~ I Want To Be Where You Are ~
by thatgirlmct
These characters are my original creation and if the thought of two consenting female adults engaging in sex offends you or is illegal where you live stop here.
Content warning: Some chapters may have rape/violence scenes that are depicted.
I appreciate all constructive feedback and can be emailed at thatgirlmct@yahoo.com
Part 3
Kat couldn't understand what had happened between her and Teresa. The moment that she had been dreaming about her whole life had turned into a nightmare. Maybe if she had asked Teresa what she wanted, and not allowed her body to dictate what happened between them kept running through her mind. Kat knew that wanting to be physical with Teresa might of ruined any chance of them being together. It was just like her Uncle said she did everything ass backwards. First start a relationship, get to know a girl and then go to bed. She wished his advice had came into her mind when she was having sex tonight.
Mr. Cantor and the crewman finished work on the bathroom tile and the kitchen renovations and were working on the second floor bedrooms when Kat got back to the work site. Her Uncle upon seeing his niece return rushed to her side to find out her cause for delay in coming back. A worker had said that his niece had left with Mrs. Archer over four hours ago but was suppose to come back after fifteen minutes. The look on his face gave Kat the idea that he wasn't in a good mood about her being out and giving a bad example to the workers.
Mr. Cantor took many of his best workers off other sites to get this one done sooner. When he told them that the house was for runaway girls and other troubled girls there was no negotiating for more breaks or overtime. The men got most of the house done in half
of the time that it would take on other jobs.
"It's five" Mr. Cantor said pointing to his watch.
"And?" Kat looked at him with a blank stare.
"And it's ….." Mr. Cantor snapped back but stopped the beginning of the argument that was starting.
Kat who was too irritated to carry on a civil conversation with any one walked to the back of the office area of the trailer and worked on the blueprints. Mr. Cantor saw the intense expression that was coming across his niece's face. He had to laugh when he saw the grip that she had on the pencil in her hand. The veins were popping out of her arm and her hands were throbbing as she squeezed tight on the pencil as she snapped it into two. The conversation level in the past was usually non-existent when Kat was in one of her moods. Her Uncle learned a long time ago that what ever was upsetting his niece would pass in due time. The aura around her today said that this was more serious than the other times his niece worked through something.
"Did I tell you about Mary?"
"What?" Kat looked up at her Uncle clueless about where this was going.
"Mary was my girl in high school. I told you about her before."
"No. I didn't remember." Kat didn't really care one way or the other about who this woman was. Kat just wished that she and her Uncle could do what they always did when she was upset; let her sulk in a corner.
"You remember I told you how we were about to get married right after high school?" Mr. Cantor saw that he wasn't getting any cooperation from his niece. Kat went back to emerging herself into the blueprints.
Kat hoped her Uncle got the hint that she didn't want to talk about what happened between her and Teresa.
"We talked about going to the same college the first year we got together, but I didn't tell her that I was happy working for my dad doing what I'm doing now. When we were growing up we always talked about leaving town . She had gotten acceptance letters from several colleges including Elwood College, but she had her heart set on Chicago Tech and when she got accepted she was over the moon."
Kat kept on working on the floor plans and renovations as her Uncle told his story. "A few weeks after graduation we were suppose to move closer to her college. I had gone a week earlier and secured an apartment for us and a job at the cafeteria at the university."
"So what happened?" Kat asked hoping that if she acted like she was interested then he would finish his story and stop talking.
"That day we were suppose to hitch a ride with her best friend's boyfriend to her school. We had agreed I would meet them at her parents house at nine. Instead of going to the house I sent your Dad. I didn't have the balls to tell her myself that I was happy here and college wasn't for me."
"My Dad never told me about that."
"It wasn't something he wanted to do. He told me I was making a big mistake but I had to live my life like I wanted to. Doing this makes me happy but it wasn't until I lost her that I realized she was my life."
"You two never got a chance to work it out again? Kat inquired. She tried to remember who the woman was since moving in with her Uncle several women came and went. Then she thought back to the only woman to grace the walls of their apartment and the office.
"She got engaged to Todd her best friend's boyfriend who was suppose to drive us up to her school." Mr. Cantor wiped his cheek intermingled with dust and teardrops.
Kat saw the distraught look on her Uncle's face and not wanting to embarrass him returned to working on the blueprints.
"Get your butt over there and tell that girl how you feel. Or your going to be me twenty years from now." Mr. Cantor walked over to the table Kat was working on. He dragged Kat off of the chair and towards the door. "Get out of here." Looking out the window he saw a truck pulling into the driveway and an older man with gray hair got out of the driver's side of the vehicle.
Mr. Cantor recognized the man, Steve Brown, as being the top building inspector for Elwood. The two of them had worked on several projects together. He walked out the door leaving his niece behind.
"How is life treating you? Mr. Cantor put out his hand to shake it.
"What is this ." Steve asked taking Mr. Cantor by surprise." Steve moved the hand that was prone to him and brought his old friend into an hug. "How have the fish been biting?"
"Not so good. I might have to bite back." Mr. Cantor laughed with Steve.
"Pretty good size project you got going on here." Steve commented on as he glanced over the house.
"Most of the main stuff is done. You wouldn't believe it but the guys are working overtime to get this done ahead of schedule."
"That's impressive your crews are legendary for milking the time clock. So, show me the place. I want to start with the roof and work our way around."
As the two men moved towards the backyard and seeing the half way completed three car garage Steve wrote down on his report.
"You ought to go out on the boat this weekend. Still drink Miller Light?"
"Yeah. Don't tell me that you still have that old piece of sticks holding themselves together?
"Kat burnt and sunk that a few years back. I have a beauty now, come this weekend and see for yourself."
"Sounds good let me check my schedule and I could tell you yes or no."
Steve glanced through the house tour and knew that any project done by Cantor would be up to code. He had went through several inspections with Cantor before and all of them went without any incidence and he knew today would be no exception. Moving towards to the front of the house Steve glanced over at the front of the house and the surrounding ground. "Where is the permit?"
"It should be right here." Mr. Cantor pointed to an empty spot on the wall of the house.
"You know how it works no permit then I have to shut you down you know that."
"It probably was bumped into and is in one of the bushes."
"Do you see it?" Steve asked.
"It's here though. Just not on the door."
"It doesn't matter if it is in a bush or under a stone if it isn't somewhere I can see it your shut down." Steve wrote in his pad.
"You can't shut down the house. This is for young girls. with no families or any one else to care for them. If the house is shut down, where can they go?" Mr. Cantor hoped that his old friend would have sympathy for the project.
"You can't shut this down." Kat shouted as she bolted out the front door heading towards Steve. Her Uncle grabbed her holding her off on the assault on the building inspector.
"Let me handle this. You can only make it worse." Mr. Cantor whispered into her ears. "Go talk to Teresa but don't tell her about any of this." Kat complied and backed off leaving the two men alone outside but seeing their conversation from the living room window.
"I don't want to do this but you know how it works. You and I have worked on enough projects to know."
"But this is different. My guys are giving up their weekends and doing overtime for this. Can't you see how important this is Steve?"
"I know it is. I have a little more pressure than usual to check on this project."
"Why is that?"
I don't want to get into it, but more than a few people would like to see this place not open up."
"Not want to see it open that is nonsense."
"Not everyone wants a place like this in Elwood. The girls are not only going to be runaways but will have records. I know of a few people who don't want them here or anywhere else.
Mr. Cantor had to choose his words wisely right now and he knew it. "Would the one person who has his hand into everything be the one behind not wanting this place open."
