"The little girl with the Mimi-mascara got a job as an intern so she could get close to you?" Greg howled his characteristic laugh as he sat with his castmates at a table
in back of the bar.
"Greg, shut up and listen...she said we have a connection," Alex said in a low voice.
Drew shook his head impatiently. "Man, fans say that kinda stuff all the time. I have 'connections' with women in every state. What's the big deal? Okay, so this girl
took it a step further and actually got into your dressing room...she was just showing ingenuity, like those teenagers they found hiding in that clothes hamper at Tom
Cruise's hotel." Drew chuckled. "That's what happens when you become a sex symbol...even a sex symbol that looks like you, buddy!"
"It's different...Col, you remember the first night when she came up to hug me. You thought she was freaky, too, right?" Alex looked at his friend for support.
Colin thought Alex was overreacting; after all, he himself had been the recipient of all manner of gifts and outpourings of love from females from their teens to their
thirties. While he felt their behaviour was somewhat obsessive, he also felt it was basically harmless. Nonetheless, the look in Alex's eyes was so needy and
desperate that Colin's sense of loyalty won out over his common sense.
"Yeah," he agreed, sipping his martini. "She was freaky."
Greg and Drew snorted simultaneously, with Greg giving Alex a friendly punch in the arm.
"Don't fear your fans, man...embrace them. It's unconditional love...where else do you get that except from your pets?"
Everyone laughed, including Colin in spite of himself. Alex swigged his beer sullenly and Drew changed the subject.
********************
The next afternoon, Alex was startled as he emerged from the back door of the studio to find Kim waiting for him.
"Hi!" she said in her chirpiest voice. She wore a long black skirt and a yellow, loose-fitting peasant blouse. Her mascara-laden lashes were flaking in the heat.
"Kim," Alex said, almost in a whisper.
"I've been waiting here since this morning. I figured you'd have to come out eventually." She winked at him and licked her pink lips. "I came to tell you there are no
hard feelings about the other day. I know you couldn't defend me because then everyone would know our feelings for each other...I forgive you for letting me lose
my job."
Alex swallowed. "Kim, I - I don't *have* feelings for you."
The young woman smiled, her eyes dancing in the sunshine. "You will. In time. I love you so much, Alex... can we go someplace and talk?"
Alex inhaled sharply. "Kim, I'm flattered...I really am...but like I said, I have a wife and I have children. Look, do you want me to get you a picture or something? If
you leave your address I'll make sure it gets to you."
"Who needs a picture when the real thing's right here?" She reached out and touched his arm lightly. Alex moved it away, trying not to appear obvious in doing so but
failing.
"I'm going in, now," he said. "Please...don't wait for me here anymore, okay?"
"Okay, Alex."
Surprised at how quickly she'd given in, Alex was unconvinced. "Really...okay? The other guys'll get jealous." He forced a laugh. On one level he was still trying
desperately to believe that this really was nothing more than a harmless crush. If he kept things light, maybe Kim would lighten up, too.
Kim laughed heartily. "You're so funny, Alex," she said. She winked at him as she turned to go. "You'll come to love me, darling. In time." She walked away briskly,
leaving Alex alone in the parking lot.
*******************
"I'm ho-ome!" Sara called. She entered the kitchen and set a bag of groceries on the counter. With her other hand she carried an elaborate gift basket by the handle
and walked into the den where Alex sat in front of the TV.
"Hi," he said, glancing up from "Battlebots". "What's that basket?"
"It's addressed to you. I found it on the front steps."
Puzzled, Alex took the basket from Sara and set it on the coffee table. He glanced at the card and stifled a gasp at the now all-too-familiar handwriting. This time the
message had a menacing quality: "I love you. I want you. I'll have you."
"Why would this come to you at home?" Sara wondered aloud, unphased by the written declaration of love. After all, she'd been with this "celebrity" for over twenty
years, and as she'd often said dryly, 'had seen it all.' "Surely they're not diverting fan stuff to private homes now," she continued. " *That* hardly helps the security
problem."
"I don't know," said Alex quietly.
Sara scanned the contents of the basket without removing the clear wrap which covered it. "Fancy chocolates...dried fruits...look, a little toy panda, how cute." Sara
looked at her husband, who had turned a shade whiter. "I don't think we should eat any of this, but it's a sweet thought...honey, what's wrong?"
