Chapter Fifty
Katrina was scared, but kept her wits about her. She stared at Caleb as she slipped off her shoes. Her feet were killing her. She kept them in her hands and swung them casually by her side.
"Are you saying that you're not scared of me?" She asked, her voice full of innocence.
Caleb laughed. "Hardly." He made himself a bit more comfortable as he sat and regarded her.
"I guess you're right." Kate said softly, staring down at the dress she wore.. "I mean look at me. How did I ever think I could go up against you."
Caleb's face brightened with surprise. "There you go. See? That's a lesson your dear old dad should have learned. Glad his stupidity wasn't passed on to you."
He had some colossal nerve. Kate was done talking. In one swift movement she went into action. She'd been kickboxing nearly since she was a toddler. She kicked Caleb square in the chest and he fell off the tree stump and onto his back. She was on him in an instant, her knee pressed into his stomach holding him down, the heel of her shoe hovering right over his heart.
"Will you look at that?" Kate said as she blew her hair out of her eyes. "One little girl slayer got to you and didn't even break a nail."
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"What's the matter?" She asked as she looked at him, concerned.
"Caleb…" Rafe said quietly. "It was only a matter of time." He yawned and sat back in the chair next to her. "He's here…he's close by."
Alison knew this moment would come. She reached over and took his hand in hers. "Everything's going to be alright. Rafe, please. Go and get some rest."
His mind was spinning. Caleb was close, but how close? The kids, he thought desperately. He was being tugged in four different directions. Still, at the moment all he could see was Alison. "I can't - especially now."
"Now's the time you'll have to. When I come home who's going to take care of me if you're too tired to?" She asked.
His eyes widened. He looked at her like she was crazy. "I'll take care of you."
"While sleepwalking?" Alison was beginning to get angry. "I am begging you. Go get some sleep."
"I'm fine." He insisted.
"You are not fine." She snapped back at him. "Rafe, I am warning you. Don't do this. I have three children and one on the way. I was counting on the fact that you could take care of yourself."
"Alison…"
"I'm not talking to you until you go home and rest." Alison promised. "This is the last sentence I'll say to you until you do. I love you. Sweet dreams." She blew a kiss at him and moved to click the TV on.
"C'mon. Alison." He sighed. "It's not even nighttime."
He sounded like Becky when she wanted to stay up past her bedtime. Alison ignored him as she clicked the TV off and shut her eyes.
He stared at her in disbelief. "Alison - please?" Rafe stood over the bed and ran his hand over her hair.
She smiled to herself and snuggled into the blankets.
He stood there, nearly furious for a few moments. Was she really serious?
Seemed that way to him. She was determined.
"OK. OK. Could you actually be any more stubborn? Alright - you win. I'm going home." He said, defeated.
Alison turned back to him, opened her eyes and smiled. "Goodnight." She whispered.
Rafe couldn't help laughing. She would not have given in until he did, he was sure of it. He should have known better by now. He would leave, but he'd make sure she was safe. Ian was still on. He'd make sure someone checked in on her constantly while he slept for an hour or two. He'd be back before she woke in the morning.
"Goodnight." He said as he leaned over to kiss her. "I love you. I'll be back in the morning."
Finally, she thought with a sigh. "Love you too. See you tomorrow." She replied as she kissed him back.
She watched him go and then shut her eyes again. Alison was just about to drift off when she heard the door open.
"Rafe Kovich! I told you to go home - - the kids need you." She warned as she opened her eyes.
Her words made Livvie's blood boil. "Oh you and your precious little kids. You have plenty, Alison. I'll be damned if you take mine too."
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"How does it feel, Caleb? Knowing that as long as you walk the face of the earth they'll be a Kovich waiting to take you down?" Kate asked with a smirk.
"Kat-trina" Caleb said her name mockingly. "Feisty little kitten aren't you? You look all cute and cuddly but you've got sharp claws." He tried to shift under her and Kate pressed the sharp tip of her heel to his chest with increasing pressure.
"You're amusing me to no end, but darling, your threats are empty. You can't destroy me without destroying your own flesh and blood. I'm sure your Daddy taught you that lesson too."
