Author's Note: I am almost done with the story! Hooray! I tried to update this chapter as soon as I possibly could, and I hope that you are pleased with it. Please leave reviews and send emails. Let me know what you think! The last chapter will be posted very soon, so hang in there! Thank you for continuing to read!

Rocky: 'How? How could I not have figured it out before?! I'm so stupid!' He thought while he frantically pedaled back to Gracy's home. 'That had to be Gracy's dad. There is no other explanation!'

Rocky continued to speed down the road as he zoomed past stop signs and went full blast as he came down hills. He couldn't remember the last time he rode his bike this fast before. Everything that hinted him about this coming event kept seeping into his mind as he rode on.

Rocky: 'The noise that I heard outside of her house the other day. That must have been him also! How long has he been doing this? Oh God I hope she's alright.' He thought worriedly while he rushed back.

After the bike ride that seemed like an eternity, he finally made it back to her home only to see that...

Rocky: "Damn! The door's open!" He shouted to himself

He hopped off of the bike and let it fall to the ground. Rocky quickly made his way up to the doorstep and peered into the house.

Rocky: 'Where is she?' He thought

Rocky continued further into the house, and proceeded to look around some more. The house was quiet. He wasn't sure if Gracy was even still in the house. He continued further until he made his way into the kitchen.

Rocky: "Gracy?" He whispered cautiously

…, but no answer

Rocky continued to call her name until he noticed something near the oven. He noticed that one of the drawers were open so he went and closed it. Just then he heard his name called.

???: "Rocky?"

Rocky jumped up a bit at hearing his name called out of nowhere. He turned around to see that it was only Gracy. He felt a little embarrassed that she found him in her home like that, but he was even more so relieved.

Rocky: "Oh (let's out a sigh of relief). It's you. Are you okay?"

Gracy gave him a weird look.

Gracy: "Uh…of course I'm okay. Are you okay?" She said a bit confused "What are you doing back here anyway? Did you forget something?" She asked.

Rocky closed his eyes and began to rub his forehead as he thought about it.

Rocky: "I…I had to come back to check on you. That's all Gracy."

Gracy: "Check on me? What for? Is something wrong?"

Rocky walked over to her, and she led him out of the kitchen and into the living room.

Gracy: "Rocky you're sweating. You must have rushed all the way down here. What's going on?!" She urgently asked

Rocky: "Well…it's…" He said still a bit out of breath.

Gracy cut him off.

Gracy: "Hold on. Let me get you some water." She said as she got up.

Gracy quickly walked out of the living room and into the kitchen leaving Rocky all by himself. Rocky just sat there as he began to calm himself down. He wasn't necessarily scared. He was just exhausted from the long bike ride he put most of his energy into. He put his face into both of his hands and began to concentrate, but the concentration was soon broken.

Gracy: "AHHHHH!"

Rocky's eyes shot wide open, and his head popped out of his hands as he stood up.

Rocky: "GRACY?" He said as he ran into the kitchen to see…

Gracy: "Rocky help!"

He stopped at the kitchen entrance to see a man holding Gracy from behind as if she were some kind of hostage. One of his arms wrapped around her neck and the other hand was behind his back. Rocky's predictions about him being there were right on the mark.

Rocky: 'Damn.' He thought "Are you…Richard?" He carefully asked

Richard: "So I guess you know about me." He said a bit frantic and defensive

Rocky looked at Gracy for a moment and noticed that she had mouthed something to him.

Gracy: "(Help me)." She mouthed horrified

Rocky knew that she was really scared, but in order for him to help her get away safely, she had to calm down too. Rocky gave her a quick "You'll be alright" look and turned his attention back to her father.

Rocky: "Listen to me sir…You have to let Gracy go. What you're doing to her might end up scarring her for the rest of her life. You can't have your way with her anymore." He said as he slowly approached the man.

Richard noticed as Rocky moved closer and began to panic some more. He pulled his other hand from behind his back. He was holding a butcher knife! He pointed it straight at him as if he was warning him to stay away.

Richard: "Don't come any closer!" He yelled while he shook the knife

Rocky stopped in his tracks. He put his hands up in front of him like he was ready to negotiate.

Rocky: 'Well that explains the open drawer. That's where he got the knife from.' He concluded "Listen sir. I don't want to hurt you." He lied

He didn't admit, but after he found out all of the stuff he put Gracy and her family through, all he wanted to do was get his hands on him. He remained seemingly calm though for Gracy's sake anyway.

Rocky: "What you're doing is crazy. She's not a part of your life anymore."

Richard became a bit angrier.

Richard: "So then what? She's only a part of your life now? Hm?" He said a bit frantic and crazed.

Rocky: "Look. Just leave her alone now. You've put her through enough. She doesn't deserve this. It's over." He said as he moved in closer very slowly

Richard: "She doesn't have a say in this. She does what I tell her to!"

