FicWad

When Jenna and Jackie got back from the police station, Jenna was clearly walking with some pain, everyone had finished the jobs and was sat round the RVs Max, Erin, AJ, Brad, Seraya, Paul, Dean, and Billy.
"Are you ok?" Max jumped up and went over to give her a hug. Jenna nodded as he let her go.
"Yeh I've been better but I'm ok." Jenna flinched a little as she eased herself down into a seat. Erin made her a brew.
"Or would you rather something stronger." Erin said handing her the tea Jenna just smiled appreciatively.
"Here have a brandy." Brad said handing her a glass. Jenna just laugh and took it.
"So what are they going to do?" Seraya asked.
"There's not not they can do at the minute he's not really done an awful lot." Jenna said sipping her tea after downing the brandy.
"You could have been killed or broken your neck or..." Seraya's said dramatically but still true.
"Yes thank you Seraya for keeping things so positive." Jenna said sarcastically with a smile.
"Let's just be thankful Jenna is here and other than a few bruises she's OK." Jackie said smoothing things over.
"I hope they find him and soon." Erin said.
"I hope Max finds him first." Brad said still not really knowing the extent to what happened last time Max met Karl and Jackie worked her magic but having an idea Max would have gave him a form of beating.
"Max won't even be going looking will you Max." Jenna said eyeing him to which Max just gave a nod not wanting to get into anything about the past anyway. Everyone took the hint and started to break off into their own conversations Jenna sat quietly for a minute in thought and sipping her tea. Now she was sat still and everything had settled down a bit she could really feel her aches and pains her ribs was sore and brushed, her back was sore and she lifted her sleave to reveal a large red/black/blue bruise on her left elbow.
"You need ice on that." AJ said seeing her, he got up and got her some from the freezer wrapped in a towel. Jenna flinched holding it onto her arm.
"You ok Max?" Brad said to him quietly as Max looked furious.
"I can't believe she's that hurt from that scumbag again." Max said shaking his head.
"I know shes pretty banged up, I can't believe he'd do all this." Brad said.
"The guys capable of anything he needs locking up. He's put her through enough already." Max said.
"Max do you think Jenna's going to be OK?" Seraya asked joining in with them.
"Bruises will heal." Max said in thought.
"I know but I meant.." Seraya said carefully thinking more of the mental and emotional scars Jenna had.
"Yeh I know, mentally she's stronger than she was last time but there so much to factor in. The triggers Karl put her in a dark place everything links back to the emotional scares and learnt behaviours he engraved into her even from the roots of her family through her childhood he used and expanded on that and now..." Max stopped and looked over towards where Paul, Dean and Billy was sat.
"Benji" Seraya nodded understanding him.
"She was just learning to trust, and love and let down those walls and then he instead of helping her with all that he's made her doubt that she could again with all the drama that's gone on. Now with this shit from Karl for some god unknown reason I just hope she can keep her head straight, it's alot for one person to deal wtih." Max said fully understanding every aspect of what Jenna's going through as he's lived it with her. The break downs, the nightmares, the anxiety, hurt, anger, frustration and most of all pain.
"Well she doesn't have to go through any of this alone. We are all here for her especially you Max you 'get' her more than anyone she'll get through this. It's not like last time when she spent so long feeling alone trapped by him we're all here with her." Seraya said. They didn't realise that Paul, Dean and Billy had over heard them.

Paul got up and went over to sit with Jenna.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked. Jenna looked up at him coming out of her own thoughts.
"I've been better but I'll live." Jenna smiled.
"Your a tough cookie." Paul smiled at her and gave her a fist bump and they laughed.
"Benji had a meeting to be at otherwise he'd have been here." Paul said feeling as if he should explain Benji's absence although wasn't totally convincing Jenna just raised her eyebrows at him as if not sure if he really was telling her the truth or just saying it to make it better that he wasn't there.
"Ever get the feeling your being avoided." Jenna said.
"Honestly there is a meeting." Paul said.
"Maybe this time." Jenna said.
"What do you mean?" Paul asked.
"He just feels a bit.. absent at the moment." Jenna said.
"Have you spoke to him?" Paul asked.
"A bit." Jenna replied. "Anyway I've got enough on at the moment I don't need to go looking for more."
"I thought you two was getting on really well before you went away?" Paul said confused.
"I know, I did too." Jenna said looking disappointed.
"So what's happened?" Paul asked trying to get an insight
"I don't know, I can only guess." Jenna said hinting that she knew about Rachel and Josh's anti-Jenna campaign probably getting into Benji's head again and the dinner with Mia thay Benji's still hid from her.
