a/n: About the Nat/Evangeline bonding. I too, could hardly stomach that scene, because the show's incarnation of Evangeline annoys me SO MUCH. However, I also can't stand the fact that the two characters could go through being kidnapped and almost dying together, and weren't able to put aside differences. Of course, the killing club murders didn't happen in my story, but I still feel as though Evangeline, a grown woman, and Nat (as I knew her before they made her a simpering jerk) could put aside differences to be civil/nice to each other. So I decided to write that scene. And now onto the scene…
"Hey John, what are you doing here?" Natalie asked, brushing a piece of hair out of her face.
"There was a rape on campus last night," John said seriously. "We checked out the crime scene, and I was just grabbing a cup of coffee before heading back to work."
"Oh god," Natalie exclaimed. "Is she ok? Do you think you'll find this creep?"
"I'll find him," John said. "How about you? What brings you to Llanview U?"
"I just wanted to bring my application in person," she explained, a smile creeping onto her lips. "It should be fine, I mean, I did well here when I first went. I just have to finish up a semester or two."
"That's great, good for you," John told her.
"Yeah, it's a little scary," she told him. "Growing up."
"Can't be a pool shark forever," he said, matter of factly, a smile playing on his lips. She laughed.
"I wish."
"So uh, how's Cristian?" he asked, after a bit of a pause. Natalie stiffened.
"Okay I guess," she told him. "He seems to be adjusting well."
"Listen Natalie, I don't know if this is really my place…" he trailed off.
"John, what is it?" she asked. "Come on McBain, I can take it."
"Have you seen Cris since yesterday?"
"No, he got home late, and then he usually wakes up early to help his mom out at the diner," she explained. "Why? Did something happen yesterday? Did you two fight or something?"
"Not me and Cristian," John said, shaking his head. "He fought with Antonio though."
"What?" Nat asked sharply. "But Cristian loves Antonio. He rarely ever fights with anyone. He's too-"
"Is Cristian seeing anyone? " John asked.
"Like a psychiatrist?" Natalie asked. "No, he refuses to."
"I think he should see someone," John told her.
"Based on one fight?" she asked incredulously.
"It's how it happened," John told her. "Antonio was goading Cris-"
"Why?"
"I think he wanted Cris to take out his frustrations on him," John explained. Nat sighed.
"Boys," she muttered.
"And Cris was walking away from it," John kept explaining. "But then Antonio touched his shoulder and it was like something snapped inside him, and he just attacked Antonio. It was like he was a savage."
"oh my god," Natalie whispered. "Was Antonio fighting?"
"Yeah," John said grimly. "He has his own issues, I guess. But it was like Cristian was in a trance, like he was in the past."
"God knows what those animals did to him," Natalie whispered.
"Exactly," John said. "Just, just try to get him to talk about it? With someone?"
"Yeah, yeah-"
"Because if he-" John broke off.
"I'll be fine," Nat told him, giving him a small smile, and patting his hand. "Thanks for telling me. I better go."
"Bye Natalie."
--------------------------------------
Dorian and Blair stared at Kelly. Blair was seated in the chair next to her bed, Dorian at her bedside.
"Is this what it was like for you, Dorian?" Blair asked. "With our mothers?"
"No," Dorian said, tears in her eyes. "This is worse. I promised myself, promised myself, you girls wouldn't be cursed like me and my sisters. I did everything I could to protect her and it still wasn't enough."
"This isn't your fault, Dorian," Blair told her. "No more than Cassie's breakdown was."
"Yes," Dorian said stiffly. "Both were Kevin Buchanan's fault."
"Oh come on, Dorian," Blair whined. "Kevin Buchanan can not cause two women to go crazy. No Buchanan is that powerful."
"Oh I will blame whoever I please, Blair," Dorian yelled.
"Dorian," Blair said again warningly.
"Stop it Blair! We should not fight in front of her!" Dorian yelled. Blair stood.
"Why not?" she screamed. "It's what we do! Maybe she'll get jealous and WAKE UP!" Blair walked over to Kelly. "Come on Kelly! Stop being such an overdramatic princess and wake up! Speak! Say anything! Insult my shoes."
"oh darling," Dorian whispered, touching Blair's arm. "She couldn't insult your shoes. They're fabulous."
"Aren't they?" Blair grinned. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm making things worse."
"No, Blair, never," Dorian told her. "Don't ever apologize."
"I just, I feel so helpless," she whispered. "So weak."
"You're not," Dorian told her. "You are a Cramer Woman. And you, one day, you are going to be the one to hold this family together. That much I know."
"Oh yeah right Dorian," Blair said sarcastically, "like you're ever goin anywhere."
The door opened.
"Starr, baby, what are you doing in here?" Blair asked.
"I just wanted to see her," Starr whispered. She peered at Kelly's bed. "Her eyes are open."
"That's because she's not in a coma," Dorian told her.
"Yeah, well it's creepy," Starr noted.
"You are creeped out?" Dorian asked, incredulously.
"Don't spread it around," Starr warned her. Dorian smiled at the girl.
