A/N: You all do realize that Becky and Kate waking up means the end of the story is near don't you?
OK. Just checking. ;)
Until 62! xox-G
Chapter Sixty-one
As dawn broke, she murmured and stirred. The sound was so soft he almost missed it.
"Kyle…" Becky said again.
He wanted to reply but he didn't know what to say. He looked around the room, searching for a way to slip out. She was finally awake. Everyone would be so happy. He thought he should probably go get her dad.
Her eyes opened slowly. She shifted her head to look at him. "Kyle…" She whispered. "You're alright?"
"Yeah." He said as he took a tentative step towards her. "I'm alright."
She sighed as she closed her eyes again. "I'm glad…" Becky winced as she moved slightly. "I was so worried…"
His eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe what she was saying. "You were worried? About me? God. Becky…"
She nodded and lifted her free hand, reaching for him. Her other arm rested in a sling. As he watched her the whole scene flashed through his mind again. Why had she done it? He didn't deserve someone like her.
"He was going to kill you." She said softly.
"So you decided he should kill you instead?" Kyle's voice shook with emotion as he continued to stare at her. He could see she wanted him closer but he stood in place. If he touched her he didn't think he'd ever be able to let her go.
Becky came to the sad conclusion that he wasn't going to hold her hand. Disappointed, she let it fall to her side. "I didn't realize what I was actually doing. I just knew I didn't want him to hurt you."
"So you let him hurt you instead. I didn't ask you to do that." Kyle said then, shaking a bit as he stood beside her.
While she slept, Becky had wondered if he'd be there when she woke up. She dreamt of it. This wasn't what she thought it would be like. In her dream Kyle sat by her side and held her hand and whispered that he loved her. In reality it was very different. Right now he was so distant she didn't think she would ever reach him.
"I know you didn't ask me…" Becky began.
"You shouldn't have done it. You shouldn't have." Kyle insisted. "I'm not worth it. I'm not worth losing your life for…"
Becky blinked back tears as she looked over at him. "Kyle. That's so not true."
Her words barely registered as he continued. He glared at her, needing to do something, to say something that would make her let him go. He needed to keep her safe. He couldn't do it before but he had to do it now. It was the right thing to do.
He took a deep breath and continued. "I don't want your pity. I don't want your protection." Kyle told her then.
"I do pity you, Kyle. Because somewhere along the way you decided you were worthless and that's the last thing you are." Her eyes spilled over with love as she looked at him. "Believe me. I wouldn't waste my time caring about someone who was insignificant."
"Becky please? Who are you kidding? C'mon. You're way too young to know what you want." Kyle replied, staring down at his shoes.
It was the worst thing he could possibly say to her. Becky moved to sit up and cried out in pain. Startled, Kyle moved to help her, stunned when she shoved him away. He'd finally succeeded. Her pride was hurt and she was incredibly angry.
"If that's what you think then why don't you leave Kyle? Huh? Just go. Because you obviously don't want to be here. I know why you stayed this long and its fine. I'm awake. You don't have to feel guilty anymore. I'm OK now. I'll live. I'll live and I'll be fine without you." She said on a sob. "You don't owe me anything."
"Becky. I'm sorry." He said quietly as he leaned towards her to help her. She cringed when he tried to take her in his arms.
"No." She whispered her voice dangerously soft. "You're not sorry. Get out. My father was right. You're nowhere near good enough for me. I deserve better than you. Go Kyle. Leave. I don't want you here."
"Becky…" He said again, reaching for her.
She couldn't bear it if he touched her. Every dream she had began to vanish as she realized it was over. "GET OUT!" She yelled.
Rafe came running in at the sound. His face softened as he gazed at his daughter, relief washing over him.
"Becky…" He whispered.
"Daddy. Please. Make him leave." She sobbed as he came over and ran a hand over her head.
Rafe turned to do what she asked but realized it was too late. Kyle had already slipped out the door.
