Chapter 31: Everyone's sorry

"Alex!? Oh my god what's happened to you?" She gasps looking at his bruised bloodied face "Did someone attack you? Oh my god ... come… sit down! I'll get something to clean you up with" she can feel this panicked tightness in her chest unsure about whats happened. Alex enters the apartment "Shit! Did you see who it was? I mean did you call the police. I'll call Clay I… oh my god!"

"Kelsey stop! Stop it okay. Don't call anyone. I'm fine. Where's Casey?"

"Um… " she frowns confused by the question "um… he's asleep… in the bedroom " she points behind her "He's fine. Alex, what's going on. You're scaring me"

"Right listen to me, you need to wake him then pack him a bag. We're going!"

"Sorry" her head furrows in confusion "Going? Going where?" she puts the first aid kit down on the worktop in the kitchen as frowns at him "Sorry, is this a joke what are you talking about?"

"We're leaving. I'm taking you back to the UK. Kelsey, you can't stay here, it's not safe"

"Not safe? Don't ridiculous. Alex what the hell are you talking about? What's not safe" she takes a breath suddenly getting a bad feeling, suddenly needing an explanation "Alex, what's going on?"

"You wanna know what happened to me. Clay. Clay did this. He's the one attacked me. He's dangerous"

"What?" she frowns, concerned, confused and worried "Clay did this? But why? I mean no! No, he wouldn't, he's not like that. He's kind, he's gentle. No there's a mistake"

"You know he'd have killed me ; it was only fortunate that that the others were there to pull him off or it would have been a lot worse"

"I don't understand" she looks up at him, confused, wondering how things could have been worse. His eye is swollen, his lip cut, and he has several red and purple colored bruises on this face "But I mean why? Why would Clay do this?" she watches as Alex picks up the diapers, creams and toys from various surfaces " Alex stop!" she grabs at his hand taking the small grey elephant toy from him. "Stop you need to talk to me. But first, let me clean up your face. Sit down"

"No, no we don't have time. We need to go. I don't want you here when he comes back"

"When Clay comes back. Alex I need to be here I need to talk to him, find out why he would do this. He won't hurt me" She frowns worried " Why would he? Alex, I'm confused what's going on, did something happen between you"

"Well I'm not taking that risk, that the won't hurt you. He's completely lost it. Kelsey, surely you don't want a man like that. A man that could do this, to a friend of yours you want him around Casey. Well do you?"

"No! Um… I mean, no of course not but... I don't know, I don't understand what's happened" She stands looking him in the face "Alex just slow down and explain"

He looks at her, his eyes following the line of her face, stroking her hair back from her shoulder "I told him, I can't be without you. That I need you. That we want to be together. So please, come back with me" he leans forward kissing her. Grabbing her around the waist, he causes her robe to fall open, exposing her bare flesh beneath. He moves his hand touching her.

"No! No! Alex ...stop!" she pushes him back, pulling her robe around her tying the belt tighter "We talked about this. It can't happen. No more! Now, you need to tell me what happened with Clay, why he did this to you"

"Kelsey please…" He grabs at her again

"I said get OFF ME!"

Then suddenly without any force from her Alex's grip is ripped away and he's thrown across the other side of the room "You heard! Get your filthy hands off her, now!"

"Clay!" She gasps panicked "Clay stop! Stop it, please!" She brushes her hair back from her face "Clay, please tell me what's going on between you. Did you really do this to him? Is he telling the truth?"

"Him he's the problem He wants you, and Casey. He wants to take you away from me. He says he loves you, but then you know that don't you? I mean you did sleep together, had a relationship. It wasn't just a kiss was it?"

"I .. I don't know what you're talking about" she frowns nervously "Clay stop it!" she watches as again Clay throws his fist, punching, lashing out. Alex cowers, wedged between the table and couch where he fell, trying to protect himself from the stream of blows that reign in.

"HEY! Hey ... hey Clay!" Sonny, pulls at him trying to separate them, pushing him back giving Alex time to get up.

"See...see, I told you, he's lost it. He's dangerous" he sighs wiping the new blood from his lip. "Kelsey get your things; you need to come with me."

"No! No, I ... I don't" her face contorts into a deep frown, she's in a whirl of confusion trying to make sense of the situation "Clay, what's going on?"

"You…you and him how long?"

"What? How long what?"

"How long have you been seeing each other, sleeping with each other and don't tell me you haven't been because he told me you have"

"What!? Shit! No!" she can't get her breath the air knocked from her lungs "He told you what?! No! No. ...no! We're not sleeping with each other"

"Oh, maybe not now, not since you had Casey, but you did, you did have a relationship?!"

