Don looked like he'd been shot. "No Stevie, please I'm so sorry, don't leave me!" He was crying at this point and walked forward to pull Stevie into his arms, she stiffened at the contact, and pried herself from him.
"You can still see Sara whenever you want but she'll be living with me, at least until you can get your shit together and act like an adult." He had the saddest look on his face and she softened. "I'm sorry Don but I'm just not happy in this marriage anymore. You are never home, and when you are you wont talk to me. You care about your work more than me and Sara."
"Steves please, I know I have been awful to you in the last few months but I can be better, I can do better for you and for Sara!"
He was still crying and now on his knees, Stevie couldn't help but let a few tears fall at his desperation. "Don there's nothing else you can do, the damage is done and I want out, please just let me out." She pleaded, trying to walk away but he wrapped his arms around her waist, still on his knees in front of her. "Don't leave me Steves please!" He cried, she knew he was drunk and wouldn't be doing any of this if he was sober, she tried to pry herself free from his grasp but it was vice like. She used all her strength to push him back and he fell flat onto his back, becoming angry he stood up and grabbed her wrists pushing her so she was against the wall.
"There's someone else isn't there?" He asked, his strong hands leaving bruises on her wrists as he held her against the wall.
"No Don there isn't, please let me go." She said, staying strong, she knew he was just trying to scare her and she wouldn't let him. Not this time.
"It's that fucking Buckingham isn't it? I knew you never got over him. I saw you two in the hallway the other day you know. You act innocent in this but you and me are the same. You're just a fucking whore." His grip on her hands got tighter and her pinned her harder against the wall. "Let me go Don, what the fuck does Lindsey even have to do with this?"
"You're a fucking whore Stevie, don't deny it." She quickly flicked one of her wrists out of his grip and slapped him hard across the face.
She thought this would break him out of what ever trance he was in but it just made him worse, he had fire in his eyes as he pulled her off the wall and shoved her to the ground. He bent down and slapped her hard across the face, his wedding ring hitting her just below the eye causing the skin to break open and blood to start gushing out. Stevie stared up at him in horror as he walked away from her, seemingly trying to calm himself down. Her tears were stinging the gash he had left her on her face. Don quickly whipped around and walked towards her. Still on her hands and knees she tried to back away from him but ended up in a corner with nowhere to go. She didn't know what he was going to do, she had never seen him like this. "Don," she cried, "I'm sorry, we can forget this! Please don't hurt me." He looked down at her, fists clenched and his jaw grinding.
"It too late Stephanie, you said you want a divorce and that's what you'll fucking get!" He yelled before starting to kick her repeatedly, she put her arms and legs over her stomach to protect her growing baby.
"Don please stop! You'll hurt the baby please stop!" She sobbed, crouched in foetal position in the corner of the room.
Hearing this Don ceased up, out of his haze of scotch, cocaine and anger. "What?" He asked all of a sudden realising what he was doing. Stevie still crouched on the ground sobbing, Don stood there not knowing what had come over him, he bent down to sooth her. "Stevie, I don't know what just came over me, what did you say about a ba-"
The door flew open and in came Lindsey, having heard shouting from the corridor.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" He yelled, surveying the scene, seeing Stevie in the corner still lying on her side with her knees pulled to her chest. "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER YOU PEICE OF SHIT!" Lindsey was seething, Don had hurt her, precious Stevie who would never hurt a fly, she was on the ground sobbing and Don was standing over her.
Don turned around, "I don't know what came over me!" He put his hands up in defence. Lindsey paced to Stevie and tried to slowly move her to a seated position. "What's wrong Steph? What happened?" Don had moved to the other side of the room now, knowing he had royally fucked up. "I'm fine Linds please, I'm fine." Stevie said hoarsely, keeping her head down. Lindsey tucked her hair behind her cheek, seeing the blood gushing from it he stood up calmly, walked over to Don and put all of his entire bodies strength into his fist that collided harshly with Dons face. He fell to the floor and Lindsey leaned over him. "You are a fucking piece of shit. I don't know why she has put up with you for this long. You don't know how fucking lucky you are to be married to Stevie and you treat her like scum. You are the scum now get the fuck out of here."
Don stood up, holding his cheek that had started to bleed. "Stevie." He pleaded, looking at her in the eyes, she was a mess, makeup running, mixing with the tears and the blood that were staining her face, hair all over the place from being crouched on the ground and her hands, resting protectively over her stomach. He had fucked up. Big time. "Stevie I'm sorry." She didn't reply and Lindsey spoke up. "I'm not going to ask you again Henley. Get the fuck out." Lindsey spoke cooly, hands still clenched by his side, knuckles bleeding and already bruised. Don walked out of the room defeated and Lindsey closed the door.
"Stevie are you ok?" He helped her stand up and moved her to a couch. She was still sobbing uncontrollably and pulled her close to him, holding her as though she would vanish at any second. Her sobs became softer and soon subsided, but she stayed there in his arms, clinging to his shirt as her tears and blood stained it. Slowly she lifted her head and he asked her again "Steph what the hell did he do to you?"
"He went insane. I've never seen him like that I asked for a divorce and he kept calling me a whore, saying I was cheating on him, I slapped him and he just went off." She was staring into space, recounting the events in a monotone voice.
"Did he hurt your baby?" Lindsey asked carefully.
"I don't know Linds," she said softly breaking into a new set of tears. "Can you do something for me?" She asked him in such a small voice that he couldn't say no.
"Of course Steph, I can do anything, you tell me I'll do it."
She looked up at him then down to her tiny bump in her middle. "Can you please take me to the hospital?"
He nodded then started to cry, he had never wanted to see her like this ever. Seeing her beat up and vulnerable like that tore his heart up. When he first met her he made a promise to himself that he would never let anything bad happen to her. He would never let anything hurt her and he felt ashamed with himself that he let this happen. He felt so angry with himself but more importantly to her asshole of a husband for letting this happen. He looked into her brown eyes, they were filled with tears and fear.
How the fuck did I let this happen?