"So what now?" Blair asked. Dorian sighed.
"I'm sending her to a special clinic in London," Dorian explained. "They have done extraordinary things with people in her condition. Some have recovered in mere months." Her voice broke at her last words. Blair leapt to Dorian's side, and hugged her. She motioned for Starr to join her. Starr gave her a look. Blair gave her one right back. Starr walked slowly towards them, and was slowly enveloped in their hug.
----------------------
"Hey Jess," Kevin greeted his little sister, plopping himself on the couch next to her. "How's life?"
"Kevin," Jess smiled, "it's good to see you coming around here more often." She sat up.
"Yeah well, my sisters are here, my mom's here, my brother's here," Kevin replied. "Things are definitely better."
"Not all things," Jess said, a gloomy look crossing her face. She stared at Kevin searchingly. He looked down.
"Yeah, well, there's nothing I can do about that," Kevin told her. "Dorian won't let me see Kelly- there are bodyguards and everything."
"I'm sorry," she said. "Do you- do you still love her?" Kevin looked away. He sucked in a breath, then let it out in one puff.
"There's a loaded question," he remarked. "I don't think I'll ever not love her. Forgiving her is another thing, but loving her- that I'll probably always do."
"So what about hating her?"
"Do we have to get into this Jess?" Kevin asked.
"No," she told him. "But I think it'll help you."
"I hate her too," Kevin supplied. "I hate her, I love her, everything I feel for her, good and bad, it's just too much. And how- how can you hate someone who's barely alive? I can't see her, and it's all I want to do. And I don't know if I saw her, if I would want to spit in her face or kiss her, but the fact that I can't?" His voice broke. "I don't know what to do with that." Jess rubbed Kevin's arm, bringing him in for a hug.
"She's gonna get better Kev," Jess whispered. "She's gonna heal. And so are you. I promise."
"Yeah," Kevin said, breaking away from her embrace, and getting up from the couch. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let's talk about you. What's up with you?"
"Evangeline asked me to testify against Antonio," she told him quietly.
"What'd you say?" he asked.
"No," she answered.
"Because you think he's a good father?" Kevin asked.
"I know he loves Jamie," Jess told him. "I know that he does. But I just- I think Jamie might be better off with RJ for now. Until Antonio can figure out his stuff."
"His stuff?"
"He expects our love to save him," she told him quietly. "But love can't save anyone. You have to save yourself. And I can't be with him anymore. It hurts too much."
"Hurts too much, how?"
"He hurts me," she told him. Kevin looked at her sharply. "Not like that, not physically," she told him. "But he has anger issues. And our relationship was so codependent. It wasn't healthy. I need someone who wants me to be able to stand on my own, not someone who sees me as half of a couple."
"Good for you, Jess," Kevin told her.
"I did something though," she told him.
"Did something?"
"I told Evangeline Natalie would want to testify for RJ," Jess told him, in a low voice. "And she would! But I think if she did it might ruin her marriage."
"So tell her not to do it," Kevin said.
"But someone has to!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Jess, why don't you want to testify?" Kevin asked. She paused for a bit.
"I don't want it to seem like I'm lashing out," she finally said.
"Would it be that?" Kevin asked. "Or would you really believe what you would be saying?"
"I would believe it," Jess told him. "But maybe it would be a little revenge."
"If you believe it, what do your reasons matter?" Kevin asked.
"Believe what?" Kevin and Jess looked up.
"Natalie," Kevin greeted her, "how did it go at the university?"
"Fine," Nat replied, a bit despondent.
"What's wrong?" Kevin asked.
"Nothing," Nat replied, sitting next to Jess. "Just, I saw John and he gave me some news."
"Bad news?"
"You could say that," Nat told them sarcastically. "Cristian- Cristian needs my help more than ever." Jess looked up at her, thoughtfully.
"You're not testifying Natalie," Jess told her.
"What?" Nat asked, obviously thrown. "What do you mean?"
"At Jamie's trial," Jess told her. "You're not testifying. I am." She said it with such resolution, all Nat could do was hug her. Kevin looked at his sisters, the three sitting there in gloomy silence, all dreading their future.
"Hey guys, why so glum?" Joey asked, whistling as he entered the room. "You'd think someone died."
"Haha Joey," Jess snarked.
"Come on, let's do something fun," Joey said. "Let's play monopoly."
"Monopoly?" Jess asked. 'Joey, monopoly is the most not fun game in the world. Everyone knows that."
"You just say that because you never win," Kevin told her, as Joey got the game out of the game closet. Kevin loosened his tie.
"Yeah, and you always do," Jess said resentfully.
"Well I do run a multibillion dollar corporation," Kevin said, mock cockily.
"Yeah well, don't worry Jess," Nat said, smiling, "He won't win this time. You've obviously never played with a street rat from A.C. I so rock at this game."
"I'm the car," Jess piped up.
"I'm the weird thing that rolls around," Nat mocked her. Joey started to set up the game, and the four played what could probably be considered the longest game of monopoly ever- it was also the most enjoyable.