Disclaimer: I own nothing ALSO this chapter is a little graphic both in terms of blood and language (tbh if you watched the film I doubt an f-bomb here or there is gonna phase you but just so you know!)

Chapter 14

February 13th

Rain poured down the sides of the bus as it stopped at the end of Oakland Avenue, Katrina steeled herself for the deluge before hopping off and running full-tilt for her building. The last of the snow was melting underfoot, compacted on the pavements into sheets of grimy ice. Katrina had to clutch onto a telephone pole to avoid sliding over as she rounded the corner. Jesus! She thought to her self, what a day!

Developments at the studios had thankfully been less stormy and, as she turned her key in the lock Katrina thought she might just be in for a quiet, restful night. No tearful phone calls from Danni, no bitching about Lauren from Sonja or Mark who was having a rough time of it as Lauren's handsome prince. Just peace and quiet- bliss.

The six days since the casting of the production had been some of the busiest in Katrina's memory. Endless classes and rehearsals and conditioning to get them ready for the opening night which, as everyone kept reminding her, was only a month away. Four weeks to make everything step, note and word perfect. Her evening conversations with Tommy were a welcome respite, the two neighbors met up almost every night for a drink. After the Irish coffee incident Tommy began letting her add her own whiskey when she came to his apartment but he still dragged her out for walks in the snow virtually without warning. Katrina smiled, her friends at work were getting increasingly suspicious every time her phone rang during the day- they all insisted that she was dating the brawny fighter. Katrina told them repeatedly that they were "just friends", trying to stress just how out of her league Tommy was but everyone remained uniformly unconvinced.

Pushing open the door to her apartment she was greeted by the unwelcome sound of water dripping. A large puddle had formed on the living room floor and a damp patch on the ceiling told her that more water was yet to come. Sighing deeply, Katrina dumped her bag on the floor and went to fetch a bowl to put under the leak. Must be all this rain she thought.

Knowing that she had a quiet evening to herself, Katrina took the time to do some of the things that usually got neglected. She had a long, hot bath with some of the bath salts that her friends in Chicago had given her as a leaving present- the lavender sent made her all sleepy and worked to relax some of the tight muscles in her legs and back. It was late by the time she got out, fingers and toes wrinkled by the water. She was just getting out he French manicure kit when she heard a knock on the front door. Katrina opened it, suddenly very aware that she was in pajama shorts and an old Joffrey Ballet t-shirt.

On the other side of the door was Tommy, in a t-shirt and trackies looking mightily put out.

"Hi."

"Hey, come on in." Katrina said, leading the way into the kitchen.

Tommy followed, Katrina noticed that his shoes were wet even though the rest of him was dry. "So, Katy," he began suddenly, taking a seat at the kitchen table, "my apartment's flooded, can I sleep on your couch tonight?"

"Uhh, sure no problem, is everything soaked?" she asked.

"Pretty much, gonna have to call the landlord tomorrow, dry the place out."

"Oh dear, do you want to go and rescue anything before it gets ruined, clothes, pictures?"

"Nah, I think it's just the floor and all the furniture that's wet."

"That's okay then." Out of habit Katrina put the kettle on. "Do you need a toothbrush, want to take a shower or anything?"

"I brought my own-" Tommy ruefully held a crumpled plastic bag.

"Always prepared- just like a boy scout."

"I weren't never a boy scout." Smiled Tommy. He'd unbent a bit over the last week, still loath to reveal any details about his past but quicker to laugh, less edgy. Katrina supposed he was a bit shy, and used to flamboyant "theater-types" she'd forgotten that some people take a while to get to know. After all, it wasn't as though she was exactly an open book about her childhood either- the pair of them were experts at avoiding the subject. "It's kinda late for coffee, even for you and also I've run out so, how about some tea?" Katrina asked, rooting around in her cupboards for the teabags.

"Tea? Uhhh, sure?" Anyone would think she'd offered him arsenic.

"Cool." Katrina opened yet another cupboard in search of teabags, spotting them she cursed. They were on the top shelf.

