Sloan broke the kiss, but didn't move her lips more than an inch from Keegan's. "I take it you will give me a chance?"

Keegan smiled and nodded her head. She rested her forehead against Sloan's and sighed.

Sloan tightened her arms around Keegan's shoulders and hugged. "I love you."

Keegan squeezed the tall body in her arms. "I can't fight it. I love her too."

"How about we go up to the house and get some hot chocolate?" Sloan suggested. "I think I could find something to nibble on."

Keegan raised her head and grinned. She pointed at herself and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Ha ha, not that it's not a good idea. In fact it is a great idea, but I want to take things nice and slow." Sloan caressed Keegan's cheek with her thumbs. "I want you to trust me completely before things go that far, okay."

Keegan closed her eyes and nodded. She brought her hands up and entwined her fingers with Sloan's. She wished like never before that she could speak what her heart and soul craved to tell this tall dark caring woman.

"Come on, lets go." Sloan smiled as she quickly placed a soft kiss on Keegan's lips.

******************************

Shannon and Evan sat on the porch snuggling up with a blanket and some hot cider.

"Look over there," Shannon pointed towards the road.

Evan smiled as he saw his eldest daughter walk hand in hand with Keegan. "Well would you look at that."

"I think our daughter has finally given her heart to someone." Shannon grasped Evan's hand and kissed his palm.

Sloan and Keegan stepped up onto the porch and walked straight to the door and into the house.

The older couple giggled.

"I guess we should get use to not being seen." Evan wrapped his arm around his wife.

"Guess so," Shannon rested her head on her husband's should and sighed.

******************************

"Do you want marshmallows?" Sloan asked as she pulled out a chair and guided Keegan to sit.

Keegan's smile grew bigger as she nodded her head.

"Okay, give me a few minutes and we will be set." Sloan bent over and kissed the top of Keegan's head. "Don't go anywhere."

Keegan closed her eyes and let the warmth of Sloan's touch warm the top of her head all the way down to her feet. "I hope I survive this. I feel like I could explode from need."

"Hey you two," Stephanie said as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Hi, sis," Sloan grinned. "You want a cup of hot chocolate?"

"Sure if you two don't mind me joining you?" Stephanie replied as she looked from Keegan to Sloan.

"No go ahead and take a seat." Sloan grabbed the stuff she needed to get the hot chocolate ready.

Stephanie sat down and watched the way Keegan would follow Sloan with her eyes. She elbowed the blonde; "you love my sister don't you?"

Keegan looked Stephanie straight in the eyes and nodded as she brought her hands up to her chest to cover her heart.

"Great," Stephanie rubbed Keegan's back. "Have you kissed her yet?"

The deep red blush started from the top of Keegan's neck and lowered down her neck. She covered her face with her hands.

"Hey don't be embarrassed. I think it is cool." The younger Addams sister whispered when she noticed Sloan heading towards them.

"What's going on?" Sloan sat down and noticed Keegan's red face. "What did you say to her?"

"Nothing, I just asked if she kissed you." Stephanie wiggled her eyebrows.

"Well she didn't, I kissed her." Sloan grasped one of Keegan's hands and held it in hers. "Then she kissed me."

"That is so awesome," Stephanie clapped. "It's about time you finally found someone who can handle you."

"What? Handle me are you nuts?" Sloan acted surprised. "Don't you mean it the other way around? I'm not the one who gets into trouble everywhere I go."

Keegan kicked Sloan's foot under the table.

"Ouch," Sloan moaned as she stood up. "You should treat me nicer. Since I am the one who is in control of the marshmallows."

Stephanie quickly stood up and ran around the table. "I don't think so."

Sloan grabbed the woman as she went by and wrapped her arms around her and hugged her. "Gotcha."

"Yes you do, but you forgot one thing." Stephanie giggled as Sloan tickled her.

"Oh really and what is that?" Sloan asked as she put her sister on her feet.

Stephanie took a deep breath and straightened her shirt before she put her hands on her hips.

"Are you going to stand there for the rest of the night or are you going to tell me what I forgot?' Sloan raised one eyebrow and stepped closer.

Stephanie pointed over Sloan's shoulder, "her."

Sloan turned her head and as soon as she saw Keegan with the bag of marshmallows and a big smile she groaned. "You two are already ganging up on me."

"You bet your sweet ass we are." Stephanie swatted her older sister on the but and skipped to where Keegan was. "Thanks, why don't you go and make her feel better and I'll make our drinks."

Keegan handed the bag over to Stephanie and gave her a high five.

******************************

"We didn't get much talking done tonight." Sloan stated as her and Keegan walked down to the stables.

Keegan squeezed the hand she held and nodded.

They walked several more feet before Sloan looked up at the moon and stopped. "This is a first for me too. I have never trusted anyone enough to bare my heart too. I want you to know that I will always be honest and up front with you. I hope you will be the same with me."

Keegan grabbed Sloan's other hand and brought both of their entwined hands to her heart. Tears slowly slipped down her cheek.

"I want to help you learn how to sign. I will learn along with you so we can practice together." Sloan softly kissed Keegan's forehead. "I want us to be able to communicate better."

"I have to for her, and for me." Keegan thought as she agreed with a small smile.

"Great," Sloan hugged the smaller woman to her. "We will go and check into it tomorrow."

******************************

"Good morning," Sloan skipped into the stable.

Donovan looked up and smiled, "I take it that last nights talk went well."

"It went better than well, it went fantastic." Sloan grabbed the man and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for showing me that note she wrote and for giving me a chance to show her that I love her."

Donovan laughed, "I had nothing to do with it."

"But my man you did." Sloan cupped his face. "You brought her here to work and I will never forget that."

"Just remember that when she pisses you off." Donovan teased as he hugged Sloan. "I am so happy for you two."

"Thanks, now where is Keegan at?" Sloan looked around.

Donovan pointed over towards where Keegan's room was. "Still sleeping. I decided to let her have a day off."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later." Sloan patted Donovan on the back and walked towards Keegan's door. She knocked softly and when she didn't receive any answer she twisted the handle and opened the door slightly. The sight of Keegan sound asleep curled up under a Mickey Mouse blanket was the most precious sight she had ever seen.

Quietly she crept into the room and closed the door. She stood there and stared at the small woman that held her heart. The messy blonde hair had a mind of it's own sticking up everywhere. Small strong hands curled up under a perfect chin. The chin that was under the softest lips Sloan had ever kissed. "I have got to kiss her." She thought as her body moved closer. She knelt down on the ground and traced her fingers over the pink flesh that beckoned her closer.

Keegan had heard the knocks but decided to stay where she was. The sound of the door opening and closing and Sloan's feet coming closer to her almost had her smiling, but the gentle caress she now felt on her lips made her happy that she didn't. She knew that if she waited long enough Sloan would kiss her.

Sloan could tell by the twitch under one of Keegan's eyes that the small woman was not really asleep like she had first thought. "Sneaky little one." She lowered her head and placed her tongue where her finger was. Then two small hands grabbed ahold of her coat and brought her down for a passionate kiss.

Sloan moaned when Keegan's tongue forced into her mouth and caressed her own tongue. She felt small hands loosen it's hold and began to unzip her brown leather jacket she had on. Not wanting to stop she slipped her own hand under covers that shielded her view of Keegan's small frame. When she came into contact with skin she stopped and leaned back. "You don't have anything on." She gasped.

Keegan grinned evilly and shook her head and tried to get Sloan to kiss her again.

"No, babe, I want us to wait and take thing slow." Sloan stood up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Remember?"

Keegan pouted as she sat up, making sure her body was all covered. She sighed and tried to get her hormones under control. After a few minutes she gestured for Sloan to turn around so she could get up and dressed.

Sloan had to use all her will power to not turn around when she heard Keegan get up and move around. She wiped her palms on her jeans and repeated in her head. "Nice and slow. Nice and slow."

******************************

"So what do you think?" Sloan asked as she pulled out of the parking space.

Keegan wiggled her hand in front of her as she bit her bottom lip.

Sloan steered the car out onto the road. "Do you want to go and get something to eat and talk about what's going on in your head?"

Keegan nodded her head and looked down at the book the doctor had given her. One was for Sloan and the other was for her. They were the beginning books on sign language. "I hope this works and Sloan doesn't get tired of all of this."

They pulled up in front a Margo's Dinner and got out of the car and walked into the restaurant hand in hand.

"Well look what the cat dragged in." Margo yelled from behind the counter.

Sloan guided Keegan to walk in front of her as she waved over at the old woman with bright orange hair that had so much hair spray that if someone with a cigarette got too close she'd go up in flames. "Hey Margo, what's shaking?"

"Everything bellow my head," Margo stood up and shook her body.

Keegan nearly tripped over a chair that was pushed out by a dirty man with greasy long brown hair.

"Hey watch where you are walking. You nearly made me spill my coffee." The man growled as he sat his cup down on the table.

Keegan's mind and body froze.

"Back off buddy," Sloan stepped in front of Keegan. "You were the one who pushed your chair out in front of her."

"Oh, shut the fuck up bitch." The man shoved Sloan and walked past her.

Sloan's body slammed into Keegan's and they both fell.

"Oh, honey are you okay?" Sloan asked as she turned towards the still blonde. "Keegan?"

Keegan didn't even realize where she was. The only thing that she saw was the night of her parents' murder. The way the knife plunged in and out of her mom's body over and over again. The deranged look in the monster's eyes and the laugh that still sent shivers through her body and the tattoo that was on the back of the killers' hand. The dragon with blue fire coming out of its mouth and the sword in it's clawed hands.