Before Alex could reply, the ringing of the telephone made him jump. Sara narrowed her brown eyes inquisitively at him before picking it up. Once again, there was
no response from the caller.
Sara sighed and shook her head as she finally hung up. "That's been happening since yesterday...all I hear is soft music in the background but nobody speaks."
Alex frowned, wanting to tell Sara everything but afraid she'd think he was crazy, too.
"Must be some kids," he muttered, turning his attention again to the gift basket. "It'll stop eventually."
**************************************
Colin read the latest note several times before handing it back over to Alex, listening as his friend repeated the conversation he'd had with Kim outside the studio.
"It's like she's obsessed with you," Colin said with a hint of disbelief.
"No kidding. What am I gonna do?"
"I don't know. Just try to ignore her, I guess. She'll get the hint and go away."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you made it clear you're not interested. Groupies don't hang around if they think they're not gonna- you know, *get* anything."
"Since when are you the expert on groupies?"
"I've been around," Colin said defensively.
"Oh, God..." Alex rolled his eyes.
Colin sighed. "Alex, you do have a tendency to be paranoid about things sometimes...that's why I think you should just calm down and try not to overreact to this."
"So you think I'm crazy. Great. Well, what about the phone calls? How do you explain those?"
"I can't..." Colin began.
"Then I'm not crazy..."
"I never said you were!"
"So what's your definition of paranoia? You think this is all in my head, just like everyone else." Alex stood up and took a cautious glance out the door before
continuing. "Well, I'm not crazy. This *girl* is crazy. How'd she get my address?"
"Everyone knows you live in the heritage house...it's a wonder more fans haven't shown up at your door." Colin folded his arms, looking almost defiantly at Alex as
though he could somehow scold him out of his anxiety.
"And my unlisted phone number?"
"Maybe it's not her calling you. Until you have proof, you can't let this woman scare you...it'll take over your life."
Alex took a deep breath. "If she's in the audience tonight..."
"Don't worry...she won't be."
"How do you know?" Alex demanded, growing irritation evident in his voice.
"I don't know," Colin admitted after a pause. "But you just can't let her get to you. You've got to focus." When the look on Alex's face didn't change, Colin's tone
softened.
"Look," he said, "if she shows up again, just get her banned from the theater. It's easy to do."
Alex nodded without looking his friend in the eye. He didn't want to see the expression of pity Colin gave him whenever they flew on planes together, and Alex had
his head in the airsick bag. He felt as though he was becoming the King of Irrational Fears. "I will," he said quietly.
"Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah."
The red light in Alex's dressing room flashed, indicating it was time for them to go on. The walk down the hallway seemed endless as the hum of the crowd took on a
threatening buzz. Palms sweaty, Ryan stood behind the stage curtain and waited for The Overture.
**********************************
Alex planned to change his clothes as quickly as he could and go straight to the bar with the others. He'd just tossed his unitard aside and pulled his golf shirt over his
head when his door abruptly opened and Kim literally slithered inside. She was breathing heavily and looked flushed and mildly surprised, as though she couldn't
believe she'd reached her destination.
Alex stared at her, equally surprised. "How did you get in here?"
Kim smiled as she quickly regained her composure. "I was very careful...there's so much fuss out there...it was easy to get to you."
"What do you want?" Alex asked in a hollow voice. He felt as though they were the only two people left on earth, and it was a lonely, miserable feeling.
"I told you...I want you."
"Listen, Kim...I'm sure you're a nice person...but like I told you before, I'm married."
"I know," Kim responded plaintively.
"You've got to stop giving me stuff and - and following me around ..."
"Didn't you like my basket?" Kim tossed her black hair and blinked rapidly at him, waiting for an answer.
"It was lovely...but you can't come to my house. I have a family."
"I know that. I know all about you, Green Eyes. I watched your kids in the school yard yesterday."
Alex felt his heart fall to the pit of his stomach. Anger welled up inside of him and he struggled to get his words out.
"My kids? You're watching my kids?!"
"Yes, darling..."
"Stop it! Dammit, stop calling me 'darling'! I want you to stay the hell away from my family, do you understand me? And I want you to stop calling my house!" Alex's
voice shook.
