He finally woke to the sound of Laura gagging. He sat up immediately and saw her leaning over the bed. He cringed and leapt into action. He helped her up and led her into the bathroom. He leaned her over the toilet. "Ok, Laura. It's ok. You're ok," he whispered, rubbing her back as she vomited again and again.

When she finally stopped, she sat up a little higher on her own and finally looked back at him. She was really there this time, though she was obviously miserable. "Steve," she whispered.

He smiled brightly in relief. He was just glad she was back, no matter what she was feeling. "Laura Lee," he whispered. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"Steve, what happened last night?" she whispered.

Steve pursed his lips. "How about you give me a second to clean up yesterday's dinner you so graciously spewed on our bed and hardwood floors, and then we swap stories?"

"Ok," she agreed. "I'm gonna take a shower."

"Wait," he said. "Laura, did he... assault you? Because you can't shower if-"

"No. No, the last thing I remember is the bartender calling you, and he was already gone by then. I suppose someone else-"

"No, I trust Tanya. If she had you by the time you blacked out, I think we're ok. We can still go get an exam done, if you want to be sure."

"No. I just wanna shower."

"Ok," he agreed. "Ok."

Laura stood and wobbled slightly. Steve grabbed her quickly.

"Maybe not. How about I draw you a bubble bath, instead?"

Laura nodded in agreement. She turned to the sink and washed her face and neck while he began to draw her bath. She wrapped her hair up in a scarf and took off her clothes.

When Steve turned back around, she was completely naked. He did his best not to stare. He helped her into the tub and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I clean up, ok?"

She nodded and sank lower into the tub.

When Steve had tossed their comforter in the laundry, cleaned the floors, and cleaned the toilet, he finally returned to Laura. "Are you ready to get out of the tub?" he asked.

"Yeah," she whispered.

Steve reached in to unplug the drain, and then he helped her up. He turned on the shower for a moment to let her rinse off and then helped her out of the tub completely and into her bathrobe. He brought her out to the couch, handed her a glass of water, and sat beside her. "Ok," he whispered. "What do you remember, Sweetheart?"

"I remember going to the bar," she began, "and I expected everyone to be there already, because I was running late, but only Alex was there. He told me that some of our friends had cancelled and that Terrence and Rachel were on their way, so I just kind of went with that. He insisted on buying me a drink."

Steve cringed.

"He brought it back to me, and we talked for a few minutes. It was kind of awkward so he kind of chugged his beer and went to get us both another drink, so I hurried to finish mine. When he got back, he told me Rachel and Terrence had gotten into a little accident and weren't going to make it. By then, I was really starting to feel that drink. Like really feeling it. So I just kinda went with that, and I remember really relaxing. I finally started having fun once I'd started the second drink. We talked some more. We danced. I remember laughing a lot. Then we were talking, and he leaned in, placed his hand on my thigh, and told me I was sexy. I thought I'd misheard him because I was so sure he was just a friend. So, so sure. Then he kissed me," she admitted, looking up at Steve guiltily. "I'm so, so sorry, Baby," she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. "I pushed him away right away, but he kissed me. I didn't see it coming, and he kissed me. I didn't want him to. I wasn't trying to give him any signals. I stopped him as soon as I could. I'm so sorry."

Steve shook his head. "It's not your fault," he assured her.

"I was out drinking with another guy! And I got wasted! And he kissed me! It's completely my fault!" she cried.

"Did you kiss him back?" Steve asked nervously, knowing that the drug could drastically decrease her inhibitions.

"No," she promised. "Not for a second."

"What happened next, Laura?"

Laura looked away as she tried hard to remember and continued, "I pushed him away, and I yelled at him. I was too drunk to yell much, so I decided to drive home, but when I stood, I was so wobbly. I couldn't believe how wasted I was after a drink and a half. He got up and told me that I couldn't drive, so he wrapped his arms around me and tried to lead me out, but I tried to stop him. I couldn't stop him, but I said something, and the bartender heard, and she stepped in. I told her I needed to call you, and I gave her my phone, and she called, and that's the last thing I remember. After that, I don't remember anything at all until I was vomiting over the toilet. I don't even remember throwing up in our bed."

