I still don't own them.

There might be a swear word or two in here…read with caution…

I seriously have a strong distaste for education right now…at least I am only two weeks away from my University gradation…no more school forever! That's why it is taking me a bit of time to write…

Thank you so much for your reviews! I seriously appreciate all of them, and would totally write you each a personal note of thanks, but thought you might be happier with a new chapter…

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE SINS OF THE HUSBAND

"Where were you that night?"

Kirsten trembled.

Sandy's hesitation caught her off guard. She had assumed he had been at work late. Researching a case or writing a deposition. She hoped that's where he'd been.

But why was he having such a hard time finding his words?

"I was at the office."

That part was true, but Sandy could feel himself begin to sweat. Lying was so uncharacteristic of himself. He hated feeling like he couldn't tell her the whole truth. His wife had been through so much already.

Mainly at his expense.

He couldn't bear to tell her he'd been with Rebecca that night.

As innocent as their meetings had been, Sandy couldn't watch Kirsten's already swollen eyes cry more tears. He couldn't let her know he'd been with another woman as he left the love of his life vulnerable.

She shook her head and continued to stare at his hand as he held hers. He knew she knew something was being hidden.

But she left it alone.

His wife had never backed down before.

His wife had never left things alone. She picked and she prodded until she got the truth.

Because she knew she deserved to get it.

This wasn't his wife. It was her body, but not her spirit. They'd taken so much more away from her then Sandy ever realized was possible.

And he'd do his best to pick up the pieces. Even if it meant deceiving her.

Caleb had given his family a few days of freedom. He'd left them alone, but now he was restless. The last time he had seen his daughter was as they wheeled her out of the hospital, from the back entrance.

Away from any possible glares.

This was the first time in all of her life that he had actually given her space.

This was also the first time in all of her life that he had absolutely no idea of her best interest.

But now he was becoming agitated.

He would call ever so often, to see if there was anything he could do or say.

There was nothing. His words tried to be of comfort, but came out wrong, filled with anger and hostility.

"Sandy, what are the police doing to catch the guys?

Sandy how is my daughter doing, is she eating? Is she drinking?

Sandy, let me ask her myself."

Sandy wouldn't put Kirsten on the line if there was any tone of emotion. Caleb rarely got through.

He pushed his antagonism towards the police.

Caleb talked with the chief, trying to use his power, but the man was at a loss. Whoever broke into the house knew what they were doing. No fingerprints, no DNA. Nothing.

Damn Professionals.

"Mr. Nichol, we are doing our best. But to be honest, there isn't much to go by. Your daughter hasn't given us very much."

"It's not my daughter's fault. It's not up to her. This is your job."

There were a dozen excuses, nothing to settle his restless mind.

It was up to him. There was no way in hell he would allow the person who had hurt his daughter to breathe another drop of air.

If Caleb hadn't been as old as he was, he would have led the hunt himself. But since he couldn't do it on his own, he knew just the man.

He was old, but influential.

One phone call was all it took.

"I want them to pay, in the most painful, humiliating way possible."

"Did I tell you my daughter was tied up with fucking wire?"

"Go after their families, see how they take it."

"I don't care if you are searching for the next fifty years. Money is not an issue."

Revenge was the only way Caleb knew how to deal with attacks against his family. He'd never been one to lawfully respect authority.

Caleb had come from a world where one takes care of their own. Regardless of the consequences.

The attackers who had victimized his child would soon regret the moment they had laid a hand on her.

Hell hath no fury like a Nichol scorned.

Sandy was at a loss.

He had to distance himself from Kirsten, even if only for a few moments. Between her story and his answer, he had a hard time standing, staying together.

He thought back to the words she spoke. The way her lips moved as she whispered to him what had happened.

The way she looked at him for reassurance, the way she silently begged for his forgiveness.

He would give it to her in a second.

He had helped her out of the pool house and back into the guest room. She had stayed silent as he untied her robe and carefully pulled a sweater over her head, carefully avoiding pulling a single hair. He led her to the bed, and pulled down the covers. Like a child, she allowed him to tuck her in.

"I love you."

"You know that don't you?"

"Kirsten?"

He felt like he was talking to air. He needed her to know that their love was unconditional. Nothing she could do would make him stop loving her.

She continued to lay in the bed. Staring at the pale wall. His words sunk into her. Kirsten knew he wasn't lying to her. Their very essence relied on each other.

And yet, each moment she felt distant from him.

How could he still love her?

Kirsten refused to let herself believe his words, it was too easy. His love was too accepting. She couldn't let him love her. She herself was sickened by her very existence.

Her conscious fought her heart.

