Fighter

Part 9

February 2013

Kristina had been attacked while leaving the school library. He ran up behind her, tackled her and pushed her to the ground. She rolled over, trying to break away from him, and they were suddenly face to face.

His nasty breath washed over her face, while the weight of his thick body held her down. "Be a good girl and you won't get hurt."

He tried unzipping her jeans. She took that opportunity to grab his wrist and twist it counterclockwise so he yelled out in pain, dropping the knife and then she kneed him in the groin and rolled him off her in one smooth move.

Slamming her palm into his nose, she heard it crunch as then it gushed blood, while he cried out in agony.

"Bitch!" he hissed at her.

"Don't mess with this bitch!" she yelled back at him, breathing hard, as she punched him in the face several times before diving off him, grabbing the knife and putting some distance between them. She got out her purse, hit the speed dial for the police and yelled "I'm right outside of the PCU library and someone just tried to rape me!"

Throwing down the phone she grabbed her pepper spray. He stumbled to his feet and threatened "No one is gonna get here in time to save you!"

She sprayed him in the face, kicked him in the stomach and sent him flying backwards. "I'd worry more about yourself, asshole. I'm doing just fine."

Sirens blared in the distance and Kristina knew she would still be standing when the police arrived. She couldn't say the same for the creep that made the mistake of messing with her.

XXXXXXXX

Johnny heart jumped into his throat when he saw the front page story in Todd Manning's tabloid style newspaper about the kick ass mob princess who single handedly fought off her attacker. Pride coursed through Johnny that Kristina had put all her training to good use but he also was freaked out that someone had tried to rape her.

Dialing his cell, he called her. "I need to see you," he said as soon as she answered.

"I'm not done with school till six today."

"Dinner at the bistro?"

"I'll meet you there."

When she showed up that evening, he drank in the sight of her. It had been weeks since they kissed and he had missed seeing her sparkling eyes, talking with her, hanging out and being near his friend.

She had brought such light into his life over the last few months.

Why was he pushing that light away? So as not to infect her with his darkness? There was a time he had believed he could be more than just a dark, disturbed man. For her he wanted to believe in himself again...not just for her, though. For himself. For a chance for them to have more together.

Standing up to greet her, he pressed a kiss on her cheek. "I heard you did good last night."

"Everyone's heard," she answered, rolling her eyes. "I could shoot Todd Manning for that cover story."

"He just don't know who he is messing with," Johnny teased her. "You're one tough broad now."

"Thanks to you," she said, taking the opportunity to give him a long hug.

He moaned softly as he squeezed her tight before letting her go. He helped her take off her coat and then they both sat down.

"You are a sight for sore eyes, sweetie."

"Then stop running scared and you could see me more."

He chuckled. "Is that what I've been doing?"

"Isn't it? What is going on between us, I think it took us both by surprise but that doesn't mean it's wrong. This time I'm not with you just to piss anyone off or prove a point...this time it's really about us...our bond. I know you feel it too."

He reached for her hand and held it. "You sure you want to go there? Because, trust me, I can handle being just friends. Not everything has to lead to the bedroom between a man and woman."

"True but between us...if it is going that way, why fight it?"

"Because once it goes there things get really messy."

"My life was born messy. Same for you. Lets not talk this to death and ruin it. Lets just enjoy dinner and stop avoiding each other just in case we might kiss again. I don't want to run away from reality this time and I won't lower myself to begging or talking you into anything. I told you where I'm coming from, now buy me dinner and show me where you're coming from."

Smiling he said "That's always been my favorite thing about you. You just say whatever is on that mind of yours."

She shrugged a shoulder. "Would you rather I play games?"

"I've always liked games but I think I've had my fill of them for a while."

"Good." She opened the menu and soon they were ordering.

Leaving the restaurant, he slid his arm around her waist and walked her to her car. "I want to see you again soon," he told her, in a low and throaty voice.

Caressing his jaw, she leaned in and kissed him. "Soon," she promised, before slipping into her car, knowing that now she was strong enough to be in a relationship with a real man, instead of the little boys that she had been dealing with all her life.

Johnny could never break Kristina because she had made herself strong- inside and out- and was getting stronger every day. He helped make her stronger, wanting only the best for her, and she made him better, showing him that there was still light left in their dark worlds as long as they let it in.

Butterflies danced in her stomach as she drove away from the bistro. For once she knew she was with the right man at the right time in her life. For once she wasn't that trembling little girl begging for attention.

It felt good to finally be strong enough to weather every storm. And know that the man by her side was one she could trust, one that wanted her with an ache that he couldn't fight. It was something entirely new for Kristina.

Something she wouldn't give up no matter who told her to. Whatever her and Johnny found together in the future would be all theirs alone, not for others to decide.

Now she was a woman and in charge of her own life. The little girl slipped away long ago and Kristina was happy to see her go.

THE END

Note- Thank you all for reading this fic. If you have any other pairings you would like me to consider writing please leave suggestions in your review.