The Affair

Summary: Sebastian deals with Kathryn's accident and later makes a hard decision.

Chapter 6: Painful Conclusions

"Kathryn!" Sebastian screamed out as he watched her small body tumble to the ground.

"I told her not to ride that horse" Christian said as he took off after her.

Annette and Sebastian quickly followed after him. As he got to Kathryn lying very still on the ground Sebastian could feel the feeling in his legs start to drain as he collapsed down next to her.  Christian rolled her over to find that she was indeed unconscious. He stroked her cheek softly murmuring "Kathryn…Kathryn baby open your eyes."

"Is she breathing? Is there a pulse?" Annette asked kneeling down besides Sebastian.

Sebastian let his hand wander down to her neck. His shaky hand eventually felt a soft beating. "Yeah…it's weak. I'm going to call for an ambulance."

"No" Christian said never pulling his eyes away from Kathryn "I have a doctor here."

Glaring at him Sebastian hissed "she's unconscious she needs to go to the hospital. I'm calling."

As he pulled out a cell phone Christian's hand came up and suddenly stopped him. "No hospitals. My doctor will look at her. Dr. Webber is one of the best in the world-"

"I don't give a fuck who he is! She's going to the hospital."

"What happened gentleman?" A man in his forties dressed in khakis and a polo shirt, carrying a black bag came rushing up to them.

"She got knocked from her horse doctor. She's only been unconscious for a few minutes."

"Move back give me some room" the doctor instructed as he opened his bag and began to feel around her neck.

As Sebastian watched him work his hands and legs still felt shaky but he tried to remain calm. She'll be fine. She had to be fine. Annette sensing how scared he was leaned over and whispered to him "she's going to be ok Sebastian."

However Sebastian didn't seem to hear her as his mind wandered back briefly to only a few minutes ago. "Oh don't worry Sebastian you didn't break my heart. I don't have one remember?" He had hurt her. Even as Kathryn was being so flip he could still hear the pain in her voice. Looking down at her he thought, if anything happens to her it will be my fault.

Prying his eyes away from the doctor and Kathryn Sebastian glanced over at Christian. Actually it wouldn't be all his fault. Some of it was his. Why wouldn't he take her to the hospital? Because he had to be in control Sebastian thought, miserable bastard. Christian sensing Sebastian's eyes on his looked up and glared back at him.

Then suddenly Kathryn started to move and her eyes fluttered open only briefly. "Sebastian…don't…" she whispered.

"Kat!" Christian exclaimed as he knelt down next to her taking her hand in his. He didn't seem to realize that it wasn't his name that she was calling out. "Baby are you ok?"

As soon as she said his name Sebastian was right beside her forgetting for a moment that she wasn't his girlfriend. "Kathryn" he whispered touching her hair gently.

As her eyes began to open more she looked around accessing where she was. "What…happened?"

"You fell off your horse" Sebastian explained. "How do you feel?"

Kathryn didn't say anything right away she only looked at Sebastian slightly confused before saying "my head…hurts."

"Can you move your legs dear?" the doctor asked.

"Yes" Kathryn began to sit up but then collapsed back.

"Hey take it easy" Christian advised her.

"She most likely has a concussion" the doctor explained. "We should probably get her inside."

"All right" Christian said as he scooped her into his arms.

Sebastian said nothing as he watched them head back into the house. It was like he was watching a movie that he wasn't allowed to participate in. Kathryn wasn't his she belonged to someone else and as he felt Annette take his hand he realized so did he.

*              *              *              *              *              *

"What the hell is that guy's problem?" Sebastian demanded as he paced outside of Kathryn's room later that afternoon.

Annette watched him from her seat as he paced. "I don't know he seemed really scared for her."

He stopped moving long enough to look over at Annette with an annoyed expression "scared for her? If he was so scared he should have taken her to the hospital. Not let one of his goons examine her."

She sighed "Dr. Webber seems very qualified-

"Oh I don't care about how qualified he is!" Sebastian exclaimed.

"Shh" Annette whispered gesturing to the door behind them "they might hear you. Calm down Sebastian Kathryn's going to be fine. You saw that for yourself."

Sebastian took a deep breath and is a lower voice asked "don't you think it's a little strange?"

"What?"

"That this guy has guards all around. That he wouldn't take her to the hospital or that he has a god damn doctor on call."