Keegan jumped when she felt something-cold press against her forehead. She shook her head and pushed the hands away from her. The feeling of two arms as they wrapped themselves around her waist and a soft calming voice whispering into her ear got her to calm down.

"That's it," Sloan rubbed small circles on Keegan's stomach with her hand. "Calm down. I won't let anything hurt you. I'm here to protect you."

Keegan turned into Sloan's body and cried. She had no idea why she froze like that when that man started to talk.

Sloan waited a few minutes after Keegan stopped crying before she sat them up. "You want to tell me what happened?"

Keegan shrugged her shoulders.

"Baby you need to talk to me. I don't want you to hold this, whatever it is, on your shoulders. I'm here for you know and it falls on both of our shoulders." Sloan explained as she held on to Keegan tighter.

Keegan sighed, "do I want to share this with her? It will only bring hurt and destruction into her life and she doesn't deserve it." She leaned back and let go of the woman before her. She tried to stand but two hands grabbed her and forced her to stay right where she was.

"If you think I am going to let you just back off and retreat into your own little world your are so wrong." Sloan cupped Keegan's face and made her look right into her eyes. "You and me together in this. No matter what it is. I am not afraid of anything but loosing you and that will not happen, because I won't let it."

Keegan lowered her head so it rested right in between Sloan's breast. She wrapped her arms around Sloan's trim waist and let the fear exit her body. No more was she alone in her fight to keep her soul from shattering into a million pieces.

"Remember, I love you. From now until forever." Sloan kissed the blonde head.

******************************

Keegan watched the scenery swish outside her window. Flashes of the night so long ago jumped in and out of her head. The second before her life was forever changed. The way her Mom stood by the stove laughing at some joke her dad had just told. The way her dad held her close as he laughed along with the woman he loved.

Then it all came crashing in around her. The knock on the door followed by the yelling and screaming. The way her mom kissed her on the head before she shoved her under the table. Then the man, the devil himself killing the family she cherished. The love was gone, the security was gone, everything was gone. She had nothing, nothing but the silence.

******************************

"You doing okay?" Sloan asked as she stopped her car and shut off the engine.

Keegan gave Sloan a small smile and nodded. She grasped the large hand closest to her and kissed the palm.

Sloan unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted closer to the small blonde. "I want you to remember I am here for you when ever you feel like talking."

Keegan grinned and leaned over and kissed Sloan softly. When she pulled back the content look on Sloan's face filled her heart with Joy. She used her fingers to trace around Sloan's face from her eyebrows to her chin and back up over her eyes.

"I love the way your hands feel on me." Sloan whispered.

Keegan was about to kiss her again when her door opened.

"Oh, shit Sloan I didn't know you had company." A scratchy annoying voice said.

Sloan's eyes snapped open as she looked around Keegan's head. "Fuck," she mumbled as she squeezed the small hands that she had grasped when Keegan had jumped from surprise.

"Who's your friend?" Andrea Carpenter asked as she continued to hold the door open.

Sloan looked deep into Keegan's eyes. "I am so sorry. I had no clue she was going to be here." She said quietly enough so the annoying woman behind Keegan wouldn't hear.

Keegan asked with her eyes who in the hell was this woman who had the nerve to barge in on them.
"Come on sweetheart don't be rude. Introduce us," The curly haired brunette with red painted fingernails whined.

Keegan tightened her finger and glared at Sloan. "Sweetheart?"

"Andrea, I would like you to meet Keegan, Keegan this Andrea Carpenter," Sloan wiggled her fingers out of the small angry bloods grip.

Andrea noticed how intimate Sloan was with the small blonde as she walked up to the car and decided to make sure it was known that Sloan was hers and hers alone. "Honey please don't be so nonchalant about us. We are to be married."

Sloan grabbed for her door handle. She stormed up out of the car and over to where the woman stood with a smug grin on her face. "Why you fucking…" Her tirade was cut off by a pair of lips taking possession of her mouth.

Keegan lost all sight of reality and pushed her door open. She didn't care that when she flung the door open it crashed into the two women and made them loose their balance so they ended up in the horse trough. "Maybe that will cool you off. Damn I cannot believe I fell for her lines. Damn her." Keegan's mind screamed as she ran to the stable and her room.

Sloan sat up with Andrea covering her body. She spit the water out of her mouth and over Andrea's face.

"What are you doing," Andrea yelled. "That was gross."

"Get your fat ass off of me, now." Sloan growled as she shoved the arrogant woman over the side into the dirt. "If you so much as ever come that close to me again I will break your new, five thousand dollar, stuck up your ass nose."

"Why in the world are you getting so bent out of shape. You act like you don't want me." Andrea stood up and wiped her now drenched hair out of her eyes.

"Me want you, never in a fucking million years. If you were the last woman on earth, I would go find me a man so fast the dye job you have would go gray." Sloan yelled as she stood up and stepped out of the water. "Now get off my land and never come back."

"Oh, sweetheart calm down," Andrea stepped closer to Sloan and scratched her fingernail along the upset woman's cheek. "Let go up to house and get dried off. Then I can get you all wet again."

Sloan shoved Andrea's finger away from her face. "Are you dense? Don't you understand English?" Sloan grabbed Andrea by the collar of her shirt and dragged her up the road to the woman's car. She opened the door and pushed the mad woman into the driver's seat. "Now get out of here and never come back."

"You will be sorry," Andrea yelled as she reached inside her purse that still sat on the passenger side seat. "You will be mine."

"Not in this life time or a thousand others." Sloan kicked the door putting a nice size dent in the red mustang.

Andrea glared at Sloan; "you will be getting a bill for that." She threw the gear into reverse and gunned the engine. The tires spun and tossed gravel and dirt up into the air.

"Whatever," Sloan flipped off the speeding car. "Now I need to go and try and get Keegan to talk to me."

******************************

"What a jerk I have been." Keegan slammed her door shut and locked it. "I will not stay here where I will be mad fun of." She grabbed her suitcase out from underneath her bed and tossed it on top of her bed.

"I should go and slash all her tires for making be believe that crap she was giving me." Keegan stomped to her dresser opening her drawers and scooping out her clothes. "Better yet I should smash in all the windows and then slash the tires." She dumped her armful of clothes into the suitcase.

A knock stopped her movement.

"Keegan would you please let me in," Sloan said in a pleading voice. "I want to tell you what went on out there I had nothing to do with it."

"Right," Keegan stuck her tongue out. "No way in hell am I letting her in here."

"I'm not leaving here until you open this door. So either way you will have to listen to me and let me explain that Andrea Carpenter is nothing but an opportunistic, money-spending bitch. Who wants my money and nothing more? I have never touched her in my life. She kissed me out there," Sloan rattled on hoping Keegan would listen and open up the door.

Keegan slouched down on her bed. Her mind and heart were torn. "Should I believe her or just let things end now before I get hurt?"

"Please Keegan, I swear what I have told you is the truth. Andrea is not here and I hope I never see her again." Sloan rested her forehead against the wooden door that separated her from Keegan. "Please open the door."

Keegan thought for a moment. "It's better it ends now." She let the tears fall as she sat there and listened to Sloan plead and beg to be let in.

******************************

Keegan walked in as the door mysteriously opened for her. She stood there and looked around everything looked the same, just smaller and not as cheerful as she remembered. The sound of laughter and crying drew her attention to the other side of the room. There she saw the monster laughing at the body of her mother as he plunged in and out of her with his knife. He fathers lifeless body lying in the hallway with blood pooling under him.

"No, no, no, no, no," Keegan mumbled to herself as she backed up. Hoping the killer didn't see her. Then she was under the table where she hid as a child. Her mother's cold dead eyes staring at her.

"Why didn't you stop him? You could have hit him with something, anything to get him to stop stabbing me over and over again. You should have saved me. I'm your mother."

Keegan shook her head; "I was a small child. What could I do?"

"Anything, anything would have been better than hiding like a baby." Her mom coldly stated.

"But you put me under the table, to protect me." Keegan screamed. ""What could I have done?"

The evil eyes of the killer turned to her as he brought the knife up. "Nothing."

Keegan's eyes saw the tattoo on the man's hand. The dragon and the sword growling and blowing blue flames at her. Then she was at Margo's dinner standing next to the man who almost tripped her. She watched in slow motion the hand that slammed down the cup of coffee on the table. Then the tattoo on the man's hand started to glow and growl.

"Oh, my god. It's him." Keegan's mind screamed as she froze.

"Hehe, you I missed, but not this time. I'm coming for you to finish off what I started that night." The tattoo stated as it brightened and pulsated with life. "You are next, you are next."

"No, get away," Keegan yelled in her sleep as she kicked out from under the blankets. Her arms flying everywhere hitting the wall next to the bed and knocking off the small lamp that sat on the nightstand.

******************************
Sloan jumped up off the bale of hay she was sitting on and ran to the door. She pounded and pounded, but Keegan didn't answer. She finally had enough and stepped back and with one kick to the middle of the door she was in. "Keegan!" She yelled as she ran to the small woman who was thrashing around. "Keegan calm down. Sh, sh, sh, I'm here." She said as she fought to get her arms around the still sleeping woman.

Sloan felt the body start to relax after several minutes of whispering into the small woman's ear and rubbing her hands up and down Keegan's arms and back. " I won't let anything hurt you. I promise." After she sat there for a few seconds she started to hum a song her mom use to hum to her when she was a little girl.

Keegan slowly woke when her mind registered someone humming to her and holding her in a soft warm cocoon. She turned her head and saw Sloan with her eyes closed.

Sloan opened her eyes and looked down at Keegan. She gave the blonde a small grin. "How are you?"

Keegan nodded her head as she snuggled back into the comforts of her protector.

"You know you screamed out?" Sloan asked softly.

Keegan closed her eyes and nodded.

"Do you think that maybe if I went with you, you'd go see someone and talk about everything that happened?" Sloan questioned as she continued to caress Keegan's arm.

Keegan took in a big breath of air and let it out slowly. "Maybe it will help this time." She thought as she sat up and pointed at Sloan.

"Yes I will come with you. Forever remember?" Sloan grasped the finger and brought it up to her mouth. "I will always be here for you."

Keegan reached her free hand up behind Sloan's head and directed her down for a kiss. The kiss was a promise of what was to come. The love, the life, the passion they each held for one another.

******************************

"Hi mom," Sloan said as she stepped into the kitchen the next morning looking for a hot cup of coffee.

Shannon waved a spatula. "Hold on a second dear. This pancake is just about ready to flip." Shannon said as she stared at the bubbling mixture on the hot griddle.

"All I want is coffee," Sloan slid past her mom to where the coffee maker sat.

"Oh come on, I'm getting so much better at this." Shannon responded as she waved at the stovetop.

"Yes, I know you are mom. I'm just not real hungry at the moment." Sloan reached up and grabbed her favorite cup and poured herself some coffee. "Keegan spoke last night." She said in between sips of her coffee.

"What?" Shannon gasped just as she flipped the pancake.

Sloan sighed, "she was having a nightmare. She screamed out while she was thrashing and kicking. Flinging her arms around. I never been so scared in my life."

"What was she dreaming about?" Shannon asked as she looked over at her daughter.

"Well it all started yesterday. We went to get some books on sign language and went to Margo's for something to eat. Some guy was there and nearly tripped her with his chair. Then he shoved me into her and knocked us down. She kinda froze," Sloan replied as she started to walk to the table. "She didn't blink or anything. All the way home she was quiet and when we pulled up and we were talking Andrea Carpenter interrupted us. She kissed me and said we were to get married."

Shannon groaned, "I bet Keegan loved that."

"Well when I went around the car to confront the witch she attached to my mouth like a leach to a bleeding man." Sloan said with pure disgust in her voice.

"Now there is an image to have first thing in the morning." Evan remarked as he walked into the kitchen. "Hello sweetheart," he kissed his wife before he grabbed a cup and poured himself some coffee. "Now want to explain to me why we are talking about such lovely stuff this morning?"

******************************

"I got a few names from my parents. This first one is their top choice." Sloan handed Keegan the small card with the name of the doctor they had recommended.

Keegan looked at the name on the card. "Dr. Debra Lancer." She nodded her head and handed it back to Sloan. She gestured for Sloan to call and set up an appointment.

"When?" Sloan asked as she reached for her cell phone.

Keegan showed Sloan her watch and pointed at the two.

Sloan smiled as she dialed the number and waited for it to be picked up on the other end. "Hello, I would like to make an appointment for this afternoon if it is possible."

Keegan watched the tall dark haired beauty that had changed her life in such a short amount of time. "This is the beginning of the rest of my life and I am tired of being scared. This running and hiding stops now and I live for me, no I live for us."

******************************

"You ladies lucked out that I had an appointment open this afternoon." Dr. Lancer said as she closed the door after Sloan and Keegan entered and sat down. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"No thank you," Sloan answered after she looked at Keegan to make sure she didn't want anything. She watched the Doctor grab herself a cup of water. The middle-aged woman was a little taller than Keegan with some gray scattered around shoulder length black wavy hair.

"Okay then, lets get down to business," the Doctor smiled as she sat down in her chair behind her desk. "Who wants to start?"

"Well this is Keegan's story, but she is unable to speak." Sloan took Keegan's hand so she would stop picking at the cast that would be removed in a week.

"Keegan, why don't you write down what is going on?" Dr. Lancer asked as she opened a side drawer and pulled out a yellow legal pad and a pen.

Keegan looked over at the soft brown eyes that held intelligence and warmth. She gave the doctor a small grin as she reached for the paper.

For the next couple of hours Keegan wrote and answered questions as Sloan sat back and waited. The doctor asked once if Sloan would leave the room for a few moments and Keegan refused to do anything if she left. The doctor finally relented after realizing Keegan was very serious with the, she goes I go, attitude. By the end the doctor was pretty sure that Keegan had PostTraumatic Stress Syndrome and that she would see the two three times a week until they beat it.

******************************

"I was wondering since I sorta kinda broke your door down last night would you like to move up to the house?" Sloan asked as she drove down the road to the ranch. "That way if you have another nightmare or if you just want to talk I'd be right there. Because I don't know how many nights I could handle sleeping on hard bales of hay."

Keegan looked amused when she thought of Sloan sitting outside her door last night waiting for her to open it so she could explain about what happened and who Andrea Carpenter was.

"What's that look for?" Sloan nudged Keegan with her elbow.

Keegan winked and pointed at Sloan.

"What did I do?" Sloan laid her hand on Keegan's leg giving it a slight squeeze.

Keegan just shook her head and entwined her fingers with Sloan's.

After a few minutes Sloan asked, "so will you consider moving up to the house?"

Keegan nodded her head.

"Yes you will consider it?" Sloan waited a second. "Or, yes you will move in?"

Keegan nodded faster with the second question.

"Super," Sloan brought their entwined hands to her mouth and kissed the back of Keegan's hand.

******************************

"I wonder what she would do if I knocked on her door?" Sloan asked as she paced back and forth in her bedroom. The light from the moon shone through the window and onto the floor. "I could just say I was making sure she was all settled."

Sloan stopped when a crash and a scream filled the night. She ran out of her room and down the hall to where Keegan's room was. She threw open the door and saw the frightened woman squirming and crying as she fought her ghosts.

"Damn," Sloan cursed as she stormed across the room. She scooped Keegan up and cradled her in her arms. She held on tight as the still sleeping woman fought her. "Come on Keegan, it's me."

Keegan could not get away from the knife that kept coming after her. She could feel the sharp edge slice through her skin and twist as it exited her body. "Please God, make it stop. It hurts so much."

"Listen to my voice. Come back to me. I won't let anyone come near you or hurt you." Sloan whispered calmly into Keegan's ear.

"Is there anything I can do?" Shannon asked as her and Evan stepped into the room.

Sloan shook her head, "no, just close the door please. I've got it."

"Okay, if you are sure?" Shannon waited until she saw a slight nod from her daughter. "Just let us know if you need me."

"Thanks,' Sloan whispered as she wiped damp hair off of Keegan's forehead.

Shannon watched her daughter for a few seconds before she closed the door. She gave her husband and youngest daughter a small smile as she leaned up against the closed door.

"Is Keegan going to be okay?" Stephanie asked as she shoved her hands in her robe pockets.

Shannon smiled over at Stephanie, "I think as long as Sloan is near she will be."

Stephanie nodded her head and turned to walk down the hall to her room. "I think Sloan will be okay too with Keegan by her side."

"I agree," Evan wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder and guided her to their room. "Let's get to bed."

"I have a feeling that it's going to get worse before it gets better.' Shannon stated as she rested her head on Evan's strong broad shoulders.

"I think you are right. We will just have to be there for those two and hope for the best." Evan let Shannon enter their room first and then closed the door after him. "I know they will make it. They have the kind of love that people write about."

"What kind of love is that dear?" Shannon asked as she slipped of her blue silk robe.

Even grinned, "the kind of love that stops the world around them when they look into each others eyes." He stepped closer to the woman that was his world stopper. "The kind of love we have."

"If they have what we have nothing will break them apart." Shannon ran her fingers through Evans slightly thinning hair. "Love you dear."

"Love you too," Evan leaned down and kissed Shannon softly. "Come on lets go to bed."

"Lets," Shannon agreed.

******************************

Keegan woke to find herself wrapped up in a warm nest of blankets and strong arms. She brought the hand that had entwined itself with hers up to her lips and placed soft kisses over it.

"That tickles," Sloan whispered.

Keegan placed one last kiss on the back of the hand before she turned over and kissed Sloan.

Sloan closed her eyes and lost herself in the feeling of Keegan's soft lips. The slight touch of Keegan's tongue encouraged her to open her mouth to deepen the kiss.

Keegan slowly slipped a hand down Sloan's chest to cup a breast but Sloan's larger hand stopped her.

Sloan broke the kiss; "if you do that I won't be able to stop."

Keegan closed her eyes and sighed.

"Do you remember any of the nightmare you had?" Sloan asked as she positioned herself so Keegan could rest her head on her shoulder.

Keegan shivered as she remembered the knife coming after her. Slicing through her skin, spraying blood everywhere.

Sloan instinctively tightened her hold on the woman in her arm. She kissed the top of the blonde head; "do you still have that notebook." It was the notebook Dr. Lancer had given Keegan to write in and it was to be saved so they could go over it during their next session.

Keegan nodded her head and reached behind her to the bedside table for her paper and pen. She sat up and started to write.

Sloan sat up and moved behind Keegan so she could read as Keegan wrote. Tears started to fall down her face as she read the intense fear and emotion Keegan was describing. She wrapped her arm around Keegan's waist and held her tight as she continued to write. The last sentence that she read sent a massive amount of fear into her heart. "What do you mean you feel him close?"

"I just feel him watching me. In my dreams and even when I am awake." Keegan answered with shaky hands.

"How long have you felt like this?" Sloan questioned.

Keegan took a deep breath, "for the past couple of days. It's like the evil is coming to finish what it didn't get done that night when my parents were killed."

"You have nothing to worry about. I am not going to let anyone hurt you." Sloan kissed the back of Keegan's head.

"He was able to get to my parents. What's to stop him from getting to you?" Keegan turned to look at Sloan.

"I know he is coming. I won't be surprised and I will stop him to keep him away from you." Sloan stated matter of fact.

Keegan saw determination and love inside the caring blue eyes that looked back at her. "Please don't get yourself hurt if what I'm feeling is true."

"If getting hurt means that you are safe and sound then so be it. You have been hurt enough for one life time." Sloan acknowledged softly.

"I don't want you to put my life above yours. It's not right and I won't let you." Keegan argued and tossed the notepad on the bed. She started to get up but a strong hand stopped her.

"It's not your choice. I choose to do this because I love you and want to protect you." Sloan guided Keegan to lay back down on the bed. "I will promise that I will not purposely put myself in danger, but if it comes down to me or you I will always choose me to get hurt than you. I would die if something happened to you."

Keegan let the tears fall as she patted her chest and then Sloan's.

"I know you feel the same way." Sloan leaned down and kissed Keegan. She put in all the love she felt for the small woman into it.

A knock on the door broke them apart.

"Yes," Sloan called out not breaking eye contact with Keegan.

"Mom wanted me to let you two know that breakfast was just about ready." Stephanie said as she opened the door. "Oh, sorry didn't know I was interrupting anything."

"You're not," Sloan smiled. "Tell Mom that we will be down in a few minutes."

"Okay," Stephanie winked and walked out leaving the door open. "You better get your hands out of Keegan's shirt if you want me to believe that I wasn't interrupting anything, big sister."

Sloan looked down at her hand and wondered how it got where it was. "Sorry."

Keegan smirked and laid her hand on top of Sloan's hand as the brunette tried to move her hand.

"Breakfast is waiting," Sloan tugged a little harder but Keegan had a strong hold.

Keegan cupped the back of Sloan's head and guided her down for one more soul-searing kiss. Then she pushed the stunned woman on top off her over onto her back and crawled on top of her.

Sloan closed her eyes as she tried to calm her raging body. The effects of having Keegan straddling her was almost her undoing. The thing that stopped her from grabbing ahold of Keegan's ass was her father's presence at the door.

"Oh shit," Evans face turned several shades of red. "That is something a father should not see."

******************************

"Good morning you two," Donovan waved at Sloan and Keegan as they walked into the barn.

Keegan waved as she let go of Sloan's hand and walked around to one of the stall's door. Majestic came up and nuzzled the small woman's blonde hair. "How are you this morning big guy?"

Majestic nipped her hair and blew a shot of warm air in her face.

"I see that you are in a playful mood." Keegan patted the soft spot in between the horse's eyes. "You want to go play in the clearing?"

The big stallion pawed at the door and nodded his head up and down.

Over in the corner Sloan stood and watched the interaction of Majestic and the woman who held her heart. "They make a good pair don't they?" She said as Donovan stepped next to her.

"Yes, they do. Just like you two do." Donovan smiled. "Thanks for making her happy. I haven't seen that light in her eyes in a very, very long time."

"Believe me it's my pleasure and my privilege." Sloan blushed a bit. She cleared her throat as she remembered what Keegan had said about feeling like she was being watched. "Have you noticed anything odd or different around the ranch lately?"

"Like what?" Donovan asked as he scratched his chin.

"Keegan says she feels like she is being watched." Sloan looked around the stable to see if she could see anything out of place.

"I did see some tracks yesterday out in the back field. I thought is was odd because nobody usually walks out there but me and I stick to the same path." Donovan replied as he looked up to his boss. "Who do you think Keegan feels is watching her?"

"She has been having nightmares about the night her parents were killed. She feels like it is him." Sloan sighed, "I have no idea what to do. I feel so helpless when she screams out and fights off what ever is in her dream."

"She screams out," Donovan gasped with surprise.

Sloan nodded, "yes.'

The two stopped talking when Keegan walked over with Majestic following her. She looked from one face to the other. She could tell something was up. She gestured with her hands for one of them to spill it.
"Donovan spotted strange tracks yesterday." Sloan said. "I think I am going to go and see where they lead."

Keegan stepped up in front of Sloan and shook her head.

"Yes," Sloan grabbed Keegan by the shoulders. "I want to see where they go. Maybe it's nothing but somebody snooping around."

Keegan grasped Sloan's shirt in her hands and shook her head. "Please don't go, please."

"How about I call the police and have them come with me?" Sloan asked as she gently broke Keegan's grip on her shirt. " I promise I will be careful."

Keegan nodded as she rested her head on Sloan's chest. She wrapped her arms arm the taller woman's waist and squeezed.

"I love you and want to protect you, and if the danger you feel is the person who left those tracks then I want to catch him before he tries anything." Sloan kissed the top of Keegan's head. "Why don't you stay here with Majestic while I run up to the house and call the police."

Keegan nodded her head and stepped back.

"I'll be right back." Sloan winked and quickly left.

Donovan wrapped an arm over his niece's shoulder. "You are one lucky lady."

Keegan smiled as she watched Sloan's form disappear around the small curve in the road.

"Well I need to go and get some more things done. I'll talk to you later." Donovan kissed Keegan on the cheek and went back to work.

Majestic neighed and nudged Keegan's shoulder.

"You are just like a kid. You want to go and play don't you?" Keegan scratched the tall back of the horse. "How about we go to the clearing and wait for Sloan there?"

Keegan started to walk out the stable but she noticed that Majestic wasn't following her. She turned around and looked at the horse that just stood there. "What's the matter big boy?"

Majestic neighed softly and pawed at the ground.

"I know I shouldn't go out there alone, but I'm not alone. You are with me." Keegan stated to the horse. "Plus if I can stop Sloan from getting hurt then I will. So if you come with me or not I am going to go." She waited a few seconds and turned to walk away.

******************************

"Who was that on the phone?" Shannon asked her daughter after she watched Sloan hang the phone up.

"I called the police. Seems Donovan found some foot prints out in the back pasture." Sloan explained to her mom. "I don't want to take any chances."

"You think that something is going to happen?" Shannon scooped up Sloan's hand and held it.

Sloan lowered her head and rested it on her free hand. "Not sure, but I trust Keegan's instincts."

"Well then that's all I need to hear. What do you want your Dad and I to do?" Shannon asked as she ran her thumb across the back of Sloan's hand.

Sloan turned her head and looked at her Mom, "I have no clue. Lets wait and see what we find out about those prints first."

"Okay, you're the boss," Shannon stood up and walked to the coffeepot. "You want a cup?"

"No thanks, I'm going to go down and see Keegan." Sloan said and pushed herself up. "I'll let ya know what we find out."

"Okay, dear," Shannon watched her daughter walk out of the room. "Keep them safe." She said to an empty room as she crossed herself.

******************************

"Come on, I know you are there." Keegan said as she crunched through the snow. "You know that doesn't work with me." She stopped and looked behind her. "Come on, big guy."

Majestic snorted and moved closer to Keegan.

"You know better than trying to sneak up on me." Keegan hugged the stallion that nipped at the end of her coat collar. "You can feel it too." She thought as a shiver ran down her spine. "He's out here and he is watching us."

Majestic nodded his head and snorted.

"Lets keep going. I'm tired of being afraid all the time." Keegan started to walk. The feeling of being watched grew as they got closer and closer to the clearing. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?" She thought as she stopped before she moved from the cover of the woods.

A crunching sound could be heard somewhere across the open field. Deep down inside Keegan knew that it wasn't some animal that was scurrying around looking for food. It was the evil from her past that killed her chance of ever being a normal person.

Majestic started to fidget around. He pawed at the ground and snorted loudly.

"Calm down," Keegan patted the horses rump as he pranced around her.

The sound of someone laughing at her made her blood go cold. It was the same cold laugh she remembered hearing as her parents were killed. The flash of knife filled her mind as it descended down into her mother's body. The glowing tattoo coming to life breathing fire out at her.

Keegan's muscles froze. Her breathing came in quick gasps as she tried to fight her mind and the feeling that this man had over her. "I can't do it, he owns me."

Majestic reared up and kicking snow everywhere.

******************************

Sloan walked into the stables and looked around. The silence she found didn't sit well in her chest as she felt something was wrong. She started to walk a little faster until she was running around looking everywhere she could think Keegan could be. Then it hit her, "the clearing."

She ran out of the stable and down the path that led to the trail into the woods where the clearing was. She could see Keegan and Majestic's prints in the hard crunchy snow. She pushed herself harder as the tightness in her chest grew.

******************************

"You know, I was very surprised to see you the other day. I thought for sure what you saw would keep you locked in some nut house." The dark voice said from off in the distance. "I guess I should have known though that you were like your parents. Always going on no matter what. Well they couldn't go on after I killed them could they and now it's your turn. You will have the same fate as they did, because they ruined me and since you are their little precious darling then you have to die."

Keegan stopped breathing. Her eyes darted around trying to find the spot where the man was hidden, but there was no way to know. He could be anywhere. He could be right behind me and I wouldn't know.

Majestic continued to rear and kick his hind legs out. He could feel the fear in his favorite human, but what drove him crazy was the evil sadistic feeling he was getting from somewhere in the woods. The evil laugh filled his head and made him want to run off, but he wouldn't leave the small blonde.

