Dick swore he felt his heart stop when he heard your shaky, broken voice over the phone. You couldn't even get a full sentence out without a sob interrupting as you practically begged him to come pick you up.

He didn't need to hear any more before getting out of bed and into his car, speeding off to the apartment you shared with your partner. Sure, he was about to get ready for tonight's patrol, but he'd made the world wait when it came to you. He didn't even know what was happening: your voice was too shaky for him to understand the rushed-out words. He did know, however, that he would drop everything in a heartbeat for you, no matter what.

You were lucky you had him tonight.

Things with your partner had gotten a tad more physical than you felt safe with. Like many domestic abuse survivors, you felt guilty that the abuse "wasn't real." But what you failed to realize is that abuse is still abuse, no matter what form it takes.

Threats, entrapment, and physical violence or violation are all examples of abuse. Sure, they may have thrown the plate near your head this time, but what will happen next time if they do manage to hit you?

Richard was no fool: he saw the little scrapes and bruises months ago. But you assured him that they were just from your own patrols, and he didn't want to pry because he gets it.

You were shaking like a leaf when he pulled around the corner to the parking lot of your apartment building. Maybe it was from the cold.

But more likely it was from the adrenaline from whatever just happened merely fifty feet away inside your shared apartment.

He wasted no time in throwing the car into park and rushing out to you. Richard, of course, was still careful: he didn't want to spook you in your already fragile state.

"I'm so sorry." Those are the first words he mutters as he pulls you into his chest. His arms are almost like steel bars around your trembling frame.

"I should've known something wasn't right..." He mutters into your shoulder. "I should've come for you sooner."