Now

(Two Weeks to Go)

Carmilla woke the next morning and found herself separated from Laura by her kitten Trill. She turned to her side and pet his head, the little black cat purring immediately. She smiled and looked at Laura, her kitten Luna was stretched out along her naked spine. She reached over to pet the orange Bengal, the kitten stretching and digging her nails into Laura's back lightly as she purred. Laura turned her head to face her, a small content smile on her face even though she was still asleep. Her attention was drawn back to Trill when he head-butted her chin. She chuckled softly as he flopped beside her and waited for a belly rub. Carmilla lay her head back on the pillow as she pet him, gazing at Laura.

She'd already begun to wonder how well she knew the woman she loved, now that Laura had all but confirmed her suspicions, that she was indeed hiding something, the question of 'what' wasn't as big as the question of 'why'. The obvious reason was fear of Deanna finding out Laura secrets and then using them against her. One thing was clear, though; both Frank and Dark knew the truth. Again the question was why? Or more specifically, why were they helping her?

"This," she thought and chuckled softly, "is why she won't just tell me." Carmilla couldn't help but think, that despite her ignorance of Laura's past, Laura definitely knew her well. She'd spent too much of her life trying to figure out Deanna's next move, it was all she knew. What it would always come down to, was trust. Did she trust Frank and Dark? If she did, she had no reason not to trust Laura. She sighed, again the question was why?

She leaned over Trill to kiss Laura's shoulder, lingered a moment as she inhaled her scent, sighed and rolled away to get out of bed when Laura's vice-like grip on her wrist stopped her. Carmilla met her fear-filled gaze as she breathed; "Stay."

"I'm just going to the bathroom and to make some coffee," she assured her as she pried her fingers from her wrist. She pulled her hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. She glanced at the clock and noted the time; she had a little over three hours before she had to leave. "It's early yet, go back to sleep."

Laura nodded and closed her eyes as she pulled her hand to her chest.

She watched her until her breathing evened out, sighed and got up. She grabbed her robe and headed to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker before heading to the guest bathroom. Once she was done, she went to wash her hands and splash some water on her face before glancing at the mirror and chuckling. Laura had left a small, but very dark, hickey on her neck. She shook her head and dried her face before heading to her office.

Carmilla went directly to her file cabinet and retrieved Laura's background check while she ignored the temptation to grab her laptop instead and find the truth for herself. She'd made a promise, though, in fact, she'd made several in the last couple of days and she intended to honor them all. Finding what she was looking for she headed back out to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She leaned over the counter and opened the folder to read Laura's background check. It was the first time she'd ever given the document anything more than a cursory glance as she preferred to learn about Laura's past the more traditional way; by talking.

She sipped her coffee absentmindedly as she read, only one thing was clear; why Frank had done a background check in the first place. She shook her head and sighed. He did it so she wouldn't ask too many questions. So Laura wouldn't have to outright lie. Okay, maybe it was only part of the answer; she still had no clue whose idea it was. Did Laura request it to aid her deception or had Frank done it of his own violation after finding the truth?

"Carm?"

She turned to find Laura watching her from the doorway. She smiled slightly and sighed.

"Are we okay?" Laura asked, unable to meet her eyes.

She stood up straight, walked over to her and lifted her chin with a finger.

"Do I have questions?" she asked gently. "Of course I do. Do I have doubts?" She shrugged. "Yeah." She reached up to stroke her cheek. "It comes down to trust." She stated and searched her eyes. "Right now I don't know how much I trust you," she admitted, the truth hurting her as much as Laura. "But Frank and Dark seem to know the truth," she gauged her reaction, "and I've never had any reason not to trust them. If they're helping you, as I suspect they are, they must have a damned good reason." She surprised her by kissing her softly. "I have been happier since I met you than I have in my whole life combined, I can only hope that this, what we have, wasn't just a way to…"

"Carm stop, please," Laura pleaded. "With the all the things I haven't told you, not once have I lied about my feelings for you." She sighed and looked down. "Except, maybe, just how long I've had them."

"Is that why you and Danny didn't work out?" Laura nodded. "Tell me one thing, something you probably shouldn't." Laura rubbed her face and went to make herself a cup of coffee, unable again to hold her gaze. "I understand, Laura, I do," she prodded. "I may not know how you convinced Frank to alter your background check," she shrugged. "At the time I'd assumed he'd done one at all was just my paranoia rubbing off on him." She placed her hand on the small of Laura's back. "But he did it because you wanted out of telling lies, right?" Laura met her eyes and nodded. "You should have let me finish," she teased.

