Hey everyone,

Here is the long-awaited Chapter 13 of my story. I apologize for it being so long. Thank you to everyone who have sent me emails and messages of encouragement about this story. I hope you will continue to give me honest feedback as you read. There is lots more to come. Enjoy!

Amanda

Chapter 13

AShots fired, We have shots fired!" Jack screamed into his radio and then quickly went to stop

Tom, who was rushing toward the door he was sure would lead him to Margo. Unfortunately, Tom was stopped by the locked door that led to the garage outside of Metro. Jack realized he wasnt going to be able to stop Tom from bursting through the door, so he turned to Shanks and said, AShoot the lock. Shanks complied and soon they all filed into the garage with Tom in the lead.

Margo stood holding her gun right at Richard when he suddenly lunged right at her causing them both to fall to the ground. They were both startled when the gun went off and fell out of Margos hand. The bullet barely missed Richard and hit the wall across from them. She was so startled when the gun went off she didn't have time to wrestle free from Richard until he recovered from his shock and started holding her down. She struggled against him as he began to run his hand up her leg. When he tried to kiss her, she wanted to slap him across the face, but he had her arms pinned down so hard she couldn't. Just when Margo thought she couldn't take anymore, they both heard another gunshot. But this time, it didn't come from either her or Richard.

Tom was enraged to find Richard trying to rape his wife and Margo struggling against him. He took his gun and fired straight over his head to get their attention. He saw Margo take a sigh of relief when he said, AThat was just a warning shot. The next ones going straight to your skull unless you get off my wife. And trust me when I say Ive had plenty of target practice." Richard looked at Tom, but didn't move. "Now, you son of a bitch!" Tom yelled, still aiming the gun right at him.

Richard realized he was trapped. He slowly stood up as he noticed that Jack and several of the uniforms were standing behind Tom ready to shoot. Tom still stood with his finger on the trigger and staring at Richard. When Richard tried to run, Jack yelled "Stop! Police!", but he kept running. Jack was forced to fire his weapon, hitting Richard in the leg and sending him to the ground. The uniforms that were standing behind him went to help Jack leaving Tom and Margo alone.

Tom couldn't get the sound of those gunshots out of his head. It took him a minute to snap out of his daze. Margo noticed this and softly called to him as she sat up on the ground, "Tom?". When he heard her voice, he immediately rushed over and got down on the ground next to her. As he took her in his arms, she was overcome with relief that this horrible night was over. "Are you ok?" Tom asked. "I am now," Margo responded. Tom noticed her shaking like a leaf and took off his coat and put it around her shoulders and then put rubbed up and down on her arms. Margo looked down at the coat and said, "Thanks. I… I didn't even realize I was cold." At that point, the realization of what just happened set in and Tom saw Margo's eyes start to tear up. He pulled her close to him and said, "Just let it out, baby. Its all over." That was all Margo needed to hear before she grabbed onto Tom and sobbed for what seemed like hours while he stroked her hair and told her everything would be alright.

After Jack made sure everything was all set in regards to Richard, he went inside Metro to see Tom and Margo. "Hey guys, you ok?" he asked. "Yeah, I guess," Margo said. "We have some good news. Richard Nevins was shot in the knee and sent to the hospital. Your dad just called me and said he's going to need surgery. After that, he goes straight to jail. There will be a guard posted outside his door until he's released. But he won't be in any condition to cause you any more pain." Jack took a look at the couple and realized they looked exhausted. "You two go home. We can take care of the formalities tomorrow." Tom helped Margo stand and slipped his arm around her shoulders as they headed toward their car.

As Tom and Margo got out of their car and walked into their house, he noticed Margo looked extremely uncomfortable and was rubbing her shoulder. He reached around and took over the job for her and heard her moan in pleasure. "Thanks. I don't think I've ever been this sore," Margo said. He guided her to the couch and continued to rub her shoulders and then went down her back working the kinks out as he went. "Mmm, those are some magic hands you have, Mr. Hughes," Margo said, grateful beyond words that Tom was there to do that for her. "Well, how about a little more magic? I think you could use a long, hot bath. What do you say?" Tom asked. Margo turned around and looked into her husbands eyes, "I say yes, but only if my sexy husband will be there with me." "I wouldn't have it any other way," Tom said as he kissed her lightly on the mouth and left the room telling her he would be right back."

In the bathroom, Tom wasted no time turning on the water as hot as he knew Margo could stand it. As he reached for Margo's favorite bath salts, however, the image of what happened earlier that night started playing in his head. Richard on top of Margo, trying to rape her. Him pointing his gun at Richard. The sound of the shot fired at Richard by the cops behind him. The images spilled through his mind so fast it made his head spin. Eventually, he snapped out of his thoughts and found himself back in the bathroom, still holding the bath salts. No, he wasn't going to think about that anymore. Tonight was about pampering Margo. He finished preparing the bath and the called Margo to come and join him.

Margo undressed and stepped into the tub, already feeling relief from the tension in her body. She sat down and then noticed that Tom was still dressed. "You know," she said, "there's room for two in here." Tom walked over behind her and whispered in her ear, "I like the view from right here better" as he began to rub her shoulders. When she rested her head on the back of the tub, he reached up and massaged her temples. After he could see that she was more relaxed, he grabbed the shampoo and washed her hair for her, taking his time and massaging every area of her head. When he was finished, she turned her head and kissed him on the lips. "This was heaven, baby," she told him.

After Margo got dressed for bed, she left the bathroom and walked into her and Tom's bedroom where she found her husband sitting up in bed holding the gun that she had left in its holster on the nightstand. He seemed to be staring at it intently, as though he were deeply in thought. "Tom?" she said. He didn't answer. She went over and touched his face, "Honey, you ok?" Tom jerked back into reality and said in a tired voice, "Yeah… I…I just can't remember the last time I had to use one of these." Margo knew he was too tired to talk, so she just went over to her side of the bed, got close to him, and put her arms around him. At first, he seemed stiff, but then he loosened up and allowed her to hold him. After a few minutes, Margo fell asleep with her head on his chest. Tom finally reached over, put the gun in the drawer beside him, turned the light out, and went to sleep.