THE CONFRONTATION

I watch the heavens but I find no calling

Something I can do to change what's coming

Stay close to me while the sky is falling

I don't want to be left alone

World On Fire

Sarah McLachlan

Kurt pulled away and looked at her strongly, his face so close to hers. As a smile grew on his face he moved a hand up to the sleave of Rachel's top and began to edge it off her shoulder.

Kurt's lips met his lovers again with more passion than before as his right hand began to remove the other sleave, now pulling both sides down.

Rachel broke the kiss. "Kurt, no."

Trying to pull away she pressed her hands to his chest and pushed slightly attempting to make him stop.

"You want this, we both do," Kurt stated letting his hands leave her arms and travel down to her waist.

"No, I don't," Rachel insisted trying again to break his hold.

But Kurt wasn't taking no for an answer, and continued what he started, Rachel feeling one of his hands on her thigh now. He kissed her again, with a strong urgency pushing her back into the fabric of the sofa where they sat and pulling her under him.

"Kurt..." Rachel began.

Kurt pressed his lips to her again and it was only when Rachel felt his hands travel down to the belt on her jeans that she began to forcefully struggle against him.

"Kurt, get off me!"

"Babe just trust me," he replied unfastening the buckle.

"No," Rachel managed fighting against his hold and finally managing to struggle out from under him.

She moved to the other side of the room re-doing her belt up, tighter than before. Kurt rolled his eyes and huffed, sitting back casually on the sofa.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" Rachel fumed.

"The 'no' part," Kurt smirked.

Rachel looked at him in disgust her eyes wide in shock and fear. The instant Kurt saw this though; he softened and moved to her taking her into his arms. Rachel ripped his arms from around her and only stared at him.

"Babe, we haven't done anything since you got back."

"What, you can't go a whole day without sex?" Rachel screamed.

Kurt shrugged. "We used to have all sorts of fun."

"That was then!" Rachel growled. "This is now!"

He only glared at her with accusing eyes. "There's someone else, isn't there?"

Rachel stopped short at the question, her mind ticking back to the previous relationship she and Seth had had. It had been magical, almost too good to be true. He had treated her with so much love, never forced himself upon her like this, only did things she was comfortable with. It was only then that Rachel realised just how different Kurt and Seth were...

"There was," Rachel answered calmly. "I ended it."

Kurt smirked at her. "Wasn't he good enough? Didn't have the skills I do?"

Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing. What had happened to the Kurt she used to know? The one, which stood before her, didn't care about anything but himself. He was crude, forceful, almost accusing of everything she did.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked honestly.

Rachel only stared at him not processing anything that was happening. What had just happened? Had she just compared all of Kurt's bad traits with Seth's good ones?

Kurt moved forward and placed a hand on Rachel's arm.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed pulling away.

"Babe..."

"Call me that one more time and I'll kill you."

Kurt stopped short at the comment but only smiled at the girls reaction to what he had done.

Rachel took one more look at Kurt before turning and running out of the house.

It was ten minutes to midnight and Seth's gaze travelled out of the window next to him and into the street Ryan was driving down. The pale pools of colour the scattered streetlights made were enough for him to be able to make out the many mobile homes, which lined the street.

He knew they were there, Ryan didn't have to say anything. This was it. The place where he and Rachel had spent their entire childhoods growing up, learning all they knew. Seth could tell it would be easy to fall into the wrong crowd here. His eyes constantly fell on groups of men, young and old and woman, some barely in their teens loitering around certain area's looking for trouble.

When Ryan pulled into a driveway Seth had a sudden feeling of dread. Would this be where Rachel was? Or was she somewhere else, where they couldn't find her?

"Come on," Ryan said climbing out of the car, Seth not far behind.

They walked up the drive where Ryan knocked loudly on the front door. After moment the door opened to reveal a beautiful young girl. By Seth's judgement she was around their age, with long brown hair and dark inquisitive eyes.

"Ryan!" She screamed throwing her arms around the Atwood boy as a greeting.

"Hey Theresa," Ryan replied once they had parted. "This is Seth."

"Hi."

"Nice to meet you," Seth replied.

Theresa's eyes fell on Ryan once again and she instantly knew that he had not travelled all this was for a social visit.

"I don't know where she is Ryan," Theresa answered honestly.

