Now, it should be painfully obvious that the next few months were nothing short of hectic. And let's not forget that not only was I the only one working now, meaning I had to cut Lucy and Kat personal time down to nil – as had Rachel and Kat time, but I had to work while Scott grumbled and groaned about me not doing something right or about his arm hurting. So many times I wished it was his fault so I could have thrown it in his face that if he hadn't done this or that it never would have happened. Then, of course, I would have told him to shove it where the sun doesn't shine. But since it wasn't his fault, and since I knew I could only imagine the sort of pain the poor guy was in I let most of his comments slide. At least for the first few weeks. I tried to be patient and understanding, but Mother Teresa I'm not.

I don't think Scott and I had argued so much before. It seemed like anytime we were in the same room we were at each others throats. I was tempted to call Rachel so that there could be a mediator. But as Scott's arm continued to heal the arguments showed up less often. And Scott's mood got much better because he was able to do more than just sit around and critique my work. Which, by the way, had been at an all time low. Now, I realize that every time business is low it seems as if it's worse than before. But let me tell you, this was really low. Somehow the big clients had gotten wind of Scott being out or something, because we were once again to the end of our stack of money in our wall safe. Scott was out of a cast, but he still had three weeks before his last doctor's visit. Had there been any work to do, he would have been able to help. But since there wasn't, he was only able to sit around while I organized and cleaned tools and complain about everything in general, from where I was putting the tools to the cash supply.

And since money has been mentioned, let's just talk about the hospital bills. It was outrageous. When Dr. Harris had told me it was going to be expensive, I figured no big deal. Well, I finally understand why only the incredibly rich go to the hospital. I assume if the hospital hadn't charged us out the ass we wouldn't be so far down in our stack of money. But being that shit happens, we took care of it and prayed that people wouldn't mind that it was just me working on cars. Not that Scott is so much better than I am, but admittedly, he is. Not only that but most of the men that come to do business are more interested in getting into my pants than me getting up to my elbows in grease with their cars. For all the time that's passed, women still get that short end of the stick on that end.

Anyway, three months for Scott to be declared fully healed and bring in business seemed more like three years, and we were running out of everything. Food, paint, car parts, even tools were winding up missing. It was hell and I wasn't going to stand for it anymore. I ended up storming into the shack after not being able to find the hatchet wrench, declaring that I was sick and tired of working like a mule and I was going out.

After getting appropriately dressed I went to find Rachel. Luckily she was at her place also getting ready to go out. Rachel actually has a very nice place for someone of her income of nothing but charity. Well, the income that I could tell at any rate. Somehow she managed to get this tiny house – yes an actual house – in an area of town that wasn't too scary to go in by yourself. It had been raided several times and had a reputation of being haunted or something so no one wanted to bother with it, let alone live in it. No one, except Rachel. I never did ask how she managed to get electricity and water run into the place, and frankly, I don't care enough to know. All I know is that she has it and that's good for me.

Her eyes lit up like diamonds when I walked into her room and in a matter of seconds she had pulled on a pair of platform shoes and we were off. I tried to keep my head up and not think about Scott alone and miserable at home, but it was hard. Rachel was noticing that I had something on my mind, but I refused to divulge anything other than it'd been a hard day working.

She seemed to accept that and we entered that warehouse and went to our designated corner. It was like being welcomed back to the family. Ian gave me a free drink and a bunch of people came up to me to tell me they were happy to see me again. Some of them even knew why I had been gone. Go figure. I turned down six offers for comfort sex, accepted two drinks and one big kiss from a chick that wasn't really into girls, but just liked people to think so. After a couple of drinks I was flying. Scott and the garage was the last thing on my mind and all I cared about were having good times.

I now realize that good times are for optimists with a lot of money and no enemies.

Rachel and I were in the midst of bumping and grinding when suddenly I was knocked flat on my ass. Yes, I was buzzed, but I was not drunk. If it were two in the morning, then I would have been drunk and lain there and laughed. It wasn't. And I wasn't laughing. I jumped to my feet and glared at the little blonde who had slammed herself into me. She glared back then stuck her nose up in the air and turned around, walking off to a table.

