Shattered.

Knockturn Alley had no doubt already found out about their fearless leader so Jen had to keep to the shadows as she made her way down to the warehouses. She thought it ironic really that St. Mungo’s were housing one of the biggest drug lords in Britain yet the Ministry were worrying about her running loose ‘killing people’. She wasn’t about to go nuts or do a Peter Pettigrew and blow up a street of Muggles because that was such a cliché but she needed to think of something – something to get her out of Britain until things had just blown over. But she was panicking, she hadn’t really taken the law seriously but she knew that the Dementors were still hanging Azkaban but with the way her mind was playing tricks on her, teasing her and scaring her she had a feeling she’d probably just turn into a younger version of Bellatrix Lestrange.

She’d ditched the weapons ages ago in a completely random location not far from St. Mungo’s. She figured it would throw the Aurors off of her trail but definitely not for long. The Aurors weren’t stupid even though they really did look it. She didn’t know where she could hide though. The last place in the world would probably be her nosy neighbours house but she didn’t fancy getting hit on by some pubescent little boy. And then there was the pier, that beautiful wide expanse of water just begging her to come and drown herself in. That would have probably been the better option and would have saved the Ministry so much more hassle. No doubt the sodding Lupins would have Matt cut off her mother’s money or even, god forbid, her money, so she couldn’t get out of the UK.

Jen bit her lip. Was Rob dying? A part of her truly hoped so and his little wife and their stupid effing bond could go down too. Rob had always, always been a hindrance to her and that would never change no matter where she was. She just needed someone to lie to her, to tell her it was all going to be alright but she figured she’d last long in the Psyche ward than she would in Azkaban. Although, she’d probably have much more fun in Azkaban but that wasn’t something she truly wanted to go into. She was scared. For once in her life she was truly afraid of what was about to become of her. She’d shot her own brother. Granted she hadn’t shot to kill, she’d actually insured he would while inflicting the most amount of damage possible. But that didn’t stop the fear that was getting pumped through her veins with her blood.

Jen winced and wrapped her arms around herself. She felt as if she was going to fall apart. Closing her eyes for a few moments, she walked blindly down the alley way until she came to a ladder. She opened her eyes again and climbed up it. The ladder took her onto the roof and as soon as she reached it she crawled across the top, not caring about what was on top. She stopped in front of a large box that no doubt covered something on the inside and crawled around the side of it. She sat down and leant against it. Her head it the back and she groaned. The metal clanged and Jen put her hand to the back of her head. Her hair was wet. Frowning, she pulled her hand away and looked at the sticky, fresh blood on her fingers. She’d left her wand in her coat. How ironic.

Sighing shakily, Jen wrapped her arms around herself again. Then the tears began to fall. She dropped her head onto her knees and cried. She cried for everything and for everyone. For Rob, for Khaat, for her niece, for her mum, for her... for her dad, for her cousins, her aunts – everyone. Even for the few of the friends she had left. Chris, David and Pierre – she cried for them. Her heart was beating in her ears, she felt as if she was going to fall apart. She probably was. Rain began to fall and the tears were masked by the rain that pounded down onto the roof.

She’d thought herself stronger. She’d thought she could deal with it and still come out fighting. No, she couldn’t do that anymore. She’d shot her own brother. She couldn’t even piece together what happened anymore. It was all a blur. It happened too fast she... No. She’d been fighting her whole life, always, always fighting. Many had said it would be her downfall, all of the strength built up behind weaknesses and broken trust; broken emotions and a broken heart. Well, they were right. It was her downfall.

She felt torn, broken and completely exposed. The layers of false pretences were being washed away with the rainwater. She was the shell, a shell that housed a frightened little girl that never learned what it was like to actually be loved, to feel safe, secure and happy. Jen pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled herself in, as if she were trying to disappear within herself. In the end, she wasn’t strong enough. But it wasn’t about strength was it? She didn’t know what it was about but the psychiatric ward was probably the best place for her now. She truly felt like a helpless child again. Jen pulled at her hair a little, her chocolate brown eyes unseeing through the dark abyss covering the sky and opening to release the water flowing down over her.

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Words: 994
Song: Shattered - Trading Yesterday

Dane and Blaire had been ordered to go after Jennifer Elizabeth Dent. Not an easy job, Dane had seen her in training. This was one of those moment's when you can't screw up. This was one of those moment's you only heard about in stories. They were actually chasing down a colleague, well Dane was. Blaire was just chasing down someone who shot the girl he was-in-love-with's husband. Blaire had half a mind to let her go free, but he knew it would make Khaat unhappy. Ah, this was all just so stupid. But Dane was excited, Blaire was kind of bored. This girl was on his bad side, and the people who normally are on his bad side...don't turn out well. They had an idea that she was going to be difficult to fight. The Minister had told them to check her house first.