"Shh. Angel Face. It's alright." He whispered as he moved to sit beside her. "I'm here. You're going to be fine."
Despite the pain she was in she let him hold her in his arms. "I don't want to do this anymore Daddy. I don't want to be a slayer. I'm sorry but I just don't." She said as she buried her face in his shoulder. "Please. Don't be mad at me. I'm sorry…"
He was so happy she was awake he'd promise her anything at that point. "Shh. OK. The last thing I am is mad at you sweetheart. It's OK. You don't have to. You don't have to do anything don't want to do ever again." He held her close and rocked her back and forth a bit.
"I know I might be good at it." She sniffled. "But I really don't like it."
Rafe was so relived to hear her talking he almost laughed. "OK. Sweetheart. It's alright. You don't have to. I promise you."
She put her arm around him and hugged him tight. "And I never thought I'd say this but you're right Daddy. Guys are creeps. I tried to save Kyle and look what just happened. He doesn't care about me at all. He didn't even say thank you. He acted like such a jerk about it."
Leave it to Becky to be outraged that Kyle didn't thank her. Rafe took a deep breath and tried to control his anger. Part of him wanted to tear Kyle apart for hurting her, the other knew that Kyle only reacted the way he did because - Rafe sighed as he admitted the truth – Kyle only acted that way because the opposite was true. He only acted that way because he loved her.
It was the ultimate irony, he thought as he continued to hold his little girl close. His heart was breaking knowing his daughter was growing up. Unbelievably Rafe now knew it'd be up to him to help her do it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Are you sure you feel up to this?" Caleb asked as he and Livvie walked into the waiting room.
"I'm fine." She said with a nod, shifting a sleeping Rachel on her hip. Since they'd been taken hostage by Mark's little messenger boy, Rachel had been too frightened to be more than a few inches away from her.
The knowledge of that made Caleb furious. He still wasn't convinced they should be wandering around. "If it's too soon…"
"Caleb. I'm fine. And we need to be here. Colin needs us." Livvie replied.
Abby watched as they walked inside. She grabbed for Cameron's hand. Cam in turn, held on tight. He knew there were two ways this could go. Bad or worse.
"I hope they're happy." Abby muttered as Caleb and Livvie approached.
"Abigail." Cam scolded.
She wasn't swayed in the least. "Please, Cameron. Like we'd have anything to worry about if these two would just stay where they belong. Do we go to Romania to bother them? No. I don't think so. And that poor child…" She said, glancing at Rachel. "She's got monsters for parents."
"Why don't you go and check on your sister?" Cam suggested none too gently.
She shook her head at him. "No. I don't want to disturb them. Rafe's with her right now."
"Then go sit with Becky." Cam suggested.
"Cameron." She said as she rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to get rid of me."
"Abigail – enough." He hissed at her. "I don't like the fact that we have to deal with them either but for once Caleb didn't start this. He was as threatened by that cretin as Becky was. And I know you don't like it – I know you like to pretend Colin was sent down here like Ethan was but HE IS THEIR SON. If you can't deal with it – then go somewhere quiet until you've gotten yourself under control."
Abby blinked in surprise as she realized how serious he was. "Cam…"
"I'm serious. Enough." He said again as Caleb and Livvie stopped in front of them.
They stood in silence for a full minute. "How is she?" Livvie finally asked.
"Still unconscious. Colin is with her." Abby heard herself say.
"And the baby?" Caleb asked, directed the question to Cam.
Cam's spine stiffened as he replied. Even though he'd just reprimanded Abby he didn't like Caleb any more than she did. "Doing well. You should go and see him. He's in the nursery."
Livvie's eyes filled with tears. "Caleb? Can we?"
"Absolutely, my love." He said as he placed a kiss on her hair. "You go on ahead. I'll be there in a second."
Quietly Livvie and Rachel slipped through the elevator doors and were whisked to the nursery.
