Trip On Love

Summary: Sebastian realizes breaking up with Megan will be harder than he thought and Kathryn's night goes from bad to worse.

Authors Note: Two more chapters left and this story is done. Finally!

Chapter 17: Easier Said Than Done

"What do you mean you haven't broken up with her yet?!"

I pulled the receiver away from my ear and winced. I knew Kathryn was going to be angry when I dropped my little bombshell which was the main reason I was telling her over the phone. There was less chance of her inflicting bodily injury on me this way. It had been a week since we'd gotten back together but we had yet to inform anyone. I wanted to hold off namely because I needed to break up with Megan first. Normally such a task would be no problem for me but I had run into some unforeseen road blocks.

Reclining back in my leather chair I put the phone to my ear. "Calm down and let me explain."

"Fine explain"

"All right I did try to break up with her. Trust me I did. However every time I tried...well...she started acting strange."

"What the hell does that mean? Strange how?"

I sighed not quite sure how to explain it. "I don't know, like she's having these mood swings. Like one minute she'd be calm and the next minute really excited or she'd start crying even before I said a word. Megan's acting really odd."

"Yeah I think the key word here is acting" Kathryn huffed. "Look what's the problem? You don't want to hurt her?"

"Well, yeah that's part of it"

"Well get over it, strap on a pair of balls and break that bitches heart already. You never had a problem doing it in the past."

"You're compassion is overwhelming" I deadpanned.

I could practically hear Kathryn rolling her eyes on the other end. "You DO still want to break up with her don't you? You haven't changed your mind?"

"No I haven't changed my mind" I assured her. "That has nothing to do with it. I want to be with you." Taking a deep breath I revealed "look I wasn't going to tell you this but there's more."

"What is it?"

"The other day I was using her bathroom and I happened to look in the medicine cabinet. Anyway I found some of her medication and I think...I'm pretty sure Megan's bipolar."

There was a long pause of silence on the other end followed by a snicker. "You sure can pick them Valmont."

"This isn't funny" I chastised. "What if I break up with her and she goes over the edge?"

Kathryn curbed her laughter for a moment. "Sebastian she's bipolar, not psychotic...that we know of. She's not going to go over any edge...most likely. Anyway why do you care? Just get rid of her and then she can be someone else's problem."

"Easier said than done" I grumbled.

"Well you're still taking me to the benefit tonight aren't you?" I winced at the question and once again pulled the phone away from my ear sensing the hissy fit that was about to come. Sure enough Kathryn screamed "aren't you?! Damnit Sebastian!"

"Stop screaming. I can't take you because I told Megan I'd go with her."

"Then dump her!"

"Well seeing as the damn thing is at her parents house I think it would be in rather bad taste to dump their daughter and show up with another girl don't you?"

"Bad taste?" She hissed "since when is that a concern for you?"

"Look I promise after the party I'll break up with her for good. Just wait a little longer."

There was another long pause before she grudgingly agreed. "Fine I can hold off a little longer but I swear Valmont if you don't tell her soon I'll tell her myself."

"Fair enough." Reaching down I opened a drawer of my desk. There was a picture of Kathryn inside. I ran my fingers down it lovingly. "Tell me have you gotten anymore threats from our good friend the mystery stalker?"

"No, thank god" she sighed. "Everything's been relatively quiet this past week. Maybe Jackson's given up."

"Maybe" I replied "but I doubt it. Jack was never one to let things go. I just wish the fucking police would do something about it. What does it matter if he's across the country?"

"He's back in New York" Kathryn said suddenly. My grip on the receiver tightened. "What? How the hell do you know that?"

"Relax" Kathryn replied calmly. "Mother talked with Mrs. Maguire. Apparently he came back a few days ago. The police questioned him but he claims to have an alibi. Claims he's staying away from me."

Her explanation did little to curb my anger. I slammed the desk drawer shut. "I should go over there and beat the shit out of him for what he's put us through."

