"Is this really how you want to go down? With a gun pointing at you?" she said sadly as she pulled her gun out of her holster
"There's no life for me here, just do it already" he answered back angrily
"We can work this out, it doesn't have to end in bloodshed" she yelled nervously as she heard footsteps approaching
"You know as well as I do they'll just send me back to jail" he answered sadly
"Then we fight and we fight some more you can't just give up" she said sadly
"Giving up is all I know how to do" he answered softly as the footsteps got louder
"Please don't do this" she answered her hands shaking
"I'm sorry…" he said moving towards her as the room was surrounded
"Police step away from the officer!" the man yelled as he kept walking towards her
"I said step away from the officer!" he yelled once more before firing on him
"JAKE!!!!!" she yelled dropping her gun as she rushed to his side placing pressure on his wounds
"I'm sorry…" he said softly as he struggled to breathe
"You're going to be fine" she said as the tears fell down her cheek
"Call an Ambulance now!" she yelled at the officers who were just standing around watching the scene unfold
"Kate…" he said softly grabbing her free hand as he coughed up blood
"No! Don't do this…" she answered quickly as another officer took over putting pressure on his wound
"It's okay…" he said sadly as she moved out of the way of the officer
"This isn't how things are supposed to go…" she answered gripping his hand tightly
"Things don't always work out how they are supposed to…" he said grinning slightly at her
"Now is not the time for one of your 'life' quotes" she said trying to smile at him
"From the moment I held you in my arms I knew it was going to be my job to protect this little human being" he said softly as he began to tear up
"No… You have to hold on okay, the ambulance is on the way" she said squeezing his hand
"I love you Kit always have I may not show it at times but I really do" he said reaching up to brush his thumb across her cheek
"Jake please…." She answered sadly as his hand fell from her face
"I'm sorry miss but he's gone…" the officer said feeling for a pulse
"NO!!!!" she said through the tears as she held his hand tight
"I'm sorry…" she said softly as she placed his hand down on his chest.
Sitting against the wall watching as they zipped up the body bag getting one last look at the man who had dead in front of her a man she was to now mourn? Is this how life is supposed to go?
"Miss?" he said softly as he knelt in front of her
"Yeah…" she answered sadly brushing the tears off her cheek
"What's your name?" he asked grabbing a pen from his pocket
"Kate McGregor" she answered staring at him blankly
"Is there someone I can call for you Kate?" he asked pulling out his notepad
"Um no… I just…" she said softly as they lifted him onto the gurney
"Can I ask you relation to the offender?" he asked as she turned to look at him angrily
"He was my brother…" she answered angrily as she arose from her spot on the ground and followed them out of the building.
Six years earlier:
"Come on Kit it'll be fun" he said parking the car out the front of a house
"Your idea of fun is very different to mine" she said looking over at him
"Everyone has to experience a FRAT party once in their life" he said grinning at her as he took his seatbelt off
"Jake I'm 17 not even in Uni yet I'm not even old enough to drink" she said unclicking her belt
"Come on how many people can say their older brother let them come to a party with them" he said opening his car door
"Your only three years older than me" she answered bluntly as she exited the car
"Exactly I'm full of Uni experiences and besides Max will be here" he said locking the car and moving around to her side
"And that's supposed to impress me?" she said crossing her arms
"Come on Kit I know you have feelings for him" he said wagging his eyebrows up and down at her
"He's your best friend which means he's off limits" she said shaking her head
"Well tonight I'm giving you a free pass to tell him how you feel" he said walking up the footpath
"Really, what's the catch?" she asked confused following him up the path
"No catch" he said smirking at her
"Right…" she answered as they stopped at the door and he knocked
"Now I'm giving you a two drink minimum and whatever you do stay away from the stoners Mum will kill me if you come home drunk and high" he said as the door flew open and they made their way inside to find Max.
"So Kit, Jake tells me your joining the Navy when you leave school" Max asked as they were sitting in the corner of the room as Jake mingled
"Thinking about it yeah" she answered smiling at him
"Always knew you were a smarty" he said nudging her slightly
"Well I don't really want to stay here my whole life" she said leaning into the couch
"It's not all bad is it?" Max answered grinning at her
"The only thing keeping me here is the fact that I'm still finishing school and certain other things" she said smiling at him
"Am I one of those things?" he asked hopeful moving closer to her
"You could be" she said grinning as she watched him arise from the couch
"Come with me" he said holding out his hand
"Where are we going?" she asked confused as she reached for his hand
"For once Kit live for the thrill of the moment" he said pulling her off the couch as he walked her out the back to a small bungalow
"What is this place?" she asked sitting down on the small bed
"Think of it as an escape" he said pulling the door shut
"From what?" she asked confused as he sat next to her
"From everyone else, I wanted to talk to you without Jake always being around and listening in" he said smiling at her
"Really?" she asked confused
"Yeah, look Kit we've known each other for a long time growing up together and all however over these past two years things between us have changed and I know you notice it as well" he said looking at her hopeful
"We shouldn't be discussing this" she said moving to stand
"Kit wait…" he said reaching for her hand Kate stopping as he grabbed her
"Max we can't…" she said softly as he arose to stand in front of her
"You can't say you don't feel this to Kit, I'm opening myself up to you" he said placing his hands on her waist
"Your my brothers best friend" she said sadly
"I can't help the way I feel about you Kit and I know you feel the same way" he said moving a hand up to caress her cheek
"It doesn't matter how I feel" she answered softly
"Tell me Kit, tell me how you feel" Max said softly pulling her close
"I like you Max a lot like a lot a lot more than just friends" she answered quietly looking down
"Like love?" he asked placing his hand under to her chin to lift her head
"Yes, I know I'm probably too young to even comprehend what love is but I know this feeling I have for you and it's something I've never experienced…" she said rambling on
"Kit your rambling" he said grinning at her
"Sorry…" she said giggling
"I love it, and I love you" he said smirking at her
"Really?" she asked confused
"Yes you dummy, now can I kiss you?" he asked hopeful as she nodded he leant in slowly meeting her lips in a soft but sensual kiss as they both sunk into the kiss they maneuvered each other to the small bed where they had sat minutes earlier.
