Carly sat on the edge of the bed, listening to him downstairs getting ready for work. It had been the longest three days of her life. She looked at the clock on the nightstand hoping he left before the shuttle got there to take her to the airport.
She froze, hearing his footsteps come up the stairs, hoping he was coming to kiss her goodbye. She felt she might cry the entire time she was gone if he didn't.
She stared at the doorway and he suddenly appeared. He wasn't in his normal work apparel. That day he wore dark dress slacks and a button down blue shirt. She didn't think she had ever seen him look so handsome. However, the expression on his face mirrored hers.
He leaned against the door frame, looking from her to the carry on bag next to the bed. "I wish you'd let me take you to the airport. It's ridiculous that you're taking a shuttle."
"You have that meeting this morning and who knows with traffic. I don't want you to be late. Besides," she grinned, "you'd probably take me the long way around the island."
He walked toward her, holding his hand out. She took it happily and stood up.
"Promise me that you won't go to the house without Craig."
She nodded, "I promise. It won't take me long anyway. I've made a list of things I want. It's not much."
He brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it. He wanted to tell her again not to go, but instead he said nothing. He had checked out Allan's story and found his name on a flight manifest to Houston about the same time that Carly would be landing. That had put some of his worry at ease, but he still couldn't shake that intuitive feeling that she was wrong. He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I love you."
She laid her forehead on his shoulder, thankful for that. "Please don't worry. I left the hotel information on the desk." She looked up at him smiling. "I'll be home on Sunday and we can make up for the last three days." She rubbed her hands over his chest, "I love you too." The concern in his eyes didn't change, which frustrated her. "Steve, please don't do this."
"Then don't you do this," he countered.
She let her hands drop, sitting back down on the bed. "Why are you trying to make me feel bad about this?"
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" he asked, feeling the same frustration.
"That's what it feels like. I'm doing this for us, so we can move on!" she said, feeling like she'd said it a hundred times over the last three days, but it just wasn't sinking in. She looked up at him curiously, "Please don't tell me that you think I'm going to meet Allan?" His expression went from concerned to angry. She quickly tried to cover it, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
"That never crossed my mind," he said coolly, "should it have?"
"No," she replied regretfully, "of course not." She reached out, taking his hand." I'm sorry Steve."
He decided then that his argument for this trip was over. That comment stung. He bent over and kissed her on the cheek only, "I'll see you Sunday." He turned and walked out of the room.
She had done it again. She had brought her twisted relationship with Allan into she and Steve's. That was a comment she would have accused him of, not Steve. She put her hands up to her face, cursing herself for such a careless mistake. She heard the door close, feeling that distance between them growing. She wished he was coming with her, but it was too late now and she had only herself to blame.
Steve came into the reception area of the Governor's office, seeing Danny already there.
"Good Morning Commander," the receptionist acknowledged him. "Governor Denning is on a phone call at the moment and will be with you shortly.
"Thank you." He took a seat next to Danny. "Hey."
"People will say we look like twins," he joked, commenting on their matching outfits of slacks and shirt.
Steve smiled only slightly, not feeling the humor.
"What's with you?"
He looked over at him, reminding him with the frown on his face.
"So she's still going."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "She's going."
"I don't know what you're worried about. We checked him out. He's confirmed booked on that flight, your buddies going with her to the house and she's staying in a hotel. You covered her bases."
He looked over at him, "Then why can't I be as relaxed as you and everyone else?"
"I don't know. Do you not trust her?"
"Of course I trust her!"
Danny shrugged, "Maybe you don't want her to get divorced. Maybe you're not ready for that commitment yet."
Steve sat up, glaring at him, "Yes I am! I love..." he hesitated and then rephrased it. "I'm not afraid to be with her. Jesus Danny."
"Then it must be your controlling issue. You can't stand that you're not there to control the situation."
"It's not that!" he said, getting pissed off by the irritating line of questions that he asked.
Danny sat back, casually laying his arm on the back of the chair next to him. "Then what is it?"
Steve let out a breath, knowing exactly what it was and why he was pushing him. "I just don't feel right about it."
