A/N: Special thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Thanks to the Chapter 4 reviewers, Huntersgirl, Lance Cortex and Mentally-Unstable. You guys make writing so much easier.
"Melony! Wake up!" Taker shook her until she sat up on the bed. Her face was wet with tears, her complexion pale and the tee shirt she slept in was soaked with sweat. "What the hell is wrong? Why are you screaming for Kurt?"
She tried to gather her thoughts, but her mind was overloaded. She looked around the room, recalling the nightmare, her heart palpitated. Images of Kurt flashed through her mind, as she tried in vain to shake them away. A dull ache ran through her heart, as reality set in. She really missed Kurt.
"I'm fine Mark. It was just a nightmare. Although, my life is an actual nightmare. You know what I mean." Mel ran a shaky hand through her damp hair.
Taker got up to grab another beer from the fridge, he popped the cap and took a swig. "Looks like some night you had here. Glad to see you managed to unwind." He teased, gesturing at the discarded wine bottles and strewn clothes.
Mel rolled her eyes. "Mark, are you going to tell me what happened with Bubba?" She hugged a pillow close, as her mind wandered to thoughts of Kurt. She wasn't too sure she wanted to hear anything about Bubba at this moment. But she had to face life again.
"Well." Mark paused, taking another drink of the Corona. "Things went well. Teddy pulled a few strings and got Bubba suspended for six weeks. It wasn't too hard considering what he did to you." Taker downed the rest of the bottle and reached for another. He knew that the suspension was only a temporary fix for Mel, but he was hoping that it would buy him enough time to help fate along. Mel was like a sister to him and he hated to see her so miserable.
"Bubba isn't going to go home without me. He will come looking for me. I can't face him Mark. I just can't." She thought of what Bub was capable of, how much anger he harbored and for the first time ever, she feared for her life. Even when he wasn't around, he still had ways of making her life miserable. Maybe it was time that she finally had it out with Bub, and ended everything. The question was, could she find the strength she needed to stand up to him?
"Don't worry about Bubba coming anywhere near you. I'm not leaving your side. If he tries anything, I won't be so nice this time. I'll give him a pounding with these old soup bones that he won't recover from." Taker clenched his fist and demonstrated a few boxing moves. Mel smiled and hugged him.
"I really don't know what I would do without you Mark. Thank you so much, for everything." Taker nodded, and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"No problem Mel. You know I couldn't just sit by and do nothing. Now, can I get some sleep? Our flight leaves tomorrow at 12:20 pm You gonna be ready?" He asked with skepticism, as he plopped down on the other bed that occupied the room.
"I'll be ready Mark. Don't worry. Goodnight." Her comments were met with loud snoring, as she laid back down, praying the nightmares would spare her for the next few hours.