Through the window into the shower, he watched her first rub her hair with shampoo and then her body liberally with shower gel. She was beautiful. God, she was beautiful. Mike's thoughts turned to the last two hours. It had been even better than it was back then. Her body hadn't aged the last few years. And as he watched her in the shower, memories came flooding back. Memories of nights spent together. Sex used to have a different meaning back then than it does now. In their group of friends it had been common to spice up the college day, to dispel boredom and to be able to switch off during the stressful exam phases. So it came that he had climbed into bed with Bess, as well as with Isabelle and Juliet, and she with Henry and later with Andrew. Until in the last year firm couples had found themselves. Bess had gotten together with Andrew, Henry with a girl names Rochana, Juliet with a random guy names Aiden and Isabelle with someone whose name he could no longer remember - the relationship, like many later ones, had not lasted very long. Only he had remained. Only later he had met his ex-wife and what had happened then is history...

It would be a lie if he said he didn't hate Andrew for grabbing Bess. On the other hand, he felt comfortable in the current situation. He had no obligations to her and was simply 'just' an acquaintance, who was looking after a very good friend who desperately needed help. He felt a smile spread on his lips. Quietly he said to himself "Mike, this is even better than that what you had always wished for." As he spoke the words, he realized something. This was not what she needed. He couldn't offer her what she needed. Sure, right in this Moment -for now- it might help her forget everything else. Also, he could have her back, strengthen her, so that she could manage what was to come -the divorce, a possible court hearing and the like-. But he was not the right person for the after. For the after life, she needed someone who could rock her to sleep, who would make her pancakes in the morning and have the fireplace going before she got home in the evening. That someone, would not be him. He was constantly on the road for work, was hardly ever at home before 10 p.m. and definitely didn't know when he should find the time to bake pancakes in the morning for her, let alone light the fireplace in the evening. Especially since he had no clue how to light one. This realization was bitter and hard, but important. If he wanted the best for Bess, he had to let go of the idea that he was the best for her.

A hand on his chin, brought him back out of his thoughts and into the present. He looked up. The towel around her torso was only loosely tied, so she had to press it against her chest with one hand to keep it from sliding down. "Sooo? What were you dreaming about?" she asked softly in a teasing tone. Mike looked at her. Torn between informing her of his train of thought, or traveling the towel off her body. He called himself to order. Get a grip, Barnow! "Oh, about this and that." He waved it off and tried to change the subject. But she seemed to have hoped for a different answer. Quickly he followed up with "Did I tell you you were amazing?" He saw her bite her lip and then shake her head sheepishly. "Then I did it with this. Bess, you are breath taking. And by the way, time hasn't left a mark on you." He gave her a gentle smile. She looked at him for a long time before replying tentatively. "Do you know how long it's been since anyone said that to me?" Briefly, Mike thought he could detect a veil of sadness and regret in her eyes. He was about to say something when she grabbed the opportunity by the scruff of the neck with narrowed eyebrows and a slightly lighter voice asked "And you signed me out for today? Just like that? Blake didn't say anything?" Of course. Bess, the workhorse. She'd rather talk about the office than her own feelings. "Just like that." he nodded affirmatively. "So I don't have to go to the office today?"

"Yup." "So we can stay in bed all day?" Mike winced briefly. Now he'd have to say something. -Must explain to her that he's not the one. Or at least not the one forever.-"Actually, I need to tell you something." His tone was much more serious than he had intended. In response, she raised her eyebrows questioningly and worried, tilting her head slightly in suspicion. "What?" He sensed her rising discomfort. "Don't worry. It's nothing dramatic." He paused briefly to consider and correct himself. "Well, at least not really yet." She had sat down on the edge of the bed in that time and was now looking at him with alert eyes. "Mike. Spit it out. You're scaring me." He averted his eyes from the bedspread briefly and looked at her apologetically before averting his gaze again. Somehow, he was ashamed of that. "I'm not the one." His words were quiet. After it had been quiet for quite a while, he looked up. What he saw broke his heart. There were tears in her eyes. She looked terrible -even more gaunt than she already was without and tired, so terribly tired-. Noticing his gaze, she looked into his eyes and, without a sound passing her lips, formed the words. "I know. Although I wish you were."

After passing the security checkpoint and marching into the lobby of the hotel, his fears seemed to be confirmed. He'd called the name of her closest bodyguard on the off chance, and the woman had given him a suite number after seeing his ID. He had imagined that would be more difficult; usually the hotel called the suite and asked if visitors were expected. But probably the woman at the front desk had recognized him or had read his name on his ID and put one and one together and therefore had dispensed with the usual query. After all, it was common practice for well-known personalities to check in under the name of one of their employees. But this was noticed at the latest when the key card or the elevator was presented by the Secretary of State, for example, instead of a Fred Cole, on which the card was booked.

"That way. Mr. Munsey. Your wife should be encountered; in any case, the card is not registered in the system as logged out." The woman pointed in the direction of the elevator after issuing him a visitor's card and smiled. He nodded briefly and then quickly said goodbye. "Thank you. Have a good day." He had a hard time not letting his anger show and keeping a smile on his lips. In front of the elevator, he showed his card and the elevator boy tapped the buttons of the elevator with nimble fingers. As the elevator began to move, he hung his thoughts. The hotel must have noted in their system who was really checked in. Otherwise, anyone could come in with a found or stolen key card and claim that they had booked the suite... That she just let him pass, because he was her husband was his good fortune, but also somehow had a bitter aftertaste…

The knock tore Mike's gaze from his computer screen. Elizabeth's head also lifted from the papers she had been crouching over for some time now. Their eyes met. Slowly Mike rose from his place on the sofa, while he set his computer down closed. "I'll see who's here." As he walked along behind the sofa, he let his hand slide over her shoulder. When he felt her hand on his, he gave it a quick squeeze. He leaned down to her and whispered softly in her ear. "I'll be right back." She nodded, barely perceptible, and their bodies separated.

