Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 20

Steve pulled up alongside the curb at Melanie's house and saw an unfamiliar car parked up on the lawn. Suddenly he heard some yelling and practically threw himself out of his car and raced to the house. He grabbed the door knob and found it locked. "SARAH!" He yelled. And began throwing himself against the door. Just as he threw himself a second time Nick and Melanie pulled up behind Steve's car.

Melanie recklessly ran from the car tripping on her way to Steve. "STEVE! STEVE! What is wrong?" Melanie yelled at him.

"He is in there with her Melanie, MARK IS INSIDE!" Just then Nick came running up full speed and along with the force of Steve's weight, the door gave way. Steve spotted Mark on top of Sarah and he ran to them before Mark could make another move.

"Get off of her you son of a bitch!" Steve yelled and jerked Mark off of her. Nick had followed closely behind Steve, and had his gun drawn. Steve threw Mark across the room, and followed after him and slugged him in the face again and again. "You will never again lay a hand on Sarah! Do you hear me you low life? Never again."  he yelled with great emphasis. Steve punched him again. Mark's face was a bloody mess and was finally  rendered unconscious.

Nick ran after Steve. "Steve you gotta stop man, you gotta stop...." As Steve pulled back again to let Mark have another one he grabbed his hand. "Steve stop..." Steve finally gave in and stopped. He backed up, his body tired from the fighting and he collapsed to his knees exhausted. He slowly looked around and his eyes found Melanie and Sarah on the other side of the room.  Melanie had been sitting with her, tears running down her face, trying to wake Sarah up. He went to her and saw her badly bruised face once again. He knelt down beside them and began to cry. "If only I had just stayed, the errands could have waited. I am so so sorry Sarah, please, please come back to me!"

Mark began rolling around on the floor just as the police arrived and Nick handed him over to them. "Get this piece of shit out of here." They dragged him off of the property and to the station.

"Sarah, please wake up honey." Steve cried. He remembered just earlier that day what she had said to him about kissing her awake. He thought about how she giggled, and how she said 'yes'. He couldn't lose her now, not after all this happiness he found. Steve leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her swollen lips. Sarah then responded to him with a start as she tried to push him away. Steve raised his head and saw Sarah open her eyes. "It's ok sweetheart its me, its me," Steve pleaded. Sarah settled down and looked long and hard into Steve's face.

She had a soft hoarsy whisper come out. "You are becoming quite the Prince charming." Steve gently raised her up, and she rested against his chest. "How...how did this happen? How did you know he was here?" Suddenly Sarah looked around frantically. "Where is he? Where is Mark?

Steve just stared into her eyes. "Shh...he is gone baby, none of that matters now, what matters is you are ok." And he pulled her closer to him. He held onto her for another ten minutes when Melanie interrupted them.

"She needs to get to a doctor." Melanie said with worry in her voice. "Where is the damn ambulance at for pity sake, I am glad no one is dying here."

"Mel, I am ok, not any worse than any other time." Sarah began to stand up and Steve helped her. He walked her over to the couch. Melanie went to the bathroom and got a cloth, and filled it with ice for Sarah to place on her face. She got another one and moistened it. She helped Sarah to clean up her mouth. "Well that's not so bad." She said with tears in her eyes. "But you need to get to the doctor anyway, you were knocked out pretty good."

"Oh why are you crying Mel, I think I will be ok now, but I will go to the doctor." She said with a smile, even though it hurt. Sarah let out a long sigh. "I feel like my nightmare is finally over." She leaned over against Steve and rested. Soon after that the ambulance finally showed up outside the door.