Once at the hotel Abbey phoned Jed omitting the fact that she was seeing Marcus Hughes everywhere she looked. She took a long hot shower and changed into one of Jed's T-shirts to sleep in. Whenever she went alone on a trip away from home, she always brought Jed's T-shirts to sleep in. No matter how clean they were they always retained the slight scent of her husband and that helped her to feel closer to him, helped her to sleep, although she didn't think she would be doing much of that tonight. She grabbed a book from her suitcase and snuggled under the covers to read.

The jarring ring of her cell phone caused her to jump. She placed her book down and shook her head sure that only Jed would be calling her at this hour. She picked up the phone and hit the talk button.

"Hey baby" she smiled, "What did you forget to tell me?"

"Hello Abigail" the voice was deep and menacing. It was not Jed after all. "I'm watching you".

Abbey froze the moment she heard his voice.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded.

"Oh come on now Abigail you know exactly what I want".

"Well you aren't going to get it," Abbey snapped.

"Oh, I think I will. When I'm ready you'll be mine. Maybe even tonight. You're all alone Abigail. All alone and ready for bed".

"You don't know that, "she seethed.

"Don't I? I'm watching you right now my love".

Abbey's heart began to race. He couldn't be here; there was no way he could know where she was. She walked quickly to the lone window overlooking the street and pulled back the sheer drapes. Across the street, in the shadows, stood a lone figure. As the drapes moved he stepped into the glow of the streetlight and blew her a kiss. Abbey gasped and jumped back as if the kiss had physically touched her

"There is nowhere you can go that I won't find you," his evil laugh filled her ears.

She pulled the curtains closed, flung her phone on the floor and raced across the room to alert the agents on duty outside her door.

"He's outside right across the street from my room". Her voice was breathless and urgent. "He just called me on my cell phone".

"I'm on it," Lori said running for the stairs with professional dedication. She and a couple other agents on duty in the lobby rushed outside to find the stalker.

Anita and two other agents remained vigilant and on full alert in front of the First Lady's hotel room. She was at a complete loss as to how this had happened. How had Marcus Hughes found the First Lady when seasoned, veteran journalists had been unable to do so?

By the time Anita had to knock on the door and tell the First Lady that Hughes had seemingly vanished into thin air, Abbey had dressed and was just finishing angrily throwing clothes into her suitcase.

"Let me guess, you didn't get him?" she flashed.

"No ma'am. He seems to have disappeared, but I still have agents out scouring the area for him. Are you leaving?" Anita was eyeing the full suitcase.

"Hell yes I'm leaving. You TOLD me he couldn't find me here; that nobody would know where I was. But there he was standing right outside my bedroom window STARING at me".

Abbey's temper was flaring now and she was fighting very hard not to lose control and break down in front of her agent. All she wanted to do was hang on until she got back to the White House.

"I don't understand it myself ma'am. But, he can't get to you. I assure you that you are secure. You don't have to leave".

"Forgive me if I don't quite believe you anymore".

Anita could see that the First Lady's hands were shaking terribly as she tried to snap the clasp on her Louis Vuitton suitcase and moved forward to give her hand.

"Dammit!" Abbey swore with frustration. She smacked her hand down hard on the suitcase in a move reminiscent of her more temperamental husband. "Why can't you stop him?"

"We will ma'am" Anita said firmly.

"By the time you do it may be too late". Abbey's tone was harsh and bitter and not like her at all, but Anita didn't take it to heart. She knew the First Lady was scared and frustrated and at this point seemed to barely be hanging on by a thread to the control she prided herself on.

* * * *

"Well, I think your lack of sleep right now is perfectly normal" Stanley said. He was having his weekly meeting with the President, this time in the study next to the Oval Office. "Yes, you were doing much better, but with everything you've told me about what has been going on these past few weeks it is only natural that you'd be worried about your wife".

"And having nightmares almost every night?"

