Abby was released from his grip and thrown brutally down on the floor. She scrambled onto her feet and turned defensively towards him backing into her kitchen. He approached her slowly with his hands stretched out, a delicious smile devouring his face. Suddenly Abby surprised him by kicking out hitting him right where for any man it was the most sensitive part of the body. He doubled over and winced from the pain. Sensing she had time Abby grabbed a kitchen knife and held it out towards him in a threatening way.

"Get out", Abby's voice was defiant and forceful.

Bud slowly resumed his position and lifted his hand up to the back of his head. When his fingers touched the moist blood patch on his head he grimaced in remembrance of the bottle smashing incident. Abby lowered the knife slightly when she saw him stagger backwards. The blood dripped onto her floor and he ducked his head swaying from side to side. Bud suddenly dropped to the floor on his knees and became still. Breathing a quick sigh of relief, Abby felt the need to walk over and stab him with the knife but her conscience prevented her from doing so. She tiptoed past him and grabbed the phone from her hook. Quickly tapping in numbers, her fingers were trained to do so she knew the number off by heart. Ringing tone…nothing…beep…beep…nothing.

"Come on, come on pick up please", she pleaded to no one.

"Hi John Carter speaking"

"John, great you picked up. Listen its Abby", Abby paused and groaned when nothing was said. Even in the silence she could here him thinking, she could here him saying oh Abby why are you calling me, Abby Lockhart the drunk.

"John please can you come over", Abby pleaded with him and broke down into tears.

"Abby what's wrong?"

"John I'm scared, I-I don't know what to do will you meet me."

"Okay I'm not far away I was just out walking around your area I'll be as quick as I can".

Abby nodded and pushed her hand over her forehead relieving it from her fringe. She hung up the phone and fearfully looked down at the man on her living room floor. Tapping in the number for emergency services, her actions where interrupted by a knock at the door.

"John", she exclaimed rushing over to unlock the door. Abby flew open the door and saw to her surprise that Maggie and Ashley were standing before her.

"Maggie, Ashley…what-what's going on?" Ashley looked past Abby and saw to her horror Bud lying on her floor.

"Oh my god is that Bud?" she exclaimed her face expressing one of confusion and horror. Maggie stepped in with Ashley shutting the door behind her.

"Oh dear is he okay? Abby what did you do, we need to call an ambulance he's hurt." Maggie bent down, however Abby hauled her back up and grabbed her keys off her table.

"Come on, we're going to meet John we'll just leave him here. I'm not staying here even if he…" Abby screamed out in horror as something harsh latched onto her ankle. A forceful hand pulled her over and Ashley screamed when Bud pulled himself into a standing position.

"What are you doing Bud get out of here", Ashley shrieked pushing him in the direction of the door. He retaliated by shoving her into the wall, catching her off guard she smacked her head off Abby's table and crumpled onto the floor. Maggie stood still absolutely shocked by the man's actions.

"The two of you get over there beside Ashley!" His voice was gruff and groggy.

Abby crawled over beside Ashley and saw her curled up sobbing quietly.

"Ashley are you okay?" Abby whispered. Maggie stood still beside the door her mouth was open slightly and she watched the man.

"Get over there lady"

"Mom come over here" Abby called out to her with her arm protectively around Ashley. She was huddled close to her with her head ducked down avoiding Bud's eye contact. Maggie slowly walked over but turned around and spoke to Bud.

"Please just leave, what's wrong with you? Why are you here?"

Bud sighed deeply infuriated by Maggie's questions, "Just go over there or you'll regret it". Maggie opened her mouth to speak again but decided against it.

Meanwhile Carter was let into Abby's building by a friendly neighbour who had been out shopping. He took the stairs two at a time, Abby's phone call for help frightened Carter and all he wanted to do was make sure she was ok. Carter reached her closed door and lifted his hand to bang on the door when something stopped him. He pressed his ear to the door hearing a man's gruff voice yell out something, lifting his hand again he was prevented from doing so when he heard a female voice scream out for help.

"Abby" he whispered.

Carter turned around and used his mobile to phone the police. He couldn't just stand there though, he wanted to know what was going on if Abby was hurt or not. His heart longed out for her and all he wanted was to have her in his arms. Against Carter's judgement he banged on the door and waited for the reply. Silence. After a moment passed Abby's voice called out "Who's there?" it sounded forced and put on.

"Abby it's John what's going on?"

"J-John I'm fine sorry about the phone call everything's ok you can just leave."

"Abby who's in there with you? Abby, Abby, Abby answer me."

Carter stood back and extended his leg kicking out at the door. He tried again with every last effort and the door dropped to the ground. Bud stood in the living room floor with the knife poised dangerously in his hand.

"Who the hell are you" he barked at Carter, "Is this your boyfriend? Nice little family you got going there mother, boyfriend and Ashley except Ashley doesn't belong to you you're not her mother!" Ashley remained passive in this outburst her head was buried in Abby's lap and she was gripping on tightly to her hand. "All Gill kept going on about was that stupid child for the last week, it wasn't fun between us anymore you know not like before". Carter moved slowly towards the three women crouched down beside the table.

"Whoa there pal! Where do you think you're going?" Carter stopped in his tracks but remained eye contact with Abby. She mouthed to him "call the police" and he nodded slightly telling her he had.

"What's your name?"

"It's Carter, what's yours?"

"Carter huh funny name that is, my names Bud well that's my nickname my real name is Johno but for some reason I've been called Bud for all my life".

Bud moved over to the door and shook his head slightly "look Abby, look what your boyfriend has done to your door." He whipped around with the knife still poised gesturing it towards the four of them.

"Okay you lot get into the bedroom. NOW!"

Abby pulled Ashley up gently keeping tight hold of her hands and Maggie followed suit. They all moved over slowly to Abby's bedroom, but were interrupted when Bud suddenly called out in surprise. Three police cops emerged from the corridor and pounded on Bud wrestling him to the ground. They all watched in awe and Carter's face turned to horror as Bud kicked off all the police cops and scrambled in the direction of Ashley. His knife was outstretched and every thing became slow motion when he approached Abby and Ashley. Ashley hid her face and screamed out. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO".