Chapter 1

"Your turn," Jeff said climbing out of the pool, fully clothed and dripping wet.

"You wouldn't." Jessica laughed as he advanced toward her. She shrieked as he reached her and carried her over to the edge of the pool.

"No way! You're not getting away with it this time." He teased. She squirmed until he was forced to release her and she took off running, hiding behind Matt, who was lying in a lounge chair.

"Okay you two, give it up would ya? I'm trying to rest here."

"Look what she did to me. I'm drenched." Jeff told him.

"Yea well you probably deserved it. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going back to my nap. That is if you two could keep it down."

"Sorry Matty." Jessica said sheepishly before smiling at Jeff.

"Yea, we'll leave you alone. For now." He went over to the pool and splashed some water towards his brother, then quickly grabbed Jessica's hand, leading her into the house. Alone in the living room he wrapped his arms around her and they kissed.

"That was nice," She said to him as their lips slowly parted.

"I've got more." He whispered into her ear before they kissed again. Jeff lifted her up and carried her over to the couch and gently placed her down before lying on top of her.

"You're all wet." She laughed.

"Thanks to you," He took his shirt off. "Better?"

"Much." Her hands stroked his chest before she pulled him closer. He went to remove her shirt when they heard a sound coming from the kitchen. "What was that?"

"It's probably just Matt." He told her but she sat up anyway. They waited for a few moments but no one came into the room. "Where were we?"

"Maybe we should go upstairs?" She suggested.

"Why? He went back out."

"Yea, but he could come in again at any time."

"Wait right here." Jeff told her before he went into the kitchen. He looked out the window and saw his brother still lying on the lounge chair. He went over to the door and locked it before heading back to Jessica. "We're good to go."

"Where's Matt?"

"Still outside."

"He could still come in."

"Relax, I locked him out." He grinned.

"Well, in that case, get over here." Again, they embraced.

"I love you." He told her as he lifted her top above her head. She kissed him more forcefully as she felt her passion building. Not wasting any more time they gave in to their needs. Lost in the moment they didn't hear someone sneak up. The next thing Jessica knew she felt Jeff being pulled away from her.

"I don't think so." A voice softly said. She watched as Jeff was practically thrown across the room. He landed with a thud crashing into the coffee table. Jessica stared in horror as she stared at him lying there motionless.

"Jeff?" She called out before she realized the figure was now coming toward her. She jumped off the couch and ran over to Jeff. "Come on, wake up. Please." She pushed him trying to get him to stir but got no response. She returned her attention to the approaching intruder.

"What do you want? Who are …" She stopped her questions as he stepped into the light. "It can't be."

"Miss me?" Shane smiled at her.

"It's not you." Jessica shook her head. "You're in jail."

"Did you really think I was going to stay gone? Don't you know me by now? I told you, we belong together."

"Shane, don't do this and don't come any closer." She warned. "Jeff!"

"I don't think he can hear you." He reached for her but she pushed him off and ran for the back door. She got as far as the kitchen before Shane grabbed her.

"Matt! Help!" She called out before Shane covered her mouth.

"You don't want to get him involved. If you do what I say no one else will get hurt." He dragged her back into the living room. She tried to free herself from him.

"Don't fight it. It will be much easier if you just accept it." He was now pressed against her. He gripped her arms tightly. "You'll never be free of me. You'll always be my girl." He leaned in to kiss her and she struggled to fight him off but for some reason she couldn't move. She felt frozen as he pushed himself against her. This can't be happening, she thought. Why can't I move?

"Jeff!" She screamed.

"No one can help you." Shane told her. He looked her in the eye. "Now where were we? Oh yes, I remember." He ripped at her shirt and she screamed as his hands clawed at her body. He moaned her name in excitement.

"No don't!" She shouted out as loud as she could. "Somebody help me! Please!"…………

"Jess, come on honey." Jeff shook her gently again trying to wake her up. "Baby, it's okay. Wake up." Finally she began to stir. Her eyes opened and he could see the tears already forming. He wrapped his arms around her and just soothed her.

"I couldn't move." She told him.

"It's all right. It was only a dream."

"It felt so real."

"But it wasn't. Just keep remembering that. You're safe and Shane can't hurt us anymore."

"I don't know if I can do this." She started to get out of bed but Jeff pulled her back.

"Come here." He wrapped his arms around her. "It's going to be all right. You'll see."

"I just want this whole thing to be over." Jessica said pressing herself against him. "I don't know how much more I can take."

"You can do this and don't forget I'm going to be with you the entire time."

"And so will Shane."

"In hand cuffs, with police surrounding him, he can't hurt us anymore. I won't let him." He kissed her trying to calm her down. "It's early. Just close your eyes and rest a little more. It will be okay." Jeff sighed as she did as he said. He was beginning to think that their coming here was a bad idea.

In the two months since they had rescued her from Shane, their life was like a roller coaster. Jessica had her good days and her bad. In the beginning, Jeff was woken up several times a night by her crying or even worse. She would flail around and fight him until she finally woke up. Then he would spend at least another hour trying to calm her back down to sleep. Jeff himself rarely went back. Not sure what to do they kept her days jam packed with activities. They went to the lake or took trips to anywhere she wanted. All in the hopes that having fun and spending time with her would lessen her fear. For awhile it worked. She was almost the same ole Jess. She still had nightmares but they weren't as strong or as frequent. They had thought the worst was past them and then the summons came.

Both of them had been ordered to testify in court about all Shane had done to them and Shane would be there to witness it all.

Once Jessica received that letter she reverted back, afraid of having to face him. Most of their family and friends thought it was a good idea. That in order for both of them to move on they needed to do this, especially Jess but they couldn't see how this was affecting her. Not like Jeff could. And now that they were up here and today was the day, all Jeff wanted to do was take her back home and make everything go away again.

Too late, he thought. The best thing he could do now was just make sure she made it through the day with the least amount of damage as possible but something told him that was not going to be easy.