Chapter Twenty
* Mark has now been out look for Caty for over two hours now. He had been looking all over town for Caty without any luck. The truck had dropped off the guys bikes almost and hour and a half ago too. They split up in teams each heading in different directions. John and Al, Dwayne and Ron, Paul and Glen with Kitty. Mark was getting really worried as the temperature was dropping really badly. Marks cell phone starts ringing as he turns on to the expressway heading in the direction of Lake Michigan. He pulls it out of his pocket and looks at the number on the ID. He sees that it is John's cell number. John and Al had gone over towards the Packers stadium about thirty minutes from where Mark is. He flips it open putting it to his ear. *
Give me some good news John?
Yeah Mark we found her.
That great John where at?
She was sitting in the middle of a field across from the Packers stadium. Hell man we almost missed her.
How is she?
Not real good Mark. How soon can you get here because something tells me she ain't going to be able to drive?
Give me about fifteen minutes John.
All right I'll call Kitty and Glen see if I can get them over here too. I'll see if I can get her to put on my jacket too but shit man just hurry.
Ok.
* They hang up the phone and Mark quickly jumps off the expressway and back on heading the other way. John calls Glen and tells him where they are too. Glen answers his phone on the second ring. *
Yeah John where is she?
Where in a field across for the Packer Stadium.
How bad is she?
She's not good Glen.
Fuck. I swear I am going to put Starlite over my knee for sure this time.
Yeah Glen I think you and Mark both should.
* John can hear Kitty asking Glen something. Glen comes back on the phone. *
John, Kitty wants to know if she is got a bottle with her?
Yeah Glen and it's almost gone too.
Fuck. If it's a bottle of JD watch her closely.
It is but why?
Hell. I'll explain it when I get there just watch her closely.
How soon can you guys get her?
We can be there in about fifteen minutes.
Good Mark should be here by then too.
Ok. Thanks John.
* John and Glen both hang up their phones. John then walks over to where Al is sitting on the ground trying to talk to Caty. She is staring right passed him as if he isn't there. John notices the almost empty fifth of JD next to her. He reaches out and touches her to feel that she is freezing. John takes off his coat and tries to put it around her. She knocks it off. *
Shit Caty come on leave the coat on please. It cold out here to begin with and if that was a full bottle then you might not realize that you are so cold.
* She doesn't answer but when he tries to put it back on her shoulders she knocks it back off. He glances over at Al who just shrugs back. *
Caty, Starlite was just being a spoiled brat is all. We are all really sorry about what she said. See she has grown up with all of us men taking care of her so we had all tended to give her what she wants and to spoil her rotten.
* Caty looks up at John like she just notices him for the first time. *
What she said is the truth John. Maybe my kid is better with her Dad. And spoiled or not she was just trying to protect her Father from me is all. I was a bad person that why I lost him. I ...
No she was just being a brat. And Kitty say's your a good person and Al and I believe her.
John's right Caty.
You guys don't know me so why care?
* John and Al look at each other and then down at Caty. She reaches for the bottle and takes another drink for it. Al reaches out and takes the bottle from her. *
We care because Mark, Glen and Kitty care that what friend do. And your are friend now too.
Really John?
Yeah Caty really.
Other then Kitty I never had any friends. That is till I met Glen too. Big old tall dark and dreamy he is a friend too. But if they were smart they wouldn't be.
You're wrong darling. Plus now you got John and me too as your friend.
Hell Al and don't forget the rest of those clowns who are out here trying to find you. Plus Mark who is really worried about you and damn we know you care about him.
* At this point Caty starts to shake and cry. John kneels down in front of her and pulls her into his arms. Al picks up John's coat and pulls it around her shoulders. *
It's ok darling your with friends now. It's going to be all right.
I wish that was the truth but it won't be. Hell... My ex is right I'm nothing but trash. It was my fault I lost him and I'll only be trouble to everyone.
Darling you're not trash.
Yeah John I am. Trash that doesn't belong to live or to have something as sweet as my Raven. That why I couldn't have him. Or Mark and friends like you all. Hell that's why of all things I got a pentagram on me when I was young. So that everyone would know I was trouble and to run. To stay away so that I couldn't hurt them.
