Slowly, not knowing if the monster watching would intervene, Savannah got to her feet and leaned over Kermit, lightly touching his lips.

He tasted the blood coming from her mouth. *God,* he thought, *don't let this be the last time I touch her.* This was the chance he'd been waiting for. Kermit didn't know if she knew how to fire a weapon but this was the final option left to both of them. Turning his head to whisper into her ear, he breathed, "Gun," and rolled his eyes downward as she glanced quickly to catch his expression.

On her way back down to rest at his feet, she made eye contact again. She had understood. Savannah slid one hand across Kermit's leg to try to distract Ericson and made a discreet pass under the chair.

Ericson began to laugh hysterically. Reaching between the cushions of the sofa, he displayed the revolver. "Looking for this, precious? Griffin, give me a bit more credit than that."

As he walked over to grab her hair again, that tiny bit of hope Savannah had been handed drained away. She looked at Kermit, knowing what was to come. Trying to drink in one last bit of closeness before the end.

He dragged her up beside him, making her cry out. "You know, Griffin. You sure know how to pick 'em. She's damn near virginal." Sliding his hands down her hips, he added, "Crushing innocence can be so invigorating."

"You bastard!" Kermit yelled, trying to focus Ericson's attention on him and away from her.

Ericson, turned to Kermit and leaning inches from his face, said, "Now you're going to hurt my feelings. Let me fill you in on what comes next, Griffin. I'm going to fuck your woman and slit her throat. Right here at your feet. Then after you've watched her for a while, I'm going to blow your head off. OK?"

The rage was choking his lungs. Squeezing his heart. He couldn't breath or think. That bastard was going to rape her and kill her and he couldn't stop it. Kermit had pulled himself and countless others out of the jaws of death but the one time it mattered most, he was out of tricks. "I'll come back from hell to rip you heart out," he hissed.

"Ha! You've been hanging out with your buddy Caine too long. You'll be dead. You won't be coming back, my friend."

Savannah, desperate to spare Kermit what little pain she could, begged, "Please. Please don't do this in front of him."

"Sorry, precious. I've always loved an audience." He whirled and grabbing her throat with one hand , threw her down onto the floor. Ericson attacked her like some rabid animal. Ripping open her dress and feeding on her terror.

Kermit was straining every muscle. Trying to break the back of his chair. Anything to get to the floor and Ericson. Struggling against his own bone and flesh, he couldn't rip his eyes away from her small form writhing on the floor. He owed her that much. No help could he offer, only his sharing of her nightmare.

Savannah was fighting him with everything she had. Trying to grab his hair or push his arms away. Screaming. Ericson was laughing with vile pleasure as he twisted his hands over her soft flesh. Squeezing her neck just enough to hold her down but not enough to choke. If she passed out, he wouldn't get nearly as much pleasure.

"Nonononono!" she screamed in futile pleading with her attacker. Pounding his arms with her fists.

"Let her go you fucking coward!!!" Griffin's battle against the cuffs waged on.

In response, Ericson stretched his body out over his victim and imprisoned her wrists over her head. "How about nice kiss to start, precious?" With depraved enjoyment, her attacker sealed his mouth over hers. Burying her cries within his face as he choked her with a violent kiss. The muffled sobs only serving to increase the frenzied pace of his free hand over her tender exposed body. Viciously, he grabbed handfuls of her body in a brutal search for her threshold of pain. Energized at each pleading gasp he evoked from the small, struggling body beneath him.

There was a maximum of four feet separating Kermit's chair from the violation taking place on the floor. Still fighting against the restrainst, the driven man began to bounce his chair over the distance. Red hot streaks of pain ramming through his wounds with every thump. Slowly, inches at a time, he covered the distance.

"Hey," Ericson leered into her agonized expression, "the way you move, it's going to be such a waste to kill you. Right, Griffin?"

"Please....stop..." The begging was futile. Her own suffering compounded by the frantic man being forced to view her humiliation and torture.