"What?"

"I hope, despite everything else, that what we have is real." She turned Laura to face and kissed her forehead. "Because if it is, there is nothing I won't do to hold onto it." She kissed her again. "Got it?"

"Even though you don't trust me?"

"Trust is easier to lose than it is to rebuild," she offered, Laura no longer able to meet her gaze. "But if someone wants it badly enough, it's not impossible." Laura looked up again. "Do you want it?"

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Laura replied without hesitation but then paused as she considered her words. "I'll tell you one thing so long as you don't question it further," she suggested and waited on Carmilla's nod before continuing. "I've seen every single one of your fights in person."

"But you're only nineteen and some of the fights were in bars," Carmilla blurted in her shock. "Wait!" she gasped and stepped back. "How old are you?"

"See?" Laura chuckled. "I'll be twenty-five in October."

"Why lie about your age?" she questioned, only her confusion reflected in her voice.

"Because it was easier than explaining what I've been doing for the last five years and I didn't want Deanna finding out," Laura admitted. "I'm sorry, Carm, I still can't explain, not until you come home."

"Why not?" she questioned. "Because you think it'll distract me?"

"Yes," Laura replied. "But that isn't the only reason."

"No?"

"There is so much we need to talk about, that I need to tell you, to explain," she replied, almost pleading. "I've loved you since before I knew what that even meant," she continued, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't," she shook her head. "I'm so afraid of losing you that I'm terrified that's exactly what'll happen if I tell you now and then you have two weeks to…"

"Build crazy theories in my head?" she offered as Laura's tears fell. "I understand."

"You do?" Laura sniffed.

"I love you," she chuckled softly and wiped her tears. "Even if I clearly have no idea who you are."

"That background check, except for a few omissions and time changes, is pretty accurate up to the time I turned nineteen," Laura offered weakly.

"Time changes?"

"The thing with Derrick happened a few years ago," Laura supplied to her surprise.

"That's why you were surprised that Frank included it?" she surmised.

"That and my miscarriage," Laura answered. "I would have found a way to tell you," she shrugged. "Almost everything I've told you about me is true, except when it happened."

"Like the fact that my Father's obituary and your Mother's couldn't have been on the same page?" Laura nodded. She kissed her forehead again. "We'll figure it out, okay?"

"Yeah?" Laura asked uncertainly.

"Is Laura Hollis your real name?" Carmilla asked with a small smile.

"Yes," Laura chuckled. "Trust me, it's one of the many arguments I've had with Dad since I found out."

"No," Carmilla countered. "He knew she wouldn't out you because she'd have to admit how she knows." She smiled. "She might have been more afraid of you than I ever was of her."

"How do you figure?" Laura questioned skeptically.

"Because your Father could have, at any time, taken everything from her," she shook her head as it dawned on her. "She couldn't kill me before I turned twenty-one because she had no guarantee your Father wouldn't go ahead and prove Will's paternity." She smiled. "Your Father might have saved my life." She could tell Laura wasn't following. "She had to wait until I turned twenty-one, prove Will wasn't a Karnstein so I got his money, and then force me to change my Will."

"But you ran away and messed up her plan," Laura offered.

"She went to the backup plan," Carmilla theorized. "Got Will on her side, or thought she did and was going to wait until he turned twenty-one so he changed his Will and then kill him before paternity was proven."

"But Will fucked that up too," Laura laughed. "He wanted all of it, helped her only insomuch as it helped him."

"God, Laura," Carmilla lamented, "if you weren't in her crosshairs before…"

"That hadn't escaped me," Laura confided and turned her attention to her coffee. "She, um, didn't take the news very well."

"What happened?"

"Rick was leading the search of the estate when he found out," Laura replied and went to retrieve her cigarettes. "When she got the news, on Monday I mean, she was shocked."

"She's a good actress," Carmilla countered.

"No, I was there," Laura admitted. "She wasn't faking."

"Why…" she was about to ask but trailed off at the shake of Laura's head.

"Forgot the why, for now, please?" Carmilla nodded reluctantly. "She wasn't in on it. She thought he was dead. Her reaction to what happened on Wednesday?" She shook her head. "She had no clue he was alive." She sighed deeply and nodded to the balcony. Carmilla smiled and followed her outside. "I've got no witnesses," she sighed. "She's already trying to have me arrested."

"What about Betty?" she asked as Laura lit her cigarette.

"Rick saw her yesterday morning," she said as she exhaled. "Danny asked her to go to the storage room she shared with the basement suite. Will knocked her out from behind, drugged her and tied her up."

