She was an idiot in his opinion. Blake felt nothing as he watched his girlfriend tumble down a flight of twenty something stairs. The only worry he had on his mind was whether or not she'd call the police. He waited at least ten minutes before he moved. With a sigh he slithered down the stairs and stepped over Abby's crumpled body.

There was blood on some of the stairs. He paused, the blood was worrisome, and crouched over her body, looming like a predator over its prey. Lazily he checked for a pulse. She was alive, he smirked, and there was nothing she could do to prove it wasn't an accident. He'd been sure to put up the perfect front of the doting boyfriend.

Blake straightened his frame and sneered down at his girlfriend. For good measure he shoved her so she was face down on the landing at the bottom of the steps. Smirking he straightened his collar and stepped over her and strolled towards the front door, time to head home to a comfy bed. There was no sense in worrying about Abby.

He had nearly made it to the front door when he heard a scuffle behind him. Turning quickly he caught sight of Abby stirring; her hair was starting to become matted with blood as she tried to force herself to her feet. Amusement bubbled to life in his chest as he watched Abby struggled to her feet. Lazily he leaned against the door; he smirked as Abby nearly fell with each step she took.

"Serves her right for being such a stick in the mud," he thought with a smirk as he crossed his arms.

Abby had struggled back into consciousness with a fog engulfing her brain. She vaguely registered that there was something wet trickling down the side of her face. It was a blur as to what happened, all she knew was that she needed to get up and call for help. Something in the back of her mind was screeching like an alarm clock trying to wake her from her dazed state. Her vision was cloudy and a wave of nausea rolled over her at the slightest movement of her head. Despite the pain though she managed to zoom in on what she thought was a phone.

She practically dragged herself to the device and grasped at it desperately as she leaned against the wall. With shaking fingers she tried to punch in the correct numbers, blurred vision made her fumble repeatedly. A low chuckle sounded behind her and sent chills dancing along her spine. Shuddering she turned to find herself facing her attacker, dread curled in her stomach like a snake crushing its prey.

"Who are you trying to call?" Blake's voice was a low purr in Abby's ear.

"You should go!" She hid a shudder at Blake's dark words.

"Who are you calling?" He hissed as he repeated himself. "I want an answer. Now!"

"I need to go to the hospital."

"You're fine."

"I'll be the judge of that." She punched in the number nine.

"I don't think you'll need the hospital." His fingers lurched out and curled around her throat.

"Blake," She croaked as his grip began tightening. Abby could feel the air leaving her lungs and she choked and gasped for air. Panic flooded her mind and she let the phone crash to the ground and she began to fight with all she had. Desperately she clawed at Blake's left arm, she managed to rip the jacket sleeve and the shirt sleeve beneath it. Adrenaline pumping through her veins she clawed at the skin. With all her mind she dug into his arm. Air, she needed air.

"You worthless girl!" He yelled in pain and backhanded Abby across the face. Angrily he ripped free of her grip and hit her again. He sent her sprawling on the floor and snarled down at her.

Abby laid flat on the floor, she was paralyzed by fear. Fear paralyzed her until she heard the door slamming shut and the sound of Blake's car zooming away from the parking lot. Warily she struggled to her feet and stumbled to the table beside the front door. Blinking past all her pain Abby managed to find her keys and get to her car. Help…she had to get help.

The race was just getting to its climax, things were heating up on the track and Cal was about to take the lead. Lynda Weathers sat beside Tex as they watched the race unfold before them. Anticipation filled the air with excitement and it took a lot of willpower for Tex and Lynda to stay in their seats.

"Come on Cal!" Lynda yelled in excitement. Beside her Tex leaned forward in his seat intently.

"That's it Cal!" Tex grinned at Lynda as Cal edged even closer to taking the lead. The buzz of Tex's phone drew his attention away from the race, he didn't know the number but his gut screamed at him to answer and not ignore it.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Mr. Tex Dinoco?"

"It sure is, who is this?"

"This is Nurse Ellen Danvers at Westerville General Hospital. I'm calling as you are listed as Abilene Dinoco's emergency contact."

"What happened? Is she alright?" Panic surged through his gut and he stood to his feet without thinking.

"She's been in an accident, at the moment she's in ICU. They just brought her out of surgery…"

"What kind of accident? How long ago? Why'd she have surgery?" His worried tone drew Lynda's attention.

"Tex…" She came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his arm.

"She appears to have taken a tumble down a flight of stairs; she only came in about half an hour ago. I believe she drove herself to the hospital."

"How bad is it?"

"She's dislocated her left shoulder, cracked some ribs and a slight puncture to her right lung. Her face has severe bruising as well as her neck and she's sustained a concussion."

"I'll be there in a couple of hours." Tex's back stiffened and his hand curled further around his phone.

"Alright, thank you for your time Mr. Dinoco."

"Tex… What's wrong?"

"Abby's in the hospital…I'm heading out." He stuffed his phone into his pocket.

"I'm coming with you."

"Just leave Strip a message." Tex hurried out with his heart thudding in his ears.

"What happened?" Lynda fell in step beside him.

"They say she fell down some stairs…an accident."

"That doesn't sound like our Abby."

"It isn't." With a neutral tone he listed off her injuries.

