Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates, life has been pretty crazy lately. Things are starting to slow down so hopefully updates will be more frequent.
Chapter 6.
"Hey Conner!" A voice yelled out across the soccer field.
Conner turned to his left to see where the voice came from and noticed two girls about his age standing on the side of the field.
It was his girlfriend of three years, Kira Ford and their friend Anna Oliver. Anna had dropped the "Hutchins" from her name
once the adoption papers had been finalized and took on Tommy's last name.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Conner asked.
"Did you really think we were going to miss your game?" Anna asked.
"Well, I know how you have been busy so I kind of thought you were going to miss this one."
"Where's Ethan?" Kira asked.
"Helping Dr. O with something in the lab. They told me they would try to make it but not to hold my breath."
"Oh, okay. Well we just wanted to say hi and good luck out there. We're going to go find a seat."
"Alright, see you after the game."
"Be safe hon." Kira whispered as she hugged him.
"I will babe."
"What did I tell you about that?"
"I know, that's why I do it."
Conner quickly kissed her on the lips and ran back to the field before she could say anything.
In The Lab
Ethan and Tommy were working diligently with Hayley, Jason and John. Tommy had gotten better with his anxiety about Billy,
he wasn't working himself into a frenzy anymore and for that Kimberly was very grateful. They had not gotten anywhere once
again with their research and they all needed a break.
"Hey Tom, why don't we take a break?" Jason chimed in.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. How about we pick it up in a few hours."
"What do we do until then?" John asked.
"I know, let's go to Conner's soccer game, it just started about ten minutes ago, if we hurry, we can still catch most of it"
Ethan said.
"That sounds like a good idea, Kira and Anna went there a little earlier so they could see the whole thing."
"Where is it at?" Jason asked.
"About ten minutes from here. Not far."
"Cool let's go."
"Hey Kim." Tommy yelled as he came up the stairs from the basement.
"Yeah, Tommy?"
"We're going to Conner's game, you want to come with us?"
"Sure."
Once they arrived at the game, Kim was able to spot Anna and Kira in the crowd, mostly because of Anna's bright pink outfit. Not unlike her mother when she was young. Anna had never been really keen on the color pink, but for whatever reason, found herself wearing it more and more in the previous months.
"Mom! Dad!" Anna shouted.
"Hey guys." Kira added.
"Hey girls, so how's the game going?" Tommy asked.
"Not so good, their losing by two."
"How much time left?" Jason asked.
"Three minutes in the first half." Ethan said, looking at the scoreboard.
"Hey John, it's good to see you again." Kira said.
"It's good to see you again too, Kira, Anna."
As they talked amongst each other, the game continued to play. Soon enough it was almost over. With a minute to go, Conner
was able to get the ball away from the defender and dashed for the goal. Tommy and everyone stood up and started cheering,
as he got closer. Out of the corner of his eye, Conner saw his teammate Alexi, who he had known in high school coming up on his
side. As a defender got closer to him and started his slide tackle, Conner kicked the ball to Alexi just before he was taken
to the ground from the tackle. Alexi got the ball and scored the game winning goal as time expired. The crowd went nuts.
Alexi celebrated with his teammates except for one. Conner had not gotten up from the grass after the slide tackle and was
screaming and writhing in pain on the ground. The team soon surrounded him to make sure that he was okay as Tommy and everyone
ran out on the field as well. Jason was the first to get to him, and quickly turned away. He motioned to Tommy to stop the
girls and not let them see it. When the opponent slid into him for the tackle, his cleat came up and punctured Conner's leg.
"Ahh! My leg." Conner screamed in agony.
Kira was not going to listen to Tommy anymore and went to Conner's side, instantly regretting it. She knew she should have listened to him.
"Conner, are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, never better."
"What happened?"
"His cleat came off the grass and got me in the leg. Where's Alexi?"
"I'm here Conner."
"Did you do it? Did you score?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry man, we won."
"You're hurt."
"I'll be okay bud. Go celebrate."