"Yes. You don't allow yourself to think about what happened or what you fear might happen again during the day so when you go to sleep your mind goes into overdrive with memory's and fears".

"It's more than that Stanley. It's just all so damn frustrating. I'm the commander in chief of the mightiest military the world has ever seen. If I wanted to I could order the entire destruction of civilization. When my people are killed abroad I retaliate with bombs, and yet I am damn near helpless when it comes to making sure that my own wife is safe. I wasn't there to protect her the first time around and I'm damn sure not going to let it happen again".

"That's the heart of the matter right there isn't it?"

"What is?"

"That you weren't there to protect her. We men are taught from the time that we are little boys that it is our job to protect and defend our sisters, our mothers, our daughters, and of course, our wives. You feel you were derelict in your duty to protect your wife from rape, which is the worst violation a marriage can endure. In fact many don't endure it at all".

"If only I'd gotten there sooner…"

"What? You'd have stopped him? How do you know that? You might not have been able to prevent it even if you were there".

"Oh I would have PREVENTED it" Jed ground out angrily. He got to his feet and began to pace. "You can sure that I would have prevented it".

Stanley's timer went off and he got to his feet. The session was over. It was something that had take Jed a while to get used to. No matter where they were or what they were talking about, when that timer went off the session was over.

He saw Stanley to the door and noticed there was some activity among the agents. Ron was talking into his little wrist radio.

"Scarlet is in and secure".

Scarlet? Jed paused. That was Abbey's secret service code name. But Abbey wasn't supposed to be home until tomorrow. What could have happened that would cause her to flee the Big Apple in the middle of the night? His body suddenly turned cold with apprehension.

"I'm going to the residence" he called out to Ron as he breezed by him. He and the other agents began to run to keep up with the urgent pace of the leader of the free world.

* * * *

Jed strode in through the bedroom doors scanning the room frantically for his wife. He noticed Abbey's unpacked suitcase on the floor and that Max was lying stretched out in front of the bathroom door.

"She in there buddy?" he asked. The big dog got to his feet and his tail began to wag as Jed approached.

"Abbey" he knocked at the bathroom door. "Abbey". When she didn't respond to his repeated calls of her name he began to twist the knob. He was surprised to find it locked. Abbey never locked the door.

"Abbey, honey it's me" he knocked again harder. "Let me in sweetheart.

Abbey slowly opened the door. Her face was pale and streaked with tears, her eyes pools of fear.

"Abbey, what happened? What's wrong?"

"They can't protect me, " she choked out. "Nobody can protect me".

"What are you talking about?" He grasped her arms.

"He was there Jed, " she cried out pulling away from him. "He knew EXACTLY where I was".

Jed felt the blood freeze in his veins.

"Abbey, " he looked into her frightened eyes. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, he didn't touch me but he knew where I was and what room I was in. He was standing right outside my window."

"How the hell could he know where you were?"

" I don't know, but he did. He said that no matter where I went he would find me…And I believe him Jed".

The abject pain and fear in her eyes as they met his caused a lump to form in his throat, as did the quiet scared tone of her voice.

"I don't think there is a safe place for me anymore".

Jed ran his thumb over her cheek to wipe away a stray tear and he pulled her into his arms holding her head to his chest.

"You are safe baby, " he stroked her hair. "You're safe right here in my arms. I'm never going to let anything happen to you…Believe me?"

Abbey didn't answer right away. Instead she buried her face in his neck. Jed stepped back cupping her exquisite face in his hands and he stared deeply into her hazel eyes that were swimming with tears.

"Do you believe me?”

Abbey saw the conviction and determination in his eyes.

"Yes" She whispered softly. "I believe you".

* * * *

Abbey felt Jed's lips move from her jaw down to nuzzle softly on her neck. She tilted her head back to give him better access and sighed as he continued his descent down over the swell of her breast until he found her nipple and latched on to erotically suck on her. She moaned with pleasure and arched her back offering herself up to that magical mouth. Her hands tangled in his thick hair and she gave a soft gasp of pleasure as she felt his hand move between her thighs. He began to stroke her with the expertise of a man who had done this hundreds of times and knew just where and how to touch her. Her body was on fire; it had been so long since she had felt this way; since Jed had touched her this way. She longed for him to be inside her. To be joined as one.