"Don't yell at me, Alex...you don't have to leave your family...you can have it all...I'll fit into your life however you want me to."
"I want you to get out! If I see you here again I'm calling the cops! I don't even want you in the audience, do you get it?"
Tears formed again in Kim's eyes. "Don't, Alex...please...I love you. And I'll love Mackenzie and Sammy, too."
"Get out!" Alex screamed, his eyes blazing.
Kim looked at him as though he'd slapped her. "Okay," she said. "I'll leave." She turned and slithered back out the door. Alex stood shaking, feeling that getting her
to leave had been suspiciously easy. He sat on the edge of his couch for a several minutes, his heart racing as he contemplated calling security. But it wasn't as though
he could have her arrested. She hadn't done anything wrong, legally speaking.
Opening his door cautiously, Alex heard something crumple beneath his shoe. He looked down at what he'd stepped on. It was a small stuffed panda bear, its glassy
eyes removed and replaced with two Xs drawn on with a black marker. The bear clutched a dead rose. Its petals had crumbled under the weight of Ryan's foot.
Lifting the small bear from the floor, Ryan noticed a note tucked into the red ribbon around its neck. He shuddered as he read: "I know where you live. If I can't have
you, neither will they."
*************
"Get out of the house. Get into the car and take the kids to a hotel. Just do it, Sara!" Alex cried desperately into the phone. He waited for Sara's reluctant assent and
then slammed down the receiver, trembling with fear.
"It'll be okay, Alex," Drew assured him. "The police will be at your house before you know it."
Alex slumped onto the couch and placed his head in his hands. "Oh, God...if she hurts them...if she hurts them, I'll kill her. I swear I'll kill her."
"She won't. Everything will be okay." Colin sat down beside Alex and put his arm around him. He was trying to be brave for Alex's sake but the sight of the
crumpled rose petals and the mangled face of the panda bear sent chills down his spine. He lamented not having taken Alex's concerns more seriously in the first
place. Now it might be too late.
Greg sat silently in a chair opposite the others. He looked guiltily at Drew as he remembered the evening in the bar and they way they'd mocked Alex for not
enjoying the "unconditional love" of his fan.
"Hand me the phone...I wanna call home and make sure Sara's not there." Alex took the receiver from Drew and dialed quickly. After several unanswered rings,
during which he barely allowed himself to breathe, he was satisfied the house was empty.
"They must have left," Alex said, his voice catching in his throat.
"See?" said Colin. "They're on their way to a hotel. They're safe." He made Alex look him in the eye and repeated firmly, "They're safe, Alex."
But Alex was still biting his nails nervously. "I bet Kim knows what our car looks like...what if she's following them?"
"Don't do this to yourself..." Kelly placed a hand on Ryan's knee to stop the man's leg from shaking.
The group sat silently for several minutes, unspoken thoughts weighing down the room like slabs of concrete. Before long the police arrived, assuring Alex that a
squad car had also been sent to his home. The officers took Alex's statement and departed, telling him to hang onto Kim's various notes for evidence should the need
arise. All that was left to do was wait; Alex did not want to leave the studio because he expected Sara to phone him there once she checked into the hotel. Instead,
less than an hour later a call came from the police officers with whom he had just been speaking. A woman matching Kim's description had been involved in a car
accident in the Valley; she had apparently run another vehicle off the road. The description of the car matched that of Alex's.
**********************************
Alex sat stoically in the waiting room of London General Hospital. The faces of his wife and children flashed before his eyes, and the tinkly voice of Kim grated in his
head. He felt as though he had failed his family. If they were injured, it was because of him. If they'd been killed, it was because of him.
"Why didn't I move them back to Scotland when I had the chance?" he asked himself, rubbing his temples. "None of this would have happened."
"It's not your fault," Colin said gently, startling Alex, who'd been unaware of having spoken out loud.
A young-looking police officer appeared and sat opposite them. Alex clenched his hands into fists and kept them tightly at his side. He felt he had to physically brace
himself for what was to come.
The officer showed him a photo."Is this the woman who was stalking you, Mr. Epstein?"
"Y-yes," Alex stammered. "That's Kim."
