*AN* General Key for fonts= who is speaking.

For the most part my OC's lines will be BOLD
For the person my character is talking to, his/her lines will be ITALICS

and when a third character comes into the conversation making a three way OR when the character comes in after the first one leaves, the font will be PLAIN. This is in effect forever unless other wise noted; this includes previous chapters (:*

After wrapping the season with BTR's guest spot, the guys, invited her to hang out for a while and grab some tea at a coffee house down the road that was open late. She accepted, looking forward to catching up some more with her pals that she hadn't seen in a while. Katie grabbed her stuff and told them she'd meet them outside. They went out the closest door and when Katie was done, out of habit she used a different door. As soon as she stepped outside she was caught by rough hands and her mouth covered, before she could scream. She was tired but she had enough energy to fight off her attacker for only a moment before he came back at her, this time with a knife. She took as many hits as she could before dodging his blow and attacked him at the neck, taking him down like an animal. Her triumph was short lived as he flipped her over and stabbed her in the side. She let out a cry of severe pain that echoed in the alley way. The attacker ran off and left Katie to die.

On the other side of the building, the guys had waited for Katie to come out and after 10 minutes, she still didn't show and naturally they got concerned. They couldn't enter the building from the side they were on so they went around back but the door was locked for the night. They called out to her and went around to the other side, to see her car still in the parking lot, so they knew she was around somewhere. They called again and banged on the door but she didn't answer. Kendall pulled out his phone and began dialing her number but it just kept ringing. Kendall just about hung up when Logan silenced him and the others.

"Do you guys hear that?" he asked listening to the dark. The others hushed and listened with him, to hear a slight vibrating noise. They followed the sound in the direction it was coming from to be lead down a dark alley. Carlos and James pulled out their iPhones and used the flash on them to light it up.

"Dammit!" Kendall cursed as soon as he was the lifeless body in front of him. He didn't need to see the face, he could tell by the custom sweats she was wearing that it was her. Kendall ran forward before anyone knew what to make of the scene. They followed behind curiously only to gasp at the sight. "Carlos call for help, Logan see if you can find anyone around that might have done this. James give me your bandana, I got to stop the bleeding!" Kendall said, taking charge.

The others followed orders like clockwork and with James' strength, the bleeding was lessened and she was stable for the ride to the hospital where they spent the night. Logan and James fell asleep quickly while Carlos and Kendall stayed awake for a while longer before dozing off themselves.

Katie spent much of the night in surgery and once she was out, she was listed in a critical but stable condition and wasn't allowed visitors until she improved. Carlos threw a fit, something that no one had ever seen before; he wanted to see his best friend and was about to have a break down. The other 3 band members dragged him outside to cool down and collect themselves. Faced with no other option they contacted Katie's staff who would know what to do. They rushed to the hospital to be told the same restrictions of their visit, only family would be allowed to enter but Katie's staff hesitated to call her parents. They deserved to see her in this state, especially if she was fighting for her life but was it worth the pain and hassle to them? They witnessed first hand what Katie's home life was like and kept it a locked secret up to now. Chances were good that Katie would pull through but she had a bit of recovering to do; with that being said, her parents would chew her out about her choices despite her riches, fame and good deeds. It was agreed that no matter what, this had to stay out of the press at least for the time being until Katie's condition either improved or declined.

Katie actually did well, as expected although slow at first before steadily getting back on her feet. She'd be in the hospital for a few weeks as her body regenerated and got used to life with part of her stomach missing. It had been punctured in the attack and was easily fixable by making it smaller but because of the tissue damage around it, she couldn't digest much on her own and wasn't able to eat solid foods for a while. While she recovered she'd be staying with Mrs. Knight and Kendall where she could be constantly watched and tended too; even if Kendall was on set or the other guys were too busy to stop by.
Filming was put on hold while Katie recovered, which took about a month of building her self back up. The guys were on tour for the summer, but promised to check in online when they could. Katie soon found herself full of energy and bored with staying put but the show had been put on an indefinite hiatus while work was done on creating new sets, stories and possibly even new cast. Katie stopped showing her face in town which caught the attention of the media and as soon as she was well enough, she caught a flight home with her dog Shadow at her side to go back to a normal routine to avoid raising questions with her parents who kept a close tab on the tabloids.

Katie spent nearly a year at home and worked hard at the academy which ran fine in her absence. She completed some more schooling to receive another degree in Vet Assisting. Her parents questioned her long absence from her knew job every few weeks but Katie really didn't have an answer for them, she became concerned herself, as did her employees who learned of her secret life. Her best friend, Liam became concerned about her and finally just had to ask.

"So what's going on with the show? You've been here a while." Liam asked

"I've been asked that question a lot and I wish I could answer it but even I don't know what is going on." She replied

"Why is everything on hold then"

"Huh?"

