Chapter 15: Lies and a Broken Heart

"Dr. Morgan," Kori began, her head turned away as he slid a syringe filled with pain medication into her arm. She took that opportunity to look at the digital clock on the nightstand next to the bed, time seemed to escape her and she had no idea what time of day it was or even, what day it was; 5:43 P.M. and the paper next to the bed said it was May 15th.

"Yes, Miss Anders?" he asked disposing of the syringe and moving to examine her shoulder.

"When might I be able to leave? I am not very fond of hospitals."

"I'm afraid not for another week at least. But on the bright side, your shoulder is healing wonderfully. No infections and there should only be a small scar."

"Will I at least be able to get out of this bed soon?"

"Yes, we have to get your legs moving again. Just another day or two and you'll be up and walking around again. But you will have to stay under observation just so we can be sure you're okay. You gave everybody quite a scare. How does your head feel today? Are you dizzy, in any pain?" He asked removing the bloody gauze from her shoulder and re-wrapping it in a clean bandage.

Kori winced at the pain that shot up from her shoulder, "no, my head feels fine."

"Good, well I'll leave you alone for now. You try and get some rest. The pain medication should help with that," he added after seeing her eyes begin to close.

  

Raven flipped her cell phone closed and sighed. She really wanted to see Kori; she had to talk to her. They had left so many things unfinished and it felt like months since they spoke even though it had only been three weeks.

After getting off the phone with the hospital she found out that Kori was asleep and she should come by around noon tomorrow. She didn't really know what she was going to say but she knew that she couldn't, nor did she want to put it off.

Sitting down on Garfield's brown leather sofa she waited for him to return. "Garfield? Where did you go?" She asked craning her neck to try and see into the kitchen.

Raven smiled as she saw him come out of the kitchen carrying a glass of red wine in each hand.

She laughed, "What's the occasion?"

"I figured we'd celebrate us." He grinned.

"I'll drink to that." She replied taking a glass from his hand and clanging it into his.

Leaning over to kiss her lips he smiled.

  

Kori sighed and looked at the clock, 11:30 A.M. She didn't think the days could go any slower.

  

"Richard? What are you doing here?" Kori asked closing her book and resting it on her lap. She had been sitting up reading to try and pass the time.

"Can I sit down?" He asked gesturing to the chair next to her bed.

Kori starred at him for a minute. She never really got to look at him, really look at him. He looked the same, though taller and had an older look about him. He wore sunglasses over his eyes, which she was still yet to see. Her breathe caught in her throat as she continued to stare. He was gorgeous and she knew it. He always had been and she found herself smiling glad to see him.

Suddenly, as if struck she remembered the news story she saw a few weeks ago about Barbra Gordon and Kitten Moth. She couldn't believe it, Kitten? What was he a playboy now? Kitten?

Dropping her smile she looked down at the cover of her book, "sure, go ahead."

He sat down and looked at her. "Starfi-Kori," he corrected himself quickly. "I-I, I'm so sorry. So so sorry that I let this happen, that I left. I'm sorry about everything. Oh God I'm so sor-"

Kori silenced him by putting a finger to his lips. "It wasn't your fault was happened to me. It never was." She looked away, ashamed. "I just said that because…I just wanted to hurt you, the way you hurt me when you left me."

Richard stayed silent. Kori continued.

"I saw you on the news a few weeks ago. What are you, a playboy now?"

"What?" Richard asked shocked. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you on television; they talked about you taking Kitten Moth to the same hotel you took Barbra Gordon to."

"Kori you have it all wrong. You honestly think I would do anything with Kitten? She was at the same business party I was at, and I saw her completely smashed. I took her back to her hotel room, she passed out on her bed, and I left. Some paparazzi must have seen us go in and gotten the wrong idea."

Kori found herself smiling, but it quickly faded, "and Barbra Gordon?"

Richard looked down, "that was awhile ago. I had a few drinks and we ran into each other. After that I don't remember anything besides waking up next to her." He said, saying the last part just above a whisper.

Kori exhaled loudly, "You saying that shouldn't hurt as much as it does. It shouldn't, I shouldn't…NO! I can't love you I can't -I"

She froze the moment she felt his warm hand on her cheek. He turned her face towards his, leaning down he presses his lips to hers lightly.

Resting her hands on his shoulders she deepened the kiss and her arms slid over his shoulders and around his neck. Gently pulling her lips back she tried to catch her breath.

"Richard," she began closing her eyes. "Please…don't. I can't, I can't" she whispered shaking her head slowly.

Richard's eyes widened, realizing what he had done. He just couldn't help it. Just being with her; her hair, her eyes, she's was just so beautiful and he couldn't help it.

"Kori, I'm sorry, I…"

"No," she whispered feeling the tears running down her cheeks from her burning emerald eyes. "I'm just…so afraid, and confused, and I don't know to feel."

Reaching over he whipped her tears away with his thumbs. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you cry."