"Yeah and he wouldn't hesitate a second to press charges against you. That's what he wants, to provoke you."

"I know" I replied calming down a bit. Still the fact that Jackson was staying a mere couple of blocks from her still made me anxious and angry. "You know I almost wish he would do something stupid and outrageous. If only because it might finally give the police a legitimate reason to arrest him."

I expected her to tell me that was insane but instead Kathryn replied quietly "so do I."

Suddenly the door to my study opened and Megan came in with an arm full of shopping bags. "Hey baby wait until you see what I bought for tonight. You'll absolutely die."

Holding my hand over the receiver I smiled at her. "That's great. I'll be off in a minute and then you can model them for me."

"Okay" she beamed before turning and heading to the bedroom.

"I heard that" Kathryn said icily. "Are you sleeping with her?"

"Not anymore" I assured her. "Look I have to go before she freaks out. I'll see you tonight right?"

"Perhaps"

"I love you"

She sighed on the other end. "Well then I suppose I love you too."

* * * * * *

Suicide was starting to look like a viable option. As I stood beside Megan, who did look quite lovely in her Vera Wang champagne colored dress, we greeted the guests who poured into the Reynolds estate. On the other side of the room stood her mother who in fact looked like an older blonder version of her daughter. Besides Mrs. Reynolds stood her husband who I'm sad to say looked even more bored than myself if that was possible. What was this damn thing for again?

"Thank you so much for your contribution Mrs. Baldwin" Megan gushed at the elderly lady. "It's really going to go a long way to help the gray geese."

As Mrs. Baldwin headed into the party I leaned towards Megan and repeated "geese?"

"Yes" Megan repeated completely serious. "It's a cause very near and dear to my mothers heart."

One look at Mrs. Reynolds told me the only thing near and dear to that women's heart was her husbands bank book but, whatever. The party had already just begun and I could barely fathom how the hell I was going to get though the rest of it. Breaking up with Megan now was beginning to seem like a good idea. Then at least I could spend the rest of the night with Kathryn.

Taking Megan by the hand I pulled her over to a darkened corner of the foyer. Right away she slipped her arms around my neck and nuzzled my nose affectionately. "You're getting bored aren't you?" She purred.

"As a matter of fact..."

"Well don't worry, we can sneak off in a little while"

I shook my head trying to figure out the best way to go about this. "Actually that's not it. I wanted to talk to you about something."

She withdrew her arms from my neck slowly and her brow wrinkled in confusion at my seriousness. I wondered if perhaps she knew what I was about to say. "What is it Sebastian?"

"This is hard to say..." My eyes fell to the floor as I kept replaying in my head what Kathryn said earlier. Strap on a pair and do it. Trust me I use to be so much better at this. I would have done anything to be that guy again. "Okay here it is. I'm in love with-"

"Oh my god, I love you too!" Before I had a chance to correct her Megan threw her arms around my neck and embraced me tightly. "I wanted to tell you too but I just didn't have the courage!"

What?! I stood there helplessly as she hugged me. I really didn't see this backfiring on me. Now it was going to be even harder to get this out. Taking her by the arms I pulled Megan off of me and tried to start again. "No, what I meant was-"

"Oh look your parents are here" she interrupted me yet again. "Come on lets go say hello."

I shook my head in astonishment as she gripped my hand and pulled me across the room. Why the hell was this happening to me? It was just my luck that I happened to end up with the crazy one. Well I wasn't putting up with this much longer. I definitely had to get rid of Megan by tonight.

As my mother handed over her coat to the maid she greeted both me and my date with a large smile that was for once genuine. Right away I was suspicious. "Hello darling, don't you look handsome in your tux." She pecked my cheek and fluffed my hair affectionately.

"Hello Mother, you look lovely." I looked past her to my father was openly checking out the young maid. "Hello father" I said coldly.

"Oh dear don't you look pretty" my mother complimented Megan. "What a gorgeous dress, is that Vera Wang?"