"How did they get up there?" she asked. Tommy rounded the bench to stand next to her.

"Need a hand?" he asked and next moment he'd got his hands around her waist and picked her up.

"Kr-ist!" Katrina squeaked, suddenly aware that she wasn't wearing any knickers.

"Got it?" Tommy asked from somewhere beneath her, Katrina quickly grabbed the packet.

"Got it, thanks" Blushing furiously Katrina bustled about getting mugs and milk. She saw Tommy smirk to himself as he returned to his seat.

They got through the rest of the night with much less embarrassment then even Katrina could have hoped for. They didn't talk much, the sound of the driving rain on the windows soothed them both like a lullaby. They half watched some game show; not really paying attention. It was almost midnight when, after her fourth cup of tea, Katrina noticed how late it was.

"Do you mind helping me make up the couch?"

Tommy followed her with out a word to her improvised linen cupboard- more of a shelf if she was honest.

"You don't have to go to all the trouble." He said, gruffly.

"Don't even think about it, you're a guest- my momma taught me manners."

"That she did… What's she like? Must be missin' you out on them islands." "Yeah, I guess so- but she's not alone out there, lots of friends, church… you know and I've been gone a long time. But what she's like? French."

"French?"

"Oui- naturalized citizen when she married my dad, moved here with me when she was seventeen."

"That young?"

Katrina nodded, spreading out the sheets with Tommy's help.

"My dad went to France on holiday after collage, came back with a wife and a baby."

"Wow…" Tommy thought for a moment before asking, "where is he now?"

"He died, pretty soon after I was born- Mom only stayed in the states because her parents wouldn't take her back, still don't talk to her, or me."

Tommy frowned, "twenty years later?"

"Yup, you know how family can be."

"Yeah, that I do."

Katrina yawned, dropping her edge of the blanket to cover her mouth with both hands. "Sorry."

"Don't be, I'm keepin' you up. You should get some rest."

"Yeah, goodnight Tommy."

"G'night Katy, thanks for letting me crash here an' everythin'."

"What are friends for right?"

With that they parted ways, Katrina taking the tiny spiraling staircase to her bedroom and Tommy throwing himself down on the couch. In the total quiet all she could hear was Tommy shifting around to get comfortable and the drip of water from the leak in her ceiling.

Drip drip drip. Katrina snuggled deeper under the covers.

Drip drip drip, she felt her eyes closing.

Drip drip- she was asleep before she knew it.

February 14th

Katrina woke, suddenly. Something was definitely not right her whole body tensed up, listening for noises in the dark. It was so pitch black that when she opened her eyes the gloom seemed to settle over them like a shroud. Then she heard it, a low moan and then again louder. Labored, rasping breathing turning to wrenching sobs. What was going on?

She flipped on her bedside light and got up. Looking over the balcony from her bedroom she could just make Tommy on the couch below. He was thrashing like a madman, blankets tangled around his legs. Without thinking Katrina dashed down the steps and knelt by his side. She grasped his shoulders and shook him violently. "Tommy wake up!" she whispered. He jerked back, from her, wrenching himself out of her grasp. For a long moment he stared at her, breath coming in great, shuddering gasps.

"Manny? That you?" he whispered, into the blackness.

"Tommy it's me Katrina, your neighbor." She reached out and touched his arm, he jerked back.

"Katrina?"

"Yes. You're in my apartment remember." She could just see him nodding.

"I woke you up." He replied tonelessly.

"It's okay. Are you alright?"

Tommy nodded again, breathing easier now, he'd nearly stopped shaking. Katrina reached out, one hand finding his chest in the darkness, he was drenched in cold sweat.

"You're freezing."

"It's fine." He put a hand over hers.

"Go back to sleep." Tommy lay back down but didn't let go of her hand. She could see his eyes glinting in the darkness, still half wild with fear. His heart was beating unnaturally fast under her fingers. "Move over." Katrina whispered, acting on instinct. Cautiously she climbed onto the couch next to Tommy, drawing the blanket over them both and laying her head on his shoulder. Tommy hesitated before wrapping his other arm around her. "No more bad dreams, promise?" she murmured.

