Dava wasn't going to let her prevent this confrontation. Break it up after it started, yes. But she had to wait long enough-- everyone did, she, Alan, Dream, UPChuck-- long enough for witnesses. An entire Club full of witnesses. And everyone in the Club had to see, because if Frogman found just one contrary witness, their entire case would go down the toilet.

Alan was still by the door, keeping a discrete eye on Frogman. Mari was by the kitchen door, waiting for Doreen and Neil to return from downstairs. Dream and UPChuck were at the bar, waiting on customers but ready to react at the slightest thing. In fact, Dream, Dava, and Marianna were maintaining an open psychic link. The waitresses had been clued in, as had Daniela. That was probably why the song that reminded Mari of the Muppet Show was playing. Daniela had a taste for the apropos.

The characters were in place; the scene was set. And, soon, the Omnipotent Director would shout a silent "Action!" The play would be set in motion.

But it wasn't a play. There was no script, and there was no telling what Frogman might do. There were lives at risk. And Doreen and Neil walked in, glowing with innocent happiness.

The next few seconds seemed like hours to Marianna. She forced herself to stand still, every fiber of her being protesting, every muscle screaming to react, as Frogman stood up and stepped unsteadily across the floor. As if the music had given them warning, the crowd parted and moved closer to the stage. Mari could see Alan a few paces behind Frogman, fists and jaw clenched against his inability to act-- yet.

It was obvious in UPChuck's eyes that he had once loved Doreen, and still cared a great deal for her. But all the power and money he had could not protect her now-- not yet.

Dream and Daniela had moved together near the bar, their tall figures belying their differences as they let their strength and concern for a mutual friend lie untapped. Dream was worried; Daniela was frustrated. Both were used to getting what they wanted, and what they wanted they couldn't have-- yet.

Mari saw all that and more. Doreen saw it, looked at Marianna, puzzled. At that moment, Daniela signaled for the music to stop.

"Bitch," Frogman growled. "I should have killed you and that bastard child when I had the chance." He grabbed Doreen's wrist and pulled her roughly away from Neil. Neil immediately made to jump the frog, but a restraining hand from Marianna told him what he needed to know.

"Should have killed you along with those idiots who served me!" he slurred, and slapped her.

Confused tears came to her eyes. "Why won't you just leave me alone?" she wailed.

"We are still married, human, and I can still enjoy you-- pregnant or not!" He slapped her again, and this time she fell to her knees.

As one, Doreen's friends swept down to help her. Alan pinned Frogman's arms behind his back, and UPChuck and Daniela moved in to keep him from escaping. Dava, newly inducted assistant chief of police, handcuffed the frog and started to read him his rights.

Neil and Marianna got Doreen to her feet and into the kitchen. As the door closed behind them, Neil hissed, "Amphibious slime!"

"Don't compliment me," Frogman replied. Dava spoke a little louder, "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed..."

Dream followed into the kitchen; as she passed Frogman, she spit on his webbed foot. "That's for getting me stuck in outer space," she said, blue eyes glinting like steel. UPChuck, attuned to his wife's mood, started dragging the drunk Frogman out the door, not affected by the frog stumbling over his own feet.

In the kitchen, Doreen's cheek was bright red, and her eye was rapidly swelling closed. Marianna acted quickly, pulling out her Polaroid and taking pictures. As they developed, Dream wrote the time on them: "two minutes after assault," "three minutes after assault..."

Finally, with her eye completely closed up, Doreen was allowed to apply a cold compress to the left side of her face. Her right wrist was also bruised and scraped, and Mari started taking pictures of that. "Neil, you're being absolutely useless," Mari said. She was right; he was hovering, not wanting to get in the way, but wanting to comfort Doreen. "Go out and see if there's a doctor in the Club."

As Neil went out, Alan slipped in. "Mare, Dori has to start filling out the reports."

"Alan, look at her wrist! She's in no condition to be writing!"

"I can use my left hand," Doreen sniffled. "Remember in high school, when I wanted to be a writer, I taught myself to write with my left hand in case something ever happened to the right?"

Marianna stared at her in disbelief. "No, I don't remember. That's amazing."

"Dava gave me all the forms. Take your time, he said, but don't take too long because you want to write down the important stuff while you still remember it." Alan gave her a sympathetic smile, then slipped back out to help Dava and UPChuck distribute witness reports and ballpoint pens to the patrons.

"Dream, you stay with Doreen, and if Neil comes back with a doctor, let him check her out completely." Mari paused. "Probably should go to the hospital, make sure the baby is alright."

"It's fine, Mari," Doreen said. "I just know. It's fine."

"Yeah, I understand... sixth sense that mothers have." Marianna shrugged and started moving toward the door. "I'm going to help out out there... and I think Dani and I will be visiting that judge that likes us."

"Thanks for your help, Mari." Doreen turned to the forms before her, hoping she could still write legibly with her left hand.

Dream looked at Marianna over Doreen's head. Will we finally be free of Frogman?

Oh, you don't know how much I wish...

To be continued...