They had managed to search her whole house, finding every weapon she had except Jennifer herself. They confiscated all the weapons and Dane sent them to the Ministry. Blaire just doddled around, "Clean isn't she?" he asked Dane. "Yeah, I've never seen anyone so...tidy. Not even my mother," he said laughing. They both left the house, only to be spotted by a neighbour. "Hello Boys," she called over to them. "You friends of Jeniffer?" she asked. "No madame we're not, just doing official police business," responded Dane. "Oh police business, what kind of business?" she asked. "Crazy lass shot her brother," Blaire blurted out. Dane hit him in the stomach and gave him an evil eye. "Oh really now? Always knew she was trouble," she laughed. Dane walked up to the fence the lady was behind and pointed his wand at her. "Obliviate," he muttered, wiping her memory clean.

The next place they were told to look was Knockturn Alley. Well, they did and they were surprised they couldn't find her. "Where the bloody hell would she have gone?" Blaire asked. He was bored, couldn't they just find her? Dane stopped and stopped Blaire as well, Blaire had only now just spotted the ladder Dane was looking at.

Blaire nodded to Dane, and Dane moved towards the ladder. But now, Blaire stopped him. "I'll go.." he said starting up the ladder. The rain hitting his face as he looked up, he enjoyed the sensation. If this lady was armed, and ready for them, he was screwed. But he was surprised when he poked his head and spotted Jennifer Dent, sitting there. She looked terrible, and certainly wasn't armed or dangerous. He kicked Dane, "Hold on," he mouthed down to him. Dane tried pushing him up but Blaire non verbally casted Petrificus Totalis. And Dane went falling to the ground, he winked at Dane on the ground and climbed the rest of the way up. He quietly made his way over to Jen and sat next to her. "Hello lass, you alright?" he asked her, his scottish accent visible.

Of all of the places she could of gone she ended up on a rooftop not even a kilometre away from the potions warehouse. Although she didn’t necessarily want Rob put away but side by side cells would be probably the highlight of the Wizengamot’s day. Things had all gone rather pear shaped and it wasn’t exactly how Jen had planned it. She figured that the best thing she could do was run with it but her thoughts were muddled, she couldn’t even try to make a case for herself because she knew she’d just go away. She’d go away and never come back out unless she wanted to hunt some obscure family member thirteen years later. It all seemed like some fabricated lie – like fiction almost. I didn’t quite seem real to her.

The rain was beginning to ease up now and things seemed brighter, a little too bright and the weather most definitely didn’t reflect her mood. Thankfully a dark raincloud drifted over, blocking the sun out and left Jen to wallow in the near darkness. She was shivering now, learning what happened if you sat out in the rain. She sighed and listened out for any signs of Matt’s lapdogs coming to fetch her. What a terrific end to the day – a nice cell in Azkaban. She could have thought of it as a holiday but it was more like....well, she didn’t know what it was like but even with the Dementors absent she’d probably still feel something to scream about from her own anguish.

She could hear them now, making their way through the back alleys. They weren’t that talented, obviously Matt had sent idiots, because she could already hear them. It was just a matter of counting down the seconds until she heard her rights being read or whatever. Why couldn’t they just curse her? The old capital punishment would do the trick well enough. She doubted anyone would miss her. They’d all miss Rob if he suddenly bit the dust. It was ironic really at the end of the day. Everyone would miss the drug lord not the self serving mercenary. But then again, the drug lord liked making friends with people that could arrest him because he was an idiot. Jen was being bitter; there was no need for it really.

She felt someone sit beside her, the brush of their clothes against hers was enough but it wasn’t much. Whoever it was, was keeping their distance. She didn’t know why, it wasn’t as if she was going to stab him to death or something equally boring. Her knives were probably gone, the guns too. She wondered if they’d taken the old medieval maces as well. She’d hidden the ‘bomb’ Emof had tried to blow up St. Mungo’s with. That was hers either way. Perhaps she could give it to Matt in exchange for a shorter sentence. That wouldn’t fly though. Besides, it was temperamental and that kid couldn’t make a bomb to save his life. She admitted a few times it was very, very cool but not in the traditional sense. It probably couldn’t have blown up a vial of blood replenishing potion until she fixed it.

