Chapter 38:

Planed, Unplanned and Distraught

Daniel groaned, the sun shone through the window and irritated his eyes and woke him from a sleep he had so richly needed. He yawned groggily and rolled over to look at the clock. 10:30, he had slept nearly 7 hours, the longest amount he had in ages. And, it was all because of her, Kathelina. After, he had got home he had been so high, not from weed, or alcohol or any other drug, but from her. She was better than any drug he had ever took. He kisses were healing, her touches comforting, just thinking about her drove him mad. He had no problem falling asleep the night before, for her face had been there every time he closed his eyes, it had been like a quit lullaby, putting him in a peaceful sleep. "Thank you, beauty.", she was the reason he had got a good sleep, the reason there was no nightmares, only peaceful dreams of her and him. He shook his head. 'No, Daniel she is off limits, she is too young, she could be pregnant with his child, Dylan's child, your brother's child.' But, he really didn't care if she was pregnant, he still wanted her, still desired her. 'If she is pregnant, I will help raise this child. I will no leave her alone with a child, I will not let her do this alone.' At that moment he realized that he was in deed, growing up, he had told a many of women were to go when they mentioned being pregnant by him or the possibility, but here he was ready to take on the responsibility of a child, a child that wasn't even his. He sighed, was her kisses that powerful, it was like she had placed a spell over him, bewitching him, with every move she made. 'No, Daniel this is just lust. Go for it, get her in bed and get it out of your system.'

Flashback

"Kathelina, you don't understand. You never saw the person you love more than anything be killed right in front of you, you never had to see them bury that person and know deep down inside it's your fought that she was drinking, that she was blazed.", he begin to cry and she put her head over on his shoulder.

"No, I haven't been through all that, but, Daniel, you've got so many people who love you, your brother, your sisters, your par…", Kathelina began.

"Don't even say my parents, Kat, they despise me, baby, they hate me and as for siblings, the only reason they even speak to me is because, they feel like I'm a pathetic worthless bum, who is friendless and un-lovable.", Daniel told her.

"That ain't so. Daniel, there's a lot things I can call you but, pathetic, worthless and a bum you are not..", Kathelina told him. "And, you've got me as a friend and you're a lovable person."

"God, why do you got to be like this? Why do you got to like me, no matter what I do and what I say and who all I've destroyed, Kat, most people see me as a loser, a low life, but not you, you see me for what I am, a person, who hurts and bleeds just as much as the next.", Daniel told her.

End of Flashback

He sighed, with frustration and anger, he was angry with himself. He could believe he even thought such a thing, he would never take Kathelina to bed, without having every attention of her staying there forever, every night for the rest of his life. His mind went back to the night before and the kiss they'd shared.

Flashback

"Beauty, before I tell you anything, promise me…can I uh, Kat, I need to feel your lips on mine, I need to…never mind.", Daniel told her. 'What in the hell, am I doing? I need to feel your lips on mine, that's a good one. What does she think…', his thoughts were interrupted when her lips came crashing down on his, he gently sucked her bottom lip, tasting her melon lip gloss, then before he knew it she had pulled back, he tried his best not to look disappointed.

End of Flashback

He wished she hadn't pulled back, he wished they could be like that forever. If he tried hard enough he could feel her lips on his, taste them and feel her hand in his. 'You have to stop this you can't do this, you can't lust after a girl, that will never ever be yours.'

Flashback

"I'll email you, I'll explain it all, besides it'll do me more good that way I mean, that way if you don't reply, then uh, I know that uh….", Daniel stuttered.

Kathelina smiled to herself. "Tongue tied are we, this is truly a Kodak moment.", she winked, then leaned forward and kissed him on the lips gently. "I suppose to feel guilty for doing that, ain't I?"

He looked at her. "What makes you say such a thing?"

"It's just I love Dylan and I shouldn't be kissing another man, especially not his brother, but Daniel I can't help myself.", Kathelina told him.

End of Flashback

'Why did she have to do that? Didn't she know what that did to me?', he sighed and got up out of bed, and walked to the living room, he had to find away of forgetting her, a way of getting her out of his head, he went to his suitcase and opened up the small compartment that had his solution in it, he quickly got the tissue like paper out and the grass like substance, he'd learned early in life to depend on this to get him through anything, April death, when his parents missed his birthday, when he was stuck at school on holidays, anything. He quickly rolled the herb.