"Yes" she beamed proudly.

Taking Megan's arm the two women entered the party together chatting and talking like old friends. I walked behind them eyeing my mother skeptically. As my mother fell into step beside me I leaned in and whispered to him "did Dr. Greenbaum up her prozac or something?"

"I heard that" my mother muttered to be over her shoulder. "Megan sweetheart why don't you show me that new Picasso your mother acquired. I hear it's fabulous."

"In a minute mother" I intercepted taking her other arm. "I just need to chat with you a second."

As Megan lead my father over to the bar I waited until she was out of hear shot before demanding "all right what are you up to?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Why are you suddenly being so nice to Megan? For weeks you've been giving her the cold shoulder and now you want to be best friends?"

Grabbing a glass of champagne off a passing waiters tray she sighed dramatically. "Sebastian dear you know I only want what's best for you."

"So long as it doesn't run contrary with what's best for you" I snipped.

"Oh hush you know that's not true. Now look I know I haven't been as friendly to Megan as I should have so I've decided to remedy that. I know you like her and frankly I much prefer you with a steady girl rather than running around with a different girl each week. So if Megan makes you happy I will be nothing but kind and courteous to her."

Just as I was about to balk at this sudden about face I looked up and noticed Kathryn step into the room from the opposite entrance. She was wearing a floor length black gown with a low cut front. As usual when I saw her she suddenly seemed to be the only female in the room. I watched her scan the crowd and her eyes eventually rested on me. She gave me a predatory smirk and I cursed my mother for having the worse fucking timing imaginable. "You have lousy timing mother" I muttered completely unaware that I was saying it aloud.

"What do you mean?"

I turned my attention back on her and replied "never mind. Look why don't you go find your new best friend and go look at that Picasso. I'll see you later."

As she took off to go see Megan I crossed the room as discreetly as possible trying to make it appear like I wasn't making a bee line towards my ex. After chatting briefly with one of my father business associates I casually went and stood by Kathryn who was scrutinizing the party with a bored expression. Pretending to be interested in something across the room I told her "you look fucking stunning tonight."

"I know" she replied curtly staring away from me. "Have you broken up with her yet?"

"I'm working on it"

"Work faster" Kathryn waved and smiled to someone across the room, her pleasant expression contrasting with the icy tone of her voice. "Until you ditch Lizzy Borden all bets are off."

I finally turned and looked to her not caring for a moment if anyone saw. Licking my lips I leered at her, my mind suddenly running over with all sorts of dirty images. "You know the Reynolds have a guest room upstairs, it's sound proof. I want to take you up there, bend you over, and really make you scream."

Kathryn still didn't look my way but she did allow a smirk to grace her lips. "That sound like it could be promising. In fact I'm getting wet just thinking about."

"Good then lets go." I went to take her hand but she moved out of reach before I could.

Her eyes finally met mine as she took a step towards me with a taunting expression on her face. Kathryn pressed her finger to my lips and purred "there's nothing more I'd like than to take you upstairs and fuck your brains out." She slipped her finger a little ways into my mouth and finished "however rules are rules. No pussy until you break up with the crazy."

With that Kathryn pulled her finger out of my mouth and pranced past me. Before disappearing into the crowd she tossed me one last taunting look over her shoulder that caused me to let out a suppressed groan. Looking away from her I suddenly noticed Megan starting at me from across the room. Judging by the scowl on her face she had obviously witness the entire encounter. When she noticed me staring back at her however her frown suddenly turned into a blinding smile and she walked away. I shook my head miserably and grumbled "fucking fruit loop."

As the party progressed I spent a better part of it trying to avoid various people. My unbalanced girlfriend, my snooping mother, my sleaze ball father, and my taunting ex who was sort of my lover. Frankly it wasn't that big a party so I ended up hiding out in the library. I sat back on one of the leather sofas, reading a first edition Hemmingway, thinking back to the old days when I use to have more entertaining distractions during these boring events.

