True Love Never Goes Away Ch. 12-13

Jason pulled back after hearing Melanie's head hit the wall. "Shit, Mel, I'm sorry!" Jason exclaimed, easing Melanie down to the floor. "Are you okay?" Jason asked. Melanie looked up at Jason with tears in her eyes. "Mel, I'm so sorry, I never meant to ... I got out of control, it won't happen again," Jason promised, cupping Melanie's face in his hands. Melanie felt the back of her head and was not surprised to find blood on her fingertips when she pulled her hand away.

Jason swore under his breath and helped Melanie dry off and into her robe. "I'm going to call my dad," Jason said softly as Melanie curled up on a chair with a towel pressed to the back of her head. Melanie said nothing as she watched Jason pick up and dial the phone. When Steve walked into the bedroom twenty minutes later, Melanie's head and stopped bleeding. "What happened Mel?" Steve asked as he looked at the back of Melanie's head. Melanie glanced at Jason who had a guilty look on his face. "I slipped in the shower," Melanie lied.

Steve looked like he didn't believe Melanie but let it go. "You'll be fine, it doesn't look too serious, but I want you to take it easy," Steve told Melanie. "Take some Tylenol every four hours, but if you start to feel too dizzy and light headed, I want Jason to take you into the E.R.," Steve told Melanie. Melanie nodded slowly and watched Jason lead his father out. "What really happened Jason?" Steve asked when they got to the front door. Jason sighed.

"I got a little rough," Jason admitted. Steve shook his head and sighed. "I didn't mean to get that rough, and I didn't mean to hurt Mel," Jason added.

Steve patted Jason's shoulder. "You need to hold yourself back, if you're too rough, you could hurt your baby and I know you don't want that," Steve warned his son. Jason nodded and closed the door behind his father. When Jason turned around, Melanie was standing in the doorway. "Mel," Jason began, taking a step towards Melanie. He sighed when Melanie took a step back. "Mel, I'm sorry," Jason said softly. Melanie allowed Jason to wrap his arms around her. "I didn't mean to hurt you," Jason murmured, giving Melanie a gentle squeeze. Melanie sighed and carefully pulled away.

"I know Jace," Melanie said. "You scared me more than anything," Melanie added.

Jason sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I love you," Jason murmured. "Daddy?" Marine asked from the doorway. Jason turned to face his daughter. "Hey princess, what's wrong?" Jason asked as Marine shuffled over to them.

"I had a bad dream," Marine sniffled. Jason held his arms out to Marine and lifted her up.

"What happened in this dream?" Jason asked, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Marine's ear.

"There was a bad man, and he was looking in my window," Marine answered. Jason gave Marine a gentle hug.

"It was just a dream," Jason murmured. Marine sniffled. "I won't let anyone hurt you," Jason promised his daughter. Melanie smiled at Jason over Marine's head.

"There was a monster under my bed too, he said he was going to feed me to the man outside," Marine added. Jason rolled his eyes over Marine's head and Melanie gave him a scolding glance.

"Mari," Jason groaned, exasperated.

"He was there daddy! He was green with blue stripes!" Marine exclaimed. Jason sighed. "C'mon kiddo, I'll go chase away any monsters lurking under your bed," Jason promised.

Marine looked at Jason in confusion. "Lurking?" Marine asked.

Jason shook his head and laughed. "Lurking means standing or sitting in a specific spot for long periods of time, in this case, the monster hiding under your bed," Jason answered, carrying Marine into her bedroom and turning on the light. Jason set Marine in the middle of her bed, got down on his hands and knees and looked under the bed. "There's nothing here, sweetie," Jason told his daughter, handing Marine her teddy bear. Marine settled down among the pillows and Jason covered her back up. "I'll leave your door open a crack and the hall light on until you fall asleep," Jason promised Marine, giving his daughter a hug and a kiss before walking out of the room and turning off the bedroom light.

"Mel?" Jason called, before seeing the kitchen light on. "What are you doing?" Jason asked. Melanie looked up from the stove. "I'm reheating dinner so that you can eat," Melanie answered. Jason ran his hand through his hair again. "You don't have to do that Mel, I'm capable of making a peanut butter sandwich," Jason told Melanie. Melanie sighed. "There isn't any peanut butter, I had to put it back and I used the last bit we had to make Mari's lunch today," Melanie told Jason. Jason sighed and sank into a kitchen chair.

Melanie set a plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn in front of Jason. "Eat Jace," Melanie said softly, sitting down next to him. Jason opened his mouth to say something but ate a bite of meatloaf.

Jason studied Melanie while he ate and frowned at the sight of the dark circles that threatened to take over Melanie's face. "Go on to bed hon, I'll clean up," Jason said, rubbing a thumb over the back of Melanie's hand. Melanie smiled gratefully and kissed Jason before heading back to the bedroom. The next morning, when Melanie woke up, she was surprised to find Jason's bed exactly as it had been the night before; unused. A note lay on Jason's nightstand with Melanie's name on it.

