"Dude, Kris is back at Raintree?" Junior questioned. They two best friends had been watching the game in a planning room at the ranch when Matt decided to break the news. Matt nodded. "How awkward is that for you?"
"Pretty awkward," Matt admitted, fiddling with his drink. "I kissed her." Junior gave him an "oh no you did not" look. "She tried to push me away, but a girl who's getting over almost dying doesn't fight back too hard." Junior shook his head at Matt. "But Pablo came in." Junior made an "ouch" sound effect.
"Look, I'm going to go get you some water," Junior told Matt. "And then you're going to explain the entire conversation before the kiss." Matt agreed and let Junior walk out.
On his way to the house, Junior walked past Danni, who seemed none too happy.
"What's up, sis?" Junior asked. Danni wasn't usually in such a foul mood, but apparently there was an exception.
"It's those stupid people trying to steal our fences again so that the horses can get out," Danni explained.
"Should I take care of it?" Danni smirked.
"No, I've got the gun this time," Danni assured him.
"I'll wait here until you come back." Despite Danni's tough exterior, she was thankful that her brother would be looking out for her. As she approached the fence, she realized that this didn't look like a regular fence snatcher. A hand was grasping tightly to it, but the body was limp. When Danni could see the face, she let out a gasp. There Kris was, blood soaking her t-shirt, eyes closed, looking like she was barely breathing.
"Junior!" Danni screamed at the top of her lungs, then bent down to pick Kris up, but Kris wouldn't let go of the fence. "Kris, it's me, Danni. I've got you. Everything's alright." But Kris wouldn't let go of the fence, as though it were her only means of survival. A moment later, Junior was there, looking down at his sister trying to pull a seemingly lifeless girl from the fence.
"Danni, what's going on?" Junior inquired, then he saw Kris' face.
"I can't get her to move," Danni explained, then gently set Kris' body down. "She's only half conscious, but she sure as heck isn't letting go." She then stepped away to give Junior room to get next to Kris.
"Kris," Junior whispered gently into her ear. "Kris, it's me." Kris' eyes fluttered open, and when she saw Junior face directly above hers, she reacted in the way that any decent human being would. She slapped him. Kris then let go of the fence, and tried to stand up, but couldn't. Junior held out his hand, but she refused it, instead grasping to the fence to pull herself up.
"What's going on?" Danni asked. "Kris, why aren't you in a hospital?" Junior looked to Kris to explain, but realized that she needed help-fast.
"Danni, let's worry about getting her to the hospital first," Junior suggested. "I'll fill you in later."
"Junior," Kris pleaded. "Let me fill her in, alright?" Junior nodded, only thinking of getting Kris safely to the hospital.
Once halfway to the hospital, Junior snapped. "Dang it!" Danni turned slightly to look at him. "I forgot Matt!"
"Thank goodness," Kris exclaimed. Kris was in the backseat on the car, her head resting on Junior's lap. At first, Kris had been argumentative, but soon all the fighting strength she had was gone, and she submitted to their wishes.
"Matt told me what happened," Junior informed Kris. "At the house. It would really mean a lot to him if-"
"If I did what, Junior?" Kris snapped, using a lot of energy while losing a lot of blood. They'd tried to contain it, but it continued to flow. "Pretended that I loved him? Well, I don't, he'll get over it. You did." Danni shook her head, connecting eyes with Junior through the mirror. Kris had hit the spot with Junior. He was upset, angry, and ashamed all at the same time. He still loved her, but he was married to Laura. What could he really do? He'd cheated on Laura during the engagement, but this was different. He promised forever to Laura, and he wasn't going back on that. Not for anything.
"No," Junior assured her. "But it'd mean a lot to Matt if you were still friends. Pretended like today never happened."
"Like I pretended that I didn't have stab wounds?" Kris asked sarcastically. "Yeah, great plan." Junior shook his head.
"Always so stubborn." Kris and Junior looked to Danni. "It's going to be obvious to everyone that you two still love each other."
"Junior's never going to see me again," Kris argued. "At least he'll never talk to me again." Junior looked at Kris with a shocked face.
"I won't?"
"Idiot, of course you won't!" Kris told him. "After what happened with Wildfire, you never want to speak to me again." A look of realization graced Junior's face, but when he looked down at Kris, it disappeared.
"You were lying," he countered.
"No, I wasn't, Junior," Kris insisted.
"You might be able to fool me when you're sick, but you're not now."
"Lying about what?" Danni questioned. Ignoring Danni, Junior continued.
"Kris, don't lie to me," Junior pleaded. "I love you, you know I do."
"Call Laura," Kris commanded. Junior's eyes widened. "Yeah, pretty bold to tell your ex that you love her while you're married." After that comment, Kris slipped into a deep sleep from loss of blood, loss of self, loss of will to live.