"I wonder how he was going to explain that," Carmilla speculated.

"He wouldn't have had to," Laura confided. "Apparently, the tenants downstairs sublet their apartment for the summer."

"To Will?"

"Yup," she replied. "There was enough gasoline and explosives jammed in there that he'd have taken out the house on either side."

"And with Betty right at the source," Carmilla sighed and nabbed Laura's smoke for a drag.

"There might not have been a body left to identify," Laura supplied.

"So he'd been planning this for awhile," Carmilla frowned. "It was him. He was the one trying to keep me off the show."

"Pretty sure the Jeep was Deanna," Laura speculated. "I also think he was planning on hiding in plain sight until he got a chance to..." She took her cigarette back and inhaled deeply. "Danny was personal."

"No, Danny was a pawn," Carmilla clarified. "He'd have used her death to draw you out, kill you and get me home." She took Laura's arms in her hands. "He lucked out when you went after her."

"Or someone warned him I was coming," Laura countered darkly.

"Any likely suspects?"

"We're working on it," Laura replied vaguely for the first time.

Carmilla smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Laura?" she started, unsure of what to say. She had so many questions only Laura could answer. So many doubts only she could quell. Looking in her eyes she knew only one thing for sure; Laura's love for her was as deep and as real as hers. "Thank you for trusting me with as much as you have." She smiled as Laura smiled weakly. "Yes, I do see the irony," she joked. "But the greater irony is that, all this time I've been trying to protect you when you never needed my protection to begin with." She tucked some of Laura's hair behind her ear. "Were you ever a naïve little nineteen-year-old?"

"No," she sighed, "I lost my naivety the day my mother died."

"We're going to make her pay, Laura, she won't get away with any of it, you know that right?" she promised her. "I'm never going to let her hurt you, or anyone else, ever again." She studied her a moment. "Will may have held the knife, but she made him what he was. She's responsible. She killed your Mother, not the man she paid to do the deed." She tried to reign in her anger. "I see that now." She sighed. "She made me what I am too," she shrugged and walked away. "Conditioned me just as surely as she manipulated him." She turned and met her eyes. "I'm done cleaning up after her. Done waiting to have my life." She walked back to her and took her hands. "I am done being afraid." Suddenly the depth of Laura's earlier plea of 'Stay," hit home. "I'm not going anywhere, Laura, no matter what you tell me. Whatever you've done, whatever it is that you think will make me give up on the best thing to ever happen to me, I'm yours," she kissed her and then showed her the Promise Ring they'd exchanged. "For better or worse, okay?" Laura nodded. "We've been through some worse already, and it probably won't get any better anytime soon," she smiled. "But the little bits we do get?"

"Helps deal with the bad?" Laura supplied.

"Makes me fight even harder for the day we finally tip the scales," she replied. "For the day the good outweighs the bad." She reached up and took the edges of her robes in her fingers. "We have a little time left." She leaned in and kissed her neck. "What do you say we head back to bed for a bit?" She opened her robe and ran her fingertips along her chest as Laura looked over her shoulder.

"We don't have that much time," Laura sighed as she kissed her neck again.

"Or we could take a shower and save it for the three-hour flight," she suggested.

"I can't," Laura confided. "I'm not supposed to leave the city, let alone the country."

"So you can't even drive to the airport with me?" she questioned sadly.

"No," she smiled, "I think I can do that."

"Okay," Carmilla said as she led her back to the bedroom. "We go back to bed for a bit, take a shower, make something to eat and take it with us." She smiled and took Laura's robe off for her. "What do you say?"

"I say," Laura replied, her voice deep as she opened the drawer of their bedside table and took out one of their toys, "you fuck me good, hard and fast," she suggested as she handed her the Feeldoe.

She took the toy from her hand, tossed it on the bed and then pushed Laura onto the bed before slowing removing her own robe. "What if…" she started as she laid down beside her and trailed her fingers down her body, "I'd rather you fuck me?" she asked and kissed her neck. "Slow and hard?"

"I don't know," Laura said as she reversed their positions, "if I can do slow." She leaned in and started to kiss and nibble at her neck as her right hand made its way to her breast. "I missed you so much, Kitten," she sighed as her hand had continued lower. "And I see how much you missed me," she chuckled deeply as she entered her with two fingers. "You sure," she started as she kissed her way downwards, "you really want slow?" She took her nipple in her mouth as she took her fingers from inside her, stroked her clit and then entered her again.

