Raison D’être

by Anthony "Griffon" Pulido

2/10/01

"Hi mom," said Kaitlyn softly. "Sorry it’s been so long, I have been meaning to come see you for awhile. It’s just that, things keep happening, you know? I really tried to get here. I have always been thinking of you," whispered Kaitlyn as she knelt down onto both of her knees. Pulling her flowered dress up with one hand, she began folding the material over and over in between her fingers. "Look at you, no one has even taken care of you here," she said as she started pulling the weeds from around the headstone. "I’m sorry I haven’t been here to do it. But I’m here now, right? That’s all that counts, I’m trying to make up for it, right?"

Rubbing her forehead with her hand, she tried to hold back the tears she felt coming over her. She ran her hand over her head, pushing her blonde hair away from her face before covering it again with both her hands. Sniffling into her hands, she whispered, "I’m sorry… I am so sorry… but I have to leave again tomorrow."

She sat for several minutes without speaking before she started again. "I hope you’re doing okay, you got dad and Robert to keep you company now. So at least I know you’re not lonely." The tears she was fighting back now flowed unchecked down her cheeks. "I just wish I wasn’t. Samantha won’t talk to me. I’ve tried, God help me I’ve tried, but she just doesn’t want anything to do with me. What a way to treat your sister, right? But please don’t be mad at her;" added Kaitlyn quickly. "She has never forgiven me for taking you away, that’s all. But she will learn to forgive me one day," she sniffled as she wiped her nose across her arm. "You could stop by and talk to her for me if you’d like, I would appreciate that."

Kaitlyn rocked back and forth on her knees, twisting her dress into bigger knots in her hands. "I’m going to have go now, or I won’t ever be able to stop crying. Well, I hope you’re proud of me, if not… just know that I am doing the best I can right now. I know you are not happy with what I do, but I don’t know what else I can do right now… I’ll try and stop back next year when I get some more down time. I promise I will this time. I really mean it," said Kaitlyn leaning forward and kissing the small headstone on the ground before getting up and walking away holding her head in one hand.

Kaitlyn stared into her glass, watching the optical effect of the brown liquor swirling over the contours of the glass held tightly in her hand. In her other hand, she gripped a wadded up ball of napkins that she automatically moved to wipe her nose or pat her eyes.

"Hey, are you all right?"

Breaking the rhythm that she had established through the night, Kaitlyn looked up at the stranger taking a seat next to her at the bar. He was a well-built man, somewhere in his upper twenties, and he looked to be a little over six feet tall. He was well built which was apparent from his dress shirt that clung tightly to the biceps on his arms, and formed around his chiseled pecks. He smiled at Kaitlyn as he pushed his medium length brown hair away from his face.

"Go away, I am not in the mood for this tonight," said Kaitlyn calmly as she looked back down into her drink.

"Hey I’m not trying anything here. Okay? It just looked like you could use someone to talk to. I mean you’ve been crying into your drink for over an hour now and…"

"And what? You thought you’d come over and listen to me until you could steer the conversation towards how you can get into my panties."

Taken a little a back, he managed to respond, "I uh… well kind of. I mean except for the panties part of course," he said cracking a smile on his face.

"Cute, real cute. But save your lines for someone who cares," said Kaitlyn as she turned her back to him putting her elbow on the bar, resting her head on her hand.

"Oh come on… you have to believe me, I was just concerned that’s all, I swear," he pleaded. "I just thought you looked like you could use a friend."

"Okay, look Mr. Humanitarian," screamed Kaitlyn as she spun back around on the stool waving her finger at the stranger. "I was trying to be nice, but you apparently can’t take a hint. I don’t need your shit tonight. Get it?"

"Look, whatever. I’m sorry I bothered you," he said throwing up his hands before pushing him self off the stool and walking away. He only took about three steps however before turning back around. "But you know what? No, this isn’t going to end like this. You want the truth? Fine, I thought you were good looking; yeah I did, I’ll admit it. And I was over there sitting with my friends, watching you cry all night. And what do you want me to say? It was breaking my heart. There I said it, you heard me. So I thought that maybe I would be able to do something to help. I mean I haven’t seen you here before and you were alone. Whatever, I’m sorry I cared, this will teach me for the next time I do. But the fact that you just assumed that I was out to try and get you into bed that just makes it worse. And you know what? I’m glad you thought that ‘cause now I don’t care anymore. So sit there all alone and cry in your drink all night for all I care."

Kaitlyn stared calmly at the young man who was breathing heavily after his long tirade. "Are you done?"

"What?"

"Your speech, are you done with it?"

"Why yes I am, since you ask."

"Are you happy now?"

"What?"

"Are you happy? Are you happy that you got that off your chest?"

"Again, since you ask, yes I am."

"Good. Since you’re done, why don’t you sit down? I mean you don’t have to. If you were planning on telling off that redhead at the end of the bar, I would understand."

Looking behind him to where Kaitlyn pointed, he saw the girl but turned back to look at Kaitlyn with a confused look. "What are you saying?"

"Look if you really don’t want to…"

"No, no, I do," he said as he jumped onto the stool again. "My name is Michel Murphy by the way."

"Kaitlyn Dominigue," said Kaitlyn extending her hand.

"That’s a pretty name."

Rolling her eyes Kaitlyn managed to say "Thanks," without adding too much sarcasm to her words.

"Look, I don’t want to push my luck any farther," said Michel situating himself on his stool, "But I have to ask. Why did you ask me to sit here?"

"Honestly?"

"I’d appreciate that, yes."

"Because you sounded honest when you were giving your speech. And it has been a long time since I have seen that kind of honesty."

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

"So you believe me?"

"Why, is there a reason I shouldn’t? I usually have a pretty good bullshit detector and you managed to pass it. So if I was mistaken…"

"No, no, it was completely honest, I swear to God."

"First of all, good, second of all if you want to keep talking to me, don’t ever swear to God in front of me again. Okay?"

"Sorry, I didn’t mean anything… may I buy you another drink?"

"Yes, you may. Thank you very much for asking."

Smiling happily, Michel waved down the bartender, who came walking over to where he and Kaitlyn were sitting. The bartender quickly took their order and left them alone at the end of the bar.

"So do you want to talk about it?" Asked Michel as soon as they were alone again.

"No, not especially."

"Come on. It always helps to get things off your chest, you know?"

"So, you’re not trying to get into my panties, you’re trying to get things off my chest?" said Kaitlyn as she looked down into her drink, the corners of her mouth turning upwards.

"Now didn’t we cover this already? I’m not trying any… wait a minute was that a joke?"

"Maybe."

"Does that mean you’re feeling more comfortable around me?"

"Maybe."

"Comfortable enough to tell me what’s wrong?"

Laughing Kaitlyn responded, "You just don’t let up, do you?"

"No, I don’t. Hey at least I got you to smile. See I’ve been talking to you for less than a minute and you are already better."

"You’re such an idiot," laughed Kaitlyn.

"Come on, I’m just concerned."

"What are you, some kind of psychologist or something?"

"I’m a computer programmer actually."

"I would have never guessed that. I didn’t think computer programmers looked like you. I thought they were all geeks or something."

"Why Kaitlyn, are you saying you think I’m cute?"

"Maybe."

"Enough of this maybe stuff honey, are you going to tell me something real."

"Boy, are you persistent. But I tell you what, you get me a birthday shot, and we’ll see what happens."

"It’s your birthday today?"

"Yes, it is."

"Well, happy birthday. But, you know; now I feel more obligated to help you. I just couldn’t live with myself if I let such a good-looking girl cry on her birthday."

Smiling at him, Kaitlyn drank the shot. "You’re just too much."

"Is that why you’re crying? ‘Cause it’s your birthday?"

"No, not at all. You’re way off base."

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are."

"No, I don’t think I am. Come on let me in, what are you scared of?"

"I just can’t."

"Well can you at least tell me why you’re in town?"

Rubbing her head, Kaitlyn blurted out, "I came to see my mother."

"Okay that’s a start. How is she doing?"

"She’s dead."

"Excuse me?"

"That’s what you wanted to hear isn’t it?"

"Um… no not exactly. Uh… how long has it been since she died?"

"Since I was born."

Holding his hand to cover his mouth, Michel gasped, "I don’t know what to say… how… I mean… what happened?"

"It was just one of those things. I was born premature, there were some complications, and she died."

"That must have been… I mean you must have been so strong."

"What about the rest of your family? Where are they?"

"I only have one sister left. She lives in Paris."

"Left? What does that mean, have you lost more than just your mother?"

"Yes, but I don’t really want to talk about this anymore."

"Okay then tell me where you’re from?"

"I was born here in Quebec, but we moved to California when I was still young. And we moved around a little bit when I was young."

"Okay, what do you do for a living?"

"I don’t remember."

"What? Well do you have a job right now?"

"Not exactly."

"I thought you were going to open yourself up to me?"

"Well maybe you should tell me something about yourself."

"What do you want to know?"

"Where are you from for starters?"

"My family has always lived here in Quebec."

The time passed and Kaitlyn and Michel’s conversation went on. Michel continued telling her about his life, and his work, and he sat listening intently to Kaitlyn tell him about hers. For she now found her emotions coming out without inhibition more and more as they talked. She talked about everything from her studies in school to her relationship with her sister, the recent loss of her brother, and the death of her father as well.

Michel watched her as she talked, admiring her small but athletic body. He could see the muscles in her arm stretch and flex as she lifted her drink revealing the definition in her body. He watched the movements of her arms as she spoke, and was amazed at how smooth each wave of her arm was. Each motion was quick and precise, with no unnecessary movement. He watched as she flipped her hair over her shoulder with one quick motion of her neck, or tore up the bar’s napkin into tiny squares withn her nimble fingers. Each movement, no matter how trivial, proved to be completely fascinating to him.

As Michel was watching, he held his glass by his thumb and forefinger and extended his fingers flat on the bar. After each drink he carefully put the glass the slightest bit closer to Kaitlyn’s hand. After several hours of this, his hand was so close he thought he was almost able to feel the hairs on her hand but he still hesitated making contact.

