~ 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 4
Ten minutes before:
Kat tried to comfort Teresa but nothing would console her until K.K. was back in her arms. Kat looked around the room to see if anything was out of place. The nanny after being questioned by both women had left to go to her room. Kat noticed the scrutinizing look on the woman's face as she took short glances at both women. The nanny had known of the closeness between Teresa and herself seeing clearly and realizing for the first time the disproval on the woman's face whenever she saw K.K. with her. The knowledge of the child's kidnapping was disturbing but the behavior earlier before of the older woman was even strange for her. Kat continued her conversation with Teresa about the arrangements to do as the kidnappers had requested, keeping a constant eye also on the nanny.
The nanny excused herself for bed, Kat followed her into the library and found her talking to the Judge. "Mrs. Archer was hoping to have a word with you before she went to bed." Kat lied knowing that Teresa had already spoken with the woman but clearly her intent was received by the nanny. The woman walked out of the office and left the two of them alone.
"Good evening Kat what do I owe this visit to?" Judge Archer smirked
"I almost wanted to ask you why your not curious about the activity in the mansion. But you already know your Granddaughter is missing?"
"She should be laying in her bed right now."
"You already know that she is not." Kat had enough with his games the time to call in all her chips was now.
"The nanny is not one to share too much information with me, but she did tell me that my daughter-in-law had left her all day in her care. But when Teresa took the child a few hours ago that was the last time she had seen her here in the mansion."
"You have her!" Kat was inches of leaping across the room and pouncing on top of the old man. "I'm tired of this with you calling all the shots. by this time tomorrow everyone will know what a son of a bitch you really are. All the photos I have and paper trail of blackmail will lead the news to your doorstep."
"You have all the payments placed in accounts with your name and Kim's, there is nothing that connects me to your criminal pursuits and entrapping those men."
"There is no way I could set up an operation like this without help. I have documents that will be in every news outlets box by morning if K.K. isn't put back in her mother's arms tonight." Kat flashed a few incriminating photos for him to see.
"Kim is such a lovely girl." Kat watched Judge Archer's tongue suck on the top part of his teeth. "Tell me is she as good in bed as she looked in those videos?"
"Leave her out of this." Kat reached for the office phone and handed it to the Judge. "Get her back to the mansion now."
Kat looked into Archer's eye a sweat bead twinkled down his brow.
"Start dialing." Kat shouted nervous from the delay he was taking in doing what she had requested.
"How is Teresa taking it? " Kat just looked at him not sure of what to say back to him. "Very complicated girl. Uh! woman. Kale had very good taste, I should ask you about what makes her moan."
"You have something up your sleeve say it. But you can't bluff me on this anymore." Kat had enough of this cat and mouse game of his.
Judge Archer opened up his desk drawer Kat reached over the desk and placed a hand on the drawer. "Don't worry I'm not going to shoot you. I don't want to end up behind bars like you did."
"Hate to tell you this but by this time next week your appointment book will be full with latrine and kitchen duty work."
"I wouldn't count on it." Judge Archer said.
The libraries bar was the center point of the room and the Judge made a bee line to it. Pouring himself his customary two finger glass of scotch. The liquor was kept chilled at the bar at room temperature; even though, he made sure that the room was always set at eighty degrees, he like to see his guest in his office sweat he often told Kat. His stubby fingers grasp the glass sharing an odd similarity to sausages frying in a pan. "You might want one of these."
Kat didn't want to take him up on his offer she wanted her wits to be with her in case he tried anything. The main concern she had was the fact that he seemed over confident and she was worried that it had something to do with the letter in his hands.
"I told you to get K.K. back here now!"
"What is your hurry? I want to have a man to man conversation with you so to speak." Judge Archer laughed.
The slip of wording Kat knew was in reference to her appearance that had always deceived anyone looking at a slight glance but careful observation always gave away her true form as a woman.
"No more talking. Get the kid here now." Kat was to frustrated to carry a conversation or play games any further.
"The thing about my daughter-in-law is she likes you a lot." Judge Archer caressed the paper in his hand. "She wanted you in K.K. 's life and she knew I would never accept it."
"Just tell me what you have there." Kat wanted to know but at the same time she wished she could leave the unknown just that.
"Teresa thinks a great deal about you. She wanted a record of her feelings for you to be given to K.K. if she were to pass away any time soon. I quite enjoyed reading it late last night."
"Stop playing these games."
" In the end I'm not the one that will be in custody."
"Lying is not going to get you out of this." Kat had enough of this. If, he thought that she was scared of serving anymore time he would soon know of her conviction to Teresa. Kat knew with her record and all the evidence that she clearly was involved as the Judge. She wouldn't get out until she was old and gray. The chance to work on building a relationship with Teresa would be non-existent now. The first time she had to let Teresa go unwillingly, she didn't know if she had the strength to do it again. "I will gladly serve anytime they give me just to get that smirk off your face.
"Shame you don't invoke the same type of loyalty from her." He glanced at the paper.
"Just tell me what you have and I can tell you that there is no validity to whatever you have on her. I'll just say it was all me and I'll be the only one to take the fall." Kat had seen the old man's cockiness many times before when other marks came storming in loaded with a gun or attitude and went running out of the library with their tails between their legs. This time she was on the receiving end of his maneuvers. The end of her skin felt like it was being pinched by icicles as she waited for his next word.
"You'll leave this office and not bother my daughter-in-law, excuse me I meant to say Teresa again. When I first had read the document I didn't know what to do with it, to a neutral party it would seem like an instruction of care for my grandchild." The small yellowish paper written with the most delicate hand twirled in between his fingers. "It took me three readings to get its full meaning." Archer showed the parchment to Kat her hands shook as she read the paper. It was the first time in her life she let someone see her tremble.
I'm not scared. I'm rich and something you need to learn now. In the game of life money always wins." Judge Archer said. "I'm different from you I play for keeps."
Kat walked out of the office never saying a word to the servants as she ascended the stairway to Teresa's room. She talked to the young Mother and comforted her and explained that she had to talk with some informants about K.K.. Kat had partially told the truth on that she needed to get a search out for the small child, but earlier after the phone call from Teresa she also had received a second call came from her Uncle. He had informed her that an employee from the Shoshanna house was trying to reach Teresa but she wasn't answering any of her phones. Out of desperation the overnight staff worker phoned Kat's house and left an urgent message to have Teresa get to the center as soon as possible.
Kat called on her cell phone to the Shoshanna house "I'll be there but Mrs. Archer will be staying in." Kat informed the newest addition to the staff team.
Teresa overheard the conversation and wondered if she was talking to the kidnappers.
"I'm going I just need to get my coat."
Kat thought that she was talking low enough and didn't want Teresa to think about anything else but K.K. "No. I'm going by myself. Something happened at the center and I'm just going to drive by it and I'll give you a full report in the morning, but you need to get into bed."
"How am I suppose to sleep." Teresa had put on her jacket and was halfway out the door. "Don't argue with me; the counselors wouldn't of called if something wasn't wrong. I am still concerned about all the girls welfare." The girls at the house were her surrogate children.
"I know."
The last thing that the young Mother separated from her child needed was the minor details of a business that could be handled by the staff. Kat had felt that if they had more experience the women would know to not call the director over minor details. As she drove to the house, she could see turning into the beginning of the street; Teresa's dreams shattered and painted over with hate and ignorance. Elwood was not a melting pot of mob mentality and destruction Kat had to keep reminding herself as she stepped out of her car. The cracking of pieces of glass covering the driveway played a sad melody with each step she took towards the front door. Turning towards the house Kat and Teresa saw the full clear magnitude of the hate. Scratched across the garage doors in horrible crooked lettering the word "bitch" stood the expanse of the free standing building.
After fruitlessly searching downstairs for the girls Kat's mind ran off on them being taken by the Judge as K.K. had. The expanse of the hate nor control he had would never of excused him as the perpetrator of such a crime she thought to herself. Each room laid encroached in darkness which was the befriended of all, who attacked innocence. The young hearts of the girls already crushed by those closest to them didn't need to know that the world held more sinister things, that had the original goal of the Shoshanna house. Kat and Teresa heard slight whimpers escaping through the hallway walls racing towards them and hoped that this would lead them to all of the girls. The frightened girls huddled close together, whose eyes softened once they saw their friend Kat walk into the bedroom. The only one who didn't look like she wasn't terrified was Sam. The young girl in the early minutes during the ruckus had seen the men vandalizing the house and organized all the other young women to go to a room upstairs, not realizing it would be her room. The staff in the house were sitting in their office when the men pulled up to the house. Sam kept a visual on the activity as she went to notify the staff of the impending trouble outside. Taking a detour to the office Sam went into the kitchen and picked up a carving knife placing it safely inside of her robe.