Roughly plowing his hand beneath her skirt, he taunted, "Oh.....but we're just getting to the good part. This sweet spot...right here...."

The words had barely left his lips when the force of Kermit's feet connected with Ericson's ribs. Both legs still bound together, he used his good leg to propell the injured limb forward with twice the force. Wind rushed from Ericson's lungs as growling ribs contracted in response. Another blow to his head, sent the villian reeling off of his victim. Unable to breath past the pain crackling through his body, Ericson relinquished his hold and rolled off of Savannah's body.

"RUN!" The ex-mercenary yelled his commands as Ericson refocused his rage at his former colleague.

Still dazed, Savannah scrambled for balance. Clawing her way over the rug and away from the vicious hands of her attacker.

Roaring back to his feet, Ericson glared back in fury at his opponent. Without word or barb, the madman warily approached his prey from the side. One savage kick to the side of his prisoner's head sent the chair tumbling sideways onto the floor.
Savannah was trying to get to her feet, using the sofa for support. *THE GUN!* There it sat on the table behind the two men battling in the middle of the room. Salvation for both of them.

Ericson continued to pound his bound victim with repeated blows from hard soled shoes. Grinning with feral pleasure as Kermit's blood smeared over the rug. Looking up from the floor, Kermit realized Savannah's next move. She wasn't running toward the door. She was going for the gun! *No! Get out!!* he screamed within his mind as the battering continued and his consciousness faded to a blur.

Ericson had also seen her move and immediately abandoned his male prey in pursuit. Diving forward, he tackled her petite frame to the floor. Gun and hope pelted out of reach. Flipping her over beneath him, the murderer spat, "Don't want you to feel left out, do I?" Once again forcing her hands over her head, the battle began anew. This time, Ericson elected to preface his groping trip over Savannah's body with something more punative. With rapid succession, the enraged maniac treated his frail captive to a volley of openhanded slaps to her face.

Screams deteriorated into confused moans as the sharp blows continued. The staccato rhythm of Ericson's hand barrelled through Kermit's fogged brain, dragging him back to alertness. With the floor at eye-level and his arms still anchored to the rubble of the armchair, Kermit fought to focus on the battle being waged on the floor across the room. Hazy visions solidified in the horror of Savannah's bruised and bleeding face connecting with Ericson's hand.

Satisfied that his victim was subdued, Ericson moved on to the next phase of his brutality. Violently,he pushed her legs apart with his knee and shoved the soft fabric that remained of her skirt above her hips. While shaking with maniacle laughter, the rapist and killer moved one hand to release his belt as he once again flattened his body to hers and crammed his tongue down Savannah's throat.

Feeling the clamp of his grip loosen on her wrist, Savannah pulled one hand free. Blindly clawing at his face, her nails connected with skin and raked downward.

She left four long, bloody scratches. One crossing his eye. Jerking away from her mouth, his laughter turned to fury. "YOU BITCH!" he roared. He pulled her off the floor by her throat and slammed her head down with a sickening crack. Her arms dropped to the floor and she went limp.

"NO!"

At that exact moment, as Kermit screamed her name in disbelief, Peter Caine broke through the front door, firing his Beretta. Skalany came through the back. Ericson dove for his gun but he didn't make it. Peter pumped four bullets into the man's back, driving his body into a heap on the all ready blood soaked floor. His body landed beside Natalie's bloody head.

Kermit could see nothing but the blood spreading out under Savannah's blonde hair.

"Sweet Jesus," Mary Margaret gasped and knelt at her side while Peter released Kermit from his tangle of legs and chair. "Kermit, she's alive," reassured Mary Margaret in a shaky voice. Her friend was indeed alive, but fading. Savannah was white and her skin growing cold. A sharp contrast to the bloody scapes and bruises painted over her nearly naked body.

Ignoring the searing pain in his own body, Kermit half crawled, half dragged himself to her side, lifting her into his arms. Gently, he pulled the pieces of her dress back together and slid down her skirt. He knew she wouldn't want anyone to see her that way.