Annette sighed "yeah it's a little strange but obviously his…lifestyle doesn't seem to bother Kathryn." Looking at him a little pointedly she said "and it didn't seem to bother you when you agreed to this weekend visit. Why are you so suddenly concerned?"

"I guess I wasn't really thinking about what he did for a living. But now that we're hear it's-"

"Actually" she interrupted him "I'm curious as to where all this sudden concern for Kathryn is coming from?"

Sebastian shrugged "it's not sudden. Look my past with Kathryn may be a little…muddled but I don't want to see her hurt. I guess watching her get thrown from that horse just made me realize it."

Annette looked at him doubtfully. He knew by the look in her eyes she didn't buy it. "That's it?"

"Yes! God Annette what do you think that I have unresolved feelings for her? After everything she put us through do you honestly believe I would have anything to do with her?"

She wasn't buying into the charming smile he gave her. With a face of ice she asked "why did she call out your name when she woke up?"

"I don't know" he lied easily "probably just to cause a stir. You know how Kathryn is."

"Yes I do. I'm wondering if you remember though"

Before Sebastian could reply Christian came out of Kathryn's room "well the doctor says she'll be ok. She just has a minor concussion."

"That's good" Annette said forcing a smile.

"She wants to see you Sebastian"

Sebastian nodded and started for her room. He knew he should stay with Annette and assure her of his love but he couldn't now. He had to make sure Kathryn was ok.

Walking into the room he had a sudden flash of being there the previous night. Kissing Kathryn, pulling her onto the bed, feeling her all around him until he exploded. Blinking the memory away he approached the bed that Kathryn was nestled into. She looked so small and frail in the large bed but as she looked up at him he saw that look in her eyes that told him she was neither of those things.

Taking a seat beside her he asked "how are you?"

"I'll live though Christian might make me stay in bed for the rest of my life" she sighed. "I think I scared him."

"You scared both of us" he told her.

There was silence for a moment before Kathryn asked "where's Annette?"

"She's in her room. She told me to she hopes you feel better."

"Yeah right" Kathryn scoffed.

Sebastian smirked "she doesn't want you hurt Kathryn. It's just-"

"She hates my guts. Which is fine by me since it's very mutual."

"Speaking of which…I want to apologize for last night."

She sighed "which part exactly? The screwing my brains out part, the leaving me for Annette part, or the part where you made me feel like a whore?"

Sebastian winced "I never wanted to hurt you or make you feel like that I-"

"No the only thing you wanted was to get off" she interrupted him her green eyes blazing in anger. "You didn't give a shit about me or how I felt it was all about making yourself feel better. You used me and I used you end of story. Now just go back to your little girlfriend and leave me alone."

"No, you don't get to sit there and tell me how I feel."

She shook her head at him "you told me how you felt remember? You love Annette and we made a mistake. You told me to go back to Christian and I have. What the fuck else do you want?"

"I want to go back." He took her hand in his but Kathryn turned away from him. "I shouldn't have left you last night but if I was gone all night she would have known I was with you." Sebastian leaned closer to her and let his voice drop "I have feelings for Annette."

"You love her"

Sebastian sighed "I don't know what the hell I'm doing anymore. My life was going along fine, I was happy with Annette then you showed back up and you…you're everything I've ever wanted."

Kathryn turned to him then "do you wish I hadn't come back?"

He caressed her cheek "no."

She smiled slightly as she leaned in and kissed Sebastian softly. He returned it but was careful not to hurt her as he leaned his body into hers. Remembering her accident he pulled away a little asking "are you ok?"

"Just a headache" she let her arm wrap around his neck pulling him closer. "Why don't you make me feel better?"

Sebastian didn't respond he only kissed her back as he gently got on top of her. As they kissed his hand slid down to her thigh and began to massage it. Kathryn moaned into his mouth as she pushed his hand down further between her legs. As his hand pushed past the fabric of her nightgown Kathryn's hand slid down his chest to his pants.

While she unzipped him he pulled away from her mouth and the two shared a sneaky smile. They were interrupted however by a knocking at the door followed by Christian's voice asking to come in.

Their eyes went wide as she quickly pulled away from each other.  Sebastian got up from his spot on the bed and began fixing his clothes as did Kathryn. "Come in Christian" she called out in a sweet voice that betrayed the nasty, annoyed look on her face.

"Well how are you feeling?" Christian asked completely oblivious to what had just happened.

"Ok, Sebastian was helping me feel better" Kathryn told him.

Christian looked curiously at Sebastian who only smiled pleasantly. "Oh did it work?"

