Sarah and Kevin 25

Kevin sat up in bed, his heart thudding, and looked around wildly. Tom was already struggling to get his pants on. Kevin shoved his glasses onto his face and dragged his blue jeans on. Tom scrambled over Kevin's bed and ran out the door. Kevin nearly slammed into Scott as he bolted for the kitchen.

Peter was lying on top of Sarah in the middle of the kitchen floor. She was screaming and pulling his hair, trying to free herself. Kevin grabbed the back of Peter's shirt and picked him up off of Sarah and dropped him next to her. She rolled away from them. Kevin jumped on Peter and punched him in the face. Peter struggled beneath him, trying to throw Kevin off. Kevin pulled his fist back again, but Scott caught his arm.

"Sarah. Sarah. Are you OK?" Tom spoke softly to her. She lay on her side, curled up, facing the cabinets. She didn't respond.

"Tom, come help me with Peter," Scott ordered. "Kevin, go take care of Sarah."

Kevin stood up with Scott's help and dropped to his knees next to Sarah. His hands shook. He put his hand on her shoulder and spoke in her ear.

"Sarah. Can you hear me?" He couldn't stop his voice from shaking.

She nodded a little. Kevin sighed in relief. He pulled on her shoulder.

"Here, roll over so I can see you," he said quietly in her ear.

She grimaced as she rolled onto her back. Her lips and nose were covered in blood. It looked like she was going to have a black eye and there were already angry red marks that were turning purple on both her cheeks and her jaw. Her blouse was torn open so he could see her underclothes.

"Oh, my god." Kevin said, his voice cracking. She pulled at her blouse, trying to cover herself.

Kevin pulled the sides together as best he could.and she grabbed the edges, holding them together.

"Stay here." he said and stood up. He got a dish towel and wet half of it in the sink. He knelt down beside her again and gently wiped the blood from her face. Tears poured down her temples and she took choking gasps between her silent sobs. Kevin's heart hurt. He tried to dry her tears with the clean part of the towel.

"Jesus Christ," Scott said from behind him, holding Sarah's glasses over Kevin's shoulder. He took them and gently put them on her. "Should we take her to the hospital?" Scott asked.

"Oh my god! No!" Sarah cried.