"Stay with me, Scarlettt. Stay with me," he was begging into her ear while he rocked her unconscious body back and forth. "Mary Margaret," Kermit said in his desperation, "get her a blanket. I think she's going into shock." Her friend covered Savannah's body and held onto her hand.

"Come on, lady," Kermit continued to whisper softly over her battered face. "We made it. You have to hang on. You still have that secret to pry out of me." Unresponsive, Savannah's head rested in the crook of his arm. Her blood dripping out over his sleeve and her dainty features obscured by angry bruises and swelling.

Peter dropped a blanket over Kermit and tried to stop the bleeding from his leg and shoulder. "The ambulance is on the way, buddy," he said.

This was a disaster. Peter knew that he and Mary Margaret had done the best they could to get to them before Ericson but it hadn't been enough. *This world sucks, he thought.* Kermit was coming apart at the seams and if this woman died, so would he.

The echo of sirens called down the street. Announcing more help that may have arrived too late.

At the hospital, Kermit just sat there in silence. Hiding behind those sunglasses and holding his head in his hands. He wouldn't move. He wouldn't see a doctor. Not until he knew. Peter was there with Jody and Mary Margaret. Caine had also arrived to offer what comfort he could to his son's friend. Dr. Sambourin came out of the ER and sat down beside him.

"She's dead, isn't she," said Kermit, blankly.

"No," she said, touching his arm. "I think she's going to be fine. She has a skull fracture and a serious concussion but surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage. The rest of her injuries are just cuts and bruises. We do need to keep here a few days and I'll need to see her for some follow up visits but she will recover.

"She was conscious for a while and she knew where she was and what had happened. She was more interested in your condition than anything else. Before she fell asleep, she said to tell you to cooperate or she'd give you the 'Schneider Treatment.'"

"When can I see her?" asked Kermit, his voice quiet.

"Not for a while yet," answered the doctor. "But I'll make a deal with you. You let me admit you, like we should have done an hour ago, and I'll put you in the same room with her. OK?"

"You can do that?"

"I'm the boss. I can do anything I want." Dr. Sabourin put one hand under Kermit's arm and Peter took the other, helping him into the exam room. Peter was surprised that Kermit actually took his support. Proof positive that his life had been twisted inside out.

Before the door closed, Kermit turned to his friends, "Someone go stay with her. Please. I don't want her to be alone." Mary Margaret and Caine left to watch over Savannah and Kermit gave in to the doctor.

The doctor kept her word. She moved Kermit into Savannah's room and pushed their beds side by side. She was still sleeping and would be for hours. Kermit lowered his bed rail and slid his hand into hers. Her breathing was slow and steady. She would have looked peaceful were it not for the savage bruises across her fragile profile and the purple imprint of Ericson's hand on her throat. Beneath the cover of her pale blue hospital gown, he knew he would find more of the same. More evidence of that animal's rage vented on an innocent.

Kermit moved his hand up to her wrist. When he could feel her pulse, he relaxed and fell asleep beside her.

******

Night after night after what everyone at the 101st had tactfully termed "the incident," Kermit had slept with Savannah in his arms. Wrapped around her like a fortress. Watching her sleep and waiting. Praying the night would spare her.

But it never did. She would jolt out of her dreams, eyes darting about in the darkness, screaming. A terrified, gut-wrenching scream that rattled his bones. Broke his heart. For a few seconds she would fight him. Pushing away Ericson's hands and legs and mouth. Begging him to stop.

Little by little, Kermit would calm her down and she would desolve back into his embrace sobbing and shaking. The nightmare still clutching at her. He would kiss her tear stained face and stroke her hair. Whispering love and comfort into her ear trying to ease her back into sleep.

Then, he'd wish he were never born.