"You don't feel right, or is it that nagging little voice in your head," he said knowingly, quickly holding his hand up, "and let me say thank God that voice is in your head or I might have strangled it a long time ago." He leaned over speaking frank to him now, "That weird little voice is consistently right. It's like your sixth sense and you know it. Hell, even I know it! So why are you ignoring it?"
Steve went to say something when the receptionist spoke up.
"Commander McGarrett, Detective Williams, the Governor will see you now."
They both stood up. Steve looked to the exit when the Governor came out of his office.
"Good morning gentleman. Come inside."
Danny waited to see what he was going to do.
Steve stood there like he was frozen to the floor. He knew his duty was to walk toward the Governor, but a more important part of him was pulling him in another direction. He felt a nudge on his arm as Danny held the keys to the Camaro out to him.
"Switch cars, you'll get there faster and can park in the drop off zone."
Steve looked at him, reaching in his pocket taking his keys out handing them to him as he took the others. He looked across the room to the Governor standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry Sir. I…" he started walking toward the exit, "I have to go. I apologize."
He looked at both of them oddly, "Did you just get a case?"
"No Sir," Steve said, backing away from him. "I have to go to the airport."
"Commander, we've had this meeting on the books for three weeks and you are telling me now that you can't make it?"
Steve glanced at his watch, knowing her flight left in less than an hour. "Sir I can't stay…" he looked at Danny for help.
"Just go," he motioned with his hands. "I'll take care of it."
"I'm sorry Sir," was all he could say. The pull was so great now that nothing was going to stop him.
Danny walked over to the office door. "Let me explain, Governor. You're a married man right?" He followed him inside closing the door behind him.
Steve pulled up to the end of the terminal drop off zone and got out, motioning to one of the security guards, showing him his badge. "I won't be long."
He nodded his approval.
He went inside and scanned the immediate area for her.
Carly came out of security and slipped her shoes back on. She sat on the bench for an extra minute, staring at the ground, thinking about him. She had done that non-stop since he had left her earlier. She played their last conversation over and over in her head and every time she did, it was like pouring salt in the wound, only it was Steve's wound and she was the horrible one that held the ingredient.
She stood up, pulling her carry-on and walking slowly toward the gate as eager passengers walked past her like she was standing still. With every step she took she felt the gap growing between them until she finally stopped not able to take another step, wondering what she was doing there. It was as if a light finally came on and she understood. He was just trying to protect her and she didn't trust his judgment. She didn't trust him. That one thought was what brought the tears.
She hung her head, trying to hide that she was standing in the middle of the terminal crying.
She had made so many bad decisions in her life and here she stood making the biggest one yet. She suddenly gasped, feeling a sudden panic swell in her. She gripped the handle on her carry on and spun around, feeling an urgency to find him.
As she turned she ran smack dead into a body.
"I'm sorry!" she apologized, and then looked up. The shock of seeing him right there at that second was overwhelming. She stared at him, not able to put two words together from the hundreds that were bouncing around in her head.
He was amused by the look on her face. Even in a state of shock she was beautiful. He knew she had been crying and wondered if that was over him, secretly hoping it was. He had come there to plead his case one more time and per sway her not to go, no matter what it took, even if it meant getting on that plane with her.
As the initial surprise wore off the reasoning behind him being there took its place, not that she cared what it was. He was there. What had she been thinking? She mumbled something to that effect as she wrapped her arms around his neck, throwing her body into him.
He said the one thing he came to say as he buried his hand in her hair. "Come home."
She nodded repeatedly still not able to communicate or believe that he was standing there. She felt his grip tighten over her reply. "I'm sorry. I couldn't…" she cried, "I wasn't going to go."
He smiled, knowing now that she was crying over him and that she had come to trust in his judgment. He felt that familiar boost of his ego that only she could deliver. It just made him love her all the more.
She slid her arms down from around his neck, whimpering. "I'm sorry."
He bent his head and kissed her. "We don't have to talk about it anymore."
She felt his hand slide into hers as his other one took the carry-on handle. She gripped his arm with her other hand and walked close to him as he led her out of the airport.