I pulled out a cigarette and was searching for my lighter when I noticed a couple standing in the rose garden outside. The girl I recognized right away was Kathryn and the guy was none other than Megan's brother and Kathryn's ex, Court Reynolds. They dated and broke up prior to the summer when our relationship changed from friends to something more. Normally them chatting wouldn't have bothered me however, even from a distance I could tell Reynolds intentions were less than chummy. Not to mention Kathryn and I weren't exactly committed to each other yet.

Tossing the book carelessly aside I stormed out of the room and took the side entrance out of the house that led to the garden. As I approached them I could hear Kathryn laughing. Right away I knew it was fake because Court had never uttered anything even slightly witty in his life. She was flirting with him.

"What did I miss?" I asked coming up behind them. I intended for the line to come out more casual than it did.

"Hello Valmont" Kathryn greeted me as if it were the first time we'd spoken that day. "Court was just telling me about his last trip to Spain and the less than up to par accommodations at his hotel."

"Yes" Court agreed openly eyeing her cleavage. "I was just saying to Kathryn I'd love to take her to Spain some day."

My eyes remained on her as I replied "how nice. Fuck off Court."

"Excuse me?" he sputtered in surprise

I looked over at him with a disinterested gaze. "I said get lost. We need to talk in private."

Kathryn said nothing during this exchange. She simple stood there indifferently as if we were discussing the weather. Court realizing he was going to get nowhere with her huffed "fine I'll leave...and I'll make sure to mention to my sister you're out here chatting it up with your ex fiancee."

"You do that..." as he passed by me I grabbed the scotch out of his hand and finished "...and I'll be sure to inform your parents you've fallen off the wagon. I'm sure it will break their heart to hear your recovery was all BS."

Court's face fell and his shoulder slumped in defeat as he muttered "goodnight Kathryn."

As he went back to the party I tossed her glass of booze casually on the ground and demanded "what the hell was that?"

"What?"

"Were you planning on fucking him or were you just going to give him a quick job here in the rose garden."

Kathryn rolled her eyes and turned away from me. "Oh honestly Valmont, what are you twelve?"

"Answer the question."

She took a seat on the stone bench and leaned back suggestively. "You got me Sebastian. We were just about to go at it when you interrupted us." When I simply stared back at her she got angry. "Jesus Christ, NO we were not doing anything other than talking. By the way it's nice to know you're not any closer to trusting me."

My anger started to evaporate with her last sentence. Slumping down beside her on the bench I sigh "I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply that..."

"I'm a whore?"

"That you were untrustworthy. It's just I saw you with him and I lost it a little."

"Well now you know how it feels for me to see you with Megan" she said quietly looking away.

I cupped her face and forced her eyes back on me. "She's not you Kathryn, she'll never be you." As if to prove it I drew her mouth to mine and kissed her. As I clutched her tighter the kiss grew more intense and my tongue pressed against her mouth, sneaking inside. Kathryn pushed me away before I could go further. "What?" I asked innocently.

"No" she explained with a smirk "not until you break up with her."

"Oh come on" I prodded as I began trailing kissing across her neck. "I'm going to do it later so what does it matter if we screw around now or afterwards?"

Kathryn was only struggling half heartdly against my advances. "Because I will not be...ahh...I will not be your...ah stop that..."

My hand moved up her chest and cupped her breast. "You're not wearing a bra" I remarked as my fingers swept across her nipple making it erect.

"That's not the only thing I'm going without tonight" she murmured.

I groaned and immediately tried to snake my hand under her dress. "I better check to make sure you're not lying."

Kathryn quickly pushed my hand away and told me more sternly "no, I mean it Sebastian. You're just going to have to control yourself."

"Fine" I said pulling away from her "if you can exhibit self control so can I. We can just go back inside and hang out for another..." I looked down at my watch "four or five hours or whenever this party is over with and I have a chance to get Megan alone. I'm sure chatting inside with all those interesting people will be much more entertaining than anything we can do out here together."