Steve didn't want to answer but the silence said to Mr. Cantor about the politics going on in the town. He had heard of rumors of Judge Archer public face of philanthropy but underneath beat a heartless man, who only came compassionate when a camera was in his face. Through the years he had successfully avoided any dealings with the man. He had learned never borrow or be beholden to an Archer as the rest of the town was. The business transaction between Kat and Archer had never effected him before but this house had become a pet project.
"I could say I didn't have a chance to come out here yet. I could put you on the back burner until the end of the week and put a few other sites ahead of you. A word of advice keep a tight crew don't get lax with safety or the work. One little thing out of order and you will be shut down."
"Does his backers know that his daughter-in-law is the one starting the house?" Kat came back out of the house disregarding her uncle's request. "Teresa Archer is the one putting money into this place. You go tell that old fart that if he wants to close this down he is going to have a fight."
"I told you that I would take care of this my way. You just had to do it your way. Now back off or this is going to end up like everything you take care of, with me cleaning it up. I want to take care of it now before you come running to me later." Mr. Cantor yelled.
"Like I was telling your Uncle I don't have any control of the inspection schedules I can only delay and redirect it when the next visit occurs. I don't have to agree with what my job is but I still have to get it done." Steve informed Kat hoping he could avoid having the young woman's hands around his neck.
"We were able to come to an agreement without your input." Mr. Cantor threw towards her the meanest look that she had ever seen in her years of living with him.
"Personally I want to give you as much lead way that I can but I'm not the only building inspector in town and others are in Archer's back pocket."
"We appreciate it don't we Kat." Mr. Cantor looked to his niece to comply with his statement or else.
"Don't thank me. I didn't do anything. I'll call you about my schedule C." Steve shook Mr. Cantor's hand and glanced over Kat as he left the worksite.
"Kat." Her uncle yelled out as she headed into the house. "The crew is going to be your responsibility for the rest of the project I don't want a stray nail giving me an issue. This house is almost done The roof I'll give it just two days more so, put the best men on that one."
"I looked at the blueprints the rooms could be done by end of the week if I bring in some more of the guys."
"Do what you have to."
"You know that I don't want a paycheck. That might relieve a little of the financial strain"
"Who said you were getting paid. I dragged you on the project to get you closer to Teresa and it seems your screwed that up. Since that is done the least I can get out of you is some free labor." Mr. Cantor informed his niece.
Kat didn't know if her Uncle was joking or not but hoping to avoid the whole conversation of her interrupting the inspection left well enough alone.
"You work for the man you know how he is when something gets in his way it either moves or he blows it out of the way. Your going to have to block the Judge and keep him off balance or we can close the doors now."
"It's taken care of." Kat insisted.
"It better be or this place might as well close right now." Mr. Cantor knew when Judge Archer wanted something he always got it.
"I won't disappoint Teresa." Kat put her attention back into reading over the blueprints.
__________________________________________________________
Liz drove as fast as allowed by the speed limit in their state. The whole night seemed like a big nightmare but unfortunately, she was wide awake. She wanted to believe in her friend but she knew that Kat had something do with it. And if she hurt her the officials wouldn't get to her in time before she did.
A shriek came from the back seat as Liz glanced into her rearview mirror and saw her girlfriend cradling the scared woman in her arms.
The three women got to Liz's apartment in record time without a speeding ticket. Liz directed Debra and Teresa to her bedroom and left the two of them to get Teresa ready for bed.
An hour later Debra came out of the room. "How is she doing?" Liz inquired.
"She is sleeping right now."
"Did you find out what is going on?" Liz needed to know.
"She didn't say anything the whole time we were in the room. I did all the talking in there." Debra put her arms around Liz the hug made all of the madness go away for a moment.
"Tomorrow she will probably tell us"
"It's obvious who caused this. That person ……but what else could you expect from someone like…." Debra snapped out.
Liz pulled away she didn't like knowing that Debra was talking about her friend's time in prison. Liz hadn't told her girlfriend about how she had been spending the last five years of her life.
"What's wrong now? Debra pouted
"Nothing."
"After I started to talk about Kat you pulled away. She deserves whatever she gets for treating Teresa this way"
"You don't even know if she did anything to her." Liz felt the need to defend her friend even with her own doubts about the situation.
Teresa's screaming from the room stopped the feuding the lovers. The lights at first startled the young woman but seeing her friend there she calmed down.
"Baby it's alright." Debra and Liz sandwiched the woman in between them.
Liz reached over to touch Teresa and noticed how the woman pulled away.
Teresa rocked back and forth crying crumbled up like a ball.
"Did Kat do something to you?" Debra asked accusingly.
The words could not form but she wanted her friends to know that Kat would never hurt her. Kat would rather give up her last breath than to break her heart. As Debra kept on questioning Teresa, she shook her head hoping she understood that Kat did nothing wrong.
"I am going to make us some tea. How do you like it?" Teresa didn't respond as she continued the repetition of rocking back and forth. Liz looked over at Debra to let her know that she was going to let them have some private time to talk.
"Honey and lemon would be nice." Debra smiled at Liz knowing she wanted to help too but was unsure what to say or do.
____________________________________________________________________
Three mugs of tea sat on the counter as Liz reached into the cupboard for the tea. Her body was on the ends of her toes to get to it that she didn't notice the shadowy figure walking past the kitchen window.
Liz hoped that Teresa wouldn't mind that she didn't have any cookies to go with the tea but right now that would seem trivial she thought to herself. The tray was a little unbalanced but wasn't going to be too hard to navigate into the room before it ended on the floor. Walking towards the bedroom Liz saw something move outside the window. Automatically Liz reached into the drawer and pulled out a dough roller pin. "If you don't have a death wish keep on walking." She shouted out assertively. The words might of came off with confidence but her hands were trembling. The dark figure instead of retreating glided closer to her and as her arm raised up into attack mode a familiar face appeared in the nights moonlight. "I almost killed you."
"Probably would of solved my problems. How is Tess? " Kat asked moving her body into view of the porch light.
Liz shoved Kat towards the kitchen's back door. "Who do you think you are coming and asking about her.?"
"The woman who loves her."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"How is she?" Kat asked again.
"How is she?" Liz snapped. "She hasn't said two words the whole night she just keeps on rocking back and forth. What do you think?"
"I have to see her." Kat pleaded.
"No."
"If it was Debra in there could you just walk away?"
"I don't know what you did or didn't do to her. I just know that girl was whole this morning and right now she is like a broken animal. She hasn't said two words since she came here." Liz paused for a moment and thought about her friend in front of her. "I know you wouldn't hurt her but give her sometime. I will call you tonight and let you know how she is doing.
Kat walked away like Liz suggested and she should of waited for her to call her that night. But she knew she couldn't go to bed not knowing what was going on. Walking to the back end of the apartment building Kat found a bush that gave her a clear view of the bedroom but also concealed her. Kat could see the two women talking but there was an air of uneasiness between them as they talked.
"Hurt me." Teresa cried out.
"Nobody is going to hurt you." Debra moved closer to comfort her.
"He hurt me!"
"I'm the only one here and no one is going to get to you babe. Okay?"
"He hurt me."
"Who hurt you?" Debra needed to know. "When your ready to talk just tell me anything I'm here babe."
"I tried to fight it but I couldn't stop him." Teresa moaned out. Teresa would not answer her and continued rocking for ten minutes without saying another word.
"Who hurt you?" Debra asked again.
"He took me that day for a ride."
"Who?"
" My Gamma died. He kissed my lips." Teresa put her fingers on her lips as disgust covered her face. "The first kiss….. ."
