CHAPTER 7

"Brock! Wake up!" She gently shook him until he roused.

"Wha?" He asked, still half in la-la land.

"We need to talk."

"Ok. What is it?" Brock inquired, now fully awake and sitting up. Sam lowered herself to sit on the coffee table across from the couch.

"I think you need to go to a rehabilitation center. Your drinking has just gotten entirely out of hand," She put a hand up to silence him as he started to protest, "I'm tired, Brock. I can't do this anymore," Her hands rubbed her face, showing how physically and emotionally exhausted she was, "Please, at least consider it. If we're gunna save this marriage, some changes need to be made. Join AA, just do something."

"Save our marriage? Changes? Sam, I thought we were happy." Bradshaw said, genuinely confused.

"We haven't been happy in a long time, Brock. We both just wanted to ignore it."

"I don't see the problem here, Sammy. So maybe I like a beer now and then. And you may work too hard with that colonel of yours. It's not like all these cans are mine. The guys were over. We're cops, Sam, we needed to relax. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that you're an alcoholic and can't accept my relationship with my team. I know I have my imperfections, too. I mean, Holy Hannah, you beat my up! You accused me of sleeping with my boss! I just don't know if we love each other enough anymore. I don't know if we ever loved each other enough." Samantha admitted sadly. For the first time since that night Sam was thankful for hitting her head on the kitchen table, for not having to remember her husband's rage filled actions. Maybe it would make this easier, whether they remained married or not. Maybe it would make it simpler for her to remember only the good.

"Sammy, you forgave me for all those things. Why bring them up now? You know I love you. I wasn't myself that night. You haveta believe me, I would never hurt you." He coaxed.

Sam just looked at him sorrowfully and shook her head. "I don't think so, Brock. Not this time. It wasn't just that night; this has been going on far longer than that. I think we need some space. I'm gunna go stay with Janet for a little while." Sam started heading upstairs when Brock's face filled with fury. He lunged at her unexpectedly.

"You can't do this! You can't leave me all alone! You're mine and I'll be damned if I ever let that bastard have you!" The enraged man yelled.

Sam had been unprepared for the attack and fell to the floor. Brock landed on top of her and quickly pinned her down. He reached the command level of a colonel in the marines before he retired to civilian life and became a police man. For every move she knew, he knew one to counter-act it.

She could do nothing but struggle. Every move she could recall, she had used, and he had beaten it. Brock pinned her arms above her head with his hands holding her wrists. His knees held her legs in place. While he wasn't heavy, his muscle mass was vast and the weight was a lot to put on Sam.

"Tell me, Sam! Tell me you'll stay!" She shook her head in response, and spit at him. "I don't wanna haveta hurt you! Just tell me you'll stay and this can be over!" He was desperately urging her to make it all right, to tell him he wasn't a failure.

"I can't," Sam whispered as a single tear made its way down her cheek. The wet drop was not for fear, was not for pain; but for her lost chances and mistakes. It was for Jack (she was now beyond calling him Colonel in her mind), it was for choosing to marry the wrong man, it was for having such a sense of guilt and responsibility that she didn't leave the first time, for the future she could have and now could never have, and it was for many other reasons she couldn't explain at this moment.

"You bitch! I made a home for you! I gave you whatever you wanted! All I asked in return was to be there for me, care for me, obey me!" Brock now held her arms with one hand while the other moved to her face. He smacked her in rage, hard. He only got in a couple more shots before Sam regained her strength and sense of self-worth. While he was distracted, she kicked up her leg to help push him off of her and freed her hands. He didn't think she would actually continue to fight back.

Sam quickly got to her feet. Brock did the same. They adopted boxing stances and 'danced' around each other. Brock swung at her head and Sam ducked. Then, she quickly kicked him out from under his feet. Bradshaw landed on the floor hard, hitting his head, but not unconscious.

"You're price was just a little too high, Brock," With that parting comment about losing herself in trying to please him, she walked out.

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A/N: Thank you for all the fantastic reviews! This isn't over with Sam and Brock…he'll be more determined than ever now, and of course Jack's going to want to kick his butt! Please continue to update me on your opinions.