"What the hell was that about?" Rachel questioned, pulling me back to her.

"I don't know." I answered; shaking off my frustration and wrapping my arms around Rachel as a slower song began. "It doesn't matter anyway. All that matters is us here."

Rachel grinned and gave me a soft kiss. And for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what was going on. I don't know what, but something was different. Something felt different. I tried to shake the feeling by kissing her back passionately, but that only lasted a few seconds because once again I found myself on my ass.

I looked up at the blonde who was smirking evilly at me and jumped up. That was it. It was bad enough I was distracted while hanging out with my girlfriend, but now I was being shoved around by some midget blonde thing. Now that I was really looking at her, she looked familiar from somewhere. Not one of the people that usually hung out here, that was for sure.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" I sneered, hands clenched in fists at my sides.

The blonde turned to Rachel and whispered something that didn't look like words of comfort. My brow furrowed as I watched Rachel's face soften, then harden again. What in the hell was going on? I neared Rachel and listened as she reprimanded the girl for getting in her girl's space. To which the blonde argued that she thought that she was her girl, not some string bean hoochie.

My jaw tightened and I tapped the blonde on her shoulder, "Excuse me." I growled, "But I was talking to you, bitch."

"Well I wasn't talking to you, whore." She snapped, then grabbed Rachel's hand, trying to pull her away.

Rachel looked like a deer caught in the headlights as both the blonde and I looked her down. "Both of you stop. Let's go talk about this."

"Talk about what?" I asked, completely lost.

Rachel shot me a look that said "don't say another word" and turned to walk to our corner.

Both the blonde and I followed in toe. When we reached the considerably quieter corner of the ware house Rachel turned to both of us and took a deep breath, "Jesse, this is Kat. Kat, Jesse."

"I know who she is." Jesse sneered.

"Well I don't know who you are, so shut up while someone gives me a fucking clue." I shot at her. There was something in that gaze. Jesse. Jesse? Oh, hell. Yeah, now I knew who she was. Miss Blonde Naked Chick in my bed with Scott.

"Kat," Rachel stepped between us, "Calm down."

I took a breath and sighed, "I'm supposed to calm down after Blondie here tried to knock me away from you?" Why was she pissed about me being with Rachel? Scott was a one-night stand to her. How the hell can you be that pissed about a one-night stand?

"It's not her fault." Rachel defended, "She didn't know you were going to be here."

I blinked, shaking my head. "You're not making any sense."

Jesse went to say something, but Rachel held a hand up, "I'll deal with you later. So for now, get lost."

She conceded, after shooting me a dagger like glare, once more.

"Rach, what's going on?" I insisted.

Rachel bit her lip before taking a seat, "Well, you were gone for so long. And I mean I didn't know Jesse was going to be here. She's not supposed to come here unless I bring her. I didn't think there would be a problem."

"A problem?"

"Jesse was sort of your temporary replacement," she said in rush, her brown eyes gazing up at me from under her eyelashes.

Understanding dawned on me, "Oh." I said quietly, unsure of how I felt about Rachel had a replacement. I mean, it's not as if I pegged her as the poster girl for monogamy. We had both fooled around with other people, but never behind each other's back. I never even considered that she would really find a replacement for me.

"It's just that, you've been so dedicated to helping Scott get better. Which is totally cool and I'm okay with that. But I had to find someone else to hang with until you got back. And, admit it, she's cute. I figured once Scott was back in his cave the three of us could have some fun before she got too annoying and I ditched her."

I glanced over at Jesse then back at Rachel, "She is cute, but still. You could have at least warned me. I mean, she may be small, but she hits hard. And she's already annoying."

"What?" Rachel squeaked, her eyes wide, "You mean you're okay with this?"

I smiled and grabbed Rachel's hand, "Okay might not be the word to use, but there's not much I can do about it. Besides, I know that there's a special place for me inside of you. And I haven't been around much for the last few months. I guess I can deal with you getting a little lovin' on the side, as long as it's not as good as me."

"Thank you." She smiled, giving me a hug and kissing my cheek, "You will always be number one, girl. But again, she's cute, and she does know how to have a good time." Rachel looked over to Jesse and winked. Jesse, unsure of what to do gave a half smile before turning to the bar.