Flashback

"The alcohol, the weed, Daniel, you still do those things.", Kathelina replied.

"Yeah, I do.", Daniel told her, Kathelina nodded. "Why, Daniel, I want to know about the rape and why you did it, but, most importantly, I want to know why you smoke that offal stuff and get drunk and…", Kathelina sighed. "Daniel, I think you're too good for it, I mean, you don't need that stuff, I mean here you sit, you aren't drunk or high and I like you, I like you a lot better like this than last night."

End of Flashback

It dropped unconsciously from his hand, he felt as if it had burned him. He couldn't bring himself to pick it up, he couldn't deny her this, she didn't want him to do this and somehow he would find away to live without it. 'Daniel, it'll be here when she's not, you know damn well that she will go back to him and forget you, just as soon as he wakes up. And, face it, the baby is his, he will be there for the both of them, not you. What happened last night meant not a damn thing to her, she was just being a friend and besides when you send that email it's going to be the end anyhow, she will never understand.'

He sighed, she was making him care for her, she was making fall for her and fast. He couldn't believe how close they had got it was like she was a part of him, the missing piece to his messed up self, he noticed her picture on the mantle, a picture he had never saw before. 'My God, she's beautiful, God, why in the hell did you send her in my life, if I can't have her? Why are you torturing me so much?'

He heard the noise that signals he had a new email ring out in the small apartment, he sighed it was like it was a sign from God, as to what he must do.

He quickly got on the computer, he had no clue how he would word it, how he would make her understand.

He typed in her email address in the bar, then began his email.

Kathelina,

I don't know how I'm going to do this, I don't want to lose you, but hey, I know that's quit possible. I want you to know that I'm glad for the short time you've been my friend, you have did more for me than most the friends I have had for years…

He stopped, he didn't know what to say to her, he didn't want to lose her, the truth was he was starting to like her friendship and the kindness she showed him was breathtaking, she had done so much for him. And, he had told her more about himself then he ever wanted anyone to know.

He sighed and continued.

…I've done many things I should have never, but, I can't change that. Like I said I was foolish. I was truly stupid and naïve ( yeah, naïve that's exactly what I was) I did stupid things and I behaved like a moron…

ring

ring

He quickly answered the phone.

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Kathelina paced around the small apart like a mad woman, the test was in the other room, were she had left it to sit, she couldn't do this alone, she need him, she needed the only person she had told, the only person she trusted, she nervously picked up the phone and called the apart number.

"Yo?", she heard him answer.

"Daniel, hey it's me, uh…I uh, can you please come here, I need you. Please, I need you so much.", she told him, her voice was like a whisper. 'What am I doing? He doesn't want to be bothered by me, he's probably got other things to do.'

"Sure, give me a few.", he replied. 'He couldn't leave her alone, she needed him and he'd be there for her.'

"Thank you.", Kathelina replied.

"Kat, I'm not trying to pry or nothing, but what's wrong?", Daniel asked.

"The test, I - I can't read the results alone I - I can't.", Kathelina told him.

"I'll be right over, beauty.", Daniel told her.

"Thank you.", she replied and heard a click on his end.

She sighed. "God, I'm becoming to depended on him, how am I ever going to explain this to Dylan or Gwen? I mean, I - Daniel, is becoming my best friend."

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He quickly copied and pasted what he had wrote on his word pad and saved it, this wasn't the time to send the email, she needed him, he could almost here vulnerability in her voice. Then, he quickly through a shirt over his back and pulled a part of pants over his hips, He grabbed the key and ran out the door. He arrived at her door about 2 minutes later and knocked on the door, he was surprised when the door jerked open at the first knock.

"Wow, that was, Daniel, I…", she ran into his arms and he held her close to him. "I'm scared.", she admitted.

"No need, Kat, I am here for you. Baby, I will be here no matter what and before you say it I will never judge you or look down my nose at you, because I haven't got the right.", Daniel told her.

Kathelina nodded. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, now come on let's get this done and over with, there's no use delaying it, you have to face it and I will be here, you'll never have to be alone.", he kissed her forehead.

Kathelina nodded. "Daniel, I -", he placed his hand in hers. "Come on Kathelina, I'm right by your side remember that.", he told her, she turned and they walked in the bathroom, she slowly picked it up and tears formed in her eyes.

