Thicker Than Blood
Chapter 7
"Mornin'," John mumbled sleepily from his spot on the bed. He was slouched against the headboard, his eyes riveted on Kathryn, who was just emerging from the bathroom. "How's your head doing?"
"Pretty good, the meds helped… How are you holding up?" the redhead responded.
"The ribs don't hurt so bad" he answered, and yawned. "So… What are you doing up at this ungodly hour?"
"It's nearly eight o'clock, John," Kathryn said, slightly amused.
"Like I said, what are you doing at this ungodly hour?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the shirt and boxers in her arms and began folding them. "I'm on my way out, actually."
John sat up straighter and stiffened. "What? What do you mean?" he asked quickly.
Kathryn could only meet his eyes for a second. "Well... I got some clothes from Torrie earlier; to borrow for the day. I'm going to find a bank somewhere around here, and then go out to a mall and get some clothes to wear until the airport gets my suitcase back."
"And then…?" John prompted.
"And then I'm going to find my dad," Kathryn replied, setting the clothes on top of John's duffel bag. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at him, forcing her eyes to remain on his face.
"You're lying," John accused.
"It's none of your business," Kathryn retorted, looking away from him.
"It became my business last night!" John exclaimed in response, and then looked down, rubbing his neck in the silence that followed his outburst. "Look, Kathryn," he said in a softer, calmer voice, "I said I was going to take care of you last night, and I'm going to live up to my word. So you can either let me come with you, wherever you're going, or I'm going to follow you around all day, like it or not."
"I could call the cops on you," Kathryn commented.
"You wouldn't want me to be in jail for the Pay-Per-View, now would you?" John asked, knowing her answer was no. "Whatever you're planning to do… Wouldn't it be best to do with two heads instead of one?" he questioned her.
"John…"
"Seriously. Wouldn't it be better with someone else to help you?"
'Yes, it would,' Kathryn thought to herself, and ran a hand through her hair. 'It would be easier to figure out where Bearer is if I had some help, and it's not as if the cops or anyone else is offering or would help if I asked.' The redhead curled her legs beneath her, Indian-style, and thought for a moment. 'Two people would really be an advantage, in more ways than one…' "John… You're right, it would be better to have someone else with me," she told him. She didn't speak for a second. John swung his legs out from under the covers. The movement drew her eyes to his well-toned body, but she quickly regained herself. "Look, I need to find Paul Bearer before the PPV, and if you want to help, I would really appreciate it. But Heyman and the Dudleys… Let's just say that they probably wouldn't be too kind if we took him out from underneath his nose."
"Kathryn?"
"What?"
"I'm a wrestler."
"I know it's just…" she trailed off. "I can't help but be worried about what they would do if we find Bearer," she told him.
"Let's concentrate on getting Bearer," John said, and Kathryn looked back at him. "You don't have to do this, you know," she told him as he stood, grabbing his duffel bag and heading for the bathroom.
"I know," he replied, "but I want to."
The redhead lay down on the bed as he entered the bathroom. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she wondered silently, 'What have I gotten John into?' Shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts, she sat up, scooting further up to the bed until she was right in front of the phone. After a moment's debate, she picked up the phone and dialed a number that she now knew by heart.
"Houston Regional Health Care, this is Sharon Kings speaking, how may I help you?" the polite voice on the end of the line answered.
"Hi, Sharon, it's me, Kathryn Calloway," Kathryn said slowly into the phone. Her fingers wrapped around the cord of the phone in a death grip.
"Oh, hi Katy," Sharon said, using her name for Kathryn. "How are you doing? Any help in finding your dad?"
"I'm okay considering the circumstances…and no, no luck so far."
"My son saw you last night, he went to the show," Sharon told her; "I suppose I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see it, but he says you got beat up pretty bad. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. A friend is taking care of me," Kathryn replied.
"I suppose you called to see how she's doing," Sharon said, and paused hesitantly for a moment.
"Yes, I did," Kathryn affirmed, her knuckles turning white. Had something happened?
"I'm afraid to tell you, she's not doing too well right now," Sharon told her, her tone apologetic. "The cancer was caught too late to help her, and we're doing the best we can to try and keep her alive, but… Her heart has stopped a few times in the past week, Kathryn," she sighed heavily. "I think her time is coming to an end…"
Kathryn closed her eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her face. "How long do you think she has?"
"It's hard to say, but Kathryn… If you're going to find your dad, you'd better do it soon."
The redhead pressed a fist to her mouth to prevent a sob from escaping her voice. "Sharon?" she whispered.
"Yes?"
"How long?" she repeated, pursing her lips together. 'I am not going to cry,' she thought to herself, 'I knew this was going to happen sooner or later.'
She could hear Sharon's long sigh over the phone. "I'd give her a week at most." Hands shaking, Kathryn hung up, ignoring Sharon's voice on the other end, asking if she was still there. She put her trembling hands to her face as the silence settled over the hotel room.
Just as John was coming out of the bathroom, she burst into tears.
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Author's Note: I hope you liked the chapter, and please review!