"The two of you just need your heads banging together, granted him maybe more so." Paul said.
"That's the thing isn't it if it was just the two of us things might be easier." Jenna sighed.
"I know Rachel's been a total pain in the ass and Josh certainly hasn't helped..." Paul said.
"Josh seems to hate me let's not dress this up." Jenna laughed.
"OK yeh things have been a little difficult but if you and Benji don't let them get in the way I'm sure you can work through it." Paul said.
"Preaching to the choir here Paul send that advice Benji's way." Jenna said. Paul nodded.
"I know but think about it Josh is his brother and Rachel's his brother long term girlfriend.." Paul said.
"And I'm bottom of the list." Jenna said.
"No not at all." Paul said feeling hurt she'd feel that way.
"Feels like it." Jenna said.
"Well it's defintly not. You guys just need to talk and work things out." Paul said.
"That would be nice but I don't know how much fighting for that I can do anymore." Jenna said. Paul looked at her and nodded he was doing all he could to smooth things over but Jenna was right.
"You've got to do what's right for you. Don't let anyone change that." Paul said and they left it at that.
"Right guys I'm going to go do a night check on the horses and get to bed." Jenna announced wincing herself up from the chair.
"I can do the night check." Max suggested.
"It's fine I'll go." Jenna said.
"Well I'll come with you." Max insisted.
"Stay here I'll be fine." Jenna said holding her side and her elbow still.
"Well you won't be lifting any water buckets like that will you so are they just going to dehydrate." Max smirked knowing he was right. She gave in and rolled her eyes with humour at him.
"Jenna take the day off tomorrow and however long you need." Jackie said.
"Yeh I can help Max with the horses." Erin said.
"No its fine, I'll be fine." Jenna said.
"Jenna you can't preform like that." Jackie said.
"I can and I will. I can adjust the routine slightly." Jenna insisted. There was more to it meaning Jenna wasn't prepared to 'hide away' or allow the results of Karl's actions to stop her doing things any more. Jackie just nodded getting what she meant but still concerned about her injuries.
"OK but be careful and be safe only do what you can." Jackie said. Jenna nodded.

The next day with the help of some painkillers Jenna and Max did the horses as usual Max doing the heavier jobs and Jenna doing what she can manage. Max knew she was hurting but understood the importance to Jenna to let her get on as normal as possible. She managed to succsfully tweek her routine to make it easier for her to perform injured. The crowd still loved it and seeing the magic of the horses. Everything went smoothly and quietly.
Much to Max's disapproval Jenna took Sully back to the big top unridden to do some work with him getting him to relax and get his confidence back in the arena after the incident.
"Right put your feet up and I'll sort us some food." Max said as they go into the horse box after finishing the horses for the day. Jenna eyed him as it was usually herself who did food or Max would go for a takeaway if it was his 'turn'
Max managed a decent spaghetti bolognese that they enjoyed with a glass of wine.
"Right I'll go do the night check on the horses." Max said as he took her plate from her to the kitchen side.
"No its OK, I'll do the horses." Jenna said attempting to get up.
"No you just chill." Max said.
"Right well I'll do the dishes then." Jenna suggested.
"Leave them for me." Max said.
"Right Max stop." Jenna sighed. "I'm fine, I'm a bit bruised but I can still do things."
"I just want to help you, you can accept help." Max said.
"I know and I appreciate that but help me by letting me be me. I don't need you to do everything for me. I need you to be you to allow me to be me." Jenna said. "Stop being so nice to me, take the piss out of me, winde me up, complain about doing the horses and hate cooking." Jenna laughed causing Max to laugh.
"Wow am I really that bad? Are you sure you don't want me to change a bit." Max laughed.
"Well.." Jenna joked and Max faked hurt.
"OK well do you a deal we'll do the horses together and then come back in I'll wash you dry." Max said.
"OK fine but I'll wash and you can dry." Jenna smirked.

Paul knocked on Benji's Hotel door and walked right in. Benji was sat on his lap top.
"Hey, you busy?" Paul asked knowing the answer really.
"No, not really." Benji said.
"Well why are you sat here?" Paul asked as if making a point. Benji eyed him confused.
"Why aren't you going seeing Jenna, don't you think you two need to talk?" Paul asked.
"I'm not sure what you're getting at?"
Benii said.
"Well it sort of seems like your avoiding her. We came here to have some time off and see more of the circus guys. You don't seem to have spent much time with Jenna, why don't you take her out to dinner?" Paul suggested.
"We just seem to end up arguing at the minute." Benji said half heartedly.
"Well have you tried talking to her." Paul said.
"Yes." Benji said not really convincingly.