Kathryn glanced at Sebastian "we were getting there."

"The doctor said you should be fine but you need a lot of rest."

She sighed "I'm not tired."

Christian smiled as he took a seat on the bed next to her "tell you what why don't you try to get some sleep and I'll check on you in a little while. If you're not tired by then I'll just have to help tire you out."

Kathryn smirked in response while Sebastian turned his nose up in disgust. "Ok deal."

"I love you very much Kathryn more than anything in the world. If anything was to happen to you or if anyone was to take you away I don't think I could stand it."

Sebastian wondered how he would respond if he knew the true nature of there relationship. He was betting it wouldn't be pretty. A voice in the back on his head warned, another good reason to get out of this while you can.

Christian gave her one last kiss on the forehead before looking over at Sebastian. "Why don't we give her a little time to rest?"

He nodded looking at Kathryn "all right I just have to tell her something first. In private."

Christian didn't push to be included. He only nodded and then left quietly. "A little overprotective don't you think?"

Kathryn's gaze remained on the door "he loves me."

"Do you love him?"

She shrugged "I know I don't want to hurt him…or you. If he finds out about this…"

"He won't hesitate to kill me…literally. Plus it would destroy Annette." Sebastian knew what he had to do and he hated it, but he couldn't have it both ways. Looking away from her he stared out the window and sighed "we're going to have to end this."

There was silence for a second as Sebastian awaited the argument and string of insults he knew was coming. However it never came and instead Kathryn said "you're right." He turned around to face her surprised. "This…whatever the hell is going on between us, can go nowhere. You're marrying Annette and I might be marrying Christian."

He raised an eyebrow "you said yes?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet but you not being around all the time should make it easier."

"Oh" Sebastian said somewhat hurt.

"Don't" she said coldly "don't act like this is some big hard decision for you."

"It is"

"Well it was your idea remember. From now on I think it would be better if we just stayed out of each other's lives for a little while."

"All right" even as he said it he knew it would never happen. Kathryn and him were always drawn back together whether they liked it or not. "I'm going to go back to the city then."

"Probably a good idea."

Sebastian nodded dully and then somehow managed to turn around and head for the door. As he did so he secretly hoped that Kathryn would tell him not to go, that it was a mistake. When she didn't he turned around one last time to see her sitting on her bed once again looking sad and fragile. Their eyes locked and she said "good bye Sebastian."

*              *              *              *              *              *

As the jag pulled away from Christian's estate Sebastian couldn't help but notice Annette's change of mood. Gone was the sulky attitude she had since they got there. Now she sat in the passenger's seat practically giddy with joy that they were leaving.

Sebastian on the other hand was not. As he drove home he remained quiet only answering Annette in one word answers. For the most part she didn't seem to notice that his attention was elsewhere. While she fell asleep half way there, Sebastian's mind remained on the girl he left behind.

After he had told Annette that they were leaving they had both packed quickly and then Sebastian went and told their host. Christian didn't seem too surprised or upset by there exit. He probably wanted to be left alone with Kathryn Sebastian had concurred miserably.

Christian walked them to the car where they said their goodbyes. As Sebastian put his things in the trunk of the car he noticed Kathryn walk out onto the balcony and look down at him. She didn't smile just stared at him almost sadly before retreating back to her room. The look on her face haunted Sebastian the whole way back to the city.

It was late when he pulled up in front of Annette's apartment. She awoke a blissful smile on her face "I can't believe I slept the whole time."

"Well it's late. Why don't you go upstairs and go back to bed. I'm exhausted I'll probably just go home and crash."

She smiled "sure you don't want to come in?"

"Yeah your father would love that" he smiled sarcastically. "No you go and I'll call you in the morning."

"Ok" she leaned forward and kissed him and he returned it. Sebastian waited for her to disappear inside before he drove home.

As he entered his house he wasn't surprised to see that his father wasn't at home. This was of course fine by him seeing as he was in no mood to recant the events of the past weekend. Although Sebastian was indeed tired he knew he couldn't fall asleep, not when his brain was still wrapped around Kathryn. He needed a drink.

Without turning on a light Sebastian headed to the bar and poured himself a scotch. Taking a long sip he nearly choked when a voice called out "can you make me one? My throat is killing me."

At the sound of the unfamiliar voice Sebastian spun around to find an attractive blond sitting on the lounger across from him. Snapping the light on he demanded "who the hell are you?"

                                - to be continued (Please Review)