Dare to Love

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing

A/N: Keep in mind these characters are from "Hunt for Sviederbach" and "Hidden Beneath the Mask". We will see Aveline, Cece, and perhaps even mentions of PJ and Skyler in this story, even though the focus is on Martin Lamont and Kelly. This is that 'what if' implied by the changing of destiny.


Chapter 7 (Nightmare)

"So what happened back there?" Martin shut the front door as Kelly moved for the couch and glared at the television. All of the items had been pulled in, but Martin had yet to hook up the camera systems. Kelly put her arms over her chest and gazed down at the floor. Martin moved over to the couch and sat on the cushion to her right. "All this time, we've been worrying about my family, we haven't talked about yours. I'm guessing what Chuck said…that was a trigger word. It was uncalled for, and you are not that. You're anything but that." He didn't know her that well, it wasn't like he could say such a thing, and perhaps mean it.

"You're just saying that. All my life, that's all I've ever known." She clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away from him. "The 'bitch' my dad would beat, and his uncle would laugh. The only time mom would ever do anything about it is if Uncle Keme tried to touch me inappropriately, she never let that stuff fly, but she let everything else go on. Not that dad let Keme do anything either..." Martin's nose crinkled as she slowly rubbed her arm and glanced away. "Dad would beat her too, so I'm not surprised. He was a drunkard, ironically, considering Mom was the Irish one and he was Native American. So back there, I lost it, yeah…I'm dangerous."

"No you're not. If anyone's dangerous, it's me." She felt his hand on hers and looked over. He was turned fully towards her, one knee tucked under him on the couch and his right leg was hanging off. His upper body leaned forward and his eyes were studying her intensely, as though looking through him. "I respect your strength, I admire you…you got through that."

"I killed my parents, Martin…"

"I know, you've mentioned it. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do, but maybe it was the only thing you could do." She raised an eyebrow, curious that he was quoting her. Did the things she say really matter all that much to him? "You'll get through this, I'll even help you. I don't know what I can do, but I'll be here for you. Just know…if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. Okay?"

She paused, letting her heart do the driving in this moment. She wanted to tear away, run out the door and never look back. She wanted to push him aside and shout that he could never help her. The look in his eyes told her he would do his best to be there for her, it was the first time she'd ever seen such sincerity in someone, and she appreciated it. "I'm not perfect, Martin. I'm damaged. I've got a lot of emotional issues, as you just saw. I don't want to hurt you…I don't want to hurt anyone. I fly off the handle easily, why do you think I confessed to having killed Spencer? That murder was inhuman!"

"I don't think so…" She flattened her gaze as Martin straightened himself confidently. "The murder was gruesome, sure, but you're most definitely human. You felt the guilt, turned yourself in, and now you're wanting to give living a second shot, right? That's as human as it comes. Not only that, but you say you're damaged, well…" He put his hand to his chest, still keeping his eyes locked with hers, melting the icy wall she was trying to build up. "So am I. It gets pretty bad…but maybe if we help each other out, we can heal. Right?"

"I guess. I wouldn't blame you if you threw me out the door."

"I won't do that. You apparently didn't run off after realizing what my family was all about, so I'm not going to do that to you. There's nothing you could say or do that will change my mind."

"Thanks…" She looked to the cables on the ground and pointed to them, wondering when he was going to hook the system up. "Shouldn't we start putting that stuff together?" He turned his head and thinned his lips. His brow furrowed and his shoulders lifted up. "Don't you want to get it hooked up?"

"I can always do that tomorrow. It's not like there's anything to see tonight. It's one-thirty in the morning, both of us are tired, Aveline and everyone else is asleep right now…no point in hooking up the system." He pushed down on his leg while standing from the couch, sighing heavily. "Let's discuss sleeping arrangements. Since there's only one twin bed in there…I'll go out and buy another bed tomorrow, I like putting things together like that. Until then, I'll take the couch and you can take the bed."