Allan sat on his bed and waited. It was already six o'clock in the evening. He knew her plane had landed several hours ago. There were only a couple of direct flights in from Honolulu to San Diego. He was sure she would come straight to the house, if anything else just to get the papers.
He stood up and paced the room, hearing a car outside. He ran to the window, watching it drive by. He pounded his fist on the wall, "Where are you?" The words barely exited his mouth when his cell phone rang.
He saw Carly's number and answered eagerly. "Hello."
"Allan," Steve said into the phone, "This is Steve."
He felt his blood boil, "What do you want?"
"Carly's not going to be coming to get her things. I'm sending Craig over to get what she wants. He's going to be accompanied by a friend of mine, so I suggest you leave the house if you are there?"
He narrowed his eyes, "I'm not home. I'm in Houston."
Steve sighed heavily into his ear. "You're full of shit. You never got on that flight. Do you actually think that I would send her there without checking on you."
"You son of bitch! Who do you think you are?" he stormed around their master bedroom. "That's an invasion of privacy!"
Steve laughed, "Try again."
"Fuck you! Put Carly on the phone!" he yelled.
Steve's voice was overly calm, "You sound upset Allan. Did I spoil some plans?"
"You tell that fucking whore that she's not getting anything out of this house!"
"I don't think that's going to happen," his voice hardening. "She's going to get everything she wants."
"Yea, don't bet on it." He looked toward the door when he heard the doorbell ring.
Steve heard it too. "You should get that. It's Craig and two uniformed officers with a warrant and signed document from Carly and a lawyer here in Hawaii, giving him permission to get those items that she wants. And if you try to interfere they'll arrest you."
Allan glanced over at the items on the bed. He hung up the phone and quickly wrapped everything up in the bedspread and shoved it under the bed.
Steve pulled the phone away from his ear, smiling. He came out to the other room where Carly was and sat down next to her on the couch. "Craig's there right now."
She swallowed, but found it difficult. "Allan was there wasn't he? At the house?"
Steve nodded, "Yes."
She put her hands over her mouth, "Oh God Steve. You knew." She looked at him with wonder. "You knew something was up all along."
"It was a hunch."
"I'm sorry I doubted you."
"You didn't really. You eventually figured it for yourself. You wouldn't have gone."
She loved that he didn't gloat over it and somehow made it sound like she was the real hero, when in fact it was him that was the hero. Her hero. "You really are something, you know that?"
He chuckled over that, "Just doing my job ma'am."
She pushed him back on the couch and straddled him, "And what is that job exactly?" she rubbed her hands over his chest. "Please be specific."
He was enjoying her playfulness. The last three days had been difficult. He missed her. "You're going to think it's a selfish answer."
She looked intrigued.
He laid his head back on the couch looking at her. "I've got used to you being around. I think I'd be a mess if I lost you."
The sincerity in his voice catapulted her to another level in their relationship. She looked upon him with different eyes and a new level of love that was far beyond anything she had ever imagined. She would never leave him again.
She leaned forward, pinning him into the sofa with her body, kissing him. She felt his hands move up and into her hair as the kiss intensified.
She took her hands, gliding them up his arms until she reached his hands and then pulled them away, breaking from the kiss at the same time. She stared at him as she moved them above his head, holding them there with one hand as she began to unbutton his shirt with the other.
She kissed his bare chest, releasing his hands that remained in place as she moved from one nipple to the other and then slowly sliding down his body until she knelt between his legs on the floor, continuing to torture him with kisses that made his heart accelerate and his breathing become quick short gasps.
"Where you going?" he panted.
She smiled up at him between kisses, "Just doing my job, Sir."
She ran her hands up the inside of his thighs over his dress pants like he had done to her so many times, driving her mad. The reaction she got from him was just as much of a turn on as if he was doing the performing. It only encouraged her to go further, undoing his belt and zipper.
Steve gripped the back of the couch as she escalated the moment to what he could only describe as pure and absolute ecstasy.
