Alex sat up. The screams came from Stevie's room. Tossing aside his blanket he stumbled through the dark room towards her door. Rose and Luke lunged out of Luke's room.
"What's happening?" Rose asked, tugging a shirt down over her chest.
Luke was buttoning his jeans as Alex charged past them.
Alex just shook his head. He could hear Kana and Kaleb crying now. Wrenching open the door he flicked on the light and saw Stevie thrashing on her bed, the blankets tangled around her. Kaleb was sitting up on his bed and Kana screamed from her crib. Alex ignored the children and hurried to Stevie.
"Get the kids out of here, Rose," he growled. "Go with her, Luke."
The children's cries faded and Alex leaned over the bed. "Stevie, Stevie, wake up. It's just a dream. Come on, beautiful, snap out of it."
Stevie's eyes opened and she looked around wildly, shrinking away from him. "Where is he? Don't let him hurt me."
Alex struggled to keep his anger at bay. Sitting down beside her, he touched her hand and found it clammy. "It's okay. He's not here. He won't hurt you."
Stevie closed her eyes and swallowed. "Alex."
Her whimpered cry tore at his heart and he reached over to hold her. Kissing the top of her head he rocked back and forth. She wept into his chest. He could feel the hot tears and each one hurt more than the one before. Kane needed to see what he had reduced this strong woman to. The man should be ashamed of himself.
Alex pushed all thoughts of Kane from his mind and focused on Stevie. She had stopped cry, but her body still shook. She pressed closer to him and he rubbed her back.
"It's okay. I've got you," he murmured. "I've got you."
"Don't let go," she whispered. "Don't let go."
"I won't." Alex felt tears slipping from his eyes.
He couldn't stand seeing Stevie like this. The woman who had never been afraid of anything was gone. He held a shell of the Stevie Hall he had known. This woman was scared and scarred. And he would do anything to have the old Stevie back.
Finally she pushed away from him and laid back against the pillows. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Stevie, don't say that. I'm not sorry. You know you can tell me anything. I'm here to help you." He rested against the headboard and brushed strands of hair from her beautiful face.
She tried to smile, but instead started crying. "He was trying to kill me."
"Stevie." Alex made her look at him. "Kane will never hurt you again. I promise. You're safe now."
She nodded and shivered. "I'm cold."
Without thinking he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Tugging the doona over them both he laid down. "Sleep, Stevie. You'll feel better in the morning."
An occasional hiccup from Stevie broke the silence of the room. Stevie pressed herself into Alex's chest and he rubbed her back.
"Alex, where was Rose? She never came to bed."
Alex looked down at the woman in arms. "Do you really want to know?"
"Alex."
He grinned. That was the Stevie he knew.
She sat up and looked him the eye. "Where was my daughter?"
"She came out of Luke's room."
Stevie took a deep breath and laid back against his chest. "It was bound to happen. I'm just surprised it took this long."
Alex played with a strand of Stevie's hair. "He won't hurt her, you know. Luke cares too much for her to even think of hurting her."
"Are you sure?" Stevie asked, tracing patterns on his chest.
"He knows better than to get on your bad side. Besides, if Rose is anything like you he wouldn't dare step on her toes."
"Are you implying that I'm scary?" He could hear the smile in her voice.
"Not scary, just not to be messed with."
She giggled and it lightened his heart. "Go to sleep, Stevie." He pressed a kiss to her head and flicked off the light.
"Will you stay with me?" Her voice had gone small again and he felt her shiver.
"Always, Cowgirl, always," he whispered.
With her heart beating against his chest and the smell of her perfume wafting over him he closed his eyes. This was how it was suppose to be.