So here it is…hope its good….I would have written/posted sooner, but college keeps getting in the way----only three weeks though---wahooo!
I don't own the OC…never will
Just a little side note…as a student of media law, I'm hoping to get most of the info correct, let me tell you, there is not a lot of room for personal privacy out there….but if its wrong, blame it on my creative license….
Have a good one---and please, please review!
CHAPTER SIX:
The past few days had been rough for the foursome. What privacy they could get, between the media's watchful eye and the city's gossiping women was anxious and filled with edgy glares.
No one really knew how to respond to another. Each felt as it they were walking on glass. Afraid to somehow step on the other, smashing them into pieces.
Hurting them even more.
Everyone was glad Kirsten was home. Everyone except for herself.
Home.
What a useless, unmeaning concept.
This building no longer felt that way. The warm glow she used to get when she entered the door after a long day at work was gone. In an instant.
Vanished.
Home was now a prison.
She inhaled a deep breath, hoping to calm her aching chest.
And then she felt it. His reassuring hand on her back. At first, his very touch cause her to flinch, it cause him to flinch too. Not out of fear, but pure unending guilt. He knew she wasn't afraid of him specifically. He hadn't actually physically hurt her, but he also hadn't been there to stop someone else from doing so. He'd broken more then one promise that night. And he was sure; her mother would be turning in her grave.
"Sandy, it's all up to you now."
He was in her master room, sitting next to the bed. Kirsten had just left the room to go check on Seth. He quickly noticed how weak his mother in law had gotten just in a few hours. The doctors had told the family there was nothing left for them to do. All of their options had run out.
She wanted to be at home.
"Don't say that Katherine, you got a lot of time left." Sandy held her limp hand. It was familiar. Kirsten had her mother's hands. The golden skin with round tipped nails. A ring on the left finger, a callous on the right from where they wrote to hard.
She was her mother's daughter.
"Sandy, just let me say my peace. I tried to raise my daughters to become independent, proud young women…maybe too much so in Hailey's case. Kirsten has always been the pleaser, the child we could count on. The one who always, always comes through. Even at the sacrifice of herself.
"You're telling me. That's why we're here." Sandy laughed inside, but he knew how much this meant to his wife and her family.
"She'll do anything Sandy. That girl of mine trusts like no other. She has the fire of her father, but her heart. That's all mine. And it's a dangerous thing."
"It's a beautiful thing."
"Ah, that is where you are wrong Sandy. It can be, but it can also be a burden. You know how she is with Caleb. I love him more then anything, but the man will run her ragged and she'll willingly let him. You are the only one who can read her Sandy, in a way that I never could. You understand her and see her emotion. Even when she tries so hard to hide it."
Katherine took a few moments to catch herself. The pain within her body was beginning to overtake her. She reached over to the nightstand where her medication lay.
Sandy quickly noticed and helped her swallow the water and pills.
"Maybe you should rest, Katherine. We can talk later."
"Every day I worry for her Sandy, even though I know she is strong and capable. There are so many people in this world who want to take advantage of her. Her father especially. You can't let that happen. For years I have made sure Caleb treats his daughter right, for years I've won."
"You raised an amazing woman."
"I know, and that's why you need to protect her Sandy. From this world, from all the people who look at her with greed filled eyes. There are people in this town who hate this family, who hate her for simply being a Nichol. She grew up around it, the jealously, but she never noticed. She's always been the innocent. Promise me you will not let her get hurt."
Katherine had died later that evening, but her words never left Sandy's mind. She had given him all of her trust, to protect that which was hers. Sandy had promised to always be there for her beautiful daughter. He hadn't come through. He had failed his wife and the mother she worshiped.
Kirsten had spent a good two days in bed. Almost afraid to venture out into the rest of the house. She and Sandy were staying in one of the guestrooms down the hall. Sandy had entered into the master room only to gather belongings, clothes and other needed items. Kirsten never stepped foot down the hall. She would glance in its direction ever so often. Seth had caught her looking at the door from a distance, but nothing more.