"Tell me who did this and I can help you."
He pulled off my jacket saying it would make me more comfortable. I just made myself pretend I wasn't there. I was with Kat and my Grandmother. I was trembling so hard I didn't even know when my blouse was off and my pants unzipped." Teresa stood up and walked across the room leaning against the window.
Kat moved further into the shadows hoping she wasn't detected.
"Who?"
"I tried to push him off of me." Teresa looked to her to see if her friend believed her.
Debra looked at her to reassure her that she believed her. "I know that you did."
"I tried to kick him and push him away. I screamed louder and tried to get him off of me. The more I screamed it seemed that he was the only one that could hear me." Teresa trembled and stuttered as she talked.
"You tried babe."
"I should of fought harder."
"He can't hurt you anymore."
"Yes, he can. I see him everywhere I go. I feel him in me. Some days I can still smell him on me." Teresa rubbed her arm to scrub the scent of him off of her body Debra wanted to tell her that she didn't have to relive the horrible suffering she went through but she knew that this was part of the healing process.
"There have been days that I scrubbed my skin raw to get the filth off of me."
"Did you try to tell anyone about what was happening?"
"He said that he would hurt her."
"Your Mom?" Debra asked.
"Kat." Teresa hesitated talking but was tired of hiding the past.
Kat heard her unfold the events that had destroyed her life for almost two years. Kat wanted to know who could hurt them and take away so much. The only person who had successfully taken them away from each other was her cousin. The realization that she didn't know about the pain inflicted on Tess and could not protect her was more than she wanted to deal with. She wanted to say that it was done and nothing she could do to change it but she knew it was a crock of shit. She knew the moment that she had met Tess at five she had become her life. Kat wanted Antonio burning in hell and she wished she could join him to make him suffer even more.
"Who did this?" Debra needed to know.
"My cousin."
"You still need to send his butt to hell. I will be here for you but you need professional help too."
"No."
Kat's heart was breaking looking into the eyes of the other part of her soul and she had let her down. She couldn't take another minute looking at her knowing she couldn't protect her. The women didn't notice that they were being observed or when she left the two to continue their conversation between each other.
"Did your Mom know about this?"
"No. You're the first person that I have ever told, but you have to promise that you will not tell."
"I promise this is yours to tell not mine. But I think you should talk to Kat." Debra reassured her friend not knowing if this was for the best.
________________________________________________________________
The bar was quiet even for a weekday and none of the regulars had came in except for Kat. The sullen young woman came in and sat at the bar not saying a word to Bill and placed a twenty dollar bill on the counter.
Bill poured another drink hesitantly into Kat's glass she had assured him that she wasn't going to drive home and he gave in. He had never seen the young woman so distraught like she was tonight. Before at the various bars, he had worked at through the years he had seen her nurse a single drink all night.
"As fast as your downing those drinks you could talk. I'm a great listener. You got girlfriend problems?" Bill thought that he had hit a nerve when he saw the woman flinch.
"Look pour me another drink or I can go somewhere else." Kat said agitated.
Bill hesitantly poured her another drink. Kat had looked on Bill as a second Uncle and didn't want to argue with him. "I just need to work through this on my own okay."
"I been hearing around that your helping your Uncle set up the old Kelly house as a place for young girls."
"Tess is the one organizing the house."
"That scrawny little girl you had running around with you.?" Bill was surprised to hear a name from the past.
"Hey." Kat acted offended.
"Just kidding. She was gorgeous I was just wondering what did she see in you though?"
"I don't know." Kat knew that she was blessed the day that Teresa came into her life.
"You better behave yourself with her or I'll take you out back." Bill made Kat sink further into her seat with his words.
"Get your hands off of me." A female voice shouted out from the other side of the bar.
Both Bill and Kat turned around and saw a young woman being towered over by a big, burly man. The size of the man made perfect sense why no one wanted to interfere with his mission.
Kat looked over and her common sense told her to stay out of it. She had already lost too much by sticking her nose into things that didn't concern her. But her inner sense of right and wrong was touched by the pleading look on the young woman's face.
As Kat got up, Bill grabbed her arm. He informed that he was going to take care of it. By the time reached for his bat and had turned around Kat was already on the other side of the bar standing next to the big man.
Kat tapped the big guy who was other wise occupied on the shoulder. He looked down at this scrawny looking woman standing next to him.
"What you need little girl? There is enough of Nick to go around." He turned around bringing his attention back to the scared young woman.
Bill stood next to Kat hoping that she would listen to him and let him take care of it. But Kat waved him away telling him she wanted to take care of it herself.
Nick talked to her over his shoulder. "I didn't take you for a meat and potatoes kind of girl. You seem more like you would go to the all-you-can eat sushi bar." Nick was the only one that laughed at his joke.
Kat grabbed Nick's arm and spun him around. He was surprised that such a small girl could have so much strength.
"What makes you think that I don't like meat….." Kat said moving her hand down to his genitals. "And potatoes." As she squeezed on them.
Nick gave out a whimper.
"Now I think we need to work on your manners." Kat pulled tighter on his groin area. "How are you doing …?" Directing her attention to the young woman sitting across from her.
"Jackie. I'm okay." The young woman answered.
"Nick I think that you owe the lady an apology."
"I don't see a lady. I just see a whore."
"Most people in your situation would have been polite or said nothing at all." Kat pulled harder on his genitals bringing him down, so he was face to face with her own. He groaned out again. Nick fell over kneeling on one side of his knees.
"I'm sorry." Nick grunted out.
"You said that to fast and low. I don't think the lady heard you. I know I didn't." Kat whispered into his ear telling him what to say.
"I'm sorry…because I am a sorry piece of …."
"You apologized enough." Jackie interrupted him.
Bill grabbed Nick and with some of the male patrons took him outside and made sure he left the premises.
"Thank you…." Jackie wondered who the mystery woman was.
"Kat. I'm Bill and this is Kat. I can walk you to your car whenever your ready." Bill wanted to reassure the young woman of her safety.
Kat noticed that Jackie wasn't listening to anything Bill was saying. "I could walk you to your car if you like."
"Should of known that you would want to hang with a cute thing instead of an old broken down horse like me. Okay. Kat youth won out on age and experience. Behave yourself." Bill rustled his hands through her hair purposely irritating her.
Kat walked the young woman out to her car. "Would you like to go get some coffee?" Jackie asked nervously. Kat closed the driver's side of the car as Jackie placed her hand on top of hers and caressed it. "We could get coffee or go somewhere." Jackie made a bad attempt of flirting.
"Are you even gay?" Kat didn't get a vibe from the woman.
"Does it really matter." Jackie holding Kat's hand in an embrace still.
"You are a little upset. You just had a Neanderthal try to drag you back to his cave. You don't want this."
"He wanted to take something that wasn't his; this is different. I saw you earlier and you looked lonely; we could keep each other company." Jackie threw her a crooked smile.
Kat wanted to hold someone in her arms but it wasn't a random body she wanted. She wished that Teresa wanted her in her bed right now. "I can't."
"I hope she knows how wonderful you are. Your special even if you don't know it." Jackie noticed the confused look coming across her companion's face. Your girlfriend."
Kat bent over and kissed Jackie on the cheek and smiled at her as the car drove out of the parking lot.
_____________________________________________________________________
The Judge was a patient man he even considered life like a chess game, he had already set it in motion. Debra had informed him of all the activities lately concerning his daughter-in-law and her pet project. The house was not going up if he had anything to say about it. The fact of the matter wasn't that he cared if such a house existed or those type of girls lived there. The thing that made it a need to destroy it was that Teresa had wantonly disregarded his request and gone against his wishes. No one ever did that and lived and with a nomination nod coming up there was no need for a scandal of any type. Dismissing the cute blonde the Judge waited for his evening meeting.