"Why don’t you just do it?" said Kaitlyn suddenly breaking the flow of the conversation.

"Excuse me," asked Michel, looking up at her, his concentration on his deceptive game lost.

"Your trying to hold my hand, aren’t you? Well if you are, just do it. Why play these little games?"

Pulling his hand back, Michel put it in his lap abandoning his drink. "I uh, don’t know what you…"

"Don’t do that. Always be straight with me."

"Well sorry… uh, would it be okay if I did it now?"

Holding her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. "If you have to ask, it isn’t even worth the effort."

"Well, would you like me to do it now?"

"Never mind Michel, after three hours of talking and all the drinks we’ve shared together, if you can’t even touch my hand… I don’t know, you’re worthless." Kaitlyn turned on her stool, slightly putting her back to Michel. Taking a deep breath, Michel stuck out his hand and placed it on top of Kaitlyn’s hand. Her fingers instantly squeezing his as they wrapped in between hers. Taken aback by the force in which she squeezed him back Michel momentarily relaxed his grip, before squeezing back again with renewed vigor.

They sat like this for several quiet moments till Kaitlyn pulled Michel's hand up to her mouth kissing the back of Michel’s hand before saying, "Thank you."

Michel smiled at her as she moved closer to him. She put both their hands into her lap and she wrapped her other hand around his. "You know, I have to say that it has been a long time since I have met a man like you."

Squeezing her hand a little bit harder, Michel smiled again, "I guess I can only say thank you to that."

"You didn’t need to say that… but I’m glad you did."

"I have to say that this night didn’t turn out at all like I had thought it would."

"Oh really, how did you think it would turn out?"

"I guess I was assuming I was just going to get drunk and stumbling home or something."

"Oh really?"

"I didn’t think I would be spending the night with a wonderful, beautiful girl."

Allowing her smile to come across her face Kaitlyn asked, "You really think I’m beautiful?"

"Of course I do."

Turning around, Kaitlyn jumped off the stool dragging Michel off of his, "Come on you’re dancing with me."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"But no one else is dancing."

"I don’t care, I want you to dance with me."

"But I…"

"But what? You dance or go back to your friends and leave me alone."

"Okay, but I’m not that good of a dancer."

"Quit whining excuse boy. You just hold me close and don’t step on my feet too often and you’ll do just fine." By this time, Kaitlyn had managed to drag Michel over to the jukebox hanging on the wall. She was holding his hand tight, her arm bent behind her back keeping him close to her.

When she was done selecting her songs, she turned around and pulled him out to the center of the bar room as the first song came out of the jukebox. Turning around, her body instantly melted into his, their arms pulling each other close. Kaitlyn’s head rested on Michel's chest, her arms wrapped around his waist. Michel rested his cheek on top of her head, as his hands rubbed her back.

The two barely swayed back and forth to the music; they just held each other as the songs played in the bar. When the last song ended they were still holding onto each other, standing in the middle of the room.

Lifting his head off of Kaitlyn’s, Michel looked down at her. "The music has stopped."

"Has it? I didn’t notice."

"Yes it did."

Kaitlyn didn’t say anything back for a time, until Michel broke the embrace and pushed her back by her shoulders. He asked, worriedly, "Are you okay?" seeing Kaitlyn trying to wipe the newly forming tears out of her eyes. "Was it something I did?"

Ignoring his question Kaitlyn asked, "I suppose you are going to have to be going soon?"

"I uh… hadn’t planned on it, no."

"It’s one in the morning; aren’t they going to be closing soon?" said Kaitlyn, wiping her eyes with her fingers.

"Oh, I guess they are. Are you okay?"

"I’m assuming you live near here?"

"Uh, my apartment is about six blocks away."

"Your apartment, I suppose you have some roommates then."

"Um, two actually. Why do you ask?

"And I suppose they are there right now?"

"No, they are out of town tonight actually."

"So, you will be there all alone tonight?"

"Yeah, I guess I will. Why are you asking me all this?"

"I don’t suppose you would want any company tonight?"

"Excuse me? You don’t mean?"

"No questions, do you want me to go, yes or no?"

"Um… well… of course I do."

Looking Michel straight in the eyes she asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes I am."

The two ran out to Michel's car, and were quickly driving out of the parking lot and speeding off down the street. In a matter of minutes, they were at his apartment building, running up the stairs to his floor.

Out of breath, Michel fumbled with his keys. He was trying to unlock the door to his apartment but couldn’t manage the easy task. He looked to Kaitlyn, "Now I don’t want to put any pressure…" Kaitlyn cut his sentence short as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head into hers, kissing him deeply. Michel’s hands cupped each side of Kaitlyn’s face as they kissed and she ran her arms up and down his back.

Holding the kiss like this, they explored each other’s mouths for several minutes. Eventually he turned Kaitlyn so her back leaned against the door but their weight caused it to swing open and they fell through the doorway, into the apartment.

Stumbling into the room while still maintaining their embrace Kaitlyn managed to run her hands up under his shirt sliding it over his head, before Michel slid one of his hands down to Kaitlyn’s shoulder and squeezing it softly.

Grabbing his hand, Kaitlyn pulled it down to her left breast squeezing his hand for him. She watched his eyes bulge from shock and couldn’t help but laugh in their kiss finally breaking it.

"What? I’m sorry…" Kaitlyn put her finger to his lips; shaking her head she simply smiled before kissing him again. Nodding her head in approval, Michel felt more confident as he put his hands under each strap of her dress and slowly pushed each one off her shoulders.

Stepping out of her dress as soon as it fell on the floor, Kaitlyn took Michel’s hand and led him to the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she slid back to the middle, pulling him on top of her. Their lips met again as Michel managed to fumble with the buckle on his belt with one hand and pull the strap of her bra off her shoulder with the other. Kaitlyn shuddered as the cold air of the apartment touched her skin, causing Michel to break their kiss and push off the bed.

"Look we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to; it can wait till… whenever."

"Do you mean that you don’t want to?"

"I have a beautiful, half naked girl in my bed, of course I want to. I’m saying that it doesn't have to be like this."

Closing her eyes Kaitlyn smiled, "that just makes me want to do this with you even more."

The next morning Michel woke up and stretched he rolled over to look at Kaitlyn laying next him, but his bed was empty.

"Oh my God, I can’t believe she left."

He fell back on to the bed staring at the ceiling when he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Jumping out of bed, he wrapped himself in his blanket and ran out his bedroom door.

Disappointment set in as he ran into the kitchen and saw his two roommates sitting at the kitchen table. Looking up from their breakfasts, they began to laugh.

"What’s your problem toga boy," said one of his roommates.

"Did either one of you see someone here when you got in?"

"No," said the other one. "Should we have?"

"Yes, I had a girl here last night. And she…"

"You, yeah right, you haven’t had a girl here since we moved in two years ago."

"Yeah, and you expect us to believe that the one night we’re gone you get one to come over."

"Yeah, what do you take us for man?"

"Just go back to room by yourself like you always do."

"Whatever, guys," was Michel’s only response as he turned around and walked back into his room.

That night, Michel walked into his apartment after work. He quickly walked through the kitchen, past his still heckling roommates, into his bedroom. He walked into the dark room throwing his keys on the dresser before switching on the light. He jumped back at the sight of Kaitlyn sitting in his chair next to his bed her legs crossed and her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Closing the door, he asked, "Kaitlyn. How did you get in here?" She simply sat in the chair looking back at him, so he continued, "Why did you leave last night? Was it me? Did I do something?" He started walking slowly over to her. He was now standing next to the chair and Kaitlyn still hadn’t said anything. "Are you going to answer me or what?"

She stood up and wrapped her arms around him burying her head in his chest. "I’m sorry but please don’t ask me all these questions now. Can’t we just be together again tonight? I swear I will explain everything in the morning."

Michel just stood dumbfounded, not sure what to say. Taking his silence as a yes, Kaitlyn grabbed his hand and guided him over to the bed, pulling back the covers before lying on it. Michel stayed standing by the edge of the bed looking down at her, "What are you doing to me here?"

"I’m throwing myself at you?"

"No, not just now. I mean last night as well. Why…"

"Please I’ll tell you everything in the morning. Just give me tonight. Can you do that for me?"

Michel didn’t take long to make up his mind as he soon straddled her legs and laid his body onto hers. Reaching up Kaitlyn grabbed his head and pulled him towards her, kissing him frantically.

Stopping the bombardment of kisses Michel managed to say, "In the morning we’re going to talk."

"I swear we will," responded Kaitlyn as she pulled the straps of her dress off her shoulders.

Michel smiled as he stretched his arms into the air, "How are you doing this morning, honey? Last night was great…" He rolled over to see the empty spot on his bed where Kaitlyn was when he fell asleep.

"Son of a bitch," he screamed. "She did it to me again."

Falling back on the bed, holding his throbbing head in his hands, he again heard noise coming from outside his door. Wrapping the sheets around him, he ran out the door only to see his roommates eating breakfast.

"Fuck! You guys didn’t see a girl leave here this morning?"

"Don’t start that shit again man, we had enough of that noise yesterday."

"Yeah, give it up. We aren’t going to believe you had a girl here no matter how much you pretend."

Not responding Michel turned and walked back into his room falling onto his bed.

Michel sat at his computer desk starring at the walls of his cubicle, his fingers resting motionless on the keys. He was trying to comprehend what had happened to him over the past two days. Lost deep in thought, he was still coming up with nothing when he jerked awake as a pair of hands began shaking his shoulders. Spinning his head around he saw Kaitlyn turning past him to sit on the edge of his desk.

"Hi honey," she said happily with a broad smile.

He sat speechless for several moments before shouting, "No, you don’t get to ‘hi honey’ me. Not after all you have done to me, I mean why should I even care what you have to say to me."

"Well I’m sorry but you did seem like you enjoyed it, at least I thought you did."