Jed must have sensed her need, for it wasn't long before she felt him parting her legs and sliding in between her thighs. She closed her eyes awaiting the exquisite sensation of him filling and stretching her.

"Beg me for it you bitch". Abbey's eyes opened with shock. Jed never spoke to her this way in bed. But instead of gazing into the depths of her husband's gentle, sparkling blue eyes she was confronted by the gleaming maniacal dark ones of Marcus Hughes.

"No," she cried pushing against him. This couldn't be happening again. "Oh God, no". She tried to close her legs against him and hold him off but he was so strong.

"I said beg me for it you stuck up little bitch". He pressed her legs further apart and slammed into her, ripping and tearing her fragile flesh. Ripping her very soul.

"NOOOOOOO!" She screamed into the silent night. The terror in that long anguished scream ripped Jed's heart out as he was jolted out of a deep sleep. He quickly moved to pull her into his arms.

Abbey instinctively fought him, still the grip of her nightmare. She struck out at him, kicking and scratching, fighting as if for her very life.

"No! No! You'll have to kill me first!"

Jed tried to still her thrashing limbs. "Abbey, " he said firmly. "Abbey, it's me. It's Jed, honey. It's Jed". Slowly Abbey stopped fighting and her eyes began to focus on her husband.

"J…Jed?"

The door had flung open at Abbey's scream and two agents stood in the doorway at a loss as to what to do. They weren't sure how to proceed on this. The President had blood dripping from the corner of his eye, but it was obvious he wanted to be left alone.

"It's OK fella's," he said motioning them to leave. "It's under control".

"Yes sir" they murmured. Both agents were family men and both felt for the President and the First Lady, especially the First Lady. Both were also consumed with anger and frustration over not being able to catch the man responsible for scaring the First Lady so terribly. It was their job to protect her and so far they had been mucking that up terribly.

"Abbey, calm down sweetheart. It was just a nightmare. I'm right here. You're OK, you're safe. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you".

"Jed" she sobbed burrowing into his chest. "Oh God Jed why is this happening to me again?"

"Ssh…it's OK now. It's all over. It was just a dream." He lay back against the pillows with her held tightly in his arms.

For the next hour and a half he held her, soothed her and murmured platitudes into her hair until she finally fell asleep in his arms. His chest was wet with her tears. Even while she slept Jed continued to stroke her hair as if that would calm her and keep her nightmares of HIM at bay. He choked back the anger he felt when thinking about who the star of Abbey's nightmare had been and what he had been doing to her but he couldn't hold back the words that came seething from within.

"I HATE you" he ground out to the picture of Marcus Hughes in his head. "Oh God how I hate you".

* * * *

The next morning Leo entered the Oval Office in a happily repentant mood.

"Now before you start calling me a fair weather fan, you know I was rooting for the Patriots, I just had to take the Raiders. I really thought they were going to whip their butts. But, I gotta give your guys credit. Who knew that some obscure "tuck" rule would launch them into the Superbowl".

Leo stopped when he realized that Jed wasn't paying much attention to what he was saying. He had expected to come in and find Jed bouncing off the walls with jubilation and full of 'I told you so's' when it came to the New England Patriots taking their wild card spot all the way to the Superbowl. Instead the President looked haggard and preoccupied.

"What happened?" he asked. "Too much celebrating last night”.

"What?"

"Last night. You did watch the Pats beat the Raiders didn't you?"

"Yes, of course".

"Well you don't seem very excited”.

"Oh I am. Of course I am".

"But something else is bothering you".

"Abbey came home from New York City last night".

"I didn't think she was getting back until today. She was complaining you guys wouldn't be able to watch the game together".