"He told you that?" She swallows anxiously, taking a deep breath as she looks up staring at Alex "Why? Why Alex, why would you tell him that?"

"Because he needed to know and cos, he was goading, pushing and it just came out"

"Just came out. No!" she takes a sharp intake of breath as he world starts to collapse " I don't believe you! I asked you... no I told you, not to say anything about that. He didn't need to know. Oh my god why would you Alex?" she's so angry

"It just came out, I'm sorry. But look what he did, he did this. He can't control his temper. Get Casey, we need to leave!"

"What?! Are you crazy!? I mean… I can't I ..I...Alex get off me I'm not leaving!"

"You wanna be with him?" Clay frowns staring at her as she turns around and looks at him

"What? No! No, I don't want to be with him. Clay what is this. Look, I know I didn't say anything, but it was a long time ago. We got past it, we're just friends now"

"But you kissed, right? When I was spun up last week"

"What !?" she swallows apprehensively, taking another hammer blow to her emotions. She stares at Alex "You told him that!? But … but that was .. that… that shouldn't have happened! Clay... I was tired, I was upset. God, it was nothing" She wipes the large tears from her face "Honestly please Clay, you have to believe me, that meant nothing. It was stupid I should never..."

"I know…" he takes a breath, his anger starting to cool back under the surface, back in control "He told me, it was all him"

"It was!" Alex wipe his face; he takes a breath as he can see the look of devastation in her face "It was me. That was on me, I took advantage and I shouldn't have"

"So why did you have to tell him. Why Alex ? I can't believe you did that to me" She now shoves him hard, pushing him back. Slamming her fists angrily against his chest "Oh my god! What are you trying to do?"

"He's trying to split us up. Drive wedge between us. You don't get it do you, he wants to be with you"

"No! No, he doesn't that the past, it's not now it's not gonna happen. Alex we're not going to be together"

"Kelsey you know that's not true… we're meant to be together. You feel it too"

"Right .." Clay takes a breath, swallowing nervously almost afraid to say this "You wanna be with him, you wanna be with him yes or no?"

"What?" she frowns "No! No, I told you no! I want …I want Casey, I want you...Clay we're a family now"

"I don't know if that's true, so you need to choose. Me or him, simple choice"

"What!? Clay c'mon please .. please you don't mean this. Clay, he's my friend"

"No .. no, you wanna be with me, and Casey, then you tell him to go, and I mean gone, gone for good no more contact no more friendship"

"You don't mean that." she takes a long sigh "Clay you aren't serious" she looks at him but gets nothing back, no reaction from him. Just a blank expression.

"You wanna be with him, Kelsey. Then go! Go be with him. Get your stuff and go!"

"What the hell?" she frowns checking the serious look on his face " NO! No, that's not what I want, not at all"

Alex shakes his head, he's angry with Clay the way he's talking to her "Kelsey, come on get your stuff, you can't stay here with him. It's too dangerous. Just get some clothes and let's go to the hotel, you can get the rest of your stuff tomorrow" he grabs at her arm pulling her towards him "I love you . Kelsey please just get Casey and come with me".

"Oh no!" Clay steps up close behind her, he points his finger at Alex "No! If she wants to go she can go, but she is not taking my son with her"

"What?" She turns around staring him straight in the face, she's shocked by his statement "Clay you can't be serious you want me to leave without my son."

"No! No, I don't want you to leave at all. I want you stay but if you won't give him up, then you need to go."

"Clay please... you can't mean this" her eyes beg and plead with him "Clay I don't want to leave. I love you. But I'm not going anywhere without Casey"

"Then simply tell him to go"

She takes a breath first, looking at Alex then over to the couch where Sonny has been sitting quietly he's not involving himself, unless things get out of hand again "Oh no don't look at me!" he coughs awkwardly and drops his eyes looking away. He won't help her, it's her decision, and whether he agrees with how Clay's handling this or not, he has his six. He will support him, no questions. All he will do is stop him from killing Alex.

"You know he said he'd go, back to the UK, if you told him to. So, tell him! Kelsey tell him to go!"

She takes a breath her body nervously shaking, the hard lump of knotted emotion in her throat, hurts. She nods looking at Clay, she bites her lip "Okay" she closes her eyes she can't look at Alex "You need to go, Alex" She takes a deep breath, she's willing herself not to cry "Alex please, just...just go!"

