Trip On Love

Summary: A distressed Sebastian searches for a missing Kathryn. Did Jackson take her or did she leave him for good?

Authors Note: Since I am desperate to get this story finished I'm going to update this again tonight with the final chapter.

Chapter 18: Can You Really Trust Her?

"Where is she?!"

Pacing frantically outside of Kathryn's empty hospital room I bellowed at the top of my lungs for answers. A few patients and hospital employees turned at the sound of my voice to see what all the commotion was about. However I didn't give a fuck. I could care less what they thought of me and that went double for my parents, Tiffani, and the two cops standing before me. For the record they were all convinced I was losing my mind. Had I been more lucid at that moment I'd probably be inclined to agree with them.

It had been five hours since Kathryn went missing. I was clearly convinced that she had been kidnapped and that it was Jackson who had her. After all she wouldn't just get up and leave the hospital. She wouldn't just leave me. Others however were less than convinced. It was all on account of that damn ring.

"Well dear she did seem quite upset when you told us your weren't ready to get married yet" my mother gently offered. "Perhaps she just needed to get away for a little while..."

"Or perhaps you just hurt her so bad she's left you for good now!" That was Tiffani's idea. She was blaming me for the whole thing.

Even the cops seemed less than convinced it was a kidnapping. "For the love of god" I bellowed at them "you just let her stalker out of jail! Of course he took her!"

"Sir" the burly, tired looking cop on my left sighed "Mr. Maguire wasn't involved. We've talked with his parents and they've assured us he's been with them all day."

"They're lying!" I screamed. "He's their son, their covering for him."

However they didn't seem to be buying my argument and my parents weren't any help either. They were all convinced Kathryn left me, so heartbroken that I wouldn't marry her. I assured them though that we had settled this all the night before and she was fine with it. I was sure of that. There was no way Kathryn would just take off.

"She didn't even have the ring" I explained for the third time that afternoon. "She gave it back after we broke off the engagement and I was angry so I threw it at Jackson. He had the fucking ring!"

Tiffani's face pinched in annoyance. "Why would you give away a hundred thousand dollar ring to that low life?"

I shot her a dirty look and ignored her question. "Don't you see he took her and left that ring as a clue. He wants us to look for them."

The cops and my parents exchanged looks and nobody said anything at first. Finally my father offered "well perhaps...possibly they went off together."

"No!" I replied immediately.

"They do have a history together Sebastian" my mother reminded me. "Maybe Kathryn was just upset and when Jackson showed up she left with him to teach you a lesson."

"Yes" Tiffani sighed with disdain. "That boy always had some weird pull over her."

I couldn't believe even Tiffani was buying into this bullshit. "No way, she would never leave with him! Even if she was pissed with me, even if she was angry she would never go with him. NOT with Jackson." Looking away from them I added quietly "not after everything we'd been through."

Of course this thought had occurred to me earlier. Like some disease it had been hiding in the back of my mind waiting to creep up and attack. Staring at that ring on her pillow, I knew Jackson had been there. I wanted to believe he had taken her but their had been that nagging suspicion all along that I didn't even want to think about. Clearly everyone else however did.

Perhaps I was more than an optimist than even I knew because I refused to believe it. Kathryn was long over Jackson. She hated him now and would never go back to him no matter how angry she got at me. "Look are you going to keep searching for her or what?" I demanded of the cops in front of me.

They nodded "yes sir we'll continue to do everything we can but I want you to keep an open mind. Maybe Ms. Merteuil left of her own free will, maybe-"

"Maybe you should do your fucking job and find her" I snarled coldly at them. "I'm going to search the hospital again."

I took one last look at the pity filled faces before me and I rolled my eyes. They were all wrong and I was going to prove it. I stormed down the hospital corridor and back down the emergency stairway to the first floor. I stalked the entire first, second, and third floor, questioning nurses and whoever else was around.

It was as I was heading up to the fourth floor that my cell rang. My hope lifted in that moment as I quickly whipped it out and asked eagerly "Kathryn?"

"No try again" came a familiar taunting voice.

I clutched the phone tighter when I realized who it was. "Where is she?" I demanded.

"We're at Kathryn's place" Jackson replied casually as if they were just hanging out having drinks. "Are you trying to get in touch with her or something?"

Smashing my fist against the stone wall I snarled "what the hell have you done with her?"

"Done with her?" He parroted back. "You say that like you think I've hurt her or something. No Valmont Kathryn's just fine. Look why don't you drop by." Jackson's tone shifted suddenly as he added darkly "come alone."

"Put her on the phone" I demanded. "I want to talk to her."

A snicker of amusement came from his end. "What makes you think she wants to talk to you?" I was then met with a dial tone.

