Friends maybe more...

Authors note: Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad everyones enjoying this story.

Disclamer: I own nothing.

Chapter 3

When John and Maria made it back from the park, it was late. Today had been one of the best days of Maria's life, and she didn't want it to end. They both had an early flight out the next morning, and needed their rest. So, with some reluctance, they kissed eachother goodbye in front of Maria's door, and said their goodnights.

John walked down to the end of the hallway to his room. It was about 5 rooms away from Maria's, but it felt like an eternity. He couldn't believe how fast things were going for them now. The other day they had just been friends, but last night had changed all that when he'd kissed her.

He'd liked her a lot for awhile now, and couldn't get over how beautiful and innocent she was. Unlike him, he didn't know what she saw in him. After all he was the Dr. of Thuganomics, the kinda guy your mom's want you to stay away from.

He walked into his room and grabbed a beer out of the fridge, and began flipping through channels on the tv. Nothing realling interesting caught his eye, his thoughts on the blond bombshell down the hall. He flipped the tv off and took a swig on his beer, wanting to go back down and be with Ria, but not wanting her to get upset. He stood up and began pacing the room.

Meanwhile in Maria's room, she was going through almost the same thing. When John had left her at her doorstep, she had come in and sat down. She didn't know what to do next, so she stood up and began packing up some of her stuff hoping to get her mind on something else. Her mind kept going back to him however, and getting packed was a lost cause.

She went to the fridge to get a drink when she noticed the letter standing upright against the wall. She dreaded what it said almost immediatly. She walked back over to the couch and plopped down. Opening the letter, she began to read.

Maria,

I thought I made it clear to you that you were not to converse with Cena? I saw your tawdry little kiss this morning at breakfast. I was not ammused. Well none the matter, your punishment will be taking affect soon.

I'm sorry it had to come to this my darling, but you need to learn that I'm serious. Remember, what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger lovely.

What was this psycho talking about? Maria couldn't figure it out, but she knew it was serious. She wondered what kind of punishment he was planning. The last comment is what scared her. What doesn't kill you... So it was something deadly? Her mind ticked at what it could possibly be. She fell to her bed and screamed almost immediatly as a hand shot up and grabbed her from behind.

Her stalker had been waiting for her return all day. He was wearing all black, gloves, and a mask. He couldn't take any chances of her recognizing him yet. He was starting to get impatient when he heard her door opened. He silently watched from the bathroom as she came in and sat then got back up and found his letter. A cruel smile passed over his lips as he watched her read it. When she got up and collapsed on her bed, he knew now was the perfect time to put his plan into action.

He swiftly went behind her, grabbing her about the waist and making her scream. He stuffed a gag into her mouth, and knoting it behind her head, went to her arms next. He bound them to the headboard with course twine that he knew would cut into her wrist and leave a lasting impression on them. She was a sausy little minx, kicking and bucking at him, trying to break free of his hold. He was stronger than her though, and easily overpowered her.

She sank back against the bed, pulling at her wrists trying to get free. She knew it was useless, but she still had to try anyway. She was scared, that fact evident as tears slowly streamed their way down her cheeks.

The stalker smiled beind his mask as he wiped some of her tears away. "Don't cry my precious. It will be over soon. That's when you should be crying. You have no idea what I have in store for you do you my sweet. Well, lets get started."

He slowly and methodically began to strip her of her clothes. Grinning manically as he got to her underwear. He left them intact, and instead went for abusing various parts of her body. Taking out a cigarette, he lit it. Taking a long drag, he inhaled deeply, and then blew the smoke into her face. He laughed as she coughed and tried even more futily to escape. Taking the cigarette in his left hand, he swiftly stuck the flaming end down onto her stomach.

Her body lurched in pain. Screaming as loud as she could, she kicked at her attacker, and managed to knock him off the bed. Tears streaming down her face, she looked down at her stomach and saw the angry red mark that glared back up at her.

Her attacker got up off the floor, looking none too happy. He slapped her face hard, making her head whirl back to the side. He then began hitting her everywhere. Wanting to leave her battered and broken so she would know not to mess with him in the future.

He took out his hunters knife, and cutting away her bra, grabbed her breasts and began mashing them and twisting them painfully. He took his cigarette, and placed burn marks all over them, and laughed as she bucked and thrashed. "This serves you right, you little slut. Remember you deserve everything that I'm doing to you."

Next, he cut away her panties and roughly abused her lower regions. Sticking his huge fingers into her cunt, he worked them in and out, relishing in the pain that displayed over her face. He knew his rough minustrations would cause her agony for quite sometime to come.

She screamed her heart out, but it was no use. You could barily hear a murmer from her mouth behind the gag. She mentally shut down and tried to block what was happening out of her mind. She pictured herself far from here and safe. She didn't even notice when there was a knock at the door and the stalker grew quiet.

Damnet! He thought to himself. He didn't need any interuptions. He ignored the knocking, hoping they would go away. When they didn't, he got pissed. Whoever it was wasn't going to give up and just go away, and that was bad news for him.

John was on the other side of the door. He hoped Maria wouldn't be mad at him for bugging her this late, but he just had to see her. Something didn't sit well with him when she didn't answer the door. He knew she was home, because he had dropped her off there himself 20 minutes ago. Banging on the door again, and getting no answer, he decided to do the unthinkable. He was going to break down the door. Stepping back from the door, he ran at it at full speed, busting into it with his shoulder.