Getting to my feat I acted like I was heading back inside. However just as I knew she would Kathryn took the bait and grabbed me by the jacket, pulling me back down beside her. She lunged at me pressing her hungry mouth to mine. "Thought you would see things my way" I mumbled through kisses.

We kissed and grouped each other so excessively we slipped off the bench and onto the hard earth below. Kathryn pinned me to the ground and straddled me. She licked her lips excitedly as she yanked open my white dress shirt and raked her nails over my chest. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe we've ever done it outside before."

"First time for everything" she replied breathlessly. I sat up quickly pulling her taunt body to mine as my mouth met hers for a series of long, deep kisses. Pulling down the straps of her black dress her milk white breasts poured out and I wasted no time getting my hands and mouth on them.

Kathryn pushed me back down and with one hand moved her dress up around her waist and with the other fumbled with my zipper. I helped her with that, stroking myself as she flashed me her sex and then lowered herself down on top of me. We both let out a mutual moan of approval. She rocked against me slowly at first but it quickly gave way to a quicker, harder rhythm. My hands clutched her tiny waist as my hips rose to meet hers. I bit my lip and shut my eyes as I got lost in the exquisite pleasure of being inside her again. Somewhere in the distance I could hear the music and chatter coming from the party but it seemed a million miles away.

"Oh my god!"

A voice that was very much NOT Kathryn's called out nearby. My eyes shot open and I titled my head back to see Megan standing not three feet from us with a shocked expression on her face. Suddenly reality started setting in. "Megan..." I started not sure how to begin exactly. "This isn't what it looks like."

"Sure it is" Kathryn insisted with a cruel, gloating smile. She didn't even bother to cover herself up.

I shot my ex fiancee a dirty look as I sat up and pulled her off my lap. Turning I looked back at Megan to find she didn't look terribly upset just...surprised. Also I realized she was practically staring threw me and gawking at Kathryn. "Megan?"

"Megan dear have you seen..." Just to make things more awkward my mother suddenly appeared. She reacted in surprise at the sight of me and Kathryn half dressed, tangled together. "Oh my..."

"Oh god!" Kathryn exclaimed quickly pulling up her dress.

"Oh right, now you're suddenly modest" I scoffed at her.

Megan turned then and ran back into the party. Getting to my feat I fixed my pants and shirt as best and as quickly as I could. "What are you doing?" Kathryn demanded as I left her and headed inside.

"Damage control" I called to her over my shoulder. As I reentered the party I noticed Megan pushing past the guests to get to the foyer. I quickly caught up with her and grabbed her arm. "Megan wait, I'm sorry. Let me explain."

As she turned around I was shocked when she wasn't in tears but rather was grinning ear to ear. This only managed to unnerve me all the more. I was getting ready for an all out psychotic attack when she told me "it's okay Sebastian, I understand."

"I-"

"You're in love with Kathryn" she finished for me. "I know in fact I've known all along."

I recoiled in surprise "you have?"

"Yes and I'm happy for you"

Okay once again I was not expecting that. I was sure this had something to do with her condition and she was in fact having some sort of mental breakdown. There was just no possible reason for her to be acting this cool about everything. "Look Megan it's okay. I mean I know I hurt you and-"

"No you didn't" she assured me. "Trust me I'm fine."

I shook my head confused. "Is this some part of the disorder or something?" When Megan's brow crinkled in confusion I explained "I saw the medication in your bathroom...I know about your...problem."

"My medication?" She regarded me as if I was speaking a foreign language until finally a large smile broke out on her face and she began to laugh. "Sebastian I'm not bipolar, I'm a lesbian!"

It was safe to say at this point we had the whole rooms attention including Kathryn who was now standing behind me along with our parents. Positive I was missing something I muttered "okay now I'm really confused."