"Are you sure?" She didn't want to take up his bed if he wanted it. He was only being a gentleman, sure, but she didn't require it. "I can take the couch." She pat her hands on the cushions, bouncing up and down. It was soft, smooth, and she could envision herself sleeping on it. "It's comfortable."

"The mattress in there is more comfortable. You'll like it." He was insistent on her taking the bed, and he didn't appear to take no for an answer, so there was no point in arguing. She shrugged her shoulders and rose from the couch. Martin glanced to his phone on the end table, vibrating once more. He rolled his eyes and exhaled sharply. "It's still like six-thirty where Dad's at in Chicago."

"I see." She took the phone and Martin raised an eyebrow. "You said Aveline's finding him tomorrow?" He nodded slowly and she quickly flipped open the phone. His face started to pale as her lips curled into a devious smirk. "Anyway, I'm surprised by this phone…" It was a black flip phone with a digital screen, a Nokia. "It's not exactly futuristic."

"Droids went south several years back and old designs became fresh. People just like the primitive technology a little better. That, and, I'm old fashioned. I'd rather have a primitive looking phone over a hi-tech one."

"I guess that makes sense. Not so sure my cell would still work." Granted, she didn't have a cell anymore. She didn't have anything anymore. She clicked 'accept' on the call and put the phone to her ear. Martin's jaw dropped and he started to reach for the phone, hesitating once she held up her hand. He put his hand to his forehead and groaned. "Hello Mr. Lamont. Steven, is it?"

"What? Who the fuck is this?"

"Is that any way to talk to a lady? You've been ringing all day, it's getting old, and I suggest you cut it out."

"Let me talk to my son, damn it!" She rolled her eyes and looked towards Martin, amazed by how angry this man was. She shook her head and narrowed her eyes.

"No sir, I don't believe that will be happening. He's a little tied up at the moment." Martin cupped his mouth, stifling a laugh. Steven stammered and tried to speak up, but she wasn't letting him have that moment. "I may be considering handing him over to the Princess, but maybe not. There's a ransom…"

"Whatever, if he got himself captured, it's his own damned fault…" She leaned back and clenched her jaw. She truly wanted to slap this man across the face. How could a father be so harsh against his own son? "Just tell me, has he picked up Mala? We cannot let her go, not allowed." A growl fled her throat and her anger began to simmer once more.

"No sir, he's decided against Mala. He does not wish to be with her, and he does not wish for her to be stuck with your shitty-ass family. I hope when Aveline finds you tomorrow, she and Astor will run you through with everything they have! You're nothing but a pathetic excuse of a man, you have no right to be called a dad!" She clicked off the phone before lashing out even further. She hadn't wanted to get Martin in trouble with her family, and she feared having just done that. "Sorry Martin, I think I pissed him off…"

"That's fine, I honestly never saw anyone talk to him like that." He folded his arms and chuckled. "You know what? Keep the phone with you so I don't have to talk to them…every time I talk to them, I wind up doing things I don't want to, just out of fear of their threats."

"Yeah, I was thinking that. I'll do that for you…" She turned the phone off and rose to her feet. She could use the phone herself, not that she had anyone to call. "I'm actually not very good with fathers."

"You don't say?" He teased her and she let out a sharp exhale, not enjoying the tease all that much. "Anyhow, I'm going to grab some blankets for myself from the hall closet. The bedroom's all yours. Make yourself at home."

"Thanks again…" She started for the entryway into the hall, but stopped as bathroom utensils crossed her mind. What were the chances of him having her favorite type of shampoo? Not to mention, toothbrushes and extra towels. She looked back at him and chuckled nervously, they only bought clothes earlier. "Uh Martin, you wouldn't happen to have extra unused toothbrushes, would you? Also, shampoos and conditioners…what kind do you have?" Martin brought his fingers to his chin and raised an eyebrow.

"Gillette Shampoo, and only one toothbrush, mine…want me to run out to the store real quick? I can."

"That's not necessary. I usually take showers before going to bed, so uh…you don't mind if I use the shampoo tonight do you?"

"Be my guest."