The officer nodded. "Kim Harwood...I'm afraid she didn't survive the crash, but the car she ran off the road - it wasn't yours, sir. The folks in it were pretty banged
up. They'll be alright, but it wasn't your family. They had a similar car and Ms. Harwood went after them for a good ten miles...but it wasn't your car," the officer
repeated, trying to get Alex's expression to change.
Alex stared at the officer, unable to speak or even take in what had been said. He looked dumbly at Colin, who spoke for him. "Where are Sara and the kids?"
The officer addressed Alex. "Your wife contacted the police department, looking for you. She and your children are safe at the Stargate Hotel."
Tears of relief streamed down Alex's face and he was nearly overcome with emotion. Escorted by the policeman, he made his way to the hotel where a tired-looking
Sara awaited him.
"I'm sorry," he said into his wife's shoulder. "I didn't know it would go this far...we'll get out of London, I promise. We'll go back to the ranch." He looked over her
head and was comforted by the sight of Sam and Mackenzie, sound asleep in the same bed.
"I don't care about that, I'm just glad you're okay," Sara whimpered as she held him. "It's all over now, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's all over," Alex told her, taking her face in his hands, seeing the makeup smudged there and realizing he'd been in makeup the whole time.
"But the basket, and the phone calls..." Sara began, wiping her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
"I didn't know for sure...I didn't want to scare you," Alex explained. He added in a low tone, "I was scared enough for both of us."
"And now, she's - she's dead?" Sara mouthed with a glance at the sleeping children.
"Yeah...I can't believe it...I..." Alex began quietly, his voice trailing off. Finally he sighed at his wife, whose words also failed her, and they shared a look of unspoken
horror. Alex suddenly became aware of the hum of the air conditioner, and shuddered although he didn't feel cold. Sara wrapped her arms around him again and
guided him to the suite's other double bed. He lay down slowly, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Sara stroked his hair until he fell asleep, and then tried to find
relief herself. But she was unable to stop thinking about the woman she'd never seen, the "fan" who had nearly taken away everything they cherished.
END
~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope ya liked it...please review. It's my first fanfic. Ya know the drill; I don't own CATS or the characters as such, just the people I made up. Which is everyone. Thanks. Please don't sue me.
in back of the bar.
"Greg, shut up and listen...she said we have a connection," Alex said in a low voice.
Drew shook his head impatiently. "Man, fans say that kinda stuff all the time. I have 'connections' with women in every state. What's the big deal? Okay, so this girl
took it a step further and actually got into your dressing room...she was just showing ingenuity, like those teenagers they found hiding in that clothes hamper at Tom
Cruise's hotel." Drew chuckled. "That's what happens when you become a sex symbol...even a sex symbol that looks like you, buddy!"
"It's different...Col, you remember the first night when she came up to hug me. You thought she was freaky, too, right?" Alex looked at his friend for support.
Colin thought Alex was overreacting; after all, he himself had been the recipient of all manner of gifts and outpourings of love from females from their teens to their
thirties. While he felt their behaviour was somewhat obsessive, he also felt it was basically harmless. Nonetheless, the look in Alex's eyes was so needy and
desperate that Colin's sense of loyalty won out over his common sense.
"Yeah," he agreed, sipping his martini. "She was freaky."
Greg and Drew snorted simultaneously, with Greg giving Alex a friendly punch in the arm.
"Don't fear your fans, man...embrace them. It's unconditional love...where else do you get that except from your pets?"
Everyone laughed, including Colin in spite of himself. Alex swigged his beer sullenly and Drew changed the subject.
********************
The next afternoon, Alex was startled as he emerged from the back door of the studio to find Kim waiting for him.
"Hi!" she said in her chirpiest voice. She wore a long black skirt and a yellow, loose-fitting peasant blouse. Her mascara-laden lashes were flaking in the heat.
"Kim," Alex said, almost in a whisper.
"I've been waiting here since this morning. I figured you'd have to come out eventually." She winked at him and licked her pink lips. "I came to tell you there are no
hard feelings about the other day. I know you couldn't defend me because then everyone would know our feelings for each other...I forgive you for letting me lose
my job."
Alex swallowed. "Kim, I - I don't *have* feelings for you."
