Ch 11

December 30th

"After you guys finish shopping, you're going to go over to Sam's, right?"

"For the third time, yes." Kristina said feeling a bit exasperated.

"I'm just making sure; I didn't like the way Kiefer was looking at us in Kelly's yesterday." Ethan said realizing he was becoming a nag, but still needing to justify his worry.

"It's a public place; he didn't say anything to either of us."

"That may be the case but something just seemed off about him."

"Ethan, Kiefer isn't stupid. He won't bother us."

"Us maybe, but you…"

"It's so sweet that you're worried about me but Maxie and Sam will be there. Molly's spending the day with her dad, Ric."

"I thought he lived in Los Angeles."

"He stopped in for a visit on his way to Manhattan and picked up Molly for the holiday."

"Maybe we'll see her tomorrow night."

"That's what she said, so we're still going to Time Square?"

"That is what you wanted"

"It is."

"What about Robin and Lulu?"

"Lulu hasn't confirmed but Robin is on duty."

"Okay, love, I have to get going I'll drop you off at …"

"The MetroCourt, but I can drive myself."

"I need to borrow your car, I fleeced some of Edward's favorite scotch and he's a little upset with me at the moment."

"Okay that's fine."

--

--

Kristina and Sam were in the car on their way to Sam's place. Maxie had gotten called away by Kate and Lulu on a fashion emergency. While with them Maxie helped to pick out a few essential items that would last through out Krissy's pregnancy.

"Maxie has such great taste." Kristina said

"She does work at a fashion magazine." Sam said, wondering why she was feeling jealous of Maxie.

"Luckily, my credit card could take it."

"How're things working out at the MetroCourt?"

"Carly's trying her best not to give me special treatment, but my co-workers keep treating me as if I'm a baby." Which gets really annoying.

"I remember the time I spent behind that desk…"

"Don't remind me, I really don't need to think that everyone who gets a room there plans to take s hostage."

"I can't believe mom dated that jerk." Sam said sneering

"I'm not going to respond to that."

"I know Jason isn't much better but he is better Jerry was scum."

Sam's phone rang and after a series of 'okays' she hung. "That was Spinelli he found a lead on this big case we're working on so I'm going to have to get a rain check. I wouldn't usually do this but we've been looking for evidence against this guy for weeks"

"That's fine."

"I'll drop you off at home." Kristina thought about asking to be dropped off at her mother's but they were only two blocks from Harborview Towers, it would be suspicious if she asked to be dropped off on the other side of town.

--

Kiefer was parked a block away from Harborview Towers. He was angry, he felt like he life was spinning out of control. Nothing he did would ever please his father. No one but Kay ever understood what he was going through, but she wasn't there anymore. The more he tried to live his life, the more vacant it seemed. Without Kay, his world was falling apart.

He was stalking her and he knew it was wrong, but still he followed her to work, Kelly's, even to the mall earlier but he'd gotten tired and decided to wait for her at her apartment. He was scared of the person she made him. Contemplating his life, his future, Harvard; he hated that he'd let his father control him for so long.

Never once had he gone against his father for what he wanted, not until Kay. Without her he didn't think he could stand up to his father. He didn't know how to be his own man. Today was it he just wanted to say goodbye. He looked at the Christmas gifts on the seat beside him, he wouldn't give them to her there was no point. All he had to do was say goodbye.

Kiefer ducked down in his seat when he saw Sam's car pull up. After she drove away he crossed the street and made his way in while the doorman argued with Kay over her shopping bags. He took the stairs. He walked down the hall to 10C and was surprised to find her door open.

--

Kristina sat down her bags and unlocked her front door, after pushing the door open she reached for her bags, the doorman had helped her to the elevator but Krissy was on an independent streak and wouldn't let him leave his post to help her to her apartment. She doubted these shopping bags were what Dr. Lee meant by heavy lifting. She had 4-6 shopping bags in each hand. The bags contained an assortment of empire-waist, babydoll, and smoked tops. Maternity jeans, lingerie, and something called a maternity sleeve. She wanted to get all her maternity shopping out of the way. She wasn't sure her self esteem would be as high once her belly reached beach ball status.

She got the bags into her apartment and was startled when her front door closed.

"Kiefer!" she squeaked out. He stood in the doorway wearing a baseball cap.

Kiefer had planned to say a short goodbye but then he saw her. He couldn't control himself around her.

"I told you not to keep seeing him I warned you. You just didn't listen. You never do what I say."

"Kiefer, calm down what are you talking about?"