Carly reached for his hand as he pulled her up to where he was standing. He gripped her around the waist, holding her steady on the small ledge.
She caught her balance, laughing as she grabbed the branch behind him. They were both sweaty from the climb but had reached their destination. He carefully let his hold loosen.
"Turn around," he said, face to face with her.
She shuffled her feet grinning at him as she made her way around to the same direction he was. The second she saw the view she stopped moving. The difficult climb and scraped knee was worth it. She had never seen anything so magnificent in her entire life.
The lush green valley below narrowed as it flowed into the crystal blue Pacific Ocean. She could barely make out the white sandy beach they had visited a couple of weeks earlier and spent the day snorkeling and just relaxing. The flowers that were within reaching distance where so colorful they looked too beautiful to be real. The mountains on the other side of the valley rose up to the sky as if they were hands reaching for the heavens.
She leaned back against him. "It's flawless." She smiled, looking at him over her shoulder, "I can't believe I ola here."
He kissed her on the cheek, "It's a perfect day. There isn't a cloud in the sky."
She held onto his arm that was around her waist. "Mahalo for bringing me."
He smiled at her use of the Hawaiian language. She had been learning and trying to accommodate everyday words into her conversations. He was proud of her for that.
"You're e komo mai."
It had been a little over two months since she'd arrived. He loved being with her every second he could. The divorce was pending and he knew the second it was finalized that he would marry her. He had the ring; he just needed the opportunity to ask her and wanted it to be after the divorce so she could plan a wedding the way she wanted with no barriers to jump over.
They hadn't heard from Allan again, mainly since they had changed her cell number. The only communication came through his lawyer who brought unrealistic quotes for the sale of the house and demanded Carly agree. She of all people knew what it was worth and knew he was just toying with her. He refused to agree on offers stating it wasn't high enough, to the point where they would bid themselves out of the sale. This had happened three times until Carly finally decided she'd had enough and signed the house over to him, giving up her share. She just wanted it done. After that there was nothing else for him to argue and the papers went through the courts for the proper filing. She was just waiting for the call from her lawyer giving her the exact day.
They made their way down the ledge and along a path that wasn't used very often. She followed behind him as he moved branches and over grown foliage out of her way.
"Where are we going?"
He smiled back at her, "You'll see."
She loved that answer, feeling the excitement grow inside of her.
He finally stopped and moved a large overhanging branch that looked down on a small creek about twenty feet below.
"Do you want to go down there?"
"Yes." She went past him, leading the way this time.
They both collapsed on the soft moss and dirt that was on the bank of the creek.
Carly leaned over to take a drink when Steve stopped her.
"You can't drink it."
"Why not? It looks clean."
"There are lots of bacteria in there from the moss and plants. It might be ok, but I don't want to take a chance." He pulled out the water bottle from his backpack handing it to her.
She took a long drink, giving it back to him. "How did you know about this place?"
"I've been all over this area. This isn't even the best one. There's another spot on the other side that's even prettier, but it's harder to get too."
"Prettier than this?" she couldn't believe it. "That's crazy talk," she teased.
She laid back and looked around them, up into the trees and the side of the hill. "It's pretty remote here."
He leaned over her. "Just you and me."
She grinned at him, putting a hand on his chest. "Don't even think about it."
He leaned down and kissed her. "Think about what?"
"You know. I see that look in your eye."
He raised an eyebrow as his hand slid under her shirt. "What look?"
She giggled and squirmed away from him. "We can't. You know I'm out of pills until my prescription comes through and unless you have some condoms in our backpack, which I'm sure you don't." She hesitated, giving him a hopeful look. "Or do you?"
He shook his head sadly, "Nope. But…" he moved up on her, "what do we need them for?"
"So I won't get pregnant," she said matter-of-factly, even though she wasn't sure she could.
"Would that be such a bad thing?" he caressed her stomach, looking right into her.
She knew he wasn't teasing her, he meant it. She shook her head, "No."
He took that as permission granted and kissed her.
