A/N: OK girls – I promise – by next chapter we'll find out if/when/how Caleb cooperates. Please bear with me. It's really, really hard to let this thing go. :'(
Until 68! xox - G
Chapter Sixty-seven
The sun was setting. After Alison left he needed to take a few minutes to collect himself. He had been intending to go back to the hospital but he figured he'd be less than popular there.
Actually, he knew the opposite would be true. They'd be all over him to get him to cooperate.
Kevin had been on his way out earlier when he heard Alison confronting Caleb. He had waited a few moments after he heard the car pull away. Still he was a bit surprised to see Caleb there.
"I thought you left." Kevin said from the doorway.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Caleb replied, not at all anxious to be reprimanded and harassed again.
"I wanted you to leave years ago – but that didn't quite work out did it?" Kevin said with a shrug as he moved to sit beside him. "Rachel's having a ball with Serena's kids. It's good to have her here."
"She loves it here." Caleb said softly. "It worries me." He admitted almost as an afterthought.
"Tough when your kids chose to be different than you isn't it Caleb?" Kevin said then. "I know how it feels. It's how I felt when Livvie chose a life with you all those years ago."
Caleb's defenses went up immediately. "She's well taken care of. She's happy with her life the way it is."
"I know." Kevin admitted, though it cost him. "If she weren't I'd have done something about that years ago."
"Like you could have if you tried." Caleb laughed.
Kevin gave him a look of disgust. He was too old for all this nonsense. "Don't be so smug Caleb. You have a daughter of your own now. And I know the lengths you went to try and get Colin to follow you. You know that he's happy in the life he chose. That's how I've been able to deal with losing Livvie to the life you lead. She's unbelievably unhappy without you. And by some miracle you've enabled her to have what she's craved from our world while she lives in yours."
Kevin decided he'd almost said enough. He still had one more thing to bring up. "Just remember – the way you feel about Livvie? That's how Colin feels about Katrina. He's already proven he'd give his life for hers. How many more sacrifices should he have to make?"
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"Hey Princess." Rafe whispered as he and Alison moved towards Katrina's bedside.
"Daddy…" Kate said with a smile. "Hi Mom." She added as she reached for her hand.
Colin stood on shaky legs and stepped aside, but not too far. He couldn't bear to be more than a few feet away from her.
Alison smiled over at Colin and turned her attention to Kate. "It's good to see you awake sweetie. We've missed you."
Kate didn't have time for small talk. There were things she needed to say and she knew her time was short. "Mom. Have you seen him?"
"Yes, sweetheart. We've seen the baby. He's beautiful." Alison replied.
Kate looked around the room a bit frantically. "Colin…"
"Right here. I'm here." He said as he ran a hand over her hair.
Kate swallowed and struggled to stay awake. "We want to tell you his name – right Colin?"
"Yeah." He nodded, blinking back tears again. Watching her like this was killing him. He didn't know how much more he could take.
"We've named him Alexander. The name means Defender of Mankind." Kate whispered. "So. That's your grandson - Alexander Colin Morley."
Colin shook his head in protest. "Katrina. No. We haven't decided what his middle name will be."
"It's Colin." Kate insisted. "And I know that his first name is quite a name to give someone so small to live up to – but I know he'll be more than able to."
"I'm sure he will." Rafe replied, his heart breaking as he gently lifted Kate's hand in his.
"I want you to both know how much I love you." Kate began, not wanting to leave anything unsaid. "You are the best parents anyone could ever ask for. And that's why I need you to help Colin…"
Panic began to creep up Alison's spine. She fought to remain upright, thankful when she felt Rafe's arm around her waist. She leaned into him as she glared down at her daughter.
"Katrina Abigail – you stop that kind of talk RIGHT NOW." Alison scolded her. "We're so close to making you better. Don't you dare give up now."
Kate voice sounded so far away. "I can't do this much longer. I can't do this to all of you. You've all been sitting here waiting…"
"And we'll keep sitting here." Rafe replied as he held Alison closer. "We're not going anywhere, Katrina – not until we have you back with us." Even as he said the words he knew he'd be leaving her side soon. He wasn't going to let his daughter give up. Not while there was something he could do to help her.
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Chloe found him exactly where she knew he'd be. She snuck up behind Grant and snaked her arms around his waist. "There you are." She whispered as she hugged him tight. She knew she could always find him the exact same spot.
Grant smiled as he covered her hands with his. "Yeah. Here I am." He said as he continued to stare at Alex in the nursery. "I'm so glad you're here. Today's a big day. He has a name now." He reported.
Chloe's brows went up. "Ooo! Tell me!" She demanded as she spun him around to face her.
Grant bent his head and touched his lips to hers. "His name is Alexander."
"Oh that's perfect!" Chloe said with tears lighting her eyes. "It's about time they decided on one. That poor little guy needed a name."
"Is this how it's going to be Mrs. Kovich?" Grant asked her with a smile. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek. "Are you going to be teary for the next seven months?"
"I guess so." She replied, sniffling a bit. "You better get used to it." She smiled up at him. "Well. I'm glad there's finally some good news."
"And that's not all. There's more. Kate's awake. My parents are with her."
His words had fresh tears flowing from Chloe's eyes. "Oh Grant." She whispered as she moved closer to him.
"Now here's the bad news. I'm going to have to go with my Dad in a bit. We need to try and convince Caleb to help save Katie."
"How? I mean – what happened? I don't understand? Are you telling me they've found something to save her?"
Grant nodded. "Your uncle – and Ian. They've been working for days and they've found something. They just need to test it again to be sure."