******************************

Sloan moved swiftly through the tree. Through the trees she could see the big black stallion kicking and rearing up. The sound of someone laughing stopped her as she looked around to see if she could place where the sound was coming from. Then it stopped and the only sound she could hear was Majestic's heavy breathing.

Slowly she made her way over to where Keegan stood. Carefully she walked in front of her, but she didn't touch her because she could see that Keegan didn't even know she was there.

"Keegan," Sloan said softly. "Baby, come on. You have to come back to me."

Keegan could hear Sloan's voice from the deep recesses of her mind. The monster's laugh was being replaced by the smooth voice of the woman who she loved. She blinked her eyes and saw caring blue looking at her. She gave her a small smile.

"Are you okay?" Sloan asked as she rubbed her hands up and down Keegan's arms.

Keegan nodded.

"Good," Sloan replied. She waited a few seconds as the anger of what Keegan had done finally crept into her brain. "What in the hell do you think you were doing? You could have been hurt, or even worse, killed."

Keegan twisted out of Sloan's grasp. She shoved Sloan back when the tall woman reached for her.

"I want you to answer me. What were you going to do if that manic came after you. You didn't look like you could protect yourself. You were so freaking scared you couldn't move." Sloan slapped her hands on her thighs. "I don't want you to ever do anything like this again. Do you hear me? You need to be with someone at all times."

Keegan pointed at Sloan as her own anger flared up.

"What?" Sloan waved her arms in the air. "What can you say that will make me understand what you were doing out here all alone, and don't you say that you weren't alone. That you had Majestic with you."

Keegan balled her hands into tight fists and punched the air around her.

Sloan watched Keegan for a few seconds before she quickly wrapped her up in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh baby I'm so sorry. You just had me so scared and then I heard that laugh and you were out here without anyone to protect you." Sloan kissed Keegan all over her face. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

The emotions of the past few minutes came crashing down on Keegan. Her legs went out from under her and her and they both slumped to the ground. She cried into Sloan chest as she hung on for dear life.

Unseen by the two women two green eyes that watched the scene unfold. "Soon dear Keegan, real soon."

******************************

"You're not going to do anything?" Sloan yelled at the police officer.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we don't have enough men to stay out here and wait to see if anything will happen." The young police officer stated as he backed away from the irate woman.

"Fine," Sloan stormed up the steps to the porch where Keegan stood with her parents. "They don't have enough men to have someone stay. So I want everyone to be extra careful. Make sure you always have someone with you when you are going somewhere." She looked at Keegan when the last part was said.
Keegan nodded knowing Sloan was trying to protect her.

"Good, now lets go have some lunch. I'm starved." Sloan held out her hand for Keegan to take and Keegan quickly grasped it and squeezed in softly.

"You going to get extra security out here?" Evan asked as he followed the two women into the house.

"I'm going to call around this afternoon and see who is the best out there. Plus I'm going to call the people who put in the security system and get a better one and have it extended to the stables and other buildings." Sloan guided Keegan to sit at the table while she went to the refrigerator and grabbed some lunch meat, cheese and miracle whip out. "Dad can you grab the bread please?"

"Sure," Evan pulled out the drawer that they kept the bread in and pulled out a loaf of wheat and a loaf of white. He also grabbed some paper plates.

"What does everyone want to drink?" Shannon asked as she moved to the refrigerator when Sloan was out of the way.

"I'll take milk," Sloan said then looked at Keegan who nodded in agreement. "Keegan will too."

"Okay, I guess it's milk all around." Shannon grabbed the gallon of milk and walked it over to the table then went and grabbed cups.

The four quietly made their own sandwich and sat down to eat. Each were lost in their thoughts.

"Hey guys, was that a police car I passed on my way here?" Stephanie asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yes," Shannon informed her daughter. "We have someone who is stalking around the ranch. We are pretty certain that the person is here to cause trouble."
"Really? Wow, what makes you think that?" Stephanie questioned as she grabbed some bread and a plate to make her own sandwich.

"There are foot prints out in the back pasture where none should be and today while Keegan was out in the clearing with Majestic she could tell someone was watching her." Sloan replied as she popped the last bite of her sandwich into her mouth.

Stephanie looked over at Keegan, "you sure it wasn't just your imagination?"

Keegan looked up into blue eyes that were a close match to Sloan. She shook her head slowly.

"Okay, what are we going to do to get this guy out of here?" Questioned Stephanie as she grabbed a knife so she could spread the Miracle Whip on her bread.

"I'm getting more security and maybe some extra staff around here." Sloan stood up and tossed her plate away. "Anyone need anything while I'm up?"

"Napkins, "Stephanie said as she licked her fingers. "Any idea who this guy is?"

Keegan swallowed and looked from one person's face to another. She couldn't believe how calm and cool they were taking this. A mad man was invading their privacy and they are acting like it was no big deal. "Why aren't they running around accusing me of bringing a murdering lunatic this close to their family?"

"What's wrong?" Evan whispered as he glanced at Keegan.

Keegan looked at Sloan's dad.

Evan saw the confusion and uncertainty in the watery green eyes. "Honey, what's the matter?"

Sloan looked over at her dad then over at Keegan. "Keegan? What's wrong?"

Keegan shook her head and tried to stand up, but Evan's strong hand on her shoulder kept her in place.

"We are in this together. So you need to tell us what is going on in that pretty little head of yours." Evan stated with concern and love.

Sloan grabbed a note pad and pen that sat by the phone. "Tell us what you are thinking, please. We are here to help."

Keegan grabbed a napkin and wiped her face. "I have brought the devil himself on your doorstep and you are all acting like it's nothing new."

"The reason we aren't getting all upset is because what good would it do?" Shannon responded after she read the note. "You are now part of our family and we protect what is ours."

Keegan lowered her head and cried.

Shannon waved Sloan away as she stood up and knelt next to Keegan, wrapping her in a mother's hug. "We aren't going to let that man near you. He will have to come through each and everyone of us first."

Keegan wrapped her arms around Shannon and held on. She had forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by the kind of love that only a woman who was a mother could give.

Sloan stood back and watched as Keegan was accepted into her family. She smiled to herself. "One more barrier torn down."

******************************

"Comfortable?" Sloan asked Keegan who had her head resting on her shoulder.

Keegan kissed the t-shirt cover shoulder and nodded.

"Good," Sloan scratched her fingers down Keegan's spine. "Just remember that I am here and I won't let him get you in your dreams or in real life. Just reach out for me and I will be there."

Keegan snuggled closer to Sloan and closed her eyes. She knew what Sloan said was true. She was safe and nobody would hurt her with her protector next to her.

Sloan looked out the window at the starry night. She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer that she could keep Keegan safe.

******************************

"You are mine," The man growled as he grasped a handful of hair. "I should have killed you a long time ago."

Keegan twisted her body around and looked deep into the monster's eyes.

"Don't act like I don't scare you. I know I do. I can hear your heart beating from here." The maniac glared. "You are mine as you should have been long ago." He held up a bloody knife. "Mine forever." He swiped the knife down her arm making a long deep gash.

Keegan watched in total shock as blood oozed out of the deep cut and dripped on the ground by her feet. A surge of pure rage filled her soul as she looked up into green crazed eyes.

"I own you and what I own will be mine forever." The man laughed as he tried to cut Keegan again.

"Reach out to me and I will always be there," Keegan thought as she stuck out her hand and felt it being captured by a strong loving hand.

"You are so wrong. Keegan is not yours now or was she ever." Sloan stepped in front of Keegan and grabbed the man by the throat with her free hand. "I will not let you hurt her any more." She growled and tossed the man to the ground.

"You bitch," the man spat. "Look at that blood that is dripping from her arm. I did that and you were unable to protect her."

"Wrong," Sloan brought up the injured arm and ran her hand over the cut. Everything disappeared, the blood, the deep ragged cut, and the pain. "See, nothing will ever hurt her again, not you, not anything."

"That is a promise you cannot keep." The man stood up and started towards the two women.

Sloan wrapped an arm over Keegan's shoulder; "you want to bet on that." She tightened her hold on the smaller woman and watched as the man faded into nothing. "Together we can face him, and show him that he is nothing."

******************************
Keegan's eyes snapped open at the same time Sloan's did. They both smiled and held on tight to the other.

"Together you and me." Sloan stated before she leaned down and kissed Keegan. Then they snuggled back down into the covers and fell back asleep.

******************************

"So, have you been writing down what you have been dreaming?" Dr. Lancer asked as she sat behind her desk drinking a cup of coffee.

Keegan nodded and reached into her backpack and handed the notebook over.

"That's great, when do you get the cast off?" The doctor asked as she started to read what Keegan had written down.

"She has an appointment this afternoon." Sloan answered for Keegan. "She is hoping that her arm is healed enough that they won't have to recast it."

"That's great," Dr. Lancer sat the notebook down and rested her entwined fingers on top of it. "Okay, today I think we should get into what happened the night of your parents murder."

Keegan sat up straight in her chair and shook her head.

"Calm down. I just want you to tell me what you feel comfortable telling me. If you just say they were killed then fine, but I will ask questions and I hope you will answer them." The doctor smiled in hopes of reassuring her patient.

"You can do it, you have told me about that night." Sloan said as she reached over and held Keegan's hand.

Dr. Lancer looked over at Sloan. "She has told you about that night?"

"Yes," Sloan answered softly.

"How about you tell me what you know and Keegan I want you to tell me in your own words." Dr. Lancer said as she handed Keegan a new notebook. "I want you to also tell me how you felt."