Sandy or one of the boys would check on her ever so often. They would bring her meals and anything else she may have requested.
At times they would all eat in there with her.
Seth even brought little distractions for her. His comic books, magazines she liked, but not the newspaper.
She was the cover. Always. Every morning since the attack, there was some blurb about his mother.
"Tragedy in the House of Cohen."
"Reports yet to be filed in Cohen attack,"
"Tycoon's Daughter Victim of House Robbery."
Newport Princess, Newport Royalty, Newport…Newport…Newport…
Speculation. She hadn't even talked to the Police yet.
No one really knew anything. Just some copy editing off of police reports. Apparently all legal. Seth had asked.
"Seth, I wish there was something we could do about it."
"Dad, this is her private life, our private life."
"They got their informational legally, son. And as much as I want to kill the bastards who are writing the trash, I can't. You can blame that on the First amendment."
Kirsten began to retract. She was letting her guard down, and by doing so, her exterior was wearing away. It was as if the openness she first had, her ability to deal with everything and everyone, was gone. The shock of the whole situation was becoming more and more real. She was quickly building walls around her, loosing contact with not only herself, but her family as well.
She never cried in front of them anymore, especially Sandy. And she would curse herself for doing so. If she ever felt a twinge of emotion rise in her, Kirsten would politely excuse herself from the room.
It had started the moment she had gotten home. Kirsten had hopped into the shower, hoping for a sense of relaxation to her tense body.
She slowly twisted the knob, letting the hot water pour through the nozzle. As she undressed herself, she first noticed the bruises.
It was funny to her that she hadn't seen them before.
The ones surrounding her wrists were like rope burns, only worse. In areas, there were little cuts, a bit swollen, pink.
They were ugly.
She saw herself for the first time in the mirror.
The bruise around her eyes wasn't as bad as it felt. She was glad for that. The red tape marks around her mouth almost blended in with her skin, but the pain she felt brought her back to the veracity of it all.
They were ugly too.
Climbing into the shower, Kirsten looked down at her body. Her normal tan skin was uncharacteristically white, making the large boot-tipped bruise above her ribs, the nail and teeth marks protrude.
Each mark made her remember.
They had made her ugly.
And Kirsten felt sick. She grabbed onto the shower door railing, hoping for an ounce of support, to hold up her body.
Sandy had found her that way. Covered in cold water, shaking. She had been in there for a long time and Sandy instinctively gone in to check on her. She felt like ice and he worried.
Could she have frozen to death?
He helped her into a nightgown, keeping his arms around her as he lightly rubbed warmth back into her body.
She sat there, unaware. Misplaced. Silent.
He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. Still no response.
Sandy tried his best to dry her hair with the soggy towel. He tenderly ran his fingers through it, trying his best not to get caught in tangles, slightly squeezing the excess water out.
He watched her grey eyes look around the room, filled with shame.
He knew she wanted to take care of herself. He knew her pride lit fire was slowly dwindling, and it was killing her.
He knew he had to help bring her back, but Sandy didn't know how.
And it was killing him too.
Kirsten spent more and more time alone. In the garden, in the guestroom, in the bathroom. Anywhere, but around the people who loved her most.
They would walk into a room, she would walk out.
She couldn't accept their arms, their words, and their comfort. It felt better to turn away then it did to accept their help.
Because by doing so, she would actually have to deal with the attack.
"Dad, is Mom okay?" Seth asked his father. He began to pour a cup of coffee for himself and Ryan.
They quieter of the two, Ryan observed the conversation. He was more worried about Kirsten then he had let on. He too wanted to know the answer.
But he already knew it.
She was far from fine.
In the few moments he ever caught glimpse of her, she would turn away. The blueness of her eyes was gone, they were constantly gray.
In defeat.