Abby shivered as she watched them go. She turned and glared at Caleb. "Don't you dare start anything, Caleb. We've all been through enough."
"I agree." He said with a nod as he sank into the couch. He regarded her closely. "Abigail, you seem very tense. Doesn't your husband take adequate care of you?"
Cam had just finished scolding his wife but he was about to contradict himself. "Don't you worry about my wife, Caleb. Trust me. She's well taken care of."
"Really?" Caleb asked, seeming unconvinced.
Despite the warning he just gave his wife something in Cameron couldn't stop the words from coming out.
"Yeah. I don't expect you to understand of course. It's quite simple really. I know you find it hard dealing with a whole woman at once. It must be tough for you now that Livvie's back in one piece."
Mortals. Caleb sighed to himself. Always living in the past. It must be because they had so little time left in the future. Caleb knew there was no good way to answer that. Glaring at them both, his eyes red as blood, he turned and vanished, joining Livvie two floors below.
"Way to not start anything Cameron." Abby said with a slight giggle as she reached for his hand.
"That guy." Cam said with a sigh. "He just brings out the worst in me."
Abby laughed louder as she moved into his arms. "The worst in you? No. Not really. I think that's just a matter of opinion."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He sat beside her, hoping she would finally wake up. His wish was granted as she finally opened her eyes.
She turned towards him and gave him a weak smile. "Rafe…"
"Hey." He whispered as he took her hand in his. "There you are…"
"I'm still here?" She asked as she closed her eyes again.
"You're not going anywhere, Alison." Rafe promised her, his voice beginning to shake as he remembered how she'd broken down the day before.
"I just wanted…" She tried again.
"Stop. Please. I can't – I won't let you do that again." Rafe held her hand tighter. "Besides. I need to tell you something."
Her eyes flew open wide as she braced herself for the worst. Her pulse stopped racing as she heard Rafe say. "Becky. She's awake."
Alison sat bolt upright. "I have to go see her." She demanded trying to get up.
Rafe held her by her shoulders to keep her still. He stared deeply into her eyes. "I know you do – and you will. In a minute. Look at me for a second."
Alison struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Rafe…"
He tightened his hold and made her face him. "You are the most incredible mother in the world, Alison. I know that you wanted to save them. I never expected anything less of you. I know how much you love them, how much you love all of them."
"I do." She said softly, tears forming in her eyes. "I'd do anything to save them."
Rafe nodded in agreement. "So would I. I'd do anything. Anything – that is - except lose you."
"Rafe." Alison sighed.
He wasn't finished. "You can't ever ask me to do that – Alison. You can't ask me to choose. Not that I have that power anyway – I don't. I can't control what happens. Though I wanted to save them I couldn't…" He tore his eyes from hers. "Listen to me. I couldn't go on without you."
"But I just thought…" She tried to make him understand.
"I know what you thought." He cut her off as he pulled her to him. He held her close as he whispered. "Don't ever think it again."
"She's really awake?" Alison asked as she held him tighter.
Rafe smiled against her hair. "Yes. She's really awake. And I'm so glad that you are too because she needs you." He pulled back and gently pushed her hair off her face. "She's angry with Kyle."
"What? Why?" She said a bit shocked. She had expected the opposite.
Rafe struggled to explain. "He seems a bit – ungrateful about what she's done for him."
"He's scared." Alison sighed, understanding all at once. She wiped at her eyes and gave him a smile. "Our daughter has excellent taste. Kyle – it seems is a lot like you."
Rafe held her close again, his heart breaking when he heard her ask. ""What about my Katie?"
He shook his head as he answered, his voice full of sadness. "No change. She's still…"
Alison didn't need him to finish. She took another steadying breath as she moved to stand. "OK." She whispered, still dying inside. "But Becky…"
Rafe nodded. "Yeah. Becky." Wanting to comfort her, he walked to her and kissed her softly. "Go on." He urged her towards the door. "She's waiting for you."