After three weeks, Savannah's nights were becoming more peaceful. Only one nightmare instead of three or four. Still one too many. Cuts and bruises were healing and the physical remnants of the attack had begun to fade. Bouts of nausea remaining from the concussion were becoming less frequent and the pain nearly gone. She had been for her check up that morning and had told Kermit that "her hard head was just fine." He couldn't help but notice that she'd been unusually quiet afterwards. Like she had something else to say but was holding it inside.

"Stop your frettin'," she had said. "I'm really ok. I'm just not that talkative today."

Something anyone who knew her would have found absolutely impossible. Something about her had changed. He wasn't surprised.

That final night with her, he sat there in the dark counting the enemies he'd left in his wake. Miles of them. Years of them. Dark, vile people who, like Ericson, took their only pleasure by inflicting pain and havoc. They would come. He knew that now.

Kermit's nightmares replayed the same scene over and over again. Savannah on the floor. Ericson on top of her. But in his nightmare, there were no bullets to blast Ericson into Hell. Kermit, strapped in a chair would watch as he raped her and slit her throat. He would watch the blood and color drain from her body and feel the cold freeze of death on her. It was a nightmare that came inches from being reality.

There would have been no way Kermit could have saved the two of them from this potential slaughter. Peter Caine had spared their lives by showing up to pull "Uncle Kermit's" ass out of the fire. But, the next time would come. Savannah wouldn't be able to protect herself and Kermit's armor definitely had some holes in it. His failure could mean her death. An unacceptable loss.

*How can Blaisdell do it,* he thought. *Build a family. Put these innocent people out in the cold. At the mercy of the evil we've been swimming in for the past 20 years? I can't do it! *

Decision made. Analysis complete. For the next few days, he would disappear on some invented assignment. When he returned, he would tackle the situation like a mission. No mercy. Success by any means necessary. He slid back into bed beside her and buried his face in her hair. Memorizing the feel and smell of her. Feeling the blessed rhythm of her breathing. It would have to last a lifetime.

******

Kermit walked casually into his office and shut the door. The latch hadn't even clicked when Peter Caine threw open the door. He was red with anger.

Sitting down at his computer, Kermit pretended not to notice. Something that made Peter even more furious.

"Where the hell have you been for the past three days? She's been going crazy worrying that your out there with a bullet in you or wrapped around a tree somewhere." Peter stopped and waited for an explanation.

"I told the Chief I needed a few days off and I took them," replied Kermit continuing his pretense of work.

"Yeah, right. But you didn't bother to let Savannah know where you were," Peter countered. "How could you do that to her? After all she's been through?"

Peter had long since given up any romantic notions about Savannah. She had eyes only for Kermit and Peter knew, he just knew, that Kermit loved her more than his life. Peter had seen the magic between those two when they were together. He'd also seen it that night when Kermit held Savannah's broken body and begged her not to die. Regardless, she was Peter's friend. The last three days had hurt her. Badly. And he wanted answers.

Peter never got an answer. Savannah ran into Kermit's office. Breathless with relief, hurt and anger. She looked at Peter and gave him permission to leave with her eyes. He left but lingered at his desk, close by.

Kermit finally looked up. He steeled himself for what was to come. For what he had to do. Why did she have to look like that? Savannah was wearing a green silk dress that matched her eyes. Long blonde hair gathered at the back of her neck. Gorgeous. As always. Even so, she looked tired. Kermit was sure that she hadn't been sleeping well.

He pushed those thoughts out of his head. There wasn't any room for thoughts like that up there beside the things he was about to say.

Hands on hips, Savannah demanded, "Where have you been for the past three days?" She didn't really care. Her feelings were hurt but as long as he was alive, she planned to forgive him.

"Last time I checked," he replied, "you weren't my mother."

What? Maybe he was joking. She decided to let it go until later. The news she had just couldn't wait.

"Kermit, I've got something to tell..."

"And I've got something to tell you, too," he said, turning to face her. He had never been so grateful for his dark glasses. He'd never get through this without them.