Keegan sat there for a few seconds before she reached for the paper. " I can do this. I can beat this monster and put him where he belongs." She took a deep breath and began to write. She blocked out Sloan as she began to tell the doctor her worst living nightmare.

******************************

"Well everything looks great. I want you to be careful and wear the split for the next couple of weeks." The doctor ordered.

Keegan nodded and smiled.

"Okay then, I will see you in a few weeks. If you have any swelling or any discomfort come in and we will check it out." The doctor smiled as he patted Keegan's leg. "Now get out of here and enjoy the day. I hear we are supposed to get a big snow fall tonight."

"How much they talking?" Sloan asked as she stepped out of the corner.

The doctor turned to look at Sloan. "I last I heard it was about twelve to fourteen inches."

"Awesome, nothing better than a snow storm." Sloan clapped her hands together. "Come on Keegan we have to run to the store and get some supplies."

Keegan grinned as she watched Sloan act like a kid on Christmas morning. She shook her head and lowered herself to the floor. "My big kid."

"See ya doc," Sloan grabbed Keegan's hand and guided her out of the room and out of the hospital to where the car was parked.

******************************

Keegan slowly pushed the shopping cart behind Sloan who ever few seconds tossed something into the open basket.

"Which is your favorite?" Sloan held up a pack of double stuffed Oreo's and a regular package of Oreo's.

Keegan pointed to the double stuffed.

"Cool, me too." Sloan smiled. "Now we need some milk."

"She is so adorable." Keegan thought as Sloan walked ahead of her to the dairy isle. A bottle of Heresy's chocolate syrup caught the small blonde's eye. "I wonder if I can get her to let me pour this all over her?"

"Hey watch it," a lady snapped as Keegan rounded the corner. "Well if it isn't the stupid mute."

Keegan glared at the nurse who had humiliated her when she tried to make a run for it the first night she was in the hospital.

Ex-hospital nurse Amy Hornell glared at Keegan. "It's all your fault that I am now working at the old geezer home."

Keegan put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I feel so sorry for those elderly people."

"Come on, stupid move." Hornell pushed her cart into Keegan's casing a loud crashing noise.

"Leave her alone," Sloan grabbed ahold of the metal cart and shoved it away. "Go now before I do something I have wanted to do to you since I last saw you."

"Bring it one," Amy beckoned Sloan with a wiggle of her fingers. "You aren't so tough."

"You are going to regret every single word you have ever said to her." Sloan gestured to Keegan. "You know I will let you have the first punch."

"That's all I need." Amy stalked up to Sloan and threw out her fist that she aimed at Sloan's chin.

Sloan easily stepped out of the path of the fist. "Now it's my turn." She grinned as she brought back her own fist. "This is going to hurt you way more than it will me."

The sound of the woman's nose breaking filled the store. People stopped to look at the now out cold woman who lay in the middle of the floor. Keegan walked over to her and opened up the bottle of chocolate syrup and doused the woman from head to toe.

"What a waste of good chocolate." Sloan laughed. "I could think of something better to pour that over."
Keegan dropped the bottle she held and walked over and grabbed two jugs of it and, tossed them into the cart and made her way over to the check out counter.

"I think I maybe in trouble." Sloan mumbled as she slowly followed Keegan.

A teenage boy about seventeen grinned, "I wish I had that kind of trouble."

Sloan stopped in front of the young man and slapped him on the back; "you couldn't handle her."

"I know, but I would sure love to try." He stated with a sigh.

Sloan shook her head and laughed. A candy bar hit her on the head and she looked up. Keegan was standing in the line by the cash register waiting for Sloan.

"I guess you better go." The teenager said.

"Yep, I better." Sloan gave the boy a small wave and headed towards Keegan.

******************************

Sloan looked around her to make sure everything was perfect. In front of the fire was a large thick comforter and several pillows so Keegan and her could lounge on the floor in comfort. A table was set off to the side with cookies and milk.

"Perfect," Sloan looked out the window. "Snow is falling and the wind is howling. A splendid night to get cozy with the one you love."

The noise of the door opening made Sloan turn around. A small smile graced her face when her soft blue eyes met loving green.

"Hi, you want to get comfy in front of a nice fire with me?" Sloan asked as she walked over to Keegan.

Keegan blushed as she took the strong hand that was held out to her. She let Sloan guide her to the romantic setting.

"I know I said that we should wait, but I have never felt this close to anyone before. I want to show you how much you mean to me, by giving myself to you completely." Sloan said as she stopped to look into the eyes that held her soul.

Keegan felt her eyes start to tear up. No one had ever treated her better than the way Sloan had treated her in the past several weeks. She knew that the tall sexy woman who stood before her in silk black boxers and t-shirt would be the person she would love forever and ever.

Sloan looked deep into Keegan's eyes and saw her soul. It connected with hers on a stronger level than it had yet to do. "I love you, Keegan. You were always meant to be with me and I was always meant to be with you. Our souls are entwined together as one."

Keegan didn't even try to stop the tears now. She let them fall as they may. She closed her eyes when Sloan cupped her face to wipe the small drops away.

Sloan lowered her head and placed a soft kiss on Keegan's trembling lips. She felt Keegan wrap her arms around her waist bringing their bodies closer together. She traced her tongue along Keegan's soft pink lips.

Keegan opened her mouth to accept Sloan's tongue as she caressed her tongue against her soon to be lovers.

Sloan ran her hands through Keegan's hair holding the back of her head to increase the contact. She felt the smaller woman run her hands up her back and grasp her shirt.

Keegan's heart soared as she felt the love and desire Sloan was showing her with just a kiss.

"Let's lay down," Sloan whispered after she broke the kiss. She felt the small woman in her arms nod. With all the care in the world she lowered Keegan to the soft comforter.

Keegan smiled slightly when she felt Sloan lower her body on top of her. The weight of the body was a glorious feeling. She slipped her hands under the white t-shirt and began to pull up. Soon the shirt was somewhere across the floor, forgotten.

Sloan arched her back when she felt Keegan drag her blunt fingernails across her skin. She hissed when Keegan raised her head and sucked onto her nipple. "Oh, baby that feels good."

Keegan smiled to herself as she continued to explore the nipple in her mouth. She scratched her way down until she reached the waistband of the silk boxers Sloan had on. With sure fingers she slipped under the elastic band and grabbed the well-muscled butt as she raised her knee to put pressure against the tall woman's center.

Sloan trembled with desire. Her whole body was on fire and the only extinguisher was the small spitfire of a woman under her. "I want to see you, all of you." She muttered in a soft whisper as she lowered her head to kiss Keegan as she worked her hands under the shirt she had on. "Let's get this off you."

Keegan released Sloan's backside and raised her arms over her head so Sloan could slip the shirt up over her head. Just as her head was about to slip out of the material she felt a warm mouth and wet tongue wrap around one of her nipples. Her other nipple was pinched in between two fingers.

Never in her silent life did Keegan wish she could speak. She wanted to yell at the top of her lungs with the intense feeling of joy that had taken over her body. She pulled the shirt the rest of the way off and watched Sloan feast upon her breasts.

Sloan felt Keegan watching her and looked up. Passionate blue eyes met lustful green. She let go of the nipple in her mouth and raised her body up so they were eye to eye. "Promise me forever and I will give you what your heart desires."

Keegan let the tears fall again as she nodded. She was where she will always be. In the arms of the person she loved more than anything in this world. "This is my hearts greatest desire."

Sloan kissed the tears away as she used one hand to unbutton the buttons that held Keegan's jeans on. When she was done she sat up and ran her hands down Keegan's chest until she met the now open jeans. She tugged off the barrier in one swift movement. Her breath caught as she saw the beautiful naked woman lying in front of her.

"You are even more stunning than I pictured in my head." Sloan moaned as she ran a hand up Keegan's thigh to her glistening center. She traced her finger along the outer lips before she slipped slowly in between the slick skin. "You feel so exquisite."

Keegan closed her eyes has her body began to tremble with need. She grasped a hold of her own breasts and squeezed them as she spread her legs further apart so Sloan would have access to all she offered.

Sloan took a big breath in through her nose. Her senses filled with the smell of Keegan's arousal. She moaned when Keegan spread her legs. She couldn't wait any longer she lowered her mouth and replaced her finger with her tongue and mouth. The sweet taste increased her own arousal and she knew what she wanted Keegan to do.

Keegan's hand caressed the long tan legs that were next to her. The feeling of Sloan loving her the way she was brought a deep need to do the same to Sloan. She moved just enough so she could get Sloan to maneuver around so she could slip off the boxers. Then she guided the long legs to be placed one on each side of her head.

Keegan's view of Sloan's center drove her with such a need that she dove in wanting to be part of this woman above her. The taste was beyond anything Keegan had tasted before.

Sloan nearly collapsed on top of Keegan when she felt the first contact of Keegan's mouth on her. Her body was ready to explode and she didn't know how long she could control it.

Keegan was in heaven. Her body was like a volcano ready to erupt. She felt Sloan circle her opening with her finger and slowly enter her. Then slowly slide out only to be filled two fingers instead of one. She bucked as Sloan sucked her clit into her mouth.

Sloan couldn't hold back any longer. She wanted Keegan to soar. She increased her movements of both her fingers and mouth. She could feel and taste Keegan's growing excitement.

Keegan felt her body react to the touches. Her entire core flashed out with thousands of intense balls shooting the glorious feeling of her orgasm. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes closed as her head was thrown back in pure ecstasy.

Sloan carefully removed her fingers from Keegan, but she continued to lick until she was sure she had gotten every last drop. She gasped out when Keegan placed her fingers at her opening. Her body started to move with every thrust. It didn't take much more and she screamed out. "OH GOD, KEEGAN."