"She was supposed to come back today. She came home late last night instead. Marcus Hughes made an appearance at her hotel room".

Leo's face paled and suddenly his face became as somber as Jed's was.

"Did he get to her?" Leo choked out, terrified of what Jed might say next.

"No. He just scared the hell out of her. He called her on her cell phone and said he was watching her and no matter where she went he would find her. Her location was supposed to be top secret and yet he found her. He was standing right outside her bedroom window".

"How is she taking it?"

"Not good. She's angry and she's scared. She's afraid he is going to make good on his promise to get to her. She had a horrible nightmare and woke up screaming and fighting me".

"Is that where you got those scratch marks by your eye?"

"Yeah" Jed touched the wounds gingerly. "It took me over an hour to get her to stop crying and calm her down. It's getting to be just like it was before. She flinches sometimes when I touch her. We haven't had sex since the day she saw him on that ropeline. She has these horrible nightmares. And, she thinks I don't know it, but she is back to taking four or five showers a day in an effort to feel ”clean”."

"I didn't realize it was that bad".

"Well, the fact that he seems to show up wherever she is and then disappear before the service can get him isn't helping matters. She's scared to death and I can't do jackshit to make her feel safe".

"Well, she is safe. There is no way the service is going to let him get to her. He may get close, but not close enough".

"Bullshit. We alway's say if they want you bad enough they'll get you. What if this guy wants Abbey bad enough?"

Shivers ran down the spines of the two powerful men at just the idea of that happening.

* * * *

"You really did it this time," Lori gloated as she finished placing his supper in front of Marcus. "You scared the crap out of her. She went running back to Washington so fast it made our heads spin. Then, according to the guys, she had one hell of a nightmare. She woke up screaming bloody murder and they found her crying in the President's arms. I can't believe I was on my break and missed it".

Marcus ignored her prattling and dug into the blood red steak on his plate. Things had not quite gone according to his plan. He hadn't expected Abbey to run right back to Washington and into her husband's arms. His plan had backfired and pushed her closer to HIM. Just picturing the scene Lori had mentioned had put him in a black mood.

"Well, aren't you going to talk to me? You asked me what happened after you made that phone call".

"And you told me. What else is there to say?" He glowered at her.

"You could say how nice the table looks with the candlelight and the flowers. I spent all afternoon planning this romantic dinner for you".

"You shouldn't have bothered. I'm not one for romance".

At least not with you, he thought. God he couldn't believe that this stupid bitch honestly believed that he wanted to be with her, that he was falling in love with her. If he hadn't been so annoyed he might actually feel sorry for her. But, the truth was that at times it was all he could do not to strike the pathetic fool. He hated being with her. Hated being here in her apartment, away from all his pictures and videotapes of the woman he loved. But Lori had told him the investigation was getting close and he was better off staying with her. He had followed her suggestion and all but moved in. Still, it was so hard to have to be with her when it was Abigail he should be with. He thought of how she had sounded answering the phone and how she had looked in that window wearing only a long T-shirt, her hair loose and flowing. His sexy, sweet Abigail had been so close. He knew that he couldn't stand to wait much longer to get even closer to her.

He dropped his knife to his plate and began to pace from the dingy kitchen to the living room. Sometimes this need inside him was so strong he felt that he would burst from it. His head would pound, his heart would race, his blood would pump, and his body would stiffen with arousal. At those times the only way to keep control was to pace. Pace and think of just what was next in his plan to get control of Abigail.

”What is it baby?" Lori asked wrapping her arms around him from behind. Marcus tried not to recoil with disgust. As much as he hated it, he still needed her to help him.

"What are they doing this weekend?" Marcus asked. He turned around and smiled down at her.

"I think I heard Ron say that they are going to Harmony Point for Superbowl Sunday".

Marcus gave her a broad grin and felt his spirits rise.

"You gonna be on duty?" he ran his hand over her rear.

"Part of the time".

"Good. Then you can let me in."

TBC...