I listened for a moment processing what he just said to me. It was then I finally let the impossible sink in. Was Kathryn really there and did she really not want to speak to me? Had she run off with Jackson? Was I being played the whole time yet again?

Sinking against the wall I contemplated these question and the biggest one of all: What would I do to her if she really was lying to me? Either way I was about to find out the truth.

* * * * * *

It was dark outside by the time I arrived at Kathryn's. Pulling my jag up to the curb I spotted Jackson's Mercedes across the street. Slowly, almost painfully, I got out of my car and approached the house. Foregoing ringing the doorbell I found the door open and went inside. It was completely dark. "Kathryn!" I called out.

As I stepped into the main foyer Jackson appeared from the second floor balcony. "Look who's finally arrived" he drawled.

"Where is she?"

He ignored my question and walked away. I quickly climbed the steps, two at a time until I reached the second floor. Spotting the open door I followed him inside and found Kathryn sitting in a chair. She was now dressed in her typical little black designer dress. She wasn't tied up to the desk chair she was sitting on but she looked visibly tense. I knew right away he had taken her against her will. Even before I spotted the gun.

Jackson had a small revolver in his left hand. He leaned against the stone mantle place sipping a scotch leisurely as if at a party. "Now as you will see I did not tie her up."

"No" I sneered unamused "your just holding her at gun point."

"What, this?" He asked holding up the gun as if noticing it for the first time. "This is just a little insurance. A prop really. Don't worry Valmont I have no intention on using it. I never even aimed it at princess Grace here. She came willingly."

"Because you threatened me you sick fuck!" Kathryn exploded suddenly. She turned to me and explained "he told me if I didn't leave with him he was going to do something to you."

Shaking my head I went to grab Kathryn from the other side of the room. "I've had enough fun and games Jackson. We're leaving."

Before I could reach her Jackson pushed his arm in front of me. It was the same hand holding the gun. "Not just yet Valmont. We haven't yet come to the reason for why I've gathered us here tonight. It's time we get to the truth."

I let out a short snicker. "The truth? The truth is Maguire you're a demented fuck who will be spending the remainder of your twenties in a eight by ten cell making special friends with Bobo the weight lifter."

Jackson just smiled at my threat. "Such a drama queen Valmont. Maybe you should have become the actor." Putting his arm down he strolled over to Kathryn and placed his hands on the back of the chair. My anxiety rose when I saw the gun rub up against her bare shoulder. "No, dear friends, the truth I want to discuss tonight is who's really responsible for the supposed stalking of Kathryn." He waited a beat before revealing "it wasn't me."

"Oh?" I asked playing along. "Do you have an evil twin we don't know about or are you working with someone perhaps?"

His face went dark as he gripped the back of the chair tighter. "I never did anything to that bitch! Why do you think the police let me go?"

"Because they're all a bunch of ignorant buffoons who your mother paid off?"

"No because I didn't do it" he replied calmly. "In fact it would be utterly impossible for me to do any of those things you two claim. I've been in California for the past few weeks."

"Yeah, that's funny, your agent couldn't seem to get in contact with you" I taunted.

Jackson grinned "I was in hidding...with Charlotte. You remember Charlotte don't you Sebastian?"

I cocked an eyebrow "barely."

"The truth of the matter is I'm NOT obsessed with this cunt" he snarled as he brushed the gun along the back of Kathryn's head. "I washed my hands of her long ago. Hell the only reason I tried to get her back in the first place was because I wanted to take her away from you...again. I was just planning on fucking her and dumping her once again. However when I realized she was more trouble than she was worth I dropped the plan and went back to California." Jackson shook his head in disgust "for all I knew you two were off living happily ever after together. Then I get back into town and the god damn police are at my door saying I'm stalking her. Like I ever gave a shit about you that much Kathryn, to bother stalking you. It's rather amusing now that I think about it."

She spun around in her chair and hissed "fuck you!"

"That's a nice story Jack" I sigh. "However we all know it was you. Who else would be that fucked in the head?"

"Who?!" He bellowed. Taking a deep breath he said "all right let me ask you a question Valmont. What does the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, and your faithful, sane girlfriend all have in common?" When I just stared back at him blankly he bellowed "THEY'RE ALL FIGMENTS OF YOUR FUCKING IMAGINATION!"

"ME?" Kathryn sputtered. "You think I'm behind all this? You really are out of your fucking mind!"

Jackson looked down at her and shook his head. "I almost forgot how good you are at playing the innocent but I bet Sebastian hasn't. He's well aware of how good a liar you are."

Turning around Kathryn's green eyes, filled with desperation, met mine. "He's lying, you know that right?"