Kat knocked on the door but barely brushed it when it opened up and Debra, came out of the Judge's office. Kat gave her a knowing look and greeted her. Debra said nothing but did smile back. Kat hoped she was headed back to the apartment to take care of Teresa.
"Come in your late." The Judge snapped at her.
Kat couldn't believe he yelled at her "You call I come running. Maybe not running, but damn near close." Kat went straight to the well stocked bar it was the only part of the house that was warm and inviting in these dark walls.
"You haven't finished the gazebo and some other things need tending too."
"You called me in on my day off to tell me about a project you know is going to take a month by myself to finish while I'm still working on the rest of the yard." Kat started to get up and open the door.
"Sit down until you are told to leave." The Judge ordered.
Kat knew he owned her but that didn't mean she couldn't attempt a few disobedient moves a year with him.
"Teresa has you working on that house of hers downtown? The Judge asked knowing the answer already.
"And?" Kat wanted him to clarify to her what he was getting at. She leaned back on the chair she was sitting at and raised her foot up on top of the coffee table.
"And I want you to take your time with the house. A lot of things could happen in the next few weeks. Maybe she won't pass code and if you need help I can get Jack to help you get some things done." The judge picked up his phone.
"I don't need help, because I'm not doing anything to hurt Teresa. This project is out of my pocket and has nothing to do with the debt I owe." Kat gave him an defiant look.
"Don't think I don't know what you are doing at that house with her. I can only imagine how Kale is turning in his grave right now. He would be as disgusted with the situation as I am." Kat got up before the Judge could respond and grabbed him by the throat tossing the Judge on top of his mahogany desk.
"Listen to me old man. You own me and I know it. The whole town knows I get one more strike on me and I'm back in. But if you do anything to hurt Teresa or her baby that strike will be me doing you in." Kat didn't want to let go of him.
"Tell me did she give in right away or did you have to get her drunk to get in the whore's pants." The judge said with a leer.
Kat couldn't control the beast inside of her. She only knew that no one would ever hurt Teresa again she made a promise long time ago. Her fist clutched together ready to strike a blow on the old man's flesh when a maid, in her early fifties with an elegant face came in.
The maid seeing the aggressive movement of the brunette upon the older man made repetitive apologies to her for interrupting. The Judge wasn't one of her favorite people since coming to town and seeing him on the receiving end of a lashing was very pleasing to her.
Kat hated that someone was witness to how far her anger could drive her. She backed away from Judge Archer but threatened to hurt him if he came after Teresa or the baby again.
Kat left him alone in the room shaking and sweating from the threat that he knew that she would follow through on.
________________________________________________________________________
After leaving the mansion Kat couldn't get her mind off of Teresa her thoughts led her to her whether she wanted to see her or not.
Kat saw from the street light post she stood by that Liz's apartment was dark inside. Kat picked the lock a skill she had acquired in high school and was one she always appreciated. Liz and Debra laid asleep entwined on the couch as Kat sneaked past them to go into the room Teresa slept in.
Kat looked around the room for an extra blanket to throw on the floor to sleep on. Teresa hearing the noise in her room woke up and was first startled but was welcomed by inviting brown eyes. Kat put her hand on Teresa's arm as the dark-haired woman backed away from the contact.
"I could leave if you want me to." Kat reassured her.
"I don't want you to go." Teresa pleaded not knowing what she wanted from Kat. Part of her wanted to be held and the other part screamed in her head to back away .
"Wait I think I know how to work around this give me a second." Kat brought the blanket she had on the ground up to Teresa's shoulder. The non-contact allowed Kat to come closer to Tess than she had been in years. The two women fell into an embrace intermingling their bodies on top of the bed.
Teresa's deep breathing soon was replaced with calm exhales after a few minutes feeling more secure in Kat's arms. "My baby I have to know how she is doing. Where is my phone?" Teresa jumped up. Thoughts of her daughter rushed into her head.
"She is alright. I went by the mansion before I came over. She is sleeping with rainbows and unicorns or whatever little girls dream of." Kat brought Teresa closer into her arms. "Now go back to sleep. I'm going tell you about my Uncle's boat and what happened to me when he found out I burnt it up. " The insistence of sleep overtook both women before Kat finished her story.
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Kat got the men to do work on the site without any hindrance from the city or Judge Archer. The next time that Steve Brown came to inspect the house everything was in place and the permits stayed posted as was required. Kat wasn't taking any chances that the wind or an assistant of the Judges might find a chance to whisk it away and hired security to watch the property.
Two months, had past and the house was complete with a new kitchen and garage. The backers were impressed but Teresa, who she hadn't seen since the night climbing into her bed had yet to tell her what she thought about the house. The communication between them was through Mr. Cantor and Debra with documents sent and signed with not a word about their night together or the rape. Mr. Cantor was very proud of his niece he knew the main reason that the house was completed in record time was for a certain brunette, who over the past few weeks had been scarce on the worksite. Knowing that bringing up the frosty demure of the young woman towards his niece would be returned with silence, he left it to the fates to fix what ever was wrong.
The past few months were hard on Kat who never had exercised patience in waiting for anything. The carpenter knew that if she ever wanted Teresa back in her life as a permanent fixture she was going to have to give her space. The dedication ceremony was the hardest part for her to see the ebony-haired beauty close by but unable to touch her. Kat took the advice Liz had given her that when Teresa was ready she would let her back into her life.
Teresa wasn't having an easy time of being in close proximity to Kat either. The days had turned into weeks where Teresa debated telling Kat about Antonio and how it affected their night of lovemaking that had turned into a night of tears. The few conversations that the two women had with each other seemed to be neutral and stiff. Teresa figured that Kat probably chalked up their night as another example of why two friends should never have sex.
The whole night Kat felt like she was being watched and seeing Teresa looking away when she turned towards her she knew that maybe there was still a way for them to be together. Kat walked her Uncle into the kitchen and showed him a few of the areas that concerned her about the kitchen cabinet doors that could be done later with no problem.
Preoccupied by the conversation with her Uncle she didn't notice a older gentleman with graying hair at his temples tap her on the shoulder. "Miss. Cantor this is Mrs. Archer the director for the Shoshanna house." The man was one of the donators and didn't realize that the two women knew each other.
"I have already had the pleasure James. Mrs. Archer had came to us to do the house and I had the chance to work closely with her." Kat said the last half seductively that the man looked questioningly at Teresa. Kat saw the discomfort look appearing on the young woman's face. "Along with my Uncle we have got this old place in pretty good shape; wouldn't you say so?" Teresa's facial expression became less tense hearing Kat's recovery of the conversation direction.
"Yes. I can remember coming up here and seeing the property piled up with all the garbage. It had become the local dumpsite." James looked around the room with a smile.
"Well from now on the only thing that will be dumped here is the girls' fears and trouble right at the front doorstep before they walk in.." Teresa reminded him.
"Mrs. Archer you think that I might be able to speak with you?" Kat asked ignoring James standing next to her.
Teresa not wanting to spend time alone with Kat just yet, looked towards James hoping he wouldn't walk away.
"Well I'll leave you two alone." James said backing away.
"That is alright. It's not right to ask you to leave I can talk with Miss. Cantor later."
"It is sort of important." Kat implied seriously.