Ignoring the fact that we now had a full audience she explained "I'm gay. I've known this forever but my parents just wouldn't except it. They sent me to a shrink to 'deprogram' me and that's what the pills were for." I glanced over at the Reynolds who were now cowering in shame in the corner.

"They kept urging me to go out with someone and when I met you I thought it would be perfect. You were already in love with someone else so I knew you wouldn't get hurt. I had a feeling you were going to try and break up with me this past week which is why I've been acting so crazy lately. I didn't want to disappoint my parents by having you break up with me but now that everything's in the open we can both be free to be with the people we love."

I shook my head in disbelief "don't tell me, you've been seeing someone else too?"

"Sort of there's this girl Sara that I like..."

"Good for you" Kathryn said with sudden cheer.

I turned around and shot her a look before turning back to my lesbian girlfriend. "So wait a minute, when you found us in the garden you really were staring at Kathryn's-"

"Could you blame me?"

Megan looked past me and stared lustfully at Kathryn who cocked an eyebrow in response. I shrugged "I suppose not."

Leaning forward she pecked my cheek and said "good bye Sebastian. I hope you get everything you want." Turning on her heel Megan left the party with her parents calling after her in desperation.

As the party guests resumed their chatter I turned back to Kathryn who had a smug look on her face. "My Sebastian you really can pick them."

I caressed her face with the back of my hand and sighed. "Tell me about it."

Taking my other hand she guided me to the back door. "Why don't we finish what we started." I grinned back at her in agreement as we went out on the terrace. I still couldn't quite believe everything that had gone on with Megan but I was glad we were able to get through it with nobody getting hurt. For once.

As we stepped outside I pulled Kathryn into a kiss but we were quickly interrupted. "There you two are!" My mother called excitedly.

"Ooh are you really back together?" Tiffani asked.

"This will make your mothers year" my father exclaimed.

Kathryn and I regarded them with annoyance. There was indeed one down side in all of this and that was we were inadvertently pleasing our parents. Something I always hated to do. With a put upon sigh I ordered "calm down. Yes we are back together."

"Oh I knew it! I knew it would happen eventually" my mother squealed.

My eyes narrowed at her suspiciously "did you? Tell me mother is the reason you were so polite to Megan tonight because you knew she was gay?"

She shrugged casually "Regina Reynolds might have mentioned something about a shrink when she was drinking at the club..." Tiffani and my mother snickered with each other like two gossiping school girls at this.

"Unbelievable" I muttered to Kathryn under my breath.

"So is the wedding back on?"

Right away I could feel myself tense at the question. I could also feel Kathryn's eyes on me waiting for a response perhaps as eagerly as our mothers. Still I found myself saying "no we are just taking things slow for now."

The parentals faces fell for a moment but my mother quickly added "but never say never. I think a June wedding would be lovely and..."

"I still have the caterer on retainer" Tiffani added.

As they spoke excitedly to each other I noticed Kathryn was now standing on the other side of the terrace looking away from me. I sighed "look can you guys just go back to the party. We'll talk about this later."

Getting the hint they quickly made themselves scarce. Once we were alone again I approached Kathryn and stated rather than asked, "are you mad?"

"No, just disappointed I guess" she replied still not looking at me.

Gently I turned her around to face me. "I'm not ready yet Kathryn. Maybe down the road I'll..."

"I know, I know" she exclaimed suddenly angry. Strutting past me she hissed "someday you'll trust me, someday you'll want to marry me, someday you'll love me like you use to..."

"Hey that's not fair" I grabbed her gruffly by the arm "I do love you! What's wrong with wanting to take things slow?"

Kathryn yanked her arm out of my grip. "Nothing but I want to know Sebastian, can you see yourself marrying me or even trusting me again?" I shrugged sort of helplessly. She looked back at me with sadness and whispered "I thought so."

Once again she turned away from me and started to walk away. "Wait a minute, where are you going?"

"I just want to be alone for a little bit Sebastian" she called over her shoulder as she walked over to the terrace doors.

