Valerie convinced me to leave Summer to come home and get some rest. I didn't want to go, but Valerie promised to stay with Summer until I returned.

Summer keeps going in and out of consciousness. Every time she comes to, she repeats Tabitha's name. I believe that Tabitha attacked Summer. Unfortunately, the only evidence the police have is the word of a semi-conscious Summer.

I pull into my driveway and walk into my house with my mind consumed by Summer's condition. The doctors insist that she'll have a full recovery, but it's hard to see her lying in that hospital bed unconscious for the most part.

Pulling open my door that enters the kitchen from the garage, I see little things around my home that remind me of Summer. Her favorite wine sits on the counter unopened, along with the new tea towels and flowers that she insisted on buying to bring color to my monochrome house. Everywhere I look, I see little touches of Summer. It's then that I realize the brightness that Summer adds to my life.

With tears in my eyes, I go upstairs to grab a shower and a nap before I return to the hospital. I make sure to take my phone into the bathroom with me, so I don't miss Valerie or the hospital call. I turn the water on as hot as I can stand it, disrobe, and enter the shower. I welcome the steamy water as it cascades down my body, helping to relieve my tense muscles. After several moments of soaking, I bathe. I turn off the water, towel off, and crawl into bed naked and fall asleep the moment that my head hits the pillow.

I wake to Summer cuddled up naked behind me. I smile at the feeling of her warm, soft skin. Wait. Summer can't be here. She's in the hospital. I freeze. I feel a woman's hand take ahold of my manhood and stroke it. I know who it is. Fucking Tabitha. As much as I want to jump out of this bed and get as far away from this bitch as I can because if I don't, I do not know if I can keep from killing her. I pretend to be asleep while I contemplate my next move.

I hear her huff in frustration that she does not affect me. I'm as limp as when she first touched me. She rubs her breasts against my back, and it takes everything in me not to vomit.

I decide to make my move. Before Tabitha can react, I hop out of bed, grab her, throw her over my shoulder, and get my phone off the nightstand. I throw her shocked ass into my closet and slam the door. Unfortunately, it does not have a lock, so I sit in front of it to keep her from opening it.

"What the hell, Rain! Get me out of here!" She yells, but I ignore her and call 911.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I have an intruder locked in my closet. I believe that she attempted to murder my girlfriend."

The 911 operator asks me questions about the situation and my location. She requests that I stay on the line until the police arrive. I informed her that I wouldn't answer the door, and the police can take whatever necessary steps to enter my home.

"Rain, what are you doing? Why did you call the police? We both know you want this. That skank was in the way of us being together. I had to do what was necessary for us to be together."

I don't say anything. I had put my phone on speaker, so the 911 operator hears and records Tabitha's confession.

"Come on, Rain, I did you a favor by cutting up that little bitch. You should've seen the look in her eyes when she realized that she lost."

When I hear Tabitha cackling, It takes all of my strength not to open this damn door and do to Tabitha what she did to Summer.

"She knew I won. She just gave up. She didn't even fight for you, Rain. What does that tell you? I fought; I fought like hell for you. Please open up so I can show you how good we can be together. Rain, are you still there?"

I hear her attempting to open the door; not going to happen bitch!

I hear pounding on my front door.

"The police are here," I inform the operator.

"Okay, sir. I recorded everything, and I will make sure that it gets to the proper authorities."

"Thank you," I breathe in relief as I hear wood breaking. I guess the police made it into the house.

"Up here!" I yell, fully aware of my nakedness.

Two police officers enter my room and do not balk at my state of undress.

"Tabitha Baxter is behind this door. She broke into my home, sexually assaulted me in my bed, and admitted to the attempted murder of my girlfriend."

"Shit!" Tabitha says when she realizes just how precarious her situation is.

I move away from the door and throw on a pair of sweatpants.

The police take over from there. One of the officers opens the door to see Tabitha naked. They allowed her to clothe herself before handcuffing her. She went with them, kicking and screaming for me to help her.

Not going to happen, crazy bitch.

One of the officers came back to question me after putting Tabitha in the cruiser. I told him the whole story from beginning to end and added that the 911 operator recorded Tabitha's confession while I was on the call. He apologized for the damage to my door and thanked me for my time, then left.

All that I can think about now is getting to the hospital. I need to have Summer in my arms. I have to make sure Tabitha didn't do anything more to her before coming here. I dress quickly and call Valerie to calm my nerves.

"Hello, Rain. Is everything okay?"

"Please tell me that Summer's safe," I plead.

"Of course, she's safe."

"Thank God!" I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Rain, what happened?" I hear the concern in her voice.

"I'm fine. I'll explain everything when I get there."

"Drive safe."

"I will, see you soon."

We hang up. I'm twenty minutes away. When I arrive, I rush up to Summer's room and stop short when I reach her door. She's awake! I collapse on the floor in relief.

Valerie runs over to me, "Rain!"

She helps me to my feet. "She just woke up right before you arrived."

"Summer?"

"Rain." Her sweet voice is weak.

Valerie helps me sit next to my love. I take her hand into mine.

"Shhh, save your energy."

"I have to tell you something important. It was Tabitha. She did this to me. She tried to kill me." I notice her blood pressure rising.

"I know, Babe, she confessed everything and is in police custody. You're safe, Summer; I promise that I'll never let her near you again."

"Thank the Lord." Valerie relaxes.

Summer closes her eyes and presses her head into the pillow with tears streaming down her beautiful face. I squeeze her hand and kiss her wet cheek. I give her a moment to let it sink in. When she opens those pretty blue eyes, I see solace in them.

I take the next several minutes to explain to Summer and Valerie the details of Tabitha's insane behavior at my house. By the end, both of them are shocked and disgusted by Tabitha's actions, agreeing that she is one crazy bitch.

Summer has been home from the hospital for three weeks now. I insisted that she stay with me, which she did not fight me on at all. Summer's doctor has not cleared her for work yet, so I got approval from my boss to work from home to care for her.

Summer still has pain when she moves, but the doctor encouraged her to keep moving. The more she moves, the quicker her recovery, so I make sure to take her on walks around the neighborhood.

We just returned from our afternoon walk when Summer's phone rang with an unknown number. She picks it up and puts it on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Is this Summer Dalton?"

"Yes, it is."

"My name is Daniel Franklin, and I'm the county prosecutor in Tabitha Baxter's case. I wanted to let you know that she pled guilty to the charge of attempted murder. Her psychologist and ours agreed that she had an emotional breakdown and recommended hospitalization. She'll be sent to a mental institution until she is competent to serve her remaining twenty-year sentence in prison. Do you have any questions?"

"No, sir, I don't. Thank you for the call."

Summer disconnected the call and looked at me.

I wrap her up in my arms. "Are you okay, Babe?"

She lays her head onto my chest and sighs. "I'm better than okay. I'm glad this didn't go to trial. I don't think that I could've faced her in court."

I gently kiss her luscious lips. "You're so damn strong, Summer. If you had to face her, I know that you could, but I sure am happy that you don't have to do it."

She looks up at me with so much love in her eyes. "I love you so much, Rain. You are my world."

"Move in with me, Summer." I blurted out.

Her eyes go wide, "Permanently?"

"Yes! I need you here with me. You're my home. When I thought that I'd lost you, I was devastated. I can't imagine my life without you and want to take this next step in our relationship. Please say yes!"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, Rain, I'd love nothing more than to take the next step and move in with you. You're my home, too."