Notes: Thanks, guys! More crying in this chapter (yes, more) but bear with me. It gets happier. Uh I think Grace is kind of out of character, but you tell me. It gets happier. Sorry I made you wait! Slightly disturbing themes.
The door to the manse opened, and Karen stepped through. Olivia had been curled up on the couch, reading a book. It was around eight thirty, and the snow was falling softly outside the window. Olivia tossed her book aside, and stood.
"Hey Karen" she said. Karen smiled and gave her a tight hug, then pulled back, looking at her.
" I need to talk to you, honey" Karen said to her. Olivia smiled, and sat back down on the couch. Karen sat next to her.
" I told W-
"Will. I know. Jack stopped by today."
Karen's face twisted in shock. "What?"
"Yeah, he knows…but he said you didn't tell him, so I-"
"Olivia! Stop!" Karen said, trying to clear her head. "How could Jack- how could he possibly- how could he know?"
"I don't know" Olivia said meekly, "but he seemed pretty stressed….."
"He's stressed? HE'S stressed! Was HIS stepdaughter being abused? I don't think so!"
Olivia bit her lip. "Karen…"
"I need a drink!" she shrieked, her face red. She stood.
"No you don't!" Olivia screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes brimming with tears.
Karen turned on her heel, and stared at Olivia in disbelief.
Rosario heard Olivia scream, and she rushed to the doorframe. She was surprised to see Karen and Olivia staring at each other, strong yet unreadable emotions in both their eyes. "Is everything okay in here?" Rosario said, breaking the silence.
"Everything's fine Rosie" Karen half-whispered, keeping he eyes on her stepdaughter, "would you leave us alone for a few minutes?"
"Yes, ma'am" Rosario said quietly, walking back down the hallway towards the kitchen.
"Olivia, sit down" Karen said quietly, and Olivia obeyed. Karen sat next to her, and slid an arm around her, letting Olivia's head rest comfortably on her shoulder. She began running her fingers through her stepdaughters red curls, her manicured nails brushing lightly against her cheek.
"Karen, I-"
Karen kissed her hair very gently. "Shhh" she whispered, "I have some things to tell you."
Olivia almost started crying, but swallowed the lump in her throat and said, "okay, spill."
"I talked to Will" Karen said, her eyes filling with tears, "and he said that we…you….should press charges."
Karen felt Olivia's body tense up against her, and took a deep breath.
"We're going to." Karen said, her voice cracking.
With that, Olivia began to panic. She trembled slightly, and whispered, very faintly, "Karen…he'll kill me…"
Karen tightened her grip around Olivia's waist. "We've also sent a letter to his home.."
Olivia nearly screamed, she was breaking down. "God..no..please….Karen…please!" she cried, wriggling free of her grip.
"Olivia, calm down…"
"YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the walls.
Karen opened her mouth again, but Olivia shook her head furiously. She whirled around, and ran up the stairs. Karen opened her mouth to call for her stepdaughter again, but as she did this, Olivia's door slammed loudly.
The Next MorningGrace sat at the table, two pieces of cold toast in front of her, staring at Will. He finally noticed. "What do you –
"Tell me" she muttered evilly. He rolled his eyes and took a sip from his orange juice.
"Give it up Gracie." She rolled her eyes.
The apartment door burst open, and Jack walked through, his regular self. "Hello Hellooooo" he called.
"God, you sound like that one woman from the Nanny."
"The blonde lesbian?"
"She wasn't a lesbian.." Will interjected.
"She must have been. I wouldn't be caught dead with a short, English, butler."
Grace pouted. "Does that make me a lesbian?"
"Oh, god, Grace" Jack grimaced.
Grace opened her mouth to say something, but the door burst open, and Karen stood there. Her three best friends were absolutely shocked. She wore absolutely no makeup, her hair was down around her shoulders, and she had no makeup on. She was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.
"Karen…" Jack gasped.
"Oh my god…" Grace breathed.