"I read the teen mags too. Did you really think I was just going to let you go to LA and become famous without my knowing? Sure I was unsure about it at first, seeing how you were leaving me for something that could have ruined you but I guess I was really just worried about you changing."

"I don't think I changed too much, did I?"

"Nope, not at all. Same Katie as I always remembered and I'm glad." he said. "So tell me, I saw the story of the show being on hold but there really wasn't too much information. What's up?"

"Like I said, I don't know myself. From what I heard, there is some revamping going on. Maybe some cast changes since we don't get along."

"Yeah I read that. Man that went up in the air so fast…"

"Surprisingly enough, a lot of people were on my side. Which I didn't know I had one. ."

"You had the right!"

"But you have no idea how much trouble that caused me! Things went down hill so fast, like they weren't bad enough! All I did to make everything so smooth and go well for everyone and it didn't seem to matter at all! I don't know if I'm hated bcause I'm new or if it's just that dam reputation that's following me around where ever I go…Yeah, its nice to be famous but I never threw it in anyone's face, so why am I such an outcast? What did I do to make my own cast mates hate me?"

"Hate you? What are you talking about? All the articles ever said was that you guys had a little riff in communication, never that there was a feud…" Liam questioned

"Oh…Uh, yeah, that's what I meant. But it still hurts you know?"

"No I don't. You're not telling me the whole story and I know it. Spill the beans now." he ordered. Katie was silent not sure whether to act confused or saddened by his realization. "You don't think that I havent notice the lack of spark in your eyes since you arrived? You may be acting normal on the outside but inside, you've been destroyed. When you first came back, you were on some pain pills from a surgical hospital in LA. I havent seen you on them since so I assume you're better but I want to know what happened and why you're hiding everything from me? I thought I was your best friend?"

"You are my best friend! My best guy friend anyway."

"Then stop leaving me out in the dark and let me in so I can help you! I care about you and want to see you succeed and live life to the fullest. Dammit, Katie I love you!" Liam blurted out before covering his mouth, embarrassed about what he just said.

He had a major crush on Katie for the longest time but she never showed the same feelings or mentioned feelings of love about anyone so he wanted to save him self the pain. Now that it was out in the open, he couldn't handle her response and he just ran out the door, leaving Katie in a state of shock. She got up to follow him but her phone rang and she had to answer it.

"Katie? It's Hank, we've got the negotiations and changes in and we'll begin the new season right after summer, around September 1st. Get here a few weeks early so we can go over all the changes and get your new contract set up."

"My new contract? What was wrong with the old one?"

"It expired. It was only good for 3 seasons. I know we didn't finish the third season but it still counted. This new one is a 3 year deal with a record deal for you to try out, you're the only headlining star that hasn't launched a singing career and you sing quite well. You'll have creative control over it all but you're lawyer and agent already have their copies and can go over it with you in full detail. I'll see you in a few weeks." he said hanging up.

Katie hung up the phone slowly and just sat back in her chair for a few minutes before heading to the Kennel to find Liam grooming a dog. She couldn't face him right now, as much as she knew that she should. She didn't have the heart to deny his feelings and to explain everything she was going through. She had only a few weeks to pack up and fly out and there was much to do so she saved it for another time. She went back to her office to get started on the schedules and other paperwork but couldn't get into the working mood. After sitting for several minutes, she pulled a piece of paper from her drawer and started writing profusely.

"Liam,
I don't know where to begin but I wanted to say I'm sorry at least. I know you mean well but I just cant return your feelings for me. I appreciate all that you have done for me and all the times you have been there for me but the one time you need me, I leave you hanging. I have been lying, its true; I have not shared everything that has been going on and it'd be a long story if I did, however it is the least I can do for you if you choose to listen."

Katie's letter went on to describe how life had been for her for the past several years, ranging from her schooling, her home life and even now in adult hood and her new found fame. While there were people who liked her for her fame and the good she stood for, there was an equal amount of hate. The story behind her was sad and emotional, a story so strong it could bring a man to tears. There was nothing left of her inside which explained the lack of life in her eyes but she was still hanging on to a small thread; what that was she didn't know and one day she hoped to find it.

"I shared this with you because you deserve to know. I thank you for being there for me and I wish I could have done the same. Know that this is not goodbye or the end but a chance to start a new. I wish to remain the same kind hearted person that I have always been, I just want to be able to feel. Whether you choose to help me in this quest is up to you and I don't expect you to say yes, nor will I hate you if you say no. Just know that I will not forget you and always love you like the brother I've never had."

Katie couldn't find the right words to say in the letter and tried several times to make it sound sincere and emotional but failed each time. She had left it in her drawer, folded in an envelope with Liam's name on it. Her secretary had gone into Katie's office to find some missing paper work and searched through Katie's desk when she found the envelope. It looked important so she sent it to Liam who brushed it off, still a little upset at her sudden decision to leave again. Katie had been gone for 6 months by now but he was just too emotionally distraught to even think about it.