Keegan smiled to herself when Sloan's legs couldn't hold her anymore and she sunk down to the floor next to her. She turned around so she could kiss her way up Sloan's subdued body. She left little marks here and there until she reached Sloan's waiting mouth.

"Do you have any idea what you just did to me?" Sloan asked as she wrapped her arms around the small naked woman at her side.

Keegan grinned and nodded. Then she reached up above her head to a bag she had hidden there after they got back from the store. She pulled out a jug of chocolate sauce and waved it in front of Sloan's face.

"Damn, you're going to kill me." Sloan groaned as a big smile formed. "But, hot damn what a way to go."

******************************

"What?" Sloan yelled after a loud knock woke her and Keegan up.

"Sloan, I need you and Keegan to get up. We've had some problems last night that I think you two should see." Sloan's dad yelled from the other side of the door.

"We'll be right there," Sloan answered back as she stretched. "How are you this morning?"

Keegan smiled as she snuggled up next to Sloan as she ran her hand down her stomach.

Sloan grasped Keegan's wondering hand. "Now, now, we have to get up and see what Dad is talking about."

Keegan pouted, but pulled back.

Sloan leaned down and gave Keegan a tender kiss. "We can always come back after."

******************************

"What in the hell happened?" Sloan yelled as she paced back and forth. "How could that guy get this close and not set off any alarms?" She glared at the security personnel she just hired. "If this is the best you guys can do I think you should leave now."

"It wasn't our fault. The storm took out the electricity. We did walk around until we couldn't see anything."

"Well apparently he could see in the storm just fine." Sloan stated as she pointed to the side of the barn that had "SOON LITTLE KEEGAN YOU WILL BE MINE" painted across it.

"I don't know what to say. We did everything we could under the circumstances." The security guard replied.

"I want you to get your boss here now." Sloan glared at the men that flinched back.

"Yes, ma'am." One mumbled as he reached for his cell phone.

Sloan stormed over to where Keegan sat on a stack of hay with Evan standing next to her rubbing her back. "Honey are you okay?"

Keegan looked up with teary eyes and nodded.

"Come on lets get out of here," Sloan shoved open the stable doors. She looked around the winter wonderland that was her ranch. It looked so peaceful, but she knew that out there somewhere was a dark, vicious enemy that needed to be stopped before Keegan could ever be the person she was suppose to be.

Keegan walked up next to Sloan and gabbed a hold of her hand. They both took a deep breath at the same time and watched as the white breath escaped from their mouths as the exhaled.

Sloan looked down at Keegan and nodded, "he's watching right now."

Keegan nodded as she tightened her hold on the woman she loves hand.

"He won't win," Sloan stated.

Keegan gave her a slight smile. "I hope so, my love."


******************************

"I suggest you get out there and find the trail that he had to leave through the snow." Sloan stood on the porch pointing towards the woods.

"Ms. Addams, I will personally look, but my men have already looked and have been unable to find anything. The storm last night covered everything up." Mr. Turner stated. "I will call more men and have them here tomorrow."

"I suggest you get them here before tomorrow." Sloan replied before she turned around and slammed the door. "Stupid jerk."

"Love you to sis," Stephanie said as she walked down the stairs.

Sloan looked up and smiled, "hey squirt."

"Don't even start that." Stephanie pointed at Sloan with a glare. "You know I hate that."

"I do, and that is why I say it." Sloan wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders and guided her into the kitchen where everyone else was.

"How did things go?" Evan asked when he saw his daughters enter the kitchen.

Sloan shrugged her shoulders. "He said that he will get more men out here."

"That will help," Shannon handed the two women each a cup of hot chocolate.

"I hope so," Sloan mumbled as she slumped into a chair next to Keegan. "I'm just so pissed that he was that close and he slipped through our fingers."

"Not to worry, he will get caught." Evan patted Sloan's arm.

"I cannot help but worry. This madman has invaded our lives and is trying to hurt the woman I love." Sloan stood up quickly nearly knocking over the chair. "I cannot sit much longer before I crack and go after him myself."

Keegan jumped up and shook her head. She poked her finger in the tall woman's chest. "No, no, no." She turned around and grabbed the paper and pen she was just using to talk to Evan and Shannon. "You promised me that you wouldn't do that. I will hold you to that and if you break that promise I will hunt you down until my last breath."

"I know I promised, but I feel like I am lost just sitting here doing nothing." Sloan confessed as she waved her hands out in front of her. "I want to protect you and keep you safe and all I am doing is hiring people to do that while I wait and wait and wait."

"Welcome to my life. All my life I have had this guy following me around every corner. Why he chose now to attack me I have no idea. He has had plenty of opportunities that were a hell of a lot easier than this." Keegan wrote.

"I don't know why either, but I will be damned if I am just going to sit here and let him run our lives." Sloan walked over to a window and pointed out tapping her finger on the cold glass. "He is out there just waiting. Waiting for us to let him strike. I want to stop him before he gets the chance. I want him to know that he cannot ruin peoples lives like he did yours."

"He will be stopped, but let him be stopped by the authorities. It's their job, not yours." Keegan looked over at Sloan with pleading eyes.

"It's my job to keep you safe." Sloan stated with her heart.

"Then keep me safe right here. Not out there where he is at." Keegan begged.

Sloan lowered her head. She knew that it was no use arguing anything right now. "Okay, for now."

Keegan nodded, she knew that she won this battle, but not the war.

******************************

A couple of weeks went by and nothing more happened and it was starting to get on Keegan's and Sloan's nerves.

"Why didn't you tell Dr. Lancer about the dream you had last night?" Sloan questioned Keegan as she drove down the highway. "I thought you said you were."

Keegan closed her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh come on, you can come up with something better than that." Sloan tightened her fingers around the steering wheel. Keegan's 'I don't give a shit attitude' was getting on her last nerve. "Why are we even bothering if you aren't going to try?"

Keegan turned to look out the window and felt her heart breaking. "Well I have done it now. I should have known it was to good to be true."

When Sloan didn't get any kind of response from Keegan she continued to drive without saying anything. "What is the point of going to the doctors if she won't talk to the doctor and tell her what is going on. I'm the only one giving any information."

As soon as the car stopped by the house Keegan jumped out. She didn't want to be around Sloan since things had obviously not worked out. She headed up the stairs and into the house and to her room. She locked the door and flung herself on the bed and cried.

Sloan watched Keegan run to the house, "lovely." She mumbled as she walked up to the porch.

"Oh, I thought I heard someone come in." Shannon said as she walked down the hall from the kitchen. "Someone from your office called. It sounded important. I left the name and number on your desk."

"Okay, thanks, mom." Sloan kissed her mom's cheek and headed up to her office.

******************************

"Hey, honey," Evan walked into Sloan's office and sat down in one of the chairs. "Your Mom said that you had a call from the office."

"Hi, Dad," Sloan looked up from some paperwork her office in New York had sent her. "I have to fly out tonight. Looks like someone screwed up and I have to go fix it."

"That stinks," Evan smiled.

"Yes, it does." Sloan sat back in her chair and groaned. "Plus Keegan and I aren't talking. We had a little disagreement in the car."

"I was wondering when all this would come up to the surface." Evan nodded his head as he scratched his chin.

"What do you mean?" Sloan questioned as she grabbed her briefcase next to her desk and shoved the papers she was working on inside of it.

"It's been a few weeks since anything has happened. We are no closer to catching this crazy SOB then we were in the beginning." Evan replied. "It's getting to you and Keegan. You always take it out on the one who is closest to you."

"But we haven't been at each others throats or anything. We just had a small argument, in fact it wasn't even an argument." Sloan stood up and walked around her desk to sit in the chair next to her dad. "She didn't do anything like she usually does when we argue."

"Maybe she needs more time?" Evan suggested.

"Well she will have some time since I will more than likely be gone for three days." Sloan stood up and walked around her desk to lean against it. "Will you make sure she doesn't go anywhere alone."

"Yes," Evan rested his hand on Sloan's leg. "You can count on us."

"Thanks, Dad." Sloan smiled. "Well, I really should go pack."

"And try to talk to Keegan before you go." Evan stood up in front of his daughter.

Sloan nodded as she hugged her dad, "and try to talk to her."

"Have a safe trip," Evan kissed Sloan on the cheek.

******************************

Sloan knocked softly on the closed door as she placed her suitcase on the floor. When she didn't get an answer she tried the doorknob. When it wouldn't budge she sighed and rested her head on the wooden door. "Keegan, please don't shut me out." She whispered before she grabbed her bag and headed down the hall.

******************************

Keegan sat up sweating and breathing hard. "Damn another dream." She thought as she ran her hands through her hair. She looked around and noticed that it was dark. "Wonder what time it is?" She looked over at the clock sitting on the bedside table. "Wow, nine o'clock, no wonder I am so hungry."

Keegan then thought of what happened in the car earlier in the afternoon and wasn't so hungry any more. "I guess I should get my things and get out of here." She slowly stood up and reached under the bed for her small suitcase. Then walked over to the dresser and pulled out what clothes she had. "I cannot stay here. I need to go somewhere far away, but where?"

For the next half an hour Keegan tried to think where she could go. All she had was her motorcycle and with it being freezing cold out she wasn't looking forward to traveling. "Cannot stay here. I will just have to make sure that I bundle up and cover my face with a scarf." She opened the bedroom door and looked down the hall. Sloan's bedroom door was closed with a sliver of light sneaking out from underneath it.