"Thanks…" She made her way into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, it would be nice to have a nice hot shower after all the hassle today. Her thoughts drifted to her friends as she started to towards the tub. The bathroom looked a lot like bathrooms of her era, a long room with a marble counter against the wall and a metal sink. There was a wall mirror along the length of the counter.

In front of the counter was a toilet, and on the other side was a long tub that gave her the option to lay down or stand. She was so stressed to the point that she wanted to sit and let the shower run down on her. She reached in and turned the crystal knobs, glancing up as the water started to pour out. "For the first time in god knows how long…I'll actually have a shower in a house…"

It was not long before she was in the shower, seated with the water shooting down on her and filling up the tub. She scrubbed her hair with Martin's 'men' shampoo, cringing at the thought of using a shampoo different from what she was used to. Then again, she didn't have the option of good shampoo in prison anymore, so she appreciated his, even if she didn't like the thought of her hair smelling like a man.

Her mind traveled off towards the family that Martin had, and she grimaced, thinking of the 'conversation' with his father. That man reminded him so much of her own father, uncaring and demonic, it was a nightmare just talking to him.

"Momma help!" Screamed the ten year old redhead, her mother was sitting in the corner of the kitchen with a black eye, watching as the drunken man with long black hair threw his daughter across the room. Kelly struck the wall and bit her lip, tasting her own blood and gagging on sour flavor. The scent of alcohol turned her stomach. Her eyes shot open to see the man's angry, bloodshot eyes glaring inches from her face. His hair was flowing in front of his eyes and his teeth open in a wild snarl.

"I thought I told you bedtime was at nine? You think you're just a spoiled little bitch that can do whatever the hell you want, don't you!"

"No papa!" He backhanded her cheek, twisting her head and sending pain through her body. Her scream echoed against the walls as her father grabbed her hair and started to lift her off the ground. "Papa please! I'm sorry! I just wanted a glass of milk…"

"Quit your fucking sniveling. I told you and your mother, bedtime was at nine o'clock. You'll listen to me, or am I going to have to send you to your Uncle to talk?"

"No! No!" Uncle Keme wasn't any better, that man was even more of a terror than her own father was! Whenever she went to his house, she didn't come back until she was red from head to toe, and her mom was often sent at the same time, but remained on the floor where the man wanted her. She hated her mother just as much as she hated her father, and her uncle, all because the woman never did anything! Even when she tried to cuddle with her mother, the woman pushed her away! "I'm sorry!"

"Tomorrow…" The man dropped her back to the ground and kicked her back against the wall. She bit her lips as tears stung her cheeks. "You will not eat. That is your punishment."

"Papa?"

"You will not be permitted to eat or drink, but you will sit down at the dinner table." This was a usual punishment for her, whenever she pissed him off of course. She would never be allowed dinner, and whenever she was hungry, he ate more.

"Please Papa, I'm sorry…"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Kelly opened her eyes, hugging herself. The shower was off and the water had grown cold. Had she fallen asleep? A whimper left her lips and she finished her hair before letting the water drain. It had risen to the point that it was overflowing, so Martin must have turned off the shower for her. "I hope he didn't see anything…" Granted that wasn't a major concern in that moment.

She slowly rose from the shower and eyed the sink and toilet. On the closed lid of the toilet was a fresh, steamed towel, and on the sink was an unopened toothbrush package. She turned the corner of her lip up and lifted her eyebrows. "I can't believe he went to the store anyway…" She wiped her eyes and peered down at the wet floor, she'd have to clean this mess up somehow. It wouldn't be a problem for her, and it would give her something to take her mind off the nightmare she'd just had.

Cleaning the bathroom and drying up took forty minutes. When she left the bathroom, the lights in the house were off. When she checked the living room, Martin was on the couch, wrapped up in what appeared to be a thick blanket. With a smile, she thanked him mentally and walked back towards the bedroom. Hopefully she could sleep without her nightmares.


So we learned a little about Kelly's family, tell me your thoughts. Another thing, would you believe I almost lost everything I had, including all 20 prewritten chapters I have so far of this story? The flash drive broke, but by some miracle I managed to salvage everything.