"Anything to do with the center I definitely can talk about in front of James. I want all the donators to know that they are going to be dealt with straight forward with all matters. I will never have a state review that will try to close the house." Teresa said directing most of it towards James.
"This isn't about the Shoshanna center it's a little personal." Kat emphasized.
"Will you excuse us James." Teresa blurted out hoping Kat wouldn't say anything of a sensitive nature in front of him. Teresa walked away with Kat leaving a curious James behind.
Directing their bodies into a corner away from the rest of the party guest, Kat put her arms around Teresa pulling her into an embrace. Teresa quickly backed away from her not ready for close contact between them just yet.
"I'm sorry." Kat feared she would cause her to retreat more into her shell.
"Don't be. I have been wanting to talk to you, but I didn't know how to go about it. I almost sent Debra the other night to your place for you to come to me when I had a nightmare." Teresa felt embarrassed by her confession.
" Would of came." Kat paused not sure how to continue. "I know I shouldn't of allowed another part of my body dictate what happened between us."
"I don't want to talk about that." Teresa said sternly cutting Kat off.
"Okay."
"The exact words played over and over in my head that I have it memorized but now that you're here. I can't say what I feel." Teresa wrapped her hands around Kat's as she looked around the room to make sure no one was watching them.
"Take your time I'll wait."
"I appreciate you coming back to me after what happened. I don't want to ever talk about what we did in the playhouse, but it was my fault not yours. That you have to know." Teresa didn't want to continue until she got Kat's agreement on the revelation. "I want you here, because the house would of never been opened or been inspired without you. Come to work for me at the center."
"You don't want me. You are going to need someone with a degree and years of experience in counseling."
"The girls are going to need someone who has been where they are at. When their thinking no one can relate you can talk to them and tell them about your experiences . "
"Youth of Elwood guided by an ex-con is not exactly brochure friendly." Kat was uncomfortable with the job offer and the responsibility of guiding young women to their destiny.
"It isn't like your going to baby-sit them I want you to sit in on some groups tell the girls what it was like in prison for you."
"It was lonely and scary." Kat stuttered out.
"That is the most honest statement that I ever heard from you." Teresa squeezed tighter on Kat's hand.
Kat hearing that statement wanted to scream out her undying love to Teresa. "If you keep holding onto my hand like that there isn't much I would be able to say no to."
"Then I'm not going to let go of you until you say yes." Teresa's hold got tighter around Kat's fingers.
"Then yes. I guess if I ever want to feel circulation around my hand again." Kat gave out a laugh as Teresa released her hand.
"Now you know to not mess with me."
"Oh, I knew since high school to not tangle with you." Kat moved her hand towards Teresa's midsection and moved her fingers in a wiggling motion to begin tickling her. Teresa gave a big laugh as Kat's fingers roamed various parts of her body Making the dark haired woman fall into her arms. "This is how it is suppose to be you laughing and happy." Teresa jumped away. "I'm sorry I should of never touched you without your permission."
"That isn't why I pulled away. I am the director of the Shoshanna center and it isn't proper business being seen frolicking around." Teresa said into Kat's ear as she walked back into the house.
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The first groups were awkward and Kat was more nervous than the girls even the ones that were there the first day at the Shoshanna house. Teresa told her to take baby steps and let the girls in on how she coped being in prison for most of her early twenties and how it wasn't something they should follow doing.
Teresa tried to get Kat to accept a salary but the carpenter refused to accept money for helping out around the house. The odd jobs here and there kept Kat in close proximity of Teresa. After a few weeks of finishing repairs, there wasn't much left to been done to the house. Kat found herself changing light bulbs and killing a stray spider to create a reason to be in the house. The girls were never going to complain about having her around. The girls had a champion to destroy any rodent or insect that came in their path and the few that knew their sexual interest was towards the fairer sex had eye candy to look at while she did her repairs.
The evening classes ended early on Thursdays and Kat hated to go back to her apartment alone. This evening a few of the girls had gone to the local video store and picked up a couple movies to watch. The invitation to stay was not hard for Kat to accept when she saw that Teresa was going to join in. Most of the nights Teresa left the house after ten in the evening finishing up paperwork and making appointments with various donators. The ebony-haired beauty sat next to Kat and the closeness of the two women allowed their shoulders and arms to touch. Kat's mind kept wandering on to thoughts of Teresa and the perfume that intoxicated her and off of the film. The girls screamed and jumped at certain scenes in the film but the two women sat still as if they were watching another movie. The girls didn't notice the racing beating of their counselors heartbeats as they cautiously glanced at each other.
At the movies end neither woman wanted to call it a night. The girls went up to their respective rooms after giving their goodnights to the carpenter and their house director.
"So, would you like some help in cleaning up?" Kat asked hoping for a reason to spend more time with Teresa.
"No need it's just a few cups and bowls nothing that two trips to the kitchen won't clear up." Teresa responded back even though she wished she told the other woman to stay.
"Well I just made it one trip for you." She said while taking a couple of bowls and glasses into the kitchen. " Anything else I could do?" Kat flashed her the sexiest grin that sent waves of heat between Teresa's legs.
Hold me and don't let go. Teresa said to herself hoping her face didn't give away her feelings for the carpenter. "No I'm good."
"Well then I'll say goodnight to you unless there is something else I can do for you?" Kat hoped she would tell her to stay.
"Tonight I am expecting a new client and I would appreciate the company. Jamie told me that she is a hard case and that this is her last chance option.".
"You think she is into drugs or worse?"
"The way that Jamie made it sound she was going to be transferred to jail before Jamie gave the suggestion for here."
Kat knew that Teresa was hoping that she would talk to the young girl and set her straight about what her life would be like if she doesn't make changes.
"If I didn't know better I would think that you set the other girls up to get a film to keep me here." Kat half-teased half-asked the surprised woman.
"I only suggested that you liked a good horror film with a lot of blood that's all." Teresa giggled turning her face away knowing she was busted.
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The night air was crisp and Teresa wished that spring would come early as she stood outside. Teresa wondered if it was too late to be taking in a new client, but Jamie said that it was an emergency and there was nowhere else for her to take the young girl. The conversation on the phone had enlightened her to the fact that the new arrival wasn't going to be an easy blend into the household. Kat waited outside with her standing with the nights cool air biting at the tips of their noses. Any other night Kat would of thought that it wasn't a good idea to be with her by herself but the girl that Jamie had called about was not a typical girl. Kat knew she wasn't use to these type of girls and didn't want Teresa taking on a difficult case at this hour on her own.
"How long did she say that it was for her to get here?" Kat was getting sleepy.
"Thirty minutes she just had to pick up some paperwork."
Jamie was the first person she contacted when she knew that she was coming back to Elwood and wanted to establish a home for troubled girls. The thirty-something social worker was a very attractive redhead. Teresa knew that if she ever found other women beside Kat attractive Jamie would have been top of her list. Not that she would ever want anyone else than her tall friend. Forty-five minutes later Jamie's car could be seen coming down the street by Teresa.
Jamie saw Teresa standing on the side of the house and waved at the brunette. The car was slowing down as the passenger side of the car flew open even though the car was still in motion. Jamie at first was in shock at seeing her passenger door open up and the young woman moving out the door. The red head put her hand on the girls jacket allowing her to keep the girl in the car. The movement from the car and the pulling on the clothing made the secure grip on the jacket slip as the material ripped causing the body to roll out of the car onto the pavement. The young woman stood up and ran down the street back the direction that the car had come. Kat seeing that the person running away was the new client and not wanting Teresa to deal with a missing girl before the first night went in pursuit of her. The brunette chased the girl for two blocks through tall hedges and a very pissed off pit bull, who had almost made a snack out of her leg. Several minutes layer and almost catching her the first opportunity that young girl came up close Kat lunged for the girl tackling her down on one of the neighbors lawns. As Kat turned the young girl over she recognized the young face looking back at her.
