Summary: Annette realizes a way that might help bring Sebastian back to her while Kathryn's struggle to keep the truth from him and remain in control leads to something unexpected.
Chapter 4: Discoveries
It was a new day.
As Annette groggily awoke the following morning she couldn't help but smile as the sunlight from her bay window greeted her. This had been the first time in over a week she had gotten a full nights rest. Going back to that night her and Sebastian first made love, up until his stay in the hospital. It felt good to let her body rest but now she was ready to face the day. It was time for a fresh start.
That start would begin once she could get the guy she loved back. After visiting Carly she was convinced the only way would be to fight Kathryn head on but she had no clue as to how to go about doing it. Then as she was falling asleep that night it came to her: the journal. It held everything she needed to tell Sebastian and it was the one thing he would believe.
With a smile Annette reached under her mattress where she had hidden the leather bound book. However as she felt around she couldn't seem to find it. Frowning she climbed out of bed and lifted the mattress up only to find it was gone!
"That's impossible" Annette muttered to herself. She knew she had hid it in-between the mattress and the box spring still she looked under the bed and around the rest of the room only it wasn't there. Thinking maybe one of the McGregor's housekeepers found it and did something with it Annette walked out of her room and found Alice McGregor sipping coffee in the dinning room. She smiled as she greeted her house guest "Annette. There you are I haven't seen you in nearly a week. Come sit and have some breakfast."
"No thank you" she replied politely as she tried to keep the panic from her voice. "Um, Alice you haven't seen a leather book lying around have you? It has the initials SRV on the front."
She frowned "no dear I haven't. Why is it missing?"
"You don't think one on the maids might have picked it up by accident?"
"I doubt it, Rosaline and the staff are very careful about such things and I don't think anyone has been in your room since you left."
Annette nodded as she turned around in defeat "ok."
However Mrs. McGregor kept going on "in fact we haven't had any visitors, well aside from that lovely girl Kathryn."
Immediately Annette turned back around "Kathryn? Kathryn Merteuil came by? When?"
"Let's see the day before last I believe. Such a charming young girl, she came to fill me in on all the details on the Manchester party this weekend. Her and her assistant were only here for a moment-"
"Assistant?" Annette asked getting a slight nauseous feeling in her gut.
"Yes" Alice nodded "I can't recall his name."
"Blaine" Annette sighed.
"Yes that's it!"
Rolling her eyes Annette turned back around and marched to her room. She should have known Kathryn wouldn't waste any time getting Sebastian's journal. She pretended to care about him but all she really cared about was making sure her rep was secure.
Slamming the door Annette entered the room and fell back on the bed. As she tried to think up how to get the journal back, her foot brushed against something on the floor. Bending down she scooped up the piece of paper to find it was the letter Sebastian had sent her along with the journal. She reread it again as she had done a hundred time the night he gave it to her. Slowly a smile formed on her face as she realized all was not lost. Kathryn hadn't won yet.
* * * * * *
"And this it your room" Kathryn exclaimed as she pushed open the heavy wood door to Sebastian's bedroom.
Stepping inside Sebastian looked around the room as he had all the others, bored and unimpressed. Sliding a finger across the oak dress he sighed "it will do."
"I'm glad it meets up to your standards" she huffed leaning against the doorframe. "You could be a little more interested."
Pulling a book off the shelf he explained "they're just things Kathryn, boring and primarily useless."
Rolling her eyes at him she replied "everyday you're sounding more and more like your old self. As frightening a thought as that is." It was true in the week following the accident Sebastian was behaving more and more like his former self. His sharp wit and intellect were just as before and Kathryn had even caught him fooling around with one of the nurses the previous day. It hadn't bothered her so much, just so long as it wasn't with that blond uber bitch she would allow Sebastian to have his fun.
"So" he said closing his book and walking towards her with his usual prowl "where's your room?"
"Across the hall"
"Hmm that's convenient" he whispered in her ear before walking over to her door and letting himself in.
"Make yourself at home" she told him sarcastically as she followed after him.
Plopping down on her bed Sebastian replied "I will thanks. Nice room Kat." Picking up a framed photo of her and Court taken at the prom he turned his nose up and asked "who's Captain America?"