With the sudden reunification of some girls with their families the house had found the remaining girl's staying at the Shoshanna in their own private rooms. The events of the night had led each girl to huddle into the one room that most of the residence would have shuttered at the thought of entering let alone stay in the day before. Sam's bedroom was a attic transformed with a skylight and herb garden off the balcony door that Sam had planted herself. The teenager had given a slight glance into her self one day to Kat, remembering the youth saying she liked to tend a garden and herbs picked up a variety of seeds not quite sure which one the usually rebellious teen would want. The only remaining remnant from the previous lay out was the small lighthouse window that faced away from the street but still gave ample view of it.
Each girl ran to Kat along with their counselors. "Girls are all of you safe?" Kat looked over each girl from head to toe reexamining bruises that still showed a crimson color to them, but each mark was well aged she noticed with closer observation.
"I was just getting ready to check outside to see if any of them still were lurking around." Sam announced going out the bedroom. Sam glance back towards Kat.
Kat signaled to Teresa to stay with the other girls and staff. "Get back in with the rest of the girls I'll check out the grounds." Kat held the young girl from progressing further out of the house.
"And let you have all the fun. No way." Sam gave a smile that actually let her face reflect a definite attractiveness, that if she used it more the other girls would of buzzed around her all the time.
"Once again I'm the adult and you're the kid." Kat knew it was pointless talking this way.
"Alright you're the adult and I'm the kid now let's go see if we can kick some ass." Sam pushed past the taller woman. Kat knew there was no way to talk her out of it and joined her downstairs.
The two of them searched each building seeing only paper and broke glass but no one hiding in a corner waiting for a little girl to pounce on or at least what Sam kept saying repeatedly to Kat. The imagination of the girl showed she needed to get out more often. Kat made a mental note to herself to spend more time with her.
Kat had gotten each of the counselor's to agree to not to tell Teresa about what was going on at the house and to talk to her if they had any concerns. The stress of the night weighed heavily on each of the girls' faces and Kat asked Tiny to come help clean with them and to talk to the girls in a casual setting. The plan was a sort of mixture of sweep up glass tell me what your feeling now, scrub out graffiti spill your guts. And are you going to have nightmares tonight about this stuff?.
_______________________________________________________________
The graffiti covered up the entire garage with bright lettering of "bitches" written out on the front doors. Kat had went to the local hardware store and spray painted the door to blend with the word. Teresa had never seen such cruelty directed towards anyone at this degree in her life. The few years that she had lived on the streets she had been kicked while she slept and had piss water tossed on her when she had asked for some food.
Even with all those cruel things that happened to her didn't make her give up on the human heart and its capacity to love. The home should have been a haven for the girls but instead was turning into a hell hole. Teresa refused to let the girls think that they had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. The block party the girls had planned was going to have to unite the neighbors or she was going to have to find somewhere else for the girls to live.
Glass laid all across the grass and front porch as Teresa tried to sweep up as much as possible before the sun came up. But the light from the front street light wasn't enough light to see the broken glass. The top roof of the front porch wiring hung down like strands of spaghetti. Teresa wondered what would they have done to the girls if they had come in the daytime or a regular Friday when everyone was awake, This night was an unusual one with the entire household already resting. Luckily the monthly clothes drive at the church fell on the day they decided to destroy the house. Teresa made each girl volunteer to wash and fold the clothes to get them ready for the donation room. The grumbling from the girls as she loaded them up into the van still played in her mind, no one enjoyed giving up their Friday nights but she knew it would build their character and self esteem. The days activities made each girl crawl into bed by eight tonight instead of the usual movie night or going out on a date.
Teresa cleaned it up the best she could with the minimal light and made a decision to continue in the morning sweeping the remainder of the glass. Moving the broom towards the dust pan, the motion from the broom knocked the upright dust pan over unto the ground.. Her attention was completely on getting the dustpan off the ground that she didn't notice the person come up behind her or their companion. The shadows bouncing off the house walls alerted Teresa that she was not alone and that she might be in danger. Teresa wanted to scream out for Kat to come to her aid but the words wouldn't form out of her mouth. Backing away hoping to get inside of the house Teresa was blocked by a hand placed on her shoulder, fear made her feel as if she had five tons of cement inside her shoes.
"There was a lot of glass on the ground?" Kat moved closer allowing Teresa to see that it was just her, her body trembled from Kat's touch .
"Are you alright?" Tiny added "I'm fine I'm just going go to the bathroom." Teresa saw the way the two women looked at her with a hint of pity in between their smiles.
Inside the house, Kat and Tiny waited in the living room for Teresa. Tiny had pre-discussed it with Kat that when the time came to have the talk with Teresa, Kat had to stay to the side and say nothing.
Teresa looked at how both of the women stared at her. Checking to see if her shirt had a rip or if she was bleeding after neither seem to be the case she couldn't take it any more. "What is it? Do I have a booger hanging off of my nose or something?" Teresa hoped they would give her a clue into what they were thinking.
Kat decided at this time to get coffee for them leaving Tiny and Teresa time to talk.
Teresa sat down next to the counselor on the loveseat. For some reason Teresa's mind wondered off to why was the loveseat called a loveseat. It wasn't like she had sat with a lover ever in one, and this Tiny woman definitely wasn't her lover. Though Kat could be one she thought. What was she thinking? She chastised herself. She was Mrs. Kale Archer director of Shoshanna house and her daughter was just kidnapped probably by her Grandfather. But the ramblings in her mind was something; anything if they took her mind off of Antonio.
Tiny noticed that she had calmed down since coming into the house, but she still remembered the look of fright on her face. "Everything okay?"
Teresa nodded her head hoping that she would change the subject. She had been frightened by the two of them walking up to her in the dark, but it was nothing to make a whole conversation on.
"I know that running this incredible place must put a lot of stress on you. If you need anyone to talk with, I have a great set of ears. In case, Kat didn't tell you besides being a teacher I'm also a drug counselor, family therapist and also serve on the survivors hotline."
"Survivors?"
"Survivors of rape. I help people deal with anything they think they can't handle. Or to just hear another voice on the other side of the phone. "
"Well if you have some aspirin and some coffee in that magic bag beside being tired there is nothing I need help with." Teresa pondered talking to the older woman but didn't know if she was ready to talk about the nightmares she was having since Antonio's death.
Tiny decided to let Teresa talk to her on her own time, Kat was going to have to be more patient with getting the young woman to open up. Kat seeing that Teresa was sitting on the sofa instead of the loveseat next to Tiny knew that something had happened. A look from Tiny 's face told her that she didn't get any new information from the ebony-haired beauty. The two women carried a silent conversation with physical gestures and clearing of their throats all of which went unnoticed by Teresa who sat shipping on her coffee. Kat knew that she cared to much for Teresa to want to push her into anything she wasn't ready for, it didn't matter if it was a relationship or of telling her about what Antonio did to her.
Teresa sensed something going on between the two friends but she wasn't sure that it had anything to do with her. The days since Kat had been locked up Teresa had wanted to have one minute shared where she could be completely honest with the brunette. About her feelings for her and about Antonio taking advantage of her for years before his death. The one person she should have been honest with was the one person she didn't want to disappoint.
______________________________________________________________________
Two hours later, at a dinky motel on the outskirts of town Jack and Kim took up residence in a room. The two had requested a non-smoking room, but were given one that smelled like someone had smoked their socks in the room. The room walls contained aroma intertwined in a dance with the paint and smoke. The roach infested room was a far cry from the apartment that the two shared in town. A call a few hours ago had drawn the pair out into the night to pick up a package that was all the Judge had told them. He said for them to come alone and as quickly as possible. The shock of seeing a sleeping infant in the Judge's arms almost floored Kim. She had wondered why Kat had stormed off during their conversation earlier in the night. The person on the other side of the phone was obviously Teresa and what ever she had told her made the brunette bolt out of the apartment like a bat out of hell.
A few minutes later, the Judge told them that he needed to leave his grandchild with them for safe keeping.