At a loss for words she rested her head on his chest; suddenly very tired. Richard wrapped his arms around her and she sighed with content. It felt good to be in his arms again. Forgetting her fear she closed her eyes.

  

Raven pushed open the hospital doors. Though her evening with Garfield had been wonderful, she couldn't wait to see Kori. All through dinner she was running lines in her head of what she was going to say. She tried to picture every different scenario in her head and what she would say and she still didn't feel prepared.

After checking in she walked up to Kori's room door and opened it. She stopped dead in her tracks; this definitely wasn't what she thought she would see when she walked through the door.

She watched silently as Richard rested a sleeping Kori back onto her pillows and gently rested the blanket on top of her. Raven remained by the door still watching as Richard tucked a strand pf hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek. Standing up he jumped slightly at seeing Raven.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered.

Raven looked at Kori and smiled walking out into the hallway. She waited for Richard to follow and close the door before she explained. "I came to see her. I wanted to talk to her."

"Sorry, she fell asleep."

"That's okay, I'll wait."

"It might be awhile."

Raven smiled, "that's okay." Reaching into her back bag she pulled out a small but thick paperback. "I brought something to pass the time. Now, I know what I'm doing here but, why are you here?"

"I wanted to see how she was and talk with her."

"And did you?"

Richard rubbed the back of his neck, "For a little while."

Raven raised an eyebrow, "what do mean, for a little while? What happened?"

"I kissed her Raven. It just happened."

"What did she do?"

"She kissed me back, but…" he trailed off unsure. He knew she kissed back but then, he still wasn't sure what had happen after she pulled back. The way she reacted… running his hand through his hair he sighed, "I don't know Raven."

She gave him a reassuring smile. "Give her time. Some much has happened in only a few weeks. It's a lot to handle. Kori just needs time to sort things out. And look, she has plenty of time, being stuck in a hospital room."

Richard smiled, "well I have to get going. I have a meeting at two. I'll see you later."

Raven watched him leave and then headed into Kori's room to wait for her to wake up. Sitting down in the chair by the bed she opened the novel and started to read.

  

Hearing Kori yawn and stir Raven closed her book and looked up. "Hey,"

Kori looked at her surprised. Panicked she began talking, not really aware of what she was saying. "Raven, I'm so sorry. I lied to you and you are right I am a horrible person and I understand if you never-"

"Kori, shh." Raven said holding a finger to her own lips. "It's alright, stop, its okay."

Kori stopped talking and put her head in her hands. "I'm a horrible friend and I'm sorry Raven. I'm so sorry."

Raven placed a hand on Kori's shoulder causing her to look up. "It's alright. I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to hit you, or say the things I said to you. I didn't mean them. I know you would never do anything to hurt me or put me in danger."

"Raven?"

"And," she continued, "you were right. Garfield and I, we're, we're together."

"You are?" Kori asked, a smile forming on her face.

Raven smiled, "Yeah, I don't know how it happened, it just did and I didn't even see it coming. But, I'll admit, you were right." She laughed slightly and then grew serious.

"Hey Kori," she began, making sure she had Kori's full attention before she continued. "You told me to give Garfield a chance, that he wasn't an awful person like I had thought. I know you're confused right now but, maybe you should take your own advice. Give Richard a chance." Getting up to leave she patted Kori's hand, "you'll regret it if you don't."

  

"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Roy asked sitting down and leaning his crutches against the edge of the bed.

Kori gave him a weak smile, "alright, I suppose. How are you feeling, Roy?"

"Better, I'll just have to use these for a while," he said motioning to the metal crutches next to him.

Kori looked down, "I'm sorry. I never wanted anything to happen to you. I thought that horrible part of my life was over. I-"

"It's okay. It wasn't your fault." He said cutting her off.

Glancing down at her hand he narrowed his eyes, "why aren't you wearing your ring?"

Kori looked up at him eyes wide. She hadn't even thought about the ring. Where was it? "Um…well, Roy, I…"

"Right, they took it off you when they admitted you." Reaching to his right he moved a glass of water off the nightstand and picked up the ring. "Here," he said slipping it onto her finger. "That's much better." He added, smiling.

Kori looked down and fiddled with the ring on her finger, not saying a word. She inhaled deeply and looked back up at him, "Roy, I…want to talk to you…I'm-"

"Kori, can we do this later." He said looking up from his watch, "I have somewhere to be."

She knew if she didn't do this now she might never, "But…Roy…I-"

Pecking her lips quickly he stood up, grabbed his crutches and headed towards the door. At the doorway he turned to her, "I really have to go Kori. I'm sorry, this can wait can't it?"

Kori opened her mouth to protest but decided against it. Sighing she gave him a gentle smile, "of course Roy, it can wait."

Smiling, he turned and left.

Kori sighed heavily, "It was not important anyhow, I just wanted to tell you that I don't know if I can go through with this wedding. That, I don't know if I still love you…or for that matter, if I ever did."

