Candy looked at the gun in her hand and wondered how it had gotten there. She barely remembered picking it up. She looked at the scene in front of her and screamed. So much blood. She had never seen so much. Neither man was moving and both were covered in it. The metallic smell overwhelmed her then and she vomited.

“Baby, Candy? Sweetheart? Are you okay?” She was hyperventilating and worked to get her breathing under control. She flinched when a hand touched her. “Easy, it’s me.”

“Bill?”

“No sweetheart, you’re not dead. Look at me.” She looked up and Jameson was sitting in his chair.

“You’re hurt.”

“Nah, couple of bruises.”

“But the blood.”

“That would be his. Babe, you can let go of the gun now.” She stared at the gun in her hand again. “Go ahead, just let it drop to the floor. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“He was going to kill you.”

“I know. But you’re my guardian angel. We make a hell of team. Lemme have the gun, sweetheart.” She felt his fingers warm on hers. Her breathing slowed but her heart was still pounding. The gun slipped from her fingers into his hand. She heard someone moan and turned ready to defend herself. That was when she realized there was someone else in the room.

“Oh my God! Axel!” She crawled to him rolling him to face the ceiling.

“Fuck that hurts! Did I miss all the fun?” Damn the man for making jokes at a time like this. She blinked back tears. “Easy now, I’m not dead yet. It’s just a flesh wound,” he said in a bad English accent. It would serve him right if she hit him but he had more than a flesh wound.

“You. You’ve been dying to use that line.” Almost laughing while she was crying made her hiccup.

“Didn’t think it would hurt so much when I did.” He laughed but stopped quick when the pain overwhelmed him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek which added a smile to his grimace.

“Hey, I don’t get any love?” Jameson had rolled closer to the two of them.

“Oh.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. She threw herself at him. She needed to feel his arms around her. She was desperate to feel safe after everything that had happened. When she caught sight of Teddy behind him she reared back. He was missing a good piece of his face as blood soaked her bed. His eyes were wide open and what was left of his mouth slack.

“Fuck, let me...” Jameson yanked the quilt up and covered Teddy, or Teddy’s body anyway. Then he moved back to her and wrapped her in his arms again. She felt his heart pounding in his chest but after a minute his had calmed down. “How ya doin’ over there, buddy?” He asked over her head.

“I’ve been better. Maybe after you’re done cuddling you could let the cops in?”

“No problem.” Her head popped up when she heard the sirens even as he spoke.

“Oh God, the police.”

“Easy now. He broke into your home, beat you up.” He raised her face to his and kissed her bruises and swollen eye. “And would have killed us both if you hadn’t acted fast. I know you’re in shock but, babe, you were amazing. I’ll never be able to make it up to you but I’d like the rest of my life to try.”

More tears. She didn’t think she cried this much when Bill and her mother died. But those had been endings maybe this was supposed to be a beginning.