Jack only agreed to take the child when the Judge told him that there wouldn't be any charges brought against him or Kim if they got caught. The blonde looked at the baby lost about what to do with the diaper rash medicine. The two would be kidnappers flipped a coin on who would take care of the day to day needs of the baby; which the blonde lost.
The two adults sniffed up their noses realizing that they were given a special delivery by their little guest. The smell of the diaper made them forget about the stench seeping through the rooms walls. Kim covered up her nose with one hand as she took the diaper off with her other. The blonde tore two diapers elastic bands off before she got the third one to snap, the diaper ended up soaked with baby lotion that was knocked over as K.K. tried to crawl away. Kim looked down at her handy work a strap from the first diaper lay on top of the third one's elastic smeared with the lotion. The second diaper served as the holder of the bottom half of K.K. and was bulky with flaps hanging out. The picture came close to a kite attached to a kid's string than to any diaper that had been on any infants bottom before. Kim never in her life had a chance to spend time with a child let alone with an infant. While other teenage girls were making extra money babysitting, she was helping her father as a gopher in his accountants office. The only child born to older parents she didn't get the chance to interact with other children.
The softness and sweet smell of K.K. swept Kim up into fantasies about her and Kat raising their own family. Domesticity never was a dream of hers before she went away to prison, before that the long hours at the hospital left little time for a social life. An occasional dinner here and there, out at a restaurant was the closest she came to a home cooked meal. Since the offer by Kat to run off together she thought about what it would mean to be a wife and mother, Jack was fun but it was never going to be an forever kind of relationship. Kat seemed at times ready to settle down and seeing the young woman in the past few months with the child made her realize that what was missing in Kat's life was a family. Kat had said that there might be a chance to be together and that she would not close the door on them just yet. The crying from the small child brought her back to reality, if Kat ever found out that she had took K.K. from her beloved Tess, she would never love her. The ending in the next few days could only go two ways with Kat running off with her or her despising her for a lifetime. The latter was the one thing that she could not bare, but how was she suppose to go against Jack and the Judge without repercussions.
"Well now that you got that kid down for the night I'm going to get some things for the little tyke. Whatever was in the diaper bag will be gone by the end of tomorrow and I don't want to be out shopping when the evening news and papers have a bulletin out on her." Jack picked up his car keys.
"You think he wouldn't want her back before tomorrow?" Kim worried about what Kat was going through.
"He might give me a call and tell me bring her back tonight or we might never get the call, and we have to put her somewhere for safe keeping for the next eighteen years."
"Eighteen years?" Kim looked down at the bundle of joy wrapped up in a blanket in the makeshift cradle that was the bottom dresser drawer. The thought of having a baby and raising her with Kat seemed like a very appealing idea.
Jack saw the glint in the little blonde's eye. "Don't think that your going to present this kid to Kat, and she is going to let you raise it. And even if she did let you keep the baby, there is no way in hell the Judge is going to let that degenerate within ten feet of that child."
Kim didn't want to defend Kat too much for fear of her expressed affections would alarm him. Jack never was a monogamous man nor a love 'em and leave them kind of guy either, he might not of ever said the 'L' word to her but his caring showed through his tough exterior. The break-up wasn't going to be smooth, especially when he found out about the two women running off together.
Kim watched the big guy walk out of the room and drive off. The urge to call Kat shook her up, staring at the room's phone she had to chastise herself to do what the Judge asked and not follow her heart. The constant battle to dial raged on for a few more minutes, as she stared at the dialer. The only thing that broke her concentration off the room's phone was the ringing of her personal cell phone. Kim saw the Caller ID with Kat's name and number, not knowing what to do she let it ring a few times before it stopped. Ten minutes later the phone rung again and seeing that it was Kat she hesitantly picked it up. Speaking with a seductive hello the blonde hoped that the greeting would throw Kat off.
"Babe." Kat responded back after a long silence since the greeting.
"I'm here." Kim tried her best to not give away too much over the phone.
"I'm sorry about leaving you alone tonight."
"I'm okay don't worry." Kim gave a colorful fib.
"No. Your not. I tell you to run away with me and then leave you in a lurch with Jack." Kat didn't want Kim to think that she was just saying something that wasn't going to come true."
"Well your with me now sort of." Kim smiled to herself happy that Kat still thought of her with all the tragic events and turmoil that must be going on at the mansion.
"I am? Huh? Tell me did you think about what I asked you earlier?"
"Not really but we can talk about it when we are in Paris, Rome or even Peoria would that be alright with you?"
"Definitely." Kat couldn't believe how happy the words just said made her feel. After the last few hours knowing someone she cared about would be safe from the Judge put her mind at ease.
"So when do we go on this great adventure of ours?" Kim needed to forget about Elwood, Jack and this kidnapping mess she had fallen deep into.
"Where is he anyway?"
"Jack?" Kim knew who she was referring to. "Out doing some errands."
"There is a few things that came up but as soon as I get them wrapped up we can go anywhere you want to go." Kat didn't want Kim or anyone else to know about the missing child yet, and ended the topic of conversation like that. "If everything goes as planned then next week we can leave." Kat was concerned that the wraith of the Judge wasn't over added an endearment towards the blonde. "Goodnight Kim, be safe."
Kim read so many things in those last few words and how they entailed a chance at forever with the tall brunette. She knew that as soon as Jack came back she was going to have to convince him to give the baby back.
_______________________________________________________________________
Kat the next morning found Teresa waiting in the back yard sitting on a bench. Kat had called her on her cell phone as she drove down to the mansion. She wanted to speak to the young Mother before her Father-in-law found out Kat was on the grounds. The dark-haired woman was as beautiful as ever and Kat had to remind herself that she was there for K.K..
"Anything new happen." Kat wondered since their last conversation with the kidnappers was over twelve hours ago.
"What happened to you last night? I thought that you would come back after checking with your contacts."
Kat couldn't look Teresa in the eye; even though, the two women were only friends she still felt like she had betrayed her. "I know the Judge has her."
"Then go get her." Teresa.
"My sources still don't know where she is at or who he has watching her."
Teresa walked away from the bench into the garden. Knowing that her Father-in-law had her daughter and not being able to get her back was to much to deal with. The pretending like nothing was wrong seemed to impossible a task to carry out.
"The same source that told me that he is behind this also told me that she is okay. I still need to know who has her and where at. I am going to get her back into your arms as soon as possible." Kat ran up to Teresa and spun her around after she continued to ignore her since walking away. "You know that. Don't you?" Kat brought her back to the bench.
"You tell me he has her, but you don't know who or where she is. I want to believe that your right, but what if her Grandfather doesn't have her?"
Kat thought about what if she was wrong and her Uncle was being led on a wild goose chase the other night. What was she going to do if she couldn't bring back K.K. to her Mother's arms.
"My Uncle tailed him last night after I spoke with the Judge. He followed for a good half hour before he lost them, but he definitely saw a car seat in the car. And he saw him talking to a child. Her black hair was sticking up from a window reflection off the passenger's side rear mirror."
"Your Uncle is helping you?"
"And a lot of other people. She's coming home. Has anyone called since yesterday?"
"A few minutes ago. They said to act like nothing happened" Teresa was trembling when Kat sat down next to her.
"It's for the best." Kat put her arms around her friend.
"We don't know if they are feeding her or if she is scared."
Kat wasn't sure how to reassure her here, if Jack knew what he was doing or if the Judge made proper arrangements on her care. Since their falling out the next in line would be Jack to do his bidding. "Her Grandfather won't let anything happen to her. He wants something from you and until he puts his cards on the table we have to bluff our way through the game."
"I have nothing he wants. Why did he take his own Granddaughter?"
"You have his heir, his name and his pride. He is not going to let you walk off with either of these." Kat squeezed Teresa's hand.
"I should of never came back to town." Teresa played out scenario after scenario over in her head of what she could of done. There were other towns and other girls. Why Elwood? She felt the warmth of the hand on hers and realized why she was in Elwood. Ten years ago she left town and never looked back, if she didn't want this woman she would have her daughter and be out of her Father-in-law's reach.
"I know I'm selfish but I'm glad you're here. I never told you that you were the only thing that kept me going all the time I was locked up." Kat saw in Teresa's eyes that she had to reassure her that she needed her.