The young woman smiled, her eyes dancing in the sunshine. "You will. In time. I love you so much, Alex... can we go someplace and talk?"
Alex inhaled sharply. "Kim, I'm flattered...I really am...but like I said, I have a wife and I have children. Look, do you want me to get you a picture or something? If
you leave your address I'll make sure it gets to you."
"Who needs a picture when the real thing's right here?" She reached out and touched his arm lightly. Alex moved it away, trying not to appear obvious in doing so but
failing.
"I'm going in, now," he said. "Please...don't wait for me here anymore, okay?"
"Okay, Alex."
Surprised at how quickly she'd given in, Alex was unconvinced. "Really...okay? The other guys'll get jealous." He forced a laugh. On one level he was still trying
desperately to believe that this really was nothing more than a harmless crush. If he kept things light, maybe Kim would lighten up, too.
Kim laughed heartily. "You're so funny, Alex," she said. She winked at him as she turned to go. "You'll come to love me, darling. In time." She walked away briskly,
leaving Alex alone in the parking lot.
*******************
"I'm ho-ome!" Sara called. She entered the kitchen and set a bag of groceries on the counter. With her other hand she carried an elaborate gift basket by the handle
and walked into the den where Alex sat in front of the TV.
"Hi," he said, glancing up from "Battlebots". "What's that basket?"
"It's addressed to you. I found it on the front steps."
Puzzled, Alex took the basket from Sara and set it on the coffee table. He glanced at the card and stifled a gasp at the now all-too-familiar handwriting. This time the
message had a menacing quality: "I love you. I want you. I'll have you."
"Why would this come to you at home?" Sara wondered aloud, unphased by the written declaration of love. After all, she'd been with this "celebrity" for over twenty
years, and as she'd often said dryly, 'had seen it all.' "Surely they're not diverting fan stuff to private homes now," she continued. " *That* hardly helps the security
problem."
"I don't know," said Alex quietly.
Sara scanned the contents of the basket without removing the clear wrap which covered it. "Fancy chocolates...dried fruits...look, a little toy panda, how cute." Sara
looked at her husband, who had turned a shade whiter. "I don't think we should eat any of this, but it's a sweet thought...honey, what's wrong?"
Before Alex could reply, the ringing of the telephone made him jump. Sara narrowed her brown eyes inquisitively at him before picking it up. Once again, there was
no response from the caller.
Sara sighed and shook her head as she finally hung up. "That's been happening since yesterday...all I hear is soft music in the background but nobody speaks."
Alex frowned, wanting to tell Sara everything but afraid she'd think he was crazy, too.
"Must be some kids," he muttered, turning his attention again to the gift basket. "It'll stop eventually."
**************************************
Colin read the latest note several times before handing it back over to Alex, listening as his friend repeated the conversation he'd had with Kim outside the studio.
"It's like she's obsessed with you," Colin said with a hint of disbelief.
"No kidding. What am I gonna do?"
"I don't know. Just try to ignore her, I guess. She'll get the hint and go away."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you made it clear you're not interested. Groupies don't hang around if they think they're not gonna- you know, *get* anything."
"Since when are you the expert on groupies?"
"I've been around," Colin said defensively.
"Oh, God..." Alex rolled his eyes.
Colin sighed. "Alex, you do have a tendency to be paranoid about things sometimes...that's why I think you should just calm down and try not to overreact to this."
"So you think I'm crazy. Great. Well, what about the phone calls? How do you explain those?"
"I can't..." Colin began.
"Then I'm not crazy..."
"I never said you were!"
"So what's your definition of paranoia? You think this is all in my head, just like everyone else." Alex stood up and took a cautious glance out the door before
continuing. "Well, I'm not crazy. This *girl* is crazy. How'd she get my address?"
"Everyone knows you live in the heritage house...it's a wonder more fans haven't shown up at your door." Colin folded his arms, looking almost defiantly at Alex as
though he could somehow scold him out of his anxiety.
"And my unlisted phone number?"
"Maybe it's not her calling you. Until you have proof, you can't let this woman scare you...it'll take over your life."
Alex took a deep breath. "If she's in the audience tonight..."
"Don't worry...she won't be."
"How do you know?" Alex demanded, growing irritation evident in his voice.