"Laura, please," she pleaded as she met her thrust for thrust and then groaned as Laura took her hand away, moaning moments later as Laura settled herself between her legs and entered her deftly with the toy. They started slow, staring into each other eyes as Carmilla wrapped her legs around her waist. She knotted her hand in Laura's hair and pulled her into a kiss as they picked up the pace. Laura broke the kiss and moaned with her neck stretched above her. She pulled her down and bit her neck, sucking when she felt Laura start to quake. "Oh God, Laura!" she gasped as her own climax hit and Laura returned the favor and bit down on her neck. Laura slowed her thrusts as Carmilla stilled and pulled her into a long and tender kiss. "Don't ever leave me," she implored.

"Never," Laura replied fiercely and kissed her, breaking it as their alarm clock sounded. "Damn…" she sighed and rested their foreheads together.

Carmilla reversed their positions and reached for the snooze button without letting the Feeldoe slip from inside her. She leaned back over Laura and rocking her hips asked; "One more round before I go?" She pulled Laura up and into her arms while she wrapped her legs around her. Laura wrapped both arms around her and dug her nails into her shoulders as they kissed. She dropped one hand to her rear end, encouraging her to pick up her pace as the other found her clit.

"Fuck!" Carmilla hissed and groaned when Laura clamped her mouth over her nipple. "Oh God, I'm going to… oh God!"

Laura moved her other hand and held her tightly as her orgasm washed through her and then laid her on her back and picked up her pace until she too was panting through her climax, laughing when the alarm sounded again. She pulled the toy out of her and then leaned back to hit the snooze button again before removing the toy from inside herself and then laid back down with her head on her shoulder.

Carmilla turned her head and kissed Laura's forehead.

"That," she sighed, "that just might hold me for two weeks."

Laura looked up, met her eyes and then chuckled softly; "Sorry."

"For what?" Carmilla asked, perplexed.

"For this," she sighed as she ran her fingers over a spot on her neck and then to one on her collarbone.

"Hey," Carmilla cooed, "considering we went from having sex almost every day for six weeks and then nothing for four weeks?" She kissed her. "I'm surprised we didn't leave more marks on each other."

"I suppose," Laura smiled. "I swear sometimes you're part Vampire, but I'm not the one with a fight announcement later today."

"How did you know there's a fight today?" Carmilla questioned, wondering, as always lately, if she would answer the question.

"Because you mentioned the fight announcement," Laura deflected. "I assumed the fight and next fight announcement happens on the same day." Carmilla considered questioning her further, about Beth and the driver who seemed to have befriended her, but the alarm went off again and reminded them both that their time was running short. "We should get moving."

Laura stood and held her hand out to her. Carmilla sat up and moved to the edge of her bed to wrap her arms around her a moment before Laura led her into the bathroom and over to the shower. They washed each other among kisses, each and every one so bittersweet that soon Carmilla could no longer stem her tears.

"Hey, hey, hey," Laura cooed, "it's only another two weeks, Kitten."

"All this time," Carmilla sniffed, "when I was at my lowest in the house, I was so scared I'd come home to find you gone." She looked down. "That your feelings would change while I wasn't around." She met her eyes again. "That's why you've hidden all this, isn't it?" she asked, another piece of the puzzle falling into place. "Are you really that worried that I'll leave you?"

"Yes," Laura admitted as tears ran down her face. "I can't help you if you never want to speak to me again."

"How can you think I'd ever leave you when it's killing me to leave you now?" Carmilla questioned. "Have you ever worked for either Deanna or Will?" Laura shook her head. "Then there's nothing you can tell me that's going to change how I feel."

"I hope you're right," Laura replied doubtfully.

They both jumped at a knock on the bathroom door.

"Hey you two," Steven called, "we leave in fifteen."

"Okay," Carmilla called back. "Ask Dark or Brody to make us a couple of protein shakes, please?"

"Already waiting for you," he replied.

"Thanks," Laura answered and turned back to her. "You done?" Carmilla nodded and turned off the water. "C'mon," she added as she pulled her from the shower.

They both walked quickly to the bedroom and got dressed without talking. There was still so many questions Carmilla wanted to ask. So many things she wanted to say. But now was not the time.

"Carm?" Laura said, getting her attention. "Are you planning to keep your ring with you?"

"I don't plan on taking it off again until our wedding day," she said fondly as she studied her ring. "You know," she shrugged, "except for when I have to."

"I got you this," Laura said as she revealed a slender box and handed it to her, "for those times when you have no choice but to take it off."

Carmilla opened it and smiled; inside was a simple silver necklace.

