continued talking. 

“I wasn’t sure who to talk to or how to get help for it, so I just stayed quiet and hoped things would get better. Unfortunately, they didn’t. We went on like that for another three years. I learned how to hide the bruises and self-treat the other injuries. I don’t think anyone in my friend or work circles ever realized what was going on.”

She stopped and swallowed. When she spoke again, her voice had gotten less steady. “What finally changed things for me was when I stopped being his only target. Cameron was getting older, and she was starting to notice things. One night, she happened to come into the room and saw him hitting me. She was really t-terrified, and she started screaming, and, and he…” Christina stopped, her hands and voice shaking, unable to continue. In spite of herself, tears started falling down her face.

Raf had heard enough. He reached out and placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him as she sobbed into his neck. He held her silently and gently rubbed her arm until the weeping subsided into sniffles.

When she finally pulled away from him, her eyes were red and puffy. “I’m s-sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes with her sleeves. “I thought I’d come to terms with all of this, but that’s the one part that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over.” She stood and began to search the room for tissues.

“Yeah, that...makes sense,” Raf said awkwardly. He kicked himself inwardly, but he honestly had no idea what else to say to her. Everything that came to mind either sounded stupid or condescending. He was sure Dante would have known the right thing to say under the circumstances, but all he could do was listen, and wait. He watched as she blew her nose loudly.

“It only happened once,” she finally said as she returned and dropped back into the stool across from him. “That was enough. I packed up a suitcase and Cameron and we left the next day.”

She sighed wearily as she picked up the salve again. “The biggest challenge after that was figuring out where to go next. I was really afraid to reach out to my friends and coworkers because I knew those were the first places Robert would check when he realized I was gone. I didn’t trust my family either. I had tried to tell them about the abuse once or twice, and they told me I was just being dramatic.” She made a face. “Then I remembered about St. Margaret’s. I had their contact information because my firm occasionally does pro bono work to help the Omegas here. I never thought I’d be the one seeking help instead.”

She replaced the lid on the salve. “Okay, Raf,” she said, “I’ve done as much as I can do. I didn’t feel any broken bones.” She took the ice pack from him and inspected his nose. “It looks like the bleeding up here has stopped, but you're going to want to keep an eye on that for a few days. If it starts bleeding again, or hurts a lot, or if you’re having trouble breathing, definitely go to the ER. Otherwise, it will probably heal on its own.”

“Thanks, Christina.”

“Don’t mention it.” She sniffled again. “And...thanks for listening to me. I haven’t really told anyone that story, except for Dante. It feels good to get it all off my chest.”

She stood up. “I should probably head up to the dorms to check on Cameron now. Ryan was keeping an eye on her for me, and she’s hopefully asleep by now, but…”

“But you want to see her,” Raf finished. 

She smiled and nodded. “Yes. I want to see her.”

“Can I ask what you’re going to do next? About Robert?”

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I’m not sure. He knows where I am now, which presents a bit of a problem. We’re safe enough as long as we stay in the building, but obviously we can’t do that forever.” Her expression hardened. “One thing’s for sure though. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let that bastard take Cameron away from me. I’ll figure something out.”

Raf nodded. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

Christina touched a hand gently to his cheek. “You really are a sweetheart,” she said fondly. She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the forehead, then turned and left the infirmary.

“You really helped her out tonight.”

Raf spun around to find Dante watching him. How long has he been standing there? Raf grimaced at his own reaction. Clearly, he was going to need to get used to Dante magically appearing behind him. The man seemed to have a gift for stealth, and without the warning of an incoming scent, there was really no way for Raf to sense him.

“Dante,” he said as casually as he could manage. “Did you finish filing the report with the police?”

“Yes. I gave them the security footage too, so they have everything they’ll need if Christina decides to press charges.” 

“Do you think she will?”

“I’m not sure.” Dante crossed the room and sat down on the stool that Christina had just vacated as Raf pulled his t-shirt back on. “Before today, I think she would have been just as likely to let the whole thing drop. She’s made it clear she wants nothing more to do with him. But if he’s threatening to sue her for custody of Cameron, she’ll have to take some kind of action. As it stands, the law favors him.”

“But he’s an abuser!” Raf could feel his blood boiling. The idea of someone like Robert being able to manipulate the courts to serve his selfish ends was intolerable.

“Yes, but unless Christina is willing to say as much under oath, that won’t mean much.”

Raf clenched his hands in frustration. It was so unfair. The justice system was supposed to protect the innocent, not further oppress and traumatize them. He gritted his teeth and squeezed his fists until he could feel his nails cutting into his palms.

“Raf.” Dante reached over and gently placed a hand on top of his. “I know you’re angry, and you have every reason to be. Robert is scum, plain and simple. But this is the world we live in. When you're an Omega, it's a constant battle to have your problems taken seriously.”

“So we just do nothing?” Raf growled.

“I didn’t say that,” Dante said. Raf glanced up at him in surprise. 

“We don’t win every fight, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try,” Dante clarified. “That’s basically the founding mission of St. Margaret’s. It’s our job to provide the help and support that Omegas can’t find anywhere else. If Christina decides to pursue this matter in court, then I promise you, I will be there to support her every step of the way.” He paused and looked Raf directly in the eye. “Can I count on your help as well?”

He’s counting on me. Raf straightened and ignored the painful ache in his muscles as he puffed out his chest. “Of course you can,” he said eagerly. “I won’t let you down.”

“Good.” Dante smiled warmly at him. Raf returned his gaze and felt his cheeks growing hot. Christina’s words from earlier in the evening abruptly came floating back to him. In all the chaos, he’d completely forgotten. It almost sounds like you have a crush on him, she had said. He’d dismissed the possibility at the time, but...maybe if...

Raf’s phone buzzed on the table next to him. He glanced down and his eyes widened as he took in the time. “Oh shit, I had no idea that it was this late. My dad is asking where I am.”

“Do you want me to tell him what happened?” Dante asked gently. “If you're concerned about how he will react, I don't mind explaining the situation. It might go over better coming from me.”

Raf frowned. “Maybe. I’m not sure I want to talk to him tonight, though. I’m just...not ready to face him yet.”

“We can set you up on one of the couches in the common area if you want,” Dante offered. “They’re pretty comfortable; I’ve slept on them before when staying overnight at the Center.”

“Tempting, but...I don’t know how the residents will react if they find me there in the morning. I don’t want to alarm anyone.”

“Fair point,” Dante conceded. “Well, how about I take you home, then. If your father is still awake when we get there, then I’d be happy to speak to him on your behalf. What you did tonight was heroic, Raf. I know it probably doesn’t feel that way considering how badly you got beaten up in the process--”

“Yeah, don’t rub that in please.”

“--But you protected Christina and helped keep her safe. You did the job that was asked of you, and then some. I’m truly grateful, Raf. I’m…” he hesitated slightly, then plunged ahead, “I’m really glad that you’re here.”

Raf felt his blush extend all the way up to his ears, but he couldn’t stop the smile that slowly spread across his face at the unexpected praise.

“Me too,” he said finally. “I’m glad I came here, too.”