"Good bye Sloan," Keegan blew a kiss towards the door and walked down the stairs and out the door.

******************************

"Good morning, Ashley," Sloan said to the receptionist as she walked in the lobby of her building. "Is Gordon in yet?"

"Well long time no see, Sloan." Ashley smiled up at her favorite boss. "And yes, Gordon came in about thirty minutes ago."

Sloan grinned when she saw the round belly as the receptionist stood up to walk around the desk to give Sloan a hug. "Well look at you. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Wanted it to be a surprise." Ashley rubbed her swollen stomach.

Sloan placed her hand next to Ashley's and felt the baby kick. "And what a surprise it is. How much longer?"

Ashley waddled back around her desk to slowly sit back down, "only one more month."

"What are you doing still working?" Sloan sat her briefcase on top of the desk.

Ashley laughed, "calm down boss. I wanted to work until I absolutely couldn't. This is my last week."

"Well I am so happy for you. You make sure you let me know if you need anything." Sloan said as she flipped open her briefcase and handed some papers to the pregnant woman. "Could you get these sent over to the bank for me?"

"Sure thing," Ashley opened a drawer and pulled out a big brown envelope. "So what's new in your life?"

"Well, I met someone." Sloan blushed slightly.

"You met someone? Hot damn," Ashley slapped the top of her desk with excitement. "Who is she? What's here name? Did you bring her along?"

Sloan laughed out loud at the questions being tossed at her. "She works on my ranch and her name is Keegan and no she didn't come with me." When she said the last part a frown formed on her face. "I wish she did, but we got into a small disagreement and I haven't talked to her."

"Well call her up and tell her you love her and make it right, because if she can get you to blush like you did a few seconds ago she must be one hell of a woman." Ashley stated as she held out the phone to her boss. "No time like the present."

Sloan sighed, "one problem. She doesn't speak."

"Well, that does make a phone call kinda hard." Ashley ran her fingers through her long brown hair. "How about Internet messaging?"

"Ashley, you just got yourself a raise." Sloan ran behind the desk and hugged the startled woman. "You are a genius."

"I knew that," Ashley beamed. "Now call your parents and get everything set up. The business can wait, love cannot."

******************************

"Honey can you get the phone?" Shannon asked Stephanie as she got a pot of coffee ready.

"Sure thing Mom," Stephanie walked over to the phone. "Hello."

"Well you sound awfully cheerful this morning." Sloan said with a little laugh.

"Hey, Sloan. Did you make it alright to New York?" Stephanie grabbed a piece of bacon off of a plate that sat on the counter next to her.

"Yes, sister dear I did. Is Keegan around? I would like to see if she will talk to me on the Internet messaging." Sloan leaned up against Ashley's desk and crossed her legs out in front of her.

"She isn't up yet, but let me run up and ask her." Stephanie sat the phone down even before Sloan could stop her. She ran up the stairs and knocked on the closed door. "Keegan, Sloan is on the phone she wants to talk with you."

Stephanie waited a few more seconds before she knocked again, but a little harder. "Keegan?" She tried the doorknob and slowly opened the door. She spotted a note on the dresser and picked it up. "Shit." Stephanie ran out of the room and down the stairs. She grabbed the phone; "she left."

"What do you mean she left?" Sloan stood up straight grasping the phone tighter in her hand.

"She left a note. It says that she is sorry that she didn't try hard enough for you to make things work." Stephanie informed her sister. "What is she talking about?"

"I have no idea." Sloan closed her eyes. The thoughts of Keegan out there with a maniac after her sent shivers down her spine. Then she remembered what she said in the car after their appointment with Dr. Lancer. "Oh God, I screwed up big time."

"What are you talking about?" Stephanie covered her eyes as she tried not to scream when Sloan told her what she said in the car and how she meant it and how Keegan must have taken it.

Shannon stepped up next to her daughter, "what's going on?"

"Keegan took off, she misunderstood something Sloan said yesterday." Stephanie whispered to her mom as she tried to listen to Sloan rattle on and on that she would be on the next flight out of New York.

"We will get things started on this end." Shannon said after she grabbed the phone from her youngest daughter. "Do you want someone to pick you up?"

"No, I left my car there. Bye," Sloan hung up the phone and looked over at Ashley. "Will you call Gordon and let him know that I had to leave. Family emergency, he will have to fix the problem himself."

"Okay, boss. Here is your flight information." Ashley handed Sloan a piece of paper. "Now get and get your girl."

"How?" Sloan asked stunned.

"I have my ways, now get going." Ashley shoved Sloan towards the door and picked up the phone to call Gordon.

******************************

"Damn I am tired and I feel like popsicle." Keegan pulled her new motorcycle over to the side of the road so a semi truck could pass by her. Her whole body fought the cold blast of air that hit when the big truck passed her sending small droplets of snow and mud all over her body.

"This just sucks," Keegan groaned as she wiped her face with the back of her gloved hand. "Next town I am stopping and getting a room." She kicked started the motorcycle and headed down the road. She never saw the car that pulled over when she stopped or started back up when she went down the road.

"My time has come and you dear Keegan are going to get what you should have gotten so many years ago." The man laughed as he drove slowly behind his target.

******************************

"Well her motorcycle is gone. It looks like she left sometime during the night, because the light snow fall we had this morning covered some of her tracks. I will call around and see if she might be staying at some motel around here. I seriously doubt it though." Donovan sighed as he scratched his scruffy chin. "When will Sloan be here?"

"She called right before she got on the plane. Her plane lands in four hours." Even replied as he patted Donovan on the back. "Don't worry we will find her."

"I know we will, but I'm just praying that we find her before someone else does." Donovan stated with a frown on his face. "She is all the family I have left. I don't want to loss her too."

"You won't loss her, and you have more family than you realize." Evan gestured over to where Shannon and Stephanie walked down the road all bundled up ready to help search for Keegan. "We are your family too, even before Keegan came, you were a part of it."

"Thanks," Donovan wiped a hand across his face. "Where are the security men?"

"I have them walking the grounds." Evan replied. "If the killer is out there they could better protect themselves than us. I want us to take our cars and drive around and see if we can spot anything."

"That sure is a long shot," Stephanie responded as she stepped next to Evan.

"I know it is, but I cannot sit here and wait for someone else to do anything. I promised Sloan that we would watch out for Keegan." Evan pinched the end of his nose. "If we don't find Keegan Sloan will be lost with out her."

"Let's go, I will get out there as soon as I make those calls." Donovan turned around and headed for his room.

"I want you and your Mom to take your car and I will take ours. Lets all meet up here in a couple of hours." Evan guided the two Addams women over to where the cars were parked. "Call if you have anything."

"Okay, and be careful." Shannon kissed her husbands cheek before she got into the car. "Lets go Stephanie."

******************************

Keegan pulled up to a run down Motel. She wasn't sure if it was even open, because it looked like a tornado hit it and nobody cared to clean it up. "Oh well, if nobody is here I will break into a room and see what I can do about getting some sleep." She parked her motorcycle in front of a window that said Manager's Office. Keegan pulled off her wet glove and knocked hard on the steel door. She shook her hand when sharp pain shot through her fingers. "That was smart."

When the door jerked open Keegan nearly had a heart attack.

"What do you want?" A skinny woman asked.

Keegan looked at the woman who had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. Her teeth were yellow and brown. "Oh my. Haven't you ever heard of a toothbrush and toothpaste?"

"Well I don't want to stand out here in the fucking cold all night. What do you want?" The women asked again as she pulled her cigarette out of her mouth and tossed it in a mud puddle.

Keegan grabbed her small notepaper out of her back pocket. "I need a room for the night. Maybe two."

"Does it look like I am open for business?" The old woman spat. "I haven't had any customers for years."

"I'll pay you," Keegan wrote quickly. Her whole body was starting to shake from being cold for so long.

The woman looked at Keegan and scratched under one of her saggy tits. "Okay, but I don't do room service and I sure in the hell don't clean. So you are on your own."

"How much?" Keegan hoped the woman wouldn't charge her too much. She had only six hundred dollars on hand.

"One hundred should be good. Let me get ya a key." The woman walked back into her room and walked out a few seconds later with a key. "Number nine. It's just down that way." She pointed.

Keegan followed the bony old finger to what looked like a blue, pink, red, and purple door. "I guess I get the rainbow room." She reached in her pocket and counted out one hundred dollars.

"Make sure you return the key before you leave." The woman said before she went back to her room and closed the door.

"Oh yes, we wouldn't want anyone to steal anything." Keegan shook her head and stepped over to her motorcycle and pushed it over closer to her rooms' door. "Not like anyone is crazy enough to ride this during winter. Just me that is." She laughed to herself. "Yep, just crazy old me." Keegan felt the tears start to fall before she had her motorcycle parked. "Why am I even here? I have only caused people pain and misery when I am around."

Keegan grabbed her bag as she wiped the tears away. She stuck the key into the lock and fought top to turn the deadbolt. When it finally clicked back and let her in the smell of mildew and dust filled her senses. She started to sneeze and cough. An old bed that was made, but the bedspread looked like the last good day it saw was in 1950. Keegan tried the light switch and she was pleasantly surprised when a fluorescent light flickered and hummed over the bed.

"Damn now this sucks," Keegan tossed her bag on the bed. The dust that flew up irritated her eyes. "Can this get any worse?"

The car that was following Keegan pulled up behind the motel. The occupant looked in the review mirror at himself. "It's time."

******************************

Continued in part three……..

Feedback….Tinstrttn@aol.com