Marine Rescue (Closed)

(Yes.)

River's face was hard. He hated fighting, but it was something he knew how to do fairly well. His eyes never left Erik and took an advantage hit when he talked to Abby. He aimed a punch for his jaw on his blind side.

Abby couldn't watch. She was too afraid.
Erik growled, clutching his jaw. He tried a swing back at River and connected in his gut.

River stepped back. He reversed his momentum and swung back into his side forcing him into the coffee table.

Erik crashed into the table. Abby screamed. He blinked and grabbed one of Abby's shins. "Come on down, baby," he said with a laugh.

River said quietly, "Sorry Abby about the table."

He looked at Erik, "Leave."

Erik scowled at River. "Make me. This is my girlfriend's house." He squeezed her leg. She winced, but it was barely visible. Erik saw it and laughed. "Baby, Let me love you. Let me love you." He sang.

River was really tempted to kick his arm. Abby was clearly uncomfortable so he moved closer and crouched down. He whispered into his ear quietly so Abby couldn't hear his threatening tone. Everything he said sounded like it would happen if Erik didn't comply, no ifs ands or buts, "I really don't want to hurt you. But if you do not leave now I promise you won't get out of this town alive. My six years of street fighting and old gang and swim team buddies will gladly make sure of that."

Erik tensed. He searched for a bluff, but couldn't find one. His fingers crawled up her leg, settled just above her knee. "Baby, do you want me to stay?"
Abby looked at his hand. His eyes. She knew him, and she'd loved him. Once.
"No."
"Baby, please…"
"No."
Erik gave her a pouty face and squeezed her leg again before releasing it and storming out, giving one last cold look to River.
Abby breathed a fluttery sigh of relief.

River let out a sigh of relief as Erik left. He looked tired as he said, "Sorry about the mess. I'll help clean it up."

Abby stood up quickly and threw her arms around River's neck. "Thank you. Thank you for coming. I didn't think that you would…"

River wasn't expecting that. He gently wrapped his arms around her lower back, "Of course I came. You were in trouble."

"River, I was so scared," she whispered.

River paused for a moment before responding, "So was I. I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for? You saved me," Abby replied. Her voice shook.

"For scaring you right?" River said quietly. He hated scaring people.

"You didn't scare me. When you came, I want scared anymore."

River looked down at her, "Really? I didn't scare you punching Erik at all?"

"No. I was just surprised when he fell into the table and…" grabbed my leg. She avoided his eyes.

River let out a sigh. He understood the rest of her sentence, "Yeah, sorry."

"There was nothing that you could've done to stop that," Abby assured him softly.

River nodded and subconsciously held her closer, "Okay."

"Stay?" Her eyes pleaded with him. Tara probably wouldn't be coming home tonight, and what if Erik came back?

River was going to melt at her eyes. He nodded, "I can stay."

Abby smiled without spreading it to her eyes. She was tired. "Thank you." Her voice was strained.

"It's no problem," River responded. He looked to the couch, "Do You need to sit down?"

"Yes," Abby eased onto the couch. So much had happened within the last 24 hours. "What if he comes back?" she asked fearfully.

River sat next to her and kept an arm around her, "He won't. I'll just kick him out again."

Abby put her head on his shoulder. "I'll help," she murmured.

River nodded as he leaned against her slightly, "You can help all you want."

"Yay…" Abby closed her eyes and the next second she was sleeping soundly.