Ryan wished he could help her, his surrogate mother. He felt so much anger and sadness, all at the same time.
"I mean, she's different. I know she would be, but I just thought, she'd…I don't, I mean, she seemed better when she was in the hospital." Seth rambled on, trying to make himself understood. Not really knowing what to say.
Sandy sighed. "Guys, we have to give her time and space. Let her test the waters. And then we'll figure it out from there. If that means moving, we move. If that means staying here, then, well you know."
"Dad, I just hate seeing her like she is. That's not mom. It's like a bad clone of her."
"Seth…"
"I know its hard dad, I just am afraid we aren't going to get the impressive Kirsten Cohen back. I'm afraid they took her away. Forever." Seth whispered.
"Is she going to get help?" Ryan spoke for the first time.
Seth looked over to his father, silently asking the same question.
"I hope so, but that's your mother's call. I will not force her to do anything."
Kirsten had overheard her family's conversation. She felt so responsible for her family being upset. She ran her hands through her tangled blonde hair.
"I want to be that Kirsten again, Seth. I really do." She thought to herself.
She let a fear tears escape before turning to go back to her room. She would no let her sons see her fall apart anymore.
She would hold it all together for their sake.
She would make this disappear. Even if that meant once again forfeiting her own welfare.
After his conversation with his sons, Sandy had taken some soup to his wife. She had barely eaten anything and he was sure she had lost a good five pounds. At least. She was too skinny already. He didn't want her any weaker then she already was. As he entered the room, he noticed the bed was empty.
Sandy became worried. His wife had gone missing. She wasn't in the guestroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, or the pool house.
He looked in the direction of the master room.
The door was open.
The door was never left open.
She was in the room.
He could see her shadow on the wall. The way her body arched over. The way her head fell in her hands.
She was crying.
He wanted so much to run in there and comfort her. To tell her everything would soon be better. To become her protector again.
But for a few moments, he left her there. Watching from a distance.
Allowing her to grieve.
Sandy couldn't listen to his wife's sobs for a second longer.
They were getting more violent. Each time she gasped for air, he too had to hold himself back. The pain in her voice was so evident, so full of hurt and fear.
These are the sounds of nightmares.
She began to cough and choke. Sandy knew it was time to intervene.
He could no longer physically be away from her.
She tried to hide it. Kirsten quickly wiped the tears from her face.
"I thought if I came in here, it would fix all this. I would see there is nothing to be afraid of."
Sandy pulled her close. He used his own hand to gingerly sweep away her tears.
He kissed her nose, her forehead. He looked at her with love.
He said nothing.
Kirsten found her spot on his shoulder. She rested her head underneath his chin.
"I heard you talking with the boys. I don't want them to worry anymore."
"Honey, they love you so much." Sandy rubbed her arm. It was covered in goose bumps. He instinctively rose to grab her a sweater.
"It's my fault this family is falling apart."
Sandy thought he had understood his wife, but he never in a million years believed she would blame herself.
He cursed himself for not reassuring her more. For not checking in on her more and assuming he knew.
"Kirsten, it's not. Baby, this is so far from your fault." She blew her nose in a tissue he had given her. Taking the used rag, he handed her another.
"I hate them Sandy. I hate them. I hate them." She clung to him. He could feel her grip digging into the small of his back.
This was the first time she had mentioned them.
His eyes began to water. Sandy could feel her body heat radiating into him.
Kirsten.
Sandy held his wife. He pulled her as close to him as he could.
I hate them too, baby. There isn't a word in the English language that describes my sentiment towards them.
He couldn't say it to her though. He held it in. He would not be angry in front of his already jumpy wife.
The two of them sat on the bed for moments, although it felt like hours. Sandy holding Kirsten. Kirsten allowing herself to grieve.
In a room that was supposed to be sacred, it had become a room filled with trial.
