Damaged Goods
Ch11. Crowded
Disclaimer- I own nothing and no one you recognize. . .yet . . .dun dun dun
"Who the hell are you" Kane easily tossed his attacker to the floor.
"Dad!" a little girl scurried around Kane stepping over his foot, using his leg for balance. Kane stared down dumbfounded. Children feared him, kept their distance, and here was this mystery child leaning against him as though he was a tree in her path. He looked back at Carrie for guidance but instead he was knocked with a wave of guilt. In the light that Carrie stood each bruise, scrape and burn was illuminated. Her wrinkled shirt, put on in a hurry, shot images of their embrace off in Kane's head. 'I'm a selfish animal' he weighted the notion that he had taken advantage of her in a vulnerable moment. 'She couldn't have wanted it, not like I did' Lust was still coursing through him and suddenly he hated the feeling he had relished moments before. 'It hurts her to breath and I was on top of her like a hungry dog' his mind exaggerated the facts. From images of intimacy to thoughts of turmoil his memory trailed back farther, to the way Carrie had spoke about herself. Words of disgust and self loathing had poured out of her. 'She wanted to run, wanted to hide herself. She felt broken, ugly she. . .he made her feel like. . .me. That bastard will be the one in pieces on the floor I'll brake him, bone by bone. She wasn't meant to bare my pain, she wasn't meant to bare me' He could no longer look at her, it was making him envelop in an ill feeling of shame, knowing in one way or another he had done to her. Carrie watched as Kane's face contorted in a sickly fashion till, in a whip like motion he turned away. 'Great now not only do I disgust him but he probably thinks I'm a whore' She didn't regret what had transpired, it was the first feeling of warmth and comfort, not to mention desire she had felt in a cold isolated number of days. What made her feel horrible was not being able to know what was going through Kane's head. A shared trait that threatened to pull them apart, guilt, held in the room like a fog. 'Who am I kidding, I am a disgusting whore' Her face was red as she shakingly smoothed out her shirt 'Maybe. . .maybe he just noticed. . .I tried to warn him, I'm broken. . .I'm a filthy empty mess' Tears crept to her eyes but she felt undeserving of emotions and blinked them away. Even after the hell she had gone through in the days that had passed she had never felt so cold, so unwanted as when she saw Kane look away.
"Fisher Correll" He waited for Kane to back away but when Kane just scowled deeper he was forced to proceed. "Carrie you're here!" Fisher exclaimed as though it was news. "You might be wondering why I would tyrannically brake into the hotel room of a man. . .a frighteningly large man I might add" his confidence wavered for a moment as he addressed Kane ". . .Well.. .see you. . .happen to know, very well I would assume, one of my best friends, old girlfriend. . .way back then, since she's grown old and bitter" Fisher smiled his goofy smile at Carrie who could only manage a light smirk in return. "Tough crowd, don't fret though Carrie if asked I'd still sweep you off your feet, wouldn't take much you twiggy little thing" Fisher almost forgot the mountain of a man that stood between them switching his attention to the woman who was more to him then most, she had always looked out for him and his daughter, even after the times where she could've cut all ties they had become closer, they were like a family. A low sound stopped even Fisher's ragging mouth, a grumble nearly a growl that was steadily emitting from Kane, his chest rose and fell harshly as he kept himself from attacking ruthlessly the man stupid enough to talk to Carrie like that in front of him. There was a hot silence as Kane's temper, Carrie's pain and Fisher's obliviousness were destined to collide.
"What's the big idea you're going to swoop in with goon number two and Save the day, save Carrie? Not on my watch, it's far to risky. Do you want Carrie dead?" Sidney ranted his way through the door followed by Janet and Lizzie who were both looking over 'goon number two'. Kane suddenly felt crowded and his already frustrated temperament was beginning to turn to pure anger.
"Sorry to disappoint" Carrie spoke loud enough to get everyones attention shocked looks came her way, they didn't know she was back. 'Didn't anyone hear me answer Fisher? Maybe I should have told them, gone to their room. God how much of insensitive selfish bitch can I be' She frowned.
"He doesn't shut up that one" Taker sneered distancing himself best he could from Sidney who was riding his last nerve in the short time they had known one another " I'm calling my wife, who by the way just like I knew she would at the first word of you wants you two over for dinner" He smiled longing to be in his house away from all these mad people and all the craziness, he had enough on his plate without this ordeal.
"Oh" Carrie nodded, she couldn't remember the last time she had a civil dinner. Eating Doritos in a seven eleven parking lot with Kane though wonderful in it's own way, sitting close, talking aimlessly, looking at the night sky and city lights, 'on second thought I don't need civil dinners she just needed Kane to be happy.' She smiled just for a moment. But the way he acted around her since Fisher had come in, 'maybe love is fleeting maybe the two of us just aren't meant to be happy together.'
