Part XI: I, Katie Singer, Shall Conquer All Odds
Katie paced around her office when Grace came to bring in new reports. It had been a week since Katie last saw Jessie. Jessie wouldn't answer Katie's calls.
"Grace… How's Jess?"
"She's fine… I guess…" Graced placed the reports on Katie's table.
"Do you think she'll talk to me?" Katie asked looking at her shoes.
"I don't know Katie…"
"I just… want to tell her something before she totally shuts me out…"
"She spends a lot of time in the hospital…" Grace was at the door way.
"If you want to see her, I'm sure she'll be there." With that Grace left.
"I need a vacation." Jessie thought to herself.
She was clearing her table before going home.
"Uh... Hey, want to have dinner?" someone asked.
"No… I feel like going home this time." Jessie replied.
"I insist." James took Jessie's hand.
Jessie gently took it off.
"I'm tired James… I want to go home." Jessie stepped away.
She took her bag, then left. James just sat there for a moment, meditating on his next move.
"I know! I'll take her home." James stood up to run after Jessie.
Katie arrived at Swedish Covenant. There were white roses today but she decided to bring gardenias instead. It made her feel better. She asked the receptionist if Jessie was still within hospital premises. She gave a weak smile when the receptionist told her Jessie left about five minutes ago. She requested that the receptionist take the flowers to the hospital chapel. The person originally meant for them has gone home.
"Don't you think you're out of place Ms. Singer?" someone said from a distance.
Katie didn't bother to look. She thanked the receptionist then started to walk out the door.
"Can't face the facts Ms. Singer?" James pursued to agitate Katie.
Katie stopped but didn't turn. She took deep breaths.
"She's mine now Katie! All your money won't do!" James said feeling proud.
"I didn't know Jessie was some sort of a possession. I was under the impression she was her own person. She can't be bought or owned." Katie replied smirking.
A crowd was starting to form and it was Katie's cue to leave. She started to walk, but James wasn't done.
"YOU ARE NOTHING KATIE SINGER!" James screamed.
"SHE WILL NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU!"
Katie stopped, taking deeper breaths this time. She doesn't like what's she's hearing but she has to maintain her temper.
"It's true isn't it? She never loved you." James said laughing.
"And I suppose she said she loved you?" Katie turned and replied.
Katie hit a nerve.
James tried to catch Jessie's attention. But he was nothing more than a friend. He didn't even manage to obtain any affection from Jessie, not the type she ever showed Katie.
"That does it!" James said.
He threw a punch over Katie. It was filled with so much rage Katie fell on the ground. Katie's lips were bleeding, but she was laughing.
"Is that the best you can do?" Katie smirked.
James held Katie's collar throwing punch after punch. He grew tired and let Katie fall on the ground. She was still laughing.
"Are you done?" Katie looked at a very tired James Carter.
His breathing was extremely labored.
"My turn." Katie stood up and she spitted the blood that was in her mouth.
She closed her fists and threw her own punch onto the panting doctor.
James fell on the floor. He was awake but he was too weak to stand up. Katie shook her head.
"You threw a dozen punches and I could still stand up to knock you down." Katie grinned as she walked away.
Jessie, honey!
"Hi dad…"
How's work?
"It's alright dad. Um… Dad, can I come home for a few weeks? I think I need time off from work…"
From work or from someone…?
"Dad…"
Jess… You can't run away…
"I know dad… I just need time to think."
When are you leaving?
"Now."
"Katie will you please sit still!" Sarah glared at Katie as she applied hot compress to Katie's bruises.
"So he threw a bunch and you could still stand up?" Tad asked excitedly.
"Yep. I got home safely and without a scratch right… OW!"
"Just bruises and a broken lip, nice Katie." Sarah said sarcastically.
"Did you get to talk to her?" Tad asked.
"No. I'll call her later."
"Why not now?"
"Because I'm still trying to fix her up! KATIE! Sit STILL!" Sarah angrily interjected.
"Hello?" Grace answered the phone.
She was just watching TV from the living room.
Grace, it's Katie. Is Jessie home?
Grace sat up.
"No. She's not home…"
What time will she be back?
"Well, it will take a few days."
A few days?
"She went back to Evanston. She said she needed a vacation."
Alright…
"I'm sorry Katie."
Grace, can you do me a favor?
"What?"
Jessie arrived in Evanston late that night. She stayed with her father and Lily. Jessie went straight to her old room, the attic. She lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. She didn't realize Karen came up to see her.
"You alright Jess?" Karen asked as she sat down beside Jessie.
"I'm going to be fine mom…" Jessie turned her head away from her mother.
"I'm just not the one for her…"
"Did she say that?" Karen asked running her hands through Jessie's blonde hair.
"No…"
"Don't you think you two should talk about it…? What if she DOES want to be with you Jess?"
"Mom we're different! I can't make her give up her life. And I can't sacrifice mine! People need us mom…" Jessie was now sobbing.
"Jess…" Karen turned Jessie to face her.
"You don't have to give up anything… You just have to share who you are to each other… It makes up the whole… The emptiness, you might deny, having now…"