"No…. no, you don't mean that. You want to be with me, I know you do. You kissed me you made it clear what you wanted"

"Alex…" she looks up begging him not to cause any more trouble "please don't do this. Just go back"

"No, we've got something, and you know it. For fuck sake Kelsey just come with me"

"No! Alex, you're my friend, my best friend, but really...you need to go now. I have a life here, with Clay, and Casey. You can't be part of that, not while you feel this way."

"Fine!" Alex takes a deep breath "I get it, you're worried about your son. So, I'll wait, let you sort it out, but he can't stop you taking him"

"Oh…"Clay laughs "but that's where you're wrong" he smiles, his turn to be smug.

"Clay .." Sonny hesitantly intervenes. He has a bad feeling about what Clay's about to do "Clay, leave it man. Don't do this now!"

"Why? He needs to know. You… you can't take my son anywhere. I checked it out. He's a US citizen and you need my permission to take him and…" he smirks at him "I'm never giving it, so he's going nowhere!"

Kelsey swivels on her heels staring at him "Checked what out? What do you mean you checked it out? Clay...Clay what have you done?"

He takes a breath, he looks over at Sonny, who looks away, rubbing his head he knew this was foolish "I um…I went to a lawyer, she errm… she told me that you need my permission, to take him overseas, otherwise it's child abduction"

"What?!" she frowns "You…you saw a lawyer, about Casey? But when... I mean why ? What did I do that you'd want to do that?"

"I um..." he rubs his head, now he feels a little nervous, a little worried. It does sound a little over the top "I just …just needed some advice, I need to be sure after what he said to me"

"And you didn't think to talk to me about this?" She takes a breath, biting her lip as she stares at him Fuck! "I don't believe this! I can't believe you did that"

"Look Kelsey, he was saying things. I got worried, I was worried that you were gonna take him and not come back"

"Worried… but not worried enough to talk about it?" she sighs shaking her head in disappointment. Then she turns setting her sights on Alex "You need to go! RIGHT NOW!"

She's angry. Angry with both of them and she takes a breath, gathering her emotions and strength. Wiping the large tear from her cheek and in an ordered, controlled authoritative tone , on that worries Alex. He grabs at her arm "Get off me!" she pulls his hand from her "Just go! Alex GO!" she shoves him backward "I said GET OUT!"

He backs off as she screams loudly pushing him "No, no you don't mean that. Kelsey please…"

"You heard her.. it's time for you to go!" Clay frowns angrily, he pulls her away "You said you'd go if she asked and she just asked"

"You bastard .. you went behind her back, to steal her son and you want me to go!?"

Clay's seething, his rage bubbles up and he once again he launches himself at Alex, slamming him back against the wall. Alex is winded and Kelsey screams as she tries to stop them. "CLAY!"

She sobs watching as Clay hits him again and again, Sonny trying to grab him. Clay's rage engulfs him now and he pushes Sonny causing him to fall backwards, tripping over the small table behind and crashing to the floor. For a moment he's winded. His arm hurts Fuck!
He sits up, gathering his breath he watches as Kelsey desperately pulling at Clay's shirt.

"Clay stop! Please… you're gonna kill him! Stop it!"

It's no use, Clay's lost in the zone of his anger. Alex fights back, punching Clay hard in the ribs but he crashes against the side table by the door, tipping it over he trips backwards on it and falls to the floor

"CLAY! Please stop it!" Kelsey panics, she can see Alex's face is covered in blood, everything happening so fast there's no time to stop it she grabs at his shirt, trying to make him stop. But Clay continues and as he pulls back to hit Alex again, but this time instead of Alex it catches Kelsey full on the cheek. The force catches her off guard and she drops backwards. Stopped in her tracks her hand grabs at the pain that sears through her jaw up her face making her head spin.

Fuck! She sits down, her eyes closed tight against the pain in her cheek. Tears well in her eyes and she takes a deep breath Ahhh! Fuck! She presses her hand against the hurt, hoping it will stop soon.

"Kelsey!" Alex sees what happened and somehow finds the strength to push Clay off him "What the fuck did you do!"

Clay turns around, rushing to her aid. He can see the split in her lip, the blood trickles down her chin and as her nose starts to bleed. He feels sick, wracked with guilt.

Sonny's finally on his feet and pushes Alex away "Get the fuck back!" he warns him "He then pulls Clay away "And you ... you sit your ass down there!"

"He hit her!" Alex protests at Sonny's intervention

"I didn't mean .. " Clay can't get his breath he can't believe what he did "I didn't mean to it was an accident. Oh my god Kels, are you okay? I'm so sorry… I never meant…I mean I would never hurt you"

"Get off me!" she sobs. Her cheek hurts. She wipes the blood from under her nose on her hand. As Sonny pulls Clay away from her.