"I find that hard to believe. I was a snot nosed kid you couldn't get out of your hair fast enough." Teresa thought about all the letters she sent the first year without any response back from Kat.
"I always saw you as more than that. You were kind, loyal and your only fault was your faith in me." Kat had wanted to tell Teresa everything from what her heart wanted to what had happened to Antonio.
"We should have been there for each other, but I want a pack that you will talk to me if your having problems or need anything."
"You want to be like a Dear Emily and give me advice on life and love.?" Kat noticed the twinge from Teresa on the word love.
"The smart attitude is still there. You can't fool me I grew up with you. I know that your feeling like you disappointed me."
"The Judge knows how to manipulate every situation. I should of known that he would find an angle to control you with her." The young woman spouted out betrayals by the old man, but the one main one she had hidden was a betrayal she committed ten years ago herself.
The flashbacks of that night had haunted her for years, she had often wondered if Teresa ever thought about Antonio laying on the cement bleeding to death. Antonio was the first person she had seen die in front of her. She remembered the way he pleaded to not let him die he had always been tough as nails but when he was about to meet his maker he was soft as butter. He begged for a priest and then for his Mother. The blood flowed out of his body rapidly, the coloring of his skin turned from a earthy, golden tone to a pale greenish-tinged shade. Teresa huddled into a corner of the alley and screamed, Kat tried to silence the young girl by shushing her but to no avail. The brunette hoped that no one heard the gun fire. The slight chance that everyone was occupied during the gunshot would soon be lost if she couldn't get Teresa to stop crying and screaming.
The life was seeping away from Antonio and every sensor in her body told her to run but she couldn't leave Teresa to face the charges alone. Kat offered the only thing she could to Antonio a chance to not die alone. Antonio acting on complete instinct reached for Kat and grabbed her hair. Pulling back her head he looked at her face, the lines forming around his mouth like the ground in the hot sun ready to crack were the first thing to surprise her. The tears he had that drenched his face weren't even for himself Kat had looked deeply into his eyes and she saw he knew their lives would never be the same. The crop of hair in his hand stayed wrapped between his fingers and he held on even tighter as his breathing became long gasp. His hands would not let go of its new bounty. Kat cried out in pain shocked by her own voice showing signs of weakness. Antonio had kept true to his nature to the brutal end; anyone close enough to care would always suffer at his hands. Then his hold on her hair went limp and his eyes closed for the last time.
Kat and Teresa both stood in the back yard deep in thought; Kat remembering Antonio and Teresa with thoughts on K.K. 's safety and if she was missing her mom. Kat seemed in another place and Teresa saw another question that had to be asked tomorrow if not today.
"He is no different from him." Teresa stated not specifically detailing who she was talking about.
"Who?" Kat felt like she had left the conversation minutes ago, because she didn't know what she was talking about.
"Antonio and my Father-in-law they don't care who they hurt and they both have successfully kept us apart." The truth had finally came to Teresa, if she ever wanted to see her daughter again she had to let go of Kat.
"They can't win unless we let them. Ten years of a gray wall is what Antonio gave me." She saw the sadness Teresa felt over Kat's incarceration. "Ten years was enough for both of us. I didn't have cold brick walls with steel separating me from you but ignorance and pride when I couldn't tell you that I needed you."
"Kat you should have wrote back or told my Mom you needed me."
Kat didn't want to tell the holder of her heart that her own Mother had lied by telling her Teresa had moved away. Mrs. Baroques knew Teresa was living on the streets and didn't tell her that Kat was looking for her. Kat had pleaded that last day to tell Teresa she loved her and wanted her back, but Mrs. Baroques held her to her promise. "Well it's the past we have to put our full spirits behind finding K.K. "
Teresa agreed that getting K.K. home was the main thing but soon the two of them were going to have to deal with the past.
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The Shoshanna staff was oblivious of the events going on in Teresa's life. This was how Kat told her it had to be they had to make the Judge think he had the upper hand. The lunch appointment with him to discuss the baby would need to be kept with him. He told her that by tomorrow lunch time he would have a negotiated plan worked out with the kidnappers as long as she kept her emotions in check and turned to him instead of Kat.
The work load along with some of the girls was brought to the downtown office. Several of the girls tried to speak to Teresa to tell her about the plans for the block party that had been organized by them weeks before the attack on the house. They just received news the last sponsor they had added was the local Mexican restaurant 'Miguel's would be providing the food for their concession booth.
The girls on their own had decided that they needed to make themselves part of the neighborhood if they wanted to be part of the community. In the last two weeks alone they had several bottles tossed at the house and messages sent to the house saying that they didn't want their type in the neighborhood. Sam suggested that the best way for them to see that they were just normal girls trying to get on with their lives was for them to see for themselves. The party would give the neighbors a chance to visit with the girls and see how they lived.
Teresa looked over the plans for the event in her office but her mind couldn't focus on it and only about K.K.. A knock at the door brought Teresa back out of her thoughts. Kat came in with a woman that seemed familiar who looked to be in her thirties with long black hair. The woman had help clean up the grounds after the vandalism. Leaving the two women to talk as she took care of an errand.
"Teresa this is our new volunteer I was telling you about Tina Robbins." Kat introduced Tiny again to her.
"Always glad when our girls can see that they have other options in life." Teresa remembered then that Tina served time with Kat and had met her a few times when she had visits at the prison.
"I hope that Kat has brought you up to speed. The donors are thinking of pulling the plug on some of their aid. So we don't have a lot of extras like books or CD's." Teresa had a difficult time keeping some donators on board after they found out the Judge was against the center.
"She is quite familiar with the situation." Kat needed Teresa to keep on believing that she came on the staff as a math tutor.
"Archer and me go way back. This won't be the first time I have been with programs that he has tried to sabotage. In fact he was behind a bill to get the Gay and Lesbian center downtown shutdown for our county and me run out of town just three years ago. As you can see he always gets what he wants" The biggest smile and laugh came out of Tiny that Teresa had to laugh with her. Knowing that the center was the biggest in the county.
"I'm not him and his backward ways don't reflect me." Teresa hated hearing about all the people that her Father-in-law had crossed.
"I figured that much when I saw Shoshanna on the door not Archer. Just point me in the direction. where do you want me?" Tiny was prepared to tutor the girls; even though, she hadn't had students in years.
"Well we need you everywhere. I like the hands on approach. Take a look around talk to some of the girls and later we can touch base and you can tell me what you think you can add here." Teresa didn't want to be rude with the new volunteer but she needed to get home if the kidnappers called.
Tiny saw she was going to enjoy working with youth again and also help her old friend Kat out with Teresa. The love of a friend was needed as much as love of a life partner to heal. She liked the young woman's vision but thought she should slow down and enjoy the fruits of her labor more importantly the affections of a certain carpenter handywoman.
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The kidnappers had told Kat to meet them at a truck stop outside of town and wait for further instructions. The outside of the truck stop was empty except for a few truck cabs parked in the parking lot. The only light was the flashing neon lights from the restaurant blinking an annoying letter "C" in shocking pink. The place gave life to every red neck joke she ever heard with two day old stench rolling from some of the patrons bodies. Kat felt like a fish out of water with her butch haircut and leather jacket which was worlds away from their cowboy hats and boots. Teresa was instructed to send someone by themselves to the location, so Kat waited patiently in her car checking out every person that walked by. A few minutes went by before someone knocked on her window. The woman wore an orange colored dress two sizes to small for her body, that matched her reddish-orange hair and breath that reeked of alcohol. The appearance of how little she was wearing gave all indication that she was a prostitute. The woman asked Kat if she needed any company, the brunette declined hoping that would deter her from approaching her any further. The woman advertised her talents a little more by giving Kat a view of her breast and put a nipple by Kat's face. The view of the prostitute both aroused and disgusted Kat. The several months of self inflicted celibacy was taking it's toll on her libido. The last few weeks had left her feeling like a horny teenager and any stimulation ranging from a brush of hair on her cheek, to a sneeze turned her. The woman finally after not getting a response off of her backed away from a very grateful Kat.
Kat watched her walk away and approach a couple of truck driver's who seemed very interested in her talents. Bringing her attention back to the mission at hand of waiting for the kidnappers to make contact with her. She saw the bright paper sticking out of the passenger's windshield that caught her eye. Before the prostitute came to the car it wasn't there, Kat figured that they had used the woman to distract her while they put the note on the car's windshield. Kat got out and looked around to see if any new people came by the car, but the same people were on the other side of the lot.
