At the tone of Ethan's voice, Kendall knew that she and the baby were in danger… and wasn't sure what to do. She knew that she couldn't leave with him, but had no clue on how to stop him from taking them by force. She struggled to rise from the bed, her added girth making it more difficult. She finally stood upright and placed a hand on her back, grimacing at the dull ache… which gave her an idea.

"Ethan…" she said in a small voice, "Ethan… I don't… I don't feel so well…"

"Hurry up, Kendall, we don't have time for this now. We need to get out of here quickly," Ethan said taking a step toward her.

"I'm feeling… I think I'm… I'm going to… to be sick…" she said, sitting once again on the bed. She bent forward, wrapping her arms around herself, and groaned as if in extreme pain.

Ethan just looked at her with an unreadable expression. "I'm not falling for that trick, Kendall. I can't believe it… you're trying to fool me… you don't want to be with me… you want to let Zach… that bastard… raise our son… well, I won't have it…" he said in increasing anger as he stalked toward Kendall.

She let out a scream of fear and held out her hand, "No… Ethan… I promise… I'm not lying to you…"

"Sure you're lying… that's what you do… everyone knows that Kendall Hart is a liar… no… wait… its Kendall Hart Slater… you're married to the most famous liar in Pine Valley… I imagine you've only gotten better through that association," Ethan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No… no… Ethan… I'm not… please… owww… mmm…" she responded, still trying to make him believe she was in pain despite her terror.

"Why did I ever think I could trust you? I should have known you'd do something foolhardy… So you're pretending to be in pain… well, maybe you need to feel some real pain… so you can tell the difference…" Ethan said as he grabbed her arm and jerked her to her feet. She lost her balance and fell towards him, letting out a cry of alarm.

Suddenly Ethan's face clouded in such rage that Kendall became even more terrified. He started talking in a low, malevolent voice, "You let him touch you… you let him hold you… inside you… gave him our child… you have to be taught a lesson… right now… reminded of what it's like with me…"

"No… no… Ethan… Ethan… no… I'm sorry… I promise… you don't have to do…" she said, desperately trying to calm him.

"My father was right! And Michael, too! It's time to take what I want," Ethan said menacingly as his hands began to unclasp his belt. "Come on, Kendall… Say it, Kendall… Tell me the truth… you don't want him… it's me you want… TELL ME… or else… I'll have to punish…"

"Okay… Ethan … alright … I love you, Ethan… Of course, this is your baby… our baby… you're the only man… the only one I want… Ethan… I'll do whatever you want… anything you want… just… please… I'll go with you…" she said softly and urgently, trying to placate him.

Ethan paused momentarily, "You love me, Kendall?"

She nodded her head. Hoping against hope that Zach's bodyguard would arrive to protect her, she glanced toward the doorway and her face drained of all color as she breathed, "Zach?"

Ethan's face darkened and he laughed cruelly as he finished removing his belt and pulled her towards him roughly, "I'm not falling for that old…"

Ethan wasn't able to finish his sentence as Zach grabbed him with a ferocious growl, spinning him around and striking him in the jaw. That punch was followed by another and another as the ferocity of Zach's attack prevented Ethan from defending himself. Zach continued to rage, pummeling his brother to unconsciousness, raining blow after blow on Ethan for the unspeakable act that he had almost done to his wife. Kendall, realizing what was happening, pulled at Zach's arm while imploring him to stop. When she could not gain his attention, she held his fist tightly against her breast, gently stroking his fingers until he calmed and looked at her. Their eyes locked for a moment before she quickly released him and stepped back, looking down and away, mortified at the words he had heard her say… and afraid that he believed them.

He looked at her, immediately understanding the cause of her fear and needing desperately to hold her… to assure himself of her wellbeing… and to have her hold him. He stepped over Ethan's inert body and pulled her into his embrace, stroking her hair and whispering, "Shh… shh… I know… I know… its okay… I love you, Kendall… I love you…"

Kendall felt safe in his arms and began to sob uncontrollably while Zach held her. After a few moments she could hear his words as well as feel the comfort he offered… and she heard him say that he loved her… Zach loves me… the words that I've been aching to hear… he said them… but I just said them to Ethan. She pulled back and looked into his face. He nodded his head at the question in her eyes before pulling her to him, kissing her gently.

Kendall said, "But you heard me tell Ethan… Oh, Zach… it was a lie… I didn't mean it…"

He looked at her sadly, "I know… I know why you said it… oh, Kendall, I'm so sorry… I never thought he was capable… first my father, then Michael… and now Ethan… I'm sure that you want rid of me, too…"

"No… Zach… you're nothing like them… I've wanted to tell you… for so long… I love you, Zach… please, can we… can we get out of here?" Kendall whispered, stroking his face with her hands.

He looked around the room, at Ethan lying unconscious on the floor, and lifted her into his arms to carry her out the door. He set her on her feet before he took out his cell phone and said to her grimly as he dialed, "There's going to be hell to pay."


Zach carried Kendall into the Emergency entrance of Pine Valley Hospital, seating her carefully in a chair close to the reception desk before speaking with the attendant, "Excuse me… my wife… she needs to be seen right away."

