Unshown Moments for Kitty's Outlaw Season 3(1)

This is for BigMommaT and Mommoo

AN: I have two more for this episode planned and then I will be taking a leave of absence. I'm moving and in the middle of a mess so it'll take me a while. But in case you've asked for moments for other episodes or at least hope for more, fear not (or is it rejoice not?) I do have more planned and some already in the works. Just need to take some time for real life.

"I thought you'd forgotten about me, Kitty." Cole said as he pulled her to him.

"I thought I had too." Kitty answered softly, accepting the embrace but not necessarily wanting it. "It's been a long time."

Cole pulled back from her with a sigh. "I know, Kitty and I'm sorry about that. I… well, I thought it better for you if I stayed away."

"Why, Cole?" She pulled away from him completely and moved back a few paces, no longer comfortable in his arms. "Why are you here, now? It's been a long time, too long, since I saw you last and I don't believe in coincidences."

Cole took a deep breath and smiled at the woman his 'girl' had become. She was no longer dewy eyed and head over in heels in love with him. That much was obvious. No, that honor now went to the tall US Marshal Dillon, whether the words were spoken or not. He'd seen the look she cast the lawman when she'd agreed to talk. It almost seemed to him as though she was begging the big man to object. Cole was glad he didn't.

"I just wanted to see you, Kitty." Cole shrugged. "I just wanted to know how you were doing and…"

"You didn't seem to care too much about that when you left me in San Francisco." She pointed out.

"I…" He dropped his head. "I couldn't help that, Kitty. I got caught up in something that… well, it was best that you weren't involved in it so I cut you out. Believe it or not, Kitty, but I was trying to protect you. I didn't want to see you hurt and staying with me could've gotten you hurt."

"I got hurt anyway, Cole." She said sadly. "When you took off, you left me with nothing. I didn't have a dime to my name and I had to..."

"I'm sorry, Kitty." He shook his head, interrupting her. He didn't want to hear what she had to do because he already knew. "I mean that. I truly was trying to keep you from that."

Kitty studied the man she had given her innocence to, so long ago, and saw that the intervening years hadn't been good to him. His hair was thinning and his frame was leaner and his eyes had lost the spark she'd so loved when she'd first fallen in love with him.

But despite the changes, he was still Cole and she did believe him, about that at least. Of course, trusting him was another matter.

"Why, Cole?" She repeated the question. "Why are you really here?"

Cole looked down to the ground, silent for several minutes, trying to decide what he should do. He'd come there in the hopes of getting Kitty to help him. He'd heard about her and Dillon and he'd hoped he might use their past relationship to get her to distract the law man while he and his partner robbed the bank.

But when he finally looked up at her, he realized he couldn't do it. He wasn't the only one that had changed since they'd last saw each other. Kitty was no longer the trusting child, willing to follow wherever he'd led. She was a woman now, still beautiful, still loving but no longer blind and looking at her, he knew, she'd say no.

It was no longer him that she would follow.

"I was going to ask a favor of you, Kitty." He admitted. "But… well, it's not right I should."

"What kind of favor, Cole?" Kitty asked. When she'd first saw him there in town, she'd temporarily forgotten the bad and remembered the good about him, but now, with the look she was seeing on his face, she was beginning to wonder exactly what he was doing there. She now knew why, just not what. "What do you want?"

But Cole shook his head with an almost saddened smile. "It's not important, Kitty. It's nothing."

"Apparently it was." She pointed out. "Cole, if you…"

Cole quickly reached up and placed his hands on her arms. "Honestly, Kitty. It's nothing. I, uh… Don't worry about it."

"Are you running from something?" Kitty's question was blunt but she knew bluntness was needed. "I mean if you are, Marshal Dillon…"

"No, no, Kitty." Cole shook his head. "Other than ghosts and regrets, nothings chasing me. I just got tired of California and thought I'd try my luck back east, is all."

"Are you needing money?" She asked with a sinking heart, wondering if that was the real reason he'd sought her out. It wouldn't totally surprise her.

"Yes." He nodded. "But not from you." He quickly added. "I already have a way of getting the money I need."

"Then what did you want of me?"

Kitty's voice took on a sharp edge and Cole knew she was getting frustrated with his half answers. He thought of an answer that, while not a lie, wasn't the exact truth.

"I wanted to see you and see if… if there was still anything between us, if maybe you'd want to try again." He shrugged. "But, I could tell by the way you looked at that Marshal, and he looked at you, that it's too late.

Kitty suspected that wasn't the truth but she doubted Cole would tell her the truth, at least not right then.

"It is, Cole." she sighed. "It's way too late." When he didn't answer, she turned away towards the saloon. "I guess, I'd better get back inside. We're kind of busy tonight."

"Do you have to?" Cole asked when she turned for the door. "I mean, I thought maybe we could…"

"No, Cole." Kitty shook her head. "I'm sorry. But… no."

"Will you at least have a drink with me or supper or…"

"Cole." Kitty shook her head. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"Guess not." Cole looked down. "But if I was to see you on the street or come in for a drink…"

"I'll never refuse to talk with you, Cole. But we can never go back." Kitty replied gently as she opened the door and went back inside.

With a nod, Cole stood and watched her walk back inside and out of his life completely.

END