He shook Gracy while he said and it scared her making her scream. Rocky took in a deep breath and tried to think of something…anything to just get her away from him before he ends up hurting her or worse…

Rocky: "Listen to me. Just take a few moments to look at yourself. You're more than twice her age. You shouldn't be doing this!"

Richard: "Yeah maybe I shouldn't, but you can blame that woman for all of this!"

Rocky: "What woman?" He said a bit confused. "…Your wife?"

Richard laughed to himself as he fiddled with the knife.

Richard: "She was the girl of my dreams. She was kind, loving, and so beautiful. When we met it felt like destiny, but there was one thing that she would rarely and I mean RARELY ever give me!"

Rocky began to shake his head in a little bit of disbelief.

Rocky: "You two were barely intimate?"

Richard: "Bingo. The tease never wanted me. She just wanted her perfect little fairy tale family, so that's why I turned my attention…elsewhere…" He said evilly looking down at Gracy.

Rocky's hand began to ball up and shake with great resentment.

Rocky: "Just let her go. It's over for you. Do really think that I would actually let this continue?"

Richard: "Kid you're in no position to start with the threats, so just back off!"

There was a thick and uncomfortable silence that filled the air until…the phone in the kitchen started to ring! Richard got a bit spooked and looked at the phone that hung on the wall. This was Rocky's opening.

Rocky: 'Now is my chance!' He thought

Rocky ran forward and kicked the knife out of Richard's hand. Gracy let out a scream as Richard threw her to the ground to retrieve his knife that was on the far side of the kitchen. Rocky bent down quickly to see if she was unharmed. She seemed fine. He quickly got up and pursued Richard, but he was too late as he had already had the knife back in his hand.

Richard: "You're dead! You hear me?! DEAD!" He shouted maniacally

Rocky got into his ninja stance and watched him charge him at full speed holding the knife out in front of him. He easily dodged and kicked him in the back which made him fall to the floor. He waited for Richard to get back up. Richard refocused himself and charged him again. This time Rocky stopped him dead in his tracks. He landed three punches to his face and linked it with a spinning kick to his jaw. Richard fell to the floor as blood came out of his mouth. Richard stumbled to his feet again, but Rocky didn't give him the pleasure of attacking first this time. Rocky ran at him full speed in a fit of rage. Rocky kneed him in the chin and elbowed him in the side of the face. Richard fell on his back unconscious, but he felt that he was far from being done with him. Rocky kneeled over him and pulled him up a little by his shirt collar. He drew his fist back and it began to shake. Rocky was ready to end this man's life with a deadly blow to the face, but then he felt a hand gently grab his clenched fist. He turned around to see that it was Gracy.

Gracy: "That's enough…Rocky that's enough. You got him."

Rocky: "NO! He's going to pay for what he did!"

Gracy: "Rocky it's out of your hands now. We can let the authorities handle this now. You've done your part." She pleaded

Rocky: "HE'S MINE!" He yelled.

Gracy flinched back away from him a little bit.

Gracy: "Rocky? What's happening to you?" She paused. "What happened to the gentle and kind hearted soul who I first met in the garden? He wouldn't go this far? Please don't do this Rocky. It's over now, and I'm okay." She said with tears in her eyes

Rocky felt something was wrong with him too and he finally let go of Richard's collar.

Rocky: 'Was I actually thinking of…killing this man?' He thought a bit surprised

He looked up at her a little longer then stood up to hug her. She smiled with tears in her eyes and hugged him back.

Rocky: "I'm sorry. I let my rage just completely take over me. You shouldn't ever have to see that side of me. I'm very sorry." He said while he hugged her.

Gracy: "Rocky…"

He let her go and smiled.

Rocky: "Look. I'm going to go call my dad to put this guy behind bars. Stay right here okay? "

Gracy: "Okay." She nodded.

Rocky gave her a comforting smile and left the kitchen. As Gracy watched him leave she noticed something was different.

Gracy: 'Oh no! My flower!'

She looked down on the floor and noticed that the flower that Rocky had given her was crushed. It must have fallen off when Richard threw her to the floor. She got down on her knees and sadly stared at it, but she didn't know that Richard had somehow regained consciousness. As he lied there he looked around and noticed that Gracy's back was turned towards him. He reached out and grabbed the knife that was on the floor.

Richard: "If I…can't have you…no one will." He whispered to himself

Gracy continued to hold the crushed flower and sadly stare at it until she heard someone call her name.

???: "Gracy watch ou-huugh!"

Gracy turned around from to the noise, and her eyes widened in shock. Rocky was standing behind her facing Richard. Rocky looked like he might have stopped Richard dead in his tracks by acting like a wall between them…until she saw a few drops of blood hit the white tiled floor.

Gracy: 'No…' She thought "ROCKY!"