I started to follow after her but then stopped myself. I'd give her space to think because I realized then I needed it to. With everything that had been going on with us this past week I hadn't really given any thought to our future. Earlier it just seemed so easy. All I had to do was get rid of Megan and then everything would be perfect. Unfortunately when it came to dealing with Kathryn nothing was ever simple and it was anything but easy.

* * * * * *

"Pick up the damn phone Kathryn" I grumbled into my cell later that night. However she wasn't obeying my imaginary command and I was met with another ring. Finally I shut the phone off and threw it angrily into the passengers seat of my jag. I pressed my foot on the accelerator propelling the car into traffic.

A few hours after she'd left me of the terrace I was desperately trying to get in touch with her. I searched the party for her but no one had seen her. I called her cell phone but got no answer. The only thing I could think of was Kathryn went home so I decided to try her there. However I still wasn't sure what I was going to say to her.

As I considered some possibilities I wasn't paying any attention to what street I was on. Looking ahead I noticed a bunch of fire trucks and police cars blocking the road. Slamming my hands against the steering wheel in frustration I cursed myself for not taking an alternative solution. I was about to do a U turn out of there when I realized I was on my street. More to the point the commotion was right outside my building. It was on fire.

"Shit" I grumbled as I parked the jag a little ways away and got out. I quickly darted over to where a portly cop was standing behind yellow police tape trying to keep curiosity seekers at bay. As I tried to get by the guy immediately stopped me. "Hey where do you think you're going?"

"I live here" I exclaimed angrily. "What the fuck happened?"

The cop looked towards the building where smoke was coming from the top apartment. "There was a fire" he replied explaining the obvious. "Don't worry it appears to be contained to the penthouse."

"I live there!"

He almost smirked as he retorted "then I guess you should worry."

Ducking under the yellow tape I stood before him and demanded "how did it start?"

Looking over the clipboard in his hand he said "it looks like arson." The cop suddenly looked up and with a suspicious edge in his voice he asked "and where were you tonight sir?"

"I was at a party...all night, with lots of witnesses. Anyway why the hell would I set my own apartment on fire?"

"Relax son it's just standard procedure. Now do you know the young lady who was outside your apartment?"

I turned to him suddenly alert "what? Wait, you're telling me someone was in there?!"

"Yes but she's-"

I nearly leapt at the guy. "Who?"

"Ever the drama queen Valmont" snickered a distant familiar voice.

Whipping around I saw Kathryn laying on a stretcher that was being wheeled into an ambulance. Pushing past the cop and the paramedics I ran to her side. She was clutching an oxygen mask and there was a deep cut on her forehead. The sight of her getting put in the ambulance was making me nearly dizzy. "What are you doing here? Are you okay? I've been looking everywhere for you."

Pulling the mask away from her face she coughed and then offered me a slight smirk. "Easy you're starting to sound like your mother. I went to see you...I didn't want to talk to you at the party. When I got off the elevator I saw that your apartment was on fire. The elevator wouldn't go back down so I called the police and I tried to take the stairwell only the fire blocked the entrance.Then something knocked me out...part of the ceiling or something. Luckily the fireman showed up in time or else my dress would have been completely ruined."

"You're not funny" I grumbled. "You could have died."

"Ma'am" another police officer came into the ambulance "did you see anything? Do you know how the fire started?"

Kathryn nodded "I saw someone run out the emergency stairs. I tried to follow him when I got knocked out."

"Did you get a look at him?"

"He was wearing all black and a ski mask, that's about it"

The cop jolted her information onto a notebook. "Is that it?"

"I know who it was" I said suddenly causing them both to look at me curiously. Glancing down at Kathryn I told her "we both do."