"You know I’m not talking about that. God I can’t fuckin’ believe you," swore Michel more to himself than to Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn’s smile faded as she said, "You know I thought you were going to be different. I thought you were really going to care about me."

"Oh I want to, but you are making that really difficult for me."

"Okay I really don’t have time for this now, but I have a few questions I have to ask you."

"What? You don’t get to ask me anything until you answer some of my questions."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"How did you find out where I worked, for starters?"

"You told me you were a computer programmer right? Well Cross Applied Technology is the biggest firm in Quebec so I thought I would look here."

Looking at her unsure Michel tried to study her body language to see if he could tell if she was telling the truth. She simply sat on the edge of his desk smiling back at him. "Okay I guess I’ll buy that, but why are you doing this to me?"

"Doing what? Sitting here?"

"No I mean that last two days of torture, what are you getting out of this?"

Taking in a deep breath Kaitlyn blurted out. "I like you Michel…"

"So that’s why you are torturing me," said Michel interrupting her. "Shit I hate to see what you would do to someone you hated."

"No, I never meant to hurt you! You have to believe that."

"So you’re not hurting me you’re using me, and I want to know why."

"Did you ever take a moment to try and see my side of all this, what I’m going through. And the fact that this might not be the easiest thing for me to do?"

"Oh I’ve tried but you haven’t given me enough information to even know you, let alone understand you."

Frowning at him Kaitlyn began to speak again but was interrupted as Michel continued. "No, I want to get this out before you disappear again. Let me list the things I know about you. Your mother and father are dead, your sister isn’t talking to you, you’re great in bed, and you don’t know what your job is. Oh I’m sorry, what was I thinking I am overflowing with facts."

"Cute," said Kaitlyn attempting to hide her smile. "But maybe this isn’t about you, maybe…"

"Excuse me Michel but shouldn’t you be working, this isn’t chitchat hour, you know," said an authoritative voice behind Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn turned around to see a woman in a business suit starring at Michel with a not too happy look on her face. She quickly looked over this woman and saw her nametag identifying her as the head of Michel’s department.

"Hi Mrs. Anderson is it," said Kaitlyn holding out her hand. "Sorry to keep your man busy but I was just going over his ideas for the D-503 prototype project. They really are quite fascinating."

Taken a back Mrs. Anderson responded, "It’s quite all right, and you are?"

"Cheryl," said Kaitlyn.

"And what department are you from?"

"I work for R&D."

"And what is Michel’s involvement with the D-503 project?"

"He submitted some ideas awhile back and I thought that it would be useful to go over then with him to further clarify some points."

"Michel did?"

"Yes, I am sorry to keep such a valuable member of your staff busy, but I won’t be much longer. I know you must have something more important for him to do, so I will try and keep it brief."

"No, it’s quite alright keep him as long as you need him. Good work Murphy," said Mrs. Anderson before walking away.

Michel spoke up, after remaining quiet for the whole conversation, as soon as she was far enough away not to hear. "That woman has never said ‘good work’ to me in the five years I have worked for her."

"Oh well honey you deserve it, especially after working so hard on the D-503 project."

"Who are you? Are you some corporate spy, or something? How did you know about the D-503 prototype anyway?"

Rolling her eyes Kaitlyn smiled, "I’m not a spy silly I saw the corner of that folder under your cyberdeck."

Picking up his deck Michel saw the manila folder with the label "D-503 ideas" on the tab.

"What is it," asked Kaitlyn.

"My ideas for the project."

"Are you going to turn them in?"

"No I hadn’t planned on it."

"Why not, they might be good? You’re not going to make a liar out of me are you? I already told your boss they were good so you better make them good before she comes asking about them."

"Who are you? I swear I have never met anyone like you," said Michel as he put his hand on her leg.

Taking his hand in hers she smiled. "Does this mean you are not mad at me?"

"Now how could I ever be mad at you?"

"Do you still want to talk?"

"I do, but I can’t I have to work. But can I trust you enough to show up at my apartment tonight?"

"Do you really want me there," said Kaitlyn smiling innocently.

"Yes I do."

"Then I will be there."

"Are you sure?"
"I promise."

"Now you realize if you lie to me again, I’m going to fuckin’ die."

"I swear I will show up tonight."

"Good, because if you want me to make any more of an emotional investment in you, you’re going to have to stop playing around with them."

"You’re just too sweat," said Kaitlyn as she jumped off the desk. Bending over to kiss him quickly on the lips. "I’ll see you tonight then?"

"Hi mom, it’s me again. I know I said I wouldn’t be back for a while but I’m in some real trouble right now. I really hate to keep bothering you like this, but I don’t know what to do. I mean Dad never told me how to deal with stuff like this."

Kaitlyn sat for a moment collecting her thoughts. "It’s just that, okay there is this guy. And… Oh mom, I have never met anyone like him before. He’s just so shy it’s funny, but he is so sweet. Now I know I just met him and all but he really cares about me. I can tell by the way he holds me, and when he looks into my eyes, and the way he..." Kaitlyn stopped her sentence and shifted uncomfortably on the ground. "Okay, I know what you’re thinking mom, I can hear you. But I only slept with him because I thought I would never see him again. After the way he treated me, I just had to be with him. I hadn’t planned on falling for him, that wasn’t part of the plan at all." Sitting for several more quiet moments she continued, "I guess that doesn’t make it better, but I am not going to make any more excuses."

"I just had my life going great, I was getting a good reputation and people were seeking me out. I mean new work was coming in all the time and I was starting to get the good jobs, you know. I didn’t count on this wonderful guy falling into my life right now," said Kaitlyn ripping up a chunk of grass and throwing it back to the ground.

"I don’t know mom, should I pass this up? Will I regret it?" Kaitlyn began crying and she let her arms fall into her hands. "I wish you could just talk back sometimes. If I would have only had the chance to talk to you just once."

Michel sat nervously at his computer desk at home, waiting for Kaitlyn to come. His right foot feverishly tapped the ground as he twirled a pen over and over in his fingers. He had been sitting at the desk since he got home from work, taking the time to only make a quick bite to eat. That was three hours ago, and his hunger was now growing along with his impatience.

"I can’t believe I believed her," he whispered to himself as his head fell to the hard wood. "I can’t believe that she is doing this to me."

"Doing what," asked Kaitlyn as she put her hands on his back and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Turning his head so he could look up into her eyes Michel didn’t move or speak.

"I’m sorry," added Kaitlyn. "I got hung up with some business that I had to take care of."

"Oh really," said Michel apathetically. "Like what?"

Pushing off of his back Kaitlyn stood up, "It doesn’t matter anymore."

"Oh yeah of course it doesn’t," said Michel spinning around in the chair. "Because then you would be sharing something with me, and we both know you are incapable of doing that."

"Now come on be fair, I came like I said I would."

"Whatever Kaitlyn."

"Okay listen I really need to talk to you right now but I need for you to have an open mind and listen to me. If when I’m done you are not satisfied and you want me to leave well then that’s fine and I will, and you will never see me again. But I have to find out a few things first."

"Only out of shear curiosity I will hear you out."

"That’s good enough. I’ll be honest with you Michel I like you, and I would really like for us to be together. So I need to know do you have any feelings towards me?"

"I don’t think we would be having this conversation if I didn’t."

"Great, now please understand there are some things that I just can’t talk about in my life right now. But I swear that once I am ready to talk about it I will tell you everything. Can you deal with that?"

Taking in several deep breaths Michel began rubbing his temples with each hand; "I don’t know? Why should I? I mean why should I keep setting myself up here, so you can just keep knocking me down."

"Haven’t you ever just taken a chance on something?"

"Nothing like this."

"We’ll I’m asking you to try, for just a little bit longer. Come on take a risk on us, I promise you won’t regret it. But if you don’t feel that we are worth it then let me know now, and I will leave. I wouldn’t want to be around you any longer, ‘cause it will only make it that much harder for me to get over you."

Michel sat quiet for several moments before asking, "I suppose that you are going to be needing a place to stay in the city if we are together?"

Smiling a little Kaitlyn responded, " I was kind of hoping that I already had one."

"Oh really? Isn’t that a tad bit presumptuous of you?"

"I don’t know, you tell me if it is or not."

Laughing out loud Michel smiled, "You are something else Kaitlyn Dominigue, I will give you that."

"Does that mean you want me to stay?"

"Of course it does."

"Oh Michel you are just to special," squealed Kaitlyn as she jumped onto the chair he was sitting in tilting it back so it slammed into the desk as she ravenously kissed him. After attacking him for a few minutes she sat back on his lap quickly pulling her shirt above her head, throwing it across the room.

"Wait Kate I have something to ask something first."

"What is it," asked Kaitlyn reaching behind her back to unhook her bra

"You are still going to be here in the morning if we do this right?"

"I mean I don’t have to if it means you’re going to stay."

"You’re such a smart ass," said Kaitlyn after sliding her arms out of her bra straps and throwing it on the desk in front of her.

"Maybe I am but I am being serious now."

Pulling him out of the chair by his shirt she pulled him back onto his bed. "Just kiss me."

"You didn’t answer… me," managed Michel in between Kaitlyn’s kisses.

Stopping Kaitlyn looked at him while assuming the most honest face she could "Of course I will be here, I’m not planning on ever leaving you again."

Smiling down at her Michel bent his head down kissing her.

Michel woke up rolling over his head rolled into Kaitlyn’s. Smiling happily he whispered, "I don’t believe it. You’re actually here."

Shaking the sleep from her head she smiled back, "Where did you think I would be."

"I’m sorry to have ever doubted you."

"Well you should feel silly, for doing so."

"What can I say, I do."

"You’d better." Rolling over she kissed him quickly on the lips. "I have to go now."

"What? You’re kidding me? I thought you weren’t going to do this stuff anymore?"

"I’m not, I stayed just like I promised, but I have to go now and take care of a few things. But I’ll be back tonight before you are done with work."

"You promise?"

"Yes I do," said Kaitlyn rolling out of bed looking around on the floor for her clothes.

"What do you have to do today any way?"