There was a slow knock on the wooden frame. Kirsten jumped from her husband's lap. Her breathing quickened. He massaged the back of her neck, hoping to calm her.
"Come in," Sandy motioned. A sheepish Ryan looked around the door, Kirsten hid her face from him.
"Uh, Kirsten, the police are here. They want to talk to you."
"I think you should just leave her alone for now…Did I tell you my Grandfather owns most of Newport."
"Yes you did, but we're trying to do our jobs." One of the men stated, annoyed.
Who is this kid?
"Officer, I'm sorry. My sons are a little overprotective." Kirsten came to the foyer. She had thrown a robe over her lounge wear. Sandy by her side.
"Mom, I tried to get them to go away. You should be in a state of Zen. And let me tell you, they are not here to contribute to that."
"Seth, it's okay."
"I know this is hard, Mrs. Cohen, but we have to ask you a few questions."
Kirsten looked to her husband, who in return gave her the "it's okay" nod.
"Okay."
"Do you want me to be with you Honey?" Sandy asked her. Before Kirsten could respond, a female officer interrupted.
"We were hoping to speak to her alone."
Sandy gave the woman a look of death. No one was going to separate him from he who he loves.
Kirsten instantly notices his demeanor. She places her hand in his.
"That will be fine."
Sandy whips his head toward her.
"It'll be fine."
"Mrs. Cohen, Kirsten, can I call you that?"
That.
"Yes," she replied, "you can call me that." After finally separating herself from her husband, Kirsten led two officers into the pool house.
The female officer, much taller then herself, reminded Kirsten of a friend she had in college. She had a soft face; she wasn't dressed in a uniform, but jeans. To a degree, that helped Kirsten relax. Her partner however was a large man. Short, but large with a balding dark hair and dark, flashy eyes. He was sweaty and ever so often wiped the top of his head with a handkerchief.
The woman introduced herself as Detective Erika Edwards. Her partner was Detective Omarosa.
"Kirsten, I'm not going to ask you for all the details. From the evidence collected, we have a fairly good idea. However, we do need you to give me any information about your attacker. I've brought a sketch artist to help us figure out a face."
Attackers.
"There were two of them."
The woman took notes. Kirsten noticed the other officer looking around his surroundings.
Taking in the view.
"Did it happen in here?" The man asked.
Detective Omarosa sure was bold.
"No, this is my son's room."
"Pretty nice room." The man said back. Kirsten began to feel uneasy. She wasn't afraid of the detective, his forward nature made her nervous.
"Mrs. Cohen, do you have any idea who would have done this? Any enemies?"
Enemies? Kirsten thought. Through all her life she had tried so hard to get along with those around her. She prided herself on being the approachable executive at the Newport Group. When people couldn't go to Julie or Caleb, they always, always came to her.
Because they liked her.
She couldn't think of anyone as cruel as her attackers were.
"I don't know."
"Have you had any controversial business deals lately?"
"Did you upset someone recently, in your private life?"
The questions were coming so fast. She didn't have time to think or react.
He was making her feel like she had done something to deserve this.
Had she? Kirsten quickly pushed away the thought.
No.
"Be strong Kirsten." She heard Sandy's voice inside of her head.
"Mrs. Cohen. We are just trying to create a motive. Someone did this to you for a reason."
No shit Sherlock.
"Kirsten, what he is trying to say is this crime goes beyond the actual attack. Mentally, this person wanted to toy with your family." Detective Edwards' calm voice brought Kirsten back to reality.
"Maybe we should be asking her husband these questions." The man was not sensitive at all. Kirsten could tell Erika Edwards was getting annoyed at his tactics.
"Sandy? Why? My husband had nothing to do with this."
"Mrs. Cohen, this was not random."
"Kirsten what Detective Omarosa is getting at is that..."
Should she tell her?
"What Detective?"
Kirsten's nerves were cold, she was afraid of the answer. What more could the police possibly know?
"Please tell me." The Detective's hesitation made her even more afraid.