"That poor child."

The pair trudged away from the main building in total silence, both of them worried about Abby. Eventually they made it to the place where they were supposed to meet Rotor. Lynda said nothing as they loaded into the helicopter; she simply offered her silent support. It was the longest ride of Tex's life and most of the time he remained quiet through the flight. He was extremely thankful for the Weathers family.

Tex wasn't a huge fan of hospitals, it was stiff, starchy and stifling. There was a sense of entrapment in the halls as he walked behind the nurse that was leading him to ICU. It was like walking down a hall of death. Incessant beeping rattled in Tex's ears, he hated that sound, it was too ominous.

His heart wrenched as he stepped into Abby's hospital room. She was a ghost of a figure; her skin was nearly as pale as the sheets. Abby's face was mottled with bruises, her eyes were black and blue, and a white bandage encircled her head while her left arm was strapped tightly to her chest. She looked as fragile as glass and it made his throat tight with emotion. A slight cough caught his attention and his eyes zoomed in on the figure sitting beside Abby's bedside.

Blake looked far too at ease in that chair; it made Tex's blood boil. He didn't belong next to his sister, his gut twisted and something clicked into place. Static roared in his ears and his vision tinted red, Blake did this to Abby, Tex was sure of it.

"He ain't family, he can leave." Tex's jaw clenched in anger, he turned to the nurse.

"He said he was her fiancé." The nurse frowned.

"There ain't no ring," He took a step towards Blake. "What happened?" His tone was quiet but dangerous.

"I got a call," Blake's voice dropped. "She was in…an accident."

"You can get out now." Tex left no room for argument.

"She's my fiancée, I have a right to be here."

"I don't see a ring."

"She had it when I dropped her off at her apartment."

"Then you were there when her accident happened." Tex clenched his fist as he reigned in his anger.

"No, we went out to dinner. I proposed and kissed her good night. She went inside and after that…who knows." He leaned back in the chair and looked at Tex challengingly.

"She wouldn't say yes to you," Tex grabbed Blake by the jacket and hauled him up. "She wouldn't say yes to you. Not after a few months."

"Tex," Lynda spoke soothingly as she tugged him away from Blake.

"Well I can see where she gets her winning personality from, Mr. Dinoco."

"Can't say I know her," Tex's words dripped with sarcasm as he scowled at the smooth talker.

"I think you should leave." Lynda frowned at Blake disapprovingly. She didn't like him one little bit.

"I'm well within my rights," he settled into the chair beside Abby's bed. "Abs will want to see me. Why would she want me to leave?"

"I'll give you twenty seconds before I call hospital security on you." Her eyes glittered dangerously.

"Ma'am, I intend to wait till she wakes up. If I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her, providing for her, then I intend to wait for her to wake up. Security has already been alerted as to who I am."

"You had no right. Fiancé doesn't mean so much legally." Tex gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to deck the smart mouthed abuser.

"I have every right." Blake smirked and leaned back.

Tex scowled and let his gaze scour over Blake in search of any sign that the punk had hit his sister. He was going to find a way to make him pay for putting Abby in a hospital bed, it was nothing less than he deserved. As he was conducting his investigation, Lynda had turned to page security. Tex needed to work fast in order to nail the thug. Blake moved a bit and Tex's eyes zoned in on what looked like fresh scrapes on one of Blake's arms. In a flash Tex snatched Blake's arm and slid the sleeve up.

"What, do you think you're doing?" Blake hissed at Tex.

"Confirming my theory," Tex jerked him to his feet just as security entered the room.

"I would suggest you unhand me."

"You hit her." Disgust rippled through Tex's gut and he shoved Blake into the waiting arms of security.

"No proof."

"Sir, by request of her brother we're asking you to leave." A female security officer grabbed his arm accidentally revealing long nail marks that are freshly scabbed over.

"He doesn't have room to be giving orders!"

"You'll take care of him?" Lynda spoke quietly while holding back a furious Tex.

"I think not! I've spent money and time on that worthless girl! I think I deserve to to at least have her marry me! She owes me." Blake yelled at Tex.

"You're going down, Blake. An offense like this will get you into serious trouble." The unspoken I'll make you pay, hung in the air like lead.

"Assualt? My cat did this. Abby loves me."

"No one said anything about assault sir." The female officer tightened her grip on Blake and dragged him from the room.

With a sigh Tex settled into the chair beside Abby as Blake was dragged away. Gently he slid a hand over Abby's uninjured one. He felt exhausted all at once as Lynda flipped on the TV to show the final lap of the race. How could sweet and innocent Abby get involved with someone like Blake, it just didn't make sense. Then again love could blind a person. He felt like he'd failed her as he watched her face more than the race. She looked like a fragile china doll, it was disconcerting to say the least. Sighing softly he took her hand in his and turned to face the TV. A soft whimper escaped Abby and Tex found himself making another silent promise.

"He's never gonna hurt you again Abs. I'll make sure of it. I'll buy a security firm if I have to." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. He'd make sure that jerk never touched her again. As his eyes fixed back on the race the Dinoco tycoon settled into place as Abby's guardian angel. No one but no one was going to hurt his baby sister again…especially if they knew what was good for them.