The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” grinned Rick Carson at his wife, as he gently caressed her butt.

“Mmmm… That feels nice,” she sighed. Don’t you have to go into work today?”

“Nope. I have one meeting at noon, but I figure why drive two hours when I can just call in to it. It’s good to be the boss,” he laughed.

“Well, you missed all of the hubbub with Derek’s friends.”

“You know, our son is growing up,” he stated. “I’m so proud of how he handled everything.”

“I must say that, while I had my doubts about Sandy, she was pretty amazing herself,” she admitted, pausing before asking.” Rick?”

“Yeah.”

“I think Derek and Sandy are really serious about each other. If it were any other boy, I’d probably say that this was just a teen crush.”

“I know. Derek is remarkably mature for his age. I know Laura used to hate him when I teased her about how mature Derek was compared to her.”

“Well that has changed lately. They certainly have been pretty affectionate since she went to Penn.”

“Speaking of which, when do we expect our daughter?”

“Laura said she would be driving up after her last class, which is at eleven. She should be here about two-thirty.”

“Good. With Derek away, that gives us a chance to walk around the house, naked,” he laughed.

“Mmmm… it’s been a while since we’ve done it.”

“Speaking of doing it,” he grinned.

Veronica looked down at her husband. Their jobs were running them ragged. Rick was commuting more than four hours a day. Between her charitable activities and her work on the Town Council, they were lucky to spend a couple of conscious hours a day together. Most of that time was spent doing chores, household finances and other responsibilities. Even at the moment she was tired. She sensed that he was too. But they needed to connect. While the years had been kind to her, she was not the stunningly beautiful young thing she used to be. That did not stop her husband from undressing her with his eyes quite frequently. Rick looked even better now than he had in college. Despite her fatigue, she felt herself moisten at the look he was giving her. “What are you waiting for? Ravage me!” she husked.

He pulled her nightgown over her head and she yanked her panties down in a fluid motion. He then pulled off his nightshirt, revealing his still muscular form. Soon, he was on, her driving into her like he did in college. In the afterglow, as they lie there spent and cuddling, she wondered if Derek and Sandy were doing the same thing right now.

Moments earlier, Derek had exploded into Sandy, as her body convulsed under his. When he looked down into her open eyes, he saw a look of wonder. She seemed to look at him this way quite frequently. The look reminded him of their days playing house. It was very different than the nasty looks that had emanated from her eyes until recently.

“Hey baby, why so quiet?” she sighed.

“That look you just gave me took me back to another place and time.”

“Well, you better get used to it, or you’ll be doing a lot of time traveling,” she grinned, more Sandra-like, causing him to shudder. “Now what?” her laugh pure Sandy.

“That smiled just made me time traveled into the more recent past,”

“Well darlin’ you better get used to that look too. I may be the sweet me, but I’m still the same randy woman I was… “ she started until she cut herself off when she saw his broad grin and realized what he was thinking “Don’t you say it! I swear Derek Richard Carson, it f you say it I don’t know what I’ll do!”

“OK, ‘Randy Sandy’, I won’t,” he grinned, causing her eyes to narrow. “Oops.”

“You’re going to pay for that remark,” her eyes and tone pure Sandra.

“How?”

“I’m gonna fuck you ‘til you can’t walk or see straight,” she growled, as she took his member in her hands.

Derek’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, honey. I was just teasing. I love you,” he smiled.

Sandra’s expression became Sandy’s again, as she loosened her grasp of his member. “Me too. I guess I’m a little sensitive to that name.”

“Why? You’re a beautiful, sexy woman. I love that wild look you give me when you’re in the throes of passion.”

“You do? I thought you liked the sweet look.”

“I do! I like them both. I guess I like the other look more than I realized. The really old you was a complete innocent. The more recent old you was the exact opposite.”

“What about the new me?” she asked, looking like pure Sandy.

“You’re the perfect combination of both. It is kind of strange to see you that way, but I’ll get used to it.”

“You better.”

“I love the wearer of the look, so you can count on it,” he said as he began to kiss her tenderly, as she stroked him the same way. Soon they were dozing. About half an hour later, Derek awoke, looking into Sandy’s eyes.

“Hey beautiful,” smiled Derek.

“Mmmmm… hey yourself,” she smiled back, as she leaned in and kissed him. They deeply frenched, ignoring their morning breath. “I could get used to this,” she said, momentarily breaking the kiss before resuming it.