"It's beautiful," Carmilla said as she took it from the box and handed it to Laura. "Put it on for me?" she requested as she lifted the hair from her neck and turned her back to her.

"It belonged to my Mother," Laura confided as she did the clasp before kissing her neck. She went to kneel in front of her. "I already miss you," she said wistfully.

"Me too," Carmilla kissed her forehead. "Every day that we spend apart feels a month long," she shook her head. "And I feel like I've been here for minutes, not a day and a bit." She sighed. "I almost wish I'd lost so I didn't have to go back."

"You can win this thing, Carm, you know that right?"

"If I can get past my next fight I might," Carmilla replied with a chuckle. "I don't know," she sighed again. "I'm fighting the number two seed."

"Hey guys," Steven interrupted from the door, "we need to get going."

"What's the point of owning a plane if you have to stick to a schedule?" Carmilla joked.

"It's not the plane that has a schedule," Steven replied.

"True," she sighed. "Let's get going." Laura grabbed her backpack while she grabbed her own before following Steven out. "How's Betty doing?" she asked as she grabbed their protein shakes.

"We're picking her up on the way home," he replied tonelessly.

"Steven?" Laura said in concern as she went and placed a hand on his arm. "Is she okay?"

"We..." he croaked out.

"Oh Steven, no," Laura gasped and hugged him.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" Carmilla questioned gently.

Steven met her eyes over Laura's head, his were filled with tears. When he didn't answer Laura looked up to him and answered for him; "They found out a couple of weeks ago," she muttered and turned to her, "Betty was pregnant."

"Oh Steven," she said and rushed over to him, "I'm sorry seems so inadequate."

"It's not your fault," he said after kissing the top of Laura's head and pushing her away. "Neither of you," he told Laura. "Okay?"

"He's right, Laura," Carmilla agreed as she rubbed her back. "It's no one's fault but hers, Deanna's." Laura nodded. "We need to get going though."

As the three made their way downstairs and out to Steven's Compass, Carmilla felt the familiar taste of rage rising like bile in her throat. Another life ended in the name of greed, this time, Will's. They got in the back, did up their seat belts and automatically laced their fingers. With so many questions mixed in with the anger, she had nothing left to say.

She sighed and looked out the window as they pulled away from the gym; maybe justice wasn't enough. So many deaths could be traced back to Deanna, would hers even, satisfy her thirst for vengeance? Maybe death was too good for her. All the pain she has caused, she deserved at least that much and so much more. She deserved to suffer.

Carmilla sighed again and turned to Laura as she ghosted her fingers along her forearm to get her attention.

"She's going to pay, Carm, for all of it."

"I don't know," she muttered. "So much can be blamed on her, I'm not sure she'll live long enough to pay for her crimes." She looked down to their hands and then the scar on Laura's arm. "I forgot to mention," she smiled as she went to trace it. "I had an idea about our tattoos." She met her eyes. "I was thinking about your analogy on the way home." She pulled Laura's hand to her lips. "You know the one about the mountains?"

"It's not mine," Laura admitted. "My Mom," she sniffed. "I was there the night she was attacked. All our Krav Maga training and it was nothing against two guys with knives. One ran off as soon as Mom was stabbed, the other," she sighed. "Him I put in the hospital." She shook her head and wiped a tear from her eye as she pulled her bag into her lap. She pulled her hand from her grip so she could take her tablet from her bag, fiddled with it a moment and then turned it to her. "Something like that?"

"Great minds think alike," she smiled; Laura must have had the same idea for she was looking at their Phoenix tattoos, a mountain range now at the bottom. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because if I was eight when it happened it wouldn't have made much sense," she reasoned. "But I was almost fifteen and been studying Krav Maga with my Mom for seven years." She shrugged. "I gave it up after, moved on to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do." Carmilla was speechless. "I couldn't walk in the classroom, it reminded me too much of her."

"You've always been a target," Carmilla shook her head. "She meant to take you both out." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "She knew who you were the minute you came into my life." She shook her head and met her eyes. "Deanna is more afraid of you than you know." She could see Laura's doubt. "If she wasn't she would have outed you at the airport."

"Maybe," Laura conceded. "I hope you believe me, that I only just found out about my Dad, I didn't do this for revenge, well, not my revenge."

Carmilla regarded her a moment and then noticed, over her shoulder, that they were almost at the airport. She met her eyes again and saw that they swam with unshed tears. She smiled and kissed her softly.

"Please don't cry," she urged. "If you start I won't be able to stop." She wiped Laura's tears as they fell, her own stinging her cheeks. "I believe you, baby."