Sitting back on the edge of the bed she began pulling her pants up her legs. "Well to look for a job for one, I don’t expect you to support me. I’m no freeloader." She sat up and zipped her pants up and started to look around for her top. "And I have people that I need contact they are going to worry about me, I should have sent word by now."

"Who are these people now?"

"Just some old friends that I was staying with," said Kaitlyn standing up from looking under the bed holding her shirt above her head in triumph.

"And where was that, again?"

Pulling the shirt over her head she sat back down on the bed next to Michel, "Oh don’t worry about that." She leaned over and kissed him again. "Now get up," she said playfully as she slapped his stomach. "You are going to be late for work."

Walking out into the main room of the apartment Kaitlyn saw Michel’s two roommates eating at the table. "Good morning gentlemen," she said happily as she walked past them. "Sorry to interrupt your breakfast."

Shaking their head in disbelief they both sat to stunned to talk. But as soon as Kaitlyn walked out the front door they jumped up and ran into Michel’s room.

"Who the hell was that hot piece of ass," they screamed in unison as they threw open the door.

"She’s the figment of my imagination that you felt the need to make fun of. And watch how you talk about her."

Kaitlyn returned a couple of hours before Michel would, to find his two roommates sprawled over the couch watching TV. Putting the bags of groceries she brought down on the table she walked in to the living room resting her hands on the back of the couch. "Do you two do anything?"

"Hey don’t start with us."

"Well I don’t suppose you guys were planning on staying here tonight were you?"

"Why? Do you think that just because you are fucking our roommate you can give us orders now?"

Sighing out loud she reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a money clip. Dropping a hundred-neuyen bill high in the air she let it float down to couch in between them. "How about you guys go find something to do somewhere else tonight and let me have this night with Michel?"

With a shocked look they stared at the money lying between them. Looking back up at Kaitlyn they responded in unison. "Another hundred would get us on our way real quick."

Sighing again she reached into her pocket and withdrew another bill. Throwing it at them as she turned around to walk back into the kitchen she added, "For that kind of money I expect to not see either of you till tomorrow morning."

"Hell yeah that’s okay with us."

With in minutes they were both out of the door and Kaitlyn began running around the house painstakingly preparing dinner for Michel, trying to get it done before he got home when she heard the front door open. She was still preparing the dishes so she just called over her shoulder, "Honey you’re home earlier than I thought you’d be." She waited but no one responded. "Michel is that you sweetie?"

She jumped a little when she felt two hands beginning to fondle her butt. "Oh honey I didn’t think you were like this."

"Why not?" said then mans voice behind her in Spanish. Quickly turning around her face ran into the chest of the massive figure of man standing behind her. He finished spinning her around as he continued groping her; he even began kissing her neck. Trapped between the wall of muscle and the counter she beat on his shoulders screaming back at him in Spanish. "Marcus, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?"

"Nothing baby, just saying hello," said Marcus as he continued to kiss her.

"Get the fuck off me, you don’t get to do this to me anymore, remember?"

"Come on, for old times sake?"

"Hey you’re the one that left me for that slut you were going around with," screamed Kaitlyn as she finally managed to push him off of her.

"We’ll I thought you would miss my touch by now, baby," said Marcus reaching his hand out towards her again.

Slapping it away from her Kaitlyn responded, "I don’t need you for anything anymore."

"You used to need me for something, remember," said Marcus trying to reach out his hand again.

"That was a very long time ago."

"Fine whatever you say," said Marcus backing away and looking around the apartment. "Hey who’s the dinner for?"

"That’s not your concern Marcus."

"Come on who you are shaking up with now? Are you ashamed that he is not as much man as I am," said Marcus flexing his arms in the air. "Come on tell me, I bet he is he some geek guy or something? No I bet it’s some cute girl isn’t it, I always thought you were like that," laughed Marcus at his joke.

"I have nothing more to say to you, why don’t you just get out."

"Okay enough of this shit. Why didn’t you show up for the job?"

"That doesn’t concern you either."

"The fuck it doesn’t concern me. We had a contract and you broke it."

"I don’t care you didn’t need me for this job. You have plenty of other…"

"Yes we did need you," screamed Marcus. "The backers pulled out because you weren’t there. They hired the whole team and when you didn’t show they cut us loose."

"Really? Well I don’t care Marcus it’s not my concern any more."

"You better fuckin' well care," screamed Marcus slamming his fist down on the counter sending the plates of food flying into the air. "This is our life, and do you know what kind of damage this is going to do to our reputation. We past up a lot of good offers to get that job, and then you go and ruin it for us."

"I don’t care Marcus. I don’t care."

"Well you should care because you know what, the rest of the team is out of work right now and they are mad. They are mad at you Kaitlyn, and when they find where you are, you better believe they aren’t going to be happy."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No I’m not, I’m just telling you facts as they are. I know you are a smart girl Kaitlyn and I respected your father and your brother for the work they did for us. I served under your dad for two years down in Mexico, and I worked with Robert for five years in South Africa and Eastern Europe. And he was even the one that convinced me to let you tag along with us. And even though you proved yourself, if I would have known then that you were going to pull a fucking stunt like this. Shit, I would have left your whole fuckin' family behind and let you starve to death for all I’d care."

"Are you done, I’m expecting company any minute now."

"Don’t get smart with me you little bitch," screamed Marcus. "But you know what? I think I’ll wait around to meet this guy you’re fucking. He has to be a piece of work to fall for your dumb ass. But I bet we can have a fun conversation about how you screwed me over just to screw him. Do you think he would like talking business with us," said Marcus as he turned around and started walking through the apartment.

"No Marcus, no I beg you."

Turning back around he looked at the pleading Kaitlyn. "Interesting, he doesn’t know, right?"

"No I haven’t told him yet," said Kaitlyn as she hung her head. "I was going to tonight."

"God, you really are dumb."

"Just get out!"

"You fell for a blue collar button pusher, and you expect him to just accept the life you’ve led and all the things you have done."

"It doesn’t concern you."

"Just ‘cause you cross yourself and pray for forgiveness doesn’t make all your crookeds straight, you know?"

"We’ll maybe I am trying to make up for all that now. And I will get a lot closer to redemption the sooner you get out of this apartment."

"Okay I’ll tell you what, I’ll leave right now out of common courtesy. And I won’t even tell the team that I found you. But they are looking, and if they find you I ain’t going to do a damn thing to stop them from doing… well whatever they may do."

"Don’t worry about me Marcus, I’m a big girl I can take care of myself."

Opening the door and walking out into the hallway Marcus turned back around before saying, "We’ll see honey."

Michel walked out of the elevator and turned towards his door when he saw that a large bald man closing the door behind him. Walking over to the stranger he held up his hand, "Excuse me sir, who are you?"

Sweeping his arm easily pushing Michel out of the way Marcus didn’t even stop to look at him, he only responded, "I’m the delivery man," said Marcus with a thick accent.

Following after him Michel asked, "Then why aren’t you in uniform?"

Stopping at the elevator he pushed the button and the doors open and he stepped in with out saying another word to Michel.

"Excuse me are you going to answer me or what?" asked Michel again. Marcus only smiled as the doors closed giving Michel the middle finger right before they closed completely. Running back down the hallway he threw open the door. "Kaitlyn? Where are you," he screamed as he ran into the apartment.

"Honey you’re home early," said Kaitlyn in response.

Running into the kitchen he saw Kaitlyn down on her hands and knees picking up food and pieces of ceramic that were all over the floor. Stopping his forward momentum he stopped and stared. "What’s going on? Are you alright?"

Keeping her eyes on her work Kaitlyn responded, "Everything is fine, why wouldn’t it be?"

Walking over to help her clean up the mess he knelt down next to her putting his hand on her shoulder. "Who was that I saw leaving the apartment?"

Pulling her shoulder free she crawled away picking up more food. "He’s nobody."

"Don’t give me that. Who is he?"

Turning to look at him Kaitlyn begged, "Michel please don’t."

"Oh that’s right I forgot we don’t talk about you," screamed Michel as he stood up throwing his handful of food back down to the ground.

"Come on be fair."

"Be fair? A behemoth of a man leaves our home and I find you on the ground picking up broken dishes and I’m not allowed to be worried."

"No it’s not like that. I couldn’t be more happy that you are worried, it’s just that… please I don’t want to talk about this."

"I know I said it was okay if you didn’t tell me stuff, but I think that this is a major exception. So no, you aren’t using that line this time. Who is he? Is he an old friend, or a boyfriend?"

"No that’s not it at all," said Kaitlyn standing up and turning around to face the sink.

"Then why aren’t you looking at me?"

"No reason."

"Is he still your boyfriend now?"

"No," said Kaitlyn spinning around. "He is not."

"I knew it. Why was he here?"

"Please just give me this one last thing, I assure you it was nothing bad and he will never be back here again."

"Fuck Kate, how long am I supposed to put up with this? Why wont you just let me in? I want to care about you why aren’t you making that easy, don’t you want me to?"

Walking over to Michel she hugged him leaning her head on his chest, "I’m just so scared Michel and for the first time in my life I feel like I am out of control and I just don’t know how to deal with it. I really want you to be able to understand but I just don’t think that you will be able to. I just don’t know what to do."

"Oh my God you’re shaking, look wouldn’t it be easier to just tell me what it is, I mean whatever it is we can work though it, I want to work thorough it."

"No it will only make it worse now, you have to trust me on that. I know it is hard to understand, but please can’t we just look to the future and forget the past," said Kaitlyn openly sobbing into Michel’s chest.

"That’s fine Kaitlyn whatever you say," said Michel breaking the embrace and walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Don’t worry I’ll be back. I just need to go for a walk. I need to do some thinking."

"No you can’t go. I spent all day making this, and I wanted to sit and talk."

"Do you really want to talk, do you," screamed Michel turning back into the room and slamming the front door. "Well that is fine with me. What do you think you are doing to me here? Whenever I ask you anything about yourself you change the subject. How am I supposed to care about you, when you are doing this to me," screamed Michel throwing his arms in the air.

"Because I want you to, I need you to."