"So what is up with you running away?" Kat couldn't believe she was looking at Sam the young girl who had stolen her wallet a few months ago.
"Not you again. What do you get off on knocking down young girls?" Sam pushed Kat off of her.
"I'm doing my job."
"Beating up on me? Great job." Sam said sarcastically.
"We're going back to the house. Get your stuff of the ground."
"I don't need this place I can take care of myself." Sam walked away from Kat.
"I can see that you can. That is why I tackled you down twice and your headed to be a guest of the state for a few months."
"Let me walk away and you can tell them that I knocked you out."
Kat laughed at her knowing no one would believe her. The former boxer was a belt holder in her division and a little kid taking the wind out of her would never fly.
"Well tell them that I out ran you."
"Let's take a walk but you have to promise that you won't run" Kat waited for an answer from the young girl that said she at least was going to listen to her.
The two of them went to a park section nestled in between the various craftsman homes that made up the neighborhood. "Why didn't you call your parents and go back home?"
"I'm better off on the streets than there. Look the other way and I can get out of here."
"After this stunt your going back in." Kat could see the look of hesitation on the young girls face. "You got people waiting for you?" Sam didn't respond back. "When I was seventeen I was into a lot of stuff like you. The difference was I didn't get caught until I wanted to. I had a few months to do, but things happened and I ended up doing almost ten years. You get tangled up and you can't stop once the motion has gone a certain way. Now this place could get you grounded and settled. I know the lady that is running this program is real understanding and if you wanted to give this place a chance she might let you stay."
"That was a touching after school special but I got to get out of here."
"Look you little shit, this woman here has a big heart and it is blind to jerks like us. She can get you a warm bed, food and you won't have to look over your shoulder wondering if you'll get shank in your sleep." Kat pushed the girl back down onto the bench as she stood up. "Think about it or your back in forty minutes from now.'
The young woman stared at Kat realizing that she wasn't going to let her get up without her spending time thinking about her options.
Several minutes had passed and Kat waited for the girl to tell her what her decision was to be about the house. "I can give it a few weeks, but I'm not guaranteeing anything."
"Two months and if it isn't for you I'll help you get a ticket to wherever you want." Kat shook Sam's hand and hoped that she wouldn't have to give the girl a bus ticket in a couple month's. The method might not of been one that Teresa would agree on but the result would, definitely make her happy.
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Teresa believed in Kat and knew that she would find the girl, but the escape gave doubts that this place was the right one for her. The last thing she wanted to do was say that the Judge was right and not all people are worth the effort of saving. Jamie did warn her of the rebellious nature of the young girl but she was unprepared for the vision of seeing a young girl fall out of a moving vehicle and roll down the street.
A few minutes later Kat came back with the young girl and was limping as she was walking back.
"Someone would like to make an apology." Kat pushed Sam to the center of the circle that comprised of herself, Teresa and Jamie.
"I'm sorry for scaring you tonight. And I would like to get a second chance?" Sam pleaded.
"Do you think that you will fit in with this program. Not every girl that comes here is meant to be here. I can also find you another house or program if you like." Teresa hoped the girl would give it a try with them.
"I want to give it a try here."
"There are rules and you have to follow them if you don't then I am going to write you up. There is a three strike write-up rule. I catch you slacking off on a chore it's a write up. Don't clean up your room or make your bed same thing after the third offense you are out of here. Did I make the rules clear enough for you?" Sam picked up a shoulder bag and walked towards the house. Teresa got her response to her question from the young woman.
Jamie, Teresa and Kat followed behind her each carrying bags. Kat hoped it would work out for Sam's sake but she knew it wasn't going to be easy. She saw a little bit of herself in Sam, she only hoped she didn't have the same ending.
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THREE MONTHS LATER.
Kat walked into the room not knowing what to expect from the Gay and Lesbian center The hotline operator said that Thursdays were secondary survivor support group meetings at six. The operator had also told her that, Tina Robbins, ran the meeting. Kat wondered if it was the same Tina that she knew as a teenager looking towards a group of women gathered around the refreshment table and in particular at a woman from her past, who still was larger than life.
"Tiny?" Kat called out across the room.
"Slim ? Is that you?" Tina Robbins turned around seeing the best friend she ever had since being locked up.
"I heard the name of the director of the program, but I wasn't sure if it was my Tiny I was going to see." Tiny had a lost a few pounds but her face still had the friendliest smile that was deceptive to unsuspecting people.
"So how has life been treating you?" Tiny asked Kat pulling her to the side.
"Keeping my head above the sh …." Kat didn't finish her sentence when a bell went off on Tiny's phone.
"The meeting is about to start in a couple of minutes." Tiny looked at her phone turning it off. "I see you haven't changed your the same sarcastic pain" She gave a short laugh but cut it short when she saw the sadness in Kat's face. "Tell me who are you here for?"
"A friend." Kat looked around the room not able to look at Tiny feeling ashamed. She had asked the older woman to teach her to fight to protect herself, but she still couldn't protect Teresa.
"Your partner?"
"No. Just a friend." Kat didn't want to get into what had happened the night she found out about the rape.
"Well we're all here to help the women we care about and ourselves because we are also victims in pain. I will introduce you to the group. After that you can tell us what brought you here and about your friend. Now if anything is making you uncomfortable you don't have to go on." Tiny put her hand on Kat's shoulder.
"I don't know if I can talk about what happened to her just yet."
"Whenever your ready. There is no instant stirring and your problem is solved this is going to take a long road. But your friend is very lucky that she could confide in you and you have taken the journey with her.
Kat smiled but didn't want to clarify the fact that she didn't get Teresa to tell her of the attack. The only reason she knew about it was she had been eavesdropping. "Tiny can I ask you how you got into this?"
""After I got out I went to college and received a certificate in counseling for drug and alcohol."
"How long you been clean?
"Five years." Tiny pulled out a poker chip showing a number five on it. The look of pride beamed across her face.
"That's good. How did you end up volunteering here. I think that it's great that you would give up your time to help these women. I just think that it would eat me up to hear total strangers pain." Kat winced.
"Something happened to me after one of my groups let out late one night and for me to heal I had to help others deal with their scars and pain."
"I didn't know that you were a vic .. . I mean that you were a survivor." Kat cleared her throat.
"I know you are thinking that a big girl like me could take care of herself."
"No. I don't know. I just remember you taking on three girls to keep me from getting baptized in the toilet."
"Let's just say I was outnumbered that day I got attacked. I couldn't take on a gun and him. I had to make a choice and I have to live with my decision."
"I know you did. I'm sorry if I made you think that you could of prevented your rape." Kat hoped that Tiny knew she would never want to hurt her.
"Kat after the group I would like to catch up maybe over some coffee?"
"I'd like that." Kat smiled realizing that she hadn't offended her old friend.
Kat didn't know what to think about her group of secondary survivors. The group was small which made Kat happy in not dealing with a crowd. Tiny tried to get her to tell something about herself besides her name, but true to her word she allowed her to participate at her own pace. Jane, a tall red head in her thirties seemed too intense and Diane, a blonde who looked to be in her mid-twenties. started the group off with her question of why her girlfriend would not go out for late night walks anymore.
"You have to understand that she is no longer the person she was before she was raped. She is gone." Tiny explained.