"You do?" Laura choked out.

"You've told me enough," she shook her head. "You've told me more than I expected or could've fathomed." She reached up and stroked her cheek. "Whatever's going on," she smiled. "If we can make it through this, we can make it through anything." She kissed her softly. "Sure I have questions," she shrugged, "I'm bound to have more by the time I get home, but," she kissed her. "But," she continued more firmly; "you've promised me answers when I get home." She smiled. "For now, that's enough."

"Carm," Laura muttered, "I never meant to hurt you."

"I know," she smiled. "We'll be okay, okay?"

"Thank you for not pushing," Laura replied.

"You want to tell me," she stated. "That helps."

They came to a stop at the security station and waited while Steven gave them their identification.

"Thanks for driving us," Carmilla said to Steven with a squeeze of his shoulder.

"I figured Laura would want the company for the drive home," he replied as they pulled up in front of her jet.

Laura and Carmilla got out without a word, walked to the base of the stairs and faced each other, both of them again fighting tears.

"It's just another two weeks," Laura commented, her voice barely steady.

"Fourteen days."

"About," Laura looked at her watch, "three hundred and forty hours."

Carmilla stroked her cheek and kissed her tenderly.

"I wish I could stay," Carmilla said, her voice strained.

"Me too," Laura chuckled. "But you have a championship to go win."

"And you have an evil stepmother to bring to justice," Carmilla said lightly.

"Miss Karnstein!?" Julie called from the top of the stairs. "We leave in ten," she provided when they looked her way.

Carmilla looked back to her girlfriend.

"Take better care of yourself?" she implored. "Maybe up the protein and sugar in your shakes?"

"I should have stepped on the scale for you," Laura joked. "I've only lost a couple of pounds."

"Muscle does weigh more than fat," Carmilla said with a smile. "Be careful?"

"Always," she replied and kissed her softly. "Good luck."

"You too," Carmilla whispered . "Don't stay, just drive away, okay?" Laura nodded and kissed her one last time. She leaned their foreheads together a moment, kissed hers and then turned to climb the stairs. She turned at the top and found Laura looking up to her. She waved and blew her a kiss. Carmilla mimicked her actions and then called; "I love you!"

"Love you too!" she called back.

Carmilla smiled and turned to walk onto the plane, tears stinging her eyes as she went to take a seat on the far side of the plane. She couldn't watch her drive away, she was barely holding it together as it was. She did up her seat belt and hugged her knees to her chest.

"Can I get you anything?" Julie offered.

"Patron over ice, a bottle of water and a sandwich, please," she answered. "Thanks."

Carmilla finished her sandwich by the time they took off and sipped her Tequila as she stared out the window. She let her mind wander as Vancouver fell away below them. Laura had told her more than she expected. She laughed dryly. She hated being right sometimes. Granted she'd had no idea it was this big.

A couple hours later and her mind had finally settled when the plane dipped slightly and the engines cut out. A man, maybe in his twenties wearing blue coveralls, burst from the cockpit and ran past her and Julie.

"Who was that?" Carmilla questioned.

"The mechanic," Julie replied, worry lacing her tone as she rushed in the direction he'd come. "I'll find out what's going on."

That wasn't good enough for her, though, and she rushed in behind her only to find the pilot silencing them with a hand.

"Las Vegas tower, we are losing fuel and altitude, please advise."

"You're twenty minutes out, can you make it?" they answered.

"Only just," he answered.

"Captain!" the mechanic interrupted. "I managed to get the emergency tank reconnected but our belly is full of fuel."

"Fuck!" the pilot hissed. "Control!" he stammered into the radio. "We're coming down hot. Clear the runway and have emergency services on standby."

Carmilla had been studying the mechanic the whole time; he was sweating and pale, and more, he was looking at her in absolute terror. She recognized him.

"Have the cops standing by," she demanded.

"What?" the pilot turned to her.

"He knows my brother, I met him last Christmas in Montreal," she supplied. "The question is; why are you on this plane?"

"She told me to disable it," he blurted, "but I didn't have time while you were in Vancouver."

"We don't have time for this!" Julie interrupted. "Bean, tell them to have the cops there." The pilot nodded. "You!" she twisted the mechanic's arm behind his back and pushed him back into the main cabin. "Don't move!" she commanded as she threw him into the seat across from Carmilla's. "Go grab anything you want to keep and then strap in," she ordered as she looked at Carmilla. "As soon as we land, run for the trucks, they'll stay out of the blast zone so get past them and you're safe."