Yanking the picture away she replied "Court Reynolds my ex."
"He looks like a loser. Did you actually fuck him?"
"Sadly yes" she sighed before promptly tossing the picture away. Walking over to her answering machine she hit messages and told him "if I were you I wouldn't be throwing stones given the half wits and borderline retards you choose to fornicate with."
Sebastian was about to retort with something equally devastating when Ronald's voice came through the machine "hey Kathryn, it's Ronald. We need to talk about what we're going to tell Sebastian concerning what happened-"
Before he could finish Kathryn flew to the machine and cut the message off and then erased it. Clearing his throat Sebastian asked "is there something you want to tell me Kathryn?"
She turned around and replied "not really."
He sat up in the bed and stared her down. "Oh I think there is. What happened you don't want me to know about?"
"Nothing" she sighed "just some unfinished business I have with Ronald."
"Ronald? That's the guy I was fighting with before I got hit by that cab. You know it's funny, no one ever told me what we were fighting about. I bet you know."
She shrugged "haven't a clue."
"Ok" Sebastian sighed as he got up and crossed over to the phone "then I guess I'll just give Ronald a call and maybe he'll give me a straight answer."
Just as he was picking up the phone Kathryn grabbed it from him and slammed it down. They stared at each other a moment before Kathryn broke "ok fine I'll tell you. A few days before the accident you walked in on Ronald and me in bed together and you weren't terrible happy about it."
"Why? Is the guy an asshole or something?"
"Not really" Kathryn replied as she turned away from him. Every now and then Sebastian could tell when she was lying so she made sure not to look at him as she spun her web of lies. "You were just jealous, you didn't think he was good enough for me. I assume that's why you two were fighting."
"Well if that's true why is he calling you to find out what to tell me?"
"I...I told him not to tell you about us. It was just too soon after the accident."
"Oh, so you're dating this guy?"
There was a slight twinge of disappointment in his voice that made Kathryn smile. Turning back around she asked "why? Would it bother you if I was?"
Sebastian smiled as he rested his hands on her trim waist "it might."
"Good" she whispered as she leaned forward into his body and kissed his neck. She flicked her tongue against his skin a few time before hitting that sensitive area by his earlobe that made him groan and tighten his grip on her waist. Knowing she had taken his mind off of the past and put it back on her where it belonged she said "Sebastian?"
"Yes?"
"Leave" He pulled away and scowled at her but she only smiled "I have to change."
"So? I'm a sick man sis and am in desperate need of tender loving care. You're just going to throw me out of your room so coldly?" he asked incredulously.
"Very well" keeping her gaze on his she slid the straps of her dress to her shoulders and let the garment fall to her feet. She was dressed in only a lavender bra and panties set and Sebastian took the view in admiringly. Kathryn let him ogle her a minute before pushing him towards the door and waving good bye "I'll check on you later Sebastian."
"Such a fucking tease!" He called out before slamming the door and leaving.
Kathryn laughed in response, everything was going just as she planned! Things were returning to what they were before the start of the summer and would stay that way so long as she could keep him from remembering the truth. It shouldn't be too hard now that she had the journal and Annette had no concrete evidence of her crimes.
With a satisfied smile Kathryn wrapped her robe around her body just as Annette suddenly came barging into the room "where is it?"
Spinning around just as angry she demanded "what the hell do you think you're doing barging into my room? Get the fuck out!"
"Gladly, just as soon as you hand me over the journal."
Kathryn sighed not terribly shocked she was asking for it, but that it took her this long to realize it was missing. Still she feigned innocent "what are you talking about? I don't have the journal."
"Bullshit!"
Kathryn's eyebrows flew up in surprise "my, my I wasn't aware you knew such naughty words Annette."
"Cut the crap Kathryn. This morning I went to retrieve the journal only surprise, surprise it wasn't there. Then I talked with Mrs. McGregor and she tell me that Kathryn Merteuil paid a visit along with her assistant. I know you took it so give it back."
Slowly Kathryn smiled, cold and menacing "so what if I did take it? What would you do if I did? You certainly can't prove I did so once again it's just your word against mine and I think experience has shown who's word Sebastian will believe."
