Tex had never seen his little sister so still, it was disconcerting to see her so lifeless. It had taken two full weeks for Abby to wake; the damage done by Blake had put her into a coma. Two weeks without talking to Abby had the Dinoco tycoon on edge and it had given him plenty of time to arrange for the prosecution of Blake Winthrop. The punk was going to pay dearly for hurting the youngest Dinoco, Tex would make sure of it.

He hadn't planned on moving Abby's things from her apartment, but after two days he'd discovered that Blake had begun pilfering. This had caused Tex to hire packing crews to collect all of Abby's personal belongings. He couldn't allow that snake to get anything, so he moved her back into his house. There was plenty of room for Abby. In fact he still had her old room ready, he just wished she was returning under better circumstances.

The days in the hospital were agonizingly slow for Tex and he often found himself being dragged out of Abby's room by Lynda, Gray, or Luke. Sometimes, when there wasn't a race going on Strip would step in to make sure he was taking care of himself. He'd never seen Lynda so angry, after two days with Abby not moving she'd been ready to flog Blake. Tex would be lying if he hadn't been tempted to take her to teach Blake a lesson. Unfortunately the best way to nail Blake was to do it nice and legal. He needed to be put away for a long time.

Gray had heard the news through a text from Tex, he'd just finished locking up the trailer after the race. It was a great night until he'd received that message, everything turned sour after that. He was a burly fellow and to some he might seem a bit gruff, but he was a softy deep down, especially when it came to Abby. He'd known her since he'd joined team Dinoco, when she'd stumbled into him down at the pits. The two had shared junk food and stories which eventually lulled her to sleep. Ever since then the pair had kept in touch and always sent him presents on his birthday and Christmas.

Luke didn't know Abby too well, but she was part of team Dinoco, so when he found out about her abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, he was furious. No one, no one treated a member of his team like that and got away with it. There was no calming down the outraged man, he was getting revenge. He was sure there had to be a way to make Blake pay without getting caught. With that thought in mind he recruited Gray; he knew that the truck driver would want in on paying the jerk, Blake Winthrop a visit.

"Are you sure he's going to show?" Gray turned to shoot Luke a curious glance.

"Of course he'll show, he's a scumbag, they always come back to the scene of the crime." Luke parked the car in front of Abby's former apartment.

"How are we supposed to get in? Tex gave the key back to the landlord."

"I took the liberty of asking the landlord for the key. We have to 'collect' some things that were left behind." Luke grinned at Gray and slid out of the car with ease.

"I'm not going to ask how you know he's going to show up."

"Just follow my lead Gray."

"Yeah, we know how that turned out last time. It ended with four staples and twenty stitches in my arm." Gray grumbled to himself as he followed his friend up the path to Abby's door.

"Hey! It's not my fault that the bowling ball tripped you."

"Sure… Just unlock the door."

Quietly the pair slipped into Abby's apartment and settled themselves into the remaining living room furniture. Luke prepared himself for the appearance of the boyfriend. He clenched his fists into balls and imagined punching the jerk. He smirked to himself. The boy wouldn't know what hit him. The minutes ticked by as they waited, it was getting annoying, waiting on a punk.

Finally at five minutes past eight the door rattled and Blake himself strutted in. Gray frowned at the sight before him. The punk was carrying a box under his arm as if he was collecting things that belonged to him. He gritted his teeth to keep from immediately chewing the boy out, he didn't like him at all.

"Who are you?" Blake's voice was arrogant and grated across Luke's nerves.

"The new owners, you're trespassing." Luke crossed his arms and stared straight at Blake.

"I don't think so," Blake turned as if looking for Abby. "I have something to collect."

"Yeah, like what?" Luke ducked in front of him effectively blocking the exit.

"My girlfriend," He grit his teeth and stared down at Luke. The little man was infuriating Blake.

"She ain't yours, frat boy." Luke smirked. "So I would suggest you take your interests elsewhere."

"I beg to differ…Little man." Blake shoved past Luke. Smirking Luke grabbed his arm, twisted it behind him and shoved him into Gray.

"Where do you think you're going?" Gray asked as he pinned Blake's arms firmly behind his back.

"I don't think my life is any of your business."

"Bullies are my business. Answers now." Luke punched him in the stomach.

"No." Blake kicked backwards trying to strike Gray's knees.

Gray wasn't having any of it. He easily wrestled Blake around and punched him so hard in the eye that he went sprawling through the front door. Anger was clear in Blake's face as he staggered to his feet and brushed off his grey suit. With a glare he turned on his heel with the intent to find his girlfriend. Luke frowned; he couldn't let the punk get away with only a few bruises so he tackled him to the ground. Quickly he landed various punches across Blake's face. Shaking his head Gray stalked up behind Luke and shoved him far enough away to grab Blake. Quickly he hauled Abby's former boyfriend up and pushed him against the building.

"Don't ever come back." Gray slowly released him only for Blake to turn on Luke and punch him.

"You don't get to tell me what to do!" Blake clipped Luke's right eye.

"I think we do." Luke returned the punch leveling him to the ground. Without pausing he kicked Blake in the ribs. The sound of an engine coming closer caused Luke and Gray to glance at one another.