"She still has the same smile, the same laugh." Diane interjected.
"But now she has her thoughts clouded with the memory of what he did and what she did or thinks she shouldn't of did. Each of you have to face the fact that a death has occurred for her as a person." Tiny emphasized.
"I haven't got her to open ……" Kat started to talk simultaneously with Diane. Incorrectly believing the other woman was done. Kat gestured to the other woman to continue.
"I know that she feels that it's her fault but I want to tell her it wasn't anything that she could have or that she did to make this happen to her." Diane finished talking allowing Kat to say something.
"I haven't gotten her to open up about what happened yet." Kat informed the group and grew silent. Shocking Tiny with her willingness to open up in front of strangers.
"Anybody else have anything to say." Tiny hoped Kat would continue to open up.
"At times I have felt at a loss. There's a point where it is hard to know where she is at that moment. It's not a lack of compassion or caring its more understanding what she has been through. I have never been raped." Diane explained
"I want to dig the bastard up and beat him to death." Kat added to the conversation.
"You can't say those type of aggressive things when your around her. I hope your showing more care when your around your girlfriend." The tall blonde interrupted Kat.
"I just told her that I wanted to protect her and that if I had known what had happened then I would of made sure he would have been dead sooner." Kat said angrily.
"Wait did you just say that you killed him? Jane asked sliding her seat further into the corner away from Kat.
He is dead but there was insinuating circumstances that happened and I don't want to talk about it." Kat decided admitting to killing a man let alone her girlfriends rapists was not going to help her therapy. She left it at that and hoped that they wouldn't ask anymore questions.
"I'm assuming that she fell back into her shell." Tiny asked.
"Yeah. She said it was done and that she didn't want me to do anything about it. It made me more mad."
"It's not about you and you have to understand her feelings on this. She was violated and any aggression you show her is just making her live through emotionally again through the attack." Tiny hoped that Kat could understand her girlfriend was going through.
"The first few years I felt like I was losing her because of my lack understanding. I wanted to punch out any guy who looked at her or a phone caller that I didn't know she was getting upset with. I wore every cuss word out and had enough altercations that I almost lost her."
"I'm not out to take on the whole world just the jerk who hurt her." Kat heart was breaking telling the group of her helplessness in taking care of Teresa.
"There are all kinds of therapy and counseling groups for survivors but the secondary survivors have to hold on and be strong. You can't be a rock with the wave crashing into you and not break. Your girlfriends and friends need your support but you need to let go of your feelings of not taking care of her."
"I should of known what he was doing to her there is no excuse. When you love someone you should take care of them." Kat voice trembled.
"Has your friend ever stubbed her toe?" Tiny asked.
"Of course." Kat answered questioning where this was going.
"And were you there with her?"
"No."
"So what made you think that you could of prevented her from getting rape."
"Because she is my life." Kat got up and poured a glass of water for herself off of the beverage table.
"She is in your life. She might even be your life, but you can't live her life. Bad things happen to good people everyday and we have to accept it. This happened in your girls' lives and this makes who they are today but it doesn't have to control them. Can each of you forgive yourselves to help your friend heal?" Tiny looked all around the room hoping that each woman could come to a conclusion that her partners pain was not their fault.
Tiny looked at the tall, red head who didn't say too much in the group. "Jane do you forgive yourself?"
"Yes. I forgive myself."
"Diane do you understand that you could do nothing to prevent what happened. You could of easily been the one that they had attacked. Minutes only separated you being the one they had hurt. Can you forgive yourself?"
"It should have been me." Diane wiped tears falling down her cheek with her shirt sleeve.
"But it wasn't. None of us can relate to their pain and we're just tagging along on the ride. Maybe I couldn't prevent it but I should of taken better care of her. She is more worried what he is feeling. Now that I can't forgive myself for." Kat snapped at Tiny.
"Once again I want you all to know that aggression doesn't make her feel better. It isn't because she sympathizes with the assailant, but is that she doesn't want you injured or arrested because of her. She is protecting you her lover not him you need to remember that."
"I don't think she is protecting him. I think she knows I am unworthy to take care of her. If I can't watch over her will I lose her to a man who can protect her when they go out. Will I always have to go into bulldog mode just to keep and eye on her?" Kat worriedly asked.
"No. She isn't going to turn to a man to seek protection, You can reassure her that you will be there by listening to her when she wants to talk about what happened. Don't judge her, always believe whatever she says happened. I don't want any of you to ever ask your partner why didn't she do this or that when talking about the attack. This was never her fault and questions of that nature will just make her think that you are judging her. " Tiny looked around the room hoping she got through to all the women.
After the meeting, Kat and Tiny went for coffee and talked about life out from the bars.
"Have you ever tried talking to her about what happened with her cousin? Tiny inquired.
"She hasn't told me anything yet. If I wasn't a big nosey bug I wouldn't know this much."
"How is the intimacy between you two? Does she let you hold her without sexual contact?
"I haven't touched more than her hand in the last few months. I keep thinking she is going to break like a porcelain doll."
"She won't break. Start a conversation about what had happened that night her memories were triggered. See if she will talk. If, not let it go but this way she knows that your concerned and willing to listen."
"Is there anyway that you could come over and have dinner with us one night?"
"And do what ambush the poor girl?" Tiny couldn't believe the request that Kat had made.
"I don't want to ambush anyone. I want someone near when I bring up what happened and she has one of those… What was that called?
"You mean a trigger."
"Yeah, that. I can't talk about having sex and then have her go back to rocking and shaking without saying a word for weeks again." Kat pleaded with Tiny.
"I would have to think about it." Tiny reassured her that she would give it some thought.
"Fair enough." Kat got a little nervous with the next question not really sure how she should ask it.
"You know that a total stranger picking at her brain might scare her off and she might not be ready to talk to me yet."
"Is that how you felt after it happened? Kat finally got enough courage to ask what she had avoided most of the night.
"I was wondering when you were going to finally ask me what happened." Tiny saw the uncomfortable frown on Kat's face. "I had a client that wasn't getting enough attention or at least this is what he was telling me before it happened. A few patients get attached to me because I am their link to sanity and sobriety."
"I'm sure that made you real uncomfortable? Kat still couldn't believe this woman had been hurt by a man.
"It does sometimes. I can tell your still trying to wrap your head around this happening to me. How did Tiny end up being a survivor?"
"You definitely are the last part. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I didn't believe in you." Kat placed her hand next to Tiny's hand.
"You haven't." Tiny squeezed Kat's hand in hers. "Bad things can happen to anyone at anytime and my timing was off that day. I'm a perfect example that physical strength doesn't guarantee you won't get raped it only cuts down the chances."
"I understand that."
"Some of the counselors I went to made it seem like it was a good thing that I had this happen once they found out I was an lesbian."
"Narrow-minded jerks."
"The gay and lesbian center was the only place that helped me understand what happened."
"Sorry that you had such a hard time."
"You haven't told me how you found out about your girl but no one told you. How is that possible?" Tiny wondered if her old cell partner was now a psychic.
"Standing in bushes and away from street lamps you can find out a lot of information."
"Now I know not to talk near a bush without a lot of lighting." Tiny teased.
"Her cousin got me locked up and did all this to her and I didn't know about it until now."
"She doesn't know that you know., right?"
"Only her best friend is the only other living person who knows. So I can't tell her anything."
"Okay coffee and I pick the time and place I'll let you know later." Tiny saw that Kat was sincere.
"White mocha java on me."
"I'm more of a frappucino type girl."
"Whatever you want and I'll even throw in some muffins.
.
