Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Rescue
"Damn it!" Athena Carter swore as she kicked her car in frustration.
Of all the times in the world for it to give out on her, it had to be right now.
It was two am.
Tripple A wasn't an option.
Her friends...well they were all pretty much passed out from the party.
Her sister...a huge no.
Her parents...a hell no.
One she was in college out of state, and two...well she hadnt spoken to her parents since she'd left.
She barely kept in contact with her sister.
Athena leaned against her car in defeat.
Yeah, she was definitely screwed.
"Well, well look what we have here."
Athena groaned and pushed back the stab of fear that entered her.
"I'm actually waiting for someone so.." She hoped he'd take the hint and beat it. She'd seen this guy around campus and truth be told he always gave her the creeps.
The guy's eyes turned dark. "So you're another one of those bitches who can't give me the time of day?"
Athena breathed deeply.
She had a horrible feeling.
She wanted to run but she felt frozen.
Her car was dead and she was all alone with this creep who had been in and out of the dean's office for various complaints.
Why was this her life right now?
She chose another tactic, maybe if she apologized right now things wouldn't get ugly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like..."
"You are sorry." The guy spat. "I'm gonna make you sorry."
"Please..." Athena whispered. "Don't do this."
"I'm gonna have fun with you first though." He leered at her.
He grabbed her, pulling her close and touching her.
"No," Athena whimpered. "Stop."
She felt completely frozen in this moment.
She'd taken various self defense classes on campus but it's like all of those sessions had gone right out of her memory.
"Your skin is so soft, babe." He pressed his lips against her neck, roughly sucking on it.
She cried out and he ran his hand underneath her skirt. He shoved her underwear aside and roughly shoved his fingers inside her.
"Stop!" Athena cried.
She brought her leg up and sharply kicked him in the groin.
He let out a string of curses, and she took the opportunity to attempt to run.
She made it five feet before she felt herself get grabbed by her hair.
She screamed and began struggling against him.
"Please stop!" She began hitting him and he hauled off and punched her.
"You don't tell me what to do, you stupid bitch!" He yelled, as he spun her around and held her down by her throat against the car.
He used his other hand to unzip his pants.
Athena closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face.
She prayed for it to be over soon.
She wanted to die.
Suddenly all movement stopped.
Athena opened her eyes and was stunned to see that a gun was pressed to her attacker's head.
"Let her go, Doug. Now." Another guy spoke, his tone quiet yet leaving no room for argument.
Her attacker actually looked afraid.
He did as he was told and took his hand off of her throat and slowly backed away, turning around to face the guy holding a gun to his head.
"Why are you always trying to spoil my fun, Bobby?" He groaned with a roll of his eyes, before he seemed to get an idea and smiled. "I got a great idea, bro. We could share her. I mean I normally wouldn't but..."
Athena whimpered as fresh tears entered her eyes.
How was she going to get out of this?
She didn't even know Bobby, other then that she recalled that he was in some of her classes.
He seemed nice but she didn't know him and was that creep actually his brother?
She really didn't like her chances right now.
Bobby seemed to notice how scared she looked and he quietly addressed her.
"No one's going to hurt you, Athena. I promise you that." Bobby gently told her, before coldly glaring at his brother. "Doug, you're sick. You never change. You should know by now that I would never ever help you hurt a woman."
Especially not Athena Carter.
He didn't really know Athena well at all, but he'd had a crush on her ever since he first saw her.
He'd always just been too afraid to approach her.
Doug rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Yeah, should've known better. You cock blocked the last date I had..."
Bobby's disgust only grew as he stared at his brother. "I think you and I both know that Maddie was not your date. Dad always lets you get away with shit, but not me. So, let me very clear. I see you go near this woman or any woman ever again, I'll blow your fucking brains out. Brother or not, are we clear?"
Doug smirked. "Well, I don't know Bobby. There's always next time, isn't there?"
Bobby glared at him hatefully. He had never hated anyone more than he hated his brother. "You really don't want to push me right now, Doug. I have a gun aimed at your head, it is loaded. You'd better believe I will pull the trigger if I have to!"
Athena sat on the ground, and looked back and forth between the two.
A part of her just wanted to run for her life.
Doug had just tried to rape her and she really didn't know anything about Bobby. She wanted to believe him when he said he wouldn't hurt her, but what if he shot Doug and than decided to shoot her because she'd be a witness?
She was so scared right now.
She didn't really know who to put her faith in, but it seemed like she had to put it in Bobby.
He was after all protecting her in this moment.
"Really?" Doug taunted. "You won't do it, Bobby. I think we both know all you've ever been good for is disappointment." He laughed and Bobby's gaze hardened even further. "You haven't done it yet. You won't shoot me. Even if I am making plans to have a party with this girl and your friend, and hell whoever else I damn well please."
Athena shuttered. On instinct, she got up and moved further away from Doug and closer to Bobby. Even if he did have a gun, he seemed her best bet right now.
"You may be threatening it, but you're fucking stupid if you think I'll ever give you that chance!" Bobby snapped.
Doug smiled. "You won't always be around. And why are you making it out like I'm the villain? This girl wanted me. They all do."
Bobby didn't believe that for a second. He'd seen the fear in her eyes the moment he came on the scene.