"I don't buy it." Kate said with a shake of her head. "You were gone once and he was still here."
"Care to test it out?" Caleb challenged her. "Go ahead. Try it. See what happens." Underneath her hold, Caleb's body went lax in surrender.
Kate's mind spun. She wanted to do this so that Colin could live in peace. She knew she could rid the world of Caleb but at what cost? Her father? As much as she wanted to - she couldn't do it. It was too great a risk.
Still, she couldn't just let him walk away. Her hand began to shake as she stared into his eyes. She was about to pull back and stand when suddenly there was a voice behind her. "Katrina…"
She couldn't turn around without taking her eyes off Caleb. "Colin…" She breathed.
Caleb noticed the change come over her face. "Oh this is so heartwarming I think I might shed a tear." He began to smile. "Oh Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
"Katrina. This isn't your fight." Colin said softly. "Please. Go to the house. Leave him to me."
"Colin…" She sighed.
"Katrina. Please. Don't argue with me about this. Go. I'll be alright."
Katrina leaned close to Caleb. Hatred filled her eyes as she whispered. "If you hurt him, make no mistake. I will be back and I will find a way to kill you."
She pulled herself up and backed away. Caleb sprung to his feet and began to dust himself off. He wore a satisfied expression and an evil grin.
When she reached Colin tears formed in her eyes. He reached out and touched her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I love you." He whispered.
She leaned in and kissed him softly, letting her hand linger on his cheek. "I love you too."
"Go." He insisted as he stared into her eyes. "Please Katrina."
With great reluctance she moved to pick up the spilled groceries. With one last look she started to walk away and do what he asked.
Caleb looked at his son with utter disgust. "You always were pathetic. Now you've got a girl fighting your battles for you?"
"You know what? I wouldn't be so smug. She promised me she'd kick you ass and from what I saw was pretty close." Colin countered. The image made him want to smile.
Colin wanted to keep Katrina out of this discussion from this point forward. "This is about you and me. I won't let you hurt anyone else when it's me you're after."
"Really? How do you intend to stop me?" Caleb asked, still completely amused by all that had transpired..
Colin stared at him, his voice deadly serious. "With everything I have." He promised.
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"Livvie. Stop." Alison sighed as she moved to sit up in bed.
"No. You stop. Everyone says that my reaction is irrational. That you really didn't take everything I loved away from me. No one has ever seen you for your true self but me and now - now you want to take my son. You can't have him Alison. I promise you - I'll kill you first."
"Well this is new. You threatening to kill me. It's been some time but it's never far away. Rafe and Caleb want to kill each other - you want to kill me. It's just the way things will be forever I guess."
"Stop being Little Miss Innocent, Alison. I don't have time for this. You can't have him."
Alison sighed loudly. "I DON'T WANT HIM Livvie. I've already got three of my own children."
"Rub it in my face why don't you?" Livvie spat back.
"Livvie!" Alison's voice began to rise. "What do you want from me?! I'm not going to apologize for the life I have. I'm done trying to justify myself to you. I have the life I always wanted. You had a chance to have one just like it but you chose differently."
Alison's voice shook as she stared at Livvie, wondering how someone could keep making the same mistakes, over and over again. "You were granted a miracle and had a child. Be thankful for what you have Livvie. Stop lashing out at me for having what you don't. You wanted more kids? You should have chosen someone to spend your life with who can actually reproduce."
Livvie nearly hummed with rage. Her voice was soft and deadly as she spoke. "If you weren't already in the hospital I swear to God I'd make sure you ended up here."
Alison shut her eyes. She had felt so much better and now she felt like she was right back where this all began, so many years ago.
She turned to look at her former friend and spoke softly. "Livvie. I'm not going to do this. Our kids met and fell in love. It's amazing, and shocking but that doesn't make it any less true. At one point I'm sure we both dreamed that might happen, but that was a lifetime ago."
Alison felt tears spring to her eyes. "If you want to talk to me about your son, I'll listen. If you truly want to keep him this isn't the way. I know it's difficult, but Colin made a choice not to follow you. You need to make peace with that - not start another war with me."