Carmilla bolted for the bedroom, gathered the few things that were there and threw them into her bag. She ran back to her seat, threw her bag on an empty seat and then turned to the mechanic. She studied him a moment as he stared back at her in defiance.

"You fucking idiot!" she spat and backhanded him. "This is what she does! She burns the evidence! You? You're nothing but a loose end!"

"Carmilla!" Julie interrupted with a hand on her arm as she'd gone to hit him again. "He needs to be able to run!"

"Fine!" she hissed and took her seat. "You'd better run fast, you piece of shit because I am going to kick your ass!"

"And what good will that do?" Julie reasoned.

"It'll make me feel better," she joked evenly as she buckled up. "Are we going to be okay?" She questioned him, smiling when Julie smacked him in the back of the head when he didn't answer.

"Answer her!"

"I don't know," he stammered. "I installed the device but I didn't set it off!"

"Did you tell Deanna when I was leaving?" He nodded. "What's your name? I recognize you but I'm horrible with names."

"Julian."

Carmilla looked out the window as the plane again dipped suddenly.

"Run like hell? Got it?" Julie said as she placed Carmilla's bag on her lap and took the seat next to her. "Your girlfriend will kill me if I let anything happen to you."

"Who are you?" Carmilla questioned.

"You think she'd let you fly without protection?" she answered.

"The pilot? His name is Bean?" she asked as the plane again dipped and she took Julie's hand in fear.

"His real name is Brad but Frank, your lawyer, is his older brother."

"Frank and Beans?" Carmilla laughed. She looked back to the man across the way. "Who are you working for?"

"Deanna," he muttered. "She's going to kill them, my family."

"Not if you never make it off this plane," Julie countered and smiled when his face fell. "Or least that's the story we'll go with."

"Fake his death?" Carmilla questioned.

"Easiest way to protect him long enough for him to testify," Julie provided. "And get his family to safety," she added.

"Everyone hang on!" the pilot yelled back to them as the engines sputtered back to life.

Carmilla glanced out the window and saw the assembled emergency vehicles. She gripped Julie's hand in fear, the knuckles of her free hand turning white on the armrest.

The second they touched down they all reached for their seatbelts and met the pilot at the door. "Julie, you go first," he started as he cracked open the door and hit the button for the emergency slide. "Followed by Carmilla, Julian and then me."

"Why are we going first?" Carmilla questioned as she slipped on her backpack.

"You're the shortest," he stated.

"Short jokes? Now?" she laughed as she watched Julie slide down.

"It is what it is," he said as he pushed her toward the door. "Hit the ground running and don't look back."

She did as she was told, slid down and ran as fast as she could the moment she stood. She passed Julie easily and then heard footfalls behind her, turning her head as Julian passed her. She gritted her teeth and went after him, catching up to them as they passed they firetrucks and then tackled him into the grass.

A cell phone ringing from her bag distracted her a moment as the mechanic struggled beneath her. She straddled him and sat up to take her bag off, looking for the source when the plane exploded behind them.

Carmilla looked up to the sound of running and found Dana approaching with her driver right behind.

"You okay?" Dana questioned as he arrived.

"I'm fine!" she spat and looked to the man beneath her and punched him several times before Dana stopped her. "Get this piece of shit out of my face!" she hissed as she let Dana help her stand. She looked around for Brad. "Get us a new plane." He nodded. She looked at her watch and then to Dana. "Let's get out of here."

"You need to go the hospital, get checked out," he advised her.

"Bec fights in what, an hour? Hour and a half?" He nodded. "I'm fine," she reiterated. "We can go after the announcements."

"She said you were stubborn," he sighed and motioned to the car. "Fine."

"Can I call Laura?" She asked as they got in the car. He nodded and handed her his phone. She dialed her number as they drove off.

"Dana? What is it? What's wrong?" Laura rushed out.

"Baby, it's me, I'm fine," Carmilla rushed to assure her.

"Carm?"

"The plan was sabotaged," she informed her. "Blew up... wait a second," she said and wedged the phone on her shoulder as she went through her bag and found a cell phone she didn't recognize. She looked to Dana and handed it to him. "Get that to the cops, I think it's what set off the plane," he nodded. "Laura?"

"Yeah?" she replied weakly.

"I'm okay, shaken up, but okay," Carmilla cooed. "I told the pilot to find us a new plane," she sighed. "Tell Frank to be more careful with hiring mechanics?"

"What?"

"He's in custody," she explained. "Apparently, Deanna told him to come to Vegas and disarm it but I just found a cell phone in my bag that probably set it off."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Laura asked.