Kat read through the note which instructed for her to go to the Sands Motel on the other side of town. Kat remembered it from the days of getting out of prison and picking up random women at bars every night of the week and taking them there instead of to her Uncle's place. He was always accepting of her being gay, but wanted her to settle down with just one girl; preferably Teresa. The brunette knew that whoever was doing this wasn't alone and had to have an accomplish. The possibilities of this being a pro job made her think that K.K. might be in danger if all they wanted was money or revenge. In the back of her mind, she had hoped it was a person who wanted a baby to take care of ; at least this way they could have higher hope K.K. was being treated with kindness.
The reluctance to be ambushed at the drop off place initiated the idea to bring Kim along to the Sands Motel. The two women waited at the motel parking lot outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the kidnappers. The instructions had told Kat to drop the money off and wait for a phone call. Kat had asked the blonde to join her at the motel clearing up any confusion if she thought that she had any ulterior motives. Kat explained the situation at the mansion and the need to contact the kidnappers. Kim listened intensely to the tale never giving away her poker face. The blonde didn't want Kat to know that she had anything to do with the kidnapping. The few minutes that they sat in the car felt like hours, finally a short man wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses walked up to the ice maker rummaging through the coldness pulled out the plastic bag of money left in it.
The man looked around to see if anyone else was around. At a distance he saw two people sitting in a car across the parking lot, realizing that he had an audience he got nervous. Kat knowing that she and Kim were spotted and not wanting the man to bolt moved in closer to Kim and placed a kiss on the blonde's surprised lips. The softness of Kim's face cupped in her hand surprised Kat. She looked into the blonde's green eyes and drowned in them. The two women gave a show that could only be described as x-rated and made the man sweat as he watched. After the shows initial excitement wore off, the man brought his attentions back to the money. Shoving the package into his jacket he hurriedly walked out of the motel parking lot. Kat couldn't believe how much the soft lips of the blonde could affect her.
The young woman tried to remember why the man that just left seemed familiar to her. Kat looked at Kim fixing her lipstick as the blonde put some perfume on and the connection came to her. The guy that picked up the money was Jack's nephew, who sold perfume out of the trunk of his car.
"Kim, is there something that I should know?" Kat didn't want to ask the question, but if she was going to find the baby she knew she couldn't leave any stone unturned.
"What?" Kim wasn't sure of what Kat was asking as she flipped the passenger mirror up. The action was to turn off as much light in the car so Kat could not see her face as she spoke. "About what babe?"
"The man that just took the money is someone I recognized from somewhere. I know that you know him too."
"I didn't get a good look at his face." Kim lied. "I was a little occupied by your tongue down my throat."
Kat was embarrassed by the comment, she was about to ask if that was her boyfriend's nephew when the cell phone rang. The next set of instructions said to stay in the room and wait for more information later in the night. Kat wanted to get some answers from the blonde but she wanted to take their conversation into the room that she had checked into to keep an eye on things. Kat called up Teresa to let her know that she had dropped off the money and wanted an extension of time before she called the police. An earlier conversation with her Uncle had confirmed her suspicions that this wasn't a simple kidnapping. The Judge was involved, her contact confirmed that he was seen with the infant only a few hours after the supposed kidnapping.
The pair ran to the room door as thunder roared above in the sky and raindrops came down in buckets. Kat searched her pockets for the room's key. The brunette wondered what was it about door keys in the rain and her. By the time she had got the door open both of them were thoroughly soaked head to toe. Kat let Kim enter the room first as she turned on the rooms heater near the doorway.
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Seeing the blonde standing in the room with the water dripping down her face made her realize how much she loved the rain. Kim's already curly hair was made even more wavy by the rain droplets that were encased in her mane. Kat tried to think of anything else, but she couldn't help being hypnotized. The blonde's hair waved in the air as she shook the excess rain out of it. The slight tilt of her head revealed her long neck the most delicate and inviting feast ever presented to a starving woman. Fifteen months was a long time to go without any physical contact. Every touch that the small blonde gave herself drying off shot shock waves through Kat's body.
"We might be here all night so you take the bed and I'll sleep on the floor." Kat figured before the night was up she would know where the blonde fitted into all of this.
Kim saw the way that Kat looked at her and could see the way her eyes were smoldering with desire. Looking into her dark eyes that were only made darker by desire, made her thighs ache and her center tingle. The need to be possessed by the tall woman over took all her senses. The thought of something past tonight didn't cross her mind. Jack looking for her, The Judge putting her back into prison meant nothing, or Kat knowing the truth, the only thing she wanted right now was to be possessed completely by Kat. No tomorrow was expected just the promise of pure, unbridled passion for tonight was needed.
"I don't care if nothing becomes of us more than just friends when we leave tomorrow. But Kat I want you here in my bed." Kim said shocked by her own directness.
"The floor will do just fine." Kat's face was flushed as she looked down on the floor wondering how she was going to get through a entire night so close to the blonde.
"I want you here in bed with me and not to sleep."
"I can't do that. I don't want to give you false hope about us. I care to much about you." Kat said each painful word wishing she could taste the blonde standing in front of her wearing a soaked blouse that exposed her hardened nipples. .
You don't have to make any promises if this is just for tonight then fine." Kim placed her hand on Kat's cheek and caressed it until Kat removed it. Kim feeling like a fool for expressing her true feelings hurried to the other side of the room, attempting to dry her hair.
Kim bent over to brush her hair and as she moved to place a hair band to wrap up her hair she never felt the arms that wrapped around her small frame. Kat placed soft, short kisses on the other woman's neck as she stood behind her. The moans from both of the women signaled it was a mutual feeling. Kat placed her hand on Kim's blouse slowly unbuttoning the top three buttons and stopped leaving the small blonde whining with disappointment. Kat assured her with a whisper that in due time that she would be out of her clothing. Kat wanted to savor every inch of her new lover and didn't want to rush their night of lovemaking. The brunette cupped Kim's breast moving slowly to her nipple rubbing it until the mound stood stiff sticking out of her blouse.
Kat's digits moved down to Kim's jeans lifting the lace underwear to the side. The brunette slipped a finger on top of the moist inner lips. Kim moaned into Kat's ear reassuring her that she was headed in the right direction in pleasing the blonde. The thumb rubbed on the throbbing clit as two fingers entered the inviting blonde. The insertion of the two digits at first caused her to pull back, but Kat whispered endearments and told Kim that she had her and not to be afraid. Eventually, allowing the full insertion of the two fingers further into her hole. Straddling the small blonde from behind Kat rode her to new heights, as she quickly stroked at a rhythmic motion that Kim moved her hips with in time.. Sensing that the blonde was close to reaching fulfillment pulled away, this movement was repeated until the blonde could not take the continuous teasing. Moving her hand away Kat gave a cattish grin as she licked her fingers dripping with the love juice of the blonde. Kim couldn't take the sight of Kat licking her fingers clean without touching her again.
Kat not ready just yet to give up control in the situation grabbed the young woman's chin and moves her eyesight down to Kat's jeans. Sticking a finger down her pants Kat strokes herself as she looks into Kim's eyes. The two women kiss deeply, their tongues touching hungrily for each other and pulled away. Kat gave her new conquest a surprise as her lips waited for another long kiss, but were instead treated with the sweet nectar on Kat's fingers. The two scents of the women entwined on her digits excited Kim beyond any reality before.
Kat wasn't done with the blonde and wanted their lovemaking to last all night. The dry spell was going to be made up and Kim was going to have to endure more pleasurable torture during the night before reaching climax.
Kat took the young woman by the hand and led her to the bed. Kim laid on the bed waiting for Kat to climb on top of her. The brunette straddled her body as she took her t-shirt off revealing hardened nipples that Kim quickly wrapped her mouth around. Kim licked one nipple realizing that she had neglected the other half of the set and took time to admire it also. The excitement was obvious from Kat that she was enjoying the attention of the young blonde. Kim moved her mouth back and forth between each nipple licking one then sucking on the other and eventually sucking on both at the same time the activity drove Kat insane. The brunette rocked her center on Kim's stomach back and forth as the sucking noises and adrenaline could not be contained in her head.