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Later that night Kat met up with Jack and Kim at the apartment to do work for the Judge.
Kat waited at the apartment behind the mirror while Jack and Kim arranged for them to pick up the mark for the nights fun.
The apartment that the Judge had set to look like it belonged to Kim was decorated in splashes of floral and pink pastel, which were her favorite patterns, throughout the home. The place fit the image of a young up and coming woman in her first apartment. The two mirrors in the bedroom had cameras behind them and surround sound allowed the events in the bedroom to be viewed by whoever was in the other room. Judge Archer also had satellite surveillance put in the house so, that he could see the dalliances the moment they happened sitting comfortably across town.
The mishap that occurred at the motel a few months ago was not going to be repeated. The gunshot Kat had endured wasn't severe but was a wake up call to putting a tighter lid on the operation.
Kim posed in her negligee hoping to excite the young man she was entertaining. The man had dark handsome features and was better looking than the others before him. The expression on his face showed that he was totally into her and not into anything else. Kim wished that she could absorb herself into the moment too, but she knew what was behind the wall and mirrors. In the past having Jack and even Kat seeing her having sex was becoming a numbing experience until recently.
Kat looked through the two way mirror her eyes couldn't stay on the subject and Kim kissing. The first time she had seen Kim having sex with a stranger she threw up feeling guilty that she watched and did nothing to stop it. Kat was owned as much by the Judge and any rebellion would lead her back to prison, which she didn't want.
Jack watched on as his girlfriend kissed and touched the half naked man in the bed. He didn't care if she slept with another man while he watched secretly it turned him on. Kat looked at him with a frown seeing the excitement in his eyes and his Reddening cheeks. The embarrassed man turned away from Kat and looked down checking the time on his watch. Jack moved to a chair sitting down cleaning his shoes hoping Kat would stop looking at him.
Kim kissed the young man she had picked up at a bar, that the Judge said he frequented. The flirtation didn't take long before he took the bait. Kim saw the suntan line on his ring finger and realized that he had took it off for the night. He had introduced himself as Jack which she found ironic the man lied about being married and changed his name. If, he didn't deserve what the Judge had in store for him before she sure thought he deserved it now.
The lights went dimmer as Kim turned on some mood music. The flowing negligee that she had slipped on revealed every curve of her body. The second Jack couldn't take his eyes off of her and his lower body response encouraged Kim to pull out a couple of colorful scarves out of the drawer.
Kat looked on as the young man allowed Kim to tie him up. Jack glanced over to the camera to make sure it was capturing everything. He quickly turned his attention back to the action in the bedroom. Kat couldn't believe that she saw the obvious arousal in Jack's face the whole thing sickened her. The nights meal was doing a tap dance in her stomach and every inch of her skin felt like it was crawling.
The blonde kissed the tied up man down his body sliding his underwear off with her teeth. Knowing the obvious thing that was about to happen as she moved down between his legs. Second Jack couldn't take the excitement and closed his eyes in anticipation of her consuming him. The blood flowed into his ears as the loud boom sound of the bedroom door crashing onto the ground slapped him into a cold reality.
Two figures hovered over him, one male and the other female.
"So, you like being in the pictures?" Jack laughed at his own joke.
"What?" Second Jack didn't understand what was going on. "Look if you want money I have plenty just don't hurt the girl."
The female of the group was helping Kim put her clothes on. At that point Second Jack realized he was being set up.
"You catch on quick." Jack moved his body in the line of view to block his view of Kim and Kat.
Kat picked up the camisole and wrapped it around the small blonde. "You don't have to do this anymore." Kat said it low enough that the two men wouldn't hear their conversation.
"The Judge is the only one, who gets to decide on that." Kim reminded her.
"I have some money saved we could go and the Judge would never know where we wert" Kat showed her wallet hidden in the lining of her jacket.
"What about Jack?"
"He can go to hell for all I care. He has let this go on too long. No more. I should have put an end to it before." Kat saw the hesitation in the woman's eyes. "I care a lot about you and I am going to take care of the Judge. He hurt too many people I care about."
"Like Teresa?"
"Don't say her name."
"If we go are we lovers or what?" Kim wanted to get away but if she could have Kat too then she was willing to fight for her.
"I can't promise anything but know that I will protect you from Jack, the Judge and anyone else. Is that good enough for now?" Kat wasn't ready to give up on Teresa yet, but having the young blonde out of harms way was the first step in getting things right in her life.
Jack was busy digging through second Jack's wallet that he didn't notice the exchange of words between the two women. He recognized the flushed look on Kat's face and knew that his suspicions about the brunette were correct. Jack wasn't jealous of her sleeping with his girlfriend he was just upset that the two of him never invited him in to join them. He made a mental note to himself to inform Kat that if she wanted to keep on sleeping with Kim she better start working him in for future dalliances.
Kat hoped Kim would leave with her right then without any hesitation. The blonde didn't respond back either way to Kat. The ringing of her cell phone took her off of her next question. Seeing that from the Caller ID that it was Teresa. "It's a little late everything alright." Kat asked knowing that the brunette usually called it a night at around eleven o'clock. The other side of the phone was silent.
"They took her." Teresa cried out.
"Took who. Who." Kat was confused about who took what or who.
"K.K. they have her."
"Tell me who has her." Kat was out of the apartment door leaving behind a confused Kim and Jack wondering where she was going.
"I don't know. They left a message to not call the cops or they'll hurt her." Teresa's voice sounded hoarse from crying.
"Where are you?" Kat drove her car out of the parking lot leaving tread marks on the pavement.
Teresa went on to tell Kat about coming home and not finding K.K. in her nursery. The staff said that they heard nothing and no strangers had came on the property. Kat had inquired about the Judges whereabouts for most of the night and found out that he was in meetings all night. He was not yet notified that his only grandchild was kidnapped.
Kat arrived at the mansion and read the note that Teresa handed to her. The message was typed out and had no distinguishing marks or designs on it. It said tell no one.
"Has anyone else seen this?" Kat asked showing the note back to Teresa.
"No." Teresa answered pacing back and forth on the carpet.
"I'm contacting the police." Kat pulled out her cell phone that quickly fell to the ground when Teresa knocked it out of her hand.
"The note said not to notify them." Teresa pleaded.
"We don't know how long they have had her or if their even in town anymore." Kat reasoned with the distraught Mother.
"No police. Use a favor or whatever but find her Kat please."
Kat looked at Teresa's face and saw that she was dying a little bit with each passing second away from her baby. "I'll call in a few favors, but if I don't get back to you in two hours call the police. You have to promise me or it's no go."
Teresa pulled her into her arms and whispered. "Thank you."
Kat left the young Mother alone in the room staring at K.K. 's favorite bear.
Kat had promised that she would find the young child but she truthfully didn't know where to start. She didn't want to alarm Teresa but the more time she was gone away from her Mother the harder it would be to find her.
All of the servants had went to bed and the only activity in the mansion outside of the nursery was the library. A light could be seen coming through the door frame. Kat walked in and found the baby's nanny sitting alone in the room. The staff knew that the Judge's library was off limits and the only staff allowed in was the maid. Kat closed the door and startled the woman as she entered the room. She knew that her being in the room and not showing any signs of worry about her young charge was out of the ordinary. Teresa hadn't told the staff about K.K. 's kidnapping, but the nanny was the first to be asked by the young Mother on the time she had put the baby down for bed. Kat's attention was solely on the woman sitting that she didn't notice that they weren't alone in the room.
Kat looked over and found that the nanny had been in a conversation with the Man of the house Judge Archer.
Continued...