"What does your wife have to do with the circus coming through my room" Kane turned his back to Fisher fully, not giving him any room to escape.
"Back to my point, I'm just minding my business and that little wind up toy shouts your name" Taker sneered at Sidney as he pointed shrugingly at Kane.
"The whole bunch of em go pushing up the stairs like a group of lunatics, darlin you're got some choice in friends" Taker shook his head laughing slightly.
"A bad choice" Kane rubbed at the spot that Fisher's fist had landed, more a bruise on his ego then any actual physical pain. 'Like I need a violent Sidney' he scoffed to himself.
"I rushed to say goodbye to Sara then have to go after them before they went and caused a scene-"
"How'd that work out?" Carrie chuckled but her eyes never left her shoes except on the rare occasion to see Kane grimace at her.
"I followed them trying to tell em you were fine and-"
"You call that fine?" Sidney pointed venomously at Carrie who did her best to appear 'fine'.
"Aw Aunt Carrie's fine, she just needs some band aids ooh and some root beer mmm" Olivia the small child went zooming past Kane's knee and over to Carrie who had half fallen half sat down on the bed knowing that Olivia was going to jump in her arms and standing Carrie stood a good chance of collapsing.
"You didn't hear me answer your bullish announcement, you shouldn't use those words around Liv like that you know" Carrie changed the subject her eyes diverting from the bouncing girl in her lap to the man sitting on the floor, not given the required room to stand from Kane, Fisher was forced to remain floor bound.
"Not over good ol' Cousin Sidney blabbering on. Then again you are creepily quiet over there" Fisher shrugged. 'No wonder I don't like him' Kane sneered only his luck that Sidney and Fisher would be cousins and would be two of an annoying kind.
But in reality for cousins they didn't have much in common, other then an overprotective streak. Sidney was boyish in appearance, his bright green eyes and dirty blond hair that curled behind his ears, were light and airy compared to Fisher's dark and neatly cut hair and his earnest forest green eyes, a body like any bricklayer such as himself, on and off working rides at carnivals and circuses with his odds and ends family. But inside that labor worked face and body was not a haggard man, but a charismatic boy. Sidney on the other hand was smaller and worked twice as hard sometimes winding himself too tight just to seem accomplished at the same job. One family two outcomes.
"Don't worry Carrie I'll be loud for you" Olivia boasted. Her tussled brown, almost black hair in an unkempt manner nearly engulfed her freckled face. But her oddly purplish eyes that she inherited from her mother never failed to pierce through happily.
"Wow" Olivia's voice was awed and disturbed.
"What?" Carrie combed Olivia's hair with her fingers. Kane watched intently as they interacted. He was coming to realize that was what he wanted, a family, children of his own. He wanted those children to know Carrie's tender touch the one she so lovingly displayed on her ex boyfriend's child. 'Here I go again, I've known her less then two months and I want Carrie to have my children. I'm a pig, a monster preying on an innocent woman. I've put her through hell but still. . .earlier. . .she kissed me when we were lying there together, she said she loved me back. . .it felt right I. . .I forced that all on her. She's weak and upset and I pushed her to do as I said' His thought immersed eyes caught hers and with a queasy look he turned away. 'Kane one more glance and you'll kill me' She felt her heartstrings choke her like a noose.
"You look like crap" Olivia half winced half laughed.
"W. .Where did she learn a word like Crap Fisher?" Carrie's voice at first didn't work, buried to far in her throat as a dam to hold back tears but with a sigh to calm herself she got her condescending statement out.
"I. .er. . .at least I teach her something" Fisher defended.
"He did teach her how to use it in context" Janet added.
"Did you dad?" Olivia questioned obviously not knowing what context was.
"Context like using the word right such as. . .Fisher is a crappy parent" Janet brought some humor to the somber room.
"I don't see you wining any role model points" Fisher sneered.
"I don't see you wining any blah blah blah" Janet mimicked in a mocking tone which had it's desired effect making Olivia laugh.
"You women are turning her against me" Fisher rolled his eyes.
"Of course." Janet scoffed. " You wouldn't want her turning out like you would ya?"
Janet's violet blue eyes dripped with confidence and sarcasm, it washed over each strand of her raven hair that perched atop her spine in a tight braid, that same confidence glided over her proportionate curves to the tip of her toes. She was not a woman to screw with, especially in a moment such as that one when she was sober and sharp and for the good of Olivia's innocent ears she had a sense of restraint.