"Have you actually really tried though. I mean with out Rachel or Josh butting in." Paul said.
"It's got nothing to do with Rachel and Josh." Benji said.
"Really are you sure about that. They seem to have quite strong opinions of you and Jenna from where I'm standing." Paul said getting a little annoyed at him.
"Well thats got nothing to do with it so just leave it." Benji said getting defensive.
"Benji seriously what's this attitude all about. If you don't want to be with Jenna then fine just draw a line under it." Paul said.
"You know I love Jenna." Benji snapped.
"It really doesn't show all to well." Paul couldn't help his snap back. They fell silent for a minute each knowing they'd crossed the mark some what.
"Look seriously Benj she needs love support and back up. You need to let her know your there for her and love her like you say you do." Paul tried to give him the nudge he needed knowing what he knew without going into details.
"It's kinda hard to do that when your competing for her attention with every guy around." Benji shot back.
"That's not true and you know it and if you don't then why are you even wasting either of your time." Paul said. Benji stayed silent. "Have you told her about having dinner with Mia?" Paul brought up the unspoken elephant in the room. Benji looked at him shocked that he brought it up as no one had really mentioned it since.
"It wasn't quite like that though was it." Benji said guiltily.
"It can be as black and white as you want to make it. Either way of you've not been honest with Jenna then your in the wrong." Paul said.
"She doesn't need to know about it because it was nothing, totally irrelevant." Benji said.
"Oh you mean just as innocent and totally as irrelevant as Jenna with anyone of the other 'men' she has had to defend herself against to you and Rachel and Josh?" Paul said bluntly.
"Paul what exactly are you trying to get at?" Benji stopped to look at him.
"I'm getting at nothing Benji I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to make you see what your possibly about to loose." Paul said in frustration without realising how far he'd gone until he'd already said it.
"And whats that supposed to mean." Benji said.
"I shouldn't have said that. You just need to open your eyes, get your head straight and sort things with Jenna. Either commit to her and have her back or walk away Benji it's not fair continuing how you've been so far." Paul said knowing he'd said enough.

The next day went pretty much the same as the previous day. Max was being more himself and a little less 'careing' to Jenna. Simply meaning the banter and joking around was back and Jenna was happy chipping in doing the jobs she could still being pretty bruised and sore.
As Jenna came out of the ring on puzzle after the first show of the day there was the police officer dealing with her case waiting at the side for her. She jumped down from puzzle as the police officer greated her.
"Miss Copeland how are you?" He asked.
"I'm doing OK." Jenna nodded in a way he knew she wasn't fully ok.
"Have you had any more phone calls or messages?" He asked.
"No not since the accident." Jenna said.
"That's good, any other incidents that you'd need to be concerned about?" He asked. Jenna shook her head no.
"That's good, so I have an up date. We have tracked all the messages back to a burner phone in Karl Sinclare's possession. He has been issued a warning and a restraining order against you." The police officer explained Jenna nodded.
"Is that it he's been harassing her for weeks and then caused an incident that could have got her seriously injured or killed and you've gave him a 'warning'" Max said not happy at all.
"I appreciate your frustration sir but we have protocols to follow." The police officer tried to explain.
"So how far does he have to go before he gets locked away where he deserves." Max said angrily.
"Max, that's enough. I'm sure the officers are doing all they can." Jackie came over putting a hand on Max's shoulder to get him to calm down.
"Thank you officer." Jenna said keen to get Max away before he ended up getting himself into trouble.
"You're welcome anything that concerns you. Anything at all, call us, and we'll be with you right away." The officer said. Jenna nodded and walked puzzle back towards the stables, dragging Max by the arm with her.

Max was finishing helping over at the big top and Jenna had just fed the horses and gone into the horse box to get changed.
"Come on we've ordered pizza." He said beaming like a child on Christmas causing her to laugh.
"OK one minute." She said getting herself together.
"Hurry up I'm starving." Max said pulling her out the door and across to the RVs.
"Ah you made me forget my phone." Jenna said checking her pockets.
"Oh well you'll just have to socialise." Max laughed. Jenna eyed him.
"Oh sorry I didn't realise she brought them with her." Max paused slightly as he noticed Seraya had brought Paul, Dean and Billy and Benji over. Luckily Rachel, Joel and Josh seemed absent.
"Nevermind." Jenna said shaking her head going over to get a beer and piece of pizza.
Everyone was making conversation between themselves Jenna was notably quieter than usual but given the circumstances they just left her be for now.
"OK everyone listen up, our second show starts an hour earlier tomorrow to give you all chance to get ready for the Halloween party tomorrow night. Other halfs, friends and family all welcome." Jackie announced.