"Now the authorities are going to be called." Blake smirked at them as he picked himself up again.

"Quick Gray, the trunk!" Luke jerked his head towards the car.

Quickly Gray hauled Blake up by the arm and easily maneuvered him over to the car. With a sly smile he popped the trunk and tossed Blake inside before slamming it shut. As the sound of the nearby engine came closer the pair of friends hurriedly loaded themselves into the car and drove away.

"Where are we going?" Gray glanced at Luke.

"Oh, I thought we could take a trip to the lake." Luke grinned at his friend.

"Luke…"

"A little swim won't hurt pretty boy. In fact I think it might cool his temper off."

Gray shook his head at Luke as they turned down the road leading to the lake. It was time to serve an extra helping of revenge, team Dinoco style.

Blake was soaking wet when he managed to make it back to his own house. His designer suit was woefully ruined and his hair was a sopping mess. It was in that state that the reporters and policeman found him as he tried to enter his home. An officer couldn't help but smirk subtly as he grabbed hold of the drenched man. Camera's blazed like wildfire as Blake was read his rights.

"You have the right to remain silent…"

"I know what they say!" Blake jerked in the officer's hold and managed to cuff him across the jaw. "And I don't know why you're arresting me."

"Sir, we need you to put your hands in the air."

"I don't think so! My father will hear of this." He tried to brush past the officer only to find a Taser pulled on him.

"Stand down Mr. Winthrop."

"I'm going inside." He scowled and took another step. A shocked expression came across his face and he crumpled to the ground as the Taser was effectively used on him.

The image of Blake Winthrop being subdued by the police was a welcome sight on the six o'clock news. Tex felt a deep satisfaction as he watched the footage of Texas police officers dragging the unconscious bully into a patrol car. It was even more satisfying when he witnessed the trial of his sister's attacker. The wheels of justice were in motion and it was a beautiful sight. Apparently Blake Winthrop would not only face abuse charges but resisting arrest along with assaulting a police officer would be added to the ever growing charges.

Tex let a victorious smirk touch his lips as the jury reconvened. The sheer disgust on some of the jurors' faces was enough to give him the answer he wanted. They'd found Blake guilty, Tex gripped his Stetson in one hand as he waited for the spokesman of the jury to stand. He held his breath until the word he had waited for was spoken.

"We find the defendant…Guilty."

A deafening cheer raced through the spectators of the trial. No one except Blake's parents had wanted him to go free. Team Dinoco as a group glanced at the judge, awaiting his sentencing. The shouting settled as Blake jerked to his feet sending his chair clattering to the ground.

"This is ridiculous! I haven't done anything wrong!" Blake glared at the judge.

"Sit down, Mr. Winthrop, or I will fine you with contempt of court." The grey haired judge frowned.

"I will not sit down! This is an outrage." Blake stormed up towards the judges' bench. An officer intercepted him as the judges' gavel came down with an ominous thud.

"That is quite enough Mr. Winthrop. I charge you with contempt of court, resisting arrest, assault on an officer of the law, assault with intent to kill, and abuse. You are hereby sentenced with ten years in prison, with no chance of parole. Case dismissed. Please, bailiff, remove him from my courtroom."

The cheers resumed and the yells of an irate Blake Winthrop echoed through the courtroom. It took two officers to drag him from the courtroom, but Tex found it amusing to see how earnestly Blake thought he would escape justice. With a quiet sigh he glanced at his phone and hoped that Abby would wake up soon to see the justice that had been served. As if someone had heard his plea his phone rang in his hand and he quickly answered. It was the hospital.

"Mr. Dinoco, your sister is showing signs of waking up. You might want to get over here."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes." Tex plopped his Stetson on his head and quickly exited the courtroom with the rest of Team Dinoco on his heels.

He had just settled into his seat beside her bed when she woke up. Her eyes fluttered open and the blue eyes he had missed seeing for two weeks peered up at him. It was the greatest sight in the world. His eyes teared up as she blearily reached for his hand, he had worried that there had been irreversible damage.

"Abs?" His voice choked up as he clasped her smaller hand in his calloused one.

"Tex…" She croaked past dry lips.

"I'm here." He squeezed her hand gently.

"I'm so sorry."

"What's to be sorry about?" He brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "You didn't do anything."

"Aren't you supposed to be at the race?"

"You've been out two weeks Abs."

"Two weeks?" Confusion clouded her face. "Blake….where is he?" Panic colored her words all at once.

"He's not here. You won't have to worry about him for a long while."

"How did you…?"

"I put two and two together. He confessed as well. You're safe."

"Can I move back in with you?" Her voice was hesitant as if Tex would deny her.

"Of course you can." He kissed her cheek gently. "You're always welcome Abs."

"And…You're sure he's gone? He…won't hurt me?"

"I'm sure." His voice was firm. "And if he ever comes around I'll knock him out. I've always got your back kiddo."

"I know you do Tex." Abby yawned and let her eyes flutter closed.

"I'm glad you know kid, I'm glad you know." Tex smiled, leaned back in his chair and drifted off to sleep as well. All was right in the Dinoco family once more.