It was unreal to them how different it felt making love with no contraceptives of any kind. It was completely natural and with the environment that surrounded them it just added to the moment they were in. They lay naked in each other's arms, taking their time, enjoying the feel of it. He rose above her, bracing on his elbow so he could see her face. Her hands moved over him, touching and gripping when the moment called for it. He moved slowly on her, able to feel the inside of her body wrapped around him, caressing him.
She pulled her self up close to his face, overcome by emotions that radiated from every pore in her body, knowing that they could be making a baby.
"I love you," she whispered to him, "I love you so much."
He slid his arm behind her back, holding her firmly in place. "Say it again," he begged her. The sound of her voice and the words she spoke were the most erotic thing he'd ever experienced.
She pushed her hips into him. "I love you Steve." She moaned as his movement increased. She kept pace with him, watching him, wanting it more for him than for her. He held the seed she wanted inside of her.
He moaned and his body shuttered as he came inside her, praising her name as if he were worshiping and giving thanks to her. It lasted longer than usual and he wanted to make love to her this way, every time.
She pulled him down with her as she lay back, letting him rest. She closed her eyes and swore she could feel him moving through her, giving her the one thing she was missing in her life. He went to ease some of the weight and she squeezed him, "Wait, don't move," she whispered, "It feels so good."
He did as he was told and passed the time by kissing her neck and running his hand up and down her soft body. "Mmm," he murmured, "I love you, Carly."
She smiled with her eyes still closed as she felt his cheek gently rub against hers, his whiskers tickling her. She opened her eyes and he was looking at her.
"God you are beautiful." He felt weak just looking at her. "There isn't anything in this world that I wouldn't do for you. I love you that much."
"You're giving me everything I want right now," she grinned. "I want a nice strong keiki, that will grow up sweet and handsome just like you."
He smiled, "Or a beautiful little kaikamahine, with long black hair that will steal my heart just like her Mother."
"I would like a girl too."
"Anything you want." He laid back down, hugging her. "Anything you want, Carly."
Carly leaned out the backdoor, speaking to Steve and Danny who were sitting halfway down the yard in chairs. "It's almost done."
They both acknowledged her.
"What is she making again?" Danny asked.
"I don't know, something with fish." He gave him a stern look, "Do me a favor and just eat it."
He groaned, knowing what that meant. "Oh man," he whined, "she has no idea what she's doing, does she?"
Steve shrugged, "Sometimes yes and sometimes no, but she tries hard so I eat it."
Danny laughed, "You are so whipped! I can't believe you eat food you don't like just to please her."
"I don't do it just to please her," he quickly defended, "sometimes the stuff she makes is pretty good." He made a face, "but it's just when she makes fish, it's not always the best."
"Oh great," Danny moaned, shoving him, "Go sneak in the house and get some chips."
"You'll be fine. She's having a good day so don't spoil it."
"What's the special occasion?"
Steve smiled, "Her divorce is final today. She's…" he stopped and corrected himself, "We, are very happy about that."
Danny tapped his beer against Steve's. "Nice. So are you going to pop the question tonight?"
"No, not tonight. I think she might be expecting it, so I'm going to throw her off and wait a couple of days, catch her unexpectedly."
"Do you know how you're going to do it?"
"Kind of."
"It's important you know, the approach, or you may not get the answer you were hoping for."
Steve looked over at him and scoffed, "I'm pretty confident she'll say yes."
"Maybe, but do you want it to be a yes she'll remember fondly, or just a yes to a question?"
Steve glared at him, half annoyed and the other half a little frightened. "What are you doing to me?"
"I'm just trying to help you out."
"Well don't!" he shook his head as if trying to get that thought out of it, "The only favor I need from you right now is to eat whatever she puts in front of you."
"That's beginning to sound like a chore rather than a favor."
They both turned as she yelled out that dinner was ready.
Steve pointed a finger at him as they stood up, "Be good."
Danny huffed, "I hope her dinner is taking that same advice."
Steve laughed, pushing him toward the house.
Carly sat at the table looking back and forth between the two of them as they slowly ate their food, wondering when one of them was going to break down and tell her it was awful. She had decided that on her first bite. She looked over at Steve and he smiled, scooping up another fork. She knew it wouldn't be him, so she focused on Danny.
