Running Scared

Chapter 14: Surprise, Surprise

The next few days almost seemed like a dream, almost. After that night with Jack, Charlotte found herself with a smile on her face and pep in her step. The threat of Peter was always there but now resided in the back of her mind. Jack insisted that he be with her all time until they could find him, but after much persuasion, he agreed to keep the normal routine that they had going. The three of them had been spending a lot more time together, Jack and Theo growing closer.

There were a few times where Theo hesitated on what to call Jack. They ended up having a sit down, telling him it was okay to call Jack what ever felt natural to him. Almost immediately Theo started him 'Daddy'; Jack couldn't have been happier knowing that was like a father figure to Theo and Charlotte's heart warmed at the thought of having a future with Jack and how he accepted Theo as his own.

"Make sure you lock up before you leave!" Judy shouted just before she walked out of the diner.

"I will" Charlotte replied. It was Friday afternoon and as a rare treat Judy was letting them take the rest of the day off. She had called Jack earlier telling him the good news; he was going to take off early as well, picking up Theo from Little Rascals and meet her back at the house. She finished up at the diner, locking up behind her and headed home.

Home. Charlotte smiled to herself at calling Jack's house home. It wasn't because that's where she lived; she had lived lots of places that never felt like home. It was because it was filled with the people she loved and those who loved her. She walked up the front steps giving a brief wave to Dave, one of the officers stationed outside the house to keep watch, unlocked the door and walked in.

Immediately Charlotte realized that something was off. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as moved about the house. Everything appeared to be in place. Charlotte moved to the kitchen to grab Jack's gun he'd hidden above the stove. She was just tall enough to stretch her hand inside, her heart raced when she didn't immediately feel it. She stood on her tip toes desperately wishing she would feel it at any moment, but it wasn't there; the gun was missing.

"Looking for something?"

Her blood ran cold at his voice. She whirled around a gasp escaping her seeing how close he actually was to her. Peter stood there, dark circles under his eye and his clothes rumpled as if he'd slept in them. But it wasn't his appearance that frightened her, it was the gun he had pointed at her.

"You're a hard woman to track down Alex" He hissed her false name, stepping closer making her run into the counter. She had nowhere else to run, the only exit was behind Peter. She slowly touched her back pocket for her phone, cursing herself for leaving it in her bag. "I must say I love this new look."

He came even closer, harshly pushing her into the counter. Peter reached out moving the hair out of her face. She cringed at his touch as he traced a finger down her jaw. Bile rose in her throat but she forced it down as he leaned in.

"I thought I told you that you were mine that night. But what do I find in the morning, you had packed up and left. I searched for you day and night and for a moment I thought I had lost you." His voice cracked on the end, his eyes held a wild look in them.

"How did you find me?" She was surprised that her voice sounded calm despite the fact that she was shaking on the inside.

"It took me a while, I must admit it was very clever of you to change to your mother's maiden name. But it was only a matter of time before you screwed up and you did. You mentioned on your hospital record where you were from."

Charlotte almost didn't hear him. If he was able to find her hospital records did that mean he knew about Theo?

"It wasn't hard to track you from there. And then what do I find?" His voice hardened, he dug the barrel of the gun into her side. She gasped at the pain but refused to let him see her in pain. "I found out what a little whore you really are." He gripped a fist full of her hair, her scalp felt like it was on fire.

"Peter please-" She wanted to tell him that he didn't have to do this but she was cut off at the sound of Jack's voice.

"Charlotte we're home"

A sinister smile crept on Peter's face, "Well what a perfect time to introduce me to your fuck buddy don't you think?" He gripped her body in front of his with one arm, the gun still digging into her with the other.

"Peter, don't. This is about us, leave Jack out of it."

"Maybe you shouldn't have went and gotten yourself knocked up by him then." His fingers dug harder into her skin. He knew, he knew about Theo but Peter didn't know he was his son not Jack's.

"Charlotte where-" Jack paused when he saw her and Peter standing in the kitchen; Theo in his arms.

"Well if it isn't the bastard and his bastard child."

Jack glanced at her a silent question asked, he doesn't know? As subtle as she could she shook her head. One look at Theo's face and Peter would know that it was his kid. Luckily he had her dark brown hair but had Peter's hazels eyes. Jack shielded Theo's face, whispering something in his ear.

"Don't move" Peter aimed the gun at Jack as he set Theo down.

"Let him go, he's just a child."

"Unfortunately he's your kid and I can't have that. Not after you tainted her." He said through clenched teeth.

"Please Peter just let him go." Tears swelled in her eyes at the thought of something happening to her baby. "I'll go with you, I'll do anything just let them go"

"Shut up and don't even think about" Peter pressed the barrel of the gun to her temple as Jack tried reach for his gun. "Throw it over here, now!" Jack slid his gun across the kitchen floor, it stopping just sort of them. "I've spent three year looking for you, to have you again. And what do I find? You fucking the Sheriff and having his bastard child. I was so tempted to go and take you right then and there but I knew I had to find the perfect time. I have everything planned out for us Char. We can start over, have family of our own, live in a nice place in the city."

"I'll go with you. We can do everything you've planned but you have to promise me that you'll let them go, that you're not going to hurt them."

"Charlottw, no. Don't do this" Jack pleaded.

"Shut up, this doesn't involve you! She wants to be with me!" Peter turned her to face him, his hand painfully squeezing her arm. "Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying. I've always wanted you, I- I love you Peter." Tears swelled and her stomach churned at her words. She had to make sure that Jack and Theo were safe and if that meant leaving with Peter then it's something she would have to do.

"Don't fucking lie to me!" He pushed her into counter, gripping her harder.

"Let her go!"

"Stay out of it!" Peter pointed the gun straight at Jack.

"Daddy I'm scared." Theo's small voice carried across the kitchen. His scared face peeked around Jack's legs. Charlotte stood frozen; she glanced at Peter. He stood there looking at Theo, his face confused then angry as he figured out the truth.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Peter roared throwing a punch to the side of her face.

Lights and pain exploded behind hereyes as the back of her head hit the counter as fell. She felt Peter on top ofher as he landed a couple more hits to her face and gut before his weight wasgone. Her ears rang and she tried to open her eyes but found the lights weretoo bright. Charlotte heard some scuffling, a few grunts and moans. She had noidea what was going on or where Theo was. She rolled over onto her side, asudden sharp pain making her black out but not before she heard the shots ringout.