"Is it positive? Kat, are you pregnant?", he gave her other hand a gentle squeeze, she shook her head no. "No.", he saw tears come in her eyes. "Daniel, I -."

"Did you want to be, beauty?", he asked, gently.

"Yes, no, I don't know, I mean, I - Dylan's going to die and well I just if they're was a baby then I would have a piece of him with me forever.", she began to weep.

"Come here.", he pulled her to him and held her to him as she cried. "I - Kat he'll be okay. He won't…Kat, you've always got me. I know you love him and I can't and don't want to take his place."

"Daniel, I - I have this feel that I about to lose him.", Kathelina told him. "It's so strong."

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Janet sighed, she was leaving town for good, she had nothing left in Harmony. She smiled to herself. "I have won, Kathelina.", she watched as the man beside her groaned. "Shh, baby, I'm here."

"Kathelina?", the man asked.

"No, it's me, baby. It's me, the woman you love.", Janet kissed his lips

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"Doctor Russell, we're losing him.", the nurse told her.

"Come on Dylan, you can't die on me.", Eve told him shocking him again, and once again he gave her no response.

"Clear.", Eve exclaimed.

"Doctor Russell, he - he's dead.", the nurse told her.

"I'm afraid so.", Eve replied, placing the sheet over the dead corpse.

"That girl is going to be so distraught.", the nurse told her.

"Yeah, Kathelina loves Dylan more than anything, I think we should call Daniel let him go break the news to Kat.", Eve told her. "I can't bring myself to do it.", she followed the nurse to the desk and picked up the phone and called Daniel's cell.

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Daniel held Kathelina to him they both were silent.

ring

ring

"Uh.", he grabbed the phone from his pocket. "Kat it's Eve I really need to get it, okay. I'll be back, okay, baby.", she nodded, and let go of him reluctantly.

"Yo?", he asked.

"Daniel, it's me doctor Russell, listen is Kat with you?", Eve asked.

"No.", he lied, he had a feel that something bad had happened, he placed his finger to his lips signaling her to be quiet.

"Good, Daniel, I uh, I don't know how to say this…", Eve began.

"Be straight up with me is he dead?", Daniel asked, he watched panic surface in Kathelina's eyes.

"I did my best, but I couldn't save him.", Eve told him.

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment. "What do you need me to do now?"

"Funeral arrangements will have to be made and uh, you need to come in a identify the body.", Eve told him, he sighed. "Okay, I'll be in later.", with that he hung up.

"Daniel, what's a wrong?", Kathelina asked, she ran to him ,she couldn't help but, feel as if something was wrong with Dylan.

"Kat, come on let's go in the living room, you need to sit down.", he told her, then she busted out crying.

"He's dead, he's dead ain't he?", she asked, tears ran down her face, he didn't answer he simply stared at her for what seemed like forever. "Answer me, damn it is he dead? Daniel, please I have the right to know."

Daniel nodded. "Yes, Kat, he is dead.", Daniel told and watched as she began to sob uncontrollably. "It - Daniel, this can't happen, this can't happen.", he wrapped his arms around her and she continued to sob.

"Shh, beauty, shh you're going to make yourself sick.", he whispered kissing the top of her forehead.

"Dan- Daniel it ain't fair, Dylan was an innocent by stander, he - he was protecting me, he jumped in front of the bullet to save me.", he rubbed her shoulders, lightly.

"He loved you, that much I am sure.", Daniel told her, kissing her forehead. 'My God, she doesn't deserve this, why didn't you take me and leave him? She needs him can't you see that? Why are you punishing her like this? She doesn't deserve it, she is a decent human being, if anyone deserves pain it's me, why not punish me, why her? Why must she have to suffer?'

"Come on lets go in here, okay?", he told her, and she reluctantly got to her feet and he walked her to the living room, he sit her down on the couch.

"Why don't I go get you a cup of…", she shook her head no. "Can you bring him back, that is the only thing I need or want right now, is him. Daniel, I will never see him again, I will never kiss his lips, hold his hand, make love to him, I will never be with the man I love ever again."