"Melanie,

I can't trust myself around you. Every time I see you, I want to make love to you and after last night, I can't trust myself not to go too far and hurt you again. I'll stay in touch and I'll send money to take care of the kids, I don't know where I'll stay for the time being, but I promise, I won't be far and if you really need me, you can call my dad and he can get in touch with me. I love you Mel, please believe me.

Love,

Jason"

Tears filled Melanie's eyes as she crumpled the note in her fist. "Mommy?" Marine asked from the doorway of Melanie's room. Melanie wiped the tears off her cheeks and turned to face her daughter.

"What's wrong sweetie?" Melanie asked.

"I had a bad dream again Mommy, there was someone outside, looking in my window," Marine said, her voice trembling. Melanie sighed and patted the bed next to her. "Where's daddy?" Marine asked, climbing in the bed and pulling the covers over her legs. Melanie closed her eyes while she thought of an answer.

"Daddy had to work," Melanie lied.

Marine shook her head. "It's Saturday, daddy was going to take me to the zoo," Marine reminded Melanie.

Melanie sighed. "Then I'm sure daddy will come back and take you to the zoo," Melanie told her daughter. "Are you hungry?" Melanie asked. Marine nodded. "C'mon, let's go get some pancakes," Melanie told her daughter, leading her out to the kitchen.

"Oh, Mel, hey," Leigh said, stopping short. Melanie eyed her sister curiously.

"Were you out all night?" Melanie asked. Leigh nodded and gave her sister a sheepish smile.

"I had a date and I didn't want it to end," Leigh admitted. Melanie smiled and shook her head. "C'mon, I'm making pancakes," Melanie said, walking into the kitchen. Leigh followed her sister and her niece into the kitchen.

"Mel, what's wrong?" Leigh asked as she watched her sister measure out the pancake mix. "Nothing," Melanie lied.

"Mel," Leigh said, rolling her eyes.

Melanie sighed. "Later Leigh, okay?" Melanie asked. Leigh nodded and went to wake up the boys. After the kids had finished their breakfasts and gone down for naps, Melanie showed her sister the note Jason had left for her. "What a jerk!" Leigh exclaimed.

Melanie sighed and hid her face in her hands. "He got really rough last night; he even pushed me against a wall hard enough to give me one hell of a knot," Melanie said as the tea kettle whistled. Leigh stood up and poured the water into the mugs then carried the mugs of steaming hot chocolate over to the table.

"Do you want me to call Steve?" Leigh asked her sister.

Melanie shook her head. "No, Jason will come home when he's ready," Melanie answered, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. "In the meantime, will you watch the kids for a few hours? I have some errands to run," Melanie asked. Leigh nodded and watched her sister walk out the front door. The minute Melanie pulled out of the drive way, Leigh called Jason's cell phone.

"Hi Leigh," Jason answered with a sigh.

"That's all you have to say?" Leigh asked incredulously.

Jason sighed again. "Leigh, it's complicated," Jason said.

Leigh snorted. "Complicated? My sister has been in love with you for as long as I can remember, and is the mother of three of your children, soon to be four!" Leigh exclaimed. "And no, Mel didn't ask me to call you or your father," Leigh added.

"If I had stayed, I would have hurt Mel or the baby," Jason told Leigh.

"Bullshit!" Leigh exclaimed. "You couldn't hurt Mel if you wanted to," she said, her voice low and angry.

"I hurt Mel last night. I couldn't stop, and well, I almost gave her a concussion," Jason told Leigh.

Leigh sighed. "You hurt her more by leaving Jason. She needs you and you just walked away. You're nothing but a coward Jason," Leigh told her brother in law.

Jason sighed again. "I have to go Leigh," Jason said before hanging up.

When Melanie came home later that evening, she felt an instant headache form when she saw her in-law's car in the driveway. "Steve, Carol, what are you doing here?" Melanie asked even though she already knew the answer. Carol looked up from where she was playing with the boys. "What did you do to Jason?" Carol asked.

Melanie closed her eyes and rubbed her face with her hands. "Leigh, can you take the kids to the backyard please?" Melanie asked wearily. Leigh nodded and herded her niece and nephews out to the backyard to play. "I didn't do anything to Jason," Melanie told Carol, easing into the rocking chair and slowly putting her feet up on the ottoman.

"Then why has my son moved back home?" Carol wanted to know.

Melanie gave a small sigh of relief. "You tell me," Melanie said, tossing her mother in law the crumpled up note Jason had left for her that morning.

Carol read the note and shook her head in disbelief. "My son would not do anything to hurt you," Carol said firmly. Melanie shifted in the rocking chair uneasily.

"Steve, you didn't tell Carol about your trip over here last night, did you?" Melanie asked, looking at her father in law. Steve shook his head and sighed.

"Jason called last night; said Mel had hit her head. Mel told me she slipped in the shower, but I don't believe that is what really happened," Steve said. "The bruises around Melanie's arms don't fit the story," he added.