The attendant looked up from her tasks and said, "Yes sir, I'll need you to complete these papers."

Zach favored her with his most charming smile, "Of course… and could you do me a favor… um… you see, my wife's mother is an old and dear friend of Joe Martin's and I'm certain he'd want to know that I brought her in… could you page Dr. Martin? Let him know that Kendall Slater is here."

The woman smiled back and said, "Of course, Mr. Slater. I'll let him know."

Zach continued smiling, "Thank you… and I'll just get started on this paperwork."

Kendall laughed softly as Zach sat down next to her, "She doesn't even know what hit her… you are so bad."

"No… I'm good," Zach said with a fond smile. "And Dr. Martin will make sure that we don't have to wade through all this red tape."

"I told you, I'm fine… Ethan didn't hurt me… you got there before he had a chance… you saved us both," she said seriously.

"And I told you that I want a medical opinion. What Ethan did was distressing and I need to know that you and the baby are alright… humor me on this, Kendall. I can't let anything happen to you… you're both too important to me," he said quietly as he laid his hand on her abdomen.

Kendall laid her hand on his and nodded, feeling grateful once again that Zach had arrived at just the right moment… and relieved that he was being so kind and considerate. He had not been as nice to anyone else, and she had been a little frightened by the cold fury he displayed towards everyone but her. After a brief call to the police, he had locked the unconscious Ethan in their bedroom and carried her down the stairs, making her lie on the sofa while he made other calls. He never stopped moving, propping her feet, placing pillows behind her back, covering her legs with a throw and bringing her a glass of milk from the kitchen while he talked. He had called the security firm and ordered their immediate presence, threatening bodily harm to the guard who had left her without protection. He had called the casino and given Edie a list of people to contact, as he wouldn't be returning… and had her get a message to Erica to call him as soon as possible. Finally, he had called Ryan Lavery to meet them at the house as well.

Once Zach completed all of his phone calls, and made sure that Kendall was comfortable, he returned to the bedroom with a length of rope and secured Ethan at his hands and feet. He had recognized the severity of the beating he had administered, but decided to let the police decide whether or not to seek medical attention… Zach only cared that he received his just rewards for trying to attack Kendall. After the police arrived, Zach and Kendall each gave quick statements, but it was obvious that Zach was anxious to leave. He asked Ryan to deal with the police and security people while he left to take Kendall to the hospital, explaining the situation in more detail to him over the telephone while he drove.

Dr. Joe Martin entered through the swinging doors and saw Zach and Kendall seated in the waiting area. He approached them quickly, "Mr. Slater… I received a page…"

"Thank you, Dr. Martin. It's Kendall… we had an intruder. He broke into the house and tried to attack her… I'd like to have her checked out, make sure that she and the baby are all right."

"Of course… Kendall, did he hurt you anywhere?" Joe Martin asked her solicitously.

Kendall shook her head, "No… Zach saved me… I was just frightened, but he thinks that we need to be checked out. I'm sure we're both fine."

"Your husband's right, Kendall… Let's take you into an examining room and make sure everything is okay. We don't want to take any chances with you or the baby," he answered as he led the way to a private room. "Dr. Simms is your obstetrician, isn't he? Would you like me to call him for you?"

Zach answered quickly, "We called his office, but he's delivering a baby so they said we should come here… could you perhaps examine Kendall?"

"Of course… I'd be happy to… as long as you don't mind, Kendall?"

"No, Dr. Joe… it's fine," she answered softly. "Can Zach stay with us?"

"Yes, of course. I'm just going to get a nurse and have someone notify Dr. Simms, and then I'll be right back."

After the examination, Kendall looked at Zach with a smile "See… I told you we were fine. Can we get out of here now?"

"As soon as Dr. Martin gives his blessing, we're out of here… and we'll find a quiet place to talk," Zach answered seriously.

"I just want to go home…" she answered.

"Not tonight. Between the police and my security people the house will not be very restful. Why don't you stay at Erica's tonight? I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Zach offered.

"I'm not going anywhere without you… what about the suite at the casino? Or did you give it up?" she responded.

"I didn't give it up… but I don't think that's going to be any more restful than the house," he answered with a smile. "We had a little problem… and it's going to take a while to resolve."

"Then you need to be there. You can't just let other people handle things, Zach. It's your business, and I know how much you love it," Kendall said urgently, remembering Ethan's comment about destroying Zach.

"Not as much as I love you… and I'm not letting you out of my sight," he answered before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Zach… I'm serious… Ethan said that you were going to be too busy at the casino to realize that I was in trouble… this is all connected, I'm sure of it," she answered him with continued urgency. "We can't let him just walk into our lives and turn everything upside down. We'll go to the casino, I'll stay in the suite, and you can keep an eye on things… then we'll talk when you get time."

He looked at her thoughtfully, knowing that he would rather have her safe under his watchful eye than even at Erica's penthouse. After a moment he nodded slowly, "All right, on one condition… you have to promise that you'll let one of my people stay with you if I get called away. You can't be alone for any reason."

"Okay… but with Ethan in jail I'll be perfectly safe," she answered smiling.

"Just promise me," he said in a quiet voice and nodded when she answered, "I promise."