Slipping the ring off her finger she set it on the night table, "Nothing important."

  

Heading to her car after leaving from a meeting with her editor Raven leaned against it and held a hand up to her mouth to stifle her violent coughs. What was going on? Sometimes she had a few coughing fits, but it was never this bad.

Opening her door, she sat down and reached into her bag to pull out a cigarette. She was under so much stress between work and the drama that had ensued ever since Robin and Beast Boy came back into her life.

Beast Boy…Garfield…she couldn't believe that she was with him, that they were together. I mean, she would have never thought that she would end up with him, but she was more that happy about it.

She couldn't even describe what she felt when she was with him.

She groaned. Where were those cigarettes!?

Pulling out a pack she flipped it opened and gasped, it was completely empty with the exception of a folded piece of paper. Now she knew she had just bought this pack a day ago so the pack should have been almost completely full.

Curious, she pulled out the piece of paper. Unfolding it her eyes widened in surprise at the sloppy, quick handwriting that covered it.

Raven,

I took out all the cigarettes and through away all the packs at your apartment. I know I should have talked to you first but I didn't want to wait.

I want to help you quit, I don't want you to get sick. Smoking is dangerous to your health and if anything happened to you I don't know what I'd do.

I love you,

Gar

Raven sighed in frustration but couldn't help smiling. He really cared about her and he was probably right, though she hated to admit it. Maybe the smoking was the reason she was coughing so much.

It really hadn't occurred to her that that could have been the reason. She knew she could quit whenever she wanted, it was just a habit. Something she did when she was nervous, it would be no big deal to just stop.

Closing her car door she headed back to her apartment.

  

"Gar? What are you doing here?" Raven asked coming up to her penthouse door where Garfield was pacing outside.

Upon seeing her he smiled and pulled her to him, kissing her lips. "I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight."

She smiled but quickly turned around as to not cough in his face. Covering her mouth with her hands she coughed violently.

"Raven?" He asked worried.

Recovering she smiled, "I'm alright. Don't worry."

"I can't help it. This is why I want you to quit smoking. It's dangerous."

"I know. I got your letter." She said holding it up.

"I hope you're not mad about that I just thought that…well, out of sight out of mind right?"

She smiled, "Yeah, I can quit no problem."

He watched her turn around and head back towards the elevator, "I sure hope so," he whispered to himself.

  

Kori wished she could get up, leave the hospital and just run. Run far away and never stop. Roy had called and said he would be back at 7 o' clock p.m. She knew that she had to tell him. She had maybe fifteen minutes until her arrived, if he was on time.

She was so nervous; she didn't think she could go through with it. No, she had to. What if she was making the wrong choice? That was the scariest part, the fear of making the wrong choice and digging herself into a hole so deep that she would never be able to climb back out.

At this point, Kori wasn't sure what was right anymore. She did know that she never felt as wonderful and free and happy with Roy as she did with Richard. But, what if Richard left her again?

Being with Roy meant safety and promise. She knew he would never leave her; she would be married to him, together forever.

Why didn't that make her happy?

Up until now she never realized it, but safely wasn't the same as happiness.

She didn't know what to do, she just didn't.

"Kori?"

"Huh?" she snapped her head up. She had been in such deep thought that she never even heard the door open.

"Are you alright? You seem distracted?"

Turning to face the person who had entered, she held back a gasp, "Richard?"

"Hey, I-I wanted to apologize about this morning. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I certainly didn't mean to make you cry."

Smiling she relaxed, "it is alright."

"I won't stay long but…how long will you be here?"

"Oh, um a couple more days I believe. Thankfully they are allowing me to actually get up and walk around but I cannot wait to really be able to leave and experience fresh air again."

"Kori I," he hesitated, sitting in the chair by the bed.

"Yes?" she prompted

"Well, I-"

"Kori." Another voice spoke from the doorway.

Richard heard her sigh, "Hello Roy," she said not looking at him.

Richard stood up, "I better get going. I'll see you later," he said whispering the last part.

"Alright," she whispered back before he left.

Roy watched him leave and then walked in and sat down. "What was he doing here?" He asked with venom in his voice.

"Roy, Richard was just checking up on me."

"Right," he replied sarcastically. "Anyway, what did you want to tell me before? I'm sorry I left but I had a meeting with my physical therapist; have to be ready to walk down that isle with you." He smiled as he said the last part and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

Kori smiled and discreetly reached to the side to slide the ring back onto her finger without him noticing that she had taken it off.

"Now, what did you have to tell me?"

Kori forced a smile, fighting back tears. She couldn't do it, she couldn't. No matter how unhappy she was, she couldn't break his heart.

"I wanted to tell you…just, how excited I am about our wedding."

'Even if I was not marrying Roy, I could never be with Richard, no matter how much I want to. I am far too afraid of my heart being broken again.'

To Be Continued…

Chapter 16…

"Roy, we need to talk…"

"Richard…I"

"Raven! Raven, say something… please!"