"Bursting into doors, punching the inhabitants" Carrie peered down from her busy work amusing Olivia, to see Fisher's explanation. Kane equally interested turned to face Fisher, with another step he closed the gap between them, completely engulfing Fisher in his shadow.
"Well since I got off the plane, I came sooner then expected when Sidney said you were missing" He shrugged at Carrie.
"That was nice of you Fisher" Carrie nodded her voice barely a murmur. "Were you glad to come and visit you're favorite aunts?" Carrie smiled down at Olivia who nodded feverishly.
"Yeah, but I missed you. Carrie where were you?" Olivia had been left out of the loop for good reason and the whole trip had been odd to her, she thought Carrie didn't like her, that she had found new friends.
"I. . .well I cant really say, but I'll tell you what, I missed you guys a whole lot, all this time without seeing you-"
"Dad says you're coming home" Olivia blurted.
"Liv I said-" Fisher's panicked he had a whole plan worked out on how to convince Carrie to come back to Oregon, and that wasn't part of it.
"Maybe" Carrie bit her lip.
"No. I don't want-" Kane spoke but silenced himself as he saw the shocked look in Carrie's eyes. 'Did I scare her?' He turned back to Fisher anger welling over him. Carrie wasn't scared she was surprised at the idea that Kane still wanted her.
"Finish your story Fisher" Carrie sighed, all the stress getting to her.
"Right, so not a minute off the plane Sidney starts going off on this Kane guy. . .you" Fisher pointed up. "Kane's fault this, Kane did that, Kane beat the sh-" He watched as three mother hens shook their heads disapprovingly. "Beat the crap, she already knows that one, the living crap out of Carrie" Somewhere in the time that had progressed Sidney had formed a one man army against Kane, waging war on any advance Kane made towards Carrie.
"I didn't" Kane's voice and words of depth had been used to coax Carrie from running off the face of the earth, to express that he against all attempts not to, loved her. Now he resorted back to his usual short and bitter words.
"He didn't do it on purpose Sidney, he was having a panic attack or something. I let it go so should you" Carrie was upset that Fisher hadn't gotten the wrong impression of the man she loved, she wanted Kane, Fisher and even Sidney to at least tolerate one another. Kane was used to being misunderstood but not used to being defended. 'She. . .she understands me, no one else can see past the monster, sometimes I cant. But Carrie always saw through. I hated her for that. . .and now it what I love about her. I can't let them snatch her away from me. I want her, I need her.' Kane turned to Sidney. "I wouldn't hurt her"In a far calmer voice he spoke to Carrie. "I wouldn't" He wanted her to believe him to trust him and if only he knew how much she did, then he would know that she loved him, she wasn't being forced, she truly loved him.
"We wont let you" Sidney spat. With that all formalities were gone, Kane could no longer hold back all the anger that had formed within him. He advanced with malice in Sidney's direction.
"Back off my cousin" Fisher had just enough room to stand and once he did he was back on the offensive.
"Your friends must've been dropped on their heads as kids. . .or have a death wish." Taker chuckled stepping forward, knowing it'd be no joking matter if Kane got pushed too far. His voice changed to one of a stern warning."You two better back off my brother before you bite off more then you can chew" Olivia looked up at the man who had been silent for some time and a huge grin spread across her face. She leaned up and whispered something into Carrie's ear, she couldn't help but laugh lightly.
"What?" He looked over himself curiously as to see if there was anything out of place to have them whispering and giggling about.
"She says . . .you have very pretty hair" Carrie, if she wasn't so concerned about the three men about to snap at one another, would've laughed far fuller.
"You were looking at his hair. . .then again you're five. . .your forgiven" Janet smirked.
"The whole gang darlin? Out to cause me trouble, you and the quiet girl the only ones who haven't done nothin" Taker rubbed his forehand, laughing at his situation. These people almost made his in laws seem sane, almost. He couldn't truly complain, the spectacle unfolding in front of him was drawing him in. Plus the compliments and remarks however shallow didn't exactly hurt his ego.
"I'm not quiet just no use speaking when I wouldn't be able to hear myself over the yelling" Lizzie's usually docile brown eyes shot Sidney and Fisher a nasty glance. "Giving me a headache" She placed her hands over her face, slowly letting them drift down her long face then fall lifelessly to her side. Ignoring Lizzie's complaint the argument continued at the same volume.
"You. . .don't tell me. . what to do" Kane took long breaths as he paused turning yet again, this time to face Fisher.