"Is she going to try to impale me again if we go back to the dance floor?" I questioned standing and pulling Rachel up next to me.

"Not if I go talk to her." She smiled, "Wait here."

I watched Rachel saunter off before shaking my head, one never knew what was going to happen when you were out with Rachel. I suppose that was a good thing. I sipped on my drink and watched Blondie's expression as Rachel talked to her. Whatever she was saying was not making Blondie happy. Go Rach. She shot me a murderous glare and I raised my drink in a silent salute to her good taste in girlfriends. Blondie glared for a second longer and then turned back to Rach, her face pleading. Wrong tactic. Rachel hated people whining and groveling. Rachel stood it for about ten seconds and then waved her off.

Rachel was on her way back my way when I thought I heard someone say my name. I glanced at the entrance then at the bar. I swear, I heard it again, louder this time. I walked towards Rachel, "Everything alright?"

"She's cool." Rachel nodded then stopped. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

"What?" I asked, turning to look where her eyes focused, then my facial expressions matched hers. There stood Scott, a huge grin on his face.

Even more surprising was when he caught me around the waist and swung me around. When my feet were back on solid ground I opened my mouth to ask what the hell was going on when he held up a card. A card with gold engravings. A card that read T. A. Barron. My eyes widened even more so and I threw my arms around Scott, knowing now what the hugs were for.

After our short rejoicing I dragged him to a table and demanded details. Apparently shortly after I'd left Barron's man came in and said he'd heard about my accident but he needed a car. He offered to pay double if Scott could have it for him by the time Barron needed it. Scott accepted the deal and had ran to tell me.

His eyes shone as I squealed with delight, "I can't believe it! You mean we're out of the dog house then?"

Scott looked around cautiously and motioned me to sit next to him. I did and he motioned to his pants pocket. I glanced at him before slipping my hand into his pocket, besides the butterflies in my stomach I felt my hands slide around a rather large wad of bills.

"How much did he give you?" I whispered.

"Enough." He answered, smiling carelessly.

I pulled him up and gave him another big hug, "Scott. This is…this is amazing!"

Now, I was in the midst of happiness. My good times were rolling. We had money, which meant we could get a decent meal, which also meant that life wouldn't be as hard and we'd be working. Everything was great.

Until Blondie showed up.

She gave Scott an appreciative gaze before her eyes narrowed in on me, "Just because she left you for me doesn't mean you have to downgrade your standard to that."

I had just been given a gift that I had wanted more than anything. And here she was coming, trying to take my gift and shatter it into a million pieces. Well, I was beyond self-control at this point. And she'd just referred to Scott as a downgrade. And I'm sorry, but no. Not how it works.

So I did what any person in my situation would have done. I jumped forward and slugged her across the face. She let out a shriek before she fell to the ground and I pounced on top of her, reaming her body with hits as I swore at her in as many languages as I could think of or make up.

And can I just add as a side note, it felt really good. Even after Scott and Rachel dragged me off of her and held me at bay. To see the poor girls face all bloodied and her body hunched in pain, it did me a world of good. She'd stolen my sunshine. Damn right she was going to pay out the nose for it. I know I had no real good reason for going postal on the girl, but again. It felt really good.

Finally I shook Scott and Rachel off and spit on her, "Don't fuck with me, Jesse. Get off your jealously kick, it's been done before."

At that I unruffled my clothes with my hands, turned around, grabbed Scott's hand and left the club. We had work to do.

Of course as I was dragging Scott home Rachel had to interrupt me from letting my mind try to blot out the whole night. I had heard her calling my name from the start, I was just choosing to ignore her. I wasn't in the mood to talk to her. I mean, I said I was okay about her and Jesse, and I wanted to be, but come on. I had been working my ass off to keep food in the shack, and she was getting offended that I wasn't playing with her 24/7. But then she started running, and I'm sorry, but Rachel doesn't run, she sort of waddles while managing to kick her ass with her heels. Especially when she's in four inch heels. It doesn't make sense really, a girl with so much grace on the dance floor should be able to run just as gracefully, but apparently not. So to save her the humiliation, and from the hard concrete below, I stopped and walked back to her. Scott was smart enough to keep his distance. I always liked him.