* John and Al trade looks of loss as their hearts are breaking for this girl. John and Al both know that she is drunk but that she is saying what she truly is feeling. John gets a determine look in his eyes. *
Darling you listen to me right now. Because I don't want to hear any more shit like that coming out of your mouth. Do you fucking understand me?
* John say's this in a hasher tone than he meant to and Caty flinches back and away from him as if she is afraid that he is going to hit her. When she does her shirt comes away from her collarbone and even in the darkness John can see the bruise. She looks like she is ready to run. Before she can John gently grabs her and pulls her back into his chest. *
Little girl I'm not going to hurt you. Shit no one is ever going to hurt you again if I can help it.
* John and Al just sit with her why she cries her heart out. John looks down and pulls his coat in closer around her. Trying to keep the cold out and the heat of his body in. Al puts his hand on John's arm. They can both hear a whole handful of motorcycles coming from all directions. And all doing well over the speed limit. Mark is the first to see them in the field and drives his cycle right over the curb stopping right next to them. Glen comes in from another direction and does the same. Mark gets off his bike practically before it even stops. Al reaches out and quickly grabs him and Glen before they head toward her. He doesn't say anything just shows them the almost gone bottle of JD. Mark bends down and gently starts to talk to her. *
Little girl you had me scared there. You shouldn't be out here alone and without a jacket.
* She doesn't say anything but just keeps on crying into John's chest. John and Marks eyes meet. He can see the wetness in John's eyes. *
Caty please look at me.
I can't Mark because she is right. Everyone would be better off not knowing me. I'm sorry.
Wait a second little one because we won't be better off not knowing you. And my kid had no right to say what she did. I'm sorry.
Sorry Mark? Don't be sorry. She was just trying to protect you. To keep you safe she's right you know. You asked me what the pentagram meant?
* Caty pulls away from John so that she can look into Marks eyes. Kitty and Glen also kneel down by her. Al stands up and takes a step over by the rest of the guys. Paul is on his cell phone. Kitty reaches a hand out and gently places it on Caty back. *
I had part of it done when I was twelve by a guy I know. Because I figured that if people saw it they would stay away. Then the rest was done when I lost him. It was my fault. That way they would know I was bad and would cause them harm. So Mark she right and you all should run. To just let me do it.
* Mark glances over at Kitty and sees the tears going down her face. Caty is still in John's arms and is shaking badly. He removes his duster and wraps it around her right over John's coat. He looks over at Glen and can see the concern in his eyes. A feeling of panic over comes Mark and he doesn't know why. Kitty leans in closer to Caty. *
Caty I need to know that you didn't do anything stupid? Tell me that you were just going to drink yourself drunk?
* Caty just looks at Kitty. Kitty starts to cry. *
Damn it Caty I told you that you can't do this that I need you in my life to balance it out. It wasn't your fault kid shit when are you going to listen to me?
Kitty..
Where are they little girl?
Glen.. Please.
Little girl just don't even think I will let you do it.
But...
No talking just hand them to me. Because if you don't I'll find them and take them myself.
* Glen forces Caty to look him in the eyes. She reaches into her jean pocket and pulls out a small baggie with about eight to ten pills in it. She hands them to Glen who takes them. She starts to cry harder. Mark who is startled reaches out and gently takes her from John. He can feel how cold she is and how badly she is shaking. Kitty leans forward and gently moves some of Caty hair out of her face so that she can look into it. *
Caty did you take any?
* Caty shakes her head yes because she is crying to hard to talk. Mark turns her toward him so that he can look into her face. *
Little one how many?
Mark run and don't look back please?
It ain't gonna happen darling. So please tell me how many did you take?
* She tries to pull away but Mark won't let her. *
Caty you can tell us or else I can pick you up and take you to the nearest emergency room. Whichever way you want it.
* Caty looks at him and knows that he will do just that. She looks down at the ground and then tells him. *
Three.
Three?
Yes. I was going to take the rest but they showed up before I could get up the nerve to do it.
What are they?
Mark they are Quaaludes.
Are you sure Glen?
Yeah I'll explain later on. We need to get her the hell out of her and back to the hotel.