"Promise." He whispered back.

When she woke Katrina was instantly aware that Tommy not with her. She felt his absence beside her, the fading heat on his side of the couch. She sat up and saw him, sitting on the end of the couch head in his hands. She rubbed her eyes, they were itching with tiredness.

"Good morning" she croaked.

"Mornin'" Tommy grunted, standing up and walking to the door. "Thought I should stick around least 'till you woke up. Tell you thanks for lettin' me crash here last night." Something in his voice put Katrina on edge

"Okay?" She slid off the couch and padded across to join him near the door. "Tommy, are you alright? What happened last night was pretty intense…"

Tommy's mouth tightened, "I'm fine."

"Sure?"

He turned, making to leave.

"Who's Manny?" She knew she shouldn't be asking this but wasn't prepared for his response.

He turned back to her suddenly cold and expressionless, "That is none of your damn business… got it?" he stepped closer, suddenly towering over her. Katrina stood her ground, willing her knees not to shake. "Why do you care anyway?" he growled. Not waiting to hear an answer Tommy wrenched open the door and slammed it on his way out.

Katrina couldn't stop her hands from shaking all the way in to work, trying to put her hair up into a bun she kept dropping all the pins until Sonja had to come over and rescue her.

"Katy are you okay?" she asked, taking the hairnet that Katrina was twisting in her fingers.

"Yeah, I'm good, fine… yeah."

"Sure you are." Sonja carefully put up Katrina's hair, pinning in the loose ends and wrapping the hair-net over her bun with expert ease.

"Pointes? Or do you need me to tie those too?" she asked, getting them out of Katrina's bag.

"I think I've got this one thanks." Katrina smiled gratefully at the red-head.

Sonja's solicitous mood lasted all day, from cuing her in class when she spaced out to bringing her a salad in the lunch break when Katrina said she would really rather be alone for a bit. She even managed to keep from gushing about the pair of earrings Vlad had given her for Valentine's Day, all in the name of friendship.

"You're the best Soni you know that?" Katrina said, taking the salad her friend passed her and tucking in immediately.

"Are you going to tell me what's got you all screwed up?" Sonja asked, helping herself to a little chicken Ceaser.

"Boy, well, man trouble."

"Trouble in paradise?" Sonja was instantly all ears.

"What paradise? We're just friends, well, we were friends I don't know about that now."

"What happened?" Katrina filled her in on the action of the evening, Tommy coming by because his apartment flooded, watching TV, and then the terrifying nightmares. By the time she'd finished her friend's eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"And then he just yelled at you and stormed off?"

"Pretty much."

"Bastard."

"I think he's been through a lot... some… family troubles or something…"

"You're making excuses for him?"

"Okay I'll stop." Said Katrina quickly.

"Push over. Look, every great guy comes with some baggage… in your case lots of baggage. You have to decide it he's worth the extra-effort.

Katrina thought for a moment, munching on some lettuce, "Ninety nine percent of the time he's great, quiet but funny, very sweet you know? I would miss him if he wasn't around and I fancy him like crazy… but this... this really scared me, maybe too much."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find out how much is too much soon enough."

This troubling prophecy rolled around in Katrina's mind all through rehearsal like a marble in a tilt-a-whirl. She should have never gotten this involved in the first place, letting a virtual stranger invade her thoughts and feelings. She didn't know whether she was angrier with herself or with him.

She danced harder, throwing her body around the stage with renewed animation. There were still three hours left of rehearsal maybe if she danced hard enough he would be gone like some sort of exorcism. She leapt into the air, twisting before landing cat-like at center stage. If only she could leap free of her feelings so easily. I wish I'd never met him in the first place she thought, pirouetting. No you don't her inner voice chided. Why is everything with him so complicated? She wondered, throwing her body to the ground to end the sequence, her hip hit the floor with a crack that effectively ended any more inner monologue.