Then he broke the kiss and caressed her face. “Me too. This the first time I’ve ever slept in the same bed with anybody.”

“I’ve never woke up to anyone before either. I’m hoping that we can convince our ‘rents to make this a regular occurrence.”

“I think my folks and your Mom might go for it from time to time, but somehow I can’t see Paul Turner allowing this, under his own roof.”

“We can always have a sleepover at your place,” she laughed.

“Maybe. I think tomorrow night will go a long way toward determining how easy it will be for us.”

“I agree,” she said before pausing with a thoughtful expression.

“What going on in the pretty head of yours?” he grinned.

“I was just thinking of Carrie.”

“The poor girl has been through so much.”

“Yeah. I can tell Tom really likes her, but do you know something?”

“What?”

“I think she really likes him too. I spent a while talking to her alone and she wanted to know everything about him. I told her that he was amazing and the sweetest guy you’ll ever find.”

“Hey. How about me?!” he complained.

“You don’t count. You’re my… “

“What?”

“I don’t know. I was about to say ‘boyfriend’ but that’s not really strong enough to describe how I feel about you.”

“I know. I feel the same way about you. How about we just say I’m your ‘yours’ and you’re my ‘mine’,” he smiled.

“I like it, though it breaks a number of grammatical conventions.”

“‘Grammatical Conventions’? First Star Wars, now this? I think you’re just as dweeby as I am,” he laughed.

“Want to know a secret?” she asked. He nodded. “What’s your class rank?”

“Three out of two-hundred-sixty.”

“I’m not as smart as you, but mine is twelve.”

“Damn! You’re twelve. I’d never have guessed.”

“Gee…thanks,” she said with a mock smile.

“No, it’s just that I never see you studying…”

“I know. I don’t really do as much as I should, but I guess I’m kind of lazy, since I get good grades. When I was younger, I used manipulate some smart kid to do my homework. Then one day, he was out sick and I had to do my own assignment and I scored ten points higher than I ever had before. Ever since then, I used my study halls to do most of my work.”

Derek thought about it. While he and Sandy were not in any of the same classes this year, they had been in previous years. While she was not in any AP classes, like he was, she was in mostly honors classes and apparently had good grades. “You’re scary,” he laughed.

“Why?”

“Because I think you’re actually smarter than me,” he laughed.

“Well, I could have told you that,” she grinned, as he stuck his tongue out at her.

She proceeded to jump on top of him and captured his tongue in her mouth.

When he broke the kiss, she grinned down at him, as her weight was still pinning him to the bed. He grinned back.

“Why are you so happy,” she laughed.

“Now we can apply to the same colleges.”

“I never thought of that,” she smiled back, brightly.

“I’m sure you did,” he laughed.

“OK, the thought had crossed my mind. Now that we’re together, do you really think that I’m going to let you out of my sight?”

“Now that I know, you’ll never be out of mine,” he rolled them on their side and hugged her closely to him, as they felt his member hardening against her body.

“Carrie, you have to go back to your room.”

“Do I have to?” she asked.

“Yes, you do,” smiled Tom.

Tom sighed. Last night had evolved from one of the worst nights of his life into the best one. He was staring at Carrie’s beautiful body, as she put her panties on. Her big, lovely breasts defied gravity. He had noticed a number of bruises that had marred her perfect body. He had gotten used to them from an aesthetic standpoint, but when he thought about the man that had caused them, he had railed in his heart. He wanted to kiss each and every one better and at one point, he had.

Carrie cried because her sweet boyfriend had treated her more tenderly than anyone had ever before. She had found someone she could trust; someone who loved her and respected her. She had never known that such a person could exist. He did and he loved her.

“OK,“ she sighed “What happens next?” she asked as she put her nightgown over her head.

“I guess we have breakfast,” he smiled.

“No, I mean…” she started.

“Carrie,” he interrupted.

“What?”

“You’ve been through so much. There’s no way that you can bounce back from all of this right away.”

“But I want to start living again. I want to have a normal life!” she cried.

“You can and you will. Just know that there is no quick fix for this.”

“I know,” she continued to cry.

Tom pulled her down onto the bed and she ignored her first instinct to jerk away from him, when he pulled her into his arms and he held her and stroked her hair. “Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time. You also have a lot of people who care for you.” he said quietly.