"You can't," she mumbled into the pillow, her hand leaning against the side of the bed, away from him.

The brokenness in her tone caught him off guard. His breath got caught in his throat.

"You can't"

But he could. If she'd let him.

"Kirsten, there are not enough words in the world to describe how much I love you. You gave me your hand, you gave me my sons. You are the reason I wake up in the morning and why I come home at night."

Sandy could feel tears pricking at his eyes. He tried hard to suck them in. His feelings for her were genuine, as real as emotion could be. The fact that she even doubted his love broke his heart.

"I can't live in this world without you, Kirsten. When I saw you baby, I…Kirsten, I…."

Sandy couldn't go on.

He saw her frail body lying against the bed. He could still feel her trembling in his arms as he untied her.

Kirsten turned towards her husband. For the first time, she thought about what Sandy must be feeling. For the first time she realized he had seen her…like that. For the first time she imagined finding him in the same way.

And for the first time she understood.

She once again, was being selfish.

Damn her.

He looked at her directly, praying his eyes proclaimed his love. Praying she would accept.

"Sandy, I'm sorry…I never thought about…"

"Kirsten, you don't have to apologize." He leaned down to scoop her in his arms. He wiped the stray hair from her face, revealing another batch of fresh tears. "I'll love you until the day I die."

Seth and Ryan were supposed to be going out with Summer and Marissa that evening, but neither felt up to being social. The girls complied, although confused. Seth could tell Summer had been annoyed.

He didn't care.

She didn't know. She'd never understand.

His problems were far worse then she could ever imagine.

Marissa on the other hand knew every detail, she had told Ryan about Caleb's rage. She had told him about his constant connection to the phone.

And even though she wanted to be there for him, for all of the Cohen's, Marissa didn't know how. She was more then willing to give the family some space.

Instead the two boys stayed inside the pool house playing round after round of video games.

Neither saying a word, each dedicated to beating the crap out of the virtual other.

"Want another go?" Seth asked Ryan.

He took a sip of his soda and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

"Seth, that's like the eighth time you've beat me."

Seth through him a 'yeah and?' glare.

"Yeah, well, I'm pretending your guys the ass that hurt mom. It's unsurprisingly easy to do."

Ryan looked at his brother.

Brother.

The thought caught Ryan off guard. This really was his family now, it seemed so natural.

Ryan wasn't surprised Seth had used video games to exert anger. Everyone had their niche. He on the other any always resorted to physical fighting.

"They're gonna find them Seth. Sandy won't let them get away." Ryan tried to be reassuring, even though he understood the legal system better then most boys his age.

"It's not enough Ryan. Breaking and entering, rape, battery. There just charges. People get off on stuff like that. It's not even enough for life in jail."

Seth pushed the controller away from him. He got up from the floor and began to pace around the room.

Ryan wasn't sure if Seth was right. As the son of a lawyer, he knew Seth had some knowledge, but even so, Ryan couldn't believe him.

"You don't know that." Ryan paused the game, already knowing Seth was giving him the Cohen stare of death.

All three of them had it down to a tee. Ryan was quickly catching on.

"Ryan, even if they get life in jail, it's not enough. They deserve more. She deserves more."

Sandy's eyes never left her, even as she pretended to sleep, she could sense him. His glare made her nervous. Kirsten wasn't sure why. Before, she loved to feel his eyes burn into her. She knew he was admiring her. She could feel his love radiating. And even after their conversation the night before, she was afraid. Not of him, but of his thoughts.

Was he really still in love with her. Was she really the same woman he had fallen in love with? She wasn't whole anymore.

The doubts in Kirsten's head played with her, until she could no longer take them. Her eyes quickly opened and she turned to look at her husband. He instantly turned away.

She felt as if her worst fears had been confirmed.

"Sandy," she quietly spoke, her voice dripping with the fear of a lost wife.

He couldn't let her see him cry. He had to strong for her. Sandy had spent almost an hour watching her sleep.

She was so beautiful. Everything about her reminded him of why he fell in love with a California girl.

The way her chest rose each time her body took a breath.

The way her blonde hair waived around her head, like a golden halo.

The way she instinctively cuddled to his side of the bed, even after he left it.

He couldn't help but stare, and feel guilty.

Just a few hours ago, she had shared the most intimate details of that night.

That night.

It had no name. It would forever be marked in their brains.

Never forgotten. Always remembered.

Sandy wanted to wrap his hands around the men who had done this to his wife. He wanted to look them in the eye and see their fear.

He wanted to spit on them.

Beat them.

Destroy them like they had done to her.

