Mark lay in the bed holding Katlyn while she slept. He looked at her and made a note of each bruise and kissed her softly in her sleep. She had given the police a statement about what had happened. Chris and Diane were both under arrest and facing kidnapping charges and attempted murder. Finally they had left and Mark had bathed her and fed her. She had fallen into an exhausted sleep and had been sleeping soundly for the last 4 hours. Mark couldn't sleep so he laid there holding her and watching her sleep. She had whimpered a few times and Mark had soothed her back to sleep. All the guys had called wanting to know how she was. Mark had told them to come by in the morning after she had a good nights sleep. Mark didn't ever want to see her hurt again, he felt the pain she felt and wished he could take it from her. He realized how much he loved her.
Katlyn slowly came awake and realized she was sleeping in Mark's arms. She sighed and looked up at him.
"I love ya baby girl." Mark said.
"I love you too Mark." Katlyn said quietly.
"Do you want to talk?" Mark asked.
Katlyn looked down at his chest. She was ashamed at what Chris had done to her, she wasn't strong enough to fight him off, if Scott hadn't had come along he would have raped her.
"Talk to me Katy." Mark said seeing the pain she was feeling.
"I let him touch me." Katlyn said quietly.
"Hold on little girl, I'll not have ya blaming yourself. Chris is the one who was wrong not you. He did a terrible thing, it's not yer fault, do you understand me?" Mark said looking at her.
Katlyn eyes filled with tears as she looked into his eyes.
"I feel so dirty." Katlyn said crying on Mark's chest.
Mark held her tighter.
"No baby girl, don't feel that way, ever." Mark said his heart breaking for her.
Katlyn cried for a few minutes and Mark held her close to him stroking her and whispering soothing words to her.
Katlyn lifted her face to look at him.
"You really still love me, you don't hate me, cause I would die if I didn't have you Mark." Katlyn said.
"Katy, I love ya with all my heart, now and forever baby girl, you'll have me forever if ya want me." Mark said tears in his eyes.
Katlyn sighed and lay back against him.
Mark started singing to her. Katlyn smiled. It was her favorite that Mark always sang to her.
Pure love, baby it's pure love
Milk and honey and Captain Krunch and you in the morning
Pure love baby it's pure love
Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreds percent pure love
Pure love You're the picture of pure love
Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreds percent pure love
Mark held her tighter, as Katlyn cuddled up to him.
I wake up with sunshine
Laying beside me
And bluebirds singing right outside my window
Soft warm kisses
Say good morning
Katlyn smiled. She realized she was at home in Mark's arms.
Then I get breakfast in bed
You know you make me so happy with
Pure love, baby it's pure love
Milk and honey and Captain Krunch and you in the morning
Pure love You're the picture of pure love
Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreds percent pure love
Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreds percent pure love
Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreds percent pure love.
Mark finished and kissed her gently. Katlyn pulled herself up to lie on his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart and that's how she fell to sleep. Mark kissed her once more and closed his eyes. He just thanked God he was holding her in his arms. He would never let her go again. He drifted off into the first peaceful sleep he had since this had all started.
Katlyn got up early and showered. She had decided she wasn't going to let this ruin her life. She had Mark; her career in writing was going good. She was going to put this behind her and get on with her life. She got out of the shower and put on jeans and a t-shirt and slipped off down the hall to Trish and Paul's room and knocked on the door.
Paul answered the door and smiled when he seen Katlyn. He swung her into his arms and kissed her.
"Katlyn I'm so glad you're alright." He said.
Trish came running over and hugged her.
"Girl I was worried sick about you." Trish said.
Katlyn hugged her back.
"I'm so glad to see you guys." She said.
Paul ordered breakfast and they sat down and talked. They all avoided the subject of Chris and Diane. Katlyn didn't want to even think about it.
There was a knock at the door and Paul let in Scott and Kevin.
Katlyn surprised everyone when she grabbed Scott and hugged him.
"Thank you." Katlyn said in a soft voice.
Scott just nodded and hugged her back.
"Hey what about Big Sexy?" Kevin asked grinning.
Katlyn laughed and hugged him. It was great to be back among her friends.
There was another loud banging at the door and Paul opened it to a pissed off Mark.
Mark stormed in and walked over to Katlyn.
Katlyn swallowed hard, damn he looked pissed, she was pretty sure it was because she left without telling him. She had figured he was going to go into overprotective mode because of all that happened.
"Little girl, don't you ever take off without telling me again!" Mark bellowed at her.
"Mark I'm not a child." Katlyn said getting a little angry herself.
Mark was fixing to blast her again when he stopped and looked at her. She was covered with bruises, she had been through a horrible ordeal and here he was yelling at her.
"Katy I'm sorry I yelled baby, I was just worried." Mark said.
He bent down and kissed her.
Katlyn couldn't believe her ears. She figured he would March her back to the room and order her to stay there. Mark had already moved across the room to talk to Scott and Kevin.
Katlyn shrugged. He must be trying to chill with her until she felt better. Truth be told, she liked her Mark just the way he was, hardheaded and bossy. She smiled.
A lot of women wouldn't go for Mark's overbearing ways but she always felt so safe with him and cared for. He'll probably be back to his old self in a couple of days Katlyn thought to her self. She went over and sat next to him.
Mark smiled down at her.
"Love ya." Mark said.
Katlyn grinned at him.
"Love you." She said.
Katlyn smiled. Things were going to be alright.