“As long as I have you,” she said, as she leaned in and kissed Tom. When she tried to intensify the kiss, he stopped her. “Honey, right now you’re really vulnerable. I’m here. No strings,” he said earnestly. “Now you need to head back to your room…”

“Are you sure? I want to stay with you.” she said.

“I don’t want people thinking…”

“I don’t care what people think,” she interrupted.

“I do,” he smiled.

“What?”

“You, my dearest girlfriend, are a lady…”

“I’m a slut…”

“No you’re not! You may not understand this, but deep inside of you is a lady in the purest sense of the word. You have honor, which is worth protecting and I will protect it, even if you won’t!” he exclaimed.

“I’m a lady?” she murmured.

“Yes, now go to your bedroom so we can protect your reputation.”

“OK… am I really your lady?” she asked, as she climbed off the bed.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world if you are,” he said, as he blew her a kiss, which she returned with a smile, before opening the door and closing it behind her.

About fifteen minutes later, Tom went downstairs and walked into the dining room. He saw Maggie, Paul, Derek and Sandy sitting at the table. He also saw a big stack of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and other breakfast treats, sitting in the middle of the table.

“Good morning Tom,” smiled Maggie, as she got up and hugged her guest.

“Hi Tom. How’s Carrie doing?” asked Sandy.

“I think she’s still asleep…”

“I saw her go into your room last night,” said Maggie.

“Nothing happened… I mean something happened… but…”

“It’s OK, Tom. After talking to her last night, I sensed that she would have problems sleeping. She asked me if you’d think she was a slut if she decided to visit you in the middle of the night. I said you wouldn’t,” admitted Sandy.

“Of course I’d never feel that way. Could please do me a favor and don’t talk about any of that with her. She has such a poor self-image that I’m trying to build and hearing you talk about that might set her back.”

“OK, Tom. That’s a wise position to take, son,” said Paul.

“By the way, it’s official. Carrie is my girlfriend.”

“Congrats, buddy!” exclaimed Derek, as he got up and gave his friend a hug. “You’re such a good guy. Tom. You deserve it.”

“No argument here,” grinned Sandy. “When you defended me from Devin and my own comments before that, I knew I was glad to be your friend,” said Sandy, as she kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey Sandy, that’s my boyfriend that you’re kissing,” laughed Carrie, as she walked over and sat down next to Tom.

“I was just telling him how happy we are for you guys,” laughed the blond.

“Thanks Sandy and thank all of you! If feel like I’m a new person.”

“Carrie, dear, this is just normal life,” smiled Maggie.

“No, it’s not, Mrs. Turner. It is heaven,” she smiled.

“Well, if we’re going to keep it heavenly for you, we’ll need to make sure that you can stay here for a while,” said Paul.

“What?” asked Carrie.

“Honey, Mr. Turner, Sandy and I decided that since you don’t have any family, you can stay with us as long as you want,” said Maggie.

“You mean that you really want me?” asked Carrie, excitedly.

“Of course, honey. All we needed was Sandy’s blessing and she gave it.”

Carrie shot out of her chair and hugged the seated blond girl.

“Easy there, you don’t want to suffocate your new sister,” said Sandy with a grin.

“You want to be my sister?!” cried Carrie.

“I’ve never had a sister. It would be nice to have one now.”

“If you’re happy and things work out, maybe we can make it permanent,” smiled Maggie.

Carrie felt like she had just won the lottery. She had a new family, her first boyfriend and a bunch of new friends. It was weird, but a good kind of weird. “I… I can’t believe…. Oh God! Yes! Oh Thank you!” she cried, over and over into Sandy’s shoulder.

“I’ll call DCYF and start the wheels in motion,” said Paul.

“There’s still some problem concerning Mr. Clausen, who is continuing to refuse to approve us. Derek’s mom went over his head, and got us approved for the short term; though she said that we’ll have to take you in for an interview at some point.” said Maggie.

“Jenna, this is a disturbed, fifteen year old girl,” said Tim Clausen. “Her stepfather is a caring man, not a child rapist.”

“Tim, we have to take these charges quite seriously. While we are certainly giving Mr. Best the benefit of the doubt, I can see no harm in letting the girl stay with a school friend’s family.”

“But they are already petitioning to get custody of Carrie. This is not what her mother wanted when she passed away…”

“How do you know what the girl’s mother wanted? Tim, you’re acting very strangely about this. First of all, the girl claims to be sixteen, which would make her a minor.”