"I don't want to hurt your feelings but I just don't think this is going to work. I stayed with you until you were feeling better but now it's time to move on."

"But, Kermit, you don't understand," she said, confused by this sudden change. "I'm..."

"No, lady. You don't understand. This 'moonlight and magnolias' routine was fun for a while but I'm tired of having to watch out for you, get it? And I'm damn sick and tired of checking in with you all of the time." His voice was getting louder and Savannah had backed up a few steps. Kermit's stomach was churning.

<Why is he doing this,> Savannah thought. "You've got to listen to me, Kermit."

Before she continued, he got quickly out of his chair and stood up in front of her. She flinched. He wanted to die. She was still so fragile. Why did it have to be like this?

"I don't have to do anything, or haven't you noticed. Are you so naive that you think you've got some kind of mysterious female hold on me? All this sweet talk and soul baring is making my teeth itch. It's just not me. I said that I'm through and I am. End of subject."

"You don't mean that," she said, voice shaking.

"Do I ever say anything I don't mean?" Kermit growled at her. He wanted her to get mad. Yell at him. Punch his lights out. Take some of herself back and tell him what a sorry son-of-a-bitch he was.

Savannah paused. Realizing that Kermit Griffin had a made a decision. One thing she had learned about this man was that no one could move him if he didn't want to be moved.
She was numb. How could he do this? She expected to feel rage but didn't. Then she answered his question. Did he ever say anything he didn't mean? She answered him with his own words. Words that had molded her whole life after she'd heard them. "I would die before I'd hurt you. Body or soul."

Kermit didn't react, outwardly. He stood there staring at her from behind those glasses, without expression. Inside, he shut down. From the expression on her lovely face, he could read his success. He had shoved her away with both hands. Out into a world where none of his enemies would follow. Out of his life. The only true warmth he had ever known was gone.

Not seeing. Not feeling. Savannah turned and quietly left his office. She could feel Peter's gaze. He had heard the whole thing. So had everyone else within earshot. Well, she wouldn't add to the show. Mary Margaret was getting up out of her chair to follow. Savannah stopped her with a look and shake of her head. She couldn't talk right now or she would fold. Right there in the office.

Kermit had appointed himself Lord God King of Everything, she thought. Maybe he would change his mind, maybe not. Well, he wasn't the only one who could decide things. She would have to make the decisions that were to come on her own. Without his input or welfare in mind. Savannah sat down until she was calm enough to drive, then picked up her purse and left.

Peter gave Kermit a while to think then walked into his office. He didn't knock or hesitate. He knew that he had to say this quickly because he might not have much time.
"I think I know why you just did what you did, but you're making a mistake," he said to Kermit's back.

"That, Detective Caine, falls under the category of none of your fucking business," Kermit said flatly. Every muscle in his body was tight. He could do some serious damage right now. Peter would make a perfect punching bag. If he didn't back off...

"Don't just shut her out, man. She should be able to choose to be with you or not." Peter hoped he could talk some sense into him before Kermit knocked his head off. "Don't hurt her like this."

How can you even presume to understand, Kermit thought. There was a hurricane spinning in his chest. The power of loving this woman had consumed him. All he wanted to do was go to her, get on his knees and beg for her forgiveness. He wanted to grab her and run. Somewhere no one could follow and spend the rest of his life drinking in the joy of her love. Drowning in the sweetness of her body and spirit.

But he couldn't. There was nowhere to escape the disaster his past could rain on her. This was his penance for the lives he'd taken. For the wreckage he'd made. No atonement would be enough to erase his sins.

She had nearly died because of him. His past. His enemy. His failure. Kermit could live with the blood on his hands as long as it never again mingled with hers. Away from him, she could live a long, happy life without risk. Something he could never offer.

Rooted to his chair by sheer will, Kermit responded to Peter, "She'll get over it."

"Maybe. But you won't." Peter's words fell on deaf ears. He wasn't saying anything Kermit didn't already know.

End

Next Story: Atonement

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