I was ready to shout and spit angry foul things at Rachel, which she knew and put up a hand in advance, calmly grabbing my hand and sighing, "Kat, we need to talk."

Again, I was ready to jump into another fight, but at those words, words I never thought I'd ever hear Rachel say, it was as if I'd hit a brick wall. "Uh oh," I stumbled, "No one likes to hear those words. You can't be serious."

Rachel let out another sigh and squeezed my hand before letting go, "I know, I know, so don't make this any more awkward or uncomfortable." Rachel hadn't been awkward telling me she had been fooling around with a girl that hated me. That should say a lot.

"What's going on?" I asked, straightening up and taking a small step back.

She looked down at her feet then up at me, "I can't do this anymore."

Oh my God. She was serious. What was going on? Of course, being brilliant, I had to ask, "Do what?" I glanced around. "Dance?" I offered hopefully.

"No." Rachel scoffed, wiping a tear from her face. "This." She motioned between her and I, "Us."

Okay, Rachel crying, my cluelessness, and a bit of alcohol was not working well with me, "What? Why? What's wrong with us? I thought us was great."

"Key word being was, Kat." She bit her lip, "Face it, you and I have become less of an us while you and that garage have become more of one."

My brown furrowed. "You're jealous of my work? You know that it's important to me, and you should know that despite that, I care about you more than I care about my work."

Rachel looked past me at Scott, "Do you though?"

Ouch, that one hurt. "Of course I do!" I insisted, taking a step towards her.

"That must be why you disappear for weeks at a time. No calls, no visits, no dancing. Nothing," she accused. What about trying to make ends meet while Scott was hurt? Sorry, but some of us can't drop the pride enough to take handouts. That's too close to my mother's lifestyle.

I opened my mouth to argue but Rachel held up a finger to stop me, "Don't. Because you need to let me finish." I nodded and shifted my weight to the other foot, silently resigning myself to her hard words. "You know what I meant, by saying the garage takes up your time now. I know you do." Her eyes glanced at Scott again, "And I don't know what happened. I mean, this was supposed to just be for fun, you and I, not something that lasted or got serious." She bit her lip again, "But dammit Kat, you…you…I don't even know. You got closer to me than I wanted you to." My eyes stopped wandering at that point and focused on Rachel.

"I see you, Kat. I see you searching for fulfillment. I see you trying to find what you want." She grabbed my hand lightly, "And I also see that you're not sure that I am what you want, or need. And before I let myself fall even more in love with you, I need to let you go so you can find what you want and need."

My eyes grew wide. L-word alert. She had said love and not in the context of 'I love the way your butt looks in that skirt'. Rachel's eyes were big and watery. "You will never be able to love me the way I need you to until you know for yourself what you want, or even if I am that."

I stood, shocked and unsure of what to do or say. She was right, but she was wrong. But she was, oh, I didn't even know. I thought I knew what I wanted, but then again, I wasn't sure. My emotions were rising to the surface and I knew that this was definitely not what I wanted. I tried to pull away from her, but she kept her grip on my hand, "So Kat," she continued, letting more tears flow down her cheeks, "I love you, and I always will. And if you do find what you want and I'm it, I'll be waiting. But if not, that's okay too. Find what makes you happy, Kat." Her eyes wondered to Scott once more, "Find it and never let go." With that she leaned in and gave me a soft kiss before turning and walking away.

I don't know how long I stood there, staring as she walked away and back into the club. I was doing everything in my power not to scream and shout or cry. I was so confused and didn't know what in the hell had just happened. A few hours ago and my life was okay. Crazy, but okay. Now, it was as if everything in my world had gone screwy and it was all upside down now. I was still staring after Rachel when I felt a hand touch my arm, "Come on Kat, let's go home."

I turned to see Scott's face. So many things ran through my head in that moment. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hug him and cry into his shoulder or sock him across the jaw. Once again resigning my emotions, I swallowed my feelings and nodded, 'Yeah. We have work to do."