"No but I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to take my kid. My friends. My Carrie" he saw the fire ignite in Kane's eyes as he addressed Carrie as his, but he wanted Kane angry, for some reason he couldn't quite understand himself. Fisher took a step towards Carrie and Olivia.
"You can't have her, she's not yours" Kane still found it hard to look at her without feeling guilty but if she was going to leave it would be on his terms, as chauvinistic as it sounded, Kane wanted control. He didn't want to own her he didn't want to control her. He just wanted to be able to calmly say goodbye and if he found the confidence, the ability to convince her to stay. Carrie was growing tired of having to announce the fact that she wasn't anyones but before she could say it Fisher opened his big mouth again.
"And who's is she, yours? Should I leave her here so you can put her in harms way again?"
"Fisher" Carrie warned, she knew Kane would tear him to shreds and the way Fisher was talking she couldn't truly blame him for doing so.
"So you can use her and abuse her? What is she to you? To either of you?" Fisher snarled at the two brothers.
"Well to me she's her own woman, who's strong and has got quite a mouth on her when she gets to talking. And who loves my brother. That's what I've gathered about you darlin" Taker spoke kindly, addressing Carrie, while trying to convince Fisher that he and his brother were good natured respectable people with morals and restraint. But none of that shone through Kane's crazed face.
"And you?" Fisher was standing as close to eye to eye with Kane as he could. Kane had wanted someone to punish for days and it seemed as if Fisher was begging for it.
"Fisher be nice" Carrie put Olivia on the bed and struggled to stand she wanted to stand by Kane so he would know she was supporting him and commending him for not killing Fisher with his bare hands. Taker took her hand and helped her to her feet. Carrie was in evermore pain as time went on. She had been burned before, she'd had broken bones before but something felt worse, a hurt cocooned her body and she didn't know what it was. Kane heard her groan in pain, as she tried to stand upright, at first he felt guilt again, but then he sensed a chance for redemption. 'Here's your chance to not be selfish. To care for her, to love her right' But before he took one step Fisher was six steps past him.
"Sid, go fetch the car. Come on Carrie" Fisher threw his cousin a handful of keys.
"No" The guilt took a back seat Kane wouldn't let them take her out of his sight and that wasn't negotiable. He loved her and wanted to keep her close, keep her safe.
"No what? No we can't take her to the hospital. No-"
"Maybe Fisher should take me" 'This was a mistake, I should've left I'm not the girl Kane loves, she buried within the ruble, the carnage. What am I now? Who am I now?' Carrie felt even more alone with her question of identity. 'everyone is so far away' she felt a lurching darkness creep in on her. 'Even myself' Her breathing grew shallow.
"I'll take her" Kane declared. "Carrie?" He saw the glazed over look in her eyes. Concern overpowered anger as he tried to reach her side, but Fisher wedged himself adamantly between them.
"Who are you to take her? Who are you and why do you want to hurt my Carrie m-"
"Stop calling her that" Kane took Fisher by the throat. 'I'll get to Carrie one way or another' he lost all patience. But Fisher would not give up, not even to the tightening grip at his airway. He started pushing and punching at whatever part of Kane he could reach. It quickly spiraled out of control as they began exchanging blows, the exchange was nearly one sided. Fisher wouldn't have lasted half as long as he did if Sidney hadn't started to pound his fists into Kane's back. Kane swatted Sidney away like an annoying fly and commenced beating Fisher into the ground. Kane's knuckled dug hard into the bridge of Fisher's nose, an alarming crunch could be heard over the scuffle, Fisher stopped punching with his left hand holding his nose to his face like it might've fallen off. Taker tried to pull Kane off but with no compliance it was proving to be a difficult task.
"You know when I imagined these four guys going at it. . .it was a lot more erotic" Janet spoke what came to mind, trying to ease the nerves of herself and her friends.
"You say that about. . . everything" the last word was a gasp barley escaping Lizzie's lips that she had clamped over with her palms, as Fisher's face took another hard punch. Kane's old plan had been deserted, his new plan was to beat Fisher till he couldn't come between himself and Carrie.
"Stop it!" Olivia was off the bed and deep in harms way as she rushed dangerously near the grapple. Everything was slow and shadowy but Carrie could comprehend that Olivia was in danger of getting hurt. Carrie struggled to make it over to the fight, she was going to pass out soon it was inevitable. She got to her knees getting to the level Olivia would be, now she just had to catch her, scurrying around her father.
"Watch out!" Lizzie called out, but it was to late. As his arm slung back Kane's elbow connected hard with Carrie's face, square between the eyes. Her already compromised balance gave way and she fell to her side. Her legs curled inward she pulled them into her chest. The pain was nothing new, but the state of mind, the onslaught of memories and repressed attacks on her being, threatened to consume her. She was no longer in her hotel room, safe with her friends, she was alone in that closet, she could hear the voice of the man she had grown to hate, feel his hands on her. She was lost in a nightmare.