Kat reached between her lover's legs and began rubbing her clit with her thumb. As the sucking increased on her nipples Kat moved a couple of her fingers into the blonde. The two women moaned and grinded to rhythm to each other's strokes. The intensity was so strong that as Kim reached her pinnacle height of arousal. The sounds of her orgasm drove Kat over the edge along with her as the two continued to bring the other to new heights to two more orgasms before they pulled away from each other.
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Teresa knew that her Father-in-law had her daughter, but it didn't make the waiting any easier. Teresa stayed in her room in case she ran into him she wouldn't know what to say. Her eyes were getting glossy but Teresa refused to go to sleep. The thought of dozing off and missing a phone call from the kidnappers gave her a boost of temporary energy. In the last thirty-six hours, Teresa had seen less than two hours of sleep. Flicking on the television the brunette channeled surfed until coming across the evening news. The volume was down almost non-existent when the sight of the Shoshanna center and Kat standing in front of the house, and then a disturbing image of Kat in slow motion giving a hug to a young female student. The news cast stayed on the picture of Kat and her young charge. Teresa remembered that was the day the whole house went out for ice cream after an impromptu outing to the park. She smiled thinking about that day since, which allowed Kat to grow much closer and confident and was getting along with everyone else at the center. Teresa turned up the volume to catch the last of the story.
"The topic of this news piece is a convicted felon for manslaughter. Our children are forced to endure the presence of this predator. These young women have come out of some difficult situations only to be placed in harms way with this woman; Kat Cantor. The staff are not fully certified and criminals are watching over our children. What next they'll be the teachers in our schools standing in front of Suzie teaching her to use drugs in 'how to shoot up 101'?" The reporter on the television spouted out.
Teresa sat in a dazed belief watching the news report. How did something like this get on the news without her being aware of it. The news crew was never at the house or had talked to the staff so how did they know that Kat was on staff at the Shoshanna center.
The news report continued telling the history of Kat's arrest prior to being imprisoned for manslaughter. "We have her information that might not have been available if not for a private tip. Miss Cantor was arrested for shoplifting and various drug offenses before she was sixteen. She was a suspected leader of the drug trafficking ring in the prison she served the end of her sentence."
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Across town Kat laid in bed holding Kim in her arms not wanting to wake the blonde she said nothing. She couldn't believe the reporter giving the story was the second Jack that had been the trios latest victim. The Judge had to have gotten to him and told him to leak the story to discredit Teresa. The news was crucifying her on the report that had most of the story fabricated and included things she did when she was a teenager and shouldn't of been available to be seen by other people.
Kat had told Teresa it was a bad idea to put her on staff even just as a counselor for the hard cases. Teresa said the girls needed a hard but fair hand, which Kat provided. The girls did grow to respect her but Kat lived in the real world where what you have done in your past definitely dictated your future. Kat tried to talk her way out of it but the more she said, the more she ended up talking herself in to work at the Shoshanna house. In the beginning the incentive was to be able to spend more time with Teresa, but girls like Sam and others made her care about something other than herself.
A loving arm squeezed tighter around her waist Kat knew that Kim was stirring but hoped that she was just moving in her sleep. The last thing Kat wanted to do was talk about what was going on.
"Babe what are they saying about you?" Kim asked as she yawned stretching exposing her breast from the cover.
Kat found it hard to concentrate on the news report with the distraction sharing the same bed with her. "Nothing?"
"Looks like your with the girls on an outing."
"It is but let's not talk about it. I have other things on my mind." Kat clicked the remote to turn the television off and leaned in for a kiss.
"Do you now?" Kim returned the kiss that Kat gave her.
Even though, Kat was kissing Kim she wanted to call Teresa, and tell her that not matter what the news said that she would never endanger the girls well being. Her mind went back and forth between desire, then conviction and duty. In the end desire won out and she kissed Kim as if her soul was on fire and Kim was a cascade of raindrops. The two bodies stayed intertwined making love for several hours into the night.
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"Get away from her!" A female voice shouted across the dark alley where three figures shared the same space only inches apart from the other. A gunshot could be heard in the night air. The tallest figure of the three shadows slumps to the ground with a thud. The silence is deafening after that. Until a thumping sound pounding its rhythmic beat alone in the air. A hand colored with crimson blood illuminated in the dark glides across the alley walls leaving behind a telltale trail. A man lies in a pool of blood breathing the last gasp of air he can release into his lungs that is escaping through the hole in his chest. "No!" Was shouted out again by the same woman's voice
Teresa woke up to this nightmare every night since she was sixteen. The mornings found her sheets sweaty and her body shaking from the recurring nightmare. The last few years had been less stressful when Kale held her during the night. Sitting in the bed ready to start her daily routine of checking on the baby and getting her bath ready was halted as the last few day's previous events came crashing down on her. K.K. was still with the kidnappers and Kat's theory was that her Father-in-law had something to do with it.
The decision to move back to Elwood seemed like the wrong one; even though, the girls needed a place to call home and stability in their lives. She had did exactly what she said she wouldn't do which was neglect her daughter's well being.
Kat asked her to wait until she talked to her again about their next move. The Judge had made it known several times in the past that he wasn't accepting of the center or of Kat in her life. In numerous conversations with him, she had explained that they were only friends; even though, she wished they could become more.
K.K. 's favorite teddy bear was snuggled up next to her during the night. Teresa buried her nose into the bear to absorb the scent of her child that was still encased in the toy.
The daily morning breakfast with the Judge would have to be kept if she didn't want him to become suspicious. For all outside purposes she had to act like she knew he didn't know anything about K.K. 's whereabouts. The man was as cruel as Kale had said he was, when he was alive he did his best to try and protect her. The Judge owned the town and if he wanted to hide the baby for several years he could find a way. She could be adopted out to another family. The thoughts of her being only feet away from her daughter and never know she was so close crossed her mind. She would do anything he asked if it meant getting her daughter back.
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Kim woke up and couldn't take her eyes off of Kat the way she slept with a crooked smile made her believe there was a slight chance she was the reason it was there. The eyelids of the brunette began to flutter and she quickly closed her eyes, so Kat wouldn't know she was staring at her.
Kat nuzzled Kim's neck as she slept. This was the first time in years that Kat had woke up with another person in her bed. And all the other times it had been Teresa that she slept with. Seeing the sleeping blonde made her nervous about the direction of their relationship. Kim had made it clear that she could accept a one night stand, but Kat wondered if their friendship could stand the shift.
Kim greeted her smile from the brunette with a deep kiss. Kat at first gave into the sensation of having such soft lips next to hers, but the reality of their agreement came back into her thoughts.
"Hey!" Kat tried to pull away from the kiss.
"What's wrong Kat?" Kim asked already knowing that she was making the woman across from her nervous.
"I just got to get over to the mansion and see if anyone tried to contact Teresa."
"Kat!" Kim grabbed her arm as she tried to get out of bed. "I need to talk to you." Kat gave her full attention to her. The way her eyes bore into her soul she didn't know how to tell her the truth without breaking her heart.
"Can this wait until later Kim?" Kat saw in her eyes that it wouldn't.
"You really care a lot about that kid don't you?" Kim knew it was redundant to ask but she did anyway.
"Of course I do. I haven't spent a lot of time with her. But the time that I have I grew very fond of her." Kat was starting to see that this wasn't just a general line of questioning. "Tell me what is on your mind?"
The two of them had never talked about the relationship between Kat and Teresa. Kim had heard that they were friends in high school and that is all that she knew. The slight mention or the presence of the other brunette near Kat had always made Kim's jealousy rise. She saw how Kat would follow Teresa's every movement across a room. The pureness in her eyes proved that she loved the Judge's daughter-in-law whether she wanted to admit it or not. The past few years as co-conspirators had allowed Kim to see a side of her knight in shining armor in a different light. Kat at their first meeting was introduced as "187" by Jack and it was days before she learned her real name. Kat Cantor was a true friend and no one could do better than to have her on their side. That was why it pained her more than anything before in her life to tell the truth to her.
"I didn't know what I was picking up when I got this package." Kim hesitated saying anything else but the look of concern on Kat's face urged her on."
"What package?"
"A couple of nights ago the Judge called me and Jack to meet him up at the lake. I swear on my Mother, Kat I didn't know what he wanted us to do." Kim had tears running down her cheek as she realized all that she was about to lose.
"Just tell me what that old fart has you doing. I promise you that this would be the last thing that he will make you do."