Kimberly had looked over to the other sideline and saw the coach of the other team giving the player who tackled Conner a high five as he smiled at his accomplishment.
"It was blatent." She whispered.
"What?" Tommy asked.
However, Kimberly was already making her way over to the other side of the field. She was there quickly.
"Hey!"
"Yes?" The player asked.
"You slid into him on purpose, didn't you?"
"Now why would I do that? I'm not a dirty player."
"I saw you high five your coach and you were smiling."
"That doesn't prove anything."
"I know you did it on purpose and I'm going to report you to the league."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Ms. Hart." The Coach said.
Kimberly's blood ran cold at the voice.
"Oh no." She whispered as she turned around.
"It's been a while, hasn't it Kimberly?"
"What are you doing here Mike?"
"I came to find my daughter, I knew you were in the area. When she arrived and I saw her talking to the boy, I thought it may have been her, but now that you are here, I know it's her."
"She's not your daughter anymore."
"By blood she is."
"How long have you been here?"
"A few months."
"I'm going to go and pretend like this conversation never happened."
"You do that, but make sure to tell my daughter I said hello."
Kimberly walked away to the group of people who were putting Conner on a stretcher and into the ambulance since he could
put no pressure on his leg. As they closed the doors to the ambulance, Kimberly looked back towards Mike and saw him with a
smile on his face as they drove off. Mike then looked around and made sure no one was around. He then dialed his cell phone.
After a few rings, a male voice came on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Brandon."
"Mike?"
"Yeah. Step one is done. Kimberly knows I'm here."
"Good, when do we move to step two?"
"In time, until then you must stay hidden."
"I want revenge."
"And you will get it, as will I. Now, however is not the time."
"When will the time be?"
"I don't know Brandon, but I promise you, you will get your revenge."
"They will pay for killing my brother and father."
At The Hospital
Everyone was waiting for news on Conner. No one had said anything since they arrived. Ethan went to Kira.
"You okay?"
"It's like deja vu. I hate this place."
"I know, but at least we know he's okay just banged up."
"Yeah, hey do you know what's wrong with Kim?"
"No, why?"
"She's been really quiet and distant and I don't think it has to do with Conner."
"Haven't noticed."
But Tommy had.
"Kim, what's wrong?"
"He's here. He found me."
"Who?"
"Mike. He was the coach of the other team today."
"Mike? As in Anna's dad?"
"Yeah. He said he came to find her and now he knows where she is."
"Hey, I'm not going to let anything happen to her, don't worry."
"I need to tell her."
"I'll do it."
"No, I need to. Anna, could I talk to you for a minute."
"What's up mom?"
"You know how I went to confront that player after he tackled Conner?"
"Yeah."
"The coach of that team was your father Anna. It was Mike."
"What is he doing here?"
"He said that he came looking for you."
"Why now? After 20 years?"
"I don't know. But I had to tell you."
"Well, he may have helped create me and I may have his blood but he is not my father and I am not his daughter."
Soon after, Conner came out of the hospital room on crutches and his leg heavily bandaged.
"How are you feeling?" John asked.
"Hurt. My leg is killing me."
"What's the verdict doc?" Ethan asked.
"He's going to have to stay off of it, we had to stitch it back up and any physical activity will tear them. He needs to stay off the leg for about two weeks."
"Thanks doctor."
"Have a good night, Mr. McKnight."
"Thank you."
At Tommy's house
Everyone returned to the house and decided on resting for the night.
"Here you go Conner, feet up." Tommy recomended.
"Well at least I remember this visit."
Everyone chuckled at that little comment.
As the night wore on, people went to their respective homes. As Tommy and Kim were heading upstairs to go to bed, the phone rang. Tommy ran to it.
"Hello?"
"Tommy?"
"Kat?"
"It's me."
"How are you?"
"I'm good, just working away. I got your invitation and I'm calling to let you know that I will be there. I've already got it organized at work. I'll have a week in the states. I'll call you when we get closer to the wedding and let you know all the details."
"Alright Kat, we look forward to seeing you. Good night."
"Good night Tommy."
TBC.