"That better not be the only reason that you have for me to be with you. Because you can not keep using that argument much longer."

"But don’t’ you want me?"

"Yes but I want to know you, and you wont let that happen."

"Just wait a little longer and…"

"No, not one minute longer, will you tell me anything now."

"No I just can’t."

"So this is it?"

"No, it doesn’t have to be."

"Yes it does Kaitlyn I hope your secret is worth it."

"Michel you can’t do this."

"I just can’t let you keep doing this to me, I can’t take it anymore."

"Just tell me what else I can do to make you change your mind."

"There is nothing you can do."

"Okay then I have to be going."

"What?"

"This is what you want isn’t it?"
"No, it’s not. I want you to talk to me."

"Well I can’t do that."

"You can’t or you wont."

"Don’t do that, don’t make me choose like that."

"Don’t turn this against me, I’ve done nothing wrong here."

"Please can we stop screaming this isn’t how I want this to end."

"How do you want it to end?"

"I don’t."

"Well that’s not going to happen."

"Listen I just need to be alone for a bit here, why don’t you just go to bed and let me think about this some more."

"Why should I? What are you gonna do?"

"How about I tell you that I will try to figure a way to tell you."

"Seriously?"

"Yes seriously, I just need to get my head straight."

"I’m going to hold you to this, you know?"

"That’s fine."

As soon as Michel left the room Kaitlyn feel backwards on the nearby couch.

"You should just get up and walk out that door and never look back," she whispered to herself. "Have you thought of what you are doing this poor man? It would be easier on everybody if you could just leave. Oh God help me."

Creeping up to the door she looked between the crack and saw him lying on the bed with his hands over his face. Pushing it open she walked into the room and softly laid down next to him putting her head on his chest. She stayed like this for a few minutes waiting for him to speak.

"Are you awake honey," she whispered softly.

"What do you think?"

"I’m just checking. I was just wondering…"

"What do you have to say."

"I’m sorry honey. I just can’t do it. Are you made at me?"

"Is it me?"

"No this has to do with my hang-ups. I just don’t want you to know. I don’t want to see you look at me when I tell you."

"You realize that by not telling me my mind is going to create far worse things then you probably ever did."

"I am okay with that."

"What how can you say that?"

"I’m sorry Michel," cried Kaitlyn. "You must think I’m just a horrible person. You must hate me."

"Do you honestly believe that?"

"What?"

"Do you think that I hate you?"

"Well don’t you."

"Do you think that I would have pressed this this far if I hated you. It’s completely opposite, because I care about you I want to know. I mean if I didn’t then believe me I wouldn’t have a problem just sleeping around with you. But sometime in the past few days I really fell for you. And I’ve always wanted to care about someone like you, but I know that this is all just bittersweet. I mean, I finally get what I wanted but I wasn’t counting on having to pay a price for it. I mean I’m just not prepared to deal with your secrets. But it’s okay," he added quickly. "I will learn to accept not knowing, because I want to be with you. And if this is the price that I have to pay to be with you, than I consider myself lucky, for I feel I got off easy."

"Wait a minute I’m not following this, do you mean no more questions?"

"No more questions."

"And you want to be with me?"

"Just try and keep me away."

"Oh Michel," cried Kaitlyn as she rolled on top of him. "I knew there was something special about you. I’m not going to attempt to try and understand why you are doing this but I swear I won’t make you regret it." This said she began kissing him all over. Sliding her hands under his shirt she began tickling his chest. "Now what do you want to do the rest of the night?"

"What are you kidding me?"

"Well I don’t know there is an interesting program about governmental uprisings in the early 21^st century."

"Now I know you are kidding me."

"No I’m not I saw the promo for it while you were gone," said Kaitlyn not able to stop her smile.

"Oh really," said Michel still looking up at her. "Well I think you are going to miss it tonight," said Michel right before pulling her head down to kiss her.

The two lovers ferociously attacked each other with almost animal instincts sending their clothes flying over the room. Climbing on top of Kaitlyn, Michel began kissing her neck and running his hand up and down her side and back. Kaitlyn wrapped one hand into his hair while her other moved over Michel's back. Spreading her legs Kaitlyn wrapped them around Michel as their bodies united and were soon alive with carnal delight.

Within only minutes Michel stooped and he looked down at Kaitlyn. "What’s wrong why did you stop," asked Kaitlyn trying to catch her breath.

"Can I tell you something?"

"Do you have to do it now?"

"Yes I do."

"Okay what is it?"

Taking in a full breath Michel said, "Believe me, I feel really goofy saying this after only knowing you for only three days and all. But I love you."

Starring up at Michel Kaitlyn’s eyes opened wide as blank expression came over her face. "Seriously?"

"Wow! That’s not quite the response I was looking for."

"Well what do you want me to say?"

"I guess I want you to tell me how you feel."

"I don’t know what I am feeling."

"Well tell me something."

"You can’t possibly know what you are saying."

"I know exactly what I am saying, I love you."

"Stop saying that, you said it earlier you don’t even know me."

"I know enough."

"No you don’t know anything about me."

"Well what I do know, I know I like. And I…"

"Don’t say it again," said Kaitlyn holding her finger up to his mouth. "Why do you have to ruin what we have here."

"Well not that I am complaining but all we seem to have is sex."

"Is that bad," joked Kaitlyn trying to lighten the building tension in the room.

"In theory no, but it’s not enough, I want more than that."

"Really?"

"Yes really. Why can’t you accept that I want to be with you?"
"It is just all so sudden, I mean what would your family think."

"I don’t care what they would think."

"Well you should, at least you have a family that cares about you."

"You’re changing the subject."

"I just don’t think you know what you are really saying."

"I’ve already told you I don’t care about your past. Whatever you did you are hear with me now and that’s all that matters."

"Look I’m just trying to keep this in perspective here. You said you love me. And if I say I love you back, and with everything that that means, and you’re lying to me. I’m going to fucking die."

"I’m not lying to you. And I don’t care about your past, you can tell me whenever you want. And if you never want to, then that’s okay too. All I know is that these last three days have been the greatest of my life, and I've never felt the way I feel about you before. I mean I love to just talk to you, and you make me laugh, and well you are always full of surprise. And maybe because of all that or just simply the way you are looking at me now I would have to say yes Kaitlyn I love you."

Looking up into eyes smiled and said, "I am so in love you." Before pulling his head down kissing him.

Waking up the next day the two lovers were still wrapped in each other’s bodies. Kaitlyn woke up as soon as she felt the movement of Michel's body. She opened her eyes as he ran his hand across her face pushing her hair away from her face.

"I love you," she whispered softly.

"I love you too," said Michel happily.

"I just had to check to make sure I didn’t imagine that last night," said Kaitlyn before rolling on top of Michel kissing him deeply.

Breaking the kiss she sat up on his stomach, "Okay tonight when you get home we are going to try that romantic dinner again, and tonight it is going to work. Now get up you have to have time to get ready for work," said Kaitlyn starting to roll off him.

"But I don’t want to go to work," said Michel grabbing her hips forcing her to stay on his stomach.

"Oh really well no man of mine is going to sit around the house doing nothing all day," said Kaitlyn, attempting to get mad, while waving her finger at him.

"That’s not what I had in mind," laughed Michel running his hands up Kaitlyn’s back trying to pull her down onto of him."

"Uh uh you dirty boy, we ain’t doing that either," laughed Kaitlyn wiggling out of his grasp. "What do you think I am anyway? And besides I have some more things to do today."

Falling back limp on the bed his arms falling out two both sides, "Right I forgot more secrets."

"No lover, I have to keep looking for a job you know. Especially now that I'm not planning on leaving for a long time. And besides, I don’t need you tagging along with me all day."

"Well if it means that you are going to be staying in town then I guess I can go to work. We can pick this up tonight, right?"

"Oh try and stop me tonight," laughed Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn stepped out of Michel’s car on the second level-parking garage; she opened the back door and bent over to pick out the bags from the seat. Standing up she heard the distinctive sound of a hammer cocking on a pistol seconds before the cold metal pushed against the back of her head. Dropping the bag she instinctively raised her hands above her head.

"Put you’re hands on the top of the car," said the familiar voice behind the gun.

As soon as her hands were in place she felt the gun pull back from her head as the man began searching her entire body for weapons. After several moments when he was fully satisfied he put the gun back to her head, "She’s clean."

"Well that’s almost a disappointment," said Marcus. "We’ll speak up honey, what do you have to say about all of this? You knew this day was coming"

Taking in several controlled breaths Kaitlyn responded. "Shit Marcus, what do you want me to say." Taking a quick step backward she spun around swinging her right hand grabbing her assailants’ right wrist. Turning his wrist over so his elbow was facing the ground she simultaneously struck downwards on his tricep with her other hand.

The loud snapping sound rang through the empty garage. But his screams of pain only intensified as she moved her left hand to his shoulders and further twisted his arm forcing him to the ground while taking his pistol and pointing it at Marcus who she saw charging at her, pulling out a pistol of his own out from under his jacket. Pointing the gun in his stomach, Kaitlyn managed to stop his charge, but he also managed to level his weapon pressing it into Kaitlyn’s soft flesh.

Laughing out loud Marcus threw his head back, "Well look at the little princess thinking she can hang with the big boys." He motioned with his free hand and several other figures appeared out of the shadows, they were all armed with small arm weapons.

Kaitlyn immediately recognized all of their faces staring at her, but they were now filled with anger as they stroked their weapons in anticipation of what they were going to do to her.

"What you gonna do honey? Come on make your play?" taunted Marcus. "There is no way you’re walking away from this."

"That may be so, but I’ll be damned if I don’t take you with me. Come on Marcus you aren’t thinking, even if you can shoot me before I get you there is now way you’re going to get out of here with out getting the attention of all the local authorities."

"Damn, you’re a wily one Kate. But we hadn’t planned on doing anything today any way, just call this a warning. If you come back now there will be no hard feelings and you’ll never hear about this again."

"That’s not going to happen, and you know it."