How she can't drive and I don't know if I can hang on to her and drive either. I mean is she going to try something?
* Mark looks down into her face and sees that she is still cry but starting to drift. Right then Paul walks over to Mark. *
Mark that is already handled. Scott will be here shortly with his car. He will take your bike and you can take her in the car. Kitty can drive with you and her.
What about her bike?
He's going to grab Kevin to come with and he will take her bike back.
Thanks Paul.
Hey man no problem. Is there anything that we can do? I mean shit.. Should we get Doc to come and see her?
I don't know Paul.
* Right then Scott pulls up and him and Kevin gets out of Scott car. They walk over to where everyone is. Scott looks down at Mark who is holding a half-asleep Caty. Glen is hugging Kitty who is crying into his chest. *
What a night huh?
Yeah Scott I could have thought of better ways to do with it. Everything quiet back there?
Yeah. She didn't eat anything but it's quiet. Michael is still there. I think she's worried about what Glen and you are going to do.
Good because she's got need to worry. Kevin thanks.
Hey Mark any time. Do you need help getting her in the car?
No I can handle it. But check and see if her keys are in her bike?
* Kevin walks over to her bike to look. He comes back. *
No Mark her keys aren't there.
Caty where are your keys?
* Caty doesn't answer but just kind of looks at Mark as if she's not sure what he asks. Mark looks up worried at Glen and Kitty. *
Do we need to take her to the hospital?
No if she only took three we can deal with it.
Are you sure Glen?
Yeah Mark I helped Kitty with her about a year ago.
* When Glen says this Kitty pulls away for Glen and goes over to Caty. She bends down and pushes her hair out of her face. *
Caty I'm sorry. Some friend I am to ask you to do this and then to let you go there of all times. I'm so sorry.
* Caty starts to cry again and Kitty hugs her while she is still in Marks arms. After a second she lets go and looks at Mark. *
Could we get her out of her? Please?
Sure Kitty.
* Mark opens up the coats he sees that her keys are hanging on the belt hoop. He takes them off and hands them to Kevin. Scott had gone over and gotten the blanket out of his car. Mark takes John's coat off of her and hands it to him to put back on. He then wraps her back up in his coat and the blanket. He picks her up and puts her into the back seat of the car. Kitty climbs in with her and Mark shuts the door. Mark then turns and trades keys with Scott. He then looks at Glen. *
Guys she a good person but she's had her share of problems and troubles. What Kitty and I forgot was that three years ago around now she lost her son. She tried to take her life a year ago when her ex started to take her back to court to get their daughter from her. He was using the fact that he died after getting a hold of some kind of pill that a friend had dropped. Caty was at work and the other person was babysitting him and Raven. She didn't know that the girl was using. She came home in just enough time to hold him as he died.
Christ Glen. Shit and my little witch had to say what she did.
Yeah Mark and maybe it hit to close to home. Especially since this week when she went to get her bike it didn't go to well.
Let's get her back to the hotel. I want to get her to bed so that I can watch over her.
Mark I would like to help. I mean I know something about drugs and all.
* Mark looks over at John and can see that there is hurt in his eyes. *
You sure John?
Yeah. Maybe I can be of some help. I mean I couldn't stop Jenny from doing it but maybe I can help.
Thanks.
* John and Mark shake hands. *
Let's get her the hell out of here.
Yeah Mark lets. I'm going to stop and get a few things and meet you back at your room.
Ok John.
* Everyone gets on to their bikes at Mark get into Scott's car. He looks back at Caty who is crying softly in Kitty's lap. Mark leans over the seat and pushes a piece of hair out of her face. *
Little one it's going to be ok I promise.
* With that said he turns around and starts the car. Glen goes to get on his bike put stops. He pulls the baggie of pills she handed him out of his pocket and crushes them in his hand. He then dumps it into the wind. Mark sees him and then pulls out and heads toward the hotel. *
Author Notes: Please Read and Review and let me know if you like were it is heading. It wasn't how I was going to write is so let me know if it's any good. Thanks to those of you who are Reviewing.
Thanks,
Cat Lea
Takersdarkone@msn.com