Staring through the peephole, he couldn't spot anyone outside the door. Cautiously, he opened the door a crack to look out. Unfortunately, Andrew had only been waiting for this moment, and not even a second later Mike found himself wedged between the door and the wall. Panicked, he gasped for air and tried to force out a sound. But nothing came. Finally collecting himself, he pushed the door shut within a momentum and walked toward Andrew, who was standing in the hallway with his back to him. His gaze was fixed rigidly on Bess. Mike's mind was racing. Feverishly, he wondered what he should do. Should he warn Bess, hold him, scream for help? He was torn.

A roar, the likes of which he had never heard before, froze him into a pillar of salt and all his thoughts fizzled out. The only thing he could do was to watch the scene in front of him. Silent and motionless. His legs didn't move a foot. "ELIZABETH!" Her head wheeled around and her eyes widened in fear as a more frightened and fear-filled expression spread across her face. She just managed to jump up as he was also walking towards her with heavy steps. She raised her hands defensively and turned her head away out of instinct, as if she feared he would strike her.

His voice boomed through the room. "HERE YOU ARE! YOU PROBABLY DON'T DARE GO HOME AND YOU'D RATHER HIDE WITH HIM." He pointed a hand at Mike. "WITH HIM!" The contempt in his voice was clear to hear. Bess intimidatedly backed away a few more steps, not daring to say anything. But Andrew didn't seem to like that. He took a step towards her, so that the distance between them was now smaller than before. It wasn't hard for Mike to see how hard Bess was fighting her rising panic. "YOU BITCH. DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKED UP THAT SITUATION WAS? YOU EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES. I'M LOOKING FOR MY WIFE AND THEY HAD TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT YOU WEREN'T EVEN IN THE OFFICE ALL DAY. DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKED UP THAT WAS? LIKE A PUNCH IN THE STOMACH. AND THEN I FIND YOU WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND!" His tone sounded mocking. "DID YOU CRAWL BACK TO MIKE'S AS SOON AS THINGS GET UNCOMFORTABLE FOR YOU AND DIDN'T GO YOUR WAY? SEEKING REFUGE?"

His contemptuous tone displeased Mike enormously, but he didn't dare say anything, let alone move. Especially since he was afraid that his legs would not obey him anyway. He had no choice but to continue to stand idly by and watch him finish her off. "THAT'S WORKING OUT GREAT. SEE HOW HE'S STANDING THERE GETTING HIS PANTIES IN A PUNCH?" At Andrew's spiteful smile, Mike felt sick. "HE CAN'T AND WON'T PROTECT YOU!" "He doesn't hit me." He almost didn't hear her soft voice. She backed away as far as she could so that her back was to the minibar. "PLEASE?!" He had followed her again and now his face hovered inches from hers. "SAY THAT AGAIN." His voice sounded dangerous and threatening. Bess flinched and closed her eyes. Apparently she feared another stroke from him. But when it failed to come, she opened her eyes again and looked at him. Mike could see that she had taken heart.

"Andrew, I really did love you. But since you look at me and everything you see is just for your pleasure satisfaction… Look at my tits and ass on the Internet. There are whole bunch websites of perverts with my pictures. Hook yourself up there! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Her voice trembled slightly. The atmosphere was tense to the breaking point. She took a short breath and then continued to speak. With each sentence she grew louder and her voice firmer. "I don't need you. I don't want you anymore. I don't want to have to be afraid of coming home. To need to be afraid of you grabbing me and raping me in our marital bed. I don't want to wake up in the morning with a headache and have to remember that you beat me into unconsciousness just because I didn't want to. Didn't want you to have your way with me. And I fought you back..." All of this was new to Mike and he had to strain to convince his lungs to breathe. "DON'T YOU HEAR ME, Andrew? I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE!" She was breathing heavily and glaring at him with evil eyes. "Do you want me to tell you anything else?" She didn't wait for a response. "Mike listens to me. He's ALWAYS listened to me! He was there for me when you weren't. Oh what am I talking about, he was always there for me first. EVERY DAMN TIME you didn't care enough about me. He comforted me every time. Always worried about me. AND YOU?" Her chest rose and fell hectically. "YOU left me alone in my worst times and continued to destroy me. Ripped my clothes off and had only one thing on your mind. YOU KNOW WHAT? What I just said is true." She swallowed for a moment before hovering her index finger in front of his face with a clenched fist and raising her voice angrily. "AND ONE LAST THING!"

Mike could see brief uncertainty flash in her eyes before anger took over again. "Mike didn't have to tie me up and beat me to get this." Mike gasped and squeezed his eyes shut. She hadn't exactly put that on his bread. He didn't dare exhale. The only thing he heard was her heavy breathing. For a long time - too long - it was silent. Slowly Mike opened his eyes again and just saw his hand dart through the air before it hit her face with an ugly bang. Instantly she slid to the floor like a wet sack. All at once his feet came off the ground and he rushed toward her. He completely blanked out Andrew in the process. Only when he saw her face covered with blood and her face filled with pain did he look up. He was furious. Oh, was he angry. He could rip this bastard into a thousand pieces...

After Andrew made brief eye contact with Mike, he let his gaze wander to the glass in his hand. Mike's eyes followed his, and when he caught sight of the glass from which Bess had drunk some water last night, as it was already shattering into a billion pieces. Andrew had deliberately smashed it onto the floor with full force. Bess, who had just been struggling to breathe, did not move at all. She lay there, frozen. When Andrew's footsteps had faded away and the door he had slammed behind him had fallen into the lock, it was silent.

Dead silent.