Sonny lifts her up, helping her stand "Tip your head back. Lemmee look" he gently examines her cheek and nose; she flinches every time he touches it. The dull ache all over her face as he studies her lip. "Nothing broke I don't think"

"Fucking hurts like hell though!" she grimaces trying to smile at him. Sonny's worried and he turns on Clay and Alex "You!" he points at Alex first "You get the hell out, right now, otherwise you'll have me to answer to! I don't know what the hell you thought you were doin, comin here but you go, right now!"

"No, I not leaving her here, not with him not like this. Look what he did"

Clay turns the anger fills his face, but this time Sonny pushes him back on to the couch "You, you sit your fuckin ass down there, and you don't move!" He takes a breath, looking around trying to sort the mess out "Clay, you need to calm the hell down!"

This has gotten way out of hand. They all look up towards the bedroom doorway as Casey starts to cry. Sonny takes a breath rubbing his head. He heads to the outer door and opening it he gestures out "I told you …go!"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Alex wipes the blood from his mouth, spitting the blood on to the back of his hand. Kelsey's watching him. She's not sure what to say to either of them now and Clay gives her this pitiful look.

"Kelsey I'm sorry"

"I know." She nods accepting his apology "It was an accident, I know that." she takes a deep breath, placing her hand on his cheek and she smiles as gently she places a kiss on his lips "I'm sorry too. I never meant for this. I should have told you, but it was complicated" She bites her cheek and turns towards Alex, she takes a deep breath "You need to do what Sonny says. You need to go!" He goes to speak, and she puts her hand up stopping him "Alex, please don't say anything else. You've done enough damage. I can't see you anymore so just go!"

"Fine!" he sighs nodding his head "If that's really what you want?"

"Yes ... yes it is" she gulps, it hurts, watching the look on his face, it really hurts her heart. They've been friends for so long she can't begin to imagine a world without him, but she knows it has to be. He's hurt, physically, emotionally and she wants to help him, but she can't. She bites her lip as he turns at the doorway one last time looking at her. He doesn't say a word, just nods watching her then he goes.

She closes her eyes tight the tears drip down her face. She takes a deep breath. "I need to sort Casey" she wipes her cheek.

Clay grabs at her waist he wants to comfort her. "I'm sorry!"

"Get off me! Please... just leave me alone, Clay!" she pushes him away "I need to go and sort Casey out"

"Kelsey please…" he makes a grab for her hand "At least let me get some ice for your face."

"No! I said just leave me alone!"

She disappears into the dimly lit bedroom as Sonny stops him following, pulling him away. "Clay man, just leave her be!"

"Sonny, I need to talk to her. Tell her I'm sorry."

"No, no you need to leave her alone. Look Clay, normally I'd say don't listen to any of my advice bout women, but this time, trust me. Just let her cool down. You need to cool down." He heads to the kitchen, taking two beers from the fridge, popping the tops from them both he hands one to Clay. The other he drinks, tipping it back quickly filling his mouth trying to rid it of the bad taste Fuck! He rubs at his head "You know, I've seen you do some dumb shit Clay, but that there… what you did to him, jeez man that's gotta be the dumbest move ever" he sighs

Clay slumps down on the couch. He looks around at the mess, the up turned tables, the books and magazines strewn around, the tipped over pot plant. He sighs running his hands though his hair as he thinks about how much he lost it with Alex. He even scared himself.

"Oh shit! Sonny, you think he's gonna report this, report me to Blackburn, Lindell?"

"I dunno Clay. What's he gonna say, I mean, he aint exactly acted in a manner becoming of an officer either so .. I'm sure he can't preach. Let's just hope he gets on that plane with his tail between his legs and disappears for good."

"Yeah!" Clay takes a long drink from the beer, sighing loudly "Oh hell what am I gonna do?"

" 'Bout what?" Sonny frowns he leans over the breakfast bar staring, watching Clay sitting in despair.

"I mean, about Kelsey. About us."

"Just give it some time alright, let things cool down, talk ta her tomorrow. Look she obviously wants to be with ya, but she's hurtin right now. Hell, no matter if you like him or not, he was her friend. But you've gotta cool it man, you can't keep getting all steamed like this."

"I know .. I know" Shit! Clay rubs his head. He can hear Casey; he's still crying as Kelsey comes to the doorway. He stands up and looks at her as she waits quietly at the door "You okay?" he frowns, concerned.