Seth's face dropped. "What? You mean...?"

"She stopped by earlier today, but left pretty quickly, said something about having people to see."

Ryan was studying Theresa's face, he had known the girl long enough to know when she was hiding something. Or at least knew more than she was letting on.

"What is it?" he asked.

Theresa looked directly at him, never letting her gaze leave his. "She's been with Kurt," she began. "I think she might go to the fight tonight."

"What fight?" Seth asked frantically. "Who's Kurt?"

Ryan however remained calm, almost too calm. "Where is it?"

"At the milk bar down the road. Theoty and his boys are going after Mitch, something about revenge for an incident of some sort. Arturo's going too, she might be with him, I'm not sure."

Ryan was nodding his head slowly. Mitch had always been one to get himself in too much trouble for his own good. It was times like these when Ryan and Kurt would sit him down and explain that they didn't appreciate him putting them and the rest of their friends in danger.

Now Rachel had been dragged into it, for a reason Ryan could only guess was Kurt himself. The two had been an item when they lived in Chino. Constantly together, barely having time for anyone else. But Ryan also knew that Kurt was not all fun and games. He had a dark side. One which consisted of only wanting to please himself and not caring about anyone else.

During their relationship, nothing to Ryan's knowledge had happened to cause any concern that this particular side was beginning to surface. However, now that Rachel was back in her ex-lovers arms, after so long apart for him, he could only image what things Kurt would be up to.

However, despite this, knowing that Arturo, Theresa's older brother and friend of himself and Try was looking out for her brought Ryan a small sense of relief.

"Okay," Ryan finally said. "We'll head down there. Do you know when the fights meant to happen?"

"As far as I know, any time from now on," Theresa answered.

God I hope we're not too late, Ryan thought.

Gun shots blared through the night signally the beginning of the end. Rachel felt Arturo move by her side and looked over to him only to see him look straight back.

"You shouldn't be here girl," he said calmly.

"You know me Art," Rachel replied. "Never one to miss a fight."

He looked at her strongly knowing that she could handle her own but at the same time not wanting anything to happen to Trey's younger sister. He had known her since she was a baby, unlike her brothers who had spent much of their time in Fresno until their father was arrested, Rachel had grown up in Chino, she knew no where else accept New Port.

"Stay close," he stated.

Rachel nodded before feeling something light be placed in her hand. It was a gun, Arturo's favourite if she remembered correctly. She looked down at it before looking out from her position behind the milk bar's brick wall. She saw what she had expected. Two groups of men, some only teens some well into their twenties, guns poised and ready to shoot. Mitch stood to one side, Rondell and Kurt next to him. They were shielded by a nearby bus stop preventing any bullets from reaching them.

"Come out you bastards!" Theoty yelled.

Rachel had only ever seen him once before. Broad shouldered and muscular he looked more like a wrestler than anything else. Jet black hair slicked back, eyes narrow as they searched the street light lit road for any signs of movement. Rachel could only see his back from the position she was in but she was sure he would be smiling.

They always smile, she thought.

At that instant Kurt stepped out from behind his post shooting a man dead before her eyes. It was then that all hell broke loose.

Ryan and Seth ran like there was no tomorrow, both of them breathing hard as they rounded the corner to the milk bar and stopped dead in their tracks. Guns were firing back and forth, and a sudden punch up erupted before their eyes between a group of young men Ryan only knew the faces of.

"Come on," he whispered jogging toward the outskirts of the massacre.

It was only then that Seth spotted what he had been dreading. ran from her hiding spot, keeping low as she dashed out into the open. Bullets flew around her head.

Ryan broke from Seth's side running toward the side of the milk bar and up to the man who they had seen fire the first deadly bullet. Seth ran hot on his heals.

"Kurt, what the hell is going on?" Ryan demanded.

"Ryan my boy, I was wondering when you were gonna show," he answered.

Kurt, Seth thought. That's the guy Theresa was talking about..

"This your entourage?" Kurt asked coldly looking at Seth.

"Just here to get a friend out," Seth answered.

Kurt looked him up and down for a moment, studying his demeanour.

"So you're the guy," he said causing both Seth and Ryan to stop.

"What guy?" Ryan asked.

"That one who went for a tumble with my girl Rachel."

Seth froze. His girl? What was he talking...?