"What do you think?"
He looked at Steve first and then at her, nodding, "It's good."
"It is huh?" She sat back in her chair. "Is that why you take a big drink of beer after every bite?"
He looked over at Steve again for help.
"Its good sweetie," Steve argued, taking another bite.
She rolled her eyes at him, "You be quiet. I know you're just being nice because you love me." She looked back over at Danny. "You though, I expected more honesty from you."
He dropped his fork on the plate. "Ok. It's terrible." He took another drink. "I can't even tell what kind of fish is in there it's so bad."
"C'mon Danny!" Steve scolded him. "That's a little harsh."
"No it's not," Carly laughed, "it is horrible!" She stood up and reached over taking Danny's plate first. "It's sweet that you guys ate as much as you did."
"It wasn't that bad," Steve reassured her.
She took his plate and leaned down giving him a kiss on the cheek. "How many of my other dinners have you forced your way through," she asked, looking over her shoulder at him as she put the plates in the sink.
Danny answered for him, knowing he would never tell her. "A lot."
"Hey!" he snapped at him. "That's not true, Carly."
"Well I have a back up for tonight." She picked her cell phone up off the counter and dialed.
They both looked at each other wondering what, until she spoke.
"Hi. I'd like to order an extra-large pizza, all meat." She smiled at them. "The name is Steve."
Steve came up behind her as she cleaned the dishes off. "Do you want anything else from the pizza place?"
"Get me a salad too if they have any."
"Ok." He leaned back against the counter so he could see her. "I don't force my way through your dinners."
She smiled, knowingly, "Yes you do. But from now on I want you to tell me. How am I supposed to get any better at cooking if I keep making it the same way thinking that you like it?"
"I just didn't want to hurt your feelings."
She kissed him for that, reminded again that he would do anything for her. "You're a good man. I love you."
He patted her on the butt, "Cooking may not be the highlight of your talents, but believe me, you make up for it in other departments."
She rolled her eyes at him, blushing slightly.
He walked into the family room, "Lets go."
Danny stood up, "Do you have your wallet?" he asked.
"Yes, he said, grabbing his keys off the table.
"Ah huh," he said, not believing him, taking his out and setting it on the coffee table, "just to be sure. I'm not taking mine."
Steve chuckled, patting his back pocket. "It's right here."
Carly heard them leave as she continued with the dishes. She couldn't help but laugh at herself as she cleaned the pan that she had made the fish in. She had followed the directions but couldn't figure out where she had gone wrong. She decided that maybe she'd take a cooking class. And then went one better, a Hawaiian cooking class. If anyone knew how to cook fish it was Hawaiians.
She heard the door open and close. "Did you forget your wallet?" she yelled out.
She glanced over her shoulder when she didn't get a reply. "Steve?"
"Hello Carly."
Her heart dropped to her stomach as she stared at Allan.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Steve argued as he and Danny drove to the pizza place.
"I'm telling you, girls like those bragging rights, so you better make it good."
"Ok fine," he sighed. "I'll tell you. Sometimes we eat ice cream in the middle of the night. I was going to do it then."
Danny looked at him queerly, "That's when you are going to propose to her? Over ice cream?"
"It's this thing we do," he defended. "She sits on the counter and we share out of the carton. It's become like a ritual."
"A ritual?"
"Yea, you know, after sex." Steve grinned knowing that would shut him up.
Danny threw his hands up, "Ok, stop! Enough!" he shook his head. "I can't listen to that. You two are obnoxious. I don't know which is worse, Carly's fish or that story."
They both looked at each other, "Carly's fish." They said in unison.
Carly backed down the counter away from him. "What are you doing here?"
"You don't seem very happy to see me."
"Steve's going to be home any second."
He could hear the fear in her voice. "No he's not. He just left."
Carly looked past him to the stairs, knowing Steve kept a gun in the nightstand drawer. "What do you want Allan?"
"I want you to come with me," he said calmly.
She shook her head, "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"I thought we could celebrate this eventful day together." He took a step toward her.