"Right." Bobby spat. "Just like Maddie wanted you. Because girls who want guys, scream and yell. Try to push you off, have fear in their eyes." He shook his head, his disgust just growing. "You're a piece of shit. I've never been more ashamed in my life to call you my brother."
"Why don't I show you?" Doug made a move to grab Athena but only made it two feet before a shot fired past him, hitting the windshield of Athena's car, shattering it.
Bobby grabbed Athena's arm, and shoved her behind him.
Both actions caused Athena to scream, but she relaxed when she realized the only thing hit was her car. Then she nearly groaned. It may be a piece of crap but she didn't want it used for target practice.
Normally she didn't like men just grabbing her, but the way Bobby had grabbed her had honestly been quite gentle and she could tell by the way he had pushed her behind him that he was only trying to protect her.
As terrified as she was, she was honestly grateful that he was protecting her.
"Athena," Bobby's voice came out gentle. The last thing he'd wanted was to make her afraid of him. "I promise I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you. I need you to stay behind me."
For a reason that Athena couldn't quite name, she wasn't afraid of him anymore. How could she be afraid of someone who was acting in defense and protection of her?
"Ok." Athena whispered, before doing as he'd asked of her.
She felt her breath hitch as she felt his hand gently squeeze her own before he removed his hand completely.
She didn't know what to make of the feeling that had gone through her in the brief moment he had touched her.
She'd never felt anything like it in her life.
Bobby fully trained the gun back on Doug. "In case I wasn't very clear before, you don't touch her ever!" He growled.
Doug raised his eye brow incrediously. "Oh but I suppose it's completely fine for you to touch her. You always think you're so much better than me, but we are the same! I'm just not afraid to take what I want! You must be really fucking stupid!" He yelled.
Bobby's hand was gripping the trigger on the gun so tight, he was amazed he hadn't pulled it yet.
"No, you must be really fucking stupid!" He countered heatedly. "I'm the one with the fucking gun to your head and you want to try to go at this girl again?! It's not going to happen." At least not while he was still breathing.
Bobby took a moment to breathe before turning to look at Athena. "I'm sorry I grabbed you." He whispered, his brother's words getting into his head. "I didn't mean to..."
"It's ok." Athena softly said, gently placing her hand on his arm. "I know you're just trying to protect me."
Bobby looked grateful that she understood that he didn't mean her any harm, and turned back around keeping the gun on his brother. "You should call the police, Athena. Tell them what he did to you."
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
"Bitch, this will never stick!" Doug screamed, as he was put into the back of the police car in handcuffs.
After the police had taken Doug away, Bobby turned his attention to the woman he'd just saved.
He saw her tears and his heart went out to her. "Hey," He gently outstretched his hand to her. He was surprised when she took it. "you looked like you needed help."
Tears stung Athena's eyes. "Good guess. I uh...thank you." Without even thinking about it, she threw herself in his arms, gripped him tightly.
Bobby gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her back. "You're welcome. I...I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. Not that I knew to, or knew this was gonna happen...I'm just...I'm sorry." He sighed. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that, to witness that."
Bobby had thought alot about what it would feel like to hold Athena Carter in his arms.
As good as it felt to finally be doing it, he'd completely give this entire moment up if it meant she'd never have to cross paths with his bastard of a brother.
"You saved me. You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm grateful for what you did. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up." She breathed, before pulling back. "I'm Athena. Athena Carter."
Bobby smiled gently. "I know. You're in a couple of my classes."
"Oh." Athena felt bad that he seemed to know her and she hadn't really noticed him before tonight. "I heard...hi..." She broke off. "You're Bobby, right?"
He nodded warmly. "Bobby Nash."
"Bobby," Athena whispered softly. "I owe you my life."
Bobby immediately shook his head. "You don't owe me anything. It was the right thing to do. I'm just thankful I got here before..." He sighed. "I'm so sorry."
Athena looked confused. "For what? You saved me."
"You heard us talking." Bobby momentarily looked down ashamed before meeting her eyes once more. "He's my brother.."
He felt ashamed to be related to someone like Doug, to a rapist that always seemed to pay no real consequences for the horrible things he does. He couldn't imagine what Athena must actually think of him now.
Athena softened, she reached out and grabbed his hand. "I understand how you feel, but you aren't responsible for his actions. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for what you did for me tonight. Bobby, I'm sorry."
Bobby frowned not understanding what Athena could possibly be apologizing to him of all people for. "For what? You didn't do anything wrong, Athena..."
"For a brief moment when you were holding the gun on Doug and he made you that offer of sharing me..." Athena whispered. "I didn't know you but I thought you might actually do it because he's your brother and I'm not really anybody to you. I was wrong for that. You're not your brother."
"Athena." Bobby whispered sadly. "I'm sorry you were so scared. I know that me showing up with a gun probably didn't make me seem any safer to you in that moment but I just wanted him away from you. I didn't really think what I was doing through or how it made me look to you. I'm so sorry I scared you. I need you to know that I never considered his offer, and you're not nothing to me. You're a person and I was never going to let him hurt you."
Athena stood stunned by his words.
The two of them just stood there, not really saying anything else.
They barely knew each other at all, but both had a feeling that this one event had connected them...possibly forever.