"I told you that Ethan wasn't the one for you. I told you that I loved you. We agreed that you would break up with him; instead you let him move in. Do you know how big of a fool you made me look? Every where I go people are whispering behind my back about how you cuckold me."

"Kiefer…" She said again moving behind the couch putting distance between them. She was happy that she'd been able to squeeze into a pair of jeans. While he ranted she retrieved her cell from her back pocket and pushed send

"Look at what you've done." He removed his cap, bringing his black eye into view.

"Kiefer, I tried to do what you said…." She didn't need to get into his head to figure out why he blamed her for his father's abuse.

--

Ethan reached for his coat and keys, ignoring Tracy's calls from the bar. He bumped into his brother on his way out.

"Follow me" he said dragging Lucky by his arm

"…you said. Ethan just makes it so hard to leave. I love him."

Ethan pushed the mute button on his cell phone and put it on speakerphone

"You think I want to hear about your feelings for that ass hole. My father found out that my grades were falling. I made two Cs, TWO." Kiefer ranted.

Ethan gave Lucky the phone and got into Kristina's hybrid and sped of into the night weaving through traffic.

"He never approved of us as a couple but I didn't listen. I should have listened, just like you should have listened." Kiefer continued.

"Just calm down maybe if we talked to your father together he'll forgive you and …" Kristina pleaded.

"And what? My father has standards and I need you. Without you I can't do anything right. Unless you plan to get back with me…"

"They can't hear me?" Lucky whispered

"I muted it earlier." Ethan answered

"What's going on?"

"Kristina's ex Kiefer use to hit her. Back when they were in high school. In November I found Kristina injured on the pier, I got her to confess. She'd just found out she was pregnant…"

"With your child?"

"No, Kiefer's. He wouldn't leave her alone so we agreed that she could say the baby was mine, we thought if he knew she'd moved on he'd leave her alone."

"But it didn't work out that way."

"Friends of Kiefer harassed her at school, and not too long ago he showed up at her apartment. That's why I move in."

"So you two have been pretending all along?"

"It started out that way, but now… Kristina and her baby mean the world to me. I love her. I just hope we get there before something bad happens." Lucky said then called dispatch about a home invasion.

--

"Unless you plan to get back together with me." His face brightens at the idea. If they were together again he was sure he could raise his grades. Then his father wouldn't be so upset with him. With Kay by his side he'd be able to focus and everything will go back to how it use to be.

"Kiefer I don't want to lie to you. If I did leave Ethan he would always be apart of my life."

"You don't need him"

"But legally I couldn't make him stay away. He has rights as a father, Kiefer." She hoped that saying his name would bring him back to the here and now.

"Maybe my parents or your mom could help us figure something out." He looked at her expectantly.

"Maybe."

"Why are you way over there? Come here." she was sure to trip over her foot as she dropped her phone, hoping it didn't disconnect.

"You okay. Yeah these shoes." They were flats but he didn't comment.

"Remember how we used to share shakes at Kelly's." he seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I had one yesterday, it wasn't the same without you. You've ruined everything."

"I'm sorry" She didn't know what else to say. She hoped that Ethan called the police and that they would arrive soon. Maybe that was answering machine that picked up. No. have a little faith.

"You don't love me. You can't forgive me. Why should you? My parents don't. I wanted… I can't believe it took me this long. I should have realized a long time ago. I stood out side your apartment building just hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I only wanted to talk, but there was always someone there. Molly, Sam, HIM., you were never alone. Then Sam drops you off, the doorman, what a joke, I only wanted to talk but now."

"We can talk. We're talking." Kristina said failing to keep the panic from her voice.

"No, I was right earlier, you don't want to be with me, but I can't let you go." Kristina watched Kiefer uncertain of what it meant he was moving away shifting from left to right. Then he stopped, reaching behind him he brought forth a gun, and marched toward her determined.

"Kiefer, what are you…?" The tears started back up and she brushed them away.

"When I first came here, I was going to say goodbye. I wanted to die without you, but now I don't think I'll like death without you. I'm willing to spend eternity with you even if you don't love me. I don't know what I'll do without you."

"Kiefer, what do you mean? You have everything to live for. I'll leave Ethan we can…"

"No, I'd always be jealous. Harvard is my father's dream not mine. You are what I want and if I can't have you, no one will."

Kristina wasn't dumb but she just couldn't believe that Kiefer was planning to kill her and himself. It didn't make since. And neither did what she did next. She went for the gun, pushing upward trying to get him to drop the gun. She bit his arm and they continued to struggle the gun was now between them and when it fired she was shocked. The sound was deafening.

--

-- Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review.

Btw: I'm loving (Alexis)Nancy Graham's performance.