A/N-hey guys! Thanks for all your loyal support I know it has been FOREVER! I had some major computer problems that are luckily now fixed! So here is the latest update... enjoy!

Chapter 59- It's easier this way

Three months later:

Kris Furillo was never one to feel scared, but that didn't stop the tremor of fear that surged through her. She could feel her heart pound loudly in her ears and she momentarily wondered if she would pass out. Resting her head on the cool porcelain of the toilet seat she let the waves of nausea roll over her drowning out the voice of the man next to her.

"Just so predictable," he stated and she felt the tears begin to brim behind her eyelids. Her throat constricted and a small moan escaped her lips.

"You planned this didn't you?" the man asked vehemently ignoring the grunt of protest she let escape her lips. "You had this planned all along."

"Right," she whispered softly "of course your right." The sarcasm dipped into her voice as she continued to speak. "I planned all along to get violently ill at the most inopportune moment."

"Cute really," the man replied scowling at her "I'm calling a doctor and you'd better not be faking it."

She heard the bathroom door slam and winced as the noise echoed in the small space. She wanted to move, but was afraid that it would only make the nausea worse. Looking at the beautiful tub sitting next to her she shifted for a moment to turn on the water.

'It will be ok', she thought 'everything would be ok.'

She shifted her sore body into the hot water and slowly let her face sink into the water. The water seemed to soothe the waves of nausea that tormented her body and she relaxed her head against the edge of the tub while taking deep breaths. Closing her eyes she let the tiredness and exhaustion overcome her body and she fell into a deep slumber.

"There has been a slight change of plans," Ken stated trying to hide the eagerness in his voice. "What do you mean?" Kris asked and her voice wavered with a hint of irritation. "The day of the race has been moved up," the man replied. "How far up?" Kris asked the irritation now slipping through. "We have to leave in two days," Ken stated "Hopefully this doesn't interfere with too many of your plans." A strong sigh escaped Kris' lips as she looked at the man lying next to her in the bed. "I don't really have a choice do I, Ken?" She replied bitterly. A soft chuckle escaped the mans lips as he gently clicked his phone shut...


"That was the point," Ken stated softly to himself.

"Wake up" the voice stated gruffly and Kris heard a loud knocking noise startling her from her slumber.

"What do you want?" she asked grumbling slightly in her sleep-induced state.

"The doctor is here" he stated pointing to the room just beyond the door "so you need to get up and get out of the tub and get out there so he can look you over."

A gentle sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes nodding her head softly in the process.

"Yeah, fine. I will be right out." She stated muttering slightly under her breath. Things seemed to take her longer in her groggy state but she worked as quickly as she could to avoid any more anger.

--

"Dude seriously, get out of bed." Matt's voice rung softly through the small room causing the single occupant to let out a low guttural moan.

"Go away," Junior yelled pulling the soft down pillow over the top of his head and pressing tightly down.

"Suffocation will not help," Matt replied in a teasing voice that at the moment didn't sound too teasing. After a moment of silence he continued "don't make me call Dani in here."

This was the moment he had been waiting for and an even larger groan escaped his lips as he tugged the pillow off of his face.

"Seriously, she is so moody." Junior stated "I don't know how you deal with her."

"Easy," Matt stated "she likes me."

"Are you insinuating that my sister doesn't like me, Matt?" Junior asked confusion evident in his voice.

"Not that she doesn't like you, per say. More that she blames you for everything that has happened," Matt replied and his façade of teasing disappeared and a gentle frown found its way onto his face.

"She's not the only one," Junior stated his eyes meeting his best friends.

The bed shifted as Matt sat gently on the edge letting a soft sigh escape his lips. "I've been there," he stated looking out the window "but we can't blame ourselves or each other. None of us really knew what was happening before it was too late."

"That's the thing, Matt." Junior winced as he spoke "I knew I just didn't stop her."

--

"You have got to be kidding me," Kris' voice cried out in the small room and she felt her world spinning around her. She flopped back on the hotel bed and let out a large sigh of air, gently blowing her now dry tresses.

"I'm not, Mrs." The doctor replied gently running his hand through his hair "I know it's not the best news in the world but at least it answers your questions."

Kris nodded her head at the man in front of her as he quickly made his way to the door avoiding the gazes of the others in the room. She could somewhat hear the gentle curses that were being sworn under their breaths and she closed her eyes trying to block them out.

'Perfect timing Kris, as always, you ruin everything.'

"Well isn't this just wonderful news?" Ken stated sneering slightly. He picked up his phone as he plopped down on one of the overstuffed chairs in the room.

"Looks like the plans have changed, once again." Ken stated swiftly before nodding his head and standing up. "I will be there in ten minutes."

Closing her eyes, Kris let the gentle humming of the air conditioner lull her. Her breathing soon matched the pulses of the fans and she could feel herself gently falling asleep.

Kris quickly slung the bag over her shoulder and looked at the man standing in front of her.

"I really am going to miss you," Matt stated causing tears to form in her eyes.

"I will miss you too, all of you!" Kris replied as she leaned over and hugged Jean then Pablo.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do Kris?" Jean asked and she laughed nervously pushing aside her feelings.

"Yup I'm sure." Kris stated.

"Take care of Dani; she needs you now more than ever." Kris stated punching Matt lightly on the shoulder.

"Yeah, Kris" a gentle sigh escaped Matt's lips and she noticed him nervously run his hand through his hair "I really think you should have said something to Junior."

"Matt please butt out!" Kris stated exasperatedly smiling slightly. He nodded his head quietly taking her bag and throwing it into the trunk of the taxi.

"Take care of yourself." Matt whispered as he pulled her into a tight hug. "He loves you, you know?"

Kris nodded her head softly forcing the tears back as she picked up Jason in his carrier and buckled him in.

"I love you guys!" Kris called as she slid into the seat and closed the door.

She was at the airport in no time and made it to her gate in what seemed like minutes. She knew she should have said something to Junior, but it was just too hard to say goodbye again.

She wondered if he would try and stop her, she knew that after she had left that either Matt or Jean or Dani had notified him of what was going on.

'It's too late now,' her mind told her as they began to board 'you made your choice.'

As she got on the flight she looked back, searching in the crowd for that one familiar face. She found him easily in the crowd and her breath caught in her throat. 'Junior!' her brain screamed as she watched him, momentarily wondering what he was doing. He was searching for her face. She saw the pain in his eyes, and whispered the only word she could muster.

"Goodbye."

As she turned around tears trickled down her face and she tried, unsuccessfully, to console herself. She told herself it was for the best and that it was better to leave this way. She tried to think of anything but him, to get the image of his face out of her brain, yet she could not.

The tears were flowing freely now, and she momentarily wondered why no one was staring at her, slowly she continued down the tunnel, shifting the baby carrier from her right to her left hand. Just three more steps and she would be gone, be free.

She hesitated and then she stepped onto the plane.