Stevie grabbed her andwalked to the bathroom, peeling her clothes off as soon as he stopped."Shush, it's okay. I've got you, Rooney."
He threw her clothes onthe floor and quickly stripped his off too before walking into the shower with herin his arms. Rooney trembled in his arms and he held her until she calmed. Shewrapped her arms around him and let herself be protected by him, the warm waterrunning over their bodies as she shut out the rest of the world.
"Thanks. I didn'tmean to freak out." She lifted her head and gazed at him. His face wasdark and a frown pinched the skin between his black eyebrows. White linesaround his lips showed her just how much this was affecting him. After all,he’d been the one to shoot Stubbs in an attempt to save her. The poor guy wasstressed enough over what happened without her breaking down too. She wouldhave to try harder to be brave so he didn't worry unnecessarily over her.
"Anyone wouldafter what you've been through. It's normal to feel this way. Russ warned youwhat might happen and I'm here to see you feel safe." He leaned down andthe water trailed down his cheeks, dripping from the day’s growth of beard onhis chin. "How about I wash that stuff out of your hair and dry you off beforetucking you in?"
"Sounds like justwhat I need." She turned around and let the water run over her head andface.
Stevie reached for theshampoo and spent the next five minutes massaging the blood from her hair.Immediately after the shooting, Rooney had blocked out the blood spray coveringher face and head. It was too much to take in at the time. The nurses had wipedher face but the mess in her hair was forgotten until now. Stevie pushed herunder the spray to wash away the bubbles, smoothing her wet hair down her neckand between her shoulder blades in a wet blanket.
"That should becleaner now." He reached for the shower gel and a cloth and with gentlehands, washed every inch of her body. By the time he turned off the shower andreached for a towel, Rooney was almost asleep on her feet. She let herself bepushed toward the bed, sleepily climbing under the blankets and closing hereyes. When the bed dipped she reached out, wrapping her arms around Stevie andfell into a deep sleep.
***
She woke to a terrifiedscream. Throwing off the blankets, she glanced around. Stevie was still asleepbeside her, snoring softly, his arm thrown over the top of his head. Shereached out to shake him, calling his name but he mumbled and rolled away fromher.
The scream came againand she ran to the bedroom door, listening at the keyhole.
A manic laugh soundedfollowed by the gut searing scream of her daughter. Tam, no! Rooneyopened the door, and ran down the carpeted hallway to her door. It was shut, andRooney felt a moment of panic, knowing she hadn't done it. She gripped thehandle and turned. No, it's locked.
"Tam, open thedoor." Her screams rang loud in her ears and she slammed her palm on thedoor screaming. "Open the door, someone please open the door."
"Mummy, helpme." The voice coming from inside the bedroom was clearly terrified and itclenched at her heart.
She kicked and punchedat the door, the tears streaming down her face. There was a metallic click andthe handle turned. She stepped back. The door creaked and opened.
Rooney tried to enterthe room but something blocked her way. She looked over at Tam on the bed, herhands tied to the bedposts and the blankets thrown on the floor. Her small bodywas pale in the moonlit room.
"No." A coldshiver ran down her spine.
A dark shadow of a manwas standing over her, a knife with blood dripping from its point. Her daughterlay in a pool of blood.
"No, pleaseno."
"Should havethought of that before you stuck your nose in my business. Now it's revengetime." He stroked the point of the knife down Tam's arm and smiled as theblood welled and dripped onto the bed, staining the white sheets. With a laugh,he stepped to the door waving the knife in Rooney's face. "She’s comingwith me. I lose, you lose."
"No, please. I'lldo anything, anything. Don't hurt her." She clawed at the invisiblebarrier keeping her out of the room.
Stubbs wiped his mouthwith a dirty sleeve. He flipped the knife in his hands, as if pondering hisnext move. "Anything?"
"Yes."
Her body jolted andRooney fell into the room. It was cold and the air smelled musty and hurt herlungs when she breathed.
"Drop yourhands."
Rooney let her handsfall to her side, exposing her nakedness to him. He walked closer, the spittlerunning down his chin as he paced around behind, his gaze roaming over her.Swallowing the nausea threatening to choke her, she focused on her child. Thisis for Tam. I will do anything for Tam. Still the chill covered herskin with a sheen of icy goose bumps. She shuddered at the leery gleam in hiseyes.
The first cut broughttears to her eyes and she gasped for breath, the cold sinking into her bellymaking her tremble. She glanced down and groaned, breathing through the pain. Aline of blood ran from just above her left nipple to her right hip. She watchedthe red fluid seep from the wound, her heart pumping in her ears. The secondcut opened the side of her arm and blood ran down her hand to drip onto thefloor, the splashback staining her bare legs. Rooney lifted her gaze andwatched the mad changes on his face.
"Enjoying that,are we?" He cackled and rolled his eyes, his mouth working soundlessly tothe tune in his jumbled mind.
If she could take theknife from him, they might both stand a chance. Tam stirred and threw her headfrom side to side, whimpering. "Mummy."
Rooney leapt, rippingthe knife from his hand. He retaliated with a back hand, sending her skiddingto the floor. She shook her head to clear it, realising she held the knife inher hand. She crawled to her knees as he