Before I could reply Jackson bent down to Kathryn's side and said "he's probably trying to tell himself that right now but I'm sure once the idea begins to fester he'll realize it's the only explanation. After all look how much you've lied to the poor boy in the past. Sebastian knows you'll do anything to get what you want." Standing up he turned his attention to me and asked "before all of this started what did she want more than anything? You or more to the point she wanted that Tiffany ring back on her finger and her darling mothers approval. It didn't look like you were going to forgive and forget so easily so Kathryn did what she does best, she made herself the victim."

"Yes I made myself the victim" Kathryn replied sarcastically. "I somehow managed to throw a statue threw my window from the outside, I smashed up my new Porsche, I took pictures WHILE I was having sex with Sebastian and oh yeah I knocked myself out while inside a burning building! It makes total sense!"

Jackson stood in front of her angrily and hissed "yes it does. Whomever is responsible for all of this is either crazy or incredibly determined. Since I am neither and you are both I would say odds are it's you."

I spoke for the first time "it's not possible."

He looked over his shoulder at me and replied "of course it is. She paid one of the people on your aunt's staff to throw that statue through the window. She set up a hidden camera on a timer or had someone sneak in and take the pictures while you had sex. She set the building on fire and then lied about seeing a masked man. As for the Porsche, she'd just have mommy by her a new one in the morning."

Kathryn was now fuming at the accusations. Getting to her feet she screamed "it wasn't me! It was you, you sick freak!" Looking over at me she pleaded "you can't honestly believe him? He's just messing with your head Sebastian!"

"Are you really going to believe a word she says after all the shit she put you threw?" He demanded. "If so you're even more pathetic than I thought."

"You're such a fucking coward Jackson" Kathryn snarled. "You did it, just own up to it already!"

As the two of them bickered I didn't pay any attention to what they were saying. Sure, they both made good points but at the moment the only thing I was concerned about was the gun Jackson was still clenching in his right hand. Using his momentary distraction to my advantage I leapt between the two of them and knocked the gun from his hand.

"What the fuck?" He muttered to himself as the gun fell out of his hand and hit the ground with a loud thud. Before Jack could reach for it I punched him hard across the face. He reeled back and looked up at me angrily. The next thing I knew he knocked me to the floor.

Leaping on top of me he hit me but I blocked it and knocked him off. We continued to fight and roll around on the hard, dusty floor, desperately trying to wound each other any way we could. Somehow Jackson gained the upper hand and started to beat me across the face as hard as he could. However he only got a few good hits in before Kathryn came between us. With the gun in her hand she held it to Jack's head. "Touch him again and I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your brain" she told him in an eerily calm and cold tone.

Slowly he turned his head to look at her. Grasping the end of the gun he told her "do it." Kathryn looked back at him obviously startled. "Come on" Jackson prodded "do it Kathryn, I know you want to. Then you'll truly get everything you want. Me dead and Valmont's unyielding gratitude for saving his life. However it won't change the fact that you're a manipulative insane bitch and for the rest of his life Sebastian will wonder if it really was you all along who was responsible for this."

That last statement might have been the reason she pulled the trigger. I'd always wonder about it later, not that it really mattered anyway. Yes Kathryn did shoot Jackson however their was a slight hitch...

"BLANKS?!" She yelled angrily when the gun did little more than imitate a cap gun. I had to admit I let out a sigh of relief for as much as I hated Maguire I wasn't too keen on having his brains splattered all over my chest.

Jackson on the other hand was obviously quite pleased at his little trick. "Of course their blanks! Like I'd tell you to shoot me if their were actual bullets in there. I told you I'm perfectly sane. I wouldn't hold you hostage with a loaded gun but apparently YOU would have no problem killing me!"

Kathryn threw the gun to the ground with a wail of frustration. "Enough of this shit. I'm calling the police!"

Suddenly he wasn't so amused. Getting to his feet Jackson followed after as Kathryn charged out of the room. "You're going to call the police and do what? I haven't done anything wrong."

She let out a humorous snicker "funny I think they'll disagree when I tell them you kidnapped me."

"Kathryn, Kathryn wait!" Jackson caught up with her and grabbed her by the arm. "You can't call the police."

"Like hell I can. Let go of me!"

I quickly followed them out of the room. Coming up from behind I forcefully grabbed Jackson and pulled him away from her. "Don't EVER touch her."

"After everything she's pulled you're still so loyal Valmont." Jackson laughed "you really do make the perfect lap dog."

My reflexes taking over I punched him and he of course tired to hit me back. We began to struggle against the railing of the second floor balcony. Kathryn meanwhile screamed at us to stop it because the balcony wasn't safe. Neither of us paid any attention however until it was too late.