"After I tell you everything you might not want to ever talk to me again." Kim looked into Kat's brown eyes to see if there ever could be compassion in them.
"I told that bastard he was done hurting people I care about." Kat said with such passion it shook Kim's emotions.
The blonde pulled Kat into an embrace startling her, and kissed her slowly. At first Kat didn't participate in it, but the second kiss Kat responded back. As the kiss became more passionate, Kim pushed Kat away. "I lied when I told you last night didn't have to mean anything."
The words from the blonde left Kat speechless. Kim didn't expect a response she was just grateful she had thought of a change of course of conversation.
"I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea about us. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm a big girl. And no you didn't.
Kat put her arms around Kim and the two women held on to each other without saying another word in the room. After several minutes of holding the blonde, Kat got up to dress in the bathroom after knowing Kim was going to be okay with the situation between them.
Showered and dressed Kat bent over to Kim, who still stayed in the bed. "Call me for any reason even if it's just to hear my voice. 'Cause I definitely want to hear yours." Kat kissed the top of Kim's head that still smelled like mountain rain mixed with lilac and walked out the door. Kat left the room with mixed emotions and didn't know what to do about their encounter.
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Kat knew that the Judge would be expecting Teresa at the Shoshanna house and doing all her routines. Neither wanted to bring up the previous nights newscast, there were other things at takes that had priority at the moment. Teresa reluctantly let Kat drive her to the center, the girls didn't know anything about the previous nights events. The overtime that Kat got her crew to work on the house along with Tiny volunteering got the house in complete form by the time Teresa had came into the center since the accident. The first thing that each girl did upon seeing the center's director was complain about another girl not doing her chores or taking something that didn't belong to them. The pattern that seemed to be forming in the past weeks was that it more than likely was a complaint against Sam. The young girl tried to fit in but having survived so long on her on; the rules of civility were foreign to her.
Kat told Teresa that she would take care of the girls and talk to each of them. After talking to all of them she came to the conclusion that Sam was taking clothes out of the other girls closets without permission and not doing her chores. As punishment, the first half of the morning Sam was put to work cleaning out all the bathrooms. When Kat came into the downstairs bathroom to check on her the t-shirt the young girl had on was soaked and stained with bleach spots on various areas.
Kat saw traces of her younger self in the youth and thought that if things didn't get turned around soon she would end up in prison before she turned seventeen. Sam gave her a half-hearted smile when she saw her counselor come in to check her work. Sam was the reason Teresa opened up the house and why the Judge wanted it shutdown. The other girls in the past few months had made great improvements. A few even started communicating with their families and were headed back home. The first two stalls were cleaned already and Sam was working on the middle stall, Kat noticed an extra toilet brush in the basket and started to clean the toilet with her. The two cleaned the entire bathroom without saying a word to each other. Kat knew that talking wasn't going to get through to Sam, but being on her level might change her opinion on giving trust. Kat cleaned up the other bathrooms in the house alongside Sam.
The teen was thrown off when Kat threw her the keys to the house van and said they were going to do a run for supplies. The other staff never trusted her to clean a room by herself. So when Kat threw the keys, the teenager let them fall down on the floor by her feet instead of catching them. The shock wore off and Kat got her to drive her to the hardware store. The view that blew her away on their journey came in the form of a betrayer and the other an imposter. In the same vehicle in the other lane Jack sat in the driver's side with a passenger who look oddly like the man who took the money out of the Sand's motel parking lot. Redirecting the teenager to the motel Kat looked around the ice maker to see if anything was left behind. The man who took the money didn't leave any clues, but Kat saw something across the street at the other rundown motel that caught her eye; Jack's car. The distinctive two tone doors stuck out, Jack had hit a trash can a few months ago after slamming on his brakes and skidding into it during a rain storm.
Kat saw next to the ice maker the day's laundry. "What size you wear a small?"
"Why?" Sam saw a glimmer in Kat's eye that told her they were going to do something they shouldn't.
Sam looked like a twenty-five year old wearing the maid's uniform. Kat found a scarf in her glove compartment to cover up Sam's rainbow colored hair. The maids wouldn't be starting work for another hour giving Kat plenty of time to find which room he was in.
Sam knocked on the first door with no response. She moved on to the second room and several knocks later but there was no response from this room. Sam was beginning to walk away when a big guy came out of the room. Sam recognized him from his picture.
Kat saw Jack's ugly mug from across from the street. His face looked like it hadn't seen a good side of a razor in four days. Kat couldn't hear any of their conversation but she tried to read their lips. Jack told the young girl he had company and to come back in a couple of hours.
Sam got into the van throwing her scarf off her head towards Kat. "Why does that man have Mrs. Archer's baby?" The irritation was coming through in her voice.
Kat didn't know if she should tell Sam about what was going on or just leave her in the dark about all the betrayals the woman who had helped her was dealing with. "That's enough your going back to the house." Kat reached across Sam and opened the driver's side of the car. "Go home."
"No. I'm not going anywhere if I can help then let me."
Kat thought hard about it the chances of getting K.K. back with her Mom was greater with more help. Sam informed her that another man was in the room and was carrying a gun. Jack wasn't the type to use a gun, all his strikes were done without weapons. Kidnapping was a new skill on his resume but she didn't think he was going to play for keeps with this situation.
"After he comes out and you given me enough time you move the car and wait down a couple of blocks. Now if I don't get you on the cell phone or come up to you at the meeting place go straight home. But don't tell Teresa anything about this, or anyone else." Kat looked straight into Sam's eye as if to brand her to seal the deal.
"I head out to the market, if you don't come right out and go home. I'm not stupid. I got it." Sam feigned an expression of hurt feelings when the truth was Kat could said or thought anything about her and she still would of did this for her.
Kat walked to the rooms bathroom waiting for Sam's signal. A car alarm and metal crushing from in front of the motel gave the sign she was waiting for. Kat crawled into the cracked bathroom window.
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"What the hell did you do?" Jack came running out of the room with only one shoe on.
The back end of his car was connected with the rear of the van. Jack hit his car keys to turn off the alarm that was triggered by the impact of the two vehicles. A teenaged girl with multiple hair color streaks jumped out of the van. Jack looked at her dazed that his car was completely ruined.
"Stop your screaming my Dad has insurance you pull out your ID and I'm going to call the police." Sam pulled out her phone and started to dial Jack worried about cops coming to the motel grabbed the phone out of her hands..
"Hold on it's not that bad." Jack saw that it was going to take a tow truck to pull the van out of the back of his car. Why raise up our premiums you give me your number. I'll give you mine and we can work something out." Jack noticed the hesitation from the girl. "Your fifteen…sixteen your driver's license has to have restrictions on it." Jack hoped he could make the youth see things through his eyes. "You report this you won't see a steering wheel again until your twenty-one."
"My Dad would want me to report this." Sam gave the performance of her life. She saw Kat get into the room and knew she was going to have to drag it out a little longer with Jack.
"Here is my ID and I'll even throw in a hundred dollars to go towards your repairs as a sign of good faith." Jack almost pleaded with his request.
"Write down your information." Sam went into the van to look for a pen.
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The bathroom door was closed Kat slowly opened it up making sure not to make the hinges creak. Kat looked around to see if Jack's accomplish was distracted by the activity outside or not. The man was watching from the doorway and didn't notice Kat sneaking up behind him with a bottle.
"Don't do it Kat!" Kat turned around and saw Kim. The short blonde cradled K.K. in her arms to quiet the infant. The betrayal had came to her thoughts before but each time she had knock them down. The harsh reality unfortunately was staring at her now with no where to retreat. In the back of her mind, she had wanted it to work out with Kim. The many night they shared consoling each other had bonded her to Kim in a way that became more complex than the one she shared with Teresa.
The other man turned around he saw the glass in her hand and knew if it weren't for the stupid blonde he would be on the ground now. He turned the other end of his gun in his hand not quite sure what to do with the brunette until Jack, the brains of their team returned to the room and hit Kat on her head knocking her unconscious.
The room seemed to spin around and became fuzzy without anything seeming clear. She didn't know where she was or how she got there, the only thing that made sense was the ringing in Kat's head.
"Wakey, Wakey." The man shouted into her ears his breath reeked of liquor making her stomach turn from the stench.
Kat's eyes fluttered but wouldn't focus on anything in particular. The strong arm man from this point on I'm going go call you 'punchy' Kat thought to herself, the reason was obvious as his hand swept across Kat's face when she did not give him the response he wanted.
