Thank you for the wonderful response to this story! I'm not exactly sure where this is going to go, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

I don't own anything except the ideas.

Chapter 2

That was just like Derek Wills, drop a bomb on someone and then walk away as if nothing had happened. I limped back to the dressing room to wait for Jessica and take some more pain meds. My mind was so focused on what Derek had said that I didn't see Dev standing in the corner. As I sat down I heard a noise that made me look up and I was instantly filled with fear.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to sound confident and keep the terror out of my voice.

"I just wanted to apologize for last night. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me." He started walking toward me and I was frozen with fear. He lifted his hand and brushed a strand of hair off of my face.

"Leave me alone Dev, I don't want you here! Please go." My tough exterior was rapidly crumbling. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, then I saw his face change and I knew I was in trouble.

"What do you mean you don't want me here?" He shouted, the anger dripping from every word. I closed my eyes and prayed that Jessica would walk in, as I opened my eyes I saw his hand coming towards my face again, only this time it was coming out of anger and not out of guilt. I felt the sting on my cheek, then Dev was on the ground and Derek was hitting him.

"Derek stop, please. He's not worth it. Just let him go." I said, my voice shaking and my cheek aching.

"He's not worth it? Of course he's not worth it, but you are Karen. I'm calling the police." Derek said with a strange mix of affection and anger.

"You assaulted me and you're going to call the cops?" Dev said, aghast that someone might think that someone would dare to cross him.

"You beat the bloody hell out of her last night. You deserve to be in jail." Derek said, his voice full of visceral anger.

"That's none of your business. That's between me and Karen." Dev said, his tough guy act starting to come unraveled faced with someone he couldn't beat up easily.

"It damn well is my business. She's my star and you tried to break her, but she doesn't break so easily does she Dev" Derek spat his name out like it was Satan's own.

"She doesn't belong to you, she belongs to me." Dev said, putting his head down, knowing that he'd been beaten by the mighty Derek Wills.
"I don't belong to either of you, but I am going to press charges." I said softly, turning to look at the crowd that had gathered I had decided it was time, "Will someone please call the police?"

"Damn it Karen, you can't do that to me!" Dev yelled, while still being held back by Derek.

"You broke her rib and sprained her ankle and then you come here and assault her again, she should have called the police last night." Derek's words rang true and I was filled with regret for not having called the police sooner, but I guess late is better than never and now that I knew I couldn't trust him at all, I had to do this.

"I didn't mean to hurt her," Dev said putting his head down, "I just love her so much."

"Well, I don't love you any more Dev. Just leave me alone. Please." I begged my voice sounded so much smaller than I wanted it to.

The police arrived moments later and took Dev away in handcuffs. They took my statement and left the theater. The whole fiasco had really taken away rehearsal time and Derek was more on edge than ever. I was sure that Derek was going to replace me after wasting so much of his rehearsal time.

"Okay people, back to work. We have a lot to do and very little time to get it done. Ms. Cartwright, a moment."

My heart sank, knowing that this was the moment I had been dreading, knowing that all the kindness that he had showed me to this point merely an act to get me through my performance.
"Are you okay to continue rehearsing?" He asked, his voice full of concern.
"Yea, I'll be fine. I just…" my voice trailing off as I thought about all that had happened in the last 24 hours.

"I know. You're going to be wonderful tonight just like you were last night. Just remember to grab hold of those emotions and exploit them."

"Art isn't therapy, I know. I'll be fine Derek." I said, more confident than I really felt, but slowly feeling my inner Marilyn returning.

The rehearsal seemed to drag on forever, but we finished with three hours before we had to be back for that evening's preview. I was looking forward to a nice relaxing dinner and maybe a nap before I had to be back, but those thoughts were interrupted.

"Ms. Cartwright, I need to see you." Derek yelled as everyone else was filing out of the theater.
"Yes Mr. Wills, what do you need?" I asked, trying not to let my irritation come through.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Do you need a ride home?" His face soft again and his voice once again filled with a concern that I was starting to think was reserved for me alone.

"I…I'm fine, I just want to grab a bite to eat and take a nap before I have to be back."
"Well, at least let me take you out to eat and drive you back to the hotel. Please," he added, seeing the discomfort on my face.
"Okay, but no funny business."
He laughed a genuine laugh that I hadn't heard before.

"Okay, no funny business, darling."