"I don't know," Colin admitted after a pause. "But you just can't let her get to you. You've got to focus." When the look on Alex's face didn't change, Colin's tone
softened.
"Look," he said, "if she shows up again, just get her banned from the theater. It's easy to do."
Alex nodded without looking his friend in the eye. He didn't want to see the expression of pity Colin gave him whenever they flew on planes together, and Alex had
his head in the airsick bag. He felt as though he was becoming the King of Irrational Fears. "I will," he said quietly.
"Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah."
The red light in Alex's dressing room flashed, indicating it was time for them to go on. The walk down the hallway seemed endless as the hum of the crowd took on a
threatening buzz. Palms sweaty, Ryan stood behind the stage curtain and waited for The Overture.
**********************************
Alex planned to change his clothes as quickly as he could and go straight to the bar with the others. He'd just tossed his unitard aside and pulled his golf shirt over his
head when his door abruptly opened and Kim literally slithered inside. She was breathing heavily and looked flushed and mildly surprised, as though she couldn't
believe she'd reached her destination.
Alex stared at her, equally surprised. "How did you get in here?"
Kim smiled as she quickly regained her composure. "I was very careful...there's so much fuss out there...it was easy to get to you."
"What do you want?" Alex asked in a hollow voice. He felt as though they were the only two people left on earth, and it was a lonely, miserable feeling.
"I told you...I want you."
"Listen, Kim...I'm sure you're a nice person...but like I told you before, I'm married."
"I know," Kim responded plaintively.
"You've got to stop giving me stuff and - and following me around ..."
"Didn't you like my basket?" Kim tossed her black hair and blinked rapidly at him, waiting for an answer.
"It was lovely...but you can't come to my house. I have a family."
"I know that. I know all about you, Green Eyes. I watched your kids in the school yard yesterday."
Alex felt his heart fall to the pit of his stomach. Anger welled up inside of him and he struggled to get his words out.
"My kids? You're watching my kids?!"
"Yes, darling..."
"Stop it! Dammit, stop calling me 'darling'! I want you to stay the hell away from my family, do you understand me? And I want you to stop calling my house!" Alex's
voice shook.
"Don't yell at me, Alex...you don't have to leave your family...you can have it all...I'll fit into your life however you want me to."
"I want you to get out! If I see you here again I'm calling the cops! I don't even want you in the audience, do you get it?"
Tears formed again in Kim's eyes. "Don't, Alex...please...I love you. And I'll love Mackenzie and Sammy, too."
"Get out!" Alex screamed, his eyes blazing.
Kim looked at him as though he'd slapped her. "Okay," she said. "I'll leave." She turned and slithered back out the door. Alex stood shaking, feeling that getting her
to leave had been suspiciously easy. He sat on the edge of his couch for a several minutes, his heart racing as he contemplated calling security. But it wasn't as though
he could have her arrested. She hadn't done anything wrong, legally speaking.
Opening his door cautiously, Alex heard something crumple beneath his shoe. He looked down at what he'd stepped on. It was a small stuffed panda bear, its glassy
eyes removed and replaced with two Xs drawn on with a black marker. The bear clutched a dead rose. Its petals had crumbled under the weight of Ryan's foot.
Lifting the small bear from the floor, Ryan noticed a note tucked into the red ribbon around its neck. He shuddered as he read: "I know where you live. If I can't have
you, neither will they."
*************
"Get out of the house. Get into the car and take the kids to a hotel. Just do it, Sara!" Alex cried desperately into the phone. He waited for Sara's reluctant assent and
then slammed down the receiver, trembling with fear.
"It'll be okay, Alex," Drew assured him. "The police will be at your house before you know it."
Alex slumped onto the couch and placed his head in his hands. "Oh, God...if she hurts them...if she hurts them, I'll kill her. I swear I'll kill her."
"She won't. Everything will be okay." Colin sat down beside Alex and put his arm around him. He was trying to be brave for Alex's sake but the sight of the
crumpled rose petals and the mangled face of the panda bear sent chills down his spine. He lamented not having taken Alex's concerns more seriously in the first
place. Now it might be too late.
Greg sat silently in a chair opposite the others. He looked guiltily at Drew as he remembered the evening in the bar and they way they'd mocked Alex for not
enjoying the "unconditional love" of his fan.