"I don't see any bruises," Carol said. Melanie sighed and pulled off her long sleeve shirt, leaving just her tank top on and Carol winced when she saw the bruises, red and angry on Melanie's upper arms.

"Jason got more than a little rough," Steve observed. "How did you hit your head Mel?" Steve asked.

Melanie sighed. "Jason pushed me against the wall, and when I tried to break free, he pushed me back harder and I hit the wall," Melanie admitted.

Carol shook her head. "I can't believe he'd hurt you," Carol said, standing up.

Melanie struggled to her feet. "I love your son, and yes, I'm hurt because of what he did last night, but I did not in any way shape or form ask him to leave. He left for whatever reason his mind came up with. Has he told you how bad things are at work?" Melanie asked.

Carol shook her head and Melanie showed Carol the bank statement that she had had printed out at the bank. "Jason got paid four days ago, and we're already in the negative. Out of the six hundred dollars he was just paid, I had to pay the utilities, the house payment and that doesn't even include groceries! I tried to buy food for the kids yesterday and didn't have enough money! Jason's checks are almost four hundred dollars short because of the pay cuts!" Melanie exclaimed.

Steve stepped between Melanie and Carol. "Melanie, sit down and calm down, Carol, stop acting crazy," Steve commanded. "Mel, why didn't you guys tell us things were getting bad?" Steve asked.

Melanie took a few deep breaths and forced herself to calm down. "Jason wouldn't let me. He didn't want to worry you," Melanie answered.

"Well I'm sure as hell worried now," Steve commented.

"Why did Jason move back to our house?" Carol wanted to know. Melanie rolled her eyes. "You're his parents. I've heard you mention more than once that if he ever needed a place to stay, he would always have a room at your house," Melanie told Carol. Carol nodded and looked over at Steve as he set a check down on the ottoman in front of Melanie. "I can't take your money," Melanie protested.

Steve knelt down in front of Melanie and took both of her hands in his. "Melanie, swallow your pride and let us help you. When things get better, you can pay me back if you want. I'm in no hurry for the money. As long as people continue to have children, there will always be a job for a doctor," Steve said softly. Tears came to Melanie's eyes and Steve gave her a gentle hug. "Get some rest and I'll kick Jason's ass and tell him to get his head on straight," Steve advised.

Melanie wiped the tears away and shook her head. "You can't force Jason to do anything he doesn't want to do," Melanie said. Steve laughed dryly. "You're right about that. He gets his stubbornness from his mother," Steve joked. Melanie smiled. "But make no mistake about it, I will be talking to my son," Steve told Melanie. Melanie nodded and thanked Steve as he followed Carol out of the house.

When Steve arrived home, he was beyond livid. "Jason Douglas Paterson, what the hell were you thinking?" Steve bellowed when he walked inside. Jason came out of the kitchen and sighed wearily. "Dad, I don't need a lecture," Jason said.

"I think you do! Do you know how badly Melanie needs you?" Steve asked. Jason shook his head. "I could have killed her dad," Jason said. Steve rolled his eyes. "You didn't push her that hard," Steve reminded Jason.

"But I could have! I couldn't stop! I was so out of control last night! She told me no and I forced her! I wouldn't take no for an answer!" Jason shouted.

"She doesn't blame you," Carol said softly. Jason looked at his mother sharply and became very nervous when he saw the glint in his mother's eyes. "Mom, I ..."

"Save it Jason. I know I haven't always been approving of Melanie, nor have I been all that accepting of Melanie, but you married her and have children with her. Your wedding vows said 'in sickness and in health and to death do us part. You don't walk out on that!" Carol exclaimed. Jason sighed. "I'm not walking out mom, I just don't want to hurt her," Jason said wearily.

Steve shook his head in disbelief. "You don't want to hurt her?" Steve repeated. Jason nodded. "What the fuck do you think you did by leaving?" Steve shouted. "She loves you Jason and getting a little rough won't change that!" he exclaimed. Jason laughed bitterly. "I was more than rough dad, I fucked my wife until she hurt and then I practically raped her!" Jason said harshly.

"Practically raped her? You legally raped her," Steve said. "Mel said no, which means you legally raped her," Steve reminded Jason. Steve studied his son as he watched Jason's emotions get the best of him.

Carol walked up to Jason and put a hand on his shoulder. "You need to go home Jason. Melanie can't do this alone," she said softly.

Jason looked at his mother, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Are you kicking me out?" Jason asked.

Carol shook her head. "Not yet. You need to go home, but you need to get your head screwed on straight first," Carol told Jason. "Go wash your face and calm down and we'll get some dinner," she added. Jason gave his mother a hug and started for the bathroom and stopped, remembering his conversation with Melanie from the night before.

"Mel couldn't buy food," Jason said, turning around.

"It's taken care of Jason. Don't worry," Steve told his son. Jason nodded and walked into the bathroom.