Things went sharply down hill. Katrina was on her last pair of pointe shoes for the day, they were already wearing out a little, the hardened soles starting to give way, increasing the pressure on her toes. She raised her self up, wincing slightly but they would have to do.

Going to her last class, conditioning, as fate would have it, she noticed a tight knot of gossiping dancers congregated outside the studio doors. Getting closer Katrina could see that Daniel Kline was in the studio, the man still caused a stir wherever he went. He was seated at a small table at the far end of the room in deep conversation with Madame B, a stack of files balanced between them.

"What's going on?" Katrina whispered to Sonja who had appeared at her elbow.

"Contracts." Said Sonja, voice quavering slightly.

"What?"

"He likes to bring them out sometimes to let us know that were all under review- everyone's replaceable."

"But my contract doesn't come up for renewal until next year." Said Katrina, uncomprehendingly.

"Doesn't matter, he's fired lots of people mid-contract says he'll ruin any dancer's reputation if they try to sue, so it's never contested."

"Just like that?"

"Gone." Sonja replied in grave tones.

They filed in, all the dancers unnaturally subdued. Katrina tested her pointes a few more times with trepidation, not at all sure they would get her through the class. Daniel still hadn't come up with that allowance money, she wished he'd hurry up.

They started to train, the music, now familiar flowed through Katrina like water. Over and over she raised herself up onto pointe and twirled and twisted, was picked up or dragged down. Thoughts of Tommy slamming his way out of her flat receded as she finally lost herself to the movement. The studio was heating up, sweat gleaming on the skin of the dancers as they pushed their bodies with desperation under the ever present beat of the music and the barking of Madame B's voice.

Then, Katrina felt it. Crunch. The pain shot like white lightning from her toes right up into her legs making her knees buckle. She knelt, pressing her hands to her mouth to stop herself from screaming out loud. The beat of the music now making her teeth chatter she dragged herself over to the wall at the back and propped herself against it. Pulling off her shoes she saw blood seeping through her tights, she shuddered. Dragging herself up to standing she slipped out of the doors to her left and headed for the dressing room.

Footsteps behind her should have warned her of someone coming but at the touch of a man's hand on her arm she yelped turning to face any would-be attacker. It was the director, Daniel Kline, looking immaculate in pewter-grey suit, dark hair slicked back from his predatory face.

"Something the matter?" he asked, not taking his hand off her arm.

"Umm, I think I might have broken a toe in there…" Katrina mumbled, gesturing to her stockinged feet, which were leaving stains on the concrete.

"Will you be coming in tomorrow?" Daniel asked.

"I guess so?"

"Your contract is up for review you know- you do want this job don't you?"

"Yes absolutely."

"And you'd do anything to keep it?" His thick fingers hand found purchase on her arm now. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Daniel lent down until his lips just brushed her ear, "Anything?"

"No." Karina suppressed a shiver but Daniel just smiled genially, letting her go and backing off a few paces, all charm again.

"You should think about it, not so easy to find a new job these days." He called over his shoulder.

Down in the changing rooms Katrina peeled off her tights and saw the damage, it was a few moments before the tears started but once they did, she couldn't stop.

Katrina traipsed up the street, coordination all but lost to her tiredness. The lights of the apartment block seemed to be getting father away rather than closer as she walked. She groaned softly and sped up, pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders as the cold started to bite.

She'd just reached the doors and was pulling them open when a large figure loomed out of the darkness, she leapt back with a yelp.

"Hey calm down." Tommy murmured, stepping into the light with his hands up. "Just me."

Katrina stared at him silently for a moment, heart still hammering. "Hi." She muttered, going for the door again. Tommy was too quick for her, opening the door and standing back to let her in. They stood face to face for a moment in the entry hall, Katrina was vividly aware that she must look terrible in the unflattering strip-lighting. She was sure her eyes were still red with crying and her cheeks blotchy. Unfortunately she was absolutely right.

"You okay?" asked Tommy after a moment, ducking his head to look her in the eyes. Katrina avoided his gaze, tightening her jaw to keep back the tears that threatened to spill again.