"Whoo!" Brad and Seraya cheered. Max noticed Jenna didn't look as enthusiastic as usual about a party.
"If your worried about an outfit I'm sure we could re do that ring masters from last time and splat you with some paint." Max said over her shoulder with a laugh. Jenna jumped out of her thoughts. Max noted how she was more on edge given circumstances.
"Oh don't you worry I've an outfit planned." Jenna smirked. "Just don't really feel too much in the party mood." She said a little more quietly as she shifted her weight still in some pain from her bruises. Max nodded understanding.
"Maybe it'll be just what you need to take your mind off.. things." Max said Jenna gave a nod. Max gave a reasuring squeeze on her shoulder before walking over to get a drink.
Paul gave Benji a nod to go and speak with Jenna once he seeen Max walk away. Benji stood and nervously walked over to her.
"Can we talk?" Benji asked stood in front of her bringing her out of her thoughts. Jenna looked at him the nodded to the empty seat next to her.
"How are you getting on?" He asked nervously.
"Not too bad." Jenna smiled.
"If.. if you need anything just ask, anything at all." Benji said still seeming a bit nervous.
"Benji what's bothering you?" Jenna said bluntly.
"N..nothing. just you know shits gone on." Benji tried to brush off chickening out of telling her about Mia again.
"It has and it seems to alot but as long as we talk and are honest with each other we should be fine." Jenna said hopfully nudging him to come clean. The more he didn't tell her the more she seconded guessed to whether there really was more to it. Benji just nodded and they went silent again Jenna aiming to give him time to explain and Benji trying hard to avoid it.
"How did your meeting go last night?" Jenna asked breaking the silence wanting to see how he responded as she wasn't fully sure that there even was a meeting. Benji looked confused for a second which told Jenna everything.
"Oh Yeh it wasn't too bad. Pretty boring you know I like the hands on side of making music more." Benji said. Jenna looked him over for a moment. She wanted nothing more than to rekindle the type of relationship they had as teenagers but it would seem alot has changed and she wasn't sure if that was even possible any more. The spark still flickered there but it was getting dampened down from the initial way they met back up, then Rachel twisting things and Josh's disapproval and now him clearly lying and hiding things from her, especially after the initial not telling her about him having Mia as a girlfriend when they first met back up. This was not a healthy relationship for anyone to be in let alone someone who had been through the abuse that she had and trying to get her head straight again.
"You know what I'm really tired. I think I'm going to get to bed." Jenna said standing up and leaving.
"Where did Jenna go?" AJ asked.
"Oh erm she said she's tired and going to bed." Benji said moving to sit back with Billy.
Max looked over and eyed Benji he didn't belive things was that simple but thought best to give Jenna some space and talk to her later.
"So was that really it or has something else gone on?" Billy asked Benji.
"No she just said she was tired and left." Benji said choosing not to look into it any further. Billy looked at him not sure what to believe he chose to just nod and leave it not wanting to get into an argument with Benji there.
As Jenna got back to the horse box she really did feel tired and was glad of the thought of an earlier night. She was worn out with Benji and from working the horses and shows through the pain of her bruises. She checked her phone as she walked in. Her heart sank when she read a new message from
'unknown' saying 'this isn't over!' She put the phone down and locked the door instantly.
Jenna felt the worry and anxiety coming back but she didn't want to call Max or anyone from enjoying the pizza and drinks nor did she want the commotion of everyone when they found out. Jenna just sat on the sofa trying to take her mind off things reading a magazine. Less than an hour later someone was trying the door. Initially Jenna jumped but realised it was Max.
"What's with fort knox?" Max laughed without realising there was something wrong at first. Then seeing her face he knew.
"Jenna what's wrong?" He asked sitting down with her. She just nudged the phone over to him to see the opened message from earlier.
"Oh seriously. What the hell. Right we need to call the officer dealing with your case." Max said trying his best to stay calm when all he wanted to do was find Karl and rip his head off.
"It's late I'll do it in the morning." Jenna said.
"Jen..." Max started
"No Max seriously I will call them but its late." Jenna said.
"OK well at least turn this off you don't need to be reading any more shit like that." Max said taking her phone to switch it off. Jenna went to protest.
"It's not going to cut you off from anyone or control you in any way you are taking control by preventing this form of communication." Max reasoned. Jenna stopped her protest and allowed him to switch her phone off and put it on the side. He could see how much all this was affecting her and he just wanted to take it all away, she looked so exhausted and worried.
"Come here." He said quietly holding his arm out for her she leaned into him and finally felt like she could drift off to sleep