* * * * * *

"In other news tonight Jackson Maguire, television and film star was arrested this evening following a fire at an Upper East side apartment building. Maguire was charged with arson and attempted murder. According to local officials a penthouse apartment belonging to a close friend of Maguires was doused in gasoline and set ablaze. Social light and former girlfriend of the accused, Kathryn Merteuil was inside. She sustained injuries but is said to be doing fine. Apparently the police have been investigating Maguire for stalking his former girlfriend and it is believed that the once popular actor will be brought up of charges for that as well. We'll have more on this story later in the broadcast."

As the news anchor went on to discuss a shooting in Brooklyn Sebastian turned off the television with a satisfied grin. "Well there you have it. Jackson is officially out of our lives for good."

Nestled in her hospital bed Kathryn scowled at the now blank television. "I'm not so sure. I mean do you really think the police have enough to hold him?"

"Of course" I replied confidently even though I wasn't really positive. Then again what more could the guy do before they would finally throw his ass in jail. "Don't worry about it. After tonight he'll never come near you again."

Kathryn looked less than convinced but she offered me a smile anyway "you're right."

Walking over to the bed I touched her cheek that was now bandaged. The doctor said she had a slight concussion and she suffered from some smoke inhalation but other than that she was fine. He just wanted her to stay overnight for observation. "How are you feeling?"

She rolled her eyes "I'm fine you can stop asking now."

"You never should have been there in the first place." When Kathryn looked up at me questioningly I took a seat beside her and explained "I never should have let you walk out tonight. "I love you and I do trust you and..."

"...and you're just saying this because you feel guilty."

"What?"

"You're scared you are going to lose me again." Kathryn sat up and rested her head on my shoulder. "It's not going to happen. We belong to each other remember. Nothing can change that. Everything else doesn't matter."

I stroked her hair as I consider this. Holding her close to me I agreed "nothing is going to take you from me ever again. Especially Jackson Maguire."

* * * * * *

"What the fuck do you mean he's out?" I bellowed angrily into my cell phone the following afternoon. "Don't give me any excuses. I'm paying you a god damn fortune to keep that son of a bitch in jail! What the hell happened?!"

There was a pause of the other end before the polite, mild mannered attorney came back on. "Mr. Valmont I understand your anger at the situation but my hands were tied. The judge set bail and his parents posted it. There was nothing I could do."

"Don't tell me that shit! I won't have that psycho anywhere near her understand? I want a restraining order and I want a cop, bodyguard or whoever posted outside her door. If he comes within a 100 yards from her I want his ass in jail, got it?"

"Yes sir but-"

"But nothing, do it!"

With that I shut my phone off angrily as I stormed down the hospital corridor. I couldn't believe the police were so inept that they couldn't hold Maguire with all the evidence they had on him. What more did the son of a bitch have to do?!

I was trying to think of how to break the news to Kathryn that the guy who was stalking her was in fact walking around free when I ran into my father who was heading in the opposite direction. "What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too son. Your mother and I came to drop these off to Kathryn. She's downstairs talking with Tiffani." When I gave him a distracted nod he asked "what's wrong."

"I just got off the phone with the lawyer. Jackson is out on bail. Fucking inept judge let him go." Taking out my phone again I grumbled "I'm making sure they send someone here to watch her."

"Don't worry about it son" my father insisted. "I'll take care of it. You go in and see her. I'm sure she rather visit with you than with me."

I regarded him with surprise. It wasn't often my father acted in what could be described in a fatherly or kind manor. Calming down somewhat I nodded "thanks dad."

Passing him I headed into Kathryn's room expecting to find her terrorizing the nurses or pacing her room anxious to leave. However I found neither. Kathryn wasn't there. "Kathryn?" I checked the bathroom and the small closet but both were empty. I was officially in panic mode. "Kathryn?!"

My father having heard my voice came rushing in. "What is it?"

Walking over to the bed I noticed something shiny resting on the pale blue blanket. On closer inspection I realized it was a diamond ring but not just any diamond ring. It was Kathryn's engagement ring. Staring down at the ring in my shaky hand I muttered "she's gone."

- to be continued (Please Review)