"I'm fine." She forced out trying to walk past him to the lift.

Tommy watched her go and then hurried to catch up, his longer legs covering the ground much more quickly than hers.

"I'm coming with you." He said, his tone brooking no room for argument.

He led her out of the lift, taking her bag and slinging it over his broad shoulder.

"Thanks" Katrina said quietly.

"S'okay"

Once inside Tommy lead her into the kitchen, the couch where they'd slept last night was still made up, the sheets rumpled. The pain in her feet and ankles was starting the burn as she took a seat at the counter. Tommy filled up a glass of water and pushed it towards her.

"You're limping." He said, coming around the bench to sit next to her.

"Probably." Replied Katrina, still not looking at him.

"Come on, shoes off."

"What?" she asked, alarmed.

"Come on." Tommy left her, going back to the sink where he filled up a large bowl with water.

"No way, my feet are a mess." She protested.

"Don't argue." Replied Tommy, fixing her with another no nonsense look. Katrina stared at him for a moment before slipping off her sneakers. "Shit." She hissed in pain, her socks were now sticky with blood. She tried peeling them off and felt the broken parts of her toenails pulling out of the nail beds. She felt the room sway a little. All of a sudden Tommy was back by her side.

"Fuck" he hissed under his breath, lowering the bowl to the floor, "we'll soak 'em off." He said, gently guiding her feet into the water, which was mercifully warm. Katrina felt herself shudder all over as the water touched her skin, it burned a little but not more than she could stand. They sat in silence for a moment before Katrina realized that Tommy was staring at her.

"You wanna tell me what happened today?" he asked in his low gravely voice.

"Ballet happened. Its not as glamorous as it looks." She attempted a smile.

"Your coach know this is happening?" he asked.

Katrina nodded, "It's normal." Tommy's expression darkened.

"Were you cryin'?" he asked suddenly. Katrina hesitated a moment before nodding again, miserably.

"'Bout this?" he pressed.

"It's just been a tough day at the studios- lots of pressure, everyone's stressing." Tommy nodded before kneeling down and gently taking her feet out of the water. Katrina was struck by the intimacy of this gesture; the Bible passage about the immoral woman washing Jesus's feet came to her mind. All your sins are forgiven Tommy she thought, the pain forcing her mind to wander. Tommy's voice brought her back through the fog.

"What happened?" he was asking, now peeling her socks very carefully over her toes. Katrina got the feeling he wasn't talking about her injuries.

"My boss- Daniel, dropped the bombshell that my contract is up for review and that he could fire me any time he wants..." She sighed, Tommy waited for her to continue, "He got a bit umm…" she broke off the push her hair of her face, "physical… I told him no but I want to- have to, keep my job." Tommy's eyes hardened as he looked up at her, his grip on her ankles tightening. He nodded, his normally full lips disappearing into a tight line, Katrina saw the anger in his face and all of a sudden wished he wasn't holding on so tight to her legs.

He looked at her sharply, "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"Talk?"

Tommy shrugged in a non-committal way.

"I don't want you to go to jail."

"Thanks." He set her feet back into the water and stood. "You sure about that?"

"Sure. I'm a big girl, can handle my own drama."

"Shouldn't have to." He said quietly, he turned and dug around in a cupboard under the sink returning a minute later with a first aid kit. Silently he knelt down and with a care and dexterity that surprised Katrina began to bandage up her feet.

"You gotta take better care of yourself," he said.

"Yes doctor." Katrina replied, she reached down, running a hand over his hair, "hey," he looked up, "thanks for this, you don't have to do it you know."

He shook his head, "least I can do to apologize."

They sat in silence for a while, Tommy quietly finished his bandaging and emptied the bloodied bowl of water back into the sink. He threw himself onto a stool across from her with a sigh.

"Tommy." Katrina felt this had gone on long enough. "What's going on with you? Like last night, this morning, what was that all about?"