And then he knew. Kurt was not only some person who had been in Rachel's life, he had been her boyfriend and now he knew that Seth had moved in on his territory.

"Yeah," Seth said standing a little taller.

"I can see why she came running back to me."

"Oh God," Ryan said and Seth diverted his eyes back to the killing field where he saw five men turn their guns to Rachel as she sprinted to the opposite side of the street.

As the guns went off Rachel covered her head with her hands running to a park cars before bracing her hands on the bonnet and rolling over to the other side where she dropped to the ground unharmed and shielded.

"We have to get her out of here," Seth whispered.

Ryan looked to Kurt who knew what he wanted. Handing over his spare gun he gave Ryan a nod.

The bullets were beginning to ease now, the gangs decided to finish the fight the old fashion way. With fists and knives. Ryan took this opportunity to tell Seth to move when he gave the signal and began to run toward his sister. But even he didn't see the man who intercepted him before it was too late. Seth turned around and Kurt was gone.

two strong hands on her shoulders and whirled around to see Kurt standing there a wicked smile plastered on his face. She could feel her body shaking from his touch, a killers touch.

"Get off me," she whispered.

Kurt tilted his head. "I will once I'm done with you. Fight's almost over and we're going back to my place to celebrate our win Babe."

"I told you..."

Rachel began suddenly whipping out the gun that Arturo had given her and holding it out, barrel pressed against Kurt's chest.

"Not to call me Babe."

Kurt noticeably froze not expecting such a reaction. "Come on Rachel, put down the gun."

"You know what ass hole, I'm not in the mood to take your bullshit orders right now so if I were you I would shut the hell up!" Rachel screamed pressing the barrel deeper into his flesh her finger lingering over the trigger.

Kurt looked at her strongly. "You don't want to do this."

"Don't I? You wanna know something? I finally realised why I went back to you, cos I had to go back to realise I don't need you. You're nothing and will always be nothing."

"You came back for me?" Kurt asked interested.

"I came back because I had to get away and you just happened to be what was up for sale."

"And you love what you bought."

Rachel's finger tightened on the trigger and she thought she would have pulled it if it were not for the fact that now Kurt had his own gun out and pointed directly at her.

"Gotta have some insurance," he smirked.

Rachel only shook her head in disapproval as she spread her arms wide letting her gun go loose in her hands. "Go ahead. Kill me, I've got nothing to lose."

It was then that Seth spotted them. After seeing Ryan be pulled away into the crowd he had taken it upon himself to save Rachel. Now he stood in the centre of the road watching from a distance, not wanting to move too soon.

Kurt's eyes lingered on Rachel's for a moment knowing that she wasn't afraid, death was something she used to face all the time. Kurt nodded his head and smiled at her.

Rachel closed her eyes and waited for the impact.

A gunshot rang through the night, loud and fierce, piercing through the shouts and sounds of fists connecting with faces.

A familiar scream ripped through the violent atmosphere and Rachel's eyes sprang open as she realised that the bullet had not connected with her but rather someone else. She knew the voice.

"Got nothing to lose?" Kurt asked sarcastically looking down at her his gun pointed to something out in the distance.

Rachel spun around at the sound of someone she loved screaming in agony. Her eyes fell on Seth as his body slumped to the floor, hand pressing tightly against the wound which was bleeding heavily in his shoulder.

"Seth!" Rachel screamed breaking away from Kurt and beginning to run to him.

"Oh no you don't," Kurt said grabbing her arm and twisting her back toward him.

"Let me go!" Rachel screamed fighting against his strength.

Kurt brought up his hand and punched her across the face with so much force that Rachel fell to the ground from the impact, her forehead cut and bleeding.

"You're a bastard," she cringed slowly climbing to her feet again.

"Just wanted to buy enough time for your little lover boy to die," Kurt answered before seeing her eyes go wide.

Rachel spun away from him running as fast as she could toward Seth. She fell to her knees beside him, her breath coming short as she caught a glimpse at his wound. Rachel felt her heart tighten at the sight and she could only think of one reason why. She still loved him. Had never stopped loving him, even when she left New Port her heart had remained there.

"Seth, Oh God..."

Seth's eyes opened slowly as Rachel began to brush his hair out of his face, not knowing what else to do. She felt completely helpless. This was all her fault.

