A/N: OK. About Kyle's last name. I needed a name from Louisiana and knew someone named Arceneaux once upon a time. Rough pronounciation is Ar-sin-oh in case you were wondering. :) I could change it I suppose – but it fits him I think.
Anyway – glad to see we're back up and running. Until 32! ENJOY! and Happy Turkey Day one and all. xox-G
Chapter Thirty-one
"Kate. Colin. Nice to see you." Chris said with a grin as he and Dr Oliver walked in the exam room.
"We have some news." Chris continued. He decided not to beat around the bush about it.
"Good or bad?" Colin asked.
"In between." Chris said honestly. He gestured for Michelle to go first.
She cleared her throat and then spoke. "The baby is thriving. It's beyond healthy – which surprised me quite frankly."
"That's good news huh?" Kate said with a half smile as she reached for Colin's hand.
"Yes…" Michelle replied with her eyes on Chris'. "But there's more."
Chris picked up where Michelle left off. "The baby is thriving – but to Kate's detriment. Everything she has to fight this – for want of another word – condition – is going to protecting your child." He smiled at Kate and said softly, "I always knew you'd be a good mother."
Colin felt Kate squeeze her hand. They both knew what was coming next. Chris continued. "But that means Kate isn't doing so well. I'm close to isolating the infection and treating it – but I need more time. So. That's our focus now. We need to keep Kate as healthy as possible till she's at least at 24 weeks – of course 28 - 32 is preferable."
"OK. How do we do that?" Colin asked.
"Keep a close eye on her. Continue the transfusions. And, I know you won't like this – but you need to be on bed rest, Katrina. I need you to keep off your feet as much as possible."
Kate's face fell. "Oh no. Chris – please. I can't do that…"
"I have to repeat. It's not for the baby – it's for you. You're being drained of everything you need to stay healthy. When Lucy was ill – it was tough enough keeping her strong and she didn't have another life growing inside her – in need of nourishment. I need you to take care of yourself – Kate. We want to see that both you and the baby make it through this."
"Are you saying…" Colin fought to find his voice. "Are you saying there's a chance that one of them might not make it?"
Chris wasn't about to fuel the fire. That's all they needed, Colin going crazy about losing Kate, the baby or both. He took a deep breath to steady his voice as he answered. "No. I'm saying we need to do everything we can to take care of both Kate – and the baby. That's all. Stay off your feet – Katrina." Chris glared at her, knowing it was going to be tough to make her comply. "Do you hear me? I'm not kidding. No climbing stairs, no running around , no work." He gave her a stern unwavering look. "Kate. Listen to me. I mean it."
"Don't worry, Chris. From this point on, her feet won't touch the floor until you say so." Colin said as he stared into Kate's eyes.
Kate knew he was serious. She looked over at Michelle for some sort of support and knew it was a lost cause. Her doctor shrugged and gave her a smile.
"I'll be making house calls – Katie. If you answer the door just once I promise you I'll have your grandmother move in to keep an eye on you." Chris said, his voice telling her he was absolutely serious.
Kate's eyes flew open wide. Imagine, Elizabeth living with her for the remainder of her pregnancy? It couldn't happen. She loved her grandmother but she was insane. Just the mere idea had Kate nodding and promising solemnly. "I'll be good. I promise."
"Good." Chris said with a smile – knowing that his wife would kill him for using her as a threat. "Colin…" He gestured towards the door.
"Yes?" Colin said as he scooped Kate up and carried her out into the corridor.
Chris began to laugh. "Take her home."
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Lia sat with Quinn and stole one of his French fries. "His last known residence is Miami. The trail goes dead after that."
"Any trace on the money?" Quinn asked as he smacked her hand away.
Lia shook her head. "Must be in Swiss accounts – or tied up in the Caymans. I don't know. He's good - this scumbag. Quinn – it's going to take some time to catch him. It's not going to be easy. What do you think we should do next?"