"It's nothin'" Tommy muttered, suddenly very interested in paint chipping off the bench. Katrina forced herself to continue, if she stopped now she would loose her nerve.

"It was a lot of things, but nothing wasn't one of them."

Tommy said nothing, continuing to chip away at the paint until Katrina put a hand over his. He tensed up, glaring at her but she didn't let go.

"What's it to you? You don't know me." The anger of the morning was back in his voice.

"I want to know you Tommy, that's why I'm asking. I care about you, okay?"

There was a long, tense pause before Tommy stood up and began to pace, running his hands through his dark hair distractedly. All of a sudden he started speaking, all in a rush as though the words had been waiting years to come out.

"It was in Iraq, my second tour. We were out on patrol, the whole unit, Manny, and me. Just routine, nothing going on..." He threw himself back onto the stool for a moment before standing again. Katrina stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue. "Then we see the planes overhead, American jets so we got out our flags, started waving 'em." He sat down again, all the fight going out of him. "When the bombs started falling I couldn't move, couldn't do nothin', the guy next to me was blown to bits but I couldn't run… Manny started pushing me in front of him, getting me to run. I fell, he pulled me up. He was behind me the whole time until the last bomb." Tommy drew in a great shuddering breath before continuing. "When I woke up he was in the bomb crater, all burned up, no legs, but he was still alive…screaming' for his wife… and I…" Tommy swallowed, shaking his head as though to get water out of his ears. Katrina could see that he couldn't continue. She slipped off her stool and put her arms around his neck. He tensed for a moment, unused to this sort of gentleness before wrapping an arm around her waist. She could feel him shaking all over, as if something inside him was breaking. She rubbed circles on his back, trying to soothe him, his arms tightened around her, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. Eventually his breathing returned to normal, the grip of the memories loosening its hold.

"You should sit." He said finally, scooping Katrina up and carrying her bridal style to the couch. They settled down, half sitting, half lying, arms around each other.

"He saved my life" Tommy said finally, his voice barely more than a rumble. "Paid for it with his own."

"Hey, that's not your fault." Katrina knew that saying this wasn't going to convince him, but she had to try.

"I'm sorry" Tommy mumbled, cheek resting on top of her head.

"What about?" she asked.

"Bout everythin', being' a jerk to you this mornin', worse than a jerk. For actin' like a fuckin' baby right now… everythin'." he sighed.

Katrina turned to face him, putting a hand on either side of his face; she wanted him to listen to her, to understand.

"Tommy. You've been through a lot, seen way more than anyone should, and I know it's been hard on you just don't apologize for it. Okay? You don't have to carry everything by yourself- if you don't want to. But you can't take it out on me either, we clear?"

Tommy nodded jerkily, his dark blue eyes never leaving hers. Before she could catch her breath he'd wrapped both arms around her waist and dragged her into him. His lips were so soft that Katrina didn't mind how roughly they were kissing. She slid her hands into his hair, drawing herself closer to him. Kissing Tommy was like drowning, Katrina's every sense was full of him. The way he felt under her hands, hard muscle and warm skin, his heart beating so hard she could feel it through his chest and right into hers. The way he smelled, clean and smoky like cigarettes and the gym, his lips were so warm against hers. She didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until she had to pull away gasping for air.

Tommy tightened his arms around her as she drew back, only allowing her the briefest gasp before they were welded together tighter than before. His warm hands roamed over her back and down to her ass before scooping her up so she was sitting on his lap. She pulled away again, pressing her hands against his chest to push him back a little bit. He barely budged but seemed to get the message.

"Tommy,"

"mmm?" he smiled at her, respectfully moving his hands from her butt to her waist.

"What are we doing?" she asked, it seemed important to know before his lips tempted her back again.

"Kissin'." Said Tommy simply, he stroked her cheek with one callused thumb. "You're shaking."

"It's been a while." she admitted dropping her eyes.

"Hey," Tommy slipped his thumb under her chin, lifting her face back up to meet his for a kiss. "It's okay."

After that nothing else seemed important.

A/N- Love it? Hate it? let me know!