It was just after 2am when Jake pulled into the driveway
"So you and Max disappeared for half the night" he said turning off the engine
"We talked about some things" she said smiling at him as she took her belt off
"Looks like you did more than talking" he said pointing to the hickey on her neck
"Are you mad?" she asked nervously
"No Kit I'm not mad, but if he hurts you it's my right as your big brother to beat the crap out of him" he answered bluntly
"But he's your best friend" she said confused
"And? Your my little sister, it's my job to look out for you" he said exiting the car as she followed
"So you're not mad?" she asked again as they entered the house
"I'm happy for you Kit it's about time you two got together I'm sick of hearing him go on and on about you" he said grinning as they made their way down the hall towards the kitchen
"He does not" she said playfully hitting his arm
"No but seriously be careful relationships are hard and I'd hate to see you get hurt if things don't work out" he said sadly placing his keys on the bench
"I can look after myself" she said catching the bottle of water he threw at her
"I know you can, it's him I worry about" he said laughing as he closed the fridge
"Do you two have any idea what time it is?!" a woman's voice said angrily as she entered the kitchen
"Mum? I thought you were in bed" Kate answered nervously "Well I've been up worried sick about you, you took her to a party didn't you?" she said angrily looking at Jake
"She's fine Kit can take care of herself" Jake answered as he sat down at the table
"Have you been drinking?" her Mum asked as she moved towards Kate
"No…" Kate answered softly
"Get to bed, you've got netball tomorrow" her Mum answered pointing down the hall
"You got to stop being so harsh on her Mum she's just trying to be a normal teenager" Jake answered sadly as Kate exited the room
"She's 17!" she answered sitting next to him
"Yes but she'll be 18 next month she will be leaving for the Navy soon she's not a kid anymore" Jake answered softly
"I know… But for now she's still my little girl" she answered sadly
"Has she got her acceptance letter yet?" he asked hopeful
"Not yet, you staying the night?" she asked hopeful
"Yeah, I'll drive back to my dorm tomorrow" he answered arising from the chair
"Spare towels are on the bed" she answered as he kissed her forehead
"Night Mum" he said softly before heading in the same direction as Kate.
Present:
It had been 2 weeks since the day her brother lost his life during this time she had gone back home to be with her grieving mother who was struggling with the loss, she couldn't help but blame herself a little for the events that unfolded that day he may have been older but it was her turn to look after him and protect him from himself but she had failed.
Sitting at the bar in the local pub she was surprised as she heard a faint voice from behind
"Kate?" he asked softly as he moved next to her
"Max…" she answered sadly
"How are you doing?" he asked sadly
"Oh you know…" she said turning to face him he was older now only six years older but still older different from when she last saw him, he had a beard now it suited him made him look more mature than he really was.
"I'm sorry for your loss…" he answered softly placing a comforting hand on her shoulder
"Thanks…" she answered sadly as the bartender placed a drink on front of her
"Can I join you?" he asked hopeful pulling the stool out next to her
"I won't be much company…" she answered softly as she took a sip of her drink
"That's okay neither will I" he said sadly as he sat down
"You want a drink?" she asked looking at him
"Sure, I'll have what you're having" he said smiling weakly at her
"Bourbon on the rocks" she said placing money down in front of the bartender who tended to getting his drink.
"How's Navy life treating you?" he asked sadly trying to make conversation
"It's good I'm on leave at the moment, Mum needed me here" she answered placing her glass down
"I heard you graduated top of your class" he said smiling softly at her as the bartender placed his drink in front of him
"Scored myself the nickname 'Princess Perfect' for it too" she said grinning slightly
"You always were a smarty" he said smirking at her slightly as he picked up his glass
"Yeah I guess I was…" she answered quietly as his comment took her back to that night
"So… How long has it been?" he asked taking a sip of his drink
"5 or 6 years…" she answered bluntly
"You look good Kit..." he answered turning to face her she was different than the last time he saw her, her hair was longer now falling down her face and framing each inch of her in beautiful gold locks and she seemed more grown up and respectable, someone who wasn't to be mess with
"You too…" she answered softly breaking him out of his trance
"To Jake may he be looking down on you and be part of you always" he said holding his glass up as he tried to break the tension
"To Jake…" she replied as they clinked their glasses together before each taking a mouthful.
Welcome!! I hope you enjoy this first Chapter, In this story I'm going to go back and forth between Past and Present and in one of the Chapters I will lead up to the moment you read in the first part so you get a understanding of why and what exactly happens for him to get killed... (If that makes sense) Thanks to Seaheeler for some much needed amazing inspiration!! Hope you all enjoy and don't forget to review and let me know what you think. Much Love Xx