After that she had thought Annette would run out of the room defeated with her tail between her legs. However instead she just smiled and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket "then maybe I should show him this. It might clear up a few things."
"What's that?"
"Well you see when Sebastian handed me the journal he also gave me an apology letter. Would you like me to read it to you? It might have a few big words you don't understand."
"Give me that" Kathryn snarled as she snatched the letter from Annette's hands and read:
The truth of the matter is that being with you was the only time I have ever been happy. My whole life has been a joke. I prided myself on taking joy in others' misery. Well, it finally backfired. I succeeded in hurting the first person I loved.
Enclosed is my most prized possession...my journal. For a long time I considered it my trophy. A sordid collection of my conquests. If you really want to know the truth, then please read it. No more lies.
Shit, Kathryn thought as she read the last part over a second time. One look at this and Sebastian would realize that he really had felt something for the stupid bitch. Her head was spinning as she read it once again and felt ill. The first person I loved. He wasn't referring to Kathryn but to Annette.
She started to feel somewhat dizzy but steadied her self on a nearby chair and asked Annette flippantly "what's this suppose to prove?"
"It will prove" Annette hissed as she stepped in front of Kathryn "that he loved me not to mention that he gave me the journal. When he asks for it back I'll just have to tell him about how you and his pal Blaine stole it."
"You're not going to tell him anything" Kathryn said coldly.
"No I'm just going to show him this" Annette pulled it out of her hands. "All the lies and manipulations end now Kathryn."
"Please" she scoffed "do you honestly think if you show him that Sebastian will suddenly fall back in love with you? I hate to break it to you sweetie but your boyfriend is gone. The pussy whipped loser Sebastian became when he fell for you in gone and if I have anything to say about it he's never coming back."
"All I want is for Sebastian to know the truth and now he will."
"Give me the letter" Kathryn ordered as she tried to take it from her.
"No!"
Kathryn was about to attack Annette when her bedroom door opened and Sebastian came in. "What's going on? I heard yelling."
The two girls stared at each other a moment before Kathryn told him "nothing, just a misunderstanding."
"Yes" Annette agreed.
"About?"
Kathryn was about to tell him some bullshit answer when Annette suddenly interjected "the Manchester Benefit that's tomorrow night. I told Kathryn I was going to ask you to go with me but she thinks it's too soon. Since you just got out of the hospital and all."
"Oh I see" he said him eyes locked on Kathryn. "Well I'm feeling much better."
"Then would you like to go?"
Kathryn expected Sebastian to tell her no, make up some sort of excuse. However he shocked her by smiling and saying "sure why not. It will be fun."
Annette's face brightened immediately "great, you can pick me up at seven at the McGregor's. Kathryn can tell you where it is."
Kathryn narrowed her gaze on Annette as her head once again began to ache and spin. She needed something, a hit of coke maybe. Ten minutes ago everything was going as planned but now she could feel her grip start to loosen and everything fall away. Still she tried to remain in control by turning to Sebastian and explaining "but I was-"
"It's ok Kathryn" Sebastian told her with a smug smile. "I'm sure Ronald would love to take you. Annette, I'll walk you out."
As they headed out the door Annette smiled back at Kathryn and stuck the letter into her pocket. She was going to follow them out but she needed a fix first. Going back to her vanity she grabbed her crucifix and took a quick bump. Maybe she took too much because her head began to hurt. Kathryn clutched her head and whimpered slightly but she got to her feet and looked out the window as Sebastian put Annette in a taxi. It was just like that night she observed them after them 'made love'. Only this time, if it was possible, she was even more nauseous.
Her head still throbbing Kathryn went out to the hallway when Sebastian came back in. As he headed to his room she demanded "what was that?"
"What, I was making sure she had a ride. I was being a gentleman."
"You're not a gentleman" Kathryn scoffed. "Why did you tell her you would go to that stupid dance with her? I thought you didn't want to have anything more to do with her?"
Leaning against the wall he replied "I don't believe I said anything of the sort. Besides Annette isn't so bad although she doesn't have your considerablecharms, but who knows? She might actually be fun." Sebastian licked him lips lasciviously as he said the last word.
Shocked Kathryn asked "you're not actually considering sleeping with her again are you?"
