('You think you're safe but you're not. I found you before, I will find you again. You can't escape me, you can't escape my touch on you're soft skin. I waited a long time to finally get you under me, to touch those round breasts begging for my mouth. For that mound between your legs to finally satisfy my craving'.... the words, the images played over in her mind again as she tried to pull her head one way then the other to avoid the stench of his breath in her face. Her chest heaving, her heartbeating faster the closer he came towards her. Her body felt heavy as if a ton of concrete laid upon it. She tried to scream, but nothing came out of her mouth as he cut all her clothes off her, tieing her hands and feet. He stood above her grinning as she laid naked on the floor. He knelt down, forcing her legs apart, positioning himself to finally take what he always thought was his.)

"Caroline, darlin...wake up, wake up" Tim demanded as she continued thrashing about the bed. He finally tried to grab her wrists to get her to stop flailing about. She then began to scream, breaking loose from his grip, she punched him in the face and head.

"Noooooo.....get off me you son of a bitch" she screamed, still asleep. Tim tried again to calm her down, he crawled across her just as she began to kick, lifting her leg striking him in the balls.

"Aaaaah, fuck" he yelled as he grabbed himself and fell off the bed. The sound of him yelling and the loud thud seemed to finally pull her out of the nightmare she was having. Bolting upright in bed, dripping with sweat, breathing hard she tried to focus on where she was. She finally heard the moaning from the floor beside her. Quickly turning on the light, she found Tim laying on the floor, writhing in pain.

"Oh my god, Tim..baby....what have I done" she yelled, jumping out of bed, kneeling beside him.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...please...please.." she began to cry, begging for his forgiveness.

Tim felt her tears fall upon his face as she rocked back and forth above his head, stroking his hair. "Darlin....don't cry...I'm...or will be...ok...just give me a few minutes" he told her, reaching for her hand.

Caroline continued to cry until he finally sat up. He leaned his back against the side of the bed. "Come here" he said softly, opening his arms, coaxing her to him. She shook her head no as she saw the swelling around his eye, "I've hurt you so much, I can't " she sobbed. Tim leaned towards her, grabbing her into his arms. "Shhh, it's ok...I know you didn't mean any of it. I should have known better then to try and stop you from thrashing about the bed. I didn't think, I only wanted to wake you to stop the nightmare you were having" he told her, holding her against his chest.

Soon he could feel her start to calm "do you want to talk about it" he whispered. She nodded no as she pushed her head more into his chest. He tightened his arms around her "just remember, it was only a bad dream, no one can hurt you, I won't let anyone ever again"

****

Tim stood in front of the mirror, accessing the bruises left upon his face from the night before. Touching the cheek bone under his eye was painful. 'Damn, you'd think I'd remember her defensive tactics training' he thought noticing his eyelid looked black when she walked into the bathroom.

Caroline looked at him, gently placing her fingers along the bruises on his face. Such sadness in her eyes at the sight of the man she loved so deeply, marred by her hand. She quickly pulled away as a tear escaped her eye, knowing all to well she couldn't guarantee it would never happen again.