"Rach..." Seth breathed.

Rachel's eyes fell on him as she heard him speak, her hands still on either side of his face.

"I missed you," Seth began.

Rachel wanted to cry, to scream out and release the emotions, which she was feeling. But her body wouldn't let her. She was shaking in terror of what was to come.

"I missed you too," Rachel replied. "God I missed you."

Seth let on a slight smile and though the agony he was feeling was something he had never felt before, having Rachel with him, safe, somehow made it seem like a distant feeling.

"I'm so sorry for everything. I should have stopped it," Seth began.

Rachel shook her head in horror. "No," she said frowning. "Don't say that. Just hold on okay? Please, hold on."

She tore the bottom of the top she wore off and rapped it around her hand, pressing it to Seth's wound in an attempt to slow the blood loss. Rachel heard him take in a short breath and flinch in pain.

Seth looked up at Rachel's face and only then realised she was staring straight back at him.

"You look different," he said. "Your hair..." he realised moving his hand to her face.

Rachel couldn't help the slight smile, which creeped along her face, the first one she had experienced in almost a month. Only Seth would take the time, even as he lay there with a mortal wound, to compliment her.

"It's been so long since I touched you," he whispered.

Rachel looked down at him, her gaze steady and brought her free hand to the one which he had on the side of her face. She gently took it in hers seeing Seth frown as she did. Taking in a deep breath Rachel placed his hand over her heart wanting him to know that he never lost her. He could always touch her, no matter what.

Seth smiled. "Thump, thump. Thump, thump," he whispered. "It's going fast."

Rachel forced back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes and moved her face closer to Seth's, her one true loves.

"That's what you do to me," she said honestly.

And it was true. There was no one else in the world that could make Rachel feel like Seth did, and not just in the physical sense. He was her emotional strength. Her guidance in times of darkness.

Seth suddenly began to cough loudly as the impact of the wound finally began to take a hold on him.

"Seth, hold on. Please," Rachel begged not knowing what to do.

Ryan was nowhere to be seen and the only people who were in range of them were preoccupied with attacking each other. She felt completely helpless, sitting there with someone she cared about more than life itself, watching him slowly die before her eyes.

"I can't lose you Seth," Rachel whispered. "I need you."

Seth's breathing was becoming shallow now. "I won't leave you."

"I know," Rachel replied fighting against her body which was now violently shaking.

Seth took one last breath and looked deep within her eyes seeing all her beauty layed out before him and wanting to hold onto it.

"Will you come home now?"

Rachel sat in silence at his question, she didn't know what to say. It was only when his eyes began to slowly close that she snapped back into the reality of what was happening. She looked at him. She loved him.

Seth took a final breath and his eyes closed.

Rachel couldn't move, she felt completely numb. Suddenly there were two strong hands on her arms, lifting her from the ground and pulling her away from Seth.

"No!" She screamed fighting against them. "Seth!"

"We gotta go Rach, cops are coming," Arturo answered strongly dragging her away.

Rachel saw Ryan break away from the now scattering crowd and run to his friend's side, and caught the faint words, which escaped his lips as he looked to Rondell standing beside him.

"He's still got a pulse."

Rachel's heart sank, she didn't know what to do. Couldn't do anything but fight against Arturo hold on her and try to run back to Seth's side. She didn't want to leave him. Didn't want to see him suffer all alone.

"Seth!" She screamed.

Arturo kept a tight hold on her and soon they were moving away from the crowds and further into the darkness of the street.

"Let me go!" Rachel yelled, struggling against him.

"There's nothing you can do now, I've gotta get you somewhere safe," he answered.

"No, I have to get back to him!" Rachel was forcefully fighting against him now, trying to tare out of his grip.

Arturo turned to face her still holding her arms. "Rach, it's over."

Rachel looked up at him, eyes wide, before collapsing against his body.

TO BE CONTINUED.........

(Hello everyone. So now you know what happens. What do you think? I know you'll probably be completely pissed off at me for what happened to Seth but have a little faith my friends. This is The OC where nothing is at it seems and there are twists and turns at every corner. Will post ASAP. PLEASE REVIEW, it is this time in the story when I need all your opinions, suggestions etc even if it is just one sentence saying that you like it/ or don't like it so far.)