"Dammit, who's ringing the bell at this time of the morning? I've already had to struggle to the door to pay the paper girl." David was not in a good mood. Once more he hopped to the door on his crutches. "Poll. What do you and your friend want? Are you going to be a Good Samaritan and help me for a bit? I'm still struggling to get up. Are you on your way to Tesco's? If so I could do with some things."

"No, David. Pete and me are going to take you on a raiding party to recapture a runaway slave. Where's your shoes and coat? Pete can drive."

"No Polly. She doesn't want me�"

"Stop that stupid nonsense. Of course she wants you. You just need to take control of her again. She doesn't know your mother's left. She went home before Barbara came back and put the phone down on me this morning." Twenty minutes later they parked at the rear of Stephanie's apartment block. "She's on the first floor David so the difficult part will be getting you up those stairs. They haven't yet put in disabled access but the stairs are wide and shallow. We did a check on the way to yours. Pete's a strong lad and will help you up. Once she opens the door, we follow Pete's plan. Okay?"

"Supposing she calls the police? Supposing she really hates my guts?"

"Supposing she loves you to hell? If you don't try this, you'll never know," Pete countered.

Polly rang Stephanie's doorbell and stood in front of the peephole. The door opened for the length of the security chain. "Leave me Poll, please. I don't wish to talk with anyone at the moment. I just want to be left alone. No one can help."

"Yes you do need to talk Steph and I can help. Open the door, you need someone to take control of you again before you really go to pieces. Let me in please, or do you want me to shout and scream so all your neighbours come running out," Polly threatened. As soon as the door opened Pete forced his way in and grabbed her. Polly followed and David hobbled after.

Stephanie struggled but was no match for Pete. She would have screamed but Pete had a hand across her mouth. Her eyes showed shock at seeing David here in her flat. "Are you going to behave yourself slave Stephanie Jones? Or do we have to tie you up and gag you?" David asked, trying to make his voice sound angry and fierce. Still in shock, Stephanie made no move to reply even when Pete momentarily removed his hand. "Okay Polly see what you can find to tie this slave up."

"Nooo!" Stephanie shook her head free, "I'll do what you want�You can't do this�How?�" Pete dumped her in a chair and stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders to keep her from jumping up. "What are you going to do?� How did�?" Stephanie looked frightened but at the same time she knew Polly wouldn't let them harm her. She must have a plan.

"Slave Stephanie Jones you are guilty of running away from your master and absenting your duties. You will be taken from here to the place where you should reside and there be punished in full consideration of the severity of your actions at this time." David tried to sound like a judge passing a long-term sentence.

"Your mother will never allow it!

"I sent her home yesterday, so she will have no say in the matter."

"You can't force me!"

"No? No, and I don't really want to. I would like you to come sort of willingly." Stephanie knew exactly what he meant.

"So if I refuse, you'll set these two on me and they'll drag me away by my hair!" Stephanie was now smiling.

"Yep, that's they way it is, slave. Now get the things you need together and my security staff will escort you to the car to start serving your sentence."

"How did you get up here David?" Stephanie asked.

"With great difficulty," Pete butted in, "And with a little help from his friends."

"And some friend you are Poll. Arranging to have me abducted just when I thought of was free of my slave master." There was more than the hint of a smile when she said it. David was trying to hug her and still balance himself on his crutches.

Monday morning, Stephanie sat gingerly on her seat. "My bum's still tender." She clearly remembered the events of Saturday. The heart stopping moment when David's crutch slipped on the stair and he almost went down. Fortunately Pete caught him. It made her realise the effort David had had to put in to get to her place. Polly and Pete left immediately they arrived at David's home. "Slave Steph, I know I smell but I think we ought to get your punishment out of the way before doing anything else. Help me undress and then strip off yourself and lie across the bed. I wish I could have you over my knee again but that's not practical at the moment. I trust you are not going to resist or run away again. This spanking will wipe your slate completely clean and we can start afresh."

"My God, he did spank me this time. Thirty or forty hard ones but I was determined not to move or run away. I couldn't help crying though. And the way he kept reciting my 'sins' as he spanked. And when he came to my shouting abuse at his mother, he only gently patted me. But, oh was I glad when it was over and he hugged and kissed away my tears. How I wished he could fuck me properly but the best we could do was sixty-nining. Still that was nice and I began to feel loved and wanted again. Good job those cycling mates of his didn't turn up half an hour earlier! I'd just managed to dress and get a pair of his baggy tracksuit trousers on him when they rang the bell and then it was all laughter and making tea and stuff. There wasn't any biscuits left but Ray ran to the corner shop and got a couple of packets. "You can't have morning tea without chocolate biscuits," he laughed. We all laughed too. I expect David, like me hadn't bothered to cook Saturday night and just snacked on biscuits. Poor David, he did seem so exhausted when they all left, that I had to put him to bed and go shopping on my own. He wanted to come, more I think to make sure I came back, but I acted the bossy nurse part and insisted he lie down.

"Everything okay Steph?" Polly's voice brought her back to the present.

"Yes, Poll. Thanks. I think it should be thanks but there are times I sit down, that I'm not so sure." They both laughed and when she looked around the others were laughing too.