A/N: OK. Anyone who knows me well knows that Alison is really channeling me in this chapter. When she's yelling at Caleb she sounds just as I do in my daily debates with a certain batty girl who shall remain nameless. ;)

I'm back on the road again. I'll try to post again before Monday but I can't promise you anything. Keep your fingers crossed that American can keep my luggage and my reservations this time!

Until 67 – stay warm! (or dry if you live in Southern CA!) xox-G

Chapter Sixty-six

Alison left the car almost the second that Grant pulled to a halt. Grumbling under his breath he put the car in park and scrambled out after her. "Mom. Please. Hold on a second."

"Don't." She turned around and glared at him. "God. You are just like your father. Listen to me Grant. I'm doing this – and you're not going to stop me."

Grant took it as a compliment. And like his father, he tried to reason with Alison again. "I'm not trying to stop you Mom. I just want you to take a deep breath before you go barging in there."

She stared into his eyes and inhaled and exhaled quickly. "Satisfied?" She asked her voice full of annoyance. Alison turned on her heel and pounded on the door.

"Mom…" Grant sighed, knowing now that it was hopeless. She wasn't going to be swayed in the least, no matter what he tried to do.

They had been to Colin and Kate's apartment and then the Villa. As a last resort she decided to try Kevin and Lucy's, hoping that maybe Caleb brought Rachel there so that they would watch her.

Her instincts were proven right when Caleb opened the door.

"You know - there is a doorbell." He said with a sigh.

"Let's go." Alison said without explanation as she nodded towards the door. She turned around and started back towards the car.

"Excuse me?" Caleb asked, not moving.

"We need you at the hospital." She said then, starting to walk back to the car again.

"That's interesting." He said with a yawn as he moved out to the porch and closed the door behind him. He lazily sank into a chair.

Alison fought to keep her temper in check. "Caleb – there isn't any time. I need you to go there with me. We need you to help her."

"What is it that you need me to do?" He asked, appearing bored with it all.

Grant wanted nothing more than to smack the smug look off Caleb's face but he held back.

Alison tried to keep her patience as she explained. "We need a sample of your blood to test with Rafe's. If it all works out – Katrina has a chance to be cured."

The idea of having his blood taken had fear snaking up Caleb's spine. "Out of the question." He said as he stood and moved to the other end at the porch.

"Oh no – it's not." Alison promised him. "Let's get going. I don't want her to wait another second."

"She'll be waiting an eternity because there's no way I'll ever agree to that." Caleb replied as he started to go back inside.

Grant nearly lunged at him but Alison held him back. "Don't you dare walk away from me Caleb Morley." Alison said, her voice soft and dangerous. "Stop arguing with me. Let's go."

"Alison. It's sweet – this whole mama bear routine you've got going on but I can't help you." He said as he tried to walk away again.

She was shocked by his words at first but then realized she shouldn't be at all surprised. "You would let her die – wouldn't you?" She replied, her voice hollow. "You really would. I have no idea why I thought you'd changed in the least."

"Mom. Let's go." Grant said softly as placed his arm around her shoulders.

Caleb stopped short of going back inside. He stood with his hand on the doorknob and turned to face her again.

She shrugged Grant's arm away and faced Caleb, her eyes glittering with rage. "You should be thanking us. You would have NOTHING if it wasn't for Rafe and Cameron and…Abby come to think of it."

"Alison…" Caleb tried to reason with her.

She couldn't stop herself. The flood gates had opened and Caleb was about to drown in them.

"You wouldn't have Livvie – because you ignored her to no end and only came back because she was pregnant with Colin who you wouldn't have had if Cameron hadn't come back for Abby and given you your ring and you wouldn't even BE BACK if it wasn't for Rafe." Her voice shook and tears poured down her cheeks. She walked forward and shoved Caleb forcefully, causing him to stumble a bit. "You bastard." She spat at him. "You have a chance – for once in your life to prove what you always say. You say all you want is to live your life the way you want to live it – that you'd live peacefully if you were left alone – that you're just misunderstood. Well you've failed the test Caleb, because right now you have a chance to do something good and you refuse. I can't believe it's that you're scared because, it's no problem for someone to drain a quart from you with their teeth so a teensy tiny needle shouldn't scare you. But if that's really it then you're a spineless coward and no where near the man you're always pretending to be."

"Mom…" Grant took Alison's arm and tried to lead her away. He'd come back here with his father and confront Caleb again.

Caleb stood silent as Alison continued her attack. "You don't care. You don't care about anyone but yourself." She said then, her voice broken with sobs. "I learned to tolerate you – even have compassion for you but no more. I hate you Caleb. I hate you."

"Mom. C'mon." Grant said softly as he glared at Caleb. "He's not worth it."

