The lights were too bright. And she wasn't even on the stage yet and they were already blinding her. "You can do this Kat," Ben said next to her. He had an arm around her midriff and he kissed her cheek. "You're making a good choice. Don't doubt yourself. Just go out there and tell them who you want to be."

"Says the guy who gets to stay backstage," Kathryn muttered as she smoothed out her top with her good hand. The sling was making her shirt wrinkle and she wondered if it was too late to take the cardigan. And the pain medication was starting to wear off, making her shoulder start to hurt. She wondered if it would be a good enough excuse to call the whole thing off.

"Alright sweetie," William Benedict said, coming to her side. "They're all out there and just waiting for you."

"Everyone?" she squeaked. Part of her had hoped that people would be disinterested and pass up on the invitation.

"You're going to be okay," Ben whispered in her ear. "I'll be right here."

"I don't know what to say," she confessed. She hadn't been able to sleep since officially calling the press conference. It was going to be the moment that changed her entire life, and she'd been worried about what to say.

"You'll make it up." Ben said with a smile. "Just like speech class in high school."

"It's now or never sweetie," Senator Benedict said. Ben let her go and stepped back. He gave her a reassuring smile as she took a step forward and into the public eye.

Immediately the cameras started going off and the chatter of the crowd picked up as they realized who was coming on stage to speak. She was using all her will power not to run off stage right then. But she knew she had to, she had to let everyone know what she'd decided. Kathryn had kept everyone but Ben in the dark. Though only her dad had come over to tell her he supported her decision. She hadn't seen any of her brothers since the articles had been released.

As she stood behind the podium, Kathryn had a flashback to a little over a year ago when she announced her retirement from the gymnastics world. There definitely hadn't been as much media present as there were at that moment.

"Hello," she started, her free hand fiddling with the pencil at the podium. "I'm glad all of you could be present today. You know who I am. Five days ago I was abducted along with Virgil Tracy from the Princeton University campus. And since then there has been speculation about my identity. Today, I am here to clear up the confusion."

Kathryn took another deep breath and tried to remember what she'd learned about public speaking as she looked at the reports in front of her. They were all waiting for her, eager to have the first scoop. They were ready to pounce at any mistake she might make, to criticize and wrongly interpret her words and action. Vultures, hungry for the gossip. After having spent her entire life away from them, and wary of strangers, she wasn't sure she could handle all this attention.

"Recently many magazines and tabloids wrote articles about me. About my supposed secret relationships with one of the Tracy men. Then how the abduction was a ransom attempt because of an elopement I had with one of them. And of course, the stories claiming that the missing Tracy girl, or "America's Missing Princess" had been found." Kathryn swept the room, making sure all eyes were on her for the moment when she made her announcement. "I am here to tell you that those stories are false. I am not romantically involved with anyone of the Tracy family. My abduction was not, as the police can reaffirm, a ransom attempt," she paused before breaking the news.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the door open silently and John stepped through. Then Gordon. Both of them gave her reassuring and understanding smiles. They understood the choice she was about to make, to remain hidden from the world. And they were there to support her. She thought about how John's dislike for the public eye made him an ideal choice to man Five. It kept him hidden from the drama of the mainland and he was content picking up calls and doing conferences via video links. But his dislike from the media never kept him from being a Tracy. And then she looked at Gordon, and how when all the people said he would never work again after his hydrofoil accident, he ignored them all. He proved them wrong at the Olympics and the 5k that Tracy Industries sponsored every year. And how even though he had almost died at sea, it didn't keep him from going back to it or manning Four.

Those were her brothers. "And," she continued, her gaze returning to the reporters. "I refuse to be referred to as America's Missing Princess. I have a long and difficult recovery ahead of me and I'm going to need my family's help. I do not need the extra stress of trying to live up to a title that isn't mine. Leave the titles to those who deserve it." She paused again and took a deep breath, bracing herself. "Because I am simply Kathryn Tracy."

