Kelly woke slightly when she felt him come to bed. She wondered vaguely what time it was, how long the party had lasted this time. She felt him settle in besides her, running his hand across her stomach and whisper an alcohol-scented "hey baby" into her ear. Kelly's eyes popped open, fully awake now, her heart pounding painfully. She didn't know who this was in bed with her.

Kicking herself free of the covers, Kelly rolled off the bed, landing hard. Scuttling across the floor she hit the dresser with the back of her head, barely noticing the pain. "KEVIN!"

In less time than she would have imagined the bedroom door slammed open and the light came on, blinding her. Blinking her eyes clear, she looked to the bed, getting her first glimpse of who had decided to share it with her. He was sitting up now, blinking drunkenly and stupidly in the sudden light, looking around the room as if wondering where he was. She recognized him. It was Billy Something-or-other, from the party earlier. A party, she could hear now, that was still going on.

Kevin took in the scene instantly, Kelly on the floor, her face white, her eyes shocked, and some stranger in the bed. His bed. And Billy was now beginning to realize where he was and that the shit was about to hit the fan.

"Oh, Jesus, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, I wouldn't, Jesus, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

In two strides Kevin had Billy up by his shirt and was shaking him like a rag doll, making further pleas impossible. His total silence was frightening, the red around his eyes terrifying. Billy wasn't a small man, but at 6'3", 220 pounds and fueled by rage, Kevin seemed a monster in his eyes.

Kelly, recovering from her own fright, now feared what Kevin might do if she didn't intervene. His rages were legendary and most people didn't dare cross him while he was in one. Kelly wasn't most people. She launched herself up off of the floor and latched herself to Kevin's left arm, putting her whole weight into it.

"Kevin! Kevin, he's drunk, just put him out. Put him out, but don't hurt him. Kevin, don't hurt him."

Kelly's words began to penetrate the red haze in Kevin's mind. Billy was sobbing now, sucking up air in great gasping breaths. That this pathetic piece of shit would dare, DARE to put his hands on her - "Why shouldn't I just break him in half?" It was the first sound he'd made since he'd walked into the room.

"Because he's not worth going to jail for."

That her concern was more for him than Billy's well-being helped him put the brakes on his temper. Jerking away from her, Kevin dragged the unfortunate Billy, still by the front of his shirt, out the door and down the hall. Kelly, knowing the worst was over, sat tiredly down on the bed. She heard the excited babble of voices once Kevin reached the living room. She heard one of the partygoers say, "Hey man, chill" and Kevin's response, "Shut the fuck up!" She heard when he reached the door, shoving the babbling Billy unceremoniously outside. She heard Kevin end the party in his own inimitable way. "Out. Everyone get the hell out of my house!" She heard the chatter of voices and the scrabble of feet as everyone left with as much haste as possible. Then there was silence.

Kevin came back into the room slowly, his face hard and unforgiving, his eyes accusing. His look swept the slept-in bed, then her nightgown- clad body. "What the hell were you doing in here in the first place?"

Kelly felt her own temper begin to simmer. He was blaming this on *her*?

"I was trying to get some sleep."

"When did you come in here?"

Kelly looked at the bedside clock. Good God, it was after 3 a.m.! "About two hours ago."

"Bullshit. I would have noticed if you had been gone for two hours."

"One would have thought! Look, Kevin, it is too early in the morning for me to play the patient, understanding girlfriend, especially after being fondled by one of your drunken buddies. Don't you dare take this out on me!"

Kevin looked as if she had slapped him. She watched as the last of his anger drained out of him and with it her own. She sat down on the edge of the bed, suddenly, unutterably tired.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No." The *thanks for asking* retort was on her tongue but she squelched it. She didn't want to fight anymore.

Kevin sat down on the bed next to her, close but not touching. That this seemed to reflect what their relationship had become lately wasn't lost on Kevin. His shoulders slumped from the same weariness as hers. He loved her, as much as he ever had, but all they seem to do lately was fight. He didn't know why, so he didn't know how to fix it.

"Why do we keep doing this?"

"I don't know."

The space between them was only a few inches, but it might as well have been the Gulf of Mexico. Helplessly, Kevin watched her retreat from him even further, emotionally, if not physically. She wasn't going to fight anymore tonight, not even to save their relationship. She's right, he thought, it is too early in the morning for this.

"You go on back to bed. I'm going to stay up a while and clean up the mess."

Kelly nodded, wishing him away so she could cry in peace.

Continued