"Um ..yeah, I just need his changing bag, please. It's in the kitchen"

"Yeah um.. sure, I'll get it. I'll bring it through" Clay smiles, she doesn't return it, but she nods. He can see the large swelling of red and purple bruise on her face, the cut on her lip.

So can Sonny and he frowns "Shit! She's gonna have a hellva a shiner tomorrow"

"Sonny don't!" Clay sighs, he feels sick thinking about what he did, knowing it was his temper that caused it. He heads to the kitchen, tipping what's left of his beer down the sink. He gathers up the changing bag.

Sonny drains his beer in one go "You know what… I'm gonna get off, leave you two to it! Take it slow man. I'll speak to ya tomorra and let me know if ya need anythin "

"Sonny…" Clay frowns as he watches Sonny head to the door "Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without ya brother"

" Yeah me either Clay, me either" he laughs slapping him on the back.

The door clicks shut, and Clay takes the changing bag to the bedroom. He takes a deep breath as he stands in the doorway watching as Kelsey feeds Casey. She's sat in the low light of the star lamp that he bought. The white patterns jumping around on the ceiling. He gives her an apprehensive smile as he places the bag on the bed

"You need anything else?"

"Um… no. Clay..." she shakes her head hesitating a moment, the atmosphere awkward and stilted between them "...thanks!"

They focus staring at each other and finally he breaks the deadlock with a smile "Can I um... sit down?"

"Yeah...sure!" She nods, moving her legs, pulling the support pillow around, making herself more comfortable. She leans back, relaxing against the headboard. Clay smiles, gently he strokes the top of Casey's head, while he feeds. She looks at him and now she too smiles, quickly wiping a tear from her cheek.

Clay's hand gently touches her face, the purple redness it looks sore and he feels a terrible guilt "I'm sorry, you know I never meant to do that. I mean I never... "

"I know. It was an accident, I know that. I shouldn't have tried to get between you" she smiles at him reassuringly placing her hand on top of his "Though I can't imagine how Alex feels, this hurts enough" she laughs "Sorry...sorry I didn't mean that, it was a joke" she smiles touching his face, stroking his cheek "Clay you shouldn't have done that, to Alex I mean. You should have talked to me, told me how you felt. I would have dealt with it, with him. But to hit him like that...you could have killed him" she sighs

"No .. no, I know" he frowns contemplating what happened.

They sit quietly, for a while. Casey still feeding. Clay strokes her hair and then very carefully he places his lips against hers kissing her. Owww! She grimaces as he touches the cut on her lip, and she pushes him back "Clay don't"

"Sorry! Look, I'll get some ice. Do you think you need a doctor to look at that?"

"No, no it'll be fine, I'm sure. Don't worry "

"Maybe I'll get Trent to check it tomorrow, just to be sure. Oh my god I'm so sorry"

"Clay…leave it, its fine." she sighs "Come here. Sit with us."

He nods, pulling his blood-stained tee shirt up over his head, throwing it on the floor next to the bed and then sits himself up next to her. She leans her head against the warm of his bare skin and as Casey finishes feeding, they sit for a while longer quietly watching him sleep in her arms.

Eventually Kelsey lets out a long-tired sigh. It's late and she quietly lifts him up, placing him down in his crib to sleep. She watches him for a while longer and then placing her hand to her own cheek she gently massages the pain she can feel.

Clay's watching, he can see the hurt in her expression, and he stands up. Wrapping himself around her, he holds his arms around her waist, brushing his cheek gently against hers "I'm sorry" he whispers in her ear. She leans back against him as he kisses into the crevice of her neck.

"Me too! Look, I know I should have told you about me and Alex before, I was just... I just worried how you'd react" she sighs biting her lip nervously, enjoying his comfort. She's afraid to spoil the moment but something's playing on her mind and she needs to address it "Did you really need to go to the lawyer? I mean did you not trust me?" she turns around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck, stroking the back of his head as she looks him in the eyes "Clay I would never take him away from you, never. No matter what he's your son. So please, no more secrets. Just ...just talk to me."

"Okay. No more secrets I promise" He brushes his lips against her neck, kissing his way down her chest as he unties the belt on her robe, his hand finding its way inside onto her skin.

"Clay, stop it" she smiles awkwardly as his hand slides across her hip and over her butt before pushing her back on to the bed.

She lays there enjoying the warmth of his touch on her body Mmmm! She sighs as he smooths his hand over slowly over her skin. Pulling him closer, wrapping her arms tightly around his back. "Clay, I'm tired. Can we just sleep?"

"Yeah... yeah of course" he kisses her neck, wrapping her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest and as he does he watches as she closes her eyes "It's going to be okay now, you'll see"