"Kirsten, did Sandy tell you about the note?"
Kirsten shook her head. This was the first time she had ever heard about any form of communication.
Detective Edwards wasn't sure if she should go on, but the scared woman in front of her deserved to know.
She turned to her partner.
"Drew will you please go get the copy for me." The older man looked at his superior. Almost as if to say, "You go."
But Detective Edwards knew better then to leave the cold man alone with the witness.
She had been through enough already.
"Today Drew."
Kirsten smiled at this. Her glare was that of a mother. She used the same tone that Kirsten had so often used on Seth.
After a few seconds, the Detective, in defeat left the pool house.
"Do you have any children Detective?" Kirsten asked.
"Yeah, three girls. Triplets actually."
"Oh, I always wanted a daughter."
"Their thirteen. Trust me, you don't."
Kirsten laughed. What had she been like at thirteen? Probably the family terror.
"It's stressful at times. Makeup, dolls, boys. There's too much in this world to protect them from."
"I'm sure your position doesn't make it any easier."
The detective nodded her head.
Kirsten closed her eyes, thinking about how her own view of the world had changed the past few days. She'd never thought of it as dangerous. She wasn't stupid, it was why she was so protective of Seth, but she hadn't known anything else. Her life had always been guarded. First by her father, then by Sandy and now Seth and Ryan. They'd kept her enclosed, safe. They'd been her walls.
It wasn't until now, where she first glimpsed the real world, outside of the Newport gates. Thirty some years on this years on this earth and only now did she see the big picture.
She wanted to go back.
Kirsten's thoughts were interrupted by the slamming of the pool house door. The winded Detective was back. He held a manila envelope, passing it to Kirsten.
"This is a copy of the note we found in your room."
Kirsten's shaky hands pulled out the copy from envelope. Her eyes quickly scanned it.
Once, twice and a third time before she let it drop to the table.
She could feel tears rise up in her. She didn't know what emotion she should be feeling.
Confusion. Hate. Fear.
"I know it isn't much."
Not much, it was a direct target to get at her husband. She had been a pawn.
"But Kirsten, anything at all will help us figure out who did this to you." The detective's voice was firm, but soft, dripping with any hope.
"I don't know, Detective, I really don't know."
Sandy had watched their conversation from the living room. He couldn't hear anything, but he knew when his wife was uncomfortable. She would either stand up and turn away or close her eyes.
He had been so upset when they told him to stay out, even worse when she said it was okay.
Sandy wanted to be with her, to protect her from them.
Even if they were officers of the law.
He could hear the boys playing video games…anything to help divert their attention. He wished he too could be so persuaded.
But she was his constant thought. Sandy wanted to know what they were saying to her, if they were they making her cry.
So help them if they were hurting her in anyway.
He watched the clock, they had been in there for at least an hour.
Just as soon as his restless body was beginning to relax, the three officers walked through the house door.
They thanked him for his time and quickly explained Kirsten was still in the pool house. She had given them descriptions of her attackers although it wasn't enough to go on.
She hadn't really seen them, Detective Edwards explained.
"We'll show ourselves out Mr. Cohen. Why don't you go talk to your wife?" The man spoke. It was the first somewhat decent thing he had said that afternoon.
Sandy nodded as he bolted for the pool house. He'd given up trying to spy on them. He had no idea what state she would be in.
He knocked first, but got no answer. He tried again and let himself in.
She had just come from the bathroom. Slowly grasping the edge of the wall as she walked towards him.
No words were said, he knew she had just been sick though.
He knew the only way to get past this was if they were together. Unified, living off of each others strength.
United they stand, divided they fall…
"Talk to me baby, please. Let me in."
Okay, folks…that's all for now---but part seven is already written, needing a few minor changes, but done nonetheless….Kirsten actually tells Sandy her story----that's about it….i think, for now at least….Please keep those reviews coming!
Thanks a million!