Daniel sighed, then turned his attention to the picture of the TV of Dylan. His brother was dead, his only brother was dead. 'Why god, why did you take him, I deserve to die not him, he is a decent person, he and Kat, they were happy together, I am a miserable excuse for a human being, I am an alcoholic, a drug attic and an embarrassment to the Banning name, why couldn't you have took me and not him.' he was woke out of his daze, when he felt her hand in his, he leaned his forehead against hers, so that they were staring directly into each other's eyes. "It's alright to care. You loved him, I know that.", Kat told him. He gave her hand a gently squeeze. "I didn't know him to good, I mean, we haven't spoken since April's death really. He tried but, I - Kat, I let my only brother die without telling him I loved him that, I care, that…", her tears were now mixing with his.

"I think he knew.", Kathelina replied, she looked at him, and for the first time she saw just how terrible it was for him. She felt like slapping herself hard across the face for being so selfish and for not thinking of him. 'He must be going through hell.', he held her against his chest, they both couldn't stop the tears from flowing..

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"No problem, you are hired. You are to take my notes and answer the phone.", Theresa got up and walked out of the room and into the other office which would be Noah's. "I will have a desk put in there, you are my new secretary I'm sure Helena will be glad for the help.", Theresa told him. "All I need now is one more for Kat and we'll be all set."

"What you want 3 secretaries?", Noah asked, Theresa nodded.

"Yeah, having one poor soul taking notes for all three of us is ridiculous."

"I agree.", Noah replied.

"Now, come on let's start this training.", Theresa told him, she picked up her cell phone and call the telephone on the desk.

"Answer the call.", she told him, he gave her a confused look, then picked up the phone on the desk. "Good morning , Crane Industries this is Noah speaking, how may I help you?", Noah asked, giving her a shrug.

"Good.", Theresa replied. "Now don't hang up."

"Okay.", Noah replied.

"Yes, I need to speak to Theresa Lopez- Fitzgerald Crane or Fox Crane concerning the contract of Anna Kisser.", Theresa replied, watching as he shrugged.

"What do I do?", Noah asked. "I mean do you speak to the person or do I take message?"

"If I tell you that I won't be excepting calls then you take a message you get a name and number if I am taking calls you hit this button right here.", she went over and clicked the button on the phone which went to her office.

"Okay.", Noah told her, and watched as Theresa walked back in her office and he followed. "You can take notes right and type out memos and letters and important stuff?", Theresa asked.

He nodded. "Yup."

"Good.", Theresa replied.

knock

knock

"Come in.", Theresa replied, watching Fox walk in., she could tell something was wrong.

"Fox, what happened?", Theresa asked.

"Dylan. Eve called she wants me to get up with Kat, uh, Dylan's dead. He uh, he's dead.", she nodded. "Fox, Oh My God.", she wrapped her arms around him, and began to weep.

"I'm sorry for your loss.", Noah replied.

"Thank you, Noah.", Theresa replied, turning to him.

"Yeah, thanks.", Fox muttered.

"Well, uh, I'll… boss am I excused. I'm… Fox and you uh, want to go check on uh, Kat and uh, well…", Noah began.

"Go, I mean, I need to be with Fox and Kat and everyone who loved Dylan. I'll call you tonight and tell you wither or not we'll be here tomorrow and can you leave a note on Helena's desk, let her know we won't be here the rest of the day.", Theresa told him, it was times like this she was the strong one the one who keep it together.

Noah nodded. "Okay, Tell Kathelina that my prayer are with her and the rest."

"I will and thank you.", Theresa replied.

"Your welcome, if y'all need anything holla at me, okay.", Noah told her.

"Thanks.", Theresa replied.

"Your welcome.", Noah replied, walking out of the room leaving the two alone.

"He' s the only on of them I had left, I mean April's dead, and Dylan. Theresa , you're the only one I have now.", Fox told her.

"It's going to be okay, I'll never leave or abandon you.", Theresa told him.

"Theresa, you don't know when you're going to die.", Fox replied.

"I know, but, you can make everyday count.", Theresa replied.

He nodded. "Theresa, what would I do without you."

"You'll never have to find out.", Theresa told him kissing his lips softly, then she broke away from him. "I think Kat needs you, I know she's got to be a hurtin'."

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knock

knock

They broke apart, both startled. "That uh, is probably Fox or uh, Rachel, I uh…", Daniel began.

"You're staying here no matter what my brother or sister says, you have just lost your only brother and if they don't want you here then they can just leave.", she wiped the tears from her eyes and walked to the door and swung it open.

"Fox, Theresa, come in.", she tried to sound collected, and calm.