"So this is it? There is no turning back after this you know?"

"I understand that Marcus."

Taking a step back removing the pistol from Kaitlyn, Marcus started taking careful steps back away from her while still training the gun on her. When he was sufficiently away he snapped his fingers and two of the other people quickly picked up their friend who was still lying on the ground holding his arm in pain.

"I hope he is worth it Kaitlyn," said Marcus. "Because you don’t know what you just got yourself into."

"You might not believe it, but I know exactly what I’m doing."

"That’s good Kaitlyn, now you realize if I ever see you again I’m just going to start shooting and consider it self defense."

"Until that day Marcus."

"Until that day."

The group disappeared into the depths of the garage as quickly and unexplainably as they appeared. Kaitlyn went back over to her car and began putting the spilled groceries back into the bags.

That night the dinner went as Kaitlyn hoped, it was intimate, romantic, and they got a prolonged time just to talk each other. Michel’s roommates had still not come back from whatever they were doing, so after dinner they ended up lying on the couch where they just continued to talk while laying in each others arms.

After several hours they moved into the bedroom where they made love. And they were now lying together spooning under the covers. Kaitlyn was holding Michel’s hands close to her chest with both of her hands when she finally fell asleep.

"Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been six days since my last confession. Since then I have lied, taken the Lords name in vain, and indulged in premarital sex… a couple of times…"

"This is quite serious for your penance…"

"Father, wait one minute."

"What is this? This is highly irregular."

"I am sorry Father but I need more than a confession. I need some real advice so could you just please hear me out here. I am just so in need of guidance right now and I have no other place to turn."

"Go ahead my child."

"Father I am so in love with the man, and I really want to be with him."

"That is good there is nothing wrong there."

"Yes there is, you don’t understand I’m a… I do… I am basically."

"Just say it, you will not be judged here."

"I’m a mercenary, I work in covert ops mostly seek and destroy or elimination missions, but I specialize in assassination type jobs."

"That is very serious, but I fail to see the connection with this man you are in love with."

"Well to be honest I just met him five days ago, but I really do love him. Any way he doesn’t know what I do and I just don’t have the heart to tell him. I am so afraid of what he will do or what he will think of me when he finds out. I know he will just leave me and I can’t let that happen."

"But is living with the secrets and lies worth keeping him? Do you really think you can build an honest and trusting relationship with this man when it is built on such an unstable foundation."

"I have thought of all that father and I really want to be honest with him but I don’t think that he will understand. It’s not like I set out to be like this. It is just what I grew up with, I mean every time my father tried to get away from the violence it would always catch up with us. He always said he wanted a different life for me, he said it until the day he was betrayed and killed by his best friend right in front of my eyes. So I needed to take on the family business just to survive since then and I just haven’t been able to get out."

"That is terrible but it still does not justify what you are knowingly doing to this man."

"I know that’s why I gave it up for him. I was going to quit, God help me I was. But the leader of the group I worked for decided to come looking for me, and they know where Michel lives, and they already came after me, and I am just so afraid of what they are going to do to him if I stay with him," screamed Kaitlyn losing all self control.

"Calm down, calm down. That kind of emotion is not going to help this situation at all. Now can’t you go somewhere where they won’t find you?"

"No then I would either have to leave Michel or tell him about the things that I have done."

"Well what were you planning on doing then?"

"Killing them all," responded Kaitlyn calmly

"Now my child we can have none of that. There has to be some other way?"

"I wish there was Father but you just don’t understand these people. They are not the types to just forget. And no matter where I go in the world they will find me. Don’t you understand it is either them or me?"

"So what do you want from me, why did you come to me if you already made up your mind. I will not tell you that it is okay to do what you are hoping for, I can not do that, I will not do that."

"But you have to help me, the guilt, the pressure, is eating me alive. I just can not deal with this, I do not know how."

"Well we can try to figure out some other course of action. Killing is never the answer."

"It is the only one I know, Father," said Kaitlyn her head falling against the wall of the confessional.

"I don’t know what to say what if…"

"I’m sorry to have wasted your time Father, I should have never come here. There just must not be any hope for me," cried Kaitlyn running out of the confessional.

"No wait," screamed the priest as he threw open the confessional door in time to see Kaitlyn running out the main doors of the church, crying heavily holding her head in one hand.

Later that day, before Michel got home, Kaitlyn paced back and forth vigorously. Cussing to her self she finally walked over to the phone, picking up the receiver she quickly dialed.

"Hello," said the voice on the other line.

"Go secure," said Kaitlyn.

"The line is secure. Authorization?"

"Authorization number alpha tango zulu one zero one six four."

"Kaitlyn, what can I do for you?"

"I need to order some equipment."

"What do you need?"

"I need an AK-97 carbine with folding stock, 2 Ares Predator heavy pistols, 1 Ceska Black Scorpion sub machinegun, and an Enfield AS-7 assault shotgun. And I need them all with gas vent 4 recoil compensators and shock pads. And I also need them all with no registration, serial numbers, or past histories. I need a vision mag 3 sight for the AK-97 with thermo graphic, lowlight, and ultrasound modification. I need a 100 armor piercing rounds, 50 explosive rounds for the rifles and the pistols. And two 50 round drums for the shotgun, one flechette and one slug. I also need 6 high explosive, 6 anti-personnel, 4 smoke, and 4 flash grenades. I need 2 Cougar Fineblade knifes in the long version, and 8 5oz. throwing knives. 2 hip holsters for the pistols, 2 shoulder holsters for the knives and a bandoleer for the throwing knives. I’m going to need a hardened military grade armor with thermal dampening, gel packs, and nonconductive electrical insulation. And I need this delivered to a safe house in downtown Quebec preferably in a low visibility district."

"Is that all," said the voice on the other line.

"No, I also need a small compact car, fast with lots of trunk room, and a Harley Scorpion. I need both vehicles in plain black with Quebec license plates and registration and no rust, dents, or any other distinguishing features. I need the car delivered to the safe house, in a parking garage if possible. I need the Harley delivered in the 13 hundred block in an eastbound lane. And I need all this tonight."

"I can’t get it all tonight."

"Don’t tell me that, you have gotten more even faster before."

"Has Marcus approved of this transaction?"

"He has nothing to do with this. This is completely my deal."

"Then quit wasting my time, I can’t do this for you Kaitlyn."

"Yes you can. You can trust me."

"What do you need this for any way?"
"Just name a price and no more questions, okay?"

"You know I am sticking my neck out here if I do this?"

"I’ll owe you one."

"Okay go to locker 1202 at the Jean-Lesage International airport combination

49-36-47. In it will be the keys to the vehicles and directions to the safe house. All the weapons and equipment will be delivered as to your specifications there. Payment should be left in the locker, four hundred thousand in large unmarked bills in a plain package."

"How long till I can expect delivery?"

"36 hours."

"Thank you I owe you big time, for real."

"Just don’t make me regret this and we’ll call it even."

"Thanks again."

"Oh and Kaitlyn, happy hunting."

Kaitlyn layed in bed only half reading the book on her lap, she was mainly watching Michel working on the computer. He had been cursing at the annoying code that he could not make do what it was supposed to do for over two hours now. Closing the book she finally asked, "Why don’t you just come to bed honey?"

"Because I am close to figuring this out, I know I am."

"Well it’s getting late and…"

"Don’t worry sweetie. I will still take the time to do it with you when I’m done," laughed Michel trying to see her reaction in the reflection of the computer,

"That’s not what I was going to say at all."

"Oh really? Than what were you going to say?"

"For you information… I was going to say… Oh hell, so what if it was, just get in this bed."

Laughing Michel turned off the monitor as he turned and jumped into bed. "Well how could I possibly let my own selfish pursuits interfere with my woman’s needs."

"You’re so stupid," laughed Kaitlyn before kissing him.

Basking with in the afterglow she ran her hand up and down his arm drawing swirls and other designs with her finger. He blinked his eyes as sleep began taking over him.

"What would you do if I was gone," asked Kaitlyn.

"What," responded Michel. "Where are you going?"

"If I just wasn’t here, what would you do?"

"Honey I just got you to stay here, I don’t even want to think about losing you yet."

"Fine."

"Why did you ask that? Is they’re something going on?"

"I don’t know? I was just thinking."

"Well just go to sleep we can talk about this in the morning when we are both awake.

"Whatever you say honey. I just want you to know that if I never see you again I am happy now."

Walking into the apartment she quickly looked over the surroundings. The apartment was empty. A table with a single chair was the only furniture in the entire room. The windows were all boarded up from the inside and the walls were barren only the sun burns where pictures once were remained. Several large crates sat next to the table, Kaitlyn immediately walked over to them dropping the large gym bag she brought with her on the table. Opening the cases she looked inside and laid them out around the table.

Opening her gym bag she pulled out several large candles and placed them around the room leaving only one on the table. Turning off the lights she went back into the bag and removed two large rolls of tape one red one blue. She went into the crate and removed several boxes of ammunition and several empty clips. Lining them up on the table in front of her he began humming a low somber song, like the chanting of a monk or a choir as she began the meticulous task of sliding each shell into a clip.

Every time she got two done she taped them together, end to end, with the tape marking the distinction in type, red for explosive, blue for armor piercing. Once completed she put them into a smaller bag until all the ammunition was properly labeled.

Next she removed the Ak-97 from the case, and with nimble and practiced movements she disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the weapon making sure that it was completely operational. Once she was completely satisfied with the weapon she set it aside and started the operation over with the next gun until they were all inspected and loaded.

She next turned her attention to the knives, she first checked the quality of the blade, making sure that they were not flawed in any way, she then sharpened each edge making sure that they were dependable. Placing the large bowie knives in their sheathes and the throwing knives into the bandoleer she placed them onto the ground next to her.

Rubbing the sweat away from her forehead she reached into the gym bag she brought with her and removed a small bottle of whiskey. She whispered, "God I wish I didn’t need this." Before unscrewing the cap and taking a long drink.