"You should leave, Allan." She pointed to the door. "I want you to leave!"
"You are aware of what today is?" He moved toward the counter backing her up so she had nowhere to go.
She moved further away as he came closer. She felt the cutting board handle that she had used to cut the fish on hit her back. "He's with his partner." Her voice shuttered as she tried to keep calm, "He's going to be very angry that you're here Allan."
He lunged forward, startling her, angry over that statement. "I don't care!" he bellowed, "Do you think I give a shit what HE thinks?!"
She felt that same fear soar through her that she had so many times before when they would argue. "I'm sorry," she whimpered, feeling her eyes filling with tears. She listened for the car outside, willing them to hurry home. She looked back up at him and her fear multiplied when she saw the blade in his hand.
"Please Allan," she murmured, "what do you want from me?"
The scowl on his face mirrored the tone of his voice. "I want the respect I deserve! I want you to stand there and beg for my forgiveness!" He took a step closer to her, "Beg me, Carly!"
She screamed as he slashed the air with his knife. "Allan stop!"
"Allan stop!" He mocked her in a frightened girl's voice, "Don't hurt me." He glared at her as his eyes turned dark with furry. "What about me, Carly?!" He slammed his hand into his chest angrily, "Did you think about my pain while you were fucking him?!"
She stared at the knife in his hand, watching his movement as he berated her. She had no way around him without being within reaching distance. She knew the pizza place wasn't too far and they would be back soon. She just had to keep him talking.
"I am sorry Allan. I didn't mean to hurt you."
His expression turned remorseful as his eyes scanned her body. "Make love to me then, Carly, like you used too."
She shook her and started to cry, wondering if he was going to rape her. "No Allan, I can't do that."
He looked up into her eyes as he came closer, "Take your clothes off."
She shook her head, feeling the cutting board in her back again, deciding that she would use it if he came at her. She wasn't going to let him touch her. She'd rather risk it and fight her way through than let him do that to her. "No Allan."
"Then I'll cut them off you."
She turned and grabbed the wood cutting board as he came at her, swinging it around blindly and connecting with his jaw. He his head flew backward and she heard the crack as two of his top teeth broke in half from the blow. She ran past him as he stumbled backwards, cursing and grabbing his jaw.
He swung the knife at her as she ran past but missed.
She held on to the board and ran for the stairs, not looking back. She needed to get to the nightstand drawer.
Allan gripped the knife in his hand. His rage gained momentum with every step he took. He growled through the pain as blood dripped off his chin. He ran up the stairs seeing her enter the far bedroom and close the door. He made it there but not before she locked it. He pounded his fist on it. "You fucking bitch!" He stepped back and put his foot up, kicking it.
She flew across the bed to Steve's side and opened the drawer, pulling out his gun. She could barely hold it; her hands shook so badly. She fumbled with the safety when the door flew open. She pointed it at him, pulling the trigger as he came across the bed, but nothing happened.
She heard herself screaming as he attacked her over and over, not settling on one particular area but anywhere he could penetrate her. She felt the first few stabs but after that her whole body was in pain not able to register on the individual puncture wounds that just kept coming. Her hands tried to block him but she was powerless against the blind rage that he inflicted on her. Finally, after what felt like eternity he stopped.
Allan stumbled to his feet, looking down on what he had done. She lay in a fetal position, staring forward with blank eyes; bleeding so badly that the only way he could tell she was still alive was from for the gasps of air that she struggled for every few seconds. He wiped his hand across his mouth and only then did he remember the broken jaw. He felt tears sting his eyes, realizing that he had killed her in his fit of rage. He had murdered Carly. He was going to go to prison. Steve would never let him get away. Panic set in and he stepped back away from her, it was then that he saw the gun on the floor and picked it up.
She lay facing the french doors looking out the window, trying desperately to catch her breath. She could see him standing over her staring at her, but she didn't fear him anymore, he had already killed her. She couldn't speak but mouthed Steve's name over and over, willing him to come home before she died. She needed to see him one last time. She didn't want to die alone; she wanted to die in his arms.