He wanted the world to know that no one will see the light of day if they mess with his family. He may have converted to a Californian lifestyle, but Sandy Cohen was still a tough kid from the Bronx.

And as much as he wanted to lead the witch hunt, Sandy knew he couldn't leave her side.

Not for a moment.

He couldn't risk meeting her attackers face to face.

He took a few breaths, making sure the tears in his eyes dried. Allowing himself to put on his famous Cohen smile, he turned back towards her.

Her face gave him a look of confusion.

An 'are you okay, cause if you aren't, then neither am I' look.

"Gorgeous, would you like some breakfast?"

She began to shake her head 'no,' but Kirsten knew Sandy would bagger her to eat. She didn't want to be selfish anymore. There were three other people in her family, all somehow affected by her attack.

She would become Kirsten Cohen again. The same one Seth had eagerly begged for.

"That would be great."

He got up to leave, kissing her on the forward, sucking in her scent and allowing it to linger inside of him.

She felt a chill run up her spine. Even after 20 years, he still had the ability to make her insides glow.

Kirsten watched him go. Her doubt still lingered, but she then realized that the simple gestures of her husband would somehow bring her back.

Caleb rang the doorbell of his daughter's mansion. He waited for the cascading doors to sweep open, half expecting Kirsten's head to peak through.

No one came.

Caleb's initial thought was to panic. Kirsten's attack shocked his fatherly instinct back into him.

He pounded heavily on the door.

Finally, it was the mop of Seth's curly hair that greeted him.

"Hey Grandpa, it's early." Seth cleared his throat, the morning wake-up making his eyes squint.

"Good morning Seth, took you long enough. Where is your mother?"

Seth was caught off guard by his grandfather's question. The look on the man's face was genuine.

His grandfather was never genuine about anything having to do with family. He was genuine about business deals and money and deception.

Not family.

How was this the same man who time after time degraded his mother, drove her to drink and most recently throw things at unsuspecting walls.

"I think she's still sleeping." He finally answered.

"Well, if you'd let me in, I'll wait." Caleb walked past his grandson, squeezing his arm as he went.

Seth face mirrored his confusion.

A token of affection? Who was this man?

Kirsten sat in the kitchen watching her husband make breakfast. She was tired of being in bed. Her body was healing, aching less. She was getting better at pushing thoughts out of her mind. Her robe surrounded her body. She pulled it close to her frame and sat slouched on the stool.

He was going all out, making her favorite dishes.

All of her favorite dishes.

Bacon was sizzling, coffee was brewing, eggs frying and pancakes slowly forming in the pan.

None of it burning and as always, Kirsten was amazed.

Her eyes followed him as he bounced around the small space. She smiled as he talked to himself.

He had called it 'mentally thinking out loud.'

"Good morning Mom," Seth spoke out as he kissed her on the head. She welcomed his affection. "Grandpa's here."

Caleb marched into the room, taking over the space as he so easily could.

"Hello sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Caleb too walked to her, adding a kiss on the head, his arms staying around her.

"Hi Dad." Kirsten hugged back. It was the first time she had seen him since her hospital release.

He, like the rest of them, looked tired.

It was an epidemic.

"Today I'm doing good so far." Kirsten didn't want to bother her father with the grim details of her seemingly slow recovery. "How are you? Julie?"

"We're fine Kiki. Julie's spending some time with Marissa."

"Want some breakfast Cal?" Sandy piped in, dishing up a plate for Kirsten. Seth snatched a piece of bacon.

"That is for your mother, you thief." Sandy swatted his son.

"Uh, owe. Child abuse. You all saw it." Seth's instinctive comic relief finding its way home.

Each one allowing laughter to fill the house. Ryan entered the house looking somewhat shocked.

Kirsten smiled at him, "Hey Ryan, Seth's just being, well, Seth."

"Do you want some coffee?" Ryan eagerly obliged.

The five of them ate Sandy's feast without a moment of silence. Each telling a story or joke, anything to make another laugh.

Seeing Kirsten smile again was helping them all heal. Ryan couldn't help but suck it all in.

The kitchen felt different.

Just like it had before…

Ryan noticed it. They all did.

Sandy was left in the kitchen as Kirsten and the boys went their separate ways.

"I'm going to go take a shower." She stated, kissing her boys as she went. "Maybe we can go out or something?"

Kirsten looked at her husband for a sign of confirmation.

To say he was shocked was an understatement.

"Are you sure?" he asked her. Ryan and Seth's eyes watching.

It had only been a few days.

"Yeah, to the beach or something low key." Kirsten smiled as she turned to leave.

"Love you Daddy. Don't be late for work."

Sandy had felt refreshed.

As he washed the dishes, Caleb silently lingered around.