Slamming the bottle on the table she stood up and began stripping down to just a tank top and small pair of spandex gym shorts. Tying her hair into a ponytail she walked over to the largest crate, that was still unopened, and bent down next to it. She grunted as she lifted the large armored vest and pants out of the crate. Giving them a thorough inspection she placed them on the table.

She put on the stiff pants first, forcing her leg into the platted material. Once they were properly on she bent down and began tying the large heavy boots that accompanied the armor. Once this was all on she stood up and ran in place for a few seconds and did several other stretches getting her body used to the additional weight.

She then tied the bandoleer of throwing knives to her stomach before putting on the heavy vest over it. Once it was fastened together she secured several of the grenades to it, she also put the holsters for the pistols on her waist, and the sheathes for the bowie knives on each thigh.

She picked up the bag of ammunition and put her arm through the strap and positioned it so it hung on the small of her back. She also secured the small shotgun to the back of her right shoulder, and the Ak-97 to harness that tied across her chest which allowed mobility of the weapon but also secured it to her so if she let go of it, it would not fall to the ground.

Once all this was completed she unscrewed the cap of the bottle and took another long drink. Putting it back down on the table she picked up the half burned candle and walked around the apartment blowing out all the other ones before walking into the bathroom.

Holding the candle in front of her she stared into the reflection in the mirror looking blankly back at her. She stood there for several quiet moments before setting the candle down on the sink and kneeling down on one knee. Resting her elbows on the sink she put her hands together and began to pray. "Lord please forgive me for what I am about to do. This is not what I wanted. I only wanted to be with Michel, I wanted to leave this life behind me. But for whatever reasons you are testing me again. I don’t know if you look down on me favorably for what I am about to do but please give me the strength to see it through, and if I am meant to die today, than let me die well like a warrior on her feet, not begging on my knees. But if you see it fit for me to get through this, know that I will never embark on something as foolish or wrong as this again."

Bowing her head in silence for several moments, she held her breath before adding. "Forgive me for what I am and help me become what I want to be." Blowing out the candle she turned around and marched out of the apartment and headed to her car.

"I knew he would be here," whispered Kaitlyn softly to herself, she was crouching in the dark alley across from a rundown industrial complex. Kaitlyn was tucked into a ball her knees pressed into her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. She was rubbing the small silver crucifix that hung around her neck as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her heels watching the complex; it consisted of a large warehouse and several other machining buildings and from the looks it was very old and unused. Yet there was two guards smoking cigarettes leaning against the large loading door to the warehouse. One of them she immediately recognized as a member of her mercenary team, the other however she could not place. "Hmm looks like he brought in some extra help, I wonder why he did that?"

She waited on the edge of the shadows for sometime just watching the movements of the people inside. From her position she could see at least 16 other people moving about inside the complex. "This is going to be a lot harder than I had anticipated," mumbled Kaitlyn to herself. "How did you get yourself into this? You haven’t been thinking straight this whole week, have you?" Sighed Kaitlyn. "Is he worth it? Is he worth going after several dozen elite mercenaries who all have three times the experience that you have? Come on Kaitlyn think straight what you’re planning on doing is next to impossible. Is he worth it? You should just leave now."

Getting up she ran from shadow to shadow up to the complex with quick precise motions quieter than a cat and twice as agile. She ended up 20 yards away from the large loading doors, her back leaning against the tire of a giant semi.

She took a deep breath before the last moment before complete committal. As she stood up and walked around the front of the semi she reached under the armored vest removing two of the throwing knives. Marching straight towards the guards she threw the knives striking each unsuspecting guard at the same time.

Stepping over their lifeless corpses she bent down pulling the knives out of their necks before she leaned against the sliding door, peering into the open warehouse.

It looked clear so she walked into the room when a large mercenary grabbed the strap on Kaitlyn’s bag containing her ammunition from behind her, pulling back the merc lifted her off the ground. Spinning her head so she went under the strap releasing herself from the bag, she fell nimbly to the ground on one knee. Thrusting her arms forward she struck the merc in the stomach with her palms sending him staggering back.

Grabbing the AK-97 that was strapped to her chest she pointed the gun forward but stopped before firing when she heard a gun cocking behind her. Cartwheeling her body in the air she twisted her body around while her legs where still above her head. Not letting go of the gun she began firing before her feet hit the ground. The loud clatter of the gun rang in the air as her feet came to rest on the ground and she quickly ran for cover as the assailant behind her did the same.

She fell to the ground pointing the barrel of her rifle out just enough to point at where she assumed the assailant to be. A fast blur was all she saw running from behind the cover. She squeezed the trigger but the bullets failed to hit anything. As soon as the last bullet left the barrel she ejected the clip grabbing it while it fell with left hand she spun it around and slammed it back into the gun.

Crouching on one knee Kaitlyn leaned the barrel on top of the crate and swung it back and forth looking for any target. When out of the corner of her eye she saw movement and she quickly turned and opened fire again. Standing up completely she followed the target, but the bullets were always right behind him as he ran around the room. The loud clatter of the gun soon turned into a click. Tearing away the rifle from it’s harness she threw it to the ground seconds before the large mercenary grabbed her from behind again and pulled the shotgun from its case and threw it across the room.

Spinning around Kaitlyn saw the large mercenary swinging a large axe at her head. Ducking down she swung her leg attempting to sweep his legs out from under him, but her leg only bounced off his sending her sprawling to the ground.

Redirecting the swing the merc sent the axe down at Kaitlyn who pulled her legs up in time to avoid the attack as she rolled onto her back. Using the momentum she lifted her legs up and sprung back with her hands flipping up to her feet.

As soon as she landed the mercenary swung his axe again this time at her legs leaping over the blade each time Kaitlyn managed to land in time to jump again as the blade came swinging back at her. Tiring from the effort the swings became slower and capitalizing on the extra second of time Kaitlyn kicked at the height of her jump, pushing off his chest she back flipped kicking him again under the chin as she spun backwards. Landing she took a step backwards with her front foot backhanding the charging merc as he came up behind her. Switching her momentum she stepped forward punching the merc with the axe in the face then the stomach. Spinning her head around she saw the merc behind her preparing to swing his massive arms with a double axe handle, swinging an underhand blow she connected in his stomach with a hammer fist causing him to buckle forward. Swinging her forearm up she back fisted him in the face before pulling her hand back across her chest, grabbing her fist with her other hand she drove her elbow into his chest knocking him back.

Looking behind her in time to see the large merc swinging a roundhouse kick with his massive leg Kaitlyn pulled her arms to her chest. She managed to absorb most of the impact with her forearms, as she fell back grabbing his leg with her right arm for support. Pulling him forward with his leg she caused him to momentarily lose balance, capitalizing she swung her right leg behind his sweeping it out from under him. As he fell backwards he tried to punch her but she easily grabbed his tricep with her free hand stopping the blow. Pushing his arm into his chest she forced him into the ground while pinning his leg down with her knee. Letting go of his leg she repeatedly palm heel striked him to the face.

She continued to strike him until the merc that was behind her kicked her in the back sending her tumbling over the large merc. Running over to her prone body before she had a chance to stand up the merc drove her knee into her side. Reaching up Kaitlyn grabbed her by the neck and drove her own knee into the merc’s stomach. Lifting with her leg she flung the merc over onto her back. Rolling up with her she sat on her stomach before slamming her palm several times into the defenseless merc’s face, crushing her nose into her skull.

All her immediat opponents disposed off she quickly ran off into the shadows before any more of them showed up.

She was sneaking around the open warehouse dashing between the boxes and crates when she heard the sound of a grenade bouncing up behind her. She tried to run but it was to late, she was soon flying through the air. She came to rest when she slammed against a large wooden crate; her armor absorbing most of the grenade blast but she did still take some damage.

"Did you like that Kaitlyn," laughed Marcus his voice carying through the large warehouse.

"I’ve been looking for you, where have you been hiding," said Kaitlyn through clenched teeth.

"I haven’t been hiding, I was just watching you kill off all your friends. By the way, I was wondering how you felt about that?"

Looking down at the blood pouring through her fingers that were clutched to her stomach, she said "Their lives are not on my head, you made them come after me."

"I did not make them," said Marcus shooting his submachine gun tearing up the crate that Kaitlyn was hiding behind.

Jumping she ran towards the next obvious protection which took the form of a large metal drum 10 feet to her right. Half way to her destination the ground in front of her erupted with gunfire. Stopping her forward momentum she dove to her left landing hard on the concrete floor.

The seconds she stayed there was too long, because from almost every side bullets began raining down on her. Scrambling to her hands and knees she half ran half crawled out of the way. Jumping over another crate she landed hard on her back.

"You still with us," laughed Marcus.

Lying on her back with her legs up against the crate she responded, "Yeah I am, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily."

"As I was saying I didn’t make them come after you, this was their idea."

"You could have stopped them though," said Kaitlyn straightening herself up. "You could have if you wanted to, you didn’t have to make me do this. You could have just let me disappear."

"But then we wouldn’t be having all this fun tonight."

"God damn you, is that all this is to you," screamed Kaitlyn as she took off her vest. Her tank top clung around wound in her stomach as the blood continued to flow out of it. "I new you were twisted but I never thought you would go this far. These people are dead, don’t you understand that, they aren’t coming back. They were your friends and mine Marcus," said Kaitlyn ripping the material on the vest and tying it around her waist in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding.

"There’s plenty more people where these guys came from. And besides if they were any good you wouldn’t have gotten them all so easily."

"You’re a monster Marcus," said Kaitlyn drawing her pistols and cocking them both.

"I know I am. But I’m also a survivor."

As he said that one of his men came around the corner of the boxes in front Kaitlyn. Raising her pistols she fired. The mercenary flailed frantically as the shells repeatedly hit him in the chest.

Hearing something behind her between rounds Kaitlyn spun around and pushed off the crate with her feet. Sliding across the floor she pointed her pistols at the large woman crouching on top of the crate with a large axe in her hand. The blade stuck into the crate where only seconds ago Kaitlyn’s head was resting. Trying to pry it from the wood the mercenary woman was thrown from the top of the crate as Kaitlyn opened fire.