Quinn's mind spun furiously. Shrugging he took a bite of his sandwich. "Let me make a few calls. See if I can't dig something up."
"Good luck." Lia said, snagging another fry. She dunked it in ketchup and popped it in her mouth with a smile.
Annoyed, Quinn dragged his plate out of her reach. "Jesus Julia. Order something if you're hungry. Stop picking at my lunch."
Lia smiled and looked at her brother thoughtfully. "You like her."
"Who?" Quinn asked as he took another bite.
"Don't give me who you imbecile. Belinda." She sighed.
"Yes. I like her." He said, not meeting her eyes. "She's nice."
"She's nice." Lia laughed. "You think she's nice. Oh boy. You don't just like her. You're falling for her."
"Don't be ridiculous." Quinn tried to act casual.
His sister laughed louder. "Please Quinn. You haven't spent this much time with anyone. EVER. I mean – c'mon. You're Two Date Donovan."
"Excuse me??" His jaw dropped.
She laughed again as she revealed the reason for his nickname. "That's what they call you – they have since you hit the big leagues. All those bimbos you used to hang with. Two dates and you were done. Good thing too because you always had a knack for finding the most vapid, shallow, inarticulate women on the eastern seaboard. Those two dates must have been torture."
Quinn was stunned speechless, still reeling from the revelation that he'd had a title he knew nothing about.
"I always knew it." Lia said, her eyes sparkling. "You'd find someone and all that would be over."
"I'm her friend, Lia." Quinn protested. "We haven't gone out on one date – let alone two. We're just friends that's all."
"Friends. Uh huh. Right. Sure." She said with a nod. This was fun. It'd been too long since she'd tortured her brother like this. "She's older than you – you know." Lia pointed out.
"By a year and a half." He dismissed her.
She moved closer and rested her chin on her hand, staring at him. "Have you kissed her?"
"Here. Have some fries." Quinn tried to distract her.
"That means yes." Lia said as she pushed her chair out quickly and jumped up, pointing a finger at him. "I knew it."
"It was nothing." He said, blushing a bit. "It was a just a peck really – it was quick."
"May have been quick but you want to try and do it again – don't you?" Lia giggled.
"Julia…" He sighed. "Go home to your fiancé. Speaking of which - I need to have a talk with that man. I was born having to deal with you. Danny chose you. There's something mentally wrong with him for sure. I'm convinced. He shouldn't be treating people in that case."
Lia wasn't swayed. "You do." She said as she mussed up his hair. "Admit it."
He didn't answer the question – not directly anyway. "She's been through a lot. She needs someone to take care of her." Quinn said softly.
So do you. Lia said to herself, knowing that from the way he was acting this might just be it for him.
Quinn probably didn't realize it yet – but even if Lia couldn't see the future like Lynnie – she could see that almost for sure. Quinn put a happy face on for the rest of the world but Lia knew the dreams he'd lost had devastated him. She had always thought he hadn't really dealt with it the way he should have. She suddenly saw it clearly. Billie could be there for him and he could be there for her. She couldn't have picked someone better for her brother had she planned it.
Lia sat back down and reached for Quinn's hand. "She does." She agreed, smiling at him. "And even though you're a jackass – you can be really good at that. Just be careful – Quinn." Lia cautioned him. "If you get involved it just not about the two of you. She has Ty."
"I get it Julia. I'll be careful. I got it under control." He looked at her and began to laugh. "Tell me something. Why does every so-called compliment you give me contain the word jackass?"
Lia said in all seriousness. "Because it fits. Do you prefer something else? Moron? Idiot? Dim witted fool?"
"If those are my choices – I'll stick with jackass – thanks." He chuckled at her.
She laughed as she replied. "Good idea."
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Becky spoke into the phone softly. "Mags. It's me. I know this is weird but I can't explain right now. Listen to me. If I don't call you in a half hour – come by the bookshop. OK?" Seriously. Just be here if you don't hear from me." Her friend protested and had a million questions. Becky didn't have time to argue. "Just promise me you will. OK? OK. Thanks."