“According to this birth certificate, she is only fifteen,” he stated, handing her a piece of paper

“Where did you get this?”

“From Mr. Best.”

Jenna inspected the document. “It doesn’t have a seal, so it must be a copy. We’ll need to verify her age with her city of origin.”

“But Jenna…”

“Tim, there is no way I’m returning the girl to her home under these circumstances,” stated his supervisor. “She will stay with the Turner’s for now. Set up the interview for today, so you can get a feel for the family’s suitability.”

“But what about Mr. Best?” he asked.

“He’ll get every chance to prove his fitness, if and when he successfully answers the charges against him.”

Tim Clausen knew he could be in trouble. While Carrie had never seen him before last night, there was still a chance that the girl might be able to identify him by his voice. He was also worried that Best would attempt something foolish. If he was smart, he would just leave the jurisdiction.

“I’m so mad I could spit! I’ve been fighting tooth and nail with the Mayor and the Council over increasing the school budget, including increasing guidance and medical resources to help identify these types of situations and this just shows how important this additional funding is!” raged Veronica.

“Anyway, Paul and I believe Carrie. The big problem is that there is very little proof.”

“What about the bruises. Derek told me she had a bruise on her arm.”

“He could state that the bruises came from another source,” frowned Maggie. “Then there’s the age thing. She swears she’s sixteen, but according to the records, they say she’s fifteen. I’m inclined to believe her.”

“I agree, something seems fishy about this Clausen character. Well, Rick and I are pretty good friends with our State Rep. He and I had run on the same ticket a couple of times for council, until he won a seat in the legislature this past election. I can have him check into this for us.”

“Thanks Ronnie… just seeing you last night reminded me of how close we were. What happened, Ronnie? I mean Derek told us that it had to do with Rick’s job, but that doesn’t really make sense,”

Ronnie paused to think. This was not the right time to get into what had happened four years ago. It happened so long ago. She and Sandy (and obviously Derek) had made their peace, so there was no point to discussing the subject in any detail. “You’re right. Something did happen. Derek told you that story to cover for Sandy.”

“Cover for her?”

“Maggie, ask her. She’ll tell you. But promise me something.”

“What?”

“What happened has no bearing on the present or the future. The matter has been resolved. I sense that Sandy is a very different person now and I don’t want you to punish her. Please promise that you and Paul won’t.”

“Ronnie, you’re scaring me.”

“I don’t mean to. I figured that this all would have come out tomorrow anyway. The key thing is that Derek and Sandy have gotten past it and I’m very proud of both of them.”

“OK, I promise,” said Maggie.

Kyle and Devin had agreed to meet up with Tara and Rachel at lunch. They both had a free period for Period three, so they compared notes on their progress with the girls. “Dude! Rachel is really into me. I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Devin, as he was hushed by a librarian.

“Devin, why wouldn’t she. You’re a good guy and not bad looking.”

“She’s a cheerleader. I was sure that Sandy was making her do this and that she would hate it, but we really have a lot in common. She even made out with me.”

Kyle blushed. He had a crush on Tara and she was not going to be making out with him when this was all done. He’d have settled for the kiss on the cheek, he got last night. “Tara’s being nice to me, but I’m sure it’s Sandy’s doing.”

“Don’t think that way. You two may not have made a love connection, but you’re a great guy. I’m sure she thinks that way about you.”

“I’m a big old tub of lard,” he said quietly.

“For starters you’re not. You’re one of the smartest and nicest guys I know. I’m sure Tara believes that too,” said Devin.

An awkward pause ensued, before Devin continued. “Look Kyle, I admit that I didn’t believe Sandy at first and I gave her some shit, but I can tell that she’s really sincere. She wants this to work for all of us. Rachel told me that she was tired of dating JV football players. She wanted to be with an older guy. She wasn’t counting on going out with an older “dweeb’. Now that she’s got to know me, she really likes me. My mom is driving us to the mall tomorrow. When we come back, I’ll look the way she wants.”

“You don’t mind changing for her?”

“It’s just clothes. If I want to be her REAL boyfriend, I just have to look the part, so when this is all over, we can be together.”

“I guess I have to change for health reasons. My parents are so happy that I’m friends with Tara. They’ve been worried about my eating habits.”

“Well then Sandy is helping you too; just the way you’re helping Tara”

“Sandy still scares me.”

“If we keep on her good side, we’ll be OK.”

“What’s her good side?”

“I’m guessing Derek’s good side,” he laughed.

