Authors note: thanks to all who reviewed. Hope you like this chapter.

Authors note: don't own don't sue.

Friends Maybe More

Chapter 14

John circled the cabin warily, eyes darting back and forth, ever alert for a trap. He felt it with every fiber of his being that this was the right cabin, and he didn't want to screw anything up or put Maria in danger if he could help it. Slowly making his way toward a side window, he peeked in, and was greeted by the site of his baby girl laying curled up on a dingy looking bed. Tapping lightly on the window, he alerted her of his presence.

Maria's head shot up and glanced toward the window. Hope filled her chest as she gazed into his eyes, and silent tears of joy trekked down her face. Carefully swinging over the side of the bed, she paused for a moment, as the sudden movement had sent a sharp twinge of pain to her aching head. Pushing it aside, not wanting to alarm John. She slowly got off the bed and crawled the distance to the window. Trying to pry at it desperately with her fingers, got her no where. Shane had nailed it shut.

This is when Maria started to hyperventilate and break down. She scratched and clawed at the window like a mad woman, desperate to get to him.

"Ria, calm down baby girl. I'm right here, and I'm not leaving here without you. I need you to stay calm so Shane doesn't suspect anything and come in there. Ok baby?" he whispered through the glass.

"John please get me out of here. You don't know what it's like."

"I will baby. I just need you to calm down. I'll find another way in. Just act like nothing is up ok? I promise everything will be alright." With that said, John blew her a kiss, and disappeared from view.

Maria watched out the window for any signs as to where he might be. Her head snapped around, when her door was knocked in. Shane was standing there with a look of pure hatred on his face. In his hand, he held a gun, aimed strait at her head. "Ok bitch, I don't know how, but Cena has found us. We are leaving now. Any trouble, and you will be shot, now get over here."

Maria hesitated slightly, and regretted it a second later as Shane pulled back the trigger, and she felt a sharp pain in her right arm. Looking down, she could see blood already pouring from the wound. Becoming light headed, she was about to faint.

"Bitch I said hurry up. That was just a warning shot. Don't test me again, now come on. We'll clean you up later."

Standing as best she could, she hobbled over to him, and let him lead her forcibly out of the cabin.

"Dr. Thug, I have Maria out here with me. I have a gun on her, and any move from you to come and get her I'll shoot her in the fucking head. Is that under stood? I asked you a question, is that unde..." Shane was cut off in the middle of his rant by a tree limb to the back of the head. He went down fast, but unfortunately knocked Maria down as well.

John paused for a moment, before he moved forward. Shane was down for the count. He grinned to himself as he kicked him off of Maria and pulled her to her feet. The minute she was in his arms, she latched onto him for dear life, not wanting to let go up him and find out it was all a dream.

John silently stroked her hair, and placed feather light kisses on her temple. Reassuring her that he was there, and not going anywhere. Bending down, he captured her lips in a searing kiss of unbridled passion. He stopped suddenly when he felt something warm and sticky against his chest. Looking down, he noticed she was bleeding. Anger filling him, he hauled off and kicked Shane once again in the ribs.

"Come on baby. We need to get you out of here. I need to take you to a hospital, and we need to call the cops." He picked her up and carried her to his hummer.

She burrowed her face into the crook of his neck feeling more safe than she had in days. "How did you find me?"

"I had the air traffic controller find out where your plane landed. Then, I followed my hunches."

"Promise me you won't leave me ever again."

"Baby you know I won't. Ria, I'm gonna ask you something personal. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I would really like to know. Did he force himself on you?"

"No, sure he hit me, and beat me, he didn't try to rape me." She blushed and looked down at her hands.

"Thank God."

He came up to the hummer and placed her in the passengers seat, before climbing into the drivers side and taking off. They drove in a comfortable silence, Maria, quickly dosing off in the seat. John looked over at her and couldn't help but smile. She was a little banged up and her arm was bleeding, but she was still beautiful to him. She was an angel, and he couldn't help but stare at her. It made him angry to think what could have happened if he hadn't gotten there when he did. But he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on Ria and getting out of here.

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A half an hour later, Shane woke up with a splitting headache. Looking around, he saw that he was outside and alone. Howling in anger, he quickly climbed to his feet and headed to his car. How dare Cena trick him and knock him out. And worst of all, take Maria from him. He had worked to long and hard to get her only to lose her in a couple of days. He vowed revenge on them both. If he couldn't have her, then nobody would have her he reasoned.

Driving down the road like a madman, he knew that he wouldn't catch up with them today, but there was always another day. Grinning maniacally, he planned his revenge.

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John just pulled into the lot of the nearest hospital when Maria began to stir. She lifted her long dark lashes to meet his gaze and beamed up at him. Getting out of the vehicle, and helping her out as well, he proceeded to carry her into the building.

Maria was taken aback by the bustling around in the emergency room. She clutched onto his neck in fear, not wanting to let him go. "Please don't leave me." She whispered in his ear.

"Never plan on it baby doll." He smiled down at her in reassurance.

John carried her up to the counter where an orderly met them with a wheelchair. Placing her in it, John stood back up, and started to fill out the necessary forms for her to be admitted. When he was finished, he let the orderly take Maria, while he followed close behind only to be stopped by one of the nurses.

"I'm sorry sir, but we cannot allow to go any further. We will alert you when everything is taken care of." She said sternly.

"I'm sorry, but with all due respect, I would rather stay with my girlfriend. She has been through hell and back in the last couple of days, and I am not about to leave her side." John said trying to step around the woman.

"I'm sorry sir, but I can not allow that. Hospital protocol clearly states that..."

"I don't care what it states..."

"John..." He heard Maria murmur up ahead.

He quickly passed the heavy nurse, and went to kneel down in front of Maria. "What's wrong Ria? I'm right here."

"Don't let them take me without you. Please, you promised." Tears started to fill her eyes again.

"Very well. You may go with her, but do not get in the way. I am warning you. Any trouble and you shall be removed from the premises."

"Yes Mam." With that, they continued on into one of the ER rooms.

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An hour later, the hospital had finished with Maria, and deemed her well enough to go home. She was grateful for that, not wanting to spend the night in the hospital. She had always had a fear of them since childhood. John signed the discharge papers, and then took her out to the hummer.

Helping her in, and then getting in himself, he drove off to a nearby hotel, figuring they could use the rest tonight. Maria silently stared at her hands, still not quite believing that she was free of Shane. John looked over at her and frowned. He knew it would be awhile before she was herself again.

Pulling up in the hotel parking lot, they went inside. They checked into a cheap room, and went upstairs. John opened the door, and looked at the room. It wasn't that great, but it would do. They weren't in the business to play picky right now.

Maria stumbled past John into the room and plopped down on one of the beds. John sat down next to her, and took her in his arms. The frustration of everything finally hit her, and she broke down, sobs wracking her battered body. John carefully laid them both down, and just held her as she cried, murmuring sweet and comforting things in her ear and placing feather light kisses on her temple.

Maria soon dozed off, in for the best nights sleep she'd had in awhile. John carefully placed them under the covers taking care of her injuries and curled up beside her, drawing her to him protectively. He silently vowed to himself that Shane would never harm Ria again, and he would pay for what he did do. Then, he too drifted off to sleep.