As I pushed Jackson back against the railing and the two of us put our weight on it and it soon gave way. I heard a snap then suddenly Jackson fell backwards and I almost followed. Kathryn reached out and pulled me back before I too could fall. With a loud scream Jack fell to the first floor and landed with a loud thud. Kathryn and I slowly crept to the edge and looked down. We both went wide eyed at the sight of Maguire laying very still on the hard marble floor.

Quickly I headed to the stairs and called out to her "stay there." When I got to the first floor I approached him almost hesitantly, afraid of what I might find. Indeed as I kneeled beside him Jackson looked very still. Slowly a raised a shaking hand to his neck to feel for a pulse. As my hand touched his skin his eyes suddenly shot open and I let out an audible gasp of surprise while stumbling backwards.

Jackson coughed and then grumbled "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm still alive Valmont."

Truth be told I was almost glad. The last thing I needed that night was to deal with manslaughter charges. Looking down at him I muttered coldly "lay still, we'll call an ambulance."

"Don't do me an favors" he replied sarcastically.

Rolling my eyes at him I pulled out my cell phone and started to dial 911 when his hand came out and stopped me. "We were friends once weren't we?" I didn't answer. I just stared back blankly. "Well in the spirit of friendship here's the truth: it wasn't me. I never did anything to her."

Not flinching in the slightest as his declaration I replied coldly "we were never friends."

Jackson shook his head and almost smiled as if in agreement. Turning his head slightly he stared over my shoulder at Kathryn who was watching us from the stairs. "Tell me something Valmont, do you really think you can trust her?"

* * * * * *

A half an hour later Kathryn's house was swarming with cops and paramedics. Jackson had come through the fall still alive but barely. I heard one paramedic say something about spiral cord injury but frankly I didn't really care. All I wanted was to make sure that the police did intend on arresting him.

I suppose I could have been blamed for the fall but I described in detail to the police what led up to the fight. It was a clear case of self defense. Kathryn also backed up my story telling the cops that indeed Jackson had kidnapped her from the hospital. "Do you think you'll be able to keep him in jail this time" I sneered at the same police officer who had been at the hospital earlier.

"We'll do all we can" he replied stiffly. "As it stands their not even sure if Mr. Maguire will be able to walk again."

"Boo hoo" I deadpanned.

The cop frowned at me in disapproval and then turned to leave. As he left me I noticed Kathryn sitting alone in her living room staring off deep in thought. Since Jackson had gone over the balcony we hadn't said much to each other not that we had really had a moment to ourselves. Solemnly I walked over to her and sat down beside her. Kathryn looked over at me surprised. "What did they do with him?"

"He's on his way to the hospital. They think he might be paralyzed."

Kathryn gazed stonily ahead and replied coldly "good."

I studied her a moment, not terribly surprised by her cruelty. "You know he insists he wasn't behind it."

She looked at me amazed then spat "well it wasn't me! I swear to you Sebastian I never would do something like that to you. I know if I did you really would never trust me again." Shaking her head sadly she looked away from me and muttered "but you believe him don't you? You really think I'm capable of going that far...well then maybe we should end things now. What's the point of being together if we're always-"

"Marry me"

Kathryn's head whipped around and she stared back at me stunned as if I'd just asked her to jump from a plane without a parachute. "What?"

I couldn't help but crack a grin at her confusion. "I said marry me."

"But I...why?"

Moving closer to her on the couch I explained myself. "I know you had nothing to do with what's been going on these past weeks. It might indeed have been Jackson or someone else but it doesn't matter anymore. Jackson asked me earlier if I could trust you or not and the answer is, yes I can. I mean I have to. As horribly corny and cliché as it is Kathryn, you're my whole life. You're the reason for everything. I want my life to be with you."

"Then you don't believe Jackson?" She asked hopefully.

"If you say you've been telling me the truth then I believe you." Reaching into the pocket of my black shirt I pulled out the engagement ring I had found earlier that day. Taking her hand I slipped it onto her finger. "So what do you say? Shall we try it again?"

Kathryn stared down at the large diamond on her finger with a serious expression on her face. "You do realize" she said solemnly "if we do this we're going to be making our parents extremely happy."

"I know" I sighed glumly. "However I think there might be a way to avoid that. We elope."

Looking back up at me Kathryn finally smiled. "Well then I think you have yourself a deal Mr. Valmont." She reached for me then and drew my mouth to hers for a kiss. As I embraced her I finally felt like a load was being lifted. I hadn't felt this good in months. Everything finally felt right.

However happily ever after didn't come just yet. There was still one last secret to be revealed.

Last Chapter Coming Soon