Thicker Than Blood
Chapter 9
Kathryn jerked back away from John as she heard the voice. She stood quickly, wiping her face as she walked toward the door. Still sitting on the bed, John ran a hand over his head, sighing at the bad timing. 'So close,' he thought to himself.
"Torrie!" Kathryn exclaimed as she opened the door, seeing the blonde on the other side. Sable was next to her, wearing a provocative, sluttish outfit, and throwing Kathryn a dirty glare. Torrie didn't seem to notice, and instead spoke to Kathryn, her tone hurried. "I just got a call from Vince, and I'm on a short-notice photo shoot for tonight, so can you just keep the clothes and give them back at the Bash?" she asked.
Kathryn gave her a smile. "Sure," she answered, and Torrie gave her a quick hug.
"You're the best!" Torrie squealed, and ran off arm and arm with Sable. Kathryn shut the door quietly, turning around to find John Cena standing behind her, studying her. She offered him a weak, forced smile, and felt the weight of his hand on her shoulders. The redhead refused to think about what his touch did to her.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Kathryn shook her head, looking at him with sad, tired eyes. "My mother is going to die, John." John looked at her, the pity that he couldn't hold back clear in his eyes. He thought of his mother, and tried to imagine himself in Kathryn's situation. 'I'd never be able to take it as well as Kathryn has,' he thought to himself. "I need to get Dad to come to his sense and come to the hospital before…before…" she sighed heavily, and looked downward for a moment, and then back up at John. "before she dies," she said with a clenched jaw, every part inside of her stretching, willing to snap once more. She took a few steady breaths, and a wave seemed to pass over her, leaving her numb inside. She would get through this as she had gotten through everything: on her own. The redhead eyed John as he turned away from her, shuffling to the bathroom, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. 'Can I really trust him?' she asked herself. Looking into his eyes a few moments ago, she would have given away everything at his word, but now… A long breath hissed from her lips. Trust had never come easily to her, and nor had friendship.
Kathryn sat down on the bed, her chin on her knees. 'I almost kissed him,' she realized suddenly, freezing. The numb shell she had suffocated her heart into shattered against a rush of new, unfamiliar emotions. 'I… Would I have…let him kiss me?' she wondered to herself, feeling unsure and distinctly uncomfortable. She didn't like to be in places where she wasn't in control, and this was yet another one of them. Nibbling on her lip, she shifted on the bed onto her back, focusing her mind on this developing situation. 'He's not like everyone else… He's…different. I like him,' she said honestly to herself, 'but… Like him? As in crush, as in love… I don't know…' she was at a loss for thoughts.
As John stepped out of the bathroom, Kathryn stood up immediately. John eyed her inquisitively, but said nothing. "I-I…" Kathryn took a breath, suddenly feeling her face flush. "We should and look for leads," she finally pushed out, and John took a moment to nod. "Listen, you really don't have to go, John, I mean…"
"Kath, I'm coming with you," he said firmly, looking her in the eye.
She sighed, getting the feeling that it would be useless to argue. "All right," she said, and pushed her hands into the pockets of the borrowed jeans. "Let's go then." Feeling distinctly uncomfortable, she walked toward the door, opened it, and headed to the elevator, John right behind her. Kathryn forced herself to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept straying back to one thought:
If Torrie hadn't come to the hotel room when she had, what would've happened?
Author's Note: Okay, kind of lame, short chapter, but I'm just getting myself back on track with this story! I hope you guys like this, and please, please review!