She looked at her phone, scrolling through her numbers until she reached Grant's name. All she'd need to do is hit send and he'd hear her if she needed him. Satisfied she had all her bases covered she sat on the bench and waited.
"You came." Kyle called to her softly.
"Just for a few minutes. Start talking." Becky demanded as she stood to face him.
He couldn't believe the time had come to actually talk to her. "I will – but please sit Rebecca." He pleaded to her as he sat on the bench.
Becky was annoyed and a bit frightened. "Get this straight College Boy. No one calls me Rebecca – except my father when he's about to lock me up and throw away the key."
"Your father. Rafe Kovich." Kyle said – his voice full of awe. "Your mother is Alison and you have two sisters and a brother."
"Yes. OK. What's going on here? How do you know so much about me – and my family?"
"I've heard about you forever – well. Since I was ten or eleven at least. My father – he told me all about you."
"Your father?"
"My father is Gerald Arceneaux. He actually knew your father. They were friends. They met years ago - in Romania."
"Arceneaux? That's a mouthful." She looked at him, still suspicious. "OK – that's so not a Romanian name."
Kyle nodded. "It's French. My family is from Louisiana. New Orleans to be exact."
Becky couldn't hold back a smile. The way he said the name of the city he came from was so cute. N'Awlins. She shook her head and tried to focus on what he was saying.
"I knew with that voice you weren't from around here." Becky said then. "OK. Our fathers were friends. What does that have to do with me? Are you saying you want to talk to my father?"
"No. I need to talk to you." Kyle insisted.
"Me?" Becky asked stunned.
"Yeah you." Kyle said as he stared into her eyes. "You're amazing and more than that - you're the only one who can help me."
"Trust me - I'm not that special." She said with a laugh.
Kyle couldn't believe her modesty. "Are you kidding me? You had your first kill when you were eight. Do you know how incredible that is?"
Becky blinked as she was brought back to that fateful night – when she saw one of Caleb's lackeys killing an innocent woman on the outskirts of the woods and staked him with one throw. She barely realized what she was doing.
She stood and walked a few feet away from him. She began to shake. It had been so long since she'd even thought about it. "How do you know that?"
He was too excited and wrapped up to notice her reaction. His words flooded from his lips, anxious and enthusiastic. "I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard. A girl – not that much younger than me taking out one of the bad guys. God Becky. Do you understand what it's like to finally meet you? You've been on my mind all these years. I've been dying to see what you looked like since then." He flashed her a grin. "I have to say – I never pictured anyone who looked like you."
His compliment barely registered. "Who are you?" Becky said, backing away from him. People who lived thousands of miles away from her knew her name and what she was. Her heart beat frantically and she fought to catch her breath.
"I told you – My name is Kyle Arceneaux." He answered. "Becky. It's OK. Please. Relax. It's alright."
Her mind was spinning. "What are you?" Becky began to stammer. Realization washed over her. She stumbled and landed on the bench with a thud. "Wait. You – y-y-you're a slayer aren't you?"
"Yes." He said with a nod – glad she figured it out on her own. He walked over towards her and tried to calm her down. He expected her to be in a bit of a shock – but she was pale as a ghost. This wasn't at all how he pictured it.
Becky didn't want any part of this. She knew that she would fight evil when she came upon it but she had no intention of seeking it out. "So. If that's true – whatever you are trying to do – you don't need me."
Kyle's face fell. He knew he'd played this wrong. Too anxious, too desperate. "Becky. I know this is a lot to take but it's really important. I need you to help me. It's a matter of life and death."
"Whose?? Yours???" Becky said as she fought to remain calm.
Kyle swallowed before he said softly. "No. Yours." He said softly.
Upon hearing his words, Becky calmly smoothed down the fabric of her skirt and stood on shaky legs. He watched her closely as she turned to stare into his eyes.
And then fainted straight into his arms.