Sebastian crossed the hallway over to her. Stroking her face he asked "why, would it bother you if I was?"
She flinched as he spat her words back to her. For once she didn't have a quick witted answer so he turned back around "see you later Kathryn."
As he headed back to his room she called out "Sebastian wait I"
However before Kathryn could get the sentence out she collapsed onto the hard floor. Sebastian, who had been delighting in having the upper hand with her, was waiting for her to come chasing after him when he heard her fall. Spinning around he found her passed out on the floor. "Kathryn!" he yelled as he knelt by her side. "Kathryn wake up!"
* * * * * *
"She's going to be ok for now. It appears her brain began to loose oxygen which is why she collapsed" Mr. DeAngelo explained to Sebastian as they stood just outside Kathryn's room in the ER.
"But I don't understand, what caused it?"
"We haven't gotten all of the tests back but I would say it was due to the drugs in her system."
"Drugs?" Sebastian repeated more than a little surprised.
The doctor nodded gravely "yes there was cocaine in her system along with several forms of unidentified pills. That along with the fact that her weight is under what it should be and possible stress lead to her collapsing. Now I don't mean to scare you son, but if this happens again she'll have a stroke and most likely will die."
Sebastian nodded as he looked in and saw Kathryn lying in bed staring out the window. "It won't happen again" he promised him. "Doctor if at all possible do you think we can keep this between us? My parents are out of the country and if they knew about this it would only make things worse for her."
"Well you're eighteen so it's legal but I advise you get your sister some help. She obviously is having troubles she's not telling you about."
"I will thanks" Sebastian told him as he left to go tend to another emergency.
Sighing Sebastian walked back into her room. Immediately Kathryn sat up "can we go now? I feel much better and-
"Not just yet" he replied pushing her gently back into bed. "We need to talk first."
"Why? What's wrong?"
Sebastian thought she might be trying to hide something from him but studying her he realized she really didn't know what caused her to collapse. "I talked with the doctor and he told me what caused this."
"Yes I know" she sighed as she examined her manicure. "I haven't been eating enough, stress, blah, blah, blah. The chunky nurse already read me the riot act and gave me some bullshit pamphlet on nutrition."
"Not that, I was referring to the drugs you were taking."
"Drugs?"
Sebastian rolled his eyes "don't give me that shit you know damn well what I'm talking about. The coke and pills, how long have you been doing it?"
Sitting up she looked away from him and coldly replied "that's my business, not yours."
"Well you made it my business when you fucking collapsed on me."
"Look, you never bothered me about this before. You staid out of my hair where this was concerned and I'd be happy if you do it once again. You've always minded your own business in the past."
Sebastian sat down beside her and forced her to look at him "well guess what? That Sebastian is gone and so is your past with him. But I do care about you Kathryn and I don't want to see this happen to you again." Taking her hand his voice lowered as he admitted "I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."
Kathryn was touched and surprised by Sebastians kindness but also suspicious. Pulling her hand away she asked "why? You said it yourself we barely know each other."
He sighed "everyone around me seems like a stranger, even some people I do remember. But you for some reason don't. I can't explain it Kathryn but from the moment I saw you in the hospital I felt connected to you in some way. Maybe it's because we were close before the accident or something."
"Maybe" she replied softly
Cupping her face Sebastian continued "do you think you can just lay off the coke for the time being and maybe eat a whole meal once in a while? Please? So I can stop sounding like a fucking Hallmark card."
Kathryn finally broke into a smile "ok."
"Good" Sebastian put his hand in hers and went to kiss her on the cheek only at the last minute he decided to kiss her mouth instead catching Kathryn off guard. It surprised her to say the least but she didn't push him away. The kiss was tender but brief with them both pulling away before it became too intense.
Still Sebastian seemed more shaken up by it that she would have thought. His confident exterior seemed to melt somewhat as he stuttered "I-I should go see about getting you out of here."
Turing to leave he bumped into a chair and Kathryn had to surpress a laugh. Before leaving however he looked back and smiled at her. She returned it as a thought came to her. All this time she had been worried things wouldn't go back to normal between them. Maybe they wouldn't and maybe that was a good thing. Possibly something better was on the horizon.
- to be continued (Please Review)