Steve nodded understandingly, knowing she had more to say.

"I can't believe I got that drunk. It was so irresponsible. And with another guy at that!"

"Laura," Steve whispered, unsure of how to tell her this. "You weren't drunk. You were drugged."

"What?" she breathed. "No… Alex wouldn't… I-I mean he's total scum for hitting on a married woman, but he's not a- He wouldn't…"

"Laura, I don't know for a fact it was him, but I know for a fact you were drugged. I took you to the hospital. They found Rohypnol in your system. A lot of it," Steve told her gently.

Laura's face somehow looked even more upset than she had already been. "Oh, God," she whispered, raising a hand to cover her mouth.

"It's ok, Laura," Steve said, pulling her against him. "You're safe. Nobody hurt you. Tanya and I kept you safe."

"Steve, if the bartender hadn't intervened, or if Alex had waited a few more minutes before making a move, long enough for the drugs to really take effect, I could've been… I would've been raped last night."

Steve pulled her even closer. "I would never, ever let that happen to you," he whispered.

"You couldn't've done anything," she replied, tears stealing her voice. "You wouldn't've known until I didn't come home."

Steve felt his heart contract tightly at the very thought of something so terrible happening to her right under his nose. He was never letting her out of his sight again. He kissed her forehead. "Don't think about that. I gotcha. I'm here. You're safe. You are completely safe."

Laura nuzzled closer to him.

"Laura?" Steve said softly.

"Yes?"

"I want you to know… I didn't touch you last night. I undressed you to get you into your pajamas and into bed, but I didn't touch you otherwise."

Laura pulled away slightly to look up at him. "Of course, you didn't."

"I know I don't have the right to just because you're my wife."

"Steve, I trust you. Completely. I never wondered for a second if you had violated me. I know you would never, ever do that to me when I was that out of it."

"I wouldn't."

"I know." Laura looked at him for a long moment. "Steve, I know you probably have more questions. I know I do, but I'm really sick. Would it be all right if I slept for a little while longer?"

"Of course," he agreed. "Let's get you a pitcher of water and get you back into bed."

When Steve had gotten Laura settled again, he stood to slip out of the room, but Laura grabbed his hand.

"Hold me," she begged.

Steve cocked his head at her sympathetically. "Ok," he whispered, crawling over to his side of the bed. He climbed under the covers and wrapped his arms around her, leaving distance between his pelvis and her rear end.

"You don't have to be so timid," she complained reaching back to tug him closer. "You're the good guy, Steve. I want you to hold me tight, keep me safe."

"I will always keep you safe," he whispered.

"Will you keep talking to me?" she asked. "Just until I fall asleep?"

"About what?"

"Whatever you want," she said. "I just want to hear your voice."

"Ok, Laura Lee. I love you with all my heart. You are the most beautiful, brilliant, loving, kind woman I have ever met."

She smiled softly. "Mm… Keep talking," she grinned.

Steve talked to her until she was fast asleep. She woke up a little later to vomit again. Then she went back to sleep in his arms. Then she threw up again. This went back and forth until Sunday evening, at which point they had to call her parents to cancel Sunday night dinner.

"Just tell him I'm sick," Laura whined. "I feel sick. It's not a lie."

"He needs to know, Jelly Toes."

"He's just going to get upset, Steve."

"I want him to get upset! I want him to do something about this!"

"I told you I didn't wanna go to the police," she complained. "Nothing happened. I don't have any real evidence. All it will do is cause problems for me."

"So you won't press charges, but, Laura, we have to tell your father."

"He'll make me file a police report," Laura whimpered. "I don't want him to know."

Steve frowned deeply. He needed Carl to know. He couldn't be the only man looking out for her right now, but he also didn't want to violate her wishes. What happened to her was personal, and if she didn't want to tell people, he had no right to make her. Steve took a deep breath and dialed the number.

Laura looked away from him, resigning herself to the fact that they had to tell him.

"Hey, Carl," Steve replied. "Listen, we're not gonna make it tonight. Laura got hit with the flu pretty badly last night."

Laura looked up at him in surprise. He was such a good husband. She reached out to him and placed her hand on his thigh, cuddling closer gratefully.