"Olivia" Karen sobbed "hates me….Will…..I shouldn't….I shouldn't of…"
He sighed gently and wrapped his arms around her. Her body racked with sobs, her face buried into his shoulder. Grace looked at her miserable friend. "So its about Olivia, is it?"
Her voice was soft, but oddly dangerous. "Jack…?"
"I guess…she told her…and Olivia blew up…"
"She yelled at Karen? That woman has taken care of her for so many years….well not really….but still! How could she push her into this!"
Grace walked over to Karen and Will, kissed Karen's forehead and said she'd take care of it. The three never acknowledged that she uttered those words. Karen was too lost in her own grief, Will was too busy worrying, and Jack was lost in shock.
Olivia sat against her bedroom door, her fingernails sunk into her arm. "No, no, no, no, no, no…" she moaned, as blood ran down her arm. Rosario sat on the top steps, wondering what to do.
"LITTLE BRAT! DID SHE EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE WAS DOING TO HER!" Grace screamed, bursting through the door of the manse. Rosario stood up.
"Miss Grace-"
"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS OLIVIA!"
Rosario pointed a shaking finger toward Olivia's room. Grace pushed past her angrily, and stormed down the hallway.
"OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!" Olivia heard someone scream, there was a pounding. It wasn't Karen, nor Rosario, and even though she thought it was for a second it wasn't Kyle.
She pulled her long sleeve down, and unlocked the door. Grace came bursting into her room, furious.
"Grace?" Olivia whispered, frightened.
"YOU!" Grace roared. She grabbed Olivia by her shirt collar.
"DO YOU KNOW THE PAIN YOU PUT THAT WOMAN THROUGH? DID YOU SEE HER! SHE WAS WEARING JEANS FOR GOD SAKES! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID AND QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T CARE….BUT STAY AWAY FROM HERE! GO GET YOUR DAMN MOTHER AND TELL HER TO PICK YOU UP!"
"Oh god…..I'm sorry" Olivia buried her head in her knees, shaking all over.
"Yeah, you better-
"Miss Grace…..STOP!"
Rosario stood in the doorway, her fists balled. Grace fixed Olivia with a glare. "Fine." With that, she pushed past the housekeeper, and down the stairs.
Rosario stared at Olivia, her eyes filled with tears behind her dark sunglasses. "Get. Out." Olivia hissed, and Rosario left her room, completely confused.
Olivia stood up shakily. Her legs felt like lead. She made her way down the hallway down to the bathroom. Once she reached it, she locked the door. She stared at herself in the mirror. "I guess I really screwed everything up, didn't I?" she asked her reflection furiously. She looked to the side of the sink, and saw a contained full of fresh razor blades.
Once Karen had calmed down, she sat curled up on Will and Grace's couch. Will and Jack were in the kitchen, making coffee. "I'm really worried about her…well….them…them both." Will said, looking at the brown liquid boiling in the pot.
Jack nodded his head, but said nothing. Just then, Grace came walking through the door. She rushed over to the couch, and took one of Karen's hands. "I took care of Olivia, Karen. She'll never bother you again."
Karen's eyes opened wide. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Karen came running through the door of the manse, greeted face to face by Rosario. "Rosie! Was Grace here?" Rosario nodded.
"Yes, she screamed at her.."
"I KNOW! Where is Olivia?"
"In her room.."
Karen ran up the stairs, and opened Olivia's door. Her stepdaughter wasn't there. She looked around frantically, and saw the bathroom at the end of the hall. The door was closed. She ran down the hallway, and grabbed the handle on the door. It wouldn't budge.
"OLIVIA!" Karen screamed, her heart filled with panic. Using her left foot, she kicked the door open. Karen saw the bathroom was empty, but she glanced frightfully at the opened razorblade container. Then she saw the shower curtain was closed.
She stepped towards it, her hands shaking. "Olivia?" she asked gently. She took a deep breath, and drew back the shower curtain. She screamed. Olivia lay there, both her wrists slit, covered in blood. "ROSARIO!" Karen screamed, "CALL 911!"