"Don't you ever come near my family again." She whispered as Grant tried to lead her away. "Don't even try."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rafe's eyes opened slowly. It took him a second to realize where he actually was. He glanced over at Ella, grinning at the sight of her curled up in the chair beside him. He stood and walked over to her, pressing a soft kiss to her brow. Suddenly, he felt someone watching him. He turned around and smiled at the sight of Abby.

"Hey." He called out to her.

"Hey." She replied. "Rafe. I'll sit with her. You should go."

"What's the matter?" He asked, his voice tinged with panic.

"Kate's awake." She said softly. "Ian and Chris have found something and they're waiting to test it before giving it to her. She's hanging on – but honestly Rafe – I'm not sure how much time we have."

"What's the hold up?" He asked then, determined that nothing would stand in the way. If this was a cure for Kate – why were they waiting.

"They want to test it on you and Caleb to make sure it's a cure – not a temporary fix."

"And Caleb's not cooperating." Rafe guessed correctly.

"Right. Well. We'll see. Alison went to get him." Abby replied.

Rafe blinked at her statement. "Are you kidding me!"

Abby shook her head. "No. She went…"

"BY HERSELF?" Rafe bellowed, cutting her off.

"Daddy." Ella murmured. "I'm sleeping. Don't yell so loud." She yawned and fell back under again.

Rafe took a deep breath and ran a hand over Ella's hair. "Sorry, sweetheart." He took a moment to regain control before he stared at Abby again. "Is she insane?"

"Yes she's insane. You know her Rafe. She'd do anything to help Katie." Abby sighed and looked into his eyes. "Grant's with her if that makes you feel better."

It did. Rafe took another deep breath before he spoke again. "It does. But, Abby you know he's not going to go for this."

"Maybe he will. Losing Kate would devastate Colin. Maybe he'll help for Colin's sake."

Rafe shook his head at her. "You don't understand. It's against his nature to give up his blood in that way. It'll be painful, nearly excruciating for him to do that."

"Serves him right." Abby muttered.

Rafe ignored Abby's comment, overwhelmed by concern for Alison. "How long ago did she leave?"

"About an hour. Rafe – please." She begged as she blinked back tears. "Do yourself a favor and go and see Kate."

Rafe bowed his head and rubbed at his eyes a bit. "We can't lose her, Abby." He whispered.

"I know." She said softly. "Go on…" She prompted.

Rafe nodded and silently moved towards the door.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Tell him how we met, Colin. Make sure he knows everything." Kate whispered as she clutched his hand.

"You can tell him yourself Katrina." He whispered back.

Kate ignored him, knowing he was just trying to be strong for her. She knew she was leaving. She just needed to stay long enough to say goodbye to everyone. "Tell him how I almost lost you. Tell him how you came back. Tell him everything. Make sure he trains with my dad…"

"Katrina. No one can tell a story like you. I wouldn't be able to do it justice." He said softly.

She shook her head at him. "Of course you could. You'll be such a good father Colin. I know you will."

Colin held her hand tighter and stared into her eyes. "We had a deal, Katrina. You're not getting out of it so easy." He said, then, desperate to keep her with him.

Rafe stood outside the room, needing to steady himself before he walked inside. He was just about to push the door open when he heard the doors behind him swing open. He saw Grant and Alison walking towards him. In seconds Alison began to run straight into his arms.

"No luck huh?" He whispered into her hair.

She sobbed quietly as he held her close. "He wouldn't even listen to me. He wouldn't even answer me. He's so horrible Rafe. You were right – he's nothing but a monster."

Rafe knew he could kill Caleb with his bare hands for refusing to help his daughter, but he also knew the ramifications of Caleb cooperating in this little test. "Alison…" He said softly. "I know how disappointed you are but it's not that simple."

"NO." She insisted. "It is that simple. He agrees and Katie lives. He refuses and Katie dies. That's what I know Rafe. And I swear to you I won't let it happen."

Rafe sighed. "Maybe we can persuade him – or maybe Livvie…"

Alison wiped her eyes and shook her head. "Good luck. Livvie's in full "woe is me" mode. The world owes her a living and she expects us to cash the check for her. I had an earful earlier. Something is my fault again – I can't keep up with her so I'm not sure exactly what I did this time."

"Did you steal Jack again?" Rafe said, trying to make her laugh.

His attemptfailed. She barely broke a smile. "Hmm. Maybe." She said with a sigh. "Rafe. What are we going to do?"

"We'll figure it out." He promised as he grabbed at her hand. Silently he spoke to Grant, telling him to wait for him while he went into see Kate. As he walked into his daughter's room he tried to formulate a plan to save her life.

He just hoped he could figure it all out in time.