The uproar from the reports was huge as they jumped to their feet for a better chance to be the first to catch the quote. Flashes went off like crazy as people shouted questions at her. It was the news of the year: the rumored sixth child was real. Kathryn Sally Tracy, who hadn't been seen nor confirmed to have existed for the past nineteen years was standing right there, right in front of them.

They all rushed towards the podium in attempt to get the exclusive story. Kathryn panicked since this wasn't the reaction she had prepared for. And certain paranoias she wasn't over yet.

It would later be agreed, begrudgingly, that what happened next was an accident. But, in that moment, all the boys could see was the way a man charged at the podium. Though he was actually accidently pushed into it, the effect was the same. The podium started to fall backward, causing Kathryn to back up and stumble over the taped down wires. And by the time the boys had reached her, she'd already hit the floor.

Ben worked on moving the reporters away with the help of his father, as he let the Tracy brothers -who had started to come forward when she called out the truth- go to her side. "Back off or you're all out of here," Ben threatened at the mob as he glared at them.

Kathryn would later hear the story of how he valiantly stood up to defend his girlfriend's honor, but at that moment she'd closed herself off and let the fear overcome her in its usual manner. John and Gordon were trying to best to get her to calm down, but it was hard to hear and concentrate amongst the yelling of the reporters.

"The people have a right to know the truth," someone from the crowd yelled, causing Gordon to snap up and move to Ben's side.

"Any future statements regarding this issue will be directed from our lawyer," he growled at them. "And I can assure that you'll be hearing from our lawyers if our sister has lost even a single hair."

The threat quieted the crowd and he returned to his sister side. Where he was adamant to stay forever now that she had given them the chance. "We have to get her out of the spotlights," John told him as he came over. He'd managed to get her stand up, but by the way she held her injured arm and the pattern of her labored breathing let Gordon know how urgent it was to get her somewhere safe.

Together they moved off stage and set her down in a chair. Gordon knelt down in front of her to catch her attention and John went off to call their dad to see if he could call off the reporters.

"Focus on me Kitty Kat," Gordon said then smiled. "You did good up there kid," he told her which caused her to smile slightly. "Now let's just get you back to a clam state."

"Close your eyes Kat," Ben was back, standing behind her, close to her ear and careful not to touch her. There were certain types of panic attacks where he'd learned it was important not to touch her because it only panicked her even more. This was one of those. "Close your eyes and think of the farm. Think of the peach trees lines, the ones that are miles long. Can you smell their ripeness? Can you hear the dogs barking across the way, chasing each other through the orchard. Momma's yelling at them isn't she? Telling them to get away from her gardens. Can you hear Emily laughing? She's probably on the swing by the old oak tree. "

Gordon watched with amazement as Ben talked, and realized how Kathryn reacted to his voice. A bolt of envy coursed through him, because he and John had been the only ones to get her out of these spells when she was younger. But her breathing calmed and she leaned her head against Ben's in a way that Gordon remembered his parents doing.

"Thanks Ben," Kathryn whispered when she finally opened her eyes. She turned to Gordon and smiled slightly. "And don't call me a kid Gordon."

Gordon broke out laughing and ruffled his sister's hair. Something just wouldn't change with time.

"What changed your mind?" Ben asked her as he pulled another chair closer and bumped knees with her.

"Gordon and John," Kathryn said. "You were right Benny, we are more similar than I thought."

"The car's coming around," Senator William told them. "It'll take us back to the hospital."

"Really that's not necessary, it doesn't hurt that bad," Kathryn said as Gordon pulled up and put an arm around her as he guided her towards the exit.

"That bad isn't a very good answer to keep yourself from being checked out," Ben pointed out as he walked along side. "Besides, you should probably let the rest of your family know you picked them."

"Didn't your momma ever tell you not to be sassy?" Kathryn teased him as they walked out into the sunlight day.

There were people waiting for them outside, but they never got close to her with John, Gordon and Ben standing protectively around her. And at that moment, she knew she'd done the right thing. Because she wouldn't have to do it alone.

A/N: Just a short one because I suck at breaking up the stories really well.

The next chapter will be the last one!