"Sandy, I had a conversation with some men last night."

Sandy closed his eyes. Whenever Caleb had a conversation, he had always been the one forced to minimize the damage.

"What did you do Cal?"

"Sandy, I just got a hold of some people who have assured me they would take care of things."

Things, what things?

"Let me be clear, Sandy, these men are working around the clock to find those bastards. Do you want to be there when they do so?"

Sandy didn't know how to respond. His father-in-law had just proposed they join forces in the assassination of his wife's attackers.

And for a few moments, he was considering it.

"Caleb, you cannot take this into your own hands."

Caleb's words were cold, strong, those of a revenging father. The powerful eyes he saw in Kirsten had been a gift from her father. Caleb's were just as convincing.

"It's up to us Sandy. For Kirsten to have any sense of retribution, we're going to have to handle it ourselves."

"Your mom's doing good today." Ryan whispered to Seth. The two were watching their parents from a distance. He nodded in agreement.

The four of them had spent the afternoon in a small town outside of Newport. It was an artsy town, one they had taken a young Seth to quite often after moving back home.

Kirsten had loved the small art gallery hidden within the aisle of stores. It had once been her dream to open up a similar place.

Sandy held her hand as they walked down the sidewalk. He played with her ring, as her fingers interlocked with his own. Today, like every day, he noticed her youthful beauty. Her hair was pushed back behind her sunglasses. The slim cropped khakis hung lose at her waist, reveling her recent weight loss. She had worn a long sleeve top, regardless of the heat.

It reminded Sandy that she wasn't fully better…not even by a long shot.

But he was thankful she seemed to be making progress.

Kirsten let the sun soak into her pale skin. She was hoping to ride herself of the dreaded ill look.

It felt good to be outside.

She was glad they had made a family trip. Kirsten had wanted to be out of the house, but not out around Newport.

Not as a spectacle.

She didn't want to deal with possible Newpsie run-ins. Sandy told her there had been calls from various people the past few days.

Calls of concern. Calls of inquiring minds.

She hadn't taken any of them.

She didn't want their words of advice, their acknowledgement, their pity.

"Mom, you have to come look at this store. It has pickles this size of your arm." Seth's voice interrupted her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes at her husband, and they followed Seth into one of the shops.

"You know, we could drop these two and take a walk on the beach." Sandy proposed. She laughed at his antics.

"We could do that. But first I want some ice cream. Chocolate with sprinkles." She gave her husband the face.

Sandy was convinced 'the face' was passed on for generations. A gift from mother to daughter. He called it the, "how to rope your husband into doing just about anything" face.

And when she gave it to him, it worked. Without fail, every time.

"Chocolate with sprinkles it is."

The day had been long. Sandy had just left Kirsten in bed. Seth and Ryan retreated to the pool house.

They had returned from their day trip just a few hours before. By the time they ended up eating dinner, all four of them were exhausted.

Sandy had brought a picnic meal and they had all dined on sandwiches and salad as they watched the sunset.

Kirsten began to get cold, and all three soon offered their jackets.

She had automatically taken Sandy's.

As it began to get dark, they walked in a line back to the car. Sandy holding one hand, Seth holding her other. Ryan watched the threesome and inwardly smiled.

"You coming Sweetie?" Kirsten asked him, pulling away from Sandy.

"Hey," Sandy protested as his hand was replaced with Ryan's.

She shrugged and continued towards the car, all laughing.

Sandyhadn't wanted to go to sleep yet, his thoughts were attacking his mind.

He knew he wouldn't be able to lay still for long and Sandy didn't want his restlessness to bother Kirsten.

He walked down to the empty kitchen for some much needed alone time.

Pouring himself a glass of water, Sandy never knew his brain could compute the day's events as fast as it was.

Caleb's proposal, his inkling about taking matters into his own hands. His wife's laugh throughout breakfast. Her willingness to spend the day out of the house.

Sandy prayed she was healing.

Everything began to mesh together. He sat and stared out the window as he let this thoughts fly around. Mentally making notes in his head. He absently took another sip of his water. Sandy could feel himself drifting, eyes droopy. He began to finally relax as he thought about how well the family had done that day.

Sandy almost convinced himself life was beginning to get better, but it was the scream of a petrified woman that brought him back to reality.

Please review this puppy….voice your praises, concerns, dislikes, recommendations…a simple hello...anything...and if you do, I'll be so happy and work my best to get nine up….ASAP….

To keep you interested: Here's a heads up….Sandy kept quiet this time about his were abouts, but it will come out eventually, Counseling begins, and Kirsten's attackers aren't leaving her alone for long…