"I'm fine," she looked at Dana. "Dana is insisting I get checked out after the fight." She looked at her hand and noticed her knuckles bleeding. "I might have cut up my hand knocking someone's teeth out."

"And your knees are scraped up," Dana pointed out.

"And my knees got a little scraped up when I hit the ground," she amended. "I'll see medical when we get to the gym and go to the hospital later, okay?"

"Don't let this get to you Kitten," Laura said gently.

"You kidding?" she laughed. "I'm so mad right now my next opponent doesn't stand a chance." She inhaled sharply. "Look, Laura, she's getting desperate, be careful, all of you, okay?"

"She's under house arrest and being monitored twenty-four seven," Laura informed her.

"And yet someone made a call," Carmilla sighed.

"Knowing Deanna it was already in place the second..."

"No," she interrupted. "Will, did he say he was going to kill me when I came home or when I was home?"

"When you..." Laura gasped. "Deanna must have found out, tried to cover his tracks." She heard her take a deep breath. "I love you baby, but I've got some calls to make."

"I know," she sighed. "I love you too, be careful."

"Kick ass sweetie," Laura said and then hung up. She sighed and handed Dana back his phone.

"You okay?" he asked carefully.

"Shaken, yes," she replied evenly and shook her head. "It's not the first time she's tried to kill me." She sighed and met his eyes. "What worries me is not knowing how long my plane has been rigged to blow. How many innocent people could have died at any time." She shook her head. "Someone on this end must have made the call," she theorized. "They made sure we were clear before they made they call."

"There was at least fifty emergency personnel out there," he reasoned. "It could have been anyone."

"You'll tell the police when you give them the phone?"

"They might have some questions for you," he said thoughtfully.

"I don't have any more answers than my flight crew would have," she countered. "And we have the guy who planted it," she shrugged. "I doubt there's anything I could tell them."

"Fair enough," he conceded as they pulled up to the gym. "Get cleaned up."

"Sure," she sighed. "Do you mind if I hit the treadmill?"

"As long as medical clears you," he offered.

"Thanks," she said as they entered the gym. "For letting me talk to Laura."

"Whatever you need, kid," he replied with a squeeze of her shoulder.

"Why, though?" she blurted.

"Cause you've got more talent in your little finger than a few of the fighters in here put together," he confided. "I didn't say this, but you can win this thing if you want it." He smiled. "I'd hate to see that woman ruin it for you."

"That's just it," she laughed. "She fucked up by not killing me," she laughed at his surprise. "I used to fight on anger all the time. Since Laura has been training me I've learned I've got more than that." She shook her head. "If I can learn to use both?"

"I almost feel sorry for JoJo," he joked and checked the time. "You've got about forty-five minutes before everyone gets here." He regarded her a moment. "But I still want you to get checked out at the hospital after the announcement, got it?"

"Yes, boss," she answered to his smile. "How much can I tell people about what happened?"

"That's up to you but nothing about what else is happening in the real world," he advised her.

"I didn't have time for the rest of the world," she replied seriously. "I'll probably tell them all about why I went back but only Bec and Angela about the plane."

"Sounds like a plan," he smiled and squeezed her shoulder again. "You were supposed to fight Wednesday but we'll move you to Friday, just in case."

"Thanks," she smiled and hugged him briefly. "For everything."

"Go on, get cleaned up," he urged and pushed towards medical.

She sighed and made her way inside. The medic motioned her towards one of the beds. She hopped up and inspected her knees; they weren't too bad but might start bleeding again during her fight.

"You'll be fine by Friday," the nurse assured her as she hissed from her cleaning the wounds.

Once she'd taken care of the cuts on her knuckles she ran her through some tests, checking for a concussion.

"Am I okay to go for a run?" she asked as the nurse finished up.

"Yes, but you'll want to take it easy for the next few days."

"Thanks."

"Come see me tomorrow and I'll change those for you."

"I'm a First Aid Attendant," Carmilla countered. "Just put together what I'll need and I'll do it myself."

"Fine but I want you to come by so I can check them every day," she conceded.

"I'll grab that stuff on my way out," Carmilla replied with a nod and made her way into the gym and over to her locker to change into her running shoes.

She stretched on her way to one of the treadmills, starting at a slow jog once she was on it. "She should have killed me," she thought and shook her head; if Laura was right, it was already over. This, this was retaliation for Will's death. Well, it wasn't going to work. She wasn't scared anymore, she was angry. No, she was downright pissed off. Seeing Deanna go to jail might not be enough. She smiled. "We're going to destroy you."