She didn’t even bother to glance at the man. Yes, man. It was a manly voice, Scottish. That was just what she needed – some scot who wasn’t playing his bagpipes somewhere in Edinburgh. She frowned a little and wiped her tears away. Although it was pretty much useless as she was soaked to the skin. Jen wrapped her arms around herself and wondered what made her ditch her weapons and not keep her wand. She could have really used a warming spell or at least something to dry her off.

“Just fine.” She said sarcastically, scowling a little. She was still as blunt as ever. “Is it just you or are there more? Or are you coming to congratulate me on shooting one of the biggest self-reliant pricks this planet has seen since Voldemort? I haven’t got too many of those I assure you.” She smiled sadly and looked down at the floor. She took the knife out of its place at her side and held it out to him, holding it by the blade, indicating that she wasn’t going to fight. “I think I’ve lost my faith in my family.” She said, smiling a little, albeit hesitantly. “Do you see any one of them out here trying to convince me to hide or fight or whatever? No, you don’t.” She said quietly. “Funny really. I bet they’re crowded around his bedside mourning him as if he were dead. I should have just finished him off.”

Blaire sighed and took her knife, not answering any of her questions yet. He pocketed it and looked at the night sky. He looked at her now, just taking in her appearance. "Beautiful night though," he said looking back at the sky now. The clouds were clearing and the moon was shining brightly tonight. "Actually, I'm not an auror. Matt just asked me to come and get you. Well, there is another auror but he's a bit of an idiot actually. He's at the bottom of the latter frozen if he hasn't broken the spell yet." he told her quietly. "There is a part of me that want's to congratulate you, but another that want's you to be brought to justice....so I'm here to talk." he told her. He sighed and looked down at the edge of the roof.

"Listen, I'm going to take you to the Ministry were you're going to be put under custody. The Minister wants a few words with you before you get sent off. He told all this to me and the moron that's down on the ground." he told her. "Well, if I were part of your family I probably wouldn't want anything to do with you either, I mean your a criminal. But I bet, if you just apologize...truly apologize. They may forgive you, or at least like you enough to send you something in Azkaban." he said to her grinning a bit. "Azkaban isn't too bad, I heard they got rid of the Dementors...which is good...ish. It depends on how you look at it really."

He looked over the edge slightly, Dane was still motionless...trying to break the spell. He sighed again and looked at the moon, wondering if she was going to fight. He ignored her final statement and turned to face her, "Come on, let's go...unless you want a few more minutes of freedom...." he told her. "I'm trusting you here, I'll be at the bottom of this latter when you're ready." He made his way over to the latter and began down it.

The night air was probably as emotionless as she felt although she was managing to find some humour in the situation. She’d been a criminal since she was nineteen but at least she wasn’t banned from certain countries for drug running like someone else she knew. Well, it was only in India and they really wanted to kill Rob but that wasn’t important. Jen just found it ironic that she was getting put away for doing something positive for society. It wasn’t as if prison worried her. She’d broken into one before but granted she’d not been given the challenge of breaking out. But she wasn’t there yet. She imagined she’d be stuck in one of the high security cells and left to rot with some spell on her to keep her nourished and hydrated. She didn’t doubt that Matt had a few choice words to say, shout rather, to her. She just hoped they weren’t as bad as she expected.

“Outstanding.” She said bitterly. “It’s lovely to be reminded that your family don’t give a flying toss about you. It’s always been the same, criminal or not. Besides, that title is hardly new to me.” Granted she’d never actually been called one upfront, she preferred not to be called anything particularly demeaning but she had to suck up her pride and just deal with it. She could at least give being impassive and uncaring an attempt before she was in her cell. Then she could just do whatever. Whatever probably involved staring out of the windows or hiding under the bed or something. “I’m gonna get gifts, huh? Maybe they could send me a wand.” She mused sarcastically.

Jen knew that Charlotte would be beyond pissed that one of her children was going to Azkaban but after a while she would forget and start being in Rob’s life again. Oh yes, the miracle child who subsequently ruined every happy memory that the woman ever had. He was like a Dementor; he sucked the happiness out of everything if you truly knew what he was like. Jen wouldn’t put it past her mother to shag one of them though, either. Jen watched him disappear down the ladder and frowned a little before standing up. She could imagine David coming to visit her or sending her a letter or whatever he’d do. No doubt he’d berate her on her choices and just continue to defend her brother like everyone did. She just hoped when someone finally ratted him out that she wouldn’t end up with him anywhere near her. Azkaban would be made bearable without his presence.

She sighed and walked over to the ladder. She slid down it and landed on the floor to find the other Auror awake. She bit her lip and he walked over, gripping her forearm as he neared her. She shifted a little uncomfortably and she was forced to side-apparate as she was taken to the Ministry.