Next thing she knew she saw a foot come out of nowhere and kick Richard in the face. He flew away from Rocky and into a wall. It was Colt! Rocky fell to the ground next to Gracy. She quickly got next to him with tears rolling down her cheeks. Rocky seemed to have passed out.

Gracy: "Rocky?!...Rocky speak to me! Please wake up!"

He didn't respond. Colt dropped down next to her and lifted his brother's head as to support it. He did his best to remain calm and take control of the situation like Rocky would have.

Colt: "Hey Rocky! Come on stay with me! You have to stay awake!"

Rocky's eyes began to crack open, and he saw the two over him hoping that he'll be alright. He then began to speak weakly.

Rocky: "Hey bro. Is…Grace alright?"

She reached down and grabbed his hand to let him know that she was there and safe.

Gracy: "I'm right here Rocky! I'm okay now!" She said trying to fight more tears from coming

Colt: "Just hold on Rock. We'll get you all fixed up okay. Just hold on!"

Rocky gave Colt and Gracy a smile and everything went black…All he could hear was his name being called.

--

Rocky woke up as his eyes began to slowly open, he immediately squinted because of the bright ceiling light. The first thing he noticed was that he was in a pretty comfortable bed. Then he realized that there was a hand gently wrapped around his. He looked to his right and saw his mother sitting next to him. Her head was on the side of the bed as if she were asleep. He finally realized that he was in a hospital. Rocky looked to his left and saw his dad standing at the window as he stared through it. He looked back at his mom.

Rocky: "Mom?"

She moved her head around a little bit and then began to raise it. When she noticed that he was finally awake, she got up and began to hug him.

Jessica: "Oh my God! Sam he's awake!" She said a bit hysterical

Sam turned around and noticed that he was awake. He smiled and let out a sigh of relief. He quickly came over and hugged him.

Sam: "Welcome back son. You gave us a scare for a while." He said ruffling his hair.

Rocky: "Thanks."

Jessica: "Oh honey. Does it still hurt? You're not in pain are you?"

Rocky reached down and touched his stomach where the bandage was. He felt some pain but held back the flinch, so his mom wouldn't get upset.

Rocky: "I'll be fine mom." He reassured her

Jessica: "I know you will sweety."

Colt and Tum Tum then came through the door. By the look of all the snacks they walked in with, it seemed like they both made a trip to the vending machines. When they both saw that he was awake, Colt smiled and rushed over. Tum dropped all of the snacks that he had and ran over as well. Colt began to hug him.

Colt: "Rocky you're alright!"

Rocky: "Yeah I'm fine now." He smiled after his hug.

Colt punched his shoulder (but not too hard because his mom was there)

Colt: "And that's for not taking me with you! You wouldn't even be here right now." He joked

Rocky shook his head and laughed.

Rocky: "Thanks bro."

Colt let out a brotherly smile.

Colt: "No problem." He said calmly

Tum Tum broke through and hugged him.

Tum Tum: "Rocky don't do that anymore! You could have been hurt!" He said in a bit of a whining tone.

Rocky: "First all the hugs, and now the lectures?!" He joked "I'm gonna get enough of those when I get home, so save me the trouble by giving them to me here."

Tum Tum: "Well…I'm just glad you're okay." He smiled

Rocky messed up Tum's hair a bit and smiled back.

Rocky: "Yeah me too."

A nurse soon came into the room.

Nurse: "Excuse me. Visiting hours are now over. The patients need their rest." She said politely.

Sam turned around and acknowledged her.

Sam: "Alright thank you. We'll be out soon."

She nodded and left the room.

Sam: "Okay son. You're going to be staying here for tonight okay? We'll be by tomorrow to come visit you."

Rocky: "Okay dad."

Sam then leaned over to whisper in his ear.

Sam: "And don't worry about that Richard fellow. We got him, so he'll be doing some major time behind bars."

Rocky: "Thanks dad."

Sam: "It's my job." He smiled back. "Okay kids. Say goodbye to your brother. We're leaving."

Colt: "Bye Rock. Get well soon man."

Tum Tum: "Bye Rocky! I'll see you soon!"

Jessica bent over and kissed him on his forehead.

Jessica: "Get some rest okay honey? I love you."

Rocky: "Love you too mom."

Sam: "Come on hun." He called to her

The two parents both made it to the door. Sam looked back at him.

Sam: "Get some sleep son okay?"

Rocky: "Alright dad. Goodnight."

He cut the lights out and closed the door. Rocky just knew that it was literally impossible to just go to sleep. Not after the crazy day he just had anyway! He just kind of laid there and tried to relax in the darkness. He was up on one of the high floors of the hospital, so he got a pretty great view of the city along with the starry sky. He continued to look out the window, and thought about someone important. When he was done staring out of the window he settled himself back into bed. He put both of his hands behind his head and began to think to himself.

Rocky: 'I wonder how Gracy is doing right now.' He thought and then laughed to himself "Hopefully she's better than I am." He smiled.

End of Chapter!