"Uh, God, why is he…", Theresa hit him in the arms. "Fox, don't he's just lost his brother."

"Whatever, I swear if he's use this to get down her pants I'll…", Theresa turned away from her husband, "Kathelina, I- I just heard, I'm sorry.", Theresa told her Fox at her side.

"Yeah, uh, Dylan's my best friend, Kat, I'm…", she ran to Fox and hugged him tightly, Daniel watch the two, Fox was Dylan's best friend, and like it or not Dylan thought highly of the man.

"Kat, I'll be going, I'm sure Fox and you have…", Daniel began.

"No stay here, Daniel I don't want you to be alone.", she bit her lips, when she noticed Fox's displeased look.

"Kat, really I'll be just fine, I don't need…", Daniel began.

"You - Daniel, please stay here, I, I want you here, I need you here.", Kathelina told him. 'Damn, I think she's got me wrapped around her little pinky and I think she knows that.'

"Kat, you heard the man he wants to…", Fox began.

"I'll stay.", Daniel replied, watching as Fox sighed in frustration.

Kathelina gave him a small smile as to say thanks. "I, Daniel I - Fox could you and Theresa go identify the body, I don't want to and I don't want him to either, I mean, Daniel is hurt by this I'm sure and…"

"Hurt, yeah, right.", Fox replied.

"Nicholas, please don't…", Kathelina began.

"Kat, don't take up for me. Fox hates me and I'm sure he wishes it was me, well you want to know something so do I , I wish, I was dead and not Dylan, okay. I wish I had died and if I could I would trade my life for his.", Daniel told him.

"Fox, please, Daniel don't say that, neither of you should be dead.", Theresa replied, she watched Kathelina out of the corner of her eye the girl was so upset, she watched Daniel walk over to her and take her in his arms, she couldn't help but, smile Daniel remotely cared for the girl and Kat liked him in return.

"Shh, beauty, I'm here, shh. Don't, it's going to be, okay. He's in heaven.", Daniel held her as she sobbed.

"Get your…", Fox began.

"Fox, please don't okay, not now. Kat's just lost the only man she's ever loved. Let him be there for her, they need each other right now.", Theresa told him.

"Resa, he is playing on her vulnerability, he is working her in order to get what he wants.", Fox told her, Theresa jerked him out of Kathelina's hearing reach. "Fox, please, he seems to care for her."

"The only thing he cares about is what she's got between her legs, he's out to get her in bed.", Fox told her.

"Would you quit it, the man just lost his brother and I understand your anger and you may have the right to be, but this isn't the time or the place for this, okay.", Theresa told him.

"Dylan, didn't like him, he wouldn't want him around her.", Fox told her.

"Fox, please let it go. Kat is an adult and I'm sure she wouldn't let him use her, she's a smart girl.", Theresa told him.

Daniel kissed her forehead. "I wish you and Fox would get along, I mean, I - the both of you are hurting I know the both of you cared about him and no matter what Fox says I will not cut you out of my life you are the only part of him I have left and besides you're my friend and I- I like being around you.", he looked at her for a second.

"I would do anything for you include, die in exchange for Dylan to live but, I can't get along with Fox, too much has happened and I, I do hope you keep me in your life, because you're all I have left. My parents hate me, my sisters, Dylan never was to fond of me, but uh, at least he took the time to try and be my brother, I just wish I hadn't pushed him away. But, uh, I did help raise you know up till I 18, then I kind of abandoned him and my sisters.", Daniel told him. "I remember, one time he uh, he feel off his bike he was about 5, I was about 8 or 9 and he begged me to not leave him so here I was a 8 year old boy sitting there trying my damn best to keep him calm, I remember the look in his eye, he admired me, I mean he looked up to me. Everything I did he wanted to do. If I got a new bike he got a new bike, if I got a new hair cut he got a matching one. I uh, I remember the night he caught me getting high and with a girl, My God, his image of me was shattered. He didn't say nothing just left and after that day he never saw me as his hero, just a big fat zero, a nothing."

Fox watch Kathelina and Daniel, he swore to keep him away from her, there was no way that creep was going to take advantage of his baby sister.

Spoilers for Chapter 39:

Kathelina asks Daniel to stay the night.

Fox and Rachel conspired to get Daniel out of Harmony.

Ethan and Theresa have a heart to heart.

Fox gets jealous when he sees how close Theresa and Noah are.