“Did he tell you about Carrie?”

“Yeah, he did,” said Devin quietly.

“Do we have to do this? I don’t want to leave,” complained Carrie.

Maggie put her hand on her shoulder reassuringly. “Honey, it’s just an interview. Just tell them the truth and everything’ll be fine.”

“Can’t Tom be with me?” she asked plaintively.

“Honey, I’ll be right outside the door,” said Tom.

“We’ll all be there,” said Derek.

An hour later, they were all in the State Office Building downtown. They were led to an office and told to wait in the “family lounge”.

Then Carrie remembered what she had failed to tell anybody last night. She had wrestled with doing this, because despite her feelings, she never saw the man. Likewise, she had remembered the death threats that the man had whispered in her ear, in the darkened room, as he drove his cock into her from behind. Now, innocent or not, the idea of being alone with the man scared her. “Tom?” she whispered

“What, Carrrie?”

“I think Mr. Clausen could be one of my stepfather’s friends.”

“You mean he…” started Tom.

“I thought I recognized his voice, smell and touch, but I’m not sure. It was always dark in the room when he came and I was so scared last night” she whispered.

“Still, we need to tell the Turner’s,” said Tom and they did.

About five minutes later, the inner office door opened. When Paul Turner saw who was going to give the interview, he became ready to explode. “Clausen, you’re not doing this!”

“I’m her caseworker and so it is my right.”

Paul realized from what Carrie said, she wasn’t sure. He knew he couldn’t hurl the accusations without any proof.

Derek on the other hand felt no such compunction, though he decided to keep his comment vague. “You’ve never seen Carrie in the daylight before now!”

Clausen began to panic. Had Carrie somehow recognized him? She was never permitted to see his face, as he always took her from behind, in the dark. “If you don’t contain yourselves, I’ll have you removed from this office!” he threatened. “I may have been on your turf last night, but now you’re on mine and the state cops will answer to me,” he snarled.

Clausen noticed as the woman was on her cell phone. “Who are you talking to? There are no cell phones allowed in this office,” he glared at Maggie.

“I don’t see any signs?” said Paul, as he raised his six-three frame over Clausen’s five-ten one.

“Signs or not, those are the rules. Please hand over all of your cellular devices, or I will have a few state troopers up to take them from you.”

Maggie was ready to turn over her phone, when Paul put his hand on hers. “You’re full of shit. Call them Clausen. I want to see how you’ll explain your way out of that!” snapped Paul, calling his bluff.

“It’s OK, I just got off the phone with Veronica Carson. She’s going to contact his superiors…”

Clausen was hoping he could prevent any more interference. For what he needed to do, he would have to quickly get the girl out of the building without her making a squawk. It would work, so long as there was no outside interference. With that busybody Councilwoman involved, he would need to move the timetable up even sooner. “I don’t answer to her, remember?” he grinned. He picked up his phone. “Jackson? Please send several troopers up to the DCYF office. There are several people here who are preventing me from interviewing an abused girl. OK.” He disconnected. “Now let me conduct the interview, or you’ll be hauled into an interrogation room downstairs.”

“Mrs. Turner! Please don’t let him take me! Help me Tom!” cried Carrie.

Tom was ready to explode, but he calmed himself. He had worked out a plan. He quickly whispered in Derek’s ear, “Put your phone on silent ring. You’re about to get an important call.” Derek nodded as Tom quickly walked back to Carrie. He led Carrie to a corner. “Carrie, listen to me. I can’t go in with you!”

“Please Tom…”

“Honey, I need you to compose yourself. Go with him and answer any question he asks honestly…”

“What are you telling her?!” snapped Clausen, as he walked toward them, only to be confronted and therefore blocked, by Paul Turner.

Tom continued. “But don’t tell him what you believe about his involvement. If he touches you in a threatening way or tries to take you out of the building through some back way, scream your head off. Cry rape if you need to. No matter what he tells you, don’t let him take you out of the building. Do you understand?” he said and she nodded and he kissed her on the forehead.

“I’m so scared,” she said.

“Be as brave as you have been, Carrie. Hopefully this will be the last time you have to look at him.”

“OK,” she whimpered.

“OK. Go to him. I’ll be right here. And no matter what he tells you, don’t believe him, OK?” he said, as he hugged her. Unbeknownst to her or anyone, while hugging her, he put his cell phone in her pocket and pushed the call button. Then she shakily walked toward Clausen, just as the troopers came in.