Chloe's heart felt light for the first time in days. Hope filled her voice as she asked, "OK. So what's the problem?" She was completely confused.
Grant ran his fingers gently through her hair as he answered. "Not what. Who."
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"I'm not built for guilt and compassion. I thought you'd have realized that about me by now." Caleb said with a sigh.
"You're a liar." Kevin shook his head at him.
"No. I'm not. I spared Colin for Olivia's sake. The added bonus was that I was given the amazing gift of having Rachel. My motives are always selfish. Isn't that what you all say about me?"
Kevin knew what Caleb said was true – but he'd also come to learn that everything wasn't so black and white. "The problem with you is that you're a contradiction. We think we've figured you out and then you do something that makes you seem – dare I say it? Almost human."
Caleb pretended to get a chill. "Please. Watch your language." He said, his voice full of contempt.
Kevin ignored his little comment. "I'm just saying that at this point? I don't think you could live with yourself if you let her die – Caleb. You'll destroy any relationship you have with your son – and you'll damage what you have with Livvie." Kevin slowly walked down the steps and towards his car. He didn't know if he was reaching Caleb at all but he'd done the best he knew he could do.
"You make the choice Caleb. Choose wisely or we'll see if you can live an eternity knowing you've destroyed your son's happiness."
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Rafe leaned down and pressed a kiss to Kate's forehead. "I'll be back in a few minutes, Princess. You stay awake - do you hear me?" He cautioned her, his voice full of love.
As he straightened up he caught Colin's eye. "Can I talk to you outside for a second?" He asked softly.
Colin looked at Kate nervously and then back to Rafe. "I don't want to leave her." He replied.
"I know." Rafe nodded. "It's OK - Alison will stay. I just need you for a few seconds. I promise you'll be right back with her."
Reluctantly Colin nodded and followed Rafe out into the hallway.
Rafe cleared his throat and spoke softly. "I know it wasn't easy. You and Katrina – you went through a lot to finally be together and I know I was part of what made it difficult. I want to apologize for that."
"It's alright." Colin replied.
"No." Rafe insisted. "It's really not. I have a one track mind when it comes to your family. It's very hard for me to be at all objective."
"I don't see why. My father's tried to ruin your life on more than one occasion – both my parents – separately - took your life. If that's not a reason not to trust them I don't know what is."
"True enough." He took a deep breath and began again. He figured the best way to say this was quickly. "Colin – I was wrong." Rafe said as he stared into the younger man's eyes. "I couldn't have asked for someone better for my daughter than you."
Colin knew what a huge deal this was. "Thank you."He replied, blushing a bit. "That means a lot to me."
"No, Colin. Thank you, for everything you've done for her." Rafe replied. "Now. That being said – I have to tell you. The only thing standing in the way of Kate's recovery is…"
"My father." Colin said with a sigh.
Rafe nodded. "So. I just thought I should warn you. I'm going after him and I'm not going to let him stand in my way. We need a sample of his blood to test out the serum that could save Kate's life. He can give it up willingly but let me tell you - I have no problem taking it from him without his consent."
"No kidding?" Colin replied, almost smiling. He moved away and stood silent for a few moments before he spoke again. "You're asking me permission to destroy my father aren't you?"
Rafe didn't answer him directly. "I'm telling you that this might end badly – for both of us. And I'm telling you I'll need you to keep things together should it not end well."
"Katrina would never forgive herself if she knew you gave yourself up for her." Colin said as he turned to face Rafe again.
"And I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do everything possible to save her." Rafe replied.
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"So what are you telling me? That you're going after Caleb?" Chloe asked as she eased out of Grant's arms.
"We need to save Kate." Grant said matter-of-factly. "That's all that matters. I frankly couldn't care less what Caleb wants."
The tears dried from Chloe's eyes. Her temper was lit and ready to flare. "Then you are no better than him."
"Clo…" Grant sighed.
"I'm sorry – but you better get over this before the baby is born. I won't have you teaching him or her that fighting is the only answer. Grant - this thing between your families isn't something that will go away. You all are tied indefinitely. You need to learn to live together – not rip each other apart every few years."
"Chloe. I can't just let a vampire…" Grant began.
She cut him off sharply. "Do what? Live a life with his children?"
His frustration began to build. He couldn't believe she was fighting him on this. "Clo – he can save her and he's refusing."
"And he's refusing because you are demanding he obey you. I know all the stories. I know it took my father forever to realize that he couldn't compete with the hold Caleb had over Livvie. The bravest thing my father ever did was let her go. It was then that he finally won – it was then he was finally free. Because he finally realized that fighting Caleb that way is pointless."
He stared at her in disbelief. "So your answer is to let him have what he wants? You've got to be kidding me."
Chloe took a deep breath, wondering how in the world she'd ever be able to handle more than one slayer in her life. At least their child would have half her genes, that gave her a fighting chance at least. She sighed as she looked at her husband. "Grant. Stop. Listen to me. I'm not saying you let him do what he wants. I'm saying that you need to make Caleb think this is his idea. You need to make him think he came to this on his own. Make demands or push him and he'll never do what you want."
Grant gazed at her. She was incredible. He wondered how she got to be so smart – and how he got to be so lucky. Chloe was absolutely right. Confronting Caleb wasn't the answer. Even so, somehting had to be done.
If Caleb thought he was benefiting himself he'd cooperate in a heartbeat. Grant just hoped someone could plant that seed in his mind in enough time to save his sister.
He stared through the glass at his nephew again, his heart filled with dread. They had to save Katie and soon, because the alternative was completely unacceptable.