Kane scooped her up in his arms, hugging her to his chest."Sorry, Carrie I'm so sorry. Breath Carrie." Her face was frighteningly pale, her lungs aching for air but her breathing was panicked and shallow, like a fish out of water.
"Let go of her, look what you did!" Olivia kicked at Kane's hunched back.
"Olivia stop" Fisher sat up and knew the fighting had to end at least until Carrie was in a hospital getting better. "Carrie? Carrie it's me Fisher. . .and Olivia, Sidney Lizzie, Janet. We're all here, you're safe in the-"
"Fisher?" Carrie's eyes were frantic, blinking and searching as her head slowly regained it's bearings.
"Fisher. . .Kane?" She sobbed into his shoulder grabbing at his arm.
"I'm here it's ok" He hugged her tighter as she cried.
"Oh god he keeps saying horrible things he wont get off me. Stop!" She flailed, wanting to run.
"Who?" Fisher became confused.
"He wont. . .ever again I promise" Kane cradled her in his arms trying to sooth her best he could. "I wont let him" His brow leaned to hers. He frowned seeing the scared look in her eyes, he had seen that look countless times before, he had caused that look more times then he could count, but not in Carrie she had no fear, she 'perceived' no fear. That girl was lost and Kane wanted nothing more then to find her. "Carrie Are you scared of me?" He asked the question that he had proposed to her the first day they met but with a whole new reasoning behind it. He was rewarded when he saw a gleam of a smile in her eyes. She bit her lip before speaking, till her world stopped spinning and she was sure of her surroundings. 'He's trying so hard to save me from myself' Her smile soured. She had always hated those damsels in distress, the ones who tripped over their Prada heels, running in the woods. 'And now I've become one, minus any fashion sense' She sighed before trying to sit up. "Carrie" He shook his head standing up, Carrie still held tight in his arms. "Answer me" He tried to relax her, anymore moving would be hell on her health.
"Yes" To them there was no one else there, it was the two of them as they stared at one another, there was no guilt, no pain, just them, just the love that they couldn't deny. "But don't take it personal everyone is scary to me. I have people phobia of sorts . Kane. . .I-" She was cut off as he kissed her lightly. "I. . .I love you" She spoke softly.
"I love you Carrie." He kissed her again, then looking at her, he ran his fingers down the center of her face, over the place he had accidentally knocked his elbow. "Sorry"
"I thought. . .Sidney I'm confused" Fisher scratched his head as he stood not able to comprehend Kane's docile side. Kane studied every inch of her with his heavy eyes, managing to hold her with one arm he traced her outline with his free hand. From the top of her rust brown hair down her bruised cheek that darkened her blue eyes, down her side, counting her ribs with his finger tips, then along her long leg. Carrie stroked Kane's arm with her shy hand. That embrace brought both of them to a level of calm and affection.
"This is weird. Carrie are you dating the guy with no eyebrows? Can I bring him to school. I bet none of my friends have ever met a real giant, ooh and you too" Olivia pulled at Fisher's pant leg while pointing at Kane and Taker. Fisher wiped some smeared blood from under his nose before speaking.
"You can bring Carrie to school when she comes home. How many kids know fire eaters?" Fisher compromised.
"Ok, once you get better" Olivia nodded at Carrie.
"Home?" Carrie questioned as though the word was foreign to her.
"Well your contract is up Carrie. You can go back to wrestling in Oregon till another one comes around. Things'll be back to normal, things like this wont happen anymore." Sidney shrugged like it was obvious to just up and leave.
"She's got to see a doctor, soon" Taker noted wanting the conversation not to take the turn it was. He saw how Kane fought for her, then turned and cared for her, Kane needed that woman and she needed him.
'We should take her to a hospital" Lizzie agreed.
"Come on Carrie lets go to the car" Sidney extended a hand hoping Kane would put her down.
"She comes with me to the hospital. . .then. . .you take her home" Kane spoke through clenched teeth.
A/n- I'm back. Much thats to all the people who commented on the last chapter I was pleased to know you enjoyed it. Way confusing chapter I know but it was meant to be. With eight people in a small hotel room yelling and brawling, it can get confusing. It'll only be this way for a little while longer till the group splits in a big way.
Now I'm at a crossroads, I could either end this story in a few chapters and start a new one, I've got two in mind. Or extend this story farther and keep it going, but with that I might need some suggestions on where to take it.