Clausen gestured Carrie towards his office, “Please come with me.” He turned to the troopers and said, “Make sure they don’t leave this office.”

Derek felt helpless. He had attempted on several occasions to use his power on Clausen, but this time, the push back was too powerful. At first, he tried to do what he had done last night with “anxiety”, but that didn’t work. He tried to get him relaxed to let his guard down, but that seemed to fail too. Finally, he desperately used guilt, trying to focus the emotion into concrete thoughts and actions. All this did was to give him a splitting headache, which subsided once he stopped trying. As Clausen and Carrie left, Derek felt a sense of dread. Then he looked at Tom. Tom gave him a nod. He remembered what Tom had asked him to do, and he noticed that his phone was ringing. He answered it.

“It’s very simple. You go back to your stepfather and recant your statement about him. If not, I’ll have your little friend and his brother yanked out of their home and put in Juvie.

“But Tom and Brett are good people. Nobody would believe you!” she cried.

“They’re many ways of proving a family unfit. There are also ways of controlling people into doing things they normally wouldn’t.

“You’re a monster!” she screamed, before realizing by the expression on his face that she had given herself away.

“So you remember, huh? Well, bitch; it’s my word against yours. Who do you think they’ll believe? A no good little tramp like you or me? You better not talk about that either. If you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll give you what we both know you want; something long and hard between your legs,” he smirked

Carrie was scared. Tom told her not to believe the man, but the thought that Tom and Brett could be pulled away from their family made her sick to her stomach.

“OK, please don’t hurt my friends,” she cried.

“Nothing’ll happen as long as you keep your mouth shut and I mean about everything!” he menaced.

“My God! Haven’t you heard enough?!” shouted Maggie.

“We have to let this play out,” said one of the Troopers.

Clausen led Carrie out another door of the interview room.

“Wait! The waiting room is that way,” she said.

“It is, but we’re going out another way.”

“No, please I want to see Tom!” she cried, as she began to drag her feet to make it harder on Clausen.

“Stop that right now or I’ll make sure your precious little boyfriend get put in a cell and gets beaten and raped every night.”

“No!” she screamed.

“Shut up!”

“Hey Brubaker, cover the back door,” said a trooper into his radio. Then he saw Tom bolt toward the interior office door. “Hey kid, come back!” yelled the state trooper, as Tom flew through the door.

Tom saw Clausen pull Carrie around a corner and he ran to quickly close the distance. When he turned the corner, he saw them moving toward the rear stairway. “Stop!” cried Tom as he ran toward Clausen with murder in his heart.

“Tom!” screamed Carrie.

“Kid, keep out of this or I’ll have you locked up in a cell.”

“I don’t care!” he screamed as he launched himself at the surprised man and all three collapsed to the ground in a heap. The next thing Clausen knew, Tom was sitting on his chest repeatedly punching him in the face.

It took a few seconds for Clausen to get his bearings before he realized that the kid had broken his nose and blood was gushing down his face. He managed to roll on top of Tom and began chocking him. Carrie jumped on top of Clausen and he let go of Tom to heave her off of him. Then they heard a voice yell “Freeze!”

“Get off of that kid Clausen!”

“Thank God you’re here, Officer. This miscreant attacked me for no reason....” he said, standing up.

“He had a reason, Mr. Clausen,” said the Trooper.

“We heard everything you said to that girl,” said another trooper.

“But how?”

“The kid called his friend and put his cell phone in the girl’s pocket. Then his friend put his phone on mute and then on speaker.”

Carrie was lying next to Tom, who was wincing, clearly in pain.

“Baby, are you OK?” she cried, as she began to stroke his head. Then she noticed he was crying.

“I’ll be OK, as long as you are,” he said.

Despite his fierce loyalty, Tom was dealing with the violence he inflicted on Clausen. It was so against his normal nature and he was still in shock. He looked up at Carrie’s smiling but tear-stained face and it became easier to accept his actions. He felt sore around his neck and had a little difficulty breathing.

They took Tom to the nurse’s station in the building as a precaution. He had some swelling due to the bruising on his neck. Still, it wasn’t serious. The nurse sent him off with some ice and an anti-inflammatory. Once she was finished, the Turner’s and Derek brought everyone home. On the way to their cars, they saw Clausen being led away and put in the back of a Dodge Interceptor squad car, undoubtedly being taken to the hospital.