"I'm not even going to ask how you found us" Jack looked straight at Kim. "The Judge isn't going to like you poking around his business." He kneeled down to Kat's level the closeness was to ensure the point was made sharp and to the point. Kat had messed up again but this time burying herself in a hole so deep that she wouldn't be able to dig herself out of. Kat smiled at him which of course irritated him that he didn't notice the warning signs of her throat clearing before blood came out of her mouth and sprayed a combo waterfall of blood and saliva all over his face and shirt.
She always had to have the last word even if it was unspoken. Jack's handkerchief in the attempt to clean his face off only accomplished smearing the splattered human waste more. "I haven't mentioned you yet to the Judge, I have fifty grand to split I could use you, Jonesy here is all brawn and no brain. The big guy Kat called 'punchy' obviously was smart enough to take offense from the comment..
"Your stupider than I thought. Do you really think he is going to let you walk away after you took his Grandchild?"
Kim and Punchy looked at each other neither of them had the courage to looked towards Jack or to face the prospect that they might be arrested. "He gave her to us of course he is." Jack didn't like Kat placing seed of doubt in the others minds.
"Soon every news station and reporter will know she was kidnapped and you think you are going to walk away. You're the fall guys so he can come out smelling like a rose.
"You said this was easy money without doing time. You can keep your money if I got to get locked up to get paid." Punchy interrupted the conversation.
"Don't worry I'm sure he was going to. Old Jack is nothing if not predictable he is good at leaving a partner behind and snitching to get less time. Aren't you Jack." Kat goaded him.
Jack took the bait and lunged for Kat knocking her over unto the floor. Jack wailed into her with both his fist and feet. Kat began to spit up more blood. "That's where you belong gagging on your own filth"
Kim couldn't take watching the attack anymore after securing a visual agreement from 'Punchy' to stay neutral she put her body in front of Jack's boot. Jack realizing he was kicking his girlfriend instead of Kat withdrew. Kim turned an unconscious Kat over, the blood from her nose and mouth along with a few teeth were encrusted in her hair and clothes.
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Sam saw Kat get ambushed and stood frozen in her shoes unable to move. The promise to go to the meeting place was the only thing that made her more aware of her surroundings and to get to safety. As fast as her car would take her and as soon as she detached the two vehicles from each other. A silent prayer escaped from her lips, pressing the foot down on the gas peddle the smell of rubber tickled her nose hairs. Another prayer came out as she shifted the gear into second and sailed across the parking lot rushing closely to the other half of the motel construction.
Jack saw the girl detach the van from his car as brown eyes met her hazel eyes that drizzled with fear as he walked closer. A false smile slid out from his mouth exposing a gold tooth that twinkled when the sun hit it. Not many women could resist when he smiled and talked softly.That was until the hellion in a van sped by and extended her middle digit leaving him trying to clear the dust swimming down his lungs.
The night staff screamed at the teen for coming in late but she ignored her. The urge to tell her about what had happened at the motel and leaving Kat behind. But who could she trust; staff was like snitching to a cop and there was no way she was going to trust one. Teresa's office light was still on as Sam walked by the door she stood there not moving away nor towards opening it. The young girl was torn between doing what she thought was right and what she had promised. The few months around Kat had taught that her word had to mean something even if meant you had to do something that would hurt someone in the short term. Sam had seen her houses director with her daughter and knew that she loved her child not like her own mother with her. Event though, the older woman tried to carry on with things as usual she could see that she was cracking around the edge over her daughter missing. Sam had to believe that Kat knew what she was doing and that everything would turn out alright. Movement came from behind the door as someone came near the door and the doorknob turned. Sam walked away rushing upstairs to her room vowing to keep her word even if she didn't agree with it.
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Standing in front of the hardware store the youth didn't want to deal with anymore complications. "I didn't see anything my Uncle asked me to get." Kat told Antonio hoping he would leave her alone.
"Big store like this and you couldn't find what you were looking for. Hard to believe." Antonio turned Kat around and roamed through her pockets.
"If you wanted to feel me up. I didn't think you would want to do it in front of the store."
"You did say you went shopping right? Antonio pulled out a bag from her coat inner liner pocket.
"Yeah."
.
"Shopping usually involves money exchanging hands in a store." Antonio said sarcastically "I'm going to need you to come with me." The two of them went behind the back of the store.
Teresa saw from her seat Antonio reaching for Kat's arm and leading her to the back of the store. Antonio was a known bully and picking on one of her friends was nothing new for him. Teresa followed them to the back of the store and the view she saw paralyzed her. Antonio had pinned Kat against the wall and was feeling her up. The anger built up in her; she wasn't angry when her dad died or when Antonio touched her the first time. But something burned from the inside of her soul and swept through her body. The anger spilt over as her eyes met Kat's and they both had an air of terror and anger between them.
"Kat." Teresa screamed out her friends name and startled Antonio.
"Go away Teresa." Kat pleaded.
"Get away from her." Teresa's first request was ignored by the abusive man. Their eyes met and he saw a look of determination from her everywhere his eyes hers followed. The metal cradled between her fingers clicked off the safety made Antonio realize one of them wasn't going to leave the alley alive. The instincts of survival took over as he leapt towards Teresa, in his hast to take the gun from her he never noticed a pair of feet in his pathway. Kat walked over Antonio's body reaching for the gun before he could reach his cousin.
Kat wanted to hold the gun and toss it down a drain and embrace the other half of her soul. The days events wasn't anywhere close to what she had planned and the window to leave town was slowly wrapping its tightness around her like wet leather baking in the sun. Teresa placed the gun in Kat's hand with her own fingers still on the trigger. The safety was off and Teresa didn't want it to slip as she gently took control of the gun again and put the safety back on. The protest of the tall brunette were coming as the body of Teresa's cousin came in between the two girls. The strength of his hate for Kat and Teresa was intense and the brunette was the first to receive the fury of his boiling blood. A backhanded knuckle knocked Kat backwards bleeding on the ground. Teresa's only concern was for her friends safety and seeing Antonio raising his hand up to strike another blow drew fear from her. The violence was intoxicating for Antonio and the click from the safety was the only thing that snapped him back to reality.
"Put the gun down." Antonio shivered seeing nothing that reminded him of his cousin. "Give me the gun. No one has to get hurt here." He moved his hands to his sides to show he was no threat to her or Kat. "I got a little upset with Kat. I'm sorry."
"We've already been hurt. You hurt me. Your sorry. You slapped Kat and again you're here saying your sorry." Teresa kept eyes back and forth on Kat and Antonio as she backed up with each step he took forward. "Your sorry because you slapped her or are you sorry because I have a gun and your pissing in your pants." A large wet spot was growing on the front part of his pants. "When are you going to stop being sorry and take responsibility." From that point on Teresa couldn't explain what happened, her mind left her body and watched helplessly as her finger pulled close to the trigger. She saw as the bullet left the barrel and lodge into his chest. A rain drizzle of blood sprayed all over her face and clothes.
Kat jumped up and took the weapon out of Teresa's hand and fired the gun into the air. Kat removed the shirt drenched in blood from Teresa and the two switched clothes. Teresa stood numb, complying to remove her clothing. The bare upper torso of Kat was the only thing to stir an effect on the younger girl. Slowly removing the blood drench clothes she watched captivated by Kat smearing blood from the shirt onto her face. As the crowd gathered around the two young women Kat pulled Kenny out of the crowd and got the young man to direct Teresa away from the alley before police arrived. Teresa would not break eye contact with Kat even as she got to the front of the store and as the sight of the one person she could count left her view her world went black and her body went limp. Kenny carried the dark-haired beauty along with his brother's help into the car and drove away.
"Get away from her don't hurt her."
Teresa sat up in the bed screaming her sheets dripping in sweat staring at her hands seeing if the blood was still on them. Looking down into her hands and seeing her things she knew that she was back in her own bed. Teresa wanted the last few days to be just a bad dream but she knew everything that had returned to memory was true. The realization that she and not Kat had killed Antonio haunted her for years; eventually, becoming only nightmares, until the last few days brought the truth out. The constant thing in her mind was how could she not of known how much Kat loved her. The love she felt wasn't just as a friend; even though, one would make the same sacrifice also, but not forever and always. Kat Cantor was in love with her and gave up her freedom for her.
Continued...