Never Knew,I Needed A Hero

The Rage of Alex

*Claire's POV*

Alex stormed through the door, he looked pissed and I knew that he'd take it out on me like he did every night. That night however was worse than the others. He came through the door and immediately started telling me I was useless. Shortly after that he hit me repeatedly before he stormed out again and went to the bar because I guess I made him that angry that he couldn't be around me. I was so scared and hurt that I had no where to turn, I gave in and decided to call Dave.

"Hello?" I heard Dave's voice coming through the phone.

"Dave." I said barely above a broken whisper.

"Claire, what's wrong?" He asked me his voice growing thick with worry.

*Dave's POV*

"Claire, what's wrong?" I asked her as Taylor who sat across from me looked at me questioningly.

"A-Alex, h-he h-hit me. I'm scared." She stammered, those words pissed me off but at the same time they broke my heart.

"Where are you Claire?" I asked urgency seeping through my voice.

"Home." She said as another broken sob tore itself from her.

"Stay there, I'm coming to get you." I told her as I stood up and started making my way to the door.

"Please hurry." She said softly into the phone before we hung up.

"Dave man, what's going on is Claire okay?" Taylor asked as him and the rest of the guys gave me worried looks.

"No she's not, that piece of shit Alex hit her. I've got to go get her." I said trying to keep my emotions contained and under control.

"Go get her man." Taylor said. You didn't have to tell me twice. It was about a two hour drive to Claire's place. When I got there I saw her sitting on the front porch blood drying on her face.

"Claire." I whispered as I took a look her for the first time since 1994.

"I'm sorry... I just didn't trust anyone else..." She was about to say more but I cut her off by putting my arms around her.

"It's okay Claire, I'm glad you called me because friends help each other. How long has this been going on?" I asked her.

"Since Alex and I moved away from Seattle in 1994. It's just now getting to the point where I'm seriously afraid for my life." She said looking down at the ground.

"Come on, I'm not letting you stay here. Get your stuff." I told her trying to keep from showing her how much it hurt me to see her like that.

"Dave, I don't want to be a burden." She said barely above a whisper.

"You won't be. I care about you and if your that scared I'm getting you out of here." I said looking her dead in the eyes to let her know I was serious.

"Okay." She said to me smiling softly. I could tell that Alex had been abusing her, she looked like she was scared of everyone even me, her best friend.

*Claire's POV*

I only grabbed what I absolutely needed because I wanted to be out of the house before Alex came back.

"I'm ready." I said as I wiped my nose on my sweater.

"Alright let's go." He said putting his arm around me causing me to flinch. "Claire it's alright. I'd never hurt you." He said speaking even softer this time.

"I know." I whispered as I leaned closer to him starting to feel safe as we got to Dave's car. Somehow I knew I'd never be back here because I knew he wouldn't allow me to go back so I took one last long look around before getting in.

"Claire?" He said more in the tone of a question.

"Yes?" I whispered back softly. I was still on edge.

"Why didn't you tell me what he was doing this to you sooner? I would have already gotten you out of there." Dave said as he watched the road.

    "Well I didn't want to burden you especially back when it first started after Kurt's death. When the Foo Fighters made it real big, I didn't think you would care about our friendship the way you used to and I didn't want to worry you." I said gazing out the passenger window.

      "Claire if you would've told me then. I would've come to your side just like I did now. You don't deserve to live like that. You never deserved it." He said shooting me a smile before returning his eyes to the road and traffic ahead of us.

     "Dave, thank you." I said as I began to get back to feeling somewhat okay.

     "Anytime Claire." He said smiling once more as we pulled up in front of his place.

     "Taylor and the guys are here. Just letting you know. If you find you need to be alone for a few. Your welcome to the private Studio just off my room and hang out in there." Dave said as we got out of the car.

     "Okay." I said giving him an 'I got this' grin.

      "Guys I'm back." Dave called as we walked through the front door.

      "You okay Claire?" Taylor asked as he put an arm around me and I suppressed the urge to flinch from the contact.

       "Doin a little better now." I said giving the best smile that I could. I mean I trusted the other guys despite not knowing them well. Except for Pat, I knew him but that's because I hung around with Dave while he was in Nirvana.

       "Fuck are you alright Claire?" Pat said as he came in a gave me a hug. Surprisingly I didn't feel the need to flinch.

        "Yeah like I said I'm doin  a little better." I said giving yet another smile that was the best I could muster up. Time drug on and I started to need alone time so I wandered up the stairs and into the room Dave had told me about. I shut the door and sat in the plastic chair that was in there. I saw a guitar sitting in the corner and decided to play. Around Alex I was never able to play.