"Hand me the phone...I wanna call home and make sure Sara's not there." Alex took the receiver from Drew and dialed quickly. After several unanswered rings,
during which he barely allowed himself to breathe, he was satisfied the house was empty.
"They must have left," Alex said, his voice catching in his throat.
"See?" said Colin. "They're on their way to a hotel. They're safe." He made Alex look him in the eye and repeated firmly, "They're safe, Alex."
But Alex was still biting his nails nervously. "I bet Kim knows what our car looks like...what if she's following them?"
"Don't do this to yourself..." Kelly placed a hand on Ryan's knee to stop the man's leg from shaking.
The group sat silently for several minutes, unspoken thoughts weighing down the room like slabs of concrete. Before long the police arrived, assuring Alex that a
squad car had also been sent to his home. The officers took Alex's statement and departed, telling him to hang onto Kim's various notes for evidence should the need
arise. All that was left to do was wait; Alex did not want to leave the studio because he expected Sara to phone him there once she checked into the hotel. Instead,
less than an hour later a call came from the police officers with whom he had just been speaking. A woman matching Kim's description had been involved in a car
accident in the Valley; she had apparently run another vehicle off the road. The description of the car matched that of Alex's.
**********************************
Alex sat stoically in the waiting room of London General Hospital. The faces of his wife and children flashed before his eyes, and the tinkly voice of Kim grated in his
head. He felt as though he had failed his family. If they were injured, it was because of him. If they'd been killed, it was because of him.
"Why didn't I move them back to Scotland when I had the chance?" he asked himself, rubbing his temples. "None of this would have happened."
"It's not your fault," Colin said gently, startling Alex, who'd been unaware of having spoken out loud.
A young-looking police officer appeared and sat opposite them. Alex clenched his hands into fists and kept them tightly at his side. He felt he had to physically brace
himself for what was to come.
The officer showed him a photo."Is this the woman who was stalking you, Mr. Epstein?"
"Y-yes," Alex stammered. "That's Kim."
The officer nodded. "Kim Harwood...I'm afraid she didn't survive the crash, but the car she ran off the road - it wasn't yours, sir. The folks in it were pretty banged
up. They'll be alright, but it wasn't your family. They had a similar car and Ms. Harwood went after them for a good ten miles...but it wasn't your car," the officer
repeated, trying to get Alex's expression to change.
Alex stared at the officer, unable to speak or even take in what had been said. He looked dumbly at Colin, who spoke for him. "Where are Sara and the kids?"
The officer addressed Alex. "Your wife contacted the police department, looking for you. She and your children are safe at the Stargate Hotel."
Tears of relief streamed down Alex's face and he was nearly overcome with emotion. Escorted by the policeman, he made his way to the hotel where a tired-looking
Sara awaited him.
"I'm sorry," he said into his wife's shoulder. "I didn't know it would go this far...we'll get out of London, I promise. We'll go back to the ranch." He looked over her
head and was comforted by the sight of Sam and Mackenzie, sound asleep in the same bed.
"I don't care about that, I'm just glad you're okay," Sara whimpered as she held him. "It's all over now, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's all over," Alex told her, taking her face in his hands, seeing the makeup smudged there and realizing he'd been in makeup the whole time.
"But the basket, and the phone calls..." Sara began, wiping her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
"I didn't know for sure...I didn't want to scare you," Alex explained. He added in a low tone, "I was scared enough for both of us."
"And now, she's - she's dead?" Sara mouthed with a glance at the sleeping children.
"Yeah...I can't believe it...I..." Alex began quietly, his voice trailing off. Finally he sighed at his wife, whose words also failed her, and they shared a look of unspoken
horror. Alex suddenly became aware of the hum of the air conditioner, and shuddered although he didn't feel cold. Sara wrapped her arms around him again and
guided him to the suite's other double bed. He lay down slowly, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Sara stroked his hair until he fell asleep, and then tried to find
relief herself. But she was unable to stop thinking about the woman she'd never seen, the "fan" who had nearly taken away everything they cherished.
END
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I hope ya liked it...please review. It's my first fanfic. Ya know the drill; I don't own CATS or the characters as such, just the people I made up. Which is everyone. Thanks. Please don't sue me.