One more blow, and the door swung open to reveal the sight of something he would have never thought possible.

Towering over Maria (whom he saw was tied to the bed and naked) was a figure in all black. He charged at the guy, wanting to put as much distance between him and Maria as possible. Fists flying, he got in several good punches, before getting on the recieving end of them.

John was not going to lose this fight, and unloaded all his energy and anger onto the person that had dared hurt the one that he loved. Knocking the guy in the head, he felt him go limp immediatly after, and let him crash to the floor with a loud thud.

Turning his attention back to Maria, he took in her abused and battered body. She looked nothing like the girl he had just left 20 minutes ago, and he could've kicked himself. Why hadn't he come inside with her? None of this would have ever happend then. He took out his pocket knife, and cut her wrists loose. He noticed that they were bleeding from her pulling at the ropes, and knew they would probably scar. Next he took off her gag, and surveyed the rest of the damage. She had angry red welts coursing from her breasts down to her stomach, and saw that bruises were starting to appear all over her flesh. Gently taking her in his arms, he smoothed out her hair and began rocking her back and forth. He didn't understand why that sicko had attacked her, but resolved to get to the bottom of it.

Clinging to him like a lifeline, she wasn't about to let him go. The shock of what had just happend to her was starting to set in, and she could barily breath. She felt him start to set her back down on the bed, but she clung to him tighter, whimpering and snuggling her head deeply into the crook of his neck.

John needed to go call the police, and gently placed her on the bed. "Ria, baby. I have to call the cops so they can come and pick this sleeze bag up. I'm just going to put you down for a minute. I'm going to be right here. I'm not leaving you, I promise."

She reluctantly let him go, but never took her eyes off of him as he walked to the phone. It took him a couple of minutes to explain to the cops what had happend, but he did. When he was finished, he walked back over to the attacker, and tied him up so if he woke up he couldn't ecsape. The bastard was going to pay for hurting his Maria.

John made his way back to Maria's side, and sat down beside her. Running his hands through his hair, he took in her appearance again, and knew she probably needed to go to the doctor. He didn't know if she had been raped yet or not, but the guys clothes were still on, so that was a good sign. He also remembered her state of undress, and realized she would need clothes on when the cops showed up. "Babe, I'm gonna have to get you dressed now. The cops are going to be here soon, and you don't wanna be looking like that do ya?" He said calmly.

She slowly nodded her head and shifted to rise, but a look of pain crossed her face. She looked down at her hands, and began to cry again. "It hurts." Was all she said.

"Shh... It's ok. What do you wanna wear, your pj's? They should be pretty comfy right?" He got up at went to her suitcase. He pulled out a yellow tank top with a flower on the front, and a pair of black track pants.

He walked back over to her, and helped her slip them on over her battered body. "Thank you." She mumbled. When he was finished, he sat down next to her again, and just held her as they waited for the cops to arrive.

A few minutes later, outside the room was full of commotion. Aparently word got around fast that something bad had happend to the young diva, and almost everyone had turned out to see what the problem was. Cops piled past everyone, making their way into the room. They saw the damage when they opened the door, and the man lieing uncontious on the floor.

John unhooked himself from Maria in order to greet the cops. Maria warily joined him, staying close behind him, not looking at anyone. John told them his side of the story first. Maria just listened as he spoke, not knowing quite what to tell them.

When it was her turn, the officers stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to tell her side. She took a deep breath and began. "I came in tonight and sat down on my bed, and he just grabbed me. I don't know who he is, but he grabbed me and tied me up. I think he was going to rape me," she paused and looked down at her toes, " He...he burnt me with his cigarette all over, and beat me up. I think I have a broken rib." John place a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she continued, "he stuck his fingures up my ummm... lower region." She blushed and turned back into John's embrace.

Cena wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. Letting her cry, he motioned over to the guy, and the cops went to take him out. He watched as they slowly picked the attacker up, and removed his mask. When John laid eyes on the man that had done this to Maria, his blood boiled. He guided Maria over to the couch, and sat her down while he walked over to the attacker.

The attacker was slowly starting to come around, and realized he was tied up. God damn it! He thought. The show was over now. He opened his eyes to see Cena standing in front of him looking none too happy. He knew his mask was off, and the cops had him. He sneered at Cena, "The little slut deserved everything she got. I have no regrets."

"She didn't deserve any of it, and you know it. She's never done anything to you Davari. You will pay." Cena would have punched him if the cops hadn't been standing there.

They led him off, making everyone outside the door gasp in astonishment. He yelled back behind him, "This isn't over, it's far from over. It's just beginning!" With that he was gone.

John shut the door behind them and went back to Maria. He sat down next to her, and paused before getting ready to speak next. "Ria, I need to take you to the hospital to get you all better. So, can we go now? I'm sorry, but it has to be done."

She nodded her head, and stood up, slipping on a pair of flip flops. She put her jacket on, and they walked out the door, to stairs from everyone. John held her close as they made their way to the elevator, shooting dirty looks at anyone who tried to ask them what had happend. They'd find you soon enough, but not right now. Right now, his first priority was getting her better. Nothing else in the world mattered to him, and nothing else ever would.