Stalked

Chapter 3

Nick hangs up the phone and looks worriedly at Sara, she hasn't spoken all afternoon, for hours she's been sitting on the sofa twisting her wedding band, a sob escaping her lips every now and again. He watches her for a few moments, trying to pluck up the courage to say something but he can't bare to tell her what Cath has just told him.

"Sara you look exhausted, why don't you go lie down?" he says.

"I don't want to lie down. I just want this to be over." she snaps. "I'm a strong person Nick, you know that, I hate feeling weak and violated and...scared. I hate it."

"I know Sara, I'm sorry. Cath has everyone at the lab working on this. I promise it will be over soon." Nick whispers as he squeezes her shoulder.

"I haven't even even mentioned it to Gil, he'd only worry. I wish he was here though." sighs Sara. "Hey, how about we watch a couple of movies? It might help take my mind off things."

Nick, not wanting to tell Sara about Gil coming to Vegas or the chocolates, reluctantly agrees. "Sounds good. You pick the movies, I'll get the popcorn." he says and heads into the kitchen.

When he returns, Sara says, "Okay, first off, it was a toss up between a love story, a comedy or an action movie. The action movie won. You ready?" she asks.

"Shoot." he replies.

Sara starts the movie and they both settle down to watch. The sound of car chases and gun fire fills the room.

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On the street outside Nick house, there's a black truck parked up. The driver dressed in dark clothes, impatiently tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. His face is hard and angry, yet desperate at the same time. He smiles suddenly when he sees the lights go out. "Not long now my angel, we'll be together very soon."

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Nick awakes a few hours later, startled by the ending credits of their second movie, some comedy with a little action thrown in. He looks over at Sara and smiles, she's finally asleep. He stands to cover her with a blanket, checks the locks and heads off to bed. Turning out the lights as he moves.

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Cath is standing in the airport waiting for the passengers to start walking through from arrivals. The flight Gil was on landed at 1am, it's now 1:30 and she's sick of waiting. She's losing patience when her phone rings but she answers with a smile. "Hey you..."

"Cath, we may have a problem." comes Tony's voice.

"What do you mean?" asks Cath, her blood starting to run cold.

"There's a call just came in from somebody on Nick's street. There's a black truck, with no licence plates, hanging around. I can't get hold of Nick so I've sent two unmarked cars to check it out and I'm on my way."

"Damn. I'm at the airport waiting for Gil. We'll be there soon." she says and hangs up. "This is ridiculous." she mutters to herself as she heads towards a security guard at the arrivals door.

"Excuse me, my name is Catherine Willows, I'm with the Las Vegas Crime Lab." she says to the security guard, shoving her badge in his face. "I need to reach one of the passengers off the flight from Paris immediately."

"I'm sorry ma'am but..." the security guard starts to protest before being cut off.

"Listen buddy, just open the doors please and we won't cause a scene." snarls Jim Brass as he walks up behind Cath, flashing his badge.

"Yes sir." mutters the guard and he opens the doors.

Cath takes off running in search of Gil, she spots him within seconds as he's running towards her.

"Gil.."

"Cath, how's Sara?" he asks, without even greeting her.

"We may have a problem. Come on." she says, and the pair take off running.

They run past the luggage carousels and through the doors into the awaiting crowd. Jim joins them as they run from the airport. "Vartann's just phoned, it's the same truck. I'll meet you there." he says as he comes to a stop at his vehicle. Cath and Gil jump in their car, flash the emergency lights and speed away from the airport.

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Sara awakes with a start, she sighs and looks to clock on the VCR, it reads 1:50am. She sighs again and she's just about to stand up, when she notices the figure across the room. "Nicky? Sorry, did I wake you?" she whispers.

"No my angel." comes a strange, yet familiar voice.

Sara leaps up, but before she has chance to move or scream, she's knocked back down, hitting the floor instead of the sofa. He's astride her, one rough hand covering her mouth, the other hand pinning her arms to the floor above her head. Her mind is racing. She can't move, she can't scream and she recognises the man on top of her but she place him. He's smiling an evil smile and muttering to himself. He's been waiting a long time for this moment and he can't let her spoil it, so he lifts her head and hits it of the floor, stunning her so that she's half unconscious. "I'm sorry my angel. Forgive me." he whispers as he relishes the feel of her delicate skin under his hands. He starts to undress himself as he stares at his sleeping angel, unbuttoning his shirt and his jeans, his fingers inching closer to the button on Sara's trousers.

Seconds later, Sara's eyes flutter open, she's dazed and her body feels like stone. Her heart is pounding as she struggles to move and she tries to scream out but she can't find her voice. He's still astride her and his almost naked body is twitching with excitement. She tries to struggle away from him.

"No my angel, please don't struggle. I don't want to hurt you again." he whispers in her ear.

Sara stops struggling, so she can gather some strength and her voice.

"Did you receive the gifts I sent you?" he asks.

Sara nods her head in reply whilst looking into his dark and desperate eyes.

"We'll have fun with those won't we my angel?"

Again, Sara just nods her head. Tears streaming down her cheeks as she tries not to think about the vile, disgusting items which she received earlier.

As he trails one hand down her body, she starts to struggle again, flailing her legs wildly. She manages to kick the table near her right leg and the lamp, which is standing on it, crashes to the ground. Her attacker jumps off of her, just long enough for Sara to let out an ear piercing scream before he pulls her up. He pulls her against him, her back against his chest, his left arm around her waist, as his right arm tightens around her neck.

Within seconds the lights flicker on, Sara spots Nick at the door to the room, a look of horror on his face, pointing the gun in their direction. Sara's hands are scratching at her attackers arm, trying to loosen the grip around her neck. Just then, everything seems to happen at once. The door to the house is kicked open as Vartann an another two officer run in, Sara's attacker throws her to the floor and bounds towards Vartann, who fires his gun. The bullet misses and hits the wall so he lunges forward, pushing him to the ground and knocking the wind out of him.

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Cath and Gil screech to a stop at the end of Nicks street, the street has been closed off, so they leap from the car and head towards the house. A gunshot rings through the night silence, urging Cath and Gil to to run that little bit quicker. As they reach the front door, two police officers are leading Sara's stalker out.

"Oh my...that's Michael Parker, he works at the coffee shop a few streets away from our house. Sara calls in for a coffee almost every day before shift..." says Gil, trailing off as Michael stares at him.

"You don't love her like I love her. I'd treasure her and NEVER let her out of my site. You don't deserve her." screams Michael.

Gil steps towards Michael, his fists are clenched as he slowly lifts his arms.

"Gil..." warns Cath.

He immediately stops, as if he's just remembered why he's here, he turns and steps into the house. He moves into the living room and his heart completely shatters at the sight of his wife, holding tightly to Nick, breaking down. He slowly walks over to them whilst trying to hold back his tears. He crouches down next to Sara, who hasn't seen him yet, and Nick slowly eases her into her husbands arms. As Sara cries into Gil's chest, a death grip on his shoulders, he kisses her head and looks towards Cath, Nick and Vartann. "Thank you." he mouths to them, then he sets his attention back to Sara.

After half an hour or so, Gil finds Sara asleep, so he lifts her up and Nick shows him to the bedroom.

"Thank you Nick. Do you mind if I stay with her?" he asks.

"Of course not. I might head down to the station if that's okay? Help yourself to anything you want." whispers Nick.

"Okay, thanks. I'll see you later.

Nick smiles and walks out of the bedroom, leaving Gil alone with his sleeping wife.

Thanks for reading guys.

Chapter 4 will be up soon.