To Kaitlyn’s surprise another mercenary jumped over the same crate with two hatchets in his hands. Pointing her guns she again pulled the triggers, but the guns did not come to life only the click click sound of an empty weapon rang through the warehouse.

Instinctively rolling out of the way of his swing Kaitlyn barely managed to dodge his frantic leaping attack. Sparks arose from the ground where she had just been lying and they rained on her as she spun her body swinging her legs. Hitting her assailant in the back of his knees caps sending him to the floor his weapons sliding from his hands. Using the momentum she spun herself to feet and stood over the man.

Not accepting defeat so easily the man started to reach for Kaitlyn’s leg but was stopped as she drove her knee into his chest. Grabbing the stunned mans head with both hands she slammed it into the concrete floor until he stopped moving.

Running back to her protective crate she reached behind her back and pulled the last two clips from her bag, which she quickly loaded into her pistols.

"Are you still with me now," yelled Marcus.

"You aren’t that lucky Marcus. How many more men do you have? I bet you are starting to sweat a little bit over there."

"I’d be worrying about your skinny little ass right now if I were you honey. Cause ol’ Marcus is coming after you personally now."

Getting up and running Kaitlyn ran from the crate seconds before it exploded into pieces. She managed to get behind another stack of boxes before spinning around to look for Marcus. "Come on Marcus you don’t want it to end like this, do you?"

"Interesting, what do you mean," yelled Marcus before throwing another grenade.

Running again Kaitlyn jumped just in time for the blast to carry her over another set of boxes. "You don’t want to blow me up half way across the room do you? Where is the fun in that?"

"Does this have something to do with the fact that you are almost out of ammo."

"I got to clips left, but that’s way more than I need to kill you."

"What do you propose," asked Marcus throwing another grenade.

Ducking she waited to the explosion died down, that was lucky enough to be off target. Stepping out from behind her cover she set her guns down and held up her hands. "Come on out where I can see you Marcus."

"And why would I do a fool thing like that?"

"Cause you don’t want this to end like this. You want to stick a knife in me," said Kaitlyn pulling one of her large bowie knives from its sheath. "Look at this blade," said Kaitlyn running her finger across the edge of the cold metal. "Imagine your delight seeing yours sticking into my body. Watching me writhe in pain as you twist over and over again. Now why would you deprive yourself of that pleasure."

"You really know me to well sweetie."

Kaitlyn stood for several awkward vulnerable moments in the center of the room holding her knives calmly at her side. She did not have to wait for long before Marcus was standing right in front of her appearing out of the shadows.

"Well well look at you. Looks like you’ve gone through hell and back," laughed Marcus. "Is you button pusher worth it?"

"Yes he is."

"Well come on then let’s do this," said Marcus pulling out two impressively large knives from behind his back. "We have to decide if Mr. Button pusher is going to be sleeping alone tonight."

Stepping back into a fighting stance the blades running down her forearms was Kaitlyn’s only response.

"You realize I taught you everything you know about using those," said Marcus still standing casually.

"We’ll see if I still can’t teach you a thing or two."

What followed was a flurry of swinging blades and bodies that would have been beyond the comprehension of any onlookers. Moving through out the entire warehouse neither combatant could tell who in fact was winning the stalemate as they attacked regrouped and attacked again.

Mutually stopping both warriors gasped for breath as they examined their sliced bodies. Small slashes covered both of their arms and torsos.

"I must admit," said Marcus between breaths. "I am impressed."

"Thanks your approval means everything to me," said Kaitlyn sarcastically.

"See, you could never take a compliment. I never understood that. I mean just ‘cause I’m about to kill you doesn’t mean I can’t say something nice about you."

"Fuck you Marcus."

"Now that kind of attitude is not going to get you into heaven missy. Come to think of it killing me isn’t going to do much for you chances either."

"Don’t you even…"

"What? Question your fragile little faith that rules your whole life. Shit girl, it will only take a feather to cause your whole reality to come crashing down."

"Why don’t you just shut up," said Kaitlyn sitting back on a crate holding her side in pain.

"No, just keep believing in the God who does not care about you. Don’t question your faith, just like you don’t question anything else in your life. Just accept the shitty life God gave you and don’t ever question why you grew up in all the violence and death."

"Damn you Marcus," said Kaitlyn standing up and preparing to charge him.

"Now now hold on a minute I ain’t ready yet. Come on you are about to die, take these last few moments to do some reflection and think for yourself," said Marcus as he applied pressure the bleeding wound in his side. " I sure hope that loser you are shaking up with doesn’t find out that you were involved in this tonight. I mean seeing your lifeless corpse being dragged out on national TV might crush him. Since I know you still haven’t told him, the questions of how you turned up here will just eat him alive. Shit, I’d almost consider letting you go just ‘cause I know it will fuck with his head so much."

"That’s not true he told me he doesn’t care about my past. He said he would wait till I could tell him."

"Awe and that’s so sweet that you believed him. Off course he said that, do you think he wants to give up a piece of tail like you. Oh but I get it, you got some idiotic idea that he will have the same faith in you that you do towards God. Ohh I know Kaitlyn would never do anything truly wrong so I will never question what she does ‘cause she is so sweet and innocent, right," said Marcus in a mocking voice. "Damn if that’s true I’d say you have it better off believing in God, ‘cause you are definitely fucking this boy over."

Not responding Kaitlyn sprung from where she was sitting swinging her knives at Marcus with renewed vigor. Ducking her wild swing Marcus ran his knife across her stomach. Screaming she stabbed downward with her other blade. Not having the time to move or block Marcus just shoved his massive body into Kaitlyn’s, knocking them both to the floor. Rolling Kaitlyn managed to flip him over her with a mighty kick with both her legs. Flipping up back onto her feet Kaitlyn laughed at Marcus sprawled over the floor as she stood in a defensive stance.

"God damn you little girl, no one laughs at me," screamed Marcus before getting back up. As soon as he was on his feet he charged at Kaitlyn swinging both of his massive arms at Kaitlyn. Ducking underneath the attack Kaitlyn fell to both knees simultaneous slashing across his gut with her knives, crossing her arms as she did. Following this through by changing the direction of the motion embedding the knives to the hilt in his sides.

Standing up she saw the look of surprise and shock in his eyes. She could feel his warm insides flowing out around her hands as he gasped for breath. "Now how the hell did that happen," choked Marcus.

Not saying anything Kaitlyn feel back to her knees along with the lifeless body of Marcus. Releasing the handles of the knives his body feel backwards and rested on the floor. Crossing herself she began to cry, holding her head in her hands.

She however did not mourn for long, the distinctive sound of police sirens began screaming in the distance. Jumping to her feet she ran out of the building. Turning to her right she ran a block until she saw a black Harley Scorpion parked on the side of the road. Jumping on the seat she stuck the key into the ignition and was relieved as the vehicle came to life and she raced down the street.

Pushing open the door to the apartment Kaitlyn immediately saw Michel sitting in the living room chair as she leaned against the doorway. Looking up he gasped as he saw the condition that Kaitlyn was in as she leaned against the doorway. He sprung from the couch in time to grab her as she fell into in his arms.

"Oh my God, are you okay," screamed Michel.

Wrapping her arms around him tightly she whispered, "I’ll be fine."

"Let me get you to the hospital you need…"

"No," said Kaitlyn strongly. "No hospitals, just take me to your bed and get some bandages."

"But honey…"

Squeezing his arm to stop his sentence Kaitlyn begged, "Please just do what I say, trust me."

Michel took Kaitlyn to the bedroom and began bandaging up her wounds as she told him. He was quiet the whole time, only speaking to ask if he was doing it properly or not. It only took about a half-hour and he had managed to stop all the bleeding and wrapped all the cuts on her arms and chest most were minor and insignificant. He even sewed up the more serious wound in her side, with some heavy persuasion by Kaitlyn.

Michel now sat in a chair by the edge of the bed looking at Kaitlyn wrapped in blankets resting comfortably. It had been a half-hour since he finished bandaging her and he had still not said a word. Removing her hand from under the blanket Kaitlyn reached out and grabbed his hand. Squeezing it tightly she attempted to smile. "Are you okay," she asked nervously.

"Funny I was going to ask you the same question," chuckled Michel.

Her smile finally came to her lips and she said, "Thank you for doing this for me."

"Kaitlyn how…"

"Please Michel, don’t. This is the last time I am asking you to take a leap of faith on me. Can you do that?"

Closing his eyes he asked, "Did it have to do with that man that was here the other day? Can you at least tell me that?"

"Yes it did," said Kaitlyn reluctantly. "But it is all over now I promise you that."

"I hope you are telling the truth because I don’t know how much more of this I can handle."

Trying to sit up her body groaned and she fell back to the bed. Jumping from his chair Michel wrapped his arms around Kaitlyn’s body forcing her into the bed. "Don’t get up just lie there till you are better. I don’t care what happened tonight. I don’t even want to know. I’m just happy that you are okay. And that’s all that matters," cried Michel.

Putting her hand on the back of his head Kaitlyn began crying, "Thank you, I swear you will never have to go through another night like tonight again. I’m sorry you had to go through it at all. But it is over, no more secrets I promise you." The couple stayed like this, wrapped in each other’s arms crying until they fell asleep together.

"Mom, I would like you to meet Michel," said Kaitlyn kneeling slowly down on the ground. Her wounds were healing quickly but they still caused some pain. "He is going to be taking care of me from now on. So you don’t need to worry I won’t be alone anymore. He is a good man and I know you’d approve of him." Reaching back she took Michel’s hand, who was standing behind her. "Come on honey sit down, it’s okay." Sitting down uncomfortably next to Kaitlyn Michel just held her hand.

Patting the top of his hand with hers Kaitlyn continued. "I think he is going to be good for me mom, and God willing we will be able to build a good life together. I know now I